Seppo Lahdeaho

IB Geography, HS Electives

This is the beginning of my 8th year at ICS and am looking forward to the new year with its challenges and opportunities. The school has grown tremendously since I have been here and has become the best international school in Ethiopia with all of its different academic and athletic programs. I am proud to be part of this institution. There will be changes for the better this year, so in many ways, with the growth and changes, it will be an exciting year.

I was born in Helsinki, Finland but grew up in Ethiopia and have been here with my own family for the past 22 years. My three children, who also grew up here, have now gone on to university. My wife, Leena, has been working at the Embassy of Finland for the last year. Through grade 10, I went to school in Ethiopia, graduated from High School in the United States and then went on to earn my BA in History with secondary certification. During the next 2 years, I earned my MA in International Relations.

I taught several years in Finland before moving to Ethiopia in 1989 to manage an orphanage run by a Finnish NGO. Following this, I taught at Bingham Academy for several years, worked with the disabled and blind for the next few years before coming to ICS to teach. With all of this Ethiopia experience, it is difficult to see myself moving away from this culture. Ethiopia is a fascinating country with very friendly people, unique history and geography and a great culture especially its food.