By Dr. Fickak Habtes, Dr.PA, MHSA, MPH

After two years of preparation through conference calls and brain storming the board of directors for Keren Secondary School Reunion (KSSR) efforts and planning put to test. The hard work to cultivate the best ways and means to bring back old memories, rejuvenate fading friendship and reconnect old classmates’ reunion arrived. The conference convened July 2 to 4, 2010 in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.A. Participants came from Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Sweden and different parts of United States of America. The outcome of the reunion was beyond expectation and the result based on satisfaction was pleasantly overwhelming.

Anticipation:

Many alumni of KSSR around the world waited eagerly and came with high expectation and enduring anticipation to join and locate their classmates. The date arrived; friends and classmates came from all around the world. The Keren Seconday School Alumni (KSSA) convened its second reunion and concluded with high remarks, great fun (Tegrig & Tealik) and good times which is something to remember for life. Selfishly, I would like to proclaim that I am thrilled that I was there as a participant for the second time. With a great honor I would say at least the time we spent together was priceless and the memory will live forever.

Friday evening, July 2, people started