Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Blogs, websites and FaceBook are an excellent method of communication with friends, family and supporters - be as creative as you like. Do be aware that electronic media is a very public arena, easily accessed by anyone including your friends family and supporters, but also our Ethiopian colleagues, government officials and the general public. Please be sure to use sensitivity, even to the point of being extra cautious, in how you portray Ethiopia, government policies and the situation here.  In fact, we would recommend you refrain from commenting on Ethiopian politics out of respect for our host country in which we are guests.

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We ask all new staff to arrive on the same weekend, typically in early August. Dates will be sent to you as this is confirmed for your intake year. We ask everyone to come at the same time for a number of reasons:

• apartment maintenance and set up will be completed by this date so you will have accommodation

• July is a holiday for Bingham teachers and admin staff - by early August returning staff are back from their own breaks and available to help you settle in and navigate the school and the city, including airport pickups and taking you grocery shopping

• work permit and visa processing are very time sensitive and entering the country on the recommended dates gives us the best window of time for getting your legal work permit and resident’s ID issued.

We discourage people from arriving late wherever possible - please work with your organisation to help them understand the necessity of being here on time. The first 2 weeks of school is dedicated to orientation and training for staff. We find that new staff who miss these weeks often experience greater transition stress and can take longer to settle in to school life and the city and the school community.

Please do not book tickets before receiving confirmation from the HR Office or the Director.

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The dress code for work at Bingham Academy is casual professional.  Please don't wear clothes that are very tight, that are low-cut or display the midriff. It is inappropriate for décolletage, torso or undergarments to be on display - so avoid clothes that become more revealing when you sit or kneel. Spaghetti straps are also inappropriate both culturally and professionally. Modest sleeveless tops are acceptable on campus. Skirts should be knee length or below. 

For special occasions such as graduation, banquet and evenings out it's nice to have some more formal attire or "going out" clothes.

Throughout Ethiopia dress codes vary enormously, although this is less strict for expatriates. It's best to take your cues from Ethiopian Christians around you as to what is appropriate. It is rare for women to be required to cover their heads, except when visiting some Orthodox Christian or Muslim sites of tourist interest. You will be made aware if this is the case.

Men: Outside of Addis

Generally, the further out of Addis you go the warmer it gets. For men both trousers/pants and shorts are acceptable down-country.

Fresh fruit: bananas, pineapple, mango, papaya, cantaloupe, watermelon, limes, strawberries, and oranges can be found almost all year. Plums can be found at seasonal times. Grapes, pears, apples and kiwi fruit are all imported and can be purchased if you're prepared to pay the price!

Vegetables and salad: Lettuce, cabbage, spinach, fennel, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, beetroot, artichokes, okra, green beans, cauliflower, zucchini/courgette, cucumbers, aubergine/eggplant, broccoli, bell pepper/capsicum, leeks, green chillies, avocados and corn on the cob can all be regularly found throughout the city. Pumpkin and butternut squash can be bought seasonally. Fresh green herbs are available in many supermarkets. 

Meat and Fish: Ground beef/minced beef, stewing beef, mutton and goat are readily available fresh throughout the city. Frozen whole chicken, chicken on the bone and chicken breast can be easily found in supermarkets. Frozen tilapia and Nile perch are also readily available in supermarkets. Canned chicken, sardines and tuna are often available in supermarkets. Pork products such as sausage, ham and salami can be bought from Fantu and Novis supermarkets when available.

Canned goods: Mushrooms, corn, tomatoes, tomato paste, peas, chickpeas, baked beans, butter beans, a wide variety of fruits and fruit juices and olives can all be found regularly. Other items in jars and cans come and go but pasta sauce, pickled onions, asparagus, olives and sweet red peppers can usually be found. Local and imported jams, peanut butters and chocolate spreads are commonly found.

Dairy: Locally produced milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, provolone cheese and butter are usually available throughout the city. Opinions vary greatly as to how palatable to the expatriate taste the different brands of each are! The best thing to do is try a selection and decide for yourself. Imported cheeses, UHT milk, cream, butter and yoghurt come and go in the supermarkets and are always priced at a premium. 

