Work in ... Ethiopia

Five top tips for living (well, working) the high life

Sophie, who works for an international development consultancy, provides her insight on working in the country best known for eccentric emperors and ancient Christian history

1. Stay hydrated and take it slow at the gym!  Many travellers take Ethiopia's impressive altitude for granted: Addis Ababa is the second highest capital in the world at 2,300 metres above sea level. It's harder to get to sleep, even climbing the stairs can take it out of you and a vigorous gym session will be more challenging than usual - take it easy! Drinks lots of water and don't overdo the workouts. 

2. Be on time and don't interrupt  Ethiopians are punctual in business matters and very polite in initial meetings. There is a protocol for who should speak when - people take turns and the person you're speaking to may pause before answering your question. Don't be alarmed or tempted to jump in - speak clearly and carefully wait for your colleague to respond. 

3. Drink coffee, but not too much...  Coffee is a staple of Ethiopian culture and in most meetings you will likely be offered one. Machiatto is often the most popular; it's delicious but beware - it's strong enough to make your heart race! Try alternating coffees with milky tea - shai ba wotet - to keep your heart steady. 

Getting around can be fun, but expensive

4.  Check taxi rates with local hotel staff  The little blue and white ladas, the typical Ethiopian taxis, are cute and fun but beware: as in many countries you can be charged extortionate rates as a foreigner. Hotel staff are usually happy to advise how much you should pay for a given journey. Check in advance to get the best out of your negotiations!

5. Plan internal travel ahead of time and get security advice  Addis has a good airport and road system and is safe for a capital city. But other parts of Ethiopia can be more unpredictable and internal flights often get booked up a week in advance. Plan your itinerary well ahead of time and get up to date advice from your embassy on modes of transport and where it's safe to stay in more remote locations. 

Work in ... South Sudan

Five top tips for working in the world's youngest country

With female police officers waiting for training to begin

1. Take emergency snacks  The number of restaurants is increasing in Juba, the capital, but lunchtime options are limited. Having cereal bars, biscuits and other non-melting snack items in your bag is great for quelling hunger pangs when you just can’t face another club sandwich and chips, dry samosa, or greasy Chinese.

2. Dress smartly for meetings  While you can get away with dresses, smart-ish trousers and shirts at NGO-gatherings or meetings with other expats, meetings with counterparts are more formal. You don't need to cover your hair in South Sudan, but it is advisable to cover your shoulders and knees for formal meetings. Your counterparts are likely to be in suits and will expect you to be suitably attired. Make sure you wear a smart jacket at least – and grin and bear the heat when the air-con fails.

3. Your dirty laundry will be aired in public  If you surrender your clothes to the hotel or guesthouse laundry, your clothes will most likely be dried outside on lines. This is an important point to remember as you pack your dainty, lacy knickers (although you don't need to go as far as paper pants). 

John Garang Memorial Ground, Juba

4. Getting exercise... Certain hotels have some sort of gym facilities (running machine, rowing machine), but the options are limited. For those who get bored of these options, or want to avoid the testosterone, ask around other women for hotels where groups get together to run their own yoga or aerobics classes – perfect for stretching out joints after too long spent on pitted roads. Another option is to take out your own yoga DVD and practice in the comfort and privacy of your room. Central Pub runs salsa classes once a week for a more fun way to get moving.

5. Hygiene – bring your own supplies  Well obviously there isn’t a Boots on every street corner so stock up on feminine hygiene products before you arrive, especially tampons – you'll find them much more easily and cheaper at home.