Miracle Loops: A Biography Based On The Life And Writings Of Fanaye Dirasse 2g6k2e

Copyright © 2015 Laketch Dirasse

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Excerpt from The Book of Awakening ©2000 by Mark Nepo, with permission from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC Newburyport, MA and San Francisco, CA www.redwheelweiser.com

All quotes from A Course in Miracles are from the ‘X’ Edition, © Foundation for

Inner Peace, P.O.Box 598, Mill Valley, CA 94942-0598, www.acim.org and [email protected]

Excerpts from Quiet Thoughts, written by Paul S. McElroy, © 1964 by Peter Pauper Press, Inc. Used with permission.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover photo © 2013, Laketch Dirasse Other photo credits see page 92

ISBN: 978-1-4808-1550-6 (sc) ISBN: 978-1-4808-1549-0 (e) Library of Congress Control Number: 2015902512

Archway Publishing rev. date: 03/11/15

Contents

Preface

Introduction

The Very Beginning And Childhood Memories

Memorable School Year

Quest for Higher Education and Coming to America

Career Dream Actualized

Memories and Testimonials from Iowa

New Opportunities and Life Challenges

Opening an Education Center

New Life Challenges and Aborted Career Dreams

Reaching Out Through Miracle Loops and Exit to Heaven

Afterword

Bibliography

Photo Credits

About The Author

Dedicated to the family, friends and students of Fanaye Dirasse, and to teachers everywhere

May The Work I’ve Done Speak For Me

Words from a traditional African American hymn

Preface

I t seems just like yesterday that I was sitting at my sister, Fanaye (Fani) Dirasse’s bedside at the Virginia Hospital Center. It was such a lovely July morning when Fani and I were laughing, and discussing the book we hoped to write together. She was still recovering from her second brain surgery in a month. We had chosen Miracle Loops as the title to reflect her remarkable life, and the numerous miracle loops of recovery she had gone through over the years. These include:

• The saga around her twelve fingers at birth • Suffering third degree burns twice, first as a two-year old and again thirty-three years later • Donating a kidney to a stranger • Suffering a stroke 6 months later • Three brain surgeries over a period of five years • Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

There is no doubt that these accidents and procedures left marks and scars that go much deeper than the physical. Yet, as Fani glided, and at times, flew through her miracle loops of recovery, she came out with heightened care and love for others. Her infectious smile, and zest for life, continued to inspire all she came across. My heart is heavy with grief as I try to recollect those last days, yet I am also heartened knowing that I was lucky to have had such a vivacious, generous and loving woman for my sister. Indeed throughout her life, Fani personified Emily

Dickinson’s poem:

If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. (Johnson, ed. 1960, 433).

Fani was the fourth child in our family of eight children, born to Mrs. Ethiopia Yirdaw and Lieutenant General Dirasse Dubale, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From a young age, Fani aspired to become a teacher. In a letter addressed to herself at the end of ninth grade of high school, she was clear about her determination to become a teacher. Though she never returned to Ethiopia to teach, her wish was fulfilled after completing her university education, when she was offered a position as an elementary school teacher in Iowa. Over the years, she received numerous awards, and honorable mentions for her excellence, including, being the 1986 Iowa finalist, nominated for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching. Fani was a dedicated and accomplished teacher, ired and respected by her school s, colleagues, students, and their parents. At the core of her existence was a search for the Divine. In a hand written booklet entitled: “The Long-Haired Me,” which she wrote as a ninth grader, she emphasized her perpetual search for knowledge of God, self-understanding, and selfactualization, as well as her aspirations to become a teacher. In the following pages, I have compiled the story of Fani’s extraordinary life by drawing from the prose and poetry she wrote over the years, my own

recollection of conversations I had with her, discussions with our mother and siblings, in addition to data from interviews with and the writings of her relatives, friends and students. In preparing this book, I benefitted from the encouragement and of my family and friends. First, I thank my siblings who read several drafts, provided substantive comments, and shared family photographs. These are Reverend Getabicha, Adelahu, Addis Hiywot, Mulualem (Muli), Tegest, and Dubale. My friend Barbara Brown took time to read several drafts, and made substantive and editorial suggestions. Special acknowledgement goes to those who kindly shared their memories of Fani that are quoted in this book. These are, Fani’s former students Robin Wooster, Heather Lujano, Dr. Miriam Shiferaw, Meron Kelly and Yonathan Temesgen Petros; her friends Yodit Debebe and Helen Adefrese, and, our nephew Terry J. Albury. I thank Dr. Hugh Mullenbach for sharing a picture of Fani. I also acknowledge Ayahelushem Kebede for sharing important papers Fani wrote in 1992. I appreciate my husband Berhane for his love and as I devoted most of my attention to writing and preparing this manuscript for publication. I especially thank my sons Ezana and Alem for their love and assistance in proofreading the manuscript, and making important editorial suggestions. I greatly benefitted from their guidance in managing the challenges of working on the computer. Finally, I thank the team at Archway Publishing.

Introduction

A t birth, Fanaye Dirasse was named Ilfinesh, which means, “You are beyond compare.” After a few years our father renamed her Fanaye, which was the name of his maternal grandmother. Fanaye means “my guiding light.” Most relatives and friends used the endearment form of her name, Fani and some called her Faniye or Fanu. This book documents Fani’s life journey – a life filled with joy, grief, pain and exaltation. Despite the ups and downs, the mountains and valleys of life’s journeys, and despite having to leave this world only seven months before celebrating her big 60, Fani dared to live every moment of her life to the fullest. This was amplified in her poem entitled, DARE TO LIVE:

The world was, is and always will be! The world is for me and not against me! The world is better if it’s with me in it than without me! I was put into this world to search for the purpose of my existence. Therefore, basing my LIFE on the universal principle of its goodness, I dare to live life. MY LIFE to its fullest! BE ME! WHO I WANT TO BE! WHERE I WANT TO BE! WHEN I WANT TO BE! WHY I WANT TO BE! ME, JUST ME! In a world that lives every which way, I DARE TO LIVE IT MY WAY! In a world that controls,

I DARE TO BE IN CONTROL OF MY DESTINY! In a world full of limitations, I DARE TO CREATE POSSIBILITIES! In a world that doubts, I DARE TO BELIEVE! In a world lacking purpose, I DARE TO DEFINE MY EXISTENCE! In a world full of differences, I DARE TO BE UNIQUE! In a world that ties down, I DARE TO LET GO! In a world of ignorance, I DARE TO BE ENLIGHTENED! In a nonsensical world, I DARE TO MAKE SENSE! In a hopeless world, I DARE TO BE HOPEFUL! In a world without time, I DARE TO MAKE TIME AND TAKE TIME! In a gloomy world, I DARE TO SHINE!

In a dividing world, I DARE TO UNIFY! In a world that hides, I DARE TO SEEK! In a destructive world, I DARE TO PRESERVE! In a regressive world, I DARE TO BE PROGRESSIVE! In a losing world, I DARE TO BE TRIUMPHANT! In a troubled world, I DARE TO BE A TROUBLESHOOTER! In a world that is violent, I DARE TO BE NON-VIOLENT! In a world waiting for miracles, I DARE TO BE A MIRACLE WORKER! In a world that wants to spoon feed, I DARE TO FEED MYSELF! In a world full of problems, I DARE TO BE A PROBLEM SOLVER! IN A WORLD THAT NEEDS,

I dare to be needed! IN A LOVING WORLD, I dare to love and be loved! IN A TOUCHING WORLD, I dare to touch and be touched IN A SHARING WORLD, I dare to give my fair share! IN A WORKING WORLD, I dare to be industrious! IN A VALUABLE WORLD, I dare to have values! IN A WORLD OF INVESTMENTS, I dare to earn great dividends! IN A GROWING WORLD, I dare to be fruitful! IN A TRUSTING WORLD, I dare to be trustworthy! IN A WORLD THAT IS EVER PRESENT, I DARE TO MAKE MY PRESENCE FELT I DARE TO LIVE.

Fanaye Dirasse, 1985

Yes indeed, she did dare to live!

THE VERY BEGINNING AND CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

The Very Beginning And Childhood Memories

F ani had been growing in the shelter of our mother’s womb for nine months. As our mother went into labor on March 24, 1953, Fani started her movement to exit into the world. Our mother was taken to Filwoha (the Seventh Day Adventist hospital) where Dr. Anderson, her obstetric gynecologist, had delivered her first three children. Sadly, the maternity ward was full, so she was rushed to and itted at the Emperor Haile Selassie Hospital in Addis Ababa. The next day, Fani was able to exit from her home of nine months, giving a big shout to announce her entry into the world, as our parents lovingly welcomed her. Soon after the birth, our maternal grandmother, (Emiye) took baby Fani in her arms and started checking every part of her body, while murmuring her gratitude to God and also blessing her. However, there was one thing that shocked and gave her grave concern. Fani was a polydactyl, as she had six fingers on each of her hands! Emiye told our mother to wrap the baby’s hands and not let anyone see them. The doctor, on the other hand, told them that it was a blessing. Since Grandmother had insisted that the extra fingers be removed, he told our mother to bring the baby back to the hospital after ten days. Two of her twelve fingers were, on that day, cut and removed. Through adulthood, tiny stubs remained on each of Fani’s hands as if to remind her and all who looked carefully of what were meant to be there. Fani’s early childhood years were spent in Harrar, a city in southeastern Ethiopia. Despite one horrible incident when she was about two-and-a-half years old, the rest of her memories of Harrar are of living in an enchanted world of flowers and fruits, beautiful animals and joyous games and picnics with family and friends.