Dry goods: Rice, a variety of pastas and beans, flour, lentils, chickpeas, some spices, salt, bouillon, powdered soups, instant noodles, crackers and cookies are usually available. Sugar can usually be found but does sometimes go out of supply for a few weeks.

Bread and snacks: Locally produced bread rolls and loaves are delicious and cheap. Injera (Ethiopian bread-like staple) is also readily available. Local snacks can be bought easily including cookies, potato chips, kollo (a mix of roasted seeds and nuts) and candy. Imported chocolate, potato chips, candy and cookies can also be purchased in supermarkets if you're happy to pay the higher prices.

Baking: Plain flour, icing sugar, cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, sultanas, apricots, dates, some food colourings, vanilla flavor and cooking chocolate, baking powder and baking soda are all usually available. There is no castor/superfine sugar or self-raising flour available. Specialist baking decorations and other supplies are usually not available. Chocolate chips are never found here! 

Processed foods: There are very few "quick fix" foods available although chicken nuggets and breaded strips have been sometimes available.  Most meals will be made from scratch and this, along with the need to bleach all fruits and vegetables before use, can lead to longer preparation times than you might be used to.

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Water supplies in Ethiopia are often contaminated with bacteria, viruses and/or parasites. Do not drink tap water or use it for brushing your teeth. Our residential campuses we have taps which provide access to drinking water which has been filtered and treated with UV light. Each apartment has jerry cans to collect drinking water. Often staff will also buy a cooler or similar to store this in for daily use, but it is not necessary for the safety of the water.  

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The farming processes in Ethiopia mean that fruits and vegetables are often contaminated with dirt that can contain human faeces. Special precautions should be taken before eating in order to avoid tummy upsets.

It's advisable to wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, scrubbing with a soft brush in order to remove the dirt which can be home to bacteria, amoeba and parasite eggs. Once visibly clean, vegetables and fruits should be soaked in a strong chlorine solution - the water should feel slippery if it contains sufficient bleach. Soak for 20-30 minutes and then rinse off the bleach solution with drinking water. 

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The answer to this is, "usually but moderate your expectations!" Bingham Academy compound has WiFi which extends to the apartments. Our IT department will help you with getting online as Bingham has a firewall which needs to be navigated first. As with any developing nation, internet speeds can vary and there are times when internet access is restricted for governmental reasons - such as to protect the integrity of the national exams. The infrastructure which provides internet to the school is also prone to problems.  Smartphones with a 3G/4G capacity can be effective. 4G hotspots are available to purchase in the city if you want a more consistent internet access.

We recommend downloading a VPN (Viritual Private Network) before arrival in Ethiopia as sometimes certain websites/apps are blocked (often WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, etc.). A VPN that works well here is ExpressVPN.

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Mobile/cell phones are used everywhere in Ethiopia, much more so than fixed landlines. There are only two providers in  the country - EthioTel and SafariCom. Phones must be able to receive a SIM card to work here. Bringing your own phone is absolutely fine - just make sure that it's unlocked and can be used with any network before you arrive or it won't be able to switch to EthioTel or SafariCom coverage. Cheaper, lower quality phones can be purchased in country and these are automatically registered.

You will have help to get an SIM card for your phone. It's straightforward, quick and only costs around $5 to do so. You top up your credit by purchasing vouchers and typing in the codes. Using your phone for texts and phone calls is very affordable - $8 will last a week or two with moderate use. Using 3G/4G data to browse the internet will eat up your credit more quickly, but bundles of data can be purchased to make it more affordable.

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There is no door-to-door post in Ethiopia. All incoming mail is delivered to the main post office in Addis Ababa and then individuals collect it from there. If you are in a hurry to receive your mail then going directly to the post office is recommended. Every few weeks someone from our owner mission will go to the post office to bring all of the Bingham Academy mail - but this does mean there can be several weeks delay in receiving parcels, so it’s wise to go yourself for urgent mail.

