By ABIY TEMESGEN
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – When I wake up in the morning all I can think about is what my trip to work will be like. Nothing was different this chilly morning. My outlook on the day suddenly became as foggy as the Kiremt (Amharic for the July-August rainy season).
I’m not unusual. In Addis Ababa weekday transportation is everyone’s biggest headache, except for those few private car owners.
Let me try to give you a picture of what I face when I get out of my house (actually my parents’ house. Yeah, I know, I’m still mamma’s boy).
The small “square” where the taxis meet in transit — in other words, where they dump one set of passengers and stack up with new ones — is already packed with hordes of people. One vacant taxi crawls slowly towards the herd of people waiting impatiently. Anxious faces turn up, hearts begin racing and feet soon follow. The taxi comes to a halt; everyone braces themselves for what’s to come and the crowds start to fight their way into the narrow doorway of the minibus.
There are certain ground rules (though not written, well accepted) that we, the daily taxi customers, know and follow. The first and most important rule is this: everyone for themselves, whatever it takes.
You can’t be helping your loved ones get a taxi and get one for yourself. Instead, you could — or should — use them as a human shield when the need arises. The second guideline is that some training in short-distance running comes in handy. When the taxi opens its door a few hundred metres away, your quick dash past the weak and the elderly may be just what puts you on the next flight to work.
Another rule of thumb is the bilateral push method. You should let other people push you from both sides, as long as they are behind you. This will help propel you further towards the taxi doorway. Stepping on other people’s feet is not a crime.
Last, but not least, check where the taxi is going after securing your seat on it. The worst part is over. If the taxi is not headed in your direction, you can leave immediately in the safe knowledge that there will be no pushing, pulling or being stepped on during your exit.
Just the other day I had been waiting and waiting and waiting for a taxi. I was, of course, running late. From far, far away I saw one slowly approaching and decided I was going to be on it. With athletic determination coupled with the adrenaline of fear of being late for work, I started racing for the door, oblivious to my surroundings. I heard a scream here, a gasp there and, I think, a bone cracking somewhere. I had no intention of slowing down or apologising to anyone to whom I might have caused a mishap. Breathing hard, but triumphant, I became one of the lucky ones to get on the taxi. When I got back from work that evening, my mom was telling the story of how she had missed the taxi because she was stomped by her own son — me. I told you, it’s all about determination.
Not to mention what happens amid the pushing and pulling. There is the unnecessary touching and the uncalled-for groping. But, believe me, this is the least of your worries. You should really beware of those who are waiting for an opportunity to relieve you of your property. I lost a wallet once and, on another occasion, an important document. I once had my watch broken. Though the watch had sentimental value, I was grateful that it was not my wrist, seeing how fierce the struggle was.
As the saying goes, old habits die hard — if they ever die. People are so used to wrestling for a seat that you see them manhandling one another against the taxi door, even when you can demonstrate that there is room for everyone in that taxi, and then some.
At times you can see people jostling to get out of a taxi. If you are in that taxi, you can’t help thinking that you might have been dozing and that the taxi has caught fire. On the worst days, at the climax of the tussle, you see an open taxi door, three or more people stuck at the door trying to be the next lucky one on the taxi, people pushing from behind, the car swaying and no one getting in. Several seconds go by and nothing happens until someone breaks the pack and makes it into the taxi.
Oh gosh. I’m late for work, gotta run … Wish me luck.
(Abiy Temesgen is a physician. He works at Tikur Anbessa Hospital in Addis Ababa. He does not own a car. “Don’t let the title doctor fool you,” he says. “In Ethiopia we are mostly average-income citizens.”)
Source: Mail & Guardian Online
9 thoughts on “Survival of the rudest: Taking a taxi in Addis”
HI DOC;
It happen really such short fight to hail a taxi in our way work or whereever in Addis.
I am a bit surprised your innocent saying of Doctors are just ‘average citizen’.
Other means of transport is inevitabel for our metropolitan Addis, like city train or electric bus system.
THX
Alem
This is the shamefull part of our daily life. I know it comes from the acute shortage of the resource but we lost respect for one another and for elderly as a society. Its a common phenomena in our country that greediness is prevailing from top down just running for self interest. Can we bring back all the olden years of respect and giving a chance and priority to others. that is where and when we can get it back-respect and honour from others. Please try to contribute in shaping our society to get back to our social values.
PM Melese Zenawi declared over a year ago that “Ethiopia does not need doctors”. The latest news that the regime will invest to fulfill the shortage of doctors in Ethiopia by training 1000 doctors and hundreds of health care professionals in Universities is promising to the future. It is estimated that there are more Ethiopian medical doctors in USA than in Ethiopia. From past interviews and news, the doctors in the diaspora do not return back due to the pay rate.
My concern is, why not start by taking good care of the physicians like your self. That includes SHUTTLING and making transportation arrangement initiated by the regime. If one is to assume that you are a surgeon who has to operate on some one at a scheduled time or any other number of medical necessity and situation, the lack of transportation arrangement could have unpredictable consequences. Disease, war and famine, have been among the worst enemies for Ethiopia. It is very important for private and government institutions to FOCUS ON HEALTH care and OFFER INSENTIVES to health care professionals.
Thanks Dr. Aby for a story that I am afraid is pretty much a reality in poor countries!
why are u cryin moanin about every thing ppl? ethiopia is under developed country and dont compare it with developed countries like europe or america, ok? damn ppl why u have to blame every thing on MELES? so what we had problems wit taxi drivers? GET OVER IT!!! u wanna blame MELES if u have a head ace too? dont rush to say i am woyane which i am not but i hate it when u ppl blame every thing on govt. PPL U NEED TO GROW UP!!!
Dear Doc. thanks for the wonderful article.
That country is unjust and unfair for all citizens
including the physians…
I do not think the conditions will change soon…
I feel pity for those who got # and traumatized.
I wish you better life.
Alem,
If you are who you claim to be, then the following tips might be of help:
-Get a Back-pack and put your clothings, shoes, wallet, and watch in it.
-Use sports wear to and from work.
-Try to get a transfer to, say, Emmanuel. It might help you to see into your situation from a different perspective.
Besides, who cares if you get late, as long as you remain funny.
-If you get in and around Emmanuel, you might also get the insight and be creative and collect “Equub”, buy a one powerful motor-bike and even give a ride for your girl sitting on the gas tank and mamma at the back.
Who knows, your glamorous life might in the wierdest of possibilities oblige you to come up with yet another story line , like a romantic commedy. Ofcourse not rude.
Some of you who think the complaint is not fair especially against the regime, think again. Empathy is very important and to assume that the doctor’s patient could be a dear friend and/or an immediate member of your family. Although I was a very small child, I remember health care professionals (of Tikur Anbessa, the then Leilit Tshai hospital) on duty or on call for emergency being picked from their residences ( even if they have a car) over three decades ago.
The current MINISTER OF HEALTH might have to restructure service and give priority for practical safety as well as health care. Considering the regime affords Agazi tanks and vans ( affordable?) roaming the city, tax paying health care professionals deserve shuttling at the very least which benefits their patients as well (who pay out of pocket for health care).
Ethiopian has a bus service for its employees. Why Tikur Anbessa provide on to the hospital´s doctors. It it is expensive to buy one, may wouldn´t be a bad idea to ask for donation from, say…. MOENCO.