Seated front right: Mulualem, Fani, Tegest, and Addis Hiywot. Standing from right: Getabicha, Adelahu and Laketch

From left: our brother Getabicha, Kellafo the gazelle, and Fani

Though she enjoyed and loved our dogs and the gazelles, rabbits, hens and other animals in our back yard, Fani was terrified of our cat. Somehow, the cat seemed to sense that she did not like him and always tried to come close and cozy up to her. This would send Fani into a crying frenzy. Everyone knew this and was protective of her, except, of course, our headstrong uncle Belayneh, who was visiting from the village. He was determined to make sure that Fani stopped what he considered an irrational fear of cats. One day when our mom was in another room and Fani’s nanny was at the back verandah boiling water on a portable charcoal stove, Uncle Belayneh decided to tie a rope around the cat and tie the other end to her waist. At that moment, Fani cried out for dear life and ran out of the house to the verandah. In her panic, she ran straight into the stove. As she fell down, the boiling water burned her entire abdomen. Amid the commotion, our mother came out, asked the driver to bring the car, and carried Fani off to the hospital. Fani stayed in the hospital for a month and a half until the burn started to heal. This situation could have had a tragic end, yet it became an important miracle loop of healing. The scars on Fani’s abdomen remained discernible throughout her adult life, even though they faded slightly as she grew older. Nevertheless, Fani grew up as a happy child, loving and loved by her parents, siblings, relatives, and friends. In recalling her early childhood years, Fani talked about playing hide and seek with her siblings and neighbors’ children, building cars with wires and pretending to drive on make-believe roads made on the sand, jumping rope, and playing a local variation of building sand castles. She also enjoyed the weekend picnics our parents and their friends organized for all their children. These, usually involved trips to recreation areas at the Alem Maya Lake, Yerer Gota fruit farms, and the town of Dire Dawa. Fani started her education at Model School in Harar. At the beginning of 1961, our parents moved to Addis Ababa. She was then seven years old. In Addis, she and all her sisters were itted to Nazareth School. She was highly studious and always ranked among the top three in her classes. At home, Fani was the most reliable and trusted child. Our sisters Adelahu,

Addis-Hiywot, Mulualem, and Tegest recall how patient and diligent Fani was when assigned any tasks by our parents. Even though she was the middle child, it was she who was entrusted with the storeroom key and other important items whenever our parents travelled. Our mother used to call her Yelidge Awaki, which literally means a child who is as wise and responsible as an adult. Fani had many fond memories of living in Addis Ababa. These included serving as a flower girl at the wedding of family friends Saba Kifle and Zewde Hailemariam in 1963. Again, in 1967, Fani became a flower girl for the wedding of our cousin Mentewab Yirdaw. Another event was a ceremony organized by the Association of the Wives of Soldiers and Officers. Fani proudly wore the uniform of the Royal Body Guards while representing the children of soldiers.

Fani wearing the uniform of the Royal Body Guards

In of extracurricular activities, Fani loved arts and crafts classes, and she fully utilized these skills throughout her childhood and adult life. She also enjoyed the religious classes she attended at the Kidist Selassie Holy Trinity Orthodox Church. Her spiritual outlook was highly influenced by her experiences at this church combined with Nazareth School’s Catholic education. There is no doubt that despite her traumatic experience in early childhood, the miracle loop Fani went through, and the love and of her family helped her grow to be a happy, contented and responsible child who excelled in her education. Furthermore, the strong faith she developed from childhood years was to become a lifelong anchor that would give her solace as she faced many future life challenges.

MEMORABLE SCHOOL YEAR

Memorable School Year

L ooking back on her school years in Addis Ababa, Fani always mentioned her time in the ninth grade as the most memorable, as this was when she began to articulate her goal in life. Three months after the start of the school year, her teacher, Mrs. Emmert, encouraged the students to start writing and keep a diary. Fani started writing a booklet on November 12, 1968. For the title, she chose “The Long-Haired Me.” At the time, she had long hair that our mother always braided and tied with ribbons at each end. From Fani’s writing in the class-assigned booklet, it is clear that this was to be the beginning of her earnest search for self-knowledge, self-understanding, life purpose, and a relationship with her creator. The introduction she wrote in the booklet clearly outlined her intentions.

Dear Me, The purpose of this book entitled “The Long-haired Me” is to help me to know myself better than I do now. I will find that an increased knowledge of myself can be sought in all these things that make my life worth living:

1. Who I am and my biography 2. What makes my living worthwhile 3. What living on this earth means to me 4. What makes it helpful for me to know myself 5. What I plan to be in my future 6. What my family mean to me

7. What my past events mean to me 8. What things will help me to improve my present 9. What things reveal God to me 10. What it means to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ 11. What things help me everyday to get nearer and nearer to God 12. What I must do to gain Eternal Happiness.

I hope these things may help me to know myself better.

In writing the different chapters, Fani looked back at her heritage and beginnings and forward to her future growth. She indicated that she learned that in some sense, the future was already touching and enriching her present moment. In a timeline she drew, Fani listed parents, brothers and sisters, the city she was raised in, orthodox education, eighth-grade education, and travel in the past. For the present she emphasized high school, family, brothers and sisters, her life in Addis Ababa, and her education. In of the future, she emphasized her chosen career, teaching, and then noted, “God only knows how many years I am going to live after this.” It is clear that long before it became fashionable to recognize the “power of now,” Fani as a ninth grader, was taught to recognize the essence of time. She was also encouraged to have a positive outlook, to be self-confident, and to have high self-esteem. Fani really relished and grew in many ways during ninth grade. By the end of that school year, she was convinced of her future career. A note she wrote to herself on June 13, 1969, detailed her career plans:

Dear Fanaye, You are a living, thinking, reasoning, feeling, human being, a dynamic growing, changing “self.” Your place in history is to be one of Ethiopia’s citizens in the 20th century. You will continue your studies until you receive your degree. After that you will become a teacher, not in this city but in another province where the people need education. This will give them a chance to share your knowledge. In addition to this you will also give them art lessons in order to develop your talents. Farewell me the 9th grader. It was the most wonderful time that I spent in this class. It is with sad heart that I say farewell dear 9th grade. The 9th grade was the class from which I was able to have a better knowledge of myself with the help of my dear teacher, Mrs. Emmert. I wish you good, clever and disciplined students for next year.

This was indeed a seminal moment in Fani’s life. The same year, she started a book of autographs in which her relatives, friends, and teachers wrote messages of good wishes. Her favorite teacher, Mrs. Emmert, encouraged Fani to realize that the world is hers and challenged her to work hard to make it a better place. Included in Fani’s book of autographs is a message from the Director of Nazareth School, Miss R. Loiseau, dated July 16, 1969. The message includes excerpts from a prayer by Cardinal Newman (1801 – 1890), “Dear Jesus, help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go…. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in with may feel Thy presence in my soul: let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus.” Miss Loiseau also expressed her wish for these prayers to come true so Fani’s life could be “fruitful and happy.” It was as a ninth grader that Fani became aware of women’s worth and their leadership potential, and wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. Unfortunately, she did not keep a copy of the letter she sent. But she cherished and kept the Prime Minister’s response (No. 709 – PMO/69, signed and dated July 29, 1969). The Prime Minister told Fani that she enjoyed hearing from young people. Explaining the similarity between India and Ethiopia, “two ancient countries,” the Prime Minister emphasized the need to strive for

modernization, while preserving valuable traditions and national heritage. In 1963, Ethiopia under Emperor Haile Selassie I hosted the first meeting of African Heads of States and Governments, where the Organization of African Unity (OAU)¹ was proclaimed, and Addis Ababa chosen as the city where the headquarters of the OAU would be based. Though this happened when Fani was still an elementary school student, issues of African unity were discussed in school. As a ninth grader, Fani had developed clear views concerning the significance of unity for the actualization of Africa’s development prospects. This is evident in her affirmation that “Unity is the Gate to Civilization,” in her booklet, “The Long-Haired Me.”

It is clear that Fani’s spiritual life, her future career and life of service, were shaped by her ninth grade education at Nazareth School.

QUEST FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND COMING TO AMERICA

Quest for Higher Education and Coming to America

F ani recalls her tenth grade as a time of restlessness, and a desire to acquire more knowledge. She was happy when it became possible for her to travel to the United States of America for further education. At the time, I was going to college in the US, and went to Addis Ababa for a couple of weeks, in order to bring Fani and Addis Hiywot with me. Fani always reminded me of the time I came to take them. In particular, she always remarked how soon after my arrival, I cut their hairs in Afros, in line with the trend in America. Upon arrival in the US, Fani spent the summer of 1970 in Washington DC. It was a most interesting period of induction into American life. We rented a large apartment on 16th street NW, which we shared with my high school classmate and her sister. Fani and Addis-Hiywot were thus mentored and guided by three friends (Nardos who had already graduated from pre-medical school, and Belkis and I soon to start senior year). The three of us searched for a relevant high school for Fani. Because of her excellent academic records from ninth and tenth grades, and recommendations from her teachers, she was allowed to skip eleventh grade. Thus, she was itted to twelfth grade at Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo, North Dakota. She successfully completed her studies and graduated in May of 1971. For her college education, Fani secured ission to Moorhead State College (MSC), in Moorhead, Minnesota. She was an active participant in international students’ affairs, serving as president of the college’s International Club. Fani excelled academically and her high scholastic achievements were recognized through Honorable Mention Awards in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975. To herself through college, Fani worked at the MSC library. She also received scholarship from the Philanthropic Educational Organization in 1972, the International Students Scholarship in 1973, and the Moorhead State University Foundation Scholarship in 1974. In of extracurricular activities, her favorite sport was bowling for which she won many trophies.

