There are few things that inspire me more than hearing the stories of others and how their personal journeys birth amazing ideas that they couragelously bring forth to the world. Because of this I always thought I would have more interviews in this space featuring creative goddesses, but for whatever reason it hasn’t happened until now.

I met Viva in 2006 when we worked together in a highly creative, yet very corporate environment. You know how when you meet certain people you just get a feeling that they are destined for greatness? Well, I felt that way about Viva.

I remember when we worked together that I would always keep a notebook with me because she would say these things that were so funny and quote-worthy that I would have to write them down. When she started telling me about her ideas for Inheritrea, I could feel the passion radiating from her and have been so inspired watching her turn a beautiful dream into a reality. I was so honored when she agreed to let me interview her here in my tiny space. I hope you can all see the beauty in her as well.… and no joke, these are the softest t-shirts i have ever felt.

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Hi Viva, I am so happy to be able to talk to you today about Inheritrea and introduce you to those who come to this space. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me and answer some questions.

Hi Stace!  Thank YOU for taking an interest in what Inheritrea is all about.

Tell us about Inheritrea. What does the name mean and what is the mission of your business?

The name merges the word, “inherit” and, “Eritrea” to capture the idea of truly cherishing what has been left to us by generations past.  My family is from Eritrea, a small country on the east coast of Africa that has a long and triumphant history.  So, for Eritreans like myself, it may mean our language, culture, traditions; but it’s such a universal theme!  For others, it may mean their maiden name, inheriting the Earth, even family recipes.  In essence, I wanted Inheritrea to be a source of pride for Eritreans, but also serve as a way to educate the rest of the world about Eritrea and be a reminder of how we all share many more similarities than differences.  So, that’s the philosophical translation.  How am I planning to achieve such a lofty goal?  That’s easy: t-shirts!  Our mission statement reads as follows:

Our mission is clear.
Inheritrea aims to give Eritreans, and friends of Eritrea, the opportunity to SOW SEEDS OF PROGRESS. We seek to accomplish this by marketing high–quality apparel inspired by the richness of our culture and the fortitude of those that came before us. Net proceeds of Inheritrea are channeled to non–profit organizations and charities that support the further development of the State of Eritrea.

When did you first conceive the idea of Inheritrea and how long did it take you to launch from conception to reality?

This is always such a challenging question to answer because I think that on some level I always knew I would pursue a project like this.  My mother and siblings emigrated to the states right before I was born so I had never been to Eritrea until the summer of 2008.  That trip came at a time when I was really asking myself what I wanted my future to look like and, through an arduous and emotional journey, I found my answer.  Visiting Eritrea prompted me to find a way to give back to Eritrea, a country that has been so overlooked by mainstream media.  It was several months before I got the actual idea for Inheritrea.  I attended a concert of the hip-hop artist K’naan and was truly moved by one of the songs he performed – “Waving Flag.”  The next morning the idea for Inheritrea was born.  That was February 2009 so it took close to a year to launch the webstore.

I know you are a non-profit organization so how are you funding your business?

I would love to say that I have dozens of contributors, but the truth is that so far it’s been a one-woman show!  From funding to designing to photographing shirts to shipping them out, it’s just been me.  I know you can relate to this!

I must say that I’ve had loads of support from unexpected places, which has been the most encouraging.  It reminds of the line from The Alchemist: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.”  So dope.

How are you marketing yourself to get your name out into the world.

So far, I’ve been trying to get some exposure on different blogs and sites related to non-profit causes but it’s been a slow-moving process.  I recently set up shop at a charity event and got some great feedback so part of me thinks this will be the more fruitful route in the future.  The spring and summer is actually full of many Eritrean events and celebrations that I’ll be excited to attend, as well.  I really feel that the shirts need to be seen and felt in person to truly appreciate.  Lately, I’ve also been toying with the idea of starting a blog to share more about who I am, how this idea came to be, etc.  I’ll have to take a poll and see how many people would actually read it!

I would definitely read it and am sure many others would as well.

What has been the most rewarding aspect for you so far of starting your own business? What about the most challenging?

As I mentioned earlier, I think the most heart-warming and rewarding part of this has been the unexpected support.  Former bosses, past co-workers, friends from high school – all people that bought an Inheritrea tee or even just took a few moments to write an encouraging email.  When you’re working on something in your own little bubble it’s hard to know how it’s going to be received so a few words really do go a long way!  I hope to make our first contribution to the National Union of Eritrean Women at the end of summer, so I expect that will be rank pretty high up on my “proudest moments” scale.  On the flip side, self-promotion has never really been my strongest skill so I’ve had to remind myself that this is a cause that I believe very deeply in and use that as my motivation to say, “Hey, guess what I’m working on…”

I know your background is in fashion, how much of your prior knowledge in the industry help you while you were designing your line? Did you learn some new things with this endeavor.

Yes, my first “grown-up” job after college was for a manufacturer in downtown Los Angeles that also did in-house screen-printing.  I learned so much there.  Like don’t wear a Napoleon Dynamite t-shirt on a day when you’ve got meetings with partners.  Not that that happened to me or anything.  Seriously though, my position was in customer service and working with sales representatives across the country.  I did get knowledge on fabrics, screen-printing, and merchandising techniques that has really helped with creating Inheritrea.  But since my background was much more based in the business aspect of the industry, I’ve essentially been really working on developing a more creative eye, particularly on the graphics side of things.  To give you an idea of where I was at when I started – I had NEVER worked on Illustrator before and have been teaching it to myself!  I’m really enjoying viewing the world differently.  I’ve gotten inspiration for future graphics from things that used to be mundane – even being stuck in traffic!

I absolutely adore my Inheritrea logo t-shirt, it’s incredibly soft and the fit is one of the most flattering I have ever worn. Can you tell us a bit about what went into the actual design process for your shirts from graphics to the yummy fit, they really are the perfect t-shirt in many ways.

You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that!  Quality is VERY important to me.  I knew that if this project was going to be successful, fit and fabric had to be just right.  So, I started my hunt for the perfect tee.  I ordered several different styles before I found the Holy Grail of t-shirts – Alternative Apparel.  I fell deeply in love with the fit of their Organic Scoop Neck Tee.  I adore the open neck line since I am usually the girl you see stomping around in the shirt with the neck cut out of it!  It’s the softest organic cotton I’ve ever felt.  And, on a selfish note, I needed the shirt to be nice and long.  I’m close to 5’10” so didn’t want a tee that I was going to have to keep tugging at!  Since I’ve had friends of all shapes comment on how flattering the silhouette is, I know I made the right choice.

