Survival Guide to driving in Addis you know you need it

Survival Guide to driving in Addis Your mission this morning – should you accept it -  is to get from point A to point B in Addis rush hour Traffic . That’s what I tell myself each and every day during my morning commute. You…

Every Solution needs a problem. Or is it the other way around?

Or is it the other way around? Under normal circumstances, yes. But when has that prevented us from  enjoying this roller coaster called life ? As I get older, I’m enjoying being fully present for experiences which I used to dismiss…

Older, wiser

Older, wiser Growing up as the eldest and only daughter in a family of four other boys was a blessing. There are times, however, when I feel that my childhood was too protected to have prepared me for real world challenges later in life.…

Customer Service or something resembling it.

A typical scene in an Addis café: I arrive. Frazzled and in need of my java fix. Quick! I signal the wait staff and ask for my poison of choice – Coffee. Black. Hot. Stat. After what seems like an eternity, my coffee – or what’s supposed…

Hiring Challenges - Isn’t it our own making? Part 2

Hiring Challenges – Isn’t it our own making? Part 2 Prospective graduates, graduates, candidates, employees – that’s typically what we are called at the end of our college and university days. Last month’s entry explored hiring…

Hiring Challenges – Isn’t it our own making?

Hiring Challenges – Isn’t it our own making? I have recently been invited to speak on a panel discussing the increasing trend in our country in the area of employment. There are millions of young graduates looking for jobs – most of…

Suffering from – No…..enjoying JOMO

Is it possible that as we grow older, we are actually glad to miss events ? There is nothing fun about hearing all about a wedding or a birthday or any other happy event when an entire friendship group has attended it this past weekend. You…

Good Customers for Poor Service

The biggest news in Addis for April has been the opening of Pizza Hut in Addis…ok…maybe a qualifier is needed… the biggest news among foodies in Addis has been the opening of Pizza Hut in Addis.  There was hype on traditional…

Pet Peeves of the Addis Spelling genre - Why?! Just why?!

Disclaimer – this entry would make sense if – only if - you can read and speak Amharic – at least the basics. Am I the only one who is noticing that Addis Ababa’s shops are increasingly adopting English for their outdoor signage?…

Don’t let me Down, Jan!

Ahhh...January! A month full of resolutions – to land a better job, to work on one’s relationship, to eat healthy & exercise, quit bad habits, to start or increase that retirement saving account - the list of resolutions can be…