Fani had a great sense of humor and wit. In the fall of 1972, she sent the picture below to our mother, and humorously lamented her concern about being short. As she explained:

I have slightly increased in height and what pleased me the most is realizing that I am not alone. Laketch is no taller than I. I heard that Tegest and the others have grown much taller. When I return I will just have to claim to be the youngest of all.

Fani kept in close touch with our parents, as she looked forward to complete her studies and head home to fulfill her career ambitions. In a feature article in the Fargo - Moorhead Sunday Forum (November 11, 1973), Cheryl Ellis wrote about the 190 foreign students attending colleges in the Fargo and Moorhead campuses. The article gave prominence to Fani with pictures of her studying, at work in the library, and walking through the campus. She was featured as an example of those students who plan to return to their countries upon completion of their studies:

…. She wants to finish college, get her degree and go home. By then it will have been five years since she saw her family. But after a few years teaching she hopes to come back – but only for her graduate work.

Fani sent a copy of the newspaper to our parents, and in a letter she told them how everyone in town recognized her from the pictures in the newspaper, and asked how it felt to be a celebrity! The following year, on November 23, 1974, the Marxist military junta that toppled the Imperial government, executed our father along with fifty-nine other officials. This was most traumatic and devastating to all of us. That year, Fani’s dreams and ambitions of returning home were shattered. Despite the trauma resulting from the loss of our father, Fani diligently focused on her studies, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree, Cum laude (with honor), on May 23, 1975. She also intensified her search for a teaching position in the US. As usual, she gained strength from her faith as she excelled against all odds.

CAREER DREAM ACTUALIZED

Career Dream Actualized

F ani’s longstanding dream of becoming a teacher was actualized soon after graduation. Even though she could not return to her country of birth, she was delighted to be offered a position as an elementary school teacher in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Fani saw the years she spent in Fort Dodge as the happiest and most gratifying, when her career ambitions of becoming a teacher were fulfilled. She had clarity of her purpose in life as she embarked on her teaching career. In her own words:

As a teenager, I left my homeland, Ethiopia. At an early age I learned that nothing is unobtainable to the searching mind so I journeyed twelve thousand miles in search of a better education and a better way of life in the land of opportunity!

As a teacher, my role is to help children realize that they need to dream dreams as early as possible, for their dreams will be able to plant the seeds of life that will give their lives directions.

A product of a land where less than 10% of the population had seen the light of education, I was taught to have reverence for learning. Through books I have been able to open my mind thus opening the gates of the world. As a teacher, my role is to instill in our children a respect for learning. I encourage my students to read so that they may be able to purify their vision and get a good view of the world outside themselves. I would like children to have fun with the limitless windows that books can unlock for them.

We live in an age of escalating violence. There are signs of war everywhere. My

country, Ethiopia, has been one of the many nations that has been torn apart by “man’s inhumanity to man.” I am a person who has been forced to give up a homeland as a result. I care about the future of our world. As a teacher, I am in a position to touch the future through our most vital resource, OUR CHILDREN. My role is to inspire visions of worth and beauty in each and every one of them so that each can contemplate his niche in life. As I teach, I TOUCH! I teach with feelings, hoping that every touch is felt, every feeling expressed, and every expression acknowledged.

Teachers have played an important role in my life. My teachers have had such an impact on me that they were a contributing factor in my becoming a teacher. I am now able to carry on the tradition of preparing children for life. And so the dream goes on. I take great pride in being part of a great institution, which through the course of time, has, is and always will specialize in broadening children’s intellectual horizons.

I am truly convinced that teachers can make a difference in the lives of each and every child and transform the world:

TEACHERS ARE:

AGRICULTURALISTS – LOOK AT THE MANY SEEDS THEY PLANT IN THE MINDS OF CHILDREN AND WATCH THEM BRING IN GREAT YIELDS ARCHEOLOGISTS – LOOK AT ALL THE BOOKS THEY HAVE TO DIG UP AND DIG THROUGH TO COME UP WITH A MEANINGFUL LESSON ATHLETES – LOOK AT THE SKILLS THEY USE TO EXERCISE THEIR GOD GIVEN TALENTS ARTISTS – LOOK AT THE PATTERNS THEY CREATE IN THE MINDS

OF CHILDREN DIETICIANS – LOOK AT HOW THEY BALANCE THOSE BASIC SKILLS ECOLOGISTS – LOOK AT THE CLASSROOM ATMOSPHERE THEY CREATE AND HOW CHILDREN ENJOY IT ECONOMISTS – LOOK AT HOW THEY VALUE LIFE AS THEY INVEST IN THE FUTURE ENGINEERS – LOOK AT THE WAY THEY BUILD BRIDGES TO BRING DISTANT LANDS CLOSER TO HOME GEOGRAPHERS – LOOK AT HOW THEY MAP OUT THE COURSE OF EACH DAY THROUGH THEIR LESSON PLANS HISTORIANS – LOOK AT HOW THEY KEEP RECORDS AND RECORD PROGRESS LINGUISTS – LOOK AT HOW THEY COMMUNICATE IN THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE CALLED LOVE MATHEMATICIANS – LOOK AT THE WAY THEY MAKE EVERY MINUTE COUNT AS THEY GIVE THOSE THEY TOUCH THE RIGHT ANGLE ON LIFE MUSICIANS – LOOK AT THE WAY THEY WORK IN HARMONY PHYSICIANS – LOOK AT HOW THEY ISTER TESTS TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM PSYCHOLOGISTS – LOOK AT THE GREAT MINDS THEY INSPIRE AS THEY HELP CHILDREN THINK SOCIOLOGISTS – LOOK AT HOW THEY GROUP AND REGROUP AS THEY INTERACT WITH ALL OF THE FORCES OF SOCIETY WRITERS – LOOK AT THEIR PENMANSHIP IN THE OPEN BOOK OF LIFE

MOST OF ALL, TEACHERS ARE GIFTS, FOR THEY GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO SHARE THE STOREHOUSE OF INFORMATION THEY POSSESS:

-THEY BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY DO!

-THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND THEY

DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

AS I LOOK OUT FROM MY WINDOW, TEACHER, I CAUGHT A CLEAR VIEW OF YOU AND I WAS PROUD! MY FRIEND, WE SHARE A DREAM! MAY THEY ALL COME TRUE! AMEN!

Fanaye Dirasse, 1985

Three years after she started teaching, Berhane and I came to visit Fani and also get married with her as our witness. We were pleased to see her contented. It was evident to us that she loved her work, and the community she lived in. Her only concern was the winter. Though she enjoyed the winters while a student, Fani, increasingly, found it bothersome. In a letter she wrote to us on December 9, 1978, she complained about the snow, while gratified by the positive she was getting for her teaching:

…. Life in Fort Dodge is as busy as ever. I try to live each day to the fullest. I have no complaints except the weather. We’ve had snow for the last month or so. The temperature has been below zero for the last two to three weeks with sleet and freezing rain. The accident rate on the state highways is countless. I don’t plan nor even think of stepping out of Fort Dodge, for it would be committing suicide.

School has really been keeping me busy. I was observed and evaluated by the principal last week. I had a conference with him the next day. He commended me on the job well done. He also mentioned that he had received many good comments from parents. Well what can I say, I had to give myself a pat on the shoulder, for it means a lot to be appreciated. I know I am doing a good job, but one also needs to know how well he does in the eyes of other people….”

Indeed, Fani excelled while fulfilling her dream career as a teacher. One of her poems entitled, UNIVERSAL STRUGGLE, epitomizes Fani’s true worth and clearly shows her actual and potential contributions to the teaching profession, and society at large:

Yes, I am LOADED with questions, LOADED with ideas, LOADED with firsthand information, LOADED with knowledge; reaching out to all the forces of society. I am a teacher holding hands with children, fellow teachers,

s, friends and neighbors; hoping the bells of freedom will ring the world over!

With hopes for the future, yes I’m LOADED!

With dreams that will someday come, Yes, I’m LOADED!

I AM SO PROUD TO BE A TEACHER!

The universe within me is LOADED,

LOADED with QUESTIONS,

QUESTIONS to try to UNDERSTAND,

UNDERSTAND what’s within me,

My thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams

There are so many questions,

I’m not even sure which to tackle first.

Oh yes, I feel the fullness of me.

I’m LOADED,

But not LOADED to kill.

I’m LOADED,

But not LOADED with money

I’m LOADED,

But not LOADED with drinks.