When I received my t-shirt it came with a beautiful postcard filled with all sorts of inspiring quotes and sayings. Where did these come from?

Honestly, Stacy – sometimes at home alone, I’ll catch myself gazing at that card when I need a boost of hope and inspiration.  And the lovely thing about it is that many of those quotes were collected when I asked dozens of friends to answer the question, “what is your inheritance?”  They’re true and honest answers from real people in my life.

I incorporated some Eritrean references and words in Tigrinya, our native language.  It’s so powerful to see it all in print.  And that’s exactly the type of feeling that I want to continue to capture with Inheritrea.

Do you have any advice or tips for others who are wishing to start their own businesses?

As corny as it sounds, (cue the violins) I think the most important thing is to follow your heart!  I would have wanted to give up a million times if this wasn’t something that I felt the world needed.  Next, I’d say organization is key.  I always thought I was an organized person until I started this project.  The earlier you start with that, the better – trust me!  And you actually recommended The Seed Handbook, which has been an invaluable tool.  If you’re interested specifically in starting a non-profit endeavor, check out Starting and Building a Non-Profit:  A Practical Guide.  It’s really direct and easy to follow.  And lastly, I’m learning to cut myself some slack.  Mistakes are going to happen and, when they do, do your best not to get bogged down in “coulda, woulda, shoulda.”  Just pick up, be joyous, and do good work.

Thank you so much Viva for taking the time to share a bit about your wonderful, heart-filled company. I adore your passion and vibrancy and wish you wild success.

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If you are interested in your wearing your own Inheritrea organic cotton yummy softeness t-shirt that promotes awareness of the country of Eritrea visit http://www.inheritrea.bigcartel.com/

Aight people back to the fabulafricana interview part of the blog, this time meet Eritrean model and journalist student, Elsabel Yemane.

I wanted to interview her because I wanted to know about the experience of an Eritrean fabulafricana . I wanted to know who she was at the heart, why she became a model, why she was inspired to be a journalist student at the same time while she could have just gone and focus on her modelling career. She’s signed to Elite/South Africa and Profile Models.

Let’s gooooo!!

1- How do define yourself?

I would define myself as an all around fun loving, social, caring person. I can be shy sometimes, over confident other times. I try to adapt to people and my surroundings.

2- How long have you been modelling and how hard is it for you to pursue both your studying and your modelling?

I’ve only recently took on studying and modelling at the same time. My new agency, Profile Models, are great. They’ve been putting me forward for a lot of jobs and I’m lucky to only be studying 3 evenings a week, therefore the two don’t often collide.

3-Why did you pick journalism? how challeging is it, what year are u?what is your ultimate professional goal?

I love writing, its so easy and almost therapeutic to write and just flow everything to paper.

I definitely want to pursue a career further in the fashion industry and a Fashion Journalism course perfectly suited me. Freelance journalism for top fashion publications and online/TV documenting would be fun to work on but i actually do want to go more into the business and management sides of fashion. I’m a passionate maniac when it comes to planning and organising projects and events. Succeeding in Fashion Management & Journalism would be my ultimate goal Alongside Modelling!

4-How do define yourself as an eritrean woman and is there a huge eritrean community in england where you reside?

I’ve been living here in london since i was about 6 so I’ve very much moulded into the British culture. However, I’m lucky to go back home to an Eritrean household everyday. I live with my sisters, we speak our Eritrean language with my mum, who occasionally cooks the most delicious Eritrean food! I think there are strong morals and values set for females in our culture, as they is for any other culture. But its refreshing to see the ladies of Asmara have a healthy balance of happiness and love of fun that compliments there manners, self respect, and respect for others.

5- For someone who’s never been to your country if they were to visit where would you take them and why?

Ive only been back home to Asmara once. I’m hoping to go back again very soon. I would say it’s one of those places where you can just trust where the wind takes you eventually stumble across all the different sides and characteristics, the country has to offer. After all, its not a big country!

6-In your blog i feel like you are really try to empower other through postive thinking, how did u get to be so positive?

Naturally, as I’m growing up I’m learning to be more aware of my emotions and my attributes as a young woman. I cant really say i exercice positivity well, or through, but i try to. I’m aso learning my ways with others. I’d like to think I naturally have good intuition with people, feelings and emotions. Reading books like “The Power of Now” and basically learning from my ongoing experiences in life, have taught me to be more conscious of many things.

7-Which eritrean people that you admire you wish the rest of the world knew about?

I love a special song called “Emotions”, by a European Eritrean artist, Winta ( also my sisters name). She has that lovely Aaliyah feel to her music. I hope she becomes more popoluar over here.

8-Do you feel connected to the rest of africa, for example have u visted other african countries, do you have good friends from other african countries?

I’ve been to Lagos ,Nigeria for new year. I spent 3months in Cape Town modelling and also saw part of Johannesburg. I kind of felt bad being in these African countries, because i felt i should of spent that time in my own country, visiting my family especially my grand- parents.

I didn’t really feel connected to these countries though. They had there own culture but it was special to experience other African ways of life.

9- Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

Graduated, in business and marketing, a well experienced model venturing into new paths and succeeding. Hopefully engaged and soon having a baby!

10-Who are some of your fav’ african writers, musicians, photographers, painters ?(if any)

Wow, I’m a bit unfamiliar with the works of African artists. I visited wonderful antique stores just outside of Cape Town. I loved all the south African crafts and sculptures, but i don’t really follow any one in particular.

11- What’s the biggest misconception about eritrean people in your opinion?

That the country doesn’t even exist! Most people haven’t even heard of Eritrea. It’s probably one of the newest countries. We only recently gained Independence from Ethiopia, through Italian colonisation. I think people just instantly see us as Ethiopians.

12- How do u get your hair to be so healthy and beautiful?

I’ve actually just been online searching for a fabulous new lace wig. My agency have had me keep my my natural curly afro hair to shoot in for a while. I’m so used to straightening my hair or having a nice weave. I’m so fed up with the funky, natural look. Aussie hair conditioning treatment is the best for softening hair. I comb it through and leave it on when i go to the steam room. Smooth hair with serum after while still wet, hair creams are a bit light and grease is too thick and clumpy!

