The hardest thing about living here is finding what you want. In a city of 4 million, it is here somewhere, but with no addresses, and no large department stores, the search is the hardest part. Fortunately the merchants tend to cluster in similar areas. By that I mean that there is an auto parts section of town and a clothing sect
ion and a hardware section and a flooring section, etc. Unfortunately we have no clue where they are AND no way to get directions other than "go down that road where Ahmed grew up and turn left where they are thinking about building that new bank." The 
use of the corregated metal sheet metal pieces is all around, especi
ally for the "shops". These people really are proud of their locks too. I watched one guy diligently attach and lock his padlock on a sheet metal door to a canvas hut. There are basically two 
types of quality goods here, used and Family Dollar. You also need to watch out that you do not get charged 50-100% more because you are a white guy with money. They all know the white people have lots of money and most of them will give you some if you look pitiful enough. Now granted there are some really destitute poor folks here that truly do beg
for money to feed the child strapped to their backs. But just Friday we were waiting in traffic on a four-lane road and a guy was perched on the concrete median divider. I saw him counting through a small handful of bills, and then tuck the money into his jacket pocket. As we inched closer, he saw us, put on his sad face and came to the window asking for money for food in Amharic. I told him "Ah-goo-bahn-yum" which means "I don't understand" in Amharic. He then gestures to show me. I gesture back and showed him that I knew where he had hidden his stash of cash. He got a surprised look on his face, grinned really big, laughed and said "have a great afternoon!"
ion and a hardware section and a flooring section, etc. Unfortunately we have no clue where they are AND no way to get directions other than "go down that road where Ahmed grew up and turn left where they are thinking about building that new bank." The 
use of the corregated metal sheet metal pieces is all around, especi
ally for the "shops". These people really are proud of their locks too. I watched one guy diligently attach and lock his padlock on a sheet metal door to a canvas hut. There are basically two 
types of quality goods here, used and Family Dollar. You also need to watch out that you do not get charged 50-100% more because you are a white guy with money. They all know the white people have lots of money and most of them will give you some if you look pitiful enough. Now granted there are some really destitute poor folks here that truly do beg
for money to feed the child strapped to their backs. But just Friday we were waiting in traffic on a four-lane road and a guy was perched on the concrete median divider. I saw him counting through a small handful of bills, and then tuck the money into his jacket pocket. As we inched closer, he saw us, put on his sad face and came to the window asking for money for food in Amharic. I told him "Ah-goo-bahn-yum" which means "I don't understand" in Amharic. He then gestures to show me. I gesture back and showed him that I knew where he had hidden his stash of cash. He got a surprised look on his face, grinned really big, laughed and said "have a great afternoon!"Every day it is something different and as always, things are not quite as you expect them to be.
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