The system is reasonably reliable although there can be delays. Friends and family can send mail and parcels to you at

Your Name

c/o Bingham Academy

PO Box 4937

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia

Please be aware that medicines or medical supplies should not be sent through the post. They will be confiscated and this can also cause embarrassment for the school.

The outgoing postal system works is also reasonably reliable and easy to use. Postage is comparatively cheap and you can mail letters and small parcels from the Bingham Academy office if you’re not in a hurry for them to go. They are typically sent a couple of times a month. If your mail is more urgent then you can take them directly to the post office and send them there for a much faster service.

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It is usually most convenient for staff and family members to have access to their own laptop computer for both work and personal uses. There are desk top computers available in the teacher work areas for communal use. Laptops do not need to be registered.

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Bingham projectors sometimes have VGA and other times have HDMI connections. If your laptop is not able to accept both types of cable you will need to bring an adaptor with you. 

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Ethiopia has a 220V system. Any 110V appliances you are bringing with you will need transformers, not just plug adaptors. These can be bought in the city but it can be just as easy to buy the whole appliance with the right voltage after arrival. The plug type here is the European style 2-prong so you may need to bring with you some plug adaptors for any 220-240V appliances you're bringing.

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Yes! There are many restaurants in the city. In the past 10 years there has been an explosion of good quality and affordable places to eat. As well as being able to eat excellent Ethiopian food you will also find French, Indian, British, Greek, North American, Middle Eastern, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Armenian restaurants across the city. You will quickly learn which are highly rated and as you're here a while you'll be able to offer your own new finds to others!

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There are a variety of international churches in the city. You'll be given information about each of them when you arrive. We would usually recommend that you try a few and see where you fit best. You will have help to get to church your first few weeks so you can try them out.

• Addis Christian Life Assembly (no link available right now)

• Bethel International Church

• Beza International Church

• Eastridge, Addis, Ethiopia Campus

• International Evangelical Church

• International Lutheran Church

• St. Matthew’s Church

Additionally, there are many different home groups, Bible studies and fellowships that meet across the city.

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Bingham Academy follows the Cambridge International Examinations Curriculum. If you have used this curriculum before and have lessons or materials you like to use, you are welcome to bring them. Otherwise you should find all you need here at the school. There may be items that you like to use as teaching aids (stickers, props etc.) that may not easily be available here.

Elementary teachers should bring some basic materials to decorate their rooms (boarders for bulletin boards, posters, etc.). Quality dry-erase markers are also good to bring as the ones available here work, but are of low quality.

For questions about classes and curriculum, please contact the relevant Principal.

• Elementary School: lauren.wicks@binghamacademy.net

• Middle and High School: landon.lampkin@binghamacademy.net

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The Bingham Academy school year runs from August to June.  A school calendar will be issued to you during orientation for the upcoming academic year.

The school day is broken into 6 teaching periods with breaks for morning recess and lunch. The day begins at 7.30am for staff, classes begin at 8.10am and the final lesson of the day ends at 3.00pm. Extra curricular activities are usually scheduled from 3.00pm until 4.30pm.

Department and whole staff meeting time is currently on Wednesday afternoons. 

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Bingham Academy has a sports hall / gym which is well-used by staff outside of teaching hours. Depending on the interest there are indoor facilities for soccer, hockey, basketball, volleyball, badminton and squash. There is a room above the gym which contains some gym equipment and free weights which staff are free to use by signing out the key. 

For most of the year outdoor exercise is also possible. Around the perimeter of the campus there's a cross-country track which is just short of 1km for walking and running. The field is also well used for social sports such as soccer, rounders, cricket, tag rugby, ultimate frisbee and other staff-organised games.

There are several gyms across the city where weight training, gym equipment and group classes are available. 

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Your mission will help you to set a budget. As a guide you could expect living expenses to be around USD500 per adult per month and a proportional amount for children. This should cover the cost of food, giving, ministry related expenses, transport and entertainment. 

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