With hopes for the future,

Yes, I’m LOADED!

With dreams that will someday come true,

Yes, I’m LOADED!

With feelings of sadness and happiness taking turns,

Yes, I’m LOADED!

With thought provoking questions,

Yes, I’m LOADED!

One thing for sure, I’ve struggled with my questions,

And questioned my struggles, and found out that

Life was a circle for me as long as

I let my universe revolve within me.

“Reach out!” “Reach Out!”

A yearning comes from the innermost self.

“Why carry all that load all alone?”

The UNIVERSE WITHIN needs to come

In with the UNIVERSE WITHOUT

Reach in

And reach out

From within

And without

There lie the clues

To what we’re all about:

LIVE and LEARN!

Fanaye Dirasse, 1983

Fani gave fully of herself and dedicated her life to teaching and molding the next generation stewards of our world. It is in recognition of this that she was inducted into the Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Sorority on March 9, 1981. As an elementary school teacher in Iowa, Fani strived to broaden the minds and worldviews of her students. Her teaching career in Iowa included serving as an elementary school teacher for third graders from 1975 to 1983. In addition, she served as instructor of mathematics at Fair Oaks Middle School from 1983 to 1986. Fani had strong views about teaching and particularly about children’s education. This is illustrated by a couple of quotes from her journal that is included in a report entitled: “Thinking in Progress – Collected Writings from a workshop on Writing across the Curriculum,” held in Fort Dodge, Iowa during June 3 - 28, 1985.

Most of the teaching that is done in schools these days is one that treats kids as sponges that will just absorb the knowledge that was provided by the teacher. Kids are on the receiving end. If they don’t get the concept, keep repeating it….

Kids are not given a chance to give learning their own personal touch. Have them “write for themselves” first in a manner that will make sense to them. Have them take ownership of the knowledge by making it THEIR OWN THROUGH WRITING. (Journal #5, June 21, 1985)

Assessment – what is it for? - Is a question that has to be addressed. The commitment of society towards writing and reading is a must. The world around them has to model it as something they value. Ability to a proficiency test

does not a reader or writer make. (Journal #6, June 25, 1985).

Fani’s efforts were recognized in 1986, when she was nominated for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching. She was the Iowa finalist. Though she did not win the US national award, she did receive a certificate of recognition from the Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics. During her tenure as a teacher in the Iowa school system, Fani had distinguished herself by participating in the following professional activities:

• Served on the Urban Ministry’s Ethnic School Advisory Board as well as on the Title VII Superintendent’s Advisory Board (1975-1976) • Participated in the Multi-Cultural Curriculum Development (1976-1977) • One of the organizers of The Skills Fair at Arey School (1978-1980) • One of the writers of “Patterns” a Human Relations Skit (1979-1980) • Program Presenter for the Area Educational Agency’s Educational Fair (1981) • One of the organizers of the Educational Care Fair (1982-1983) • Participant in a workshop for poets entitled “Writing Rainbow” (1983) • Organizer and participant in Black History Month Festivities (1981-1985) • Served on the Math Textbook Selection Committee (1982-1983) • One of the writers of “Thinking in Progress,” a writing across the curriculum book (1985) • Produced assemblies promoting international understanding (1984-1986) • Participated in the “Problem Solving Group,” an Iowa State University Research Project (1986)

• Served on the K-12 Mathematics Articulation Committee (1986)

For Fani, her work in Iowa was an important period of her life when her career dream was fully actualized.

MEMORIES AND TESTIMONIALS FROM IOWA

Memories and Testimonials from Iowa

F ani was held in high esteem for her dedication to her students and the quality of her teaching. This is evident in remembrances by her former students that paint a glowing image of an exemplary teacher who left behind a great legacy. One former student Robin Wooster kindly shared an extensive compendium of her memories of Fanaye. This is a true testament to Fani’s tireless efforts:

What kind of impact can one individual make on the lives of others?

If that individual crossed paths with Fanaye Dirasse their life was changed profoundly.

I was one of those blessed individuals. My name is Robin (Conkling) Wooster. Ms. Dirasse, as I knew her, was my sixth grade teacher at Fair Oaks Middle School in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Life in the Midwest small town of Badger where I grew up; 10 minutes from Fort Dodge, was very sheltered and lacked cultural diversity. The area was predominantly Caucasian, filled with many Lutheran/Catholic households, rich in European traditions and small farm communities. I had never been exposed to other cultures or traditions other than my own and what was common in our area. Ms. Dirasse changed that and opened my eyes to the broader scope of life and the world.

Her stature was short but she made up for it with her commanding voice and presence. It wasn’t one of arrogance or dictatorship, it was one of belief in her students and a charge to do more – because she believed in us you could sense that in her voice and her ion that she exuded. Everything she did in my eyes was “on purpose”. Her every assignment she gave, her directions, her words all for a reason…nothing wasted on things that didn’t matter. She was driven, her life and her intentions were directly shaped from her world that I could not comprehend – but little did I know she was about to change my world by sharing hers.

When I met Ms. Dirasse as my homeroom teacher I really liked her, she was very kind but firm. I had never met a teacher with such a thick accent very different from what I was used to. Honestly I had few interactions with people that were not of the same color as me. I was not prejudiced or hateful of other cultures, but there was no diversity of a population of 400 where I was raised. I hung on her melodic words as she assigned the lessons. Her subject of specialty was MATH. It was my least favorite subject, I never understood its concepts and was always just squeaking by with my grades in that subject.

It didn’t take more than one grading period for my mom to get involved. I was not improving and she reached out to my small but mighty math teacher. They arranged for me to stay after a few nights a week and get personal tutoring from Ms. Dirasse. It was awful from my perspective. But she wouldn’t give up on me. She was relentless in trying to help me improve. She was different from the other teachers that I’d experienced in my past. She listened to me, was patient, gave me worksheets that focused on my weaknesses and then moved on to more advanced concepts.

When the year was drawing to a close she presented awards to her classes. She gave me a small gold plastic trophy that read “Most Improved”. I treasured that and kept it in my possession for many years.

It was clear her ion was to the improvement of each individual in her class. She knew where we were strong and where we could rise up. She knew we were capable of more, and those of us that wanted more (or in my case, were made to do more because our parents expected and wanted more) she would do whatever she could to empower us with those skills to become successful.

When the year was over in math I was far better prepared to move on in my studies. But this was only one part of the equation that forever changed my life. She had so much more to share. A life and a culture that I, a young Iowa Midwest teen, could never have really grasped unless I walked a bit in her shoes by understanding her struggles and her joys.

We had short periods of classes for 6 weeks called “mini courses” – they ranged from cooking classes, learning German, cheerleading and other traditional classes one might expect to find offered in a small Midwest middle school. Ethiopian Culture was not one of those mainstream classes. It was not my first pick. To be honest it was not on my list at all of classes I’d like to take. Yet as fate would have it, I was to be learning about Ethiopian Culture and intentionally g up for Ethiopian Culture II in the next session offering.

Ms. Dirasse gave each of us an Ethiopian name. Mine was Ribka, meaning ‘nearby’. She taught us phrases in her native language and songs. Later we learned traditional dances. She told us about the long lightweight dresses the women would wear and the turbans that would crown the head of the beautiful women with silky dark brown skin. She was describing a life and world that I had no concept of. This was pre-internet. I couldn’t just “Google” Ethiopian dances, images and culture. I was experiencing it first hand from someone that loved her life and her heritage. It was vastly different from lutefisk and polkas that had been so common to my upbringing. It was exciting and far beyond what I was learning in a textbook.

Her end vision of this class was to present to the school a small glimpse of what

we had learned. We started making dolls that were clothed in the native dress. I she sacrificed some of her own clothes to make this project. We used small glass pop bottles for the base, she purchased doll head for the top and then we layered on the outfits. I distinctly mine had a sash that was brightly adorned with red, yellow and black colors of embroidery. They were crowned the turbans that she spoke of. They were stately and proud. As we worked on those projects in the class she taught us some songs of her past. We also worked on making traditional necklaces. Mine was a more difficult pattern and I that she completed the project for me as the time of our classes were so brief. This is still a part of my treasured belongings. It’s just plastic beads and wire. Nothing expensive and elaborate, but its value lies in the time that she invested in this project and her students – that’s what the necklace means to me. A tangible memory of time well spent investing in our impressionable lives.

The day had come for our class to present our Ethiopian Culture heritage to the rest of the school. We stood in a half circle on the raised wooden stage in the gym as the rest of the student body looked on. I only that we did a few dances and sang some songs. But there was something I was not prepared for. She told a story that I had not heard in class, one of sorrow and persecution. Where she, as a young girl learned of her father being shot and how her home country was in such political upheaval. It was a world of turmoil and chaos that I never knew. Here was this amazing woman that left her homeland in search of a better future. That spunky young girl who’d never seen snow before moving to the States had inappropriate clothing for her first winter in Minnesota. She was going to share her joy of life, her world and her ambition with everyone that she met. You could tell from her eyes – she was a driven woman with such deep comion and love.

