Living in Adama, Ethiopia:
Tips for Moving and Visiting

English is the most widely spoken foreign language and is the medium of instruction in secondary schools and universities. Amharic was the language of primary school instruction, but has been replaced in many areas by local languages such as Oromo and Tigrinya. The extended family remains the focus of the social system. It includes relatives on both sides of the family and close friends. Often the husband’s parents will live with the nuclear family when they get older and can no longer care for themselves. When people marry, they join their families, thus ensuring that there will always be a group to turn to in times of need.