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Umsafata, Sudan
Selamawi and his family fled Ethiopia for a refugee camp in Umsagata, Sudan. This is where Selamawi learned to survive in the rough conditions of the refugee camp. He had is first experience with school and learned to make slingshots, hunt and fight. -
Coming to America
During this time the United States agreed made an agreement with Sudan to resettle some of the millions of refugees that had fled from Ethiopia and Eritrea. Selamawi's father worked with World Relief and gain entry for his family of 5 into the United States. This is when Mulu, Selamawis half sister showed up at the refugee camp. Because of this Selamwis father had plead for her entry into the United States as well. As a result, they had spent an additional year in the refugee camp. -
A New Life
Selamawi and his family landed in Chicago awaiting sponsors. During this time Selemawi's father had developed malaria. They were able to get medicine for Haileab's malaria and gained sponsorship from the Bethel Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, IL. This is where they found home and learned of the different types of dangers in the United States. -
Playground Warfare
This is when Halileab (Selamawi's father) gave Selamawi and his siblings the most important lesson they could learn. Haileab said, "YOU ARE POOR AND BLACK AND WE CANNOT BUY YOU THE RESOURCES THAT OTHER PARENTS CAN. BUT IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH DESIRE TO OUTWORK ALL THE OTHER STUDENTS AND YOU NEVER GIVE UP, YOU WILL WIN THE RACE ONE DAY. This is also where Selamawi and Telwolde (Sellamawi's brother) learned about raceisim, and how to deal with school yard bullies. -
Days of Mischief
Tewolde and Salamawi found ways to fit in and gain their fair share and then some. They plotted and executed the perfect way to maximize the amount of candy they could recieve at haloween. They also began to test their limits by stealing a parking meter, almost getting them arrested by the police. This is when they remembered the lesson their father had taught them "It starts with an egg" the story about stealing. They escaped their brush with the law and straightened up. -
Developing a Heart - losing a best friend
As the boys grew older especially Tewolde, the became more thoughtful and caring. He became more in touch with his faith. Both of them gained jobs and helped others as they had received help in the past. Tewolde, began his own business cleaning. While Selamawi went to school and flipped burgers. Tewolde had dreams of gaining the library contract to clean their building for them. Tewolde, gets killed by a drunk driver.
