N'djamena, Chad Report of what it's like to live there - 02/28/23

Personal Experiences from N'djamena, Chad

N'djamena, Chad 02/28/23

Background:

1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?

I’ve had four previous overseas assignments.

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2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?

Air France flies between N’Djamena and Paris, sometimes with a stop in Abuja.

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3. What years did you live here?

2021-23.

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4. How long have you lived here?

Two years.

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5. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?

Work

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Housing, Groceries & Food:

1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?

Nice-sized single family homes. Easy commutes.

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2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?

Imported goods are available at large expat-friendly grocery stores like Modern Market and AG, but they are more expensive than at home.

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3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?

I can get by here with what’s in the local market.

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4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?

There are some good restaurants: French, Chinese, pizza, local cuisine

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Daily Life:

1. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?

Household help is widely available and affordable.

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2. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?

Credit cards are sometimes accepted, but I usually use cash. ATMs are available.

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3. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?

Very useful to have French. If you can pick up basic Chadian arabic, that’s useful also.

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Transportation:

1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?

Black Taxi is a safe and affordable taxi service.

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2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?

SUV, or something similar. Useful to have a rigged vehicle with high clearance, if you want to travel on rough roads in the countryside. (Around N’Djamena, a sedan is fine.)

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Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:

1. What volunteer opportunities are available locally?

Many!

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Expat Life:

1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?

The expat community is friendly and morale is good.

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2. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?

The lovely Chadian people; very friendly and welcoming.

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Words of Wisdom:

1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?

Yes! Really enjoying my time here.

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