Ethiopia Overview
Ethiopia is found in the eastern part of Africa, which is called frequently referred as the Horn of Africa. It shares boundary with Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti. It has a population 82 million with a total coverage of 1,100,000 km2. The country is a land of natural contrasts, with waterfalls and volcanic hot springs. Ethiopia has some of Africa's highest mountains as well as some of the world's lowest points below sea level. The largest cave in Africa is located in Ethiopia at Sof Omar.
Ethiopia has one of the largest number of rivers in the world while the country's northernmost area at Dallol, Afar is the hottest place year-round anywhere on Earth. Ethiopia is a Multilingual,Multicultural and Multiethnic society of around 80 groups, with the two largest being the Oromo and the Amhara, both of which speak Afro-Asiatic languages.
The country is also famous for its Olympic gold medalists, rock-hewn churches and as the place where the coffee bean originated. Currently, Ethiopia is the top coffee and honey-producing country in Africa, and home to the largest livestock population in Africa. The Ethiopian Aksum region was the first major empire in the world to convert to Christianity and it was one of the first countries to officially adopt Christianity as a state religion in the 4th century.
Ethiopia has a Christian majority and a third of the population is Muslim. Ethiopia is the site of the first hijra in Islamic history and the oldest Muslim settlement in Africa at Negash. Until the 1980s, a substantial population of Ethiopian Jews resided in Ethiopia. The country is also the spiritual homeland of the Rastafari religious movement.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia)
Source:
http://alamoadoption.blogspot.com/2010/07/good-book-for-anyone-to-read.html
Climate:
ALthough Ethiopia is located near to the equator. its high altitude ensures a a moderate temprature. There are two rainy seasons; one with irregular short rains (January-March) and a long term rain (end of June - mid September). Despite these rainy seasons, a sunshine is ensured all the year.
Typical Ethiopia
Calender:
- It is the second month of 2004 now in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has a calender that is only used in the country (Julian calendar). It is the second month of 2004 now in Ethiopia, surprise. The calendar is seven years and eight months behind the Western (Gregorian) calendar.
- There are 13 months. Which consists of twelve months of thirty days each and a thirteenth month of five days (six days in a leap year).
Alphabet:
- Writing is done with its own alphabet.
.......the Alphabet
Source: http://milaninternationalschool.wordpress.com/frequently-asked-questions/
Ethiopia has a unique kind of food arrangement. Ethiopian food is an exotically spicy mix of vegetables, slow-simmered meat or grain stews, and fresh meat sautés.
Ethiopian dishes are prepared with a distinctive variety of unique spices, which lend an unforgettably striking dimension to its exotic cookery. Grains like millet, sorghum, wheat and ancient teff , a tiny round grain closely resembling millet, form the basic breadstuffs of the diet.
Injera, the sourdough pancake-like bread of Ethiopia, is made from a fermented sourdough teff batter - in this way, it has a slightly tangy flavor and a wonderful light and airy texture.
Dining in Ethiopia is characterized by sharing food from a common plate, signifying the bonds of loyalty, family, and friendship. The traditional Ethiopian meal is served on a large platter that is draped with the crepe-like injera bread, with the selection of foods decoratively arranged around the center dish.
To eat, diners simply tear off a piece of injera, use it to scoop up some of the various dishes and pop it in their mouths.
Drinks: Honey wine, beer or telba, a flaxseed drink, are served as beverages.
Sample pictures:
