Ethiopia - Random Facts

1. 
   
   VW Beetles are everywhere you look, particularly in the city. I counted 23 in a half hour drive.
2. 
   
   The fault line running through Ethiopia towards the Red Sea has been gradually widening; this is expected to result in the Horn of Africa becoming detached from the rest of Africa, albeit in 10 million years.
3. 
   
   Ethiopian hotels have notices banning same sex couples or notifying same sex couples that they must pay a 50% premium.
4. 
   
   Ethiopians seem to be table tennis fans. From cities to villages you will see table tennis tables set up in the open air everywhere you look.
5. 
   
   US adoptions of Ethiopian children have been on an upward trend since Angelina Jolie adopted an Ethiopian child in July 2005, although this also coincided with clamp downs in Vietnam and Guatemala. In 2004 289 children were adopted. This doubled each year for the following 3 years and peaked at 2,277 in 2009; that’s more than 6 children a day. 34% are <1 year old, 39% 1-4 years old. (Source: INS Immigration Services). International adoptions of Ethiopian children cost an estimated $20,000-25,000. This lucrative ‘business’ is sparking concerns among many.
6. 
   
   Ethiopians love their fresh juice. There are juice bars everywhere. The favourite seemed to be avocado or a kaleidoscope of juices in a glass.