After our Ethiopian Culture class was done she invited us to her home to cook her students some of her favorite tastes of home. She cooked with spices and fruits that I had never tasted or heard of. She made a rich red savory sauce that enveloped chicken thighs. We had lentils and flat bread, vibrantly colored mango and papayas – which at the time were very rare and expensive in the grocery store. We could feel the love and pride that she had for her heritage. To this day I

seek out Ethiopian restaurants in our area to recall those savory dishes that she introduced to us. My normal taste for Midwest meat and potatoes would never be the same after tasting sauces made with curry and ginger!

School had been out for a short time and I told my mom I wanted to do more to thank my wonderful teacher. My mom said she would love to invite her to the house for coffee.

I’ll never forget the conversation. I called her other place of employment, Wanna’s Won Ton Inn, and asked to speak to her:

“Ms. Dirasse, it’s Robin – my mom and I would like to have you over to our house for coffee sometime.”

“I don’t drink coffee….”

(I paused, looked at my mom, covered the phone and whispered that to my mom…Mom then advised me to tell her we could drink tea instead)

So after telling her we didn’t have to drink coffee and could have tea she thought that would be a nice thing. She did come out and we had iced tea with our strawberry shortcakes and whipped cream that I had made. A small gesture and act of love in sharing my heritage with this dynamic woman that opened up so many new ideas for me.

One of the last memories I have of Ms. Dirasse was of her ceremony that was

held at Fair Oaks middle school. I don’t all of the details except the auditorium were full of student and faculty that were so proud of her new accomplishment as a US citizen.

What a legacy. She helped countless generations of students that had their life enriched beyond the norm of their homogenous, Midwest environment. So many people take family, heritage and education for granted. This was not true of Ms. Dirasse she had a mission to impart this world with more educated students. Her inner fire was so bright you couldn’t help but to become part of that burning ion for whatever she was speaking about.

My life had been changed forever because of Ms. Dirasse. I am sad that her time was cut far too short, however, the days that she did walk the earth made such impact that I feel her spirit still walks in all of us that had the pleasure to cross paths in life.

Robin Wooster, 2014.

Another one of Fani’s sixth grade students reminisced as follows:

I am so thankful to have known Ms. Dirasse and had her positive influence in my life! My family and I all grew to love her, as my parents were teachers with the Fort Dodge district, and there were several holidays or gatherings over the years that Ms. Dirasse spent with our family. I realized that with my current pursuit of a Master’s degree in Social Work, many of the lessons Ms. Dirasse taught me - such as helping one another and embracing the moment - continue to shape my actions today.

Heather Lujano, 2014.

Program for the class presentation by Fani’s students (Copy provided by Robin Wooster)

Teaching was not only Fani’s chosen career but her ion. Her dedication and selfless efforts were beyond the call of duty. Parents applauded her as “a teacher every parent hopes their child will have.” Her colleagues ired her excellence, wit, resourcefulness and special rapport with her students. The collective view from all who knew her is of a highly committed teacher with a unique teaching style and high standards. She also drew praise for her remarkable ability to reach her students and inspire them to succeed.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND LIFE CHALLENGES

New Opportunities and Life Challenges

A fter teaching for a few years, Fani felt at home in Fort Dodge and purchased a beautiful house. She used all her creativity and arts and crafts skills to exquisitely decorate the house. During the first half of the 1980s, she welcomed and hosted many relatives and friends. Our mother, who first came to Canada after her release from incarceration as a political prisoner in Ethiopia, went to stay with Fani. Indeed, with the exception of brief stays with her other children, our mother lived with Fani until the end. Fani was always a gracious host, welcoming family and friends to spend their holidays at her home. Our mother’s friend, Lily spent her period of pregnancy and child birth at Fani’s house. Our mother and Lily fondly how, one evening, Fani had to frantically drive Lily who had gone into labor, all the way to Iowa City. Though driving was one of Fani’s ions, this particular situation got her a bit flustered. Yet, she managed to safely get Lily, still in labor, to the hospital, where she gave birth to a daughter. During the Christmas holiday in 1984, Fani hosted a reunion of her siblings, their spouses and children. Whenever she had long breaks from her work, and did not have visitors she had to host, Fani was on the go driving all over the United States to visit relatives and friends. I a couple of times in the early eighties when she drove from Iowa to Canada to visit my family and me enroute to Washington DC. During the 1990’s, whenever my family and I came on home leave, we would usually fly to Washington and after visiting relatives, Fani would drive us home to Canada and drive back on her own. Our sister Tegest also has fond memories of Fani driving her all the way to California and back. Fani always kept a briefcase full of her favorite music cassettes in her car, and sang along while driving, as time flew and distances seemed to shrink.

Move from Iowa and New Teaching Vistas

In the beginning of 1986, our mother went to Dallas, Texas, to stay with our sisters Mulualem and Tegest. At the urging of our mom and other relatives, who felt that Fani should move to where her close family resided, she decided to move to Dallas. A major concern for our mom and relatives was that Fani might remain unmarried if she stayed in the small town in Iowa. This was urgent in their view as two of Fani’s younger sisters, Addis-Hiywot and Tegest were already married. To be sure, Fani had dated over the years, though, she had not been lucky at love. In particular, one Ethiopian man she loved was only interested in using her to get his residency in the United States. Years later, she fell in love again, but the man finally married another. Interestingly enough, she was not bitter and remained a good friend to both husband and wife. In order to please our mother, and to get reprieve from the winter weather, Fani put her house up for sale. She still had over twenty years remaining to finish paying her mortgage and was relieved when it was sold even if for an amount far below what it was worth. In the fall of 1986, she packed her belongings in a UHaul and drove to Dallas. Fani enjoyed living with our mother and sisters and started providing limited tutorial services to families in the Dallas area. In 1988, Fani actively assisted our mother in planning and implementing our sister Muli’s wedding celebration. That was a major undertaking attended by relatives and friends from all over the United States and a few from Ethiopia and Europe.

New Life Challenges

After the wedding was over, and life returned to routine activities, Fani started to miss her life as a regular school teacher. To be sure, she had been sending out applications to several schools. When she received an offer from Forest Lake Academy in Minnesota, she was thrilled by the prospect of serving as a school teacher again. Enthusiastic as usual, and filled with a renewed zest for teaching, Fani moved to Minnesota, got her teaching license from the Department of Education, and started the academic year 1988 -1989. Unfortunately, one morning around the beginning of the school year, Fani encountered a life threatening situation, as she was rushing to prepare her breakfast before leaving for class. She had water boiling on the stove when she got on a ladder to get something out of the cupboard. When she lost her balance Fani fell backwards, and in a futile effort to hold on to something and gain her balance, she grabbed the pot of boiling water. As she fell on her back and ed out, the pot of boiling water splashed on Fani, burning her lower neck, shoulders and upper abdomen. At school, the was concerned when she did not show up for class, and was not answering her telephone. Fortunately, the decided to go and check at her apartment. Since no one had seen Fani leave her apartment, the requested the building superintendent to come with her and open Fani’s apartment. To their shock, they found Fani unconscious on the kitchen floor. Immediately they called for an ambulance. After reviving Fani, the paramedics rushed her to the hospital burn center. It was an ironic twist of fate that Fani suffered third degree burns almost thirtythree years after her first childhood burn accident. This was another devastating time for Fani, though it turned out to be another one of the miracle loops she had to go through. After being released from the hospital, Fani moved in with colleague and friend Maryann and her family. They took good care of Fani during her convalecence. When she was able to travel, she went back to Dallas and received additional care and love from our mom, our sister Muli and her husband Sadik.

As she started to heal and was able to go on long distance trips, Fani decided to visit me and my family in Botswana. She arrived in Gaborone, Botswana on April 26, 1989. That became a period of further healing for Fani as she enjoyed the many tourist sights in Southern Africa. She also participated in a regional conference on the girl child organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in Gaborone, Botswana. The conference rekindled her desire to go back to teaching. With renewed energy and spirit, Fani returned to the United States on July 26, 1989. Fani decided to start her new life in the east coast of the US, where she had many friends and relatives. She, thus, rented an apartment in Silver Spring, Maryland. Our mother also moved to stay with Fani, and they resumed the life of mutual and care for each other that they had started in Iowa. In order to meet her immediate living expenses, Fani got a job as a front desk supervisor at the Loews L’Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington DC. In addition, she started to travel to children’s homes and provide individualized tutorial services in Washington DC, Alexandria and Silverspring. The beginning of the 1990’s also saw Fani deal with a longstanding health problem, relive the trauma of the loss of our father, and contend with a new health challenge. The first was a persistent and long-standing problem with fibroids. After several consultations with her gynecologists, Fani agreed to undergo a complete hysterectomy. At the beginning of 1992, the new EPRDF Government of Ethiopia that toppled the marxist military regime, started a period of reconcilliation, and mass graves of victims of the military junta were being dug up all over the country. When our mother received a call from her neice, she got on the first available flight and travelled to Ethiopia. Soon after our mother departed, Fani returned to their apartment and noticed that our mother had forgotten the box of her essential medications on the table. Despite her earlier intention not to travel to Ethiopia and re-live her trauma, Fani immediately picked up the phone and booked herself on the next flight to Addis Ababa. With our mom’s medications in hand, Fani arrived in Addis Ababa on February 24, 1992. The trauma she lived with for twenty-two years was rekindled as she stayed at our mother’s side when the mass grave was dug up, and the remains of

the sixty officials including our father were exhumed. Tragically, the military junta had poured acid in the mass grave after the executions and none of the sixty could be identified. The families of the sixty martyrs formed a committee to prepare for an official burial. Before heading back to the US, our mother and Fani visited me and my family. We were living in Nairobi, Kenya at the time. They spent two weeks with us before returning to the United States on April 20, 1992. Meanwhile, the committee decided to schedule the funeral service for the sixty former officials for July 1992. Though our mother returned for the funeral service in July, Fani and all her siblings did not go back. After returning to the US, Fani faced another health challenge. She was diagnosed with sarcoidosis for which she had to receive intensive treatment. Though ill and traumatized, Fani was as witty and reflective as ever and noted her experience in Addis Ababa through papers of prose. These were shared with her friend Ayahelushem Kebede. Two of these are quoted below:

OBSESSION WITH DEATH

BROADWAY! MAIN STREET! CENTRAL AVENUE! Meet your counterpart from across the ocean – Churchill Godana. At least that is what I thought when I left home twenty-two years ago. Churchill Godana, I had put you in the same league for you possessed similar qualities as those in the west:

- The main drag

- The best place to see and to be seen

- The heart of downtown Addis

- The hottest part of town

Well, this time round I did not find you so. What a morbid sight! It has to be none other than the legacy of a regime whose specialty was to carry out death sentences in the most miserable ways. No wonder they paved the road for the casket and flower making business boom. During Mengistu’s reign of terror, they buried countless victims of atrocities in mass graves and left the rest to make the wild beasts less malnourished than the two-legged ones. The casket makers must not have made their bucks in those days but received their initiation.

Well, the days of burying humans in mass graves are outdated these days. I HOPE.

Fanaye Dirasse, 1992.

THE PLIGHT OF ETHIOPIA’S TICKS

Returning home after a long time, one of the things in the area of malnutrition that caught my attention was… the plight of the malnourished ticks. Time has ticked away! The world has yet to lend its ears to their plight. The world’s vision has not been focused enough to recognize their dilemma. No “Save the Ticks” slogans! No aid to the ticks! Well the Ticks are Ticked! Someone will pay. Little did I know that one of them will be Me!

Unexpected “Manna” has dropped their way; twenty-two years ago home-made, that many years later US-fed! If this wasn’t FREE US aid, I don’t know what is. I travelled two days by plane, jet-lagged, extremely exhausted, my days mixed with my nights. Nights became days. Upon reclining, I was forced to attend the ticks reception where I became the appetizer, the main course and the dessert all in one! The ticks finally received a much deserved hostess to quench their thirst for B-L-O-O-D! During my entire stay, my bed was overbooked with ticks making reservations to get their next meal. They sure had a field day on me, especially the first week of my trip when I spent more time in bed than up and about. Thanksgiving Day and Night! Juicy Harvest Indeed! “Ticks, I not only hear your plight, but feel it as well. Lord have mercy. Stop! Let me sleep! Blame Mengistu not me for all your miserable existence,” I pleaded. This time around it was my plight falling on deaf ears. Revenge of the ticks befell me, and I was forced to fight back, tossing and turning, and trying to get my hands on those culprits. Catching them was a major undertaking. When I finally caught one, my eyes could not believe what they saw. I took a moment more to give them a closer observation. Others sandwiched between the sheets and myself tried very hard to distract me as I was contemplating to give death sentences to my tiny prisoners, MY TINY MALNOURISHED TICKS; guilty of sucking my blood and giving me sleepless nights as a result. The nail on my thumb carried out the death sentences. Much to my dismay, not a drop of blood came out. They were only a sliver away from death anyway. I didn’t seem to cause any more damage to them than what was already there. My next option was to purchase fleet and fumigate the room! No luck! My poor pyjama was starting to show its true colors. If worn

inside out one could see the indelible red polka-dotted marks left by countless malnourished ticks, that did their best to make their presence felt while trying to prolong their feeble existence.

Fanaye Dirasse, 1992.

In spite of the rekindled trauma and other health challenges, Fani, yet again, glided through her miracle loop. She used the period up to 1995 to expand her knowledge and skills by attending several seminars and workshops. These were intended to help her in plans for setting up her own center of learning.

OPENING AN EDUCATION CENTER

Opening an Education Center

F ani’s dream was actualized in 1995 when she opened the Tibeb Education Center, a special tutorial service in Silver Spring, Maryland. The name she adopted for the service was an Amharic saying: Tibeb Betibeb , which literally translates to wisdom through wisdom. On the center’s brochure, Fani stated that the mission was to create a warm and caring environment where learning can take place. Her aim was to work hard and stimulate the spirit of inquiry, the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, and the thoughtful formulation of worthy goals. The center had three areas of focus:

Reading Corner – intended to “develop within each child a true love of READING and BOOKS.”

Writing Corner – intended to “create a climate where each child can experience the MAGIC of words through self expression”

Math Corner – intended to give “young problem solvers the freedom to explore and be inquisitive when studying Mathematics.”

Fani chose “EDUCATING THE FUTURE,” as the motto for the center. Fani summed up her efforts in the following words:

I care about the FUTURE of our WORLD. As a teacher, I am in a position to

touch the FUTURE through our most vital resources, OUR CHILDREN.

As the center attracted more students, parents also wanted to bring their preschoolers. Before agreeing to this new request, Fani wanted to make sure she was fully equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills. In the spring of the following year, Fani took a 90 hour course on early childhood development and curriculum at the Training Institute of the Montgomery Child Care Association Inc. in Wheaton, Maryland. Fani enjoyed the course and was enthusiastic to apply her new skills as she expanded her tutorial service. It is interesting to note her poetic comments on the student final evaluation form:

I’ve taken a good look at myself and like what I see –a person on the way, working, doing, enjoying. I see myself growing and I’m happy. One step at a time, I’ll get there.

In addition to her work at Tibeb Education Center, Fani served as a math tutor at Sligo Middle School during 1996 - 1997. In this capacity, she worked with students in grades six to eight who had not mastered the skills tested by the Instructional Systems in Mathematics. She retested the students individually and in small groups after tutorial sessions equipping them with important skills for their educational achievement. Meanwhile, Tibeb Education Center attracted and benefitted numerous students from Silver Spring and the surrounding areas. As the fame and success of the center spread, many more families in northern Virginia requested Fani to tutor their children. In order to respond to the high demand, Fani moved the tutorial service to Alexandria, Virginia in 1997.

Fani’s tireless efforts to impact the world through well tutored and motivated students have resulted in high scholastic achievements for many. This is evident in the following testimonials from her former students:

It is difficult to sum up Fanaye in a few short paragraphs. I will do my best to summarize the values and gifts she instilled in me while tutoring my twin sister and me during middle and high school. I Fanu gave me my very first journal. It was called “The Nothing Book” and it was really meant for me to jot down my ideas and write down my reflections. She didn’t know it at the time but I loved to write and thought maybe one day I would become a poet or a writer. I looked up to Maya Angelou and Fanaye convinced me to write to her and send her a few poems; so I did. She didn’t write back, but her publishing company sent me an autographed photograph of her. Her gentle nature, genuine kindness, and insurmountable patience, truly struck me. She always encouraged me to be my best and not to be afraid to succeed. She helped me apply for college and helped me get into one of the seven sister colleges in Pennsylvania. She followed my progress throughout college and I when I heard she had donated a kidney to a complete stranger. That made total sense to me because that was Fanaye – completely selfless. Today, it is nearly impossible to find people who are completely selfless. It takes a person with a soul and character beyond what we are familiar with today. For fear of sounding too clichéd, I won’t say she reminded me of Gandhi and Mother Theresa, but know that I am thinking it. Fanaye is simply an angel. She was on earth, and is in heaven. I know she looks down on me and is proud to see that I became a strong, independent, successful, woman. I just hope she knows that she played one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, role in my life, during the most critical period of my life. Thank you Fanu and I love you.

Miriam Shiferaw, MD, MPH, 2014.

What I most about Tia Fanaye was her laugh. It was a distinct; almost chuckle type of laugh that said, “You can’t fool me.” I had the honor of having Tia Fanaye as my tutor in elementary school… She made learning fun…. I

having headaches and Tia Fanaye would put pressure on my temples and press hard, and then release. This would help me get rid of the headache, without having to take medicine. Who knew?

Tia Fanaye had a great sense of humor and was great at accents. She made us laugh. What I took away from my time with Tia Fanaye was that life is not that serious. Take everything with a grain of salt and always find time to smile and laugh.

Meron Kelly, 2014.

Another student, Yonathan Temesgen Petros prepared the following dedication for her memorial service in October 2012:

For as long as I knew Fanaye, she was always the same. Selfless and caring, she used to pick up my brother and me everyday after school and tutor us. I Fanaye always pushing us to do better. Whenever we did feel like giving up on our work she would always be there to make us finish…. She was very patient and in fact, taught me to slow down and double check my work. Again, she also taught me to have pride in something when I put my name on it.

As a child I her giving a kidney to a stranger and I never understood why, but that is the type of person she was. Always putting others before herself. She truly was an angel on earth. I believe she ed away because she was too good for this world. God wanted His Angel closer to Him….

…I never got to tell her this, but if you can hear me now Fanaye, Thank You! If it were not for you I would not be the person I am today….