13-What’s one african political event that took place that you will never forget (besides obama’s election)

I think this is where my blond hair dye really wants to come out.  I don’t follow politics either. I really should as a journalism student right?!

14-What would people be surprised to know about you?

I can be really shy sometimes. I’m a geek for TV documentaries and the discovery channel. I love organising dinner parties and i can cook!

15- How important is financial stability for you, are there some good books on the matter that help you?

Well, its as important as all your responsibilities- money probably handles all your responsibilities. Having a good job is obviously important for a secure, regular income but be happy with what you do. Start up some savings accounts. One you cant touch at all, a not so secure one for dipping into now and again and maybe another for when your saving for something particular.

16- How important is spirituality for you and what faith do you practice?

My mum is a born again Christan. I don’t really go to church, I’ve had my moments of going for a couple months here and there. But I believe in God and i confide in him in my prayers.

17-What do u wish men knew about women?

We are emotionally more advanced. They should understand us more. And i guess we should understand them more too, as they’re logically more advanced. Being a bit too fair here, sorry ladies.

18-Are you involved in helping your eritrean community how or do u plan to and how?

I hope to start a charity one day where I will personally donate money to the disadvantaged people back home and even all around the world. I would personally work on organising projects to better lives.

19-Whats the nicest compliment u’ve ever received?

I just got a nice one, from my friend on facebook chat.”You’re like my little sister, I tell everyone that”.

20-What do u know for sure in life?

Everyone is different, with different opinions and knowledge from life experiences. Try your best to be happy and make others happy in the process.

Here’s her blog:

http://elsabelonline.blogspot.com

You can follow her on twitter:

twitter.com/y_elsabel

You can find her profile at these 2 model agencies:

www.profile-models.com

http://www.elitemodel-world.com

Thank you for this very honest interview Elsabel, we wish you the very best in all aspects of your life…Thanks for reppin’ for us on the runaway, on editorial pages, and on paper as a future establised journalist

Djaa my Eritrean sistas sont trop dedans:)

Eyeee Wayee:)

Meriem Omer

The BBC’s Ian Brimacombe reports on a woman who fought in the Eritrean struggle for independence from Ethiopia. She was just 13 when she became a soldier. She spent the next 16 years fighting in a brutal guerrilla war.

Meriem Omer began her life as a girl soldier in 1976.

“I joined the cause voluntarily. I felt like I had to do something,” she told the BBC’s World Update programme. “It was a hot political situation. I saw villages burning. I was surrounded by war. The regime was imprisoning many people. One of them was my father.”

She was in sixth grade when she saw him dragged from the family home and thrown into the back of a van. He was taken to a high-security prison where he was tortured, and she never saw him again. ”I felt so sad that my dad was in prison,” she says, “he was my role model and I couldn’t bear it.”

“The feeling that creates in a human being – whether man or woman – it’s a feeling of revenge.”

Equality

Meriem Omer’s story is remarkable, but not unique.

It is thought that about a quarter of the soldiers in the Eritrean rebel “Popular Front for the Liberation of Eritrea” or EPLF were women, and in many instances, girls. They left the traditional world they knew to join Marxist-inspired guerrillas who espoused equality between the sexes.

Meriem Omer spent nine months doing her military training. ”That mentally and physically prepared me to carry a gun,” she says. Today she still recalls vividly what it was like to fight.

“In the battlefield you could be as aggressive as a man and as merciless as a man,” she says. ”Physically we were not the same as the men, but we would double the men’s efforts to be seen to equally participate in the battle.”

Tank commanders

She also remembers how gender was never much of an issue. ”We were assigned equally, like men, to the front-lines,” she says. “Women were very important to the revolution.”

She says the aim of the organisation was to bring about social change and, therefore, it wouldn’t have been able to do without women – from feeding the army, to providing information and support.

“That’s why they included the rights of women in the military code. The role of women actually changed the attitude of men,” she says.

Thousands of young women participated in the struggle. Some of them even became commanders of tank units. Ms Omer says she felt a sense on empowerment but, as a woman at war, she says she knew she also faced additional risks.

“We were more vulnerable than men,” she says. “Boys would be tortured, but women would always be raped and tortured and ultimately killed. I never liked that idea, so I would have killed myself before I would be captured.”

Combat roles

The revolution was a long drawn-out affair. Eritrea only emerged from its war of independence in 1993. After feeling the euphoria of seeing the fight for freedom won, Ms Omer fell out with the new Eritrean authorities and was eventually exiled.

She moved to the UK where, until last year, she was involved with an Eritrean organisation that supports a network of Eritrean diaspora communities across the world.

Now she helps run a family business in Sweden. She remains a staunch opponent of the Eritrean government. Meanwhile, the tradition of women in the Eritrean military continues to this day. The country remains one of the few places in the world where women are drafted to fight alongside men in combat roles.

But Meriem Omer says the picture is depressing for women conscripts.

“They are kept against their will,” she says. ”There is no battle to fight. It’s just military service servicing the officers’ needs. They are really not happy.”

It may be because of the Swedish way of life, but she says she has also seen the bigger picture. ”The experience of that conflict made me learn and grow up and believe in negotiation and peace,” she says. “It’s not always a solution to carry a gun and fight.”

About two-dozen people turned out for the first of three public meetings devoted to finding Seattle’s next police chief. It took place at the Northgate Community Center on Feb. 10. Not unexpectedly, crime was on the minds of some who spoke.

Tunny Vann, a UW student, cited an event that happened the day before, during which a SWAT team showed up a few blocks north of campus. Vann, chair of a campus committee on student safety, said he learned of it after the fact by friends who questioned why they didn’t receive an alert from the campus police department.

“I called UWPD, [they] transferred me to SPD – SPD transferred me to UWPD,” Vann said. Eventually he spoke with a dispatcher, who told him things were under control. “I feel like there’s a lot of miscommunication going on,” he said.

Jens Gundlach, a professor of physics at the University of Washington, said that his house was burglarized about a month ago and many items were stolen. “We called the police of course and they were very responsive,” Gundlach said, adding that the officers were very friendly, “but that’s where it ended.” Despite leaving repeated phone messages, he has been unable to follow up with police.

“All the telephone machines are answering trees – getting you from one machine to the other,” he said, noting that there is no e-mail access to the police. Frustrated that he had to do his own investigating, Gundlach stressed the need for greater accessibility.

