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The Homeland
Mawi's homeland of Eritrea and Ethiopia fought a deadly civil war from 1961 - 1991. -
Mawi birth
Mawi was born in 1976 -
Changing hearts
1989 hearts began to change and Tewolde learned how to get things for free along with helping others in need
p 65 -
Survival
They survived on goat milk, eggs, United Nation rations, and whatever they could grow in a small garden. -
Family photo
In Khartoum, Sudan, right before leaving for America.
P14 -
Chicago Bound
Finally, after agreeing to work with a family of 6 they were leaving for America.
p 16 -
Talk of war
Mawi's father treated everyone he was like a doctor. Merngistu Haile Mariam Ethiopian dictator.
p 78 -
Family
Selamawu in Sudan at age six -
Having fun
Having fun and making friends -
Going to America
to be able to go to America you had to pass an infamous test.
p 15 -
We pass
in 1982 Mawi's family passed the test to go to America. They sold it all. Parents persisted to bring half sister Mulu. Only a family of five not six
p16 -
The Nation
Eritrea became an independent nation in 1993 -
The Travel
Mawi, his mother and 5 year old brother and baby sister walked to Sudan in hopes to find his father.
p 2 -
Continued travel
Crossing the Sudanese border and arriving in Awad. "Awad, home of the exiled. Home of the hopeless.
p. 2 -
Survival II
Dancing was a way to get money. Mawi's father was considered a great dancer.
p 9 -
Army
Sudanese armies would find soldiers from the refugee camps.
p10 -
The war 30 year bloodbath between Ethiopia and Eritrea World Relief had mediated an agreement to move refugees to America
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The war 30 year bloodbath between Ethiopia and Eritrea World Relief had mediated an agreement to move refugees to Americap
World Relief would have to find American sponsors who could find them a furnished home, job, health care -
Struggling Parents
with parents struggle to get by Mawi and his brother excelled in school to be able to give parents better.
p 63 -
Birthplace
Mawi was born in Adi Wahla
Haileab was born in Adwa
Tsege was born in Asmaca -
Tewolde hit by car and died
Working hard life ended by being hit by a car
p 69 -
Safety
1980 - 1983 lived in a refugee camp in Umsagata (This is where they sought safety) -
Worked in clinic growing up
He listened and learned and read books took test past 84 p 86 -
Haikeab born 1934 p 85
In Spray Eritrea father died and mother very ill lived in Coptic Christian Minastery -
8th grade eviction
Father taught great manners they were evicted because of job loss had to move to Marian Park p 100 -
Married mathe 20 yrs older
Only a few years of marriage 4 children born in Adult Walls, Ethiopia -
Death of his brother p112
brother killed by drunk driver in Souix Falls SD -
Coach paying for shoes p115
Hi coach paid for his shoes and clothing for track -
applied to many different colleges p118
It cost $50 for each college application and some he would write letters attached to app. to get fee waived. -
Dec 1997 saw dad for 4 weeks 121
spent 4 weeks with dad remembering couch 1992 and other stories from his dad before dying -
Graduation
Graduated from Harvard 1999 thought of his brother and how his father would have just stood up and started talking during his commencement speech.