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Leaving Ethiopia
While he may not remember much at the age of 3, Mawi does remember the long treacherous walk to reach the Sudanese Border. -
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Sudanese refugee camp in Umsagata
While they survived on goat milk, eggs, U.N. rations, and what their small garden could produce in this small dusty village, there also sat a schoolhouse about a mile out of town. Mawi describes the atmosphere as "brutal" when he writes about the different acts of brutality that were performed at the school and in the village. -
America in their sights
While Mawi's family was under the impression that America was considered a paradise, many of the villagers tried to convince them otherwise. Mawi's parents just wanted peace. They had to wait for a year so that Mawi's sister could join them, they set forward to go to America. -
A house to call home?
After living in a motels for 9 weeks, the news came that there was a home for them to live in. Mawi's family was used to living in a one-room adobe, they were pretty surprised to see a two-story house. Even though Mawi's father had gotten a job, they could only afford to rent the upstairs. -
Angels in different disguises
Mawi's father explains to him that angels were always disguised as the lowliest of beetles. There was one angel that was "well-disguised" as Mawi puts it, that after the family clothed him and fed him, did give them the gift of an address book that they would use for several years. -
Celestial faced angel, Charlene
One particular angel that Mawi describes as a celestial face with long, streaming brown hair woman, had floated into their lives right after the last angel. Charlene was trusted by Mawi's parents. They allowed her to take him and his sibling on outings that his parents were too scared to allow them to do otherwise. -
Tough times on the playground
Times truly were rough for the boys on the playground during their years at Longfellow Elementary. Even though most students treated them nicely, there were some that were just flat out mean. There were hundreds of students to only 1 supervisor. The boys were cornered a lot and bullied by other boys. -
Expulsion for the wrong students
Even though it was the other kids starting the fights, the school sent a letter to Mawi's parents explaining that the boys were fighting everyday. If it didn't stop, they would be expelled. Their father told them no matter what they are not to fight. Take the beatings. They would not get scholarships with expulsion on their re4cord. -
Hoyo, Hoyo!!! Trick or Treat!!!!
The Sudanese version of America's Halloween are actually quite similar. While lighting bonfires in Sudan, they still ran from adobe to adobe chanting Hoyo, Hoyo. The entire community came together with prejudice or hate towards each other. -
Halloween mischief
Despite being bullied in school, Mawi and Tewolde certainly created their own trouble in their neighbor hood during Halloween. They were doing practically anything to get their hands on more candy. -
Free mall
The boys would often visit their "free mall", the dumpsters of Wheaton College. Many of the upper class students would throw away items they no longer needed. The boys used this to their advantage and go through the dumpsters. -
Developing a heart
As Tewolde was maturing, he was becoming quite an outstanding young man. He would give poor people of the streets his lunch and sit and talk with them. Find out their story and see if there was anything that he could to help in other ways as well. -
Saying Goodbye
Unfortunately Tewolde never graduated from H.S. He was killed by a drunk driver his senior year. -
Sipping coffee
As the adults would talk and tell stories, the children would hide and listen. Tsege would tell stories of their lives back in Ethiopia and when they would move to Sudan. How Haileab was doctoring there and they were considered to be doing well for themselves. -
Becoming a man
Haileab had a hard childhood. Grew up in a monastery, then a relative at age 9 where he was treated as a servant more than a loved one. He would later take a test that would allow him to treat patients as a healer. With the war on the horizon, he fled to Sudan and would call for his wife and children soon. -
Hardships of getting older
Haileab worked as a janitor at Wheaton college while living in the states until his eye sight started to fail. Haileab also knew that one has to work hard in life. He instilled this work ethic in his children. He also taught the importance of getting along with others. -
Haileab the hero
Several years later Mawi ran into an old friend that had visited their homeland and he would tell Mawi the stories that people were still telling about his father. How he was considered to be a hero to them and the wonderful things that his father did for those people. -
Staight A student
Despite rough middle school experiences with his classmates, Mawi set his sights on the scholarships that he wanted. He studied seriously hard and was getting straight A's. -
A rough patch
While Mawi was receiving the straight A's that he deserved, he experienced a rough patch that would change his life. Tewolde died. Mawi's grades dipped. Almost gave up on his dream, but then he thought of Tewolde. He knew that he couldn't give up and ended up getting his grades back up. -
Coach Kroger
Mawi had never intended to join the track team, but Coach Kroger had talked him into it. This special caoch had done a lot for Mawi from buying him proper track shoes to even buying him some clothes. -
Class President
While Mawi wasn't considered popular, he was still voted the class president by his peers. He was voted in because he treated everyone like an angel. His peers didn't like the way the cool kids treated them but not Mawi. -
Applying for college
Mawi was worried how he was going to pay for college. He wasn't planning on applying to all the top colleges, but his counselor had encouraged him to do so. "Don't say no for them" With excellent grades and letters of recommendation that praised his attitude, Mawi received acceptance from all the colleges he applied for. -
Harvard bound
Mawi was accepted to many colleges that offered him different scholarships, he accepted the full-tuition scholarship from Havard. -
A hero is taken
Haileab life was taken by a drunk driver in 1997. Mawi was a junior in college when he lost his father. Haileab was a good man here in the America. He helped many that couldn't help themselves. From translating for his people to bringing them food and offering shelter to refugees new to America. -
Graduation in college and in life
While Mawi has a Harvard degree, he still thinks of his life experiences as guidance for his future. He not only tries to see the beauty in things, he tries to give beauty as well. Small acts of kindness goes a long way.