Yonathan Temesgen Petros, 2012.

The center ran successfully benefitting many children. Fani’s efforts that transformed average students into high achieving “A” students were appreciated by their parents. A group of Ethiopian parents showed their appreciation by presenting a trophy to Fani at a special ceremony. Soon after, in 1999, Fani’s selfless act of kindness in donating her kidney, followed by a stroke six months later (though, the two events are not necessarily connected), led her on an unprecedented journey of new life challenges.

NEW LIFE CHALLENGES AND ABORTED CAREER DREAMS

New Life Challenges and Aborted Career Dreams

T he year 1999 was a major turning point in the life and work of Fani as she decided to donate her kidney. This humane gesture was so characteristic of Fani. Despite major reservations expressed by her family and friends, she insisted on donating her kidney to a woman she did not know, except for first having met the woman’s elementary school daughter at the home of a family that was recently bereaved. In conversation, the girl told Fani about her mother’s deteriorating health condition despite going through continuous dialysis. Organ donation was unheard of in her country of origin, Ethiopia, as well as among the Ethiopian Diaspora. It is precisely for this reason, and concern for Fani’s health, that her family and close friends tried to dissuade her from donating her kidney. Fani never wavered from her decisions after carefully considering and reflecting on them. No one, not even her beloved mother, could convince her otherwise. Therefore, she proceeded with the various tests, and once the match was confirmed, she underwent the surgery and emerged with one kidney. Fani was exalted by what she considered a Godly act, in of a child who needed her mother around to grow and thrive. To paraphrase Maya Angelou, there is no doubt that Fani was at her best when she cared for, counseled, ed, inspired, and shared with another human being. The Society of Ethiopians Established in the Diaspora (SEED), in the year 2000, recognized Fani for her selfless acts and presented her with a trophy and other gifts. Fani was happy, and gained a new friend. She was accepted as a new addition to the family of the kidney recipient. Initially, all of Fani’s family and close friends found it difficult to accept the friendship that blossomed between Fani and the receipient of her kidney. They made their disapproval clear to Fani. Events six months after the kidney donation also seemed to justify their concern - Fani suffered a stroke. This sad event further intensified the concern of Fani’s family and friends. They believed that the stroke resulted from the kidney donation. However, the doctors assured all concerned that the two events were unrelated. Luckily, Fani’s left

side, that was paralyzed for several days, went back to normal. She attended her therapy sessions enthusiastically, looking forward to the day when she could resume her teaching career. Sadly, this was not to be as her short-term memory loss persisted, with minor improvement over the next decade. This condition greatly altered the course of Fani’s life and career. She was not able to pursue her ion – teaching. This was difficult and daunting for her. Yet, her enthusiasm and love for others persisted. She also intensified her hope and prayers for recovery so she could start her teaching career. Five months after her stroke, at the end of 1999, Fani enthusiastically ed her friends Hugh and Linda Mullenbach in welcoming the new millennium. After a few years, she was able to enjoy her second ion – driving, though she could not drive long distances. Still, her ability to drive gave her a sense of independence and purpose. She started providing transport to our mother’s friends and other relatives. Whenever they called on her, she gladly drove them to church, shopping, hospitals and funeral services. Fani and our mother continued to live together, and they nursed and cared for each other. Over the next decade, they travelled together and enjoyed participating in the graduation ceremonies of several cousins, nephews and neices, as well as attending other family celebrations across North America. Fani was progressively recovering and looking forward to a new decade of incremental improvements to her health and wellbeing. A photograph taken at a family celebration of her friends the Mullenbachs in 2005, clearly shows her determination and zest for life.

In April of the same year, Fani travelled to Indiana to attend a ceremony for the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of our brother and his wife who renewed their wedding vows. Unfortunately, by the fall of 2006, Fani started to develop new health challenges. After visits to different specialists and several CAT scans, she was diagnosed with cerebral hydrocephalus. This was yet again another period of anxiety for Fani and the whole family. Her primary physician made arrangements for brain surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. The doctors in Baltimore patiently explained the whole process to Fani and the family. The surgery was thus scheduled for the beginning of May 2007. On the day of the surgery, Fani seemed a bit pensive, but her determination and faith to once again go through a new miracle loop was shinning in her eyes. The day before her surgery, the hospital chaplain who was doing his morning rounds stopped by her room, prayed for her and gave her communion. The next day, she was taken to the surgical room while her family and friends congregated in the waiting lounge. Several went into the chapel to pray. Our mother was also in the lounge crying her heart out in prayer. After what seemed like an interminably long wait, the doctor came out bearing good news of a successful procedure. He told us that they had inserted a shunt to drain the fluid from the brain into her abdominal cavity, and that she was in recovery at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He advised that the nurse would let us know when she wakes up. He also told us that her immediate family could visit her one person at a time. Seeing Fani in the ICU and how she glowed, there was no doubt in our minds that a miracle had happened.

Our Mom at Fani’s bedside in ICU

A few months later, a lovely crop of gray hair grew at the spot that was shaved during the surgery. To be sure, the marks and scars left by the various incidents and health challenges Fani went through go much deeper than the physical. Yet, as Fani struggled, and sometimes flew through her miracle loops of recovery, her love and care for others, her infectious smile, and zest for life continued to inspire all she came across. Six months after her brain surgery, in November of 2007, she travelled to Canada and joyously attended her nephew’s graduation. Over the next few years, she struggled to gain her full health back, always hoping and praying for the day she could go back to teaching. But she also continued to attend, and enthusiastically participate in family functions. For example, in October 2010, she travelled to St. Lucia to attend her neice’s wedding. Fani was in high spirits in June of 2011, as she took the lead in organizing a banquet to honor and celebrate our mother on her eightieth birthday. The event was attended by over one hundred relatives and friends who feasted and danced, feting our mother. No one had more fun than Fani that day, as she danced the whole evening.

Fani on left congratulating our Mom

The highly successful event was a great boost to the morale of both our mother and Fani. For days after the event, relatives and friends were calling our mother to express their pride and pleasure in being a part of such a successful event. They all applauded our mother for having such blessed and caring children. However, like all good things, this period of exaltation came to an end at the close of the summer. The fall and winter of 2011 brought additional challenges. Fani mourned the ing of two of her close friends. In addition, the recepient of her kidney had been in a coma for months. To complicate matters, our mother had fractured her lower spine and was hospitalized in September. Fani drove daily to visit our mother in the hospital in Virginia and then to Maryland to visit her comatose friend. This was the most trying time in Fani’s life. As many celebrated the New Year of 2012, Fani was preoccupied by these situations. By late January, her own health was deteriorating and she was hospitalized. Though released from the hospital after an adjustment to her brain shunt, Fani became increasingly pensive and withdrawn. Yet, she continued her routine activities, including driving to Maryland to visit her friend who remained in a coma. One such evening, on March 19, 2012, Fani returned from visiting her friend, ate her dinner, and watched television with our mother. When it was time for our mother to go to bed, Fani decided to stay up for a while and continue to watch television. The next morning, our mother, as usual, waited for Fani at the breakfast table. When Fani did not show up, our mother went to Fani’s bedroom to check if she was alright. Fani did not respond to our mother’s call. Normally, our mother would let her sleep longer. This particular time, however, something prompted our mom to get close to Fani’s bed and check on her. Mom was horrified to see Fani unresponsive and foaming at the mouth. Sadly, Fani had overdosed on her medications. When she woke up later that day in the hospital, Fani was incensed, angry at

herself and the world. Two days later, the gravity of what she had attempted to do dawned on her, and she requested our mother to get the priest from their church so she could make her confession. The priest spent over an hour with Fani as she cried and confessed, requesting absolution and God’s forgiveness. The priest led her in prayer, blessed her and left. After the priest left, Fani went down on her knees in front of our mother and asked for her forgiveness. Next, she individually talked with and sought forgiveness from our brother, aunts, uncles, cousins and neices. Finally, she asked forgiveness from our sister Muli (who had come from Texas to look after her), and requested her to make the long distance calls on her mobile phone to the rest of her siblings. She asked each of us to forgive her and told us she loved us. By the end of April, having received the necessary interventions, she was back to normal, sliding through another miracle loop. Indeed, she seemed to personify the following inscription on one of her favorite posters - a perseverance image of dawn by Chris Daniels:

Our greatest glory lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Despite her challenges, Fani was resilient. She drew strength from her faith and the love and of her family and friends.

REACHING OUT THROUGH MIRACLE LOOPS AND EXIT TO HEAVEN

Reaching Out Through Miracle Loops and Exit to Heaven

F ani was reconciled with her God and eagerly wanted to recalibrate and restart her life. Her childhood friend, Genet Gorems, became instrumental in boosting Fani’s morale, and promoting her wellbeing. No matter how short the time, Fani was back to her old vivacious self. By the beginning of May, Genet gave Fani a job in her office. She and her sister, Nigest, also made sure that Fani exercised daily after work. Fani felt alive again, encouraged by her new life that promised a new beginning. Sadly, this joy was interrupted in mid-July. Fani had to be hospitalized again. This time, the diagnosis was brain hemorrhage. After undergoing two surgeries, one for the hemorrhage and another to insert a new shunt, Fani was released to a rehabilitation center. Her determination to heal and get out of the rehab center was amazing. She dutifully attended the physiotherapy classes and followed the therapist’s instructions. A week later, she started experiencing pain and nausea, and was rushed to the hospital emergency center. The doctors diagnosed her with a pulmonary embolism and inserted an inferior vena cava filter to prevent further clots from entering her lungs. Within a few days, she was again released to the rehab center where she continued her physiotherapy sessions. All family and friends were amazed with Fani’s progress towards recovery. I witnessed these miracle loops that Fani went through each time she was confronted with life threatning illnesses. I stayed at her bedside from July twenty-first until August seventeenth, and was convinced of her recovery when I left to return home to Canada. Tragically, Fani ed away three days later on the morning of August 20, 2012. My mother, brother and aunt who saw her soon after she ed, told how she seemed at peace, and even smiling. Fani was a loving soul with a beautiful, clean, caring and kind heart. She touched and influenced the lives of all she met for the better, in particular the children she taught. Indeed, she had summed up her aspirations and life struggles in her earlier cited poem, The Universal Struggle. It is worth emphasizing the last part of the poem:

One thing for sure, I’ve struggled with my questions, And questioned my struggles, and found out that Life was a circle for me as long as I let my universe revolve within me. “Reach out!” “Reach Out!” A yearning comes from the innermost self. “Why carry all that load all alone?” The UNIVERSE WITHIN needs to come In with the UNIVERSE WITHOUT Reach in And reach out From within And without There lie the clues To what we’re all about: LIVE and LEARN!

Fani recognized the essence of her life and existence. She knew that we are all one and the same, and should care for, , and love one another. That is why Fani gave freely of herself, leaving many wondering whether she was too kind for her own good.

Yet, it is evident that she had positively impacted many lives. Her enduring legacy lives on through her family, friends and students. The essence of Fani’s life is best summed up by the following dedications from relatives, friends and former students. The first is from our nephew Terry Albury:

In all she did, Fanaye was loving, kind, generous, patient, and a constant source of inspiration. One need only casually mention a need for assistance and she’d drop everything she was doing and lend a hand. Her wisdom, insight, and wealth of knowledge on all things were truly amazing. One could sit with her and talk about the World Cup semi-finals or engage in a complex discussion on the implications of China’s involvement throughout Eastern Africa and what it meant for the region. Fanaye taught me the importance of life-long learning and to continually fill the soft tissue upstairs with information grounded in facts. It was, is, and always will be an honor to call her my Aunt. I’m honored and grateful for the times we spent together.

Terry J. Albury, 2014.

Two other dedications come from her friends. The first is from Fani’s classmate, and long-term friend, Yodit Debebe:

Every time I sit down to write my thoughts to share about Faniye, I hear a age from “A Course in Miracles.” So, I’m going to follow my heart’s guidance and dedicate this age to Faniye:

“There is a light in you which cannot die; whose presence is so holy that the world is sanctified because of you. All things that live bring gifts to you, and offer them in gratitude and gladness at your feet. The scent of flowers is their gift

to you. The waves bow down before you, and the trees extend their arms to shield you from the heat, and lay their leaves before you on the ground that you may walk in softness, while the wind sinks to a whisper round your holy head. (Wp1.156.4:1-4).

The light in you is what the universe longs to behold. All living things are still before you, for they recognize Who walks with you. The light you carry is their own. And thus they see in you their holiness, saluting you as savior and as God. Accept their reverence, for it is due to Holiness Itself, which walks with you, transforming in Its gentle light all things unto Its likeness and Its purity.”

(W-p1.156.5:1-5).

Yodit Debebe, 2014.

A second dedication comes from her good friend Helen Adefrese:

Fanaye used her education and talent as a vehicle to enrich the lives of others…. She served her community with joy and enthusiasm. She led by example, encouraging, uplifting and seeking ways to lift up rather than tear down. She radiated love, peace and joy as she followed her heart.

Fanaye was a fearless Christian, strong and confident. God’s true love was expressed through her. She listened to her heart’s desire, created a vision to manifest it and witnessed its fulfillment as she gave up her life to save another life.

Helen Adefrese, 2014.

Finally, it is important to underscore a few excerpts from earlier cited dedications from Fani’s former students:

What a legacy. She helped countless generations of students that had their life enriched beyond the norm of their homogenous, Midwest environment. So many people take family, heritage and education for granted. This was not true of Ms. Dirasse she had a mission to impart this world with more educated students. Her inner fire was so bright you couldn’t help but to become part of that burning ion for whatever she was speaking about.

My life had been changed forever because of Ms. Dirasse. I am sad that her time was cut far too short, however, the days that she did walk the earth made such impact that I feel her spirit still walks in all of us that had the pleasure to cross paths in life.

Robin Wooster, 2014.

Fanaye is simply an angel. She was on earth, and is in heaven. I know she looks down on me and is proud to see that I became a strong, independent, successful, woman. I just hope she knows that she played one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, role in my life, during the most critical period of my life. Thank you Fanu and I love you.

Miriam Shiferaw, MD, MPH, 2014.

Though she had gone through many struggles, Fani was a true giving tree. I have no doubt that the smile that was transfixed on her face, after she had ed away, is a testimony to this, and to what she must have seen as she entered the hereafter.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its ions and desires. GALATIANS 5: 22-24.

The work of righteousness will be peace. And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in peaceful habitation. In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. ISAIAH 32: 17-18.

AFTERWORD

Afterword

R eflecting on the life and work of my sister Fanaye Dirasse, I cannot help but wonder what lessons can be derived from her heart wrenching, yet uplifting, struggles and sacrifices she endured while gliding through miracle loops of healing. Those who were close to her and knew her well wondered whether the selfsacrifice that seemed to characterize her life, as she freely gave her love, time, knowledge, and skills for the benefit of others, were in her best interest. Some wondered if her faith was at times misplaced. Others questioned if she was just a pleaser who lost herself in the process. If there was any sadness in the way she lived, it is that she gave too much to others. Was her life then tragic? Mark Nepo in his Book of Awakening (2000, 183), remarks that “Tragedy stays alive by feeling what’s been done to us, while peace comes alive by living with the results.” Fani lived with the results of many tragic incidents and events that became defining moments of her life experience. The major ones were:

• Being a polydactyl at birth which she used as an example to teach others that it was alright to be different. • The scars from two third degree burns she suffered 33 years apart which became the marks of an experienced and resilient soul that endured. • Giving one of her kidneys which became the ultimate sacrifice so another could have a chance to live.

I am convinced that the pains and suffering she experienced and the miracle loops she went through carried her forward intensifying her understanding of what really matters in life. She loved God, she loved life, and lived it to the

fullest, caring for, and loving all she came across. In her poem, Dare To Live (in the introduction to this book), she had emphasized this fact:

I was put into this world to search for the purpose of my existence. Therefore, basing my LIFE on the universal principle of its goodness, I dare to live life. MY LIFE to its fullest!

Finally, the question looms as to why after all this, she departed at what should have been the prime of her life. I found the answer in one of Fani’s favorite books: Quiet Thoughts, by Paul S. McElroy. Quotations from his first and last chapters are highly instructive:

When is the prime of life? At the peak of physical prowess? At the height of intellectual attainment? At the moment of greatest maturity? At the end of long years? Who can say when death is premature? Does it come too late for one who is helplessly invalided or tortured by pain incurable? Does death come too late for a Methuselah? Is long life a reward for good behaviour? Does death come too soon for one who gives his life that others may be spared? Too soon for the hero and adventurer? Does early death come as punishment for misdeeds? Why should death be feared? All men must face what is inevitable. Man begins to die as soon as he is born. At what moment, then, should man be most fearful of leaving the known for the unknown? Understandably there may be a desire to postpone the transition, but what is there to be afraid of? Why should one be sad or rebellious? Does not one look with anticipation toward each tomorrow? When the time comes for departure shall not the man of faith also look forward trustingly and with eager curiousity to what the new adventure may bring? (1964, 5).

“Death is a horizon, and the horizon is only the limit of our sight.” It has been said, “Death is not extinguishing the light, but putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.” (1964, 60).

Bibliography

Johnson, Thomas H. ed. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Boston, MA: Little Brown and Company, 1960. McElroy, Paul S. Quiet Thoughts. Mount Vernon, New York: Peter Pauper Press, 1964. Nepo, Mark. The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by being Present to the Life You Have. Sanfrancisco, CA: Conari Press, an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser LLC, 2000.

Photo Credits

3, 4, 5 © 1958, 1959, 1963, General Dirasse Dubale; 20 © 1972, Laketch Dirasse; 71 © 2005, Hugh Mullenbach; 73 © 2007, Berhane Kiflewahid; 74 © 2011, Mulualem Dirasse; 78 © 1978, Laketch Dirasse.

About The Author

L aketch Dirasse is the oldest sister of Fanaye Dirasse. Trained as a Social Anthropologist, she has worked and written on issues of women’s rights, management, development, displacement, and conflict and peace. She has lived and worked in the Africa region, the United States, Switzerland and Canada. She holds bachelor’s degree from Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and master’s and doctoral degrees from Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts. She is retired and lives with her husband in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Endnotes

1 At the present, a union had been forged and the organization is known as the African Union (AU)