Concerns about racial and ethnic diversity were also brought up.

Tsegaye Tewolde, chairman of an Eritrean church in the Pinehurst neighborhood, asked the committee to consider selecting candidates who would employ a more diverse array of officers. He referred to diversity in race, gender and age.

Isela Gutierrez spoke on behalf of the Racial Disparity Project of the Defenders Association. This organization has been providing public defense in Seattle since 1969, and the Racial Disparity Project is an effort to raise public awareness and end racial disparity in law enforcement.

“We hope that you will look for a candidate who will be open to innovations such as pre-booking diversion for low-level drug offenders and other offenders who might be considered eligible – folks who are engaged in non-violent offenses like prostitution,” Gutierrez said.

She added that she felt such innovations are “more likely to have a positive impact on our neighborhoods than the traditional approaches we’ve been using, and are likely to be more cost effective.”

A student who asked name not be printed because he is a minor, gave a perspective as a young black American. He described two events he had witnessed. In the first, a man tried to rob a Wendy’s and seven or eight cops “beat him down.” The second involved “some guys at Nathan Hale High School who tried to kill somebody,” he said. The police were called and soon arrived, but got “shot at,” he said. The police called in a SWAT team, which arrived an hour later and reportedly stopped the crime.

However, the next day, students were talking about the incident and were worried about being victims of violence, he said. In summary, the student believes that “some cops should focus on small things, and some cops should focus on bigger things.”

The city’s Police Chief Search Committee is co-chaired by Charles Rolland, board member and president of the group Community and Parents for Public Schools of Seattle (CPPS), and Kate Joncas, president of the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA). Source: (My Ballard).

SAO PAULO, Brazil, February 8 (UNHCR) – It’s a long way from home for African refugees and asylum-seekers in Brazil, and life can get pretty lonely. But the more resourceful ones, with UNHCR’s encouragement, have been using the internet to reach or stay in touch with family and to ease their integration.

Take Euphrem D’Fagbenou, who felt really cut off after arriving in Brazil a year ago from his native Benin in West Africa. But his life changed after he started using an internet café in Sao Paolo run by Refugees United, a Denmark-based organization that helps reunite refugees through its web site.

“I talk online with my relatives in Africa at least once a week. But I also come here to meet friends that I have made in Brazil, look for jobs and read news about Sao Paulo,” said the 23-year-old, who fled Benin after suffering persecution for his membership of a trade union.

Yonas Samuel fled Eritrea in 1998 to escape persecution for his political activism and he also found it difficult to adapt after arriving in Brazil from South Africa in 2009. Above all, the 53-year-old was worried about his wife and daughter, whom he last saw two years ago in Zimbabwe, before heading to South Africa.

Samuel also found out about the Refugees United centre in downtown Sao Paolo, which provides free internet use to refugees and asylum-seekers on Mondays and Saturday. Once on a computer, he logged onto the Refugees United site and registered.

In his profile, Samuel noted that his nickname was “espresso.” His wife, who had also signed on with Refugees United from her new home in the United Kingdom, read his profile and realized that this man was her husband. Espresso was his favourite drink and the family always teased Samuel about this.

He and his wife were soon chatting online. “It was very exciting,” recalled Naomi Maruyama, a Refugees United volunteer who was with Samuel when he made contact with his wife online. “He said we gave him back a reason to live.” The couple hope to be reunited in the UK, where Samuel’s wife has refugee status.

These two examples show how access to computer technology can help refugees and asylum-seekers in urban centres around the world. More and more outlets offer access to refugees. Samuel for instance, also uses the computers at a downtown centre run by SESC Carmo, a private sector-funded social services organization that works with UNHCR in Brazil.

SESC Carmo’s internet café has 16 computer terminals, which are maintained by volunteers and available to refugees as well as the general public. “About 120 refugees use our computers every week. Each person can be connected for up to 30 minutes a day, but we still have queues,” revealed Denise Collus, a social worker with SESC Carmo.

She said more and more refugees and asylum-seekers were using the service, explaining that “the internet helps to break the solitude that many of them feel.” For some, it is the only way to keep in touch with relatives overseas, while others find it invaluable for their integration. “The online search for employment has become quite common,” Collus said, adding that many refugees use their e-mail address for all correspondence.

Collus said that most of those using the internet were aged between 20 and 35 years old, while noting that “the refugees who come to Brazil are usually well educated.” A lot of them read newspapers from their countries and listen to regional music online.

And they can rely on a lot of sympathy from the volunteers at the internet cafes, such as journalist Karin Fusaro, whose Jewish ancestors survived the Nazi occupation of Poland and emigrated to Brazil in the mid-1950s. “I always had an unfulfilled desire to work with refugees because of this past,” she said.

Meanwhile, Euphrem D’Fagbenou is happy for the first time in years. “I have made many friend here, including other refugees and the Brazilians who work here as volunteers [for Refugees United],” he said. “Here I feel at home.”

There was a tribe of the Hawya in Serae Eritrea, ruled by Dejach De’bul, a strong and feared ruler of Mereb Mellash, about 600 years ago. They were of the Great Belew tribe. He was told that he would have a daughter whose son will crush his rule. When the girl was born, his only child, he had her secluded from the public.

The lonely girl grew up and used to watch people from her window. One day she saw this tall and handsome soldier Ambessajir, and fell for him. He was from far away tribe Selewa from the south, and lived with his mother. She was so obsessed that although he could not come to her home, she had herself rolled with hay and taken to him. The romance did not continue for long when he was discovered and caught.

When he found out who the father was, one of his soldiers, Ambessajir, he had him killed, by burying him shoulder deep and horses running over his head, crushing his skull. This was the highest punishment those days.

At those days, the aristocrats were too feared and had full power over the common man. This daughter of Dejach De’bul, named Mariam Hanna, or Wehadet or We’alet, became pregnant and hid from her father. The son grew up with his mother’s tribe.

One day, the chief was sitting outside and saw boys play with a ball game called the Karsa. Dejach De’bul noticed that one boy played very well that the other boys could not wretch the ball from his hold.

He admired this boy and said, to his aide “If this boy could be one’s grandson?” The aide found this opportunity to tell his master of the story, and answered, “My Lord, promise us not to be harsh and be understanding. Can you promise me one thing- kidan? (In the old times, when one gets kidan, he is allowed to say his word and not be punished) Dejach allowed him to speak and the aide replied? This boy is indeed your daughter’s son”.

The chief was so shocked of his not knowing and his daughter had a bastard, and that he knew nothing of it all these years.

But the whole tribe were dissatisfied that their chief had harshly punished their favourite soldier. Dejach De’bul regretted having killed Ambessajir that he forgave his daughter and had the grandson named as his heir.

The son grew up. His mother used to tell him how her father had his father Ambassajir was killed for loving her. Eritrea has still paternal laws. Other kids scolded him of having no father. As a young man, he wanted to vindicate his father.

He felt very sad of his father’s being punished this way and thought of revenging his death, and decided to wait for the right moment against his powerful grandfather.

He became a man and married and became strong. His grandfather had come to forgive, liking and thrusting and relied on him. One day, Dejach De’bul, his grandfather was going for a trip, which would take a year.

He appointed this grandson to be his viceroy, and had him swear the oath of loyalty, three times, as was customary. But after a month of his travelling, the powerful grandfather was taken sick and died of cholera, in a far away country. The grandson inherited the whole country.

This became ripe time to revenge his father’s death. So he prepared a big feast to all male members of mother’s clan, the Hawya. He had a big tent built right by a cliff, known now as Mi-kit-kat Deku.

He had all fine food served. But inside the beer, he had poison, that is, elephant’s bile, added to it. All the guests ate and after drinking of the poison felt dizzy, and he had them thrown off the cliff, so that newcomers would not notice. The hill he built the tent is still called Das Hawya.

But, one member of his mother’s clan, Gebre Hiwet the blind, had perhaps been suspicious of this grandson. When he came near the tent, he asked his daughter who was leading him, if she could see anyone coming out of the tent. She is to have said the famous words “Das Hawya, zi-atew imber zi-wet-sih aye-re-aynan!” The tent of Hawya, entering only, not leaving do we see. Meaning that see could see them entering the tent of Hawya, but saw no one coming out of the tent.

Gebre Hiwet the blind then cried “This cursed son! He has killed all of my brothers! Quickly, lead me out of here before he kills us too!” And they quickly went away, to flee. The grandson had almost all members killed and then remembered the shrewd Gebre Hiwet the blind. He asked if he had been inside.

When told that he never entered, the grandson realized Gebre Hiwet had been suspicious and had fled. Gebre Hiwet the blind was the only male member of the Hawya tribe to be alive, and he should be killed. In the meantime, having vindicated his father’s harsh death, this new ruler proclaimed that his name was Jir Gedela. He may be the father of the Adkeme Melega’ tribe.

Soldiers were sent in pursuit of Gebre Hiwet the blind. He had gone some time earlier and being wise, he told his daughter to watch out for horses. When the horse hooves were heard, they hid under a tree. He, being blind, counted the horses’ hooves, piling a stone for every horse. After they had passed, the daughter wanted to travel on.

But cautious as he was, he told her to wait until the horses passed, returning. And return they did, having had trouble riding through swampy ground. Then, Gebre Hiwet the blind piled the stones one by one for every horse returning, and all were counted for.

This resting place still bears this incident’s name, i.e. a town called Tera Imni, pile of stone, to this day, in Serae. When they decided to rest from their journey, they did so in what place he named Hadire, meaning, I slept the night. When he was surely far away from danger, they temporarily settled in Ma’reba, sunset, which is still called so, in Akele Guzai.

But he missed his home Serae and wandered to a hilly place and continuously asking if Serae could be seen. In this mountain, in now Segeneiti town, at night his daughter could see lights of Serae. He decided that they would settle there, calling the hill Adi Serae, now known as Aserwe Mountain. There were other tribes already there, the Degera people. They intermingled with them. But they slept in this wild uninhabited mountain.

One evening, a lion that had eaten many goats of the people, roared near them. The frightened daughter cried that they were doomed. The brave blind father told his daughter to heat stones. When the lion came close to them and opened his mouth to eat them, the father had his daughter give the hot stones inside the lion’s mouth that when he fell, the father killed him with his spear. He then told his daughter to cut out the lion’ eyebrows (Fare) and kept it safe.

The next day, Degera man was shouting words of their bravery, and dancing warriors? Dance, that they had killed a lion. A killer scalps the lion’s head and wears the fur around, to show around. All the people assembled and were praising them.

Then Gebre Hiwet the blind asked audience to the chief and was granted so. He said that if the braves had indeed killed the lion, where the lion’s eyebrows were. Surprised, the people noticed the lion’s eyebrows were missing. He then pulled out the eyebrows and claimed he himself had killed the lion. He was much hailed.

They said that if this blind man were brave with his handicap, what strong sons he would rear. For this bravery, he was given land to farm, presently known as the Hawya land, south of Segeneiti town, and a girl, from the Injen (look below) house of Degera village, for marriage. But the girl refused to marry a blind man.

Time went by. They were the only survivors of the Hawya tribe. Without him, there will be no more descendants. He had to bear more children. The only female with him was his own daughter.

He proposed that as they were to perish without descendants, she, his daughter should bear him sons. The daughter was very shocked. He explained. But still, what would the villagers say of this scandal! The father said that people would talk for a short while and forget. To prove so, he told her to go to the market naked, but wearing a hyena’s hide.

When she went to the marked as he said, all people gathered around her sneering and laughing at her. Returning home, she told her father of what had happened. The next week, he told her to repeat with the hyena skin again. She did so. Some cried that the crazy one had come, saying “Is not she from last week?” and were less curious to see her. The third week in the market, nobody bothered her saying is that same crazy one.

Her father now made her understand that people tend to not care after a while, and they lived as husband and wife. She bore him three sons. It is also said that a Degera woman with beady eyes was given to him and she bore him three sons but died.

With his sons from the Degera woman, and these 3 present ones, he settled in the land the Degera people had given to him. They had given him land so they would not quarrel with him over land ownership later. And the land was called Ad Hawya after his tribe’s name. The Degera man who gave him the land was called Zena Gabriel. One son went to Agame.

One to Hazemo, three settled in Segeneiti, and two went further to their land of origin, in Serae. Gebre Hiwet divided his land equally to all his sons, like they were all from one mother. Two of his sons went to his ancestral country to see.

When the two sons arrived in their father’s village, water was scarce with no rainfall for a long time. One of the sons struck his stick on the ground and water gushed out that their horses drunk enough. The villagers who were watching them curiously, happily drew plenty water to their homes. The village elders were astonished of this water. When told of these two strangers, they knew they must be Gebre Hiwet’s sons.

They followed them to Segeneiti and begged them to return to Serae. The villagers asked for forgiveness and begged them to settle there, and they agreed to return after the seven years the community re-divided lands of Segeneiti.

Their former lands and wealth were returned to them. But fearing another ambush, those who returned did not settle in one village, but spread around. They are found in Ad Gawel, Adi Hayo, and Ad Hawya of Serae villages. Now the clan have spread to other areas too, like Ad Zewabo, Wekerti and Enda Emmanuel villages.

About 40 years ago, the Hawya, with the initiation of Aboi Berhane Gurumu (of Hawya tribe in Segeneiti, he told me of this meeting) met in Segeneiti and had a feast in Asmera. Hawyas from Wekerti and Inda Emmanuel were with them. But they did not continue after that. (Other tribes also ceased to meet when the Derg time came and it was too dangerous to move around). Enda Emmanuel village is mostly from the Hawya. In Segeneiti town there are several dozen farmers of Hawya now. Source: (Eritrios Net)

By Stefano Valentino

“Si, se puede,” “Pabst, please” and now, “African Unity” is the latest political mantra echoing in the Mission.

The African Advocacy Network will hold its inaugural meeting early this year at its headquarters at 522 Valencia Street to explore ways to promote stronger cooperation within the African community and with other ethnic groups in the Bay Area.

To this end, the network has extended an invitation to the leaders of other communities, including the Latino, Asian and Arab communities, as well as to the Oakland-based Black Alliance for a Just Immigration.

“We think we can learn a lot from the experiences of well-established communities and we might better achieve our goals by cooperating with them,” says Adoubou Traore, who was born in the Ivory Coast and is currently a language teacher at Cañada College in Redwood City as well as project director of the African Advocacy Network.

An Afro-ethnic Mosaic

“Coordinating workshops and events can be really challenging because African immigrants are dispersed all over the Bay and are not as tightly connected as Latinos or Asians are,” says Joe Sciarrillo, a paralegal at the network, which was created last June. An estimated 38,000 African immigrants live in the Bay Area, with approximately 4,700 in San Francisco. The largest number of immigrants come from Ethiopia, but there are also substantial numbers from Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa.

Still, creating services that cater to all of them has proven to be difficult, at least partly because local governments frequently fail to identify them adequately.

“The first challenge that African immigrants face is being under-counted, since most local government forms do not list Africa as an option for country of origin, so African immigrants are often counted as ‘African-American,’” explains Tomás Lee, director of the San Francisco Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs.

This social fragmentation also reflects Africa’s cultural and linguistic heterogeneity and the geographical distances within the continent itself.

“Very often it’s only when we come to the US that we meet other African immigrants for the first time outside of our countries of origin,” Traore said.

“It takes time to overcome the anxiety resulting from the contact with individuals who are different from us, learn about each other and focus on what we have in common – being African and away from our homeland.”

Starting Small, Growing Quickly

The organization has a growing number of clients who accept free social services, case management, housing assistance, resources for employment, job searches and legal assistance. A third are from Ethiopia and Eritrea, a third from French-speaking countries in Western Africa, such as Ivory Coast, Togo and Senegal and a quarter are from English-speaking countries, mostly Nigeria and Ghana. Newcomers from North Africa, in particular Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, add to the mosaic of ethnicities that the network is seeking to stitch together.

The majority reside in San Francisco, including a great many in the Mission.

The upcoming meeting will focus on how to support unique ethnic identities while simultaneously forming a greater African movement, helping people resolve immigration issues, organizing joint cultural events, providing educational services and fundraising.

Another key focus will be on promoting business awareness within the community and encouraging people to patronize each other’s services.

“Many Africans we see don’t even realize that some compatriots live in their same neighborhood, thus missing the chance for accessing mutual support,” Sciarrillo says. “For example, few Africans living in the Mission know that one of their community members has a thriving computer repair business (Bay Computers) and that another one runs a taxi service.”

Promoting Dialogue Between Communities

The African Advocacy Network receives funding from the Mayor’s Office of Community Investment, through the San Francisco Immigrant Legal & Education Network, as well as from the California Endowment through Dolores Street Community Services. Both the legal network and Dolores Street are based on Valencia Street.

The way the network operates is a unique example of inter-community collaboration.

“AAN is a project of Dolores Street, which traditionally serves Latinos, and as such it represents the first official form of cooperation between the two communities,” Sciarrillo says. “Up until now, these two communities have collaborated but there has never been a formal organizational integration.”

Many clients who need specialized legal assistance from immigration attorneys are served by the Asian Law Caucus.

The Arab community, through the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, also assists the African network by providing office space at below-market rates.

Another important issue on the agenda is how to work together with the African-American community.

“Our current level of intercultural understanding is not as great as we would like it to be,” Traore says.

“We are different from each other: many African-Americans no longer know much about Africa. Many African immigrants only know of the mass media’s narrative when it comes to African-Americans. It’s going to take a great deal to educate both sides. African-Americans can serve as powerful source of support for newly arrived African immigrants. And we can help them to recover their historic roots.” Source: (Missionlocal)

Mesquel

Eritrea is among the first countries which embraced the great world religions Christianity and Islam. It is even assumed that there were Jewish communities in Eritrea long before Christianity was introduced and that is the reason why the Eritrean Orthodox church has many Judaic aspects like keeping the Sabbath, harboring copies of the Arc of Covenant (Tabot) and pork prohibition.

Both religions have influenced almost all aspects of life in Eritrea as in the rest of the world. They are binding forces of the society and have great roles in civilization. Education, literature, architecture, legislature and administration in Eritrea are strongly influenced by them.

Christmas, which is celebrated on the 7.of January is second to Easter, the most highly revered Christian holiday in Eritrea. It is commemorating the day God took a human form to abide among us and be as one of us. (Emmanuel = God is with us).

No Christmas trees or exchange of gifts were known on Christmas originally in Eritrea. At Christmas morning people go to church and celebrate the Divine Liturgy, listening to readings of Bible verses in the old Geez language and Jared choir songs (Qdassie) sung by the priests accompanied with rhythmic drum beats and cymbals in the orthodox and Geez Catholic churches. Later after prayers, people come together and enjoy a tasty religious meal and various types of local drinks.

