Addis Ababa: A Mexican citizen who recently visited Addis Ababa with UK-MED and the UK Emergency Medical Team (UK-EMT) to provide training for the Ethiopian Emergency Medical Team has shared positive first impressions of Ethiopia.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Mauricio Esponda, who spent only a few days in the country, had the opportunity to sample local food and explore the city. Esponda expressed a growing fondness for Ethiopia, stating, “I can’t say I know Ethiopia or Addis Ababa very well yet, but I’m starting to really like it.”
A significant aspect that resonated with Esponda was the warmth of the Ethiopian people. “I truly appreciate the hospitality of the Ethiopian people. They are very approachable and friendly. As a Latin American, I can relate to that significantly,” he remarked, drawing similarities between the welcoming nature of both cultures.
Esponda described Addis Ababa as a “very large city” undergoing “very rapid development.” He observed a collective aspiration among its inhabitants, noting, “It’s a city that wants to grow, that wishes to grow, and the people themselves wish to grow. That is my first impression of Addis Ababa and Ethiopia.”
Furthermore, Esponda expressed profound admiration for Ethiopia’s unique status as one of the only countries in the world that has never been conquered, highlighting its origins that span over 3,000 years. He stated, “It (Ethiopia) was able to establish itself and its position as an independent country in Africa, the only independent country on the continent, despite all the surrounding territories being conquered or subjected to influence by other powers.”
Esponda views Ethiopia as an influential country, rather than one that is influenced. “Ethiopia is an influential country, rather than a country that is influenced; and that is what I find most intriguing about it,” he commented. He sees this influence as a positive force that enables Ethiopia to actively search for opportunities to develop and spread its roots further into the international arena.