Interview with Amanuel Hiruy Haile
Amaniel Hiruy Haile is an Eritrean youth who came from the UK and has chosen to begin his national service. NUEYS interviewed him before he left for Sawa and here is what he had to say. – NUEYS Editor.
Q:Welcome Amaniel, why don’t you start this interview by telling our readers a bit about yourself.
A: Yes, well as you have already said my name is Amaniel Hiruy Haile, and I’m 19 years old. I was born in Amsterdam on the 18th of April 2003. I moved to The United Kingdom when I was 6 years old and I lived there for a few years. Later on, I came to Eritrea where I went to school at Bahti Meskerem elementary school (which is now a middle school), and after I had gone back to the UK I returned to Eritrea and once again studied at Barka Secondary school, I then again went back to the UK and have now again returned prepared to complete my national service.
Q: So, from what you have been saying you’ve been in Eritrea and built up your own experience over time. How has that been?
A: Well, honestly its been great. I love everything about my nation, whether it’s the environment or the people my experience has been a very good one. The only difficulty I’ve come across is the standard water and electricity problem, but even that has been an issue I have been able to overcome. Other than that I love it here.
Q:Ok, so lets talk about the main topic. You’re about to go to Sawa, tell us what has inspired you to go on this venture
A: Well, the biggest influence has of course been my family, because there are people in my family who were freedom fighters and they tell me all their stories of their part in the fight for independence, and now that independence has come I feel I should follow in their footsteps and do my part to contribute to my nation in whatever capacity that may be. There is also another factor which is that I have friends here who are in National Service or are students about to begin national service and I am the only one left who isn’t in either category and I just think that I should do my part just as they are doing theirs.
Q: What do you plan on getting out of going to Sawa?
A: The biggest thing for me is all the new experiences I’ll be getting from going to this completely new environment. I also plan on creating new friendships with other Eritreans of all the different backgrounds from the 9 Ethnicities and 6 regions of the country. Another thing I want out of going to Sawa is growth as a human being, and from other experiences I’ve heard I’m sure that I’ll grow a lot in my time at Sawa
Q:When it is time to go to Sawa theres always fears or skepticisms that emerge, which is a normal human reaction when facing the unknown. Why don’t you talk to us about some of yours?
A: Of course. Well the main thing I’ve been thinking about is the high levels of heat, I’ve come from the UK and we don’t usually have very high temperatures there so I’ve been a bit curious to how I’ll adjust to that. There’s also the new military lifestyle I’ll have to adjust to. But, to be frank at the end of the day you can’t let your fears control you. I am determined to go to Sawa and be successful there, so no matter what the unknown may bring I’ll take it in full stride.
Q:Well, were at the end of this interview is there anything else you would like to say?
A:This is something that I say to a lot of people that ask me how I’m going to go to cope with going to Sawa as someone from the diaspora. First of all I am Eritrean, everything in this country was made for me and all my Eritrean brothers and sisters inside and outside of the country, all I need to do is be determined and patient enough to adapt. Second, if our freedom fighters were able to withstand the harshest conditions for thirty years to bring our nations independence, then I can surely commit to a few months of Sawa and what is to come.
Q:Thank you for your time Amaniel, and I hope you have a fantastic experience in Sawa.
A: Thank you, I’m sure I will
Written By: Raey Berhane