Several days before Christmas there is much activity in the city markets, people buying and selling things for the feast. Especially a day or two ahead of Christmas the streets are crowded with people who want to buy; animals such as sheep, goat, cow or hen.

The market is buzzing with people chatting and doing last-minute grocery shopping for the holidays. People usually check an animal before purchasing to ensure it provides enough meat. There is no fixed price for the animals; hence, both buyers and sellers negotiate until they reach to what they think is a fair price. Making a deal is a long and funny process.

There is a special Eritrean custom that a group of people buy a cow or an ox, slaughter it and share the flesh, referred to as (Guzzi). This is a long tradition in Eritrea that shows the cohesion or cooperative nature of the society against individualism.

It may not be affordable or is a tedious job for one family to buy and carry a whole cow. Hence, the feasible way is to form a group, buy a cow and share it so that everybody can happily celebrate Christmas.

On the eve of Christmas fathers slaughter a sheep a goat or at least a hen. Most people prefer a sheep to a goat but some argue a goat is much cheaper and has much more meat. Mothers or daughters take the last steps of brewing Swa, homemade beer, bake Injera, a thin, flat spongy sour bread preferably made of Taff flour and cook Zgni, a hot meat stew. Green straw (Setti) is spread on the floor and maybe a soothing incense smoke fills the room. The whole event is very exciting and every family member contributes at some point during the whole process.

For small children in the country side slaughtering an animal is like losing an animal they knew like a family member or a friend, therefore it is an unhappy event even though it is a special occasion that had to be celebrated. For children living in the city it is exiting to see their parents bringing along a pet on the eve of Christmas. The next day when they see the animal slaughtered they tend to be not very amused. However, as the friendship only lasted one day their sorrow is not as deep as that of village children.

There is one extreme case, namely if a family happens to have guests from abroad. Diaspora children enjoy eating meat and meat products purchased in the supermarket almost every day and have little or no contact with live animals. Such children are extremely shocked to see animals slaughtered. They protest and try to stop the brutal event. Some refuse even to eat from the meat and swear to remain vegetarian for the rest of their lives.

At Christmas morning people go to church and celebrate the Divine Liturgy, listening to readings of Bible verses in the old Geez language and Jared choir songs (Qdassie) sung by the priests accompanied with rhythmic drum beats and cymbals in the orthodox and Geez Catholic churches.

Mothers or daughters take the last steps of brewing Swa, a home made beer, bake Injera, a thin, flat spongy sour bread preferably made of Taff flour and cook Zgni, a hot meat stew. Green straw (Setti) is spread on the floor and maybe a soothing incense smoke fills the room.

This whole combination spreads a special smell in the air which creates a festive atmosphere. Then the tasty meal is set on the table. Prayer is said by a father, the eldest or a senior member of the family and then everyone can spread his fingers and enjoy eating the delicious zgni with injera. One might overeat on this day even in poor families because as a rule there is abundant delicate food on the table.

Should there be a poor family in a village which can not afford to slaughter even a hen, then the ones who are blessed with abundance see it as their obligation even as an opportunity to get God’s blessing to help such a family. Coffee with Popcorn or Himbasha, homemade Eritrean bread is served after eating the meal.

It is not unusual to observe on the eve of Christmas people lining up before shops to buy Panettone and then carry it home in flocks. Being affordable almost for everybody, it seems at least in the cities that it is winning favor over the traditional bread Himbasha on Christmas day.

Rich families get usually a visit from guest musicians, playing Wata, who hope to earn some money. The musicians are usually offered a cup (Wantcha) or two of Swa or even a piece of Injera with Zgni and some Naqfas.

In the afternoon and evening adult males stroll through the city streets for meeting friends, taking fresh air or a walk that might help them digest the heavy meal. Many of them attired in their white Habesha costume, a long loosely worn shirt (Qemsh) and a fine cotton shall (Netzela) over strangely tailored trousers, which one might think they were made for horse riders (Gtr). Their final destination is a coffee house, Swa local or Myes local where they sip a beer, Swa, Myies (a liquor made from fermented honey) cappuccino or whatever they enjoy to drink.

Children usually get new clothes or shoes on Christmas. After enjoying their lunch they might play outside with other children boasting how fine their new clothes or shoes are.

Members of modern Evangelical churches and Catholics are more or less oriented to their mother churches in the west. They celebrate Christmas with decorated Christmas trees, candles, candies and Panettone, a delicious Italian cake. Their members exchange gifts as it is tradition in the west.

Celebrating Christmas with a Christmas tree and sharing gifts has become popular and widespread even among the orthodox Christians of Eritrea.

Alexander Pushkin

Asmara, 28 November 2009 – The newly erected Pushkin Monument in Asmara was inaugurated today.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in which Government and PFDJ officials, members of the Russian Parliament and invited guests took part, the Administrator of the Central region, Mr. Tewolde Kelati, pointed out that the erection of the full-size Monument in Eritrean in honor of the renowned Russian poet Alexander Pushkin is the first of its kind in Africa.

The monument and the subsequent opening of the Pushkin Cultural Center would make due contribution to the development of culture, arts and education at the national and region level, he added.

Mr. Tewolde further stated that the erection of the Pushkin Monument would serve as a link between two cultures, though geographically wide apart. He further noted that Eritrea believes in the development of closer cultural exchange on the basis of equality on the part of the two sides.

The Administrator went on to express appreciation to all the parties, inducing the Eritrean-Russian Cooperation Association that made the necessary contribution to the successful accomplishment of the erection of the Pushkin Monument.

Also speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Elena Drapeko, Member of the Russian Parliament, explained that Pushkin’s great artistic works are treasured worldwide, and said that the renowned poet was proud of his African origin. She further expressed hope that the erection of the Monument would play due role in enhancing Eritrean-Russian relations.

A number of artistic presentations were staged during the inauguration ceremony, according to reports. Source: (Shabait)

Senayit Andebrhan

CALGARY- The wife of a man who died in a garage fire in northeast Calgary Friday night says she is shattered by the death of her husband, who was “everything” to her. Family and friends of Emanuel Kifle, 36, said he moved to Calgary from Eritrea less than two years ago to build a better life.

Emergency crews were called to his home in the city’s northeast Friday at about 7:30 p.m., where he was found dead in the garage, along with another person.

