In this write up essay on the Ethiopian culture, we as a group have talked about many different topics involving population, foods, traditions and norms, medical care, diseases and types of many things they do differently there compared to how we may do things here in Canada. We as a group have learnt a lot about Ethiopia and have expanded our minds on how different countries and cultures work and hope to whomever reads this also learns more and sees the difference between cultures. The first topic we had looked and talked about was population as a whole in Ethiopia. The most recent population update from 2013 was at 94.3million people and out of that 94 million only 3.4% live in the capital city of Addis Ababa, which is incredibly low for a city. The main reason only such a small percent lives there is because they can’t afford to live in the city. An average person in Ethiopia makes $5000 per year. Although the population is very high, an average median age in Ethiopia is only 17 years of age, and the life expectancy is only 50.4 years old were as in Canada we can live up to 80 years old or more. Climate and landscape was a very basic topic for the group to look up and discuss a little about. Ethiopia is a subtropical highland. On land area 21.5% is tropical and dry/savanna climate. 50% is alpine/ highland climate and 4.8% is arid/ desert climate. Of the population 8.5% live in the tropical and dry climate, 1.4% live in the arid desert climate and 84.7% live in the alpine highland climate. Norms was a very interesting topic and we found many things that to us Canadians may be slightly odd or different compared to what we would be used to doing in our daily lives, such as shaking hands, it doesn’t really matter which hand we use, in Ethiopia you must only shake with your right hands, never the left. The left hand is considered to be “evil”. The only use that Ethiopians ever use with their left hand, is to wipe after using the washroom. So, in that case you must never eat with your left hand, write, you are not allowed to give or receive gifts with the left hand and must never wave with your left hand. Another way to greet is by hugging, which is very common in Ethiopia because it is a warm welcoming feeling. A good thing to know if you ever have a client with this culture is to never ask personal questions about family, they will get offended but you must only start a conversation by asking how they are feeling, and then ask about the family second. A couple other norms would be Ethiopians wear all white, not always but during occasions white is the only option, otherwise you are disobeying your family. No pointing of any fingers is allowed, it is disrespectful towards others. Also, a man must never make eye contact with a woman, and if a man wants to talk to the woman and she is with another man, he must ask permission before he speaks to her, since woman are not allowed to talk unless said so. You must never give expensive gifts, and never refuse coffee or food from anyone otherwise you show no respect. There are many norms that have been mentioned but the most important that our group had found would be early marriage at ages 7-15, if you were not married you were traded or sold off to a man and must marry him before you were considered “too old”. Most women don’t work and stay home to cook and clean for the men, and have children. Some traditions in Ethiopia are very different to what we would think of. For instance, before any meal it is a tradition to wash your hands with water from a tea kettle like spout with a bowl for the water to go in, and after must always start and end the meal with coffee. Ironically they do not use soap to wash their hands and are also using dirty water. They only wash visible dirt off of their hands, and only the right hand. Early marriage. Women get married beginning at the ages of 7 and are considered to be too old for marriage at 15 and 34.1% have their marriage arranged for
