Abesha.Com

In Your Area: Bisirat Hagos

Occupation: Scientist/Student presently

Finish the Sentence if I were a planet... I would keep healing the woes and wounds of the world while tending the soil for a new growth.


Where are you from? Born and raised in Eritrea, Asmara. Hawet NiHafash!

What does your identity mean to you? From my spirit and outward there is a sense of freedom, calmness, and tranquility that is instilled in me from the strong women of my family. I value that very much because to survive in this chaotic world there is a need of sense of self and a reminder of where I came from. Then there is my blood flowing in me that represents my people and my country that urges me to be the best I can be so that myself and my people can transcend to another level and excel.


What/Who inspires you? Tiblez Tesfaldet Dagno, the woman that wakes up at the crack of down to go to church and have conversation with God. The woman that raised eleven children that grew up fierce, strong and loving children. The woman who gave birth to my simply amazing mother. She will always stands tall and to my ever lasting consternation will always be the one that reminds me to get married as soon as possible; hiji! Hiji! Lol. One of her many wisdoms that I treasure is when she told me these following words before she went back to Asmara, “Bless you zha gwaley, don’t forget where you are from; you need your roots in order to survive. Make your circle and come back home. If you ever need me, just say my name and know you are in my prayers.” To me she is simply my beautiful grandmother Dada; I love you.


Where will you be in 10 years? In a place where I can help my people and anyone that is in need. Hopefully my curiosity does not get me in trouble, I want to hone it for research and experiment purposes hopefully! Secondly God willing I will go to medical school for neurology and open up my practice.


Which disease do you think is most interesting? Why? Hahahaha… Eway ane, that’s a crazy question! Va bene I’ll answer it; I think what fascinates me is the Yin Yang balance of our immune system. It has this amazing ability to heal, adapt, keeps a tab of what is going on and protect the body; yet at the same time it’s extremely protective to the point it turns on itself causing various diseases such as Parkinson and multiple sclerosis. Amazing mish?

What is your favorite memory of all time? Eritrea’s Independence Day. The previous day there was a fight, so my mother kept us home instead of going to school the next day, which was Thursday, May 24th. I remember sitting in front of my house by Kidane Mihret with my cousin and watching endless Ethiopian soldiers marching out in four rows. They were clutching their weapons to their chest and their boots were hitting the streets in rhythmic fashion and we were so confused and scared of what was going on. Late in the afternoon we heard these thunderous sounds and we thought it was bombings that we usually hear once in a while from far away. The most puzzling part is when those thunderous sounds kept coming closer. When we peered outside, we saw our Tegadelti waving our new flag and banging their water jugs to the side of the tanks and cars. The happiness and joy that came over me is unexplainable. The whole family just left the house to hug, and kiss our heroes. The pride in their eyes and the simple joy that radiated out of their faces just enveloped everyone around them. Added to our joy, out of my three uncles that went to Meda, one of them came back to us alive. To see him that day and the way my grandmother, my aunts and my mother clutched and hugged him close is a love that consumes one wholly. It was a beautiful moment to be introduced to one of my uncles I have never met. That day was a new beginning for my people and my family. I’ll never forget the time my people and I got our freedom to breathe.

Which tree most closely resembles your personality? Everglades Palm or formally known as Acoelorraphe wrightii.

What is your daily routine? Wake up 6 am in the morning, run a mile with my dog. I must have my kemem shahi with sighem kitcha and Otis Redding crooning in my ears before I ran to catch my train. Then off to the lab to inspect ongoing experiments and read endless abstracts papers; maybe study in the subway if I get the chance. That’s were the routine ends, the rest is filled with furor of activities I can’t barely describe if I tried to. At the end of the night I must have my quite moment with God, my cappuccino and my pad-pen per favore.

Are you a day or a night person? Eh depends when I have too many things to do, but most of the time I’m definitely an early bird.

If you had access to unlimited resources (people, money, etc.) what would you do? This is fun!
- Africa would be well fed, peaceful, and healthy continent.
- Change the education system.
- Bush would pay for the crimes he committed.
- FDA and pharmaceutical companies would go right along with Bush, sneaky little worms.
Still unlimited? The rest I plead the fifth, lol.

Which quote sums it all up: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Martin Luther King Jr.

Boxers or briefs: Ma che? Lol what about naturale?


Rent or go to the Movies: Rent? No way! I live in the most amazing city. I never want to miss out the drama in the train stations, watch people from all walks of life, listen to the underground artists that are the heartbeat of the city and a breeze through central park. The movie is just an icing in the cake at the end of the night.

Favorite Book: ahhh my secret treasures. To name a few my favorites are: Orwell’s 1984, Invisible Man, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Gifted Hands.

Favorite Movie: Mother India (does anyone remember this movie or is it just me?) Apocalypto and the Garden of the Finzi-Continis.

Favorite Artist/Music: Again it’s impossible to narrow it to just one. I love to listen to meda songs such as Yemane Baria and Tekle Tesfazki; then give me Otis Redding, Beethoven, Billy Holiday, Fuel, and Cheb Khaled with a touch of conscious hip hop such as Talib Kweli and Common I’m a happy woman.

In closing, you would like to add: It’s wonderful to see Eritreans and Ethiopians respecting and working with one another in this website. I also want to thank B.Y. it is an honor that you included me.
I also want to urge our new generation to keep striving to help our communities. Register to vote so that our voice can be heard to make changes here and abroad (lol I promise I’m not P. Diddy err I mean Diddy). We are needed to improve ourselves and our countries with the skills and knowledge we are attaining so don’t give up! God bless.