Members of Calgary’s Eritrean community gathered in a Renfrew home Saturday afternoon to provide comfort to Kifle’s devastated widow, Senayit Andebrhan. “He was very kind,” said Andebrhan, 33, sobbing. “I don’t know what to say. He was everything to me.” Andebrhan was at work at her downtown office cleaning job when she heard the sad news Friday night. She has no other family in Calgary.

The couple were married in Eritrea before they moved to Canada in 2007. They had planned to start a family in Calgary. “He was looking forward to growing better and working hard,” said his cousin, Azmera Mamo. Kifle was a mechanic, and was studying to write his journeyman’s test next month so he could find better work in Calgary.

The tall, cheerful man had a magnetic personality, said Mamo. “He was very kind, very giving,” Mamo said. “So many people know him.” He had family members in Africa and Europe, as well as a brother in Vancouver, who is en route to Calgary after learning the news.

“I’m in shock. When you look at him, he’s very tall, a healthy man, you never think death will get him,” said Mamo. “I’m still thinking it’s a dream.” Mamo said the other man who died in the garage was Kifle’s best friend.

Investigators haven’t said what caused the fire. A burnt-out vehicle was on jacks inside the garage.

Neighbour Mike Davis said he was watching TV when he heard a loud noise. “I heard a whoosh, like when you start your barbecue and it’ doesn’t catch.

All of a sudden it was all orange light coming in the window,” said Davis. “I looked out and the garage was on fire, and I just called 911.” His wife and kids were just walking in the front door when the blaze broke out, Davis said. “They said ‘There’s a fire and someone’s screaming Help, help.’ ”

When crews arrived on Friday night, the detached garage was ablaze. “The fire was knocked down in about a minute or so and that’s when we came across the bodies,” said fire department spokesman Jeff Budai. “Unfortunately, two patients involved were overcome by smoke and flame by the time we got to them.”

Fire officials say there was a vehicle on jacks inside the garage but that it’s too early to tell if the victims were working on it. “At this point it doesn’t seem suspicious in nature but we don’t want to jump to any conclusions, so we’ve brought the arson unit down,” said Budai. Mamo said community members are still breaking the sad news to Kifle’s loved ones. A collection has been started to help his wife. “In our community, we’re all family,” she said. with files from Deborah Tetle. Source:(The Calgary Herald)

Miss East Africa Beauty pageant, Rwanda chapter has attracted 40 belles, a sign it is going to be a tough contest this year.

Aware of the stiff competition, the prestige and the huge role Miss East Africa plays in the region, Rwanda is has assembled tested and talented beautifies.

Christian Gakwaya, Chief Executive Officer Rwanda Events, contracted by Rena Events, a Tanzanian based firm behind the beauty pageant said contestants must be presentable.

“In Rwanda we are checking on intellect, modeling, expression, behavior and answering questions before short listing ,” said Gakwaya. At the close of registration Monday last week, Miss Kigali, Miss Kigali Institute of Science Technology (KIST), and Miss Kigali Health Institute (KIH) were on the list of contestants.

The lucky two winners will be sent to join other 26 contestants drawn from Burundi , Kenya , Tanzania and Uganda. They will also face beauties from Sudan , Ethiopia and Somalia , Eritrea , Seychelles , Comoro and Mauritius are also slated to participate.

Last year Claudia Niyonzima, a Burundi belle scooped the 2008 Miss East Africa crown. The born again law student from Light University , Bujumbura beat contestants from ten East Africa countries.

The contestants were from Burundi , Rwanda , Uganda , Tanzania , Kenya , Eritrea , Ethiopia , Somalia , Mauritius and Djibouti

Gakwaya says, “We shall field the best two from Rwanda for finals in Dar Es Salaam .” This year, Miss East Africa will walk away with a prize of Range Rover, worth US$165,000 on December 19.

It will be the fourth time Rena Events, a Tanzania based firm will be organizing Miss East Africa Beauty Pageant. Source: (East African Business Week)

Mr Oktoberfest 2009

Each year during the Oktoberfest (Beer Festival) in Munich, Germany, around 6 million people from around the world gather to consume 60,000 hectolitres of beer. Many of them are dressed in traditional Bavarian Lederhosen (leather trousers).

For example, the Herald Tribune’s International edition reports that people get so intoxicated or super drunk that they loose things like prosthetic legs, wheelchairs, superman costumes and once a man lost 15,000 Deutsche Mark in soiled pair of Lederhosen.

The only thing authorities did not keep track of is the vast number of teary-eyed teenage girls who lost their boyfriends.

The Oktoberfest is known all over the world and is celebrated from Shanghai to Ohio. No surprise that every little village in Germany has its own Oktoberfest with a yearly crowning of Mrs and Mr Oktoberfest.

The Beer Festival also takes place in the German city of Konstanz near the Swiss border, which is called the Swiss-German Oktoberfest due to its proximity to Switzerland.

The Mr Oktoberfest 2009 nominated this year in Konstanz is nor of Swiss or German origin. You would not believe it, the winner is a 21 year old by the name of Sahle Fessehaye who was born in Germany with parents from Eritrea.

When Sahle Fessehaye was asked how he got the idea to apply for the Mr Oktoberfest 2009, he replied that his friends convinced him to enter the competition. The vote for Mr Oktoberfest 2009 was held through the Internet by a large online audience.

After Sahle Fessehaye found out that he had won, he received a second message saying that his girl friend has been announced Mrs October fest 2009 in the female’s competition. This is probably the first couple ever to win the competition in the same year at the same Beer Festival.

The 21 year old apprentice says about his election, “This is quite an experience; you meet a lot of important people. There are a lot of VIP boxes I had to visit in order to represent the Oktoberfest Committee. My girlfriend and I shook hands with the governor and hand him gifts, which is a traditional task of Mrs and Mr Oktoberfest – this is an opportunity I would never have had.“

One of the most frequently asked question is how people react to his crowning; the reply from Sahle Fessehaye is that reactions are different but mostly friendly with a lot of hugs, handshakes and kisses. He says that people seem to be happy that a black man can win the Mr. Oktoberfest title; this is why he sees himself as an ambassador and representative of multi cultural diversity.

You do not come around Eritreans in Lederhosen very often. However, Sahle Fessehaye seems to like them as he points out, “I must say: Lederhosen are very comfortable and I will treasure them for the rest of my life and I will keep them in any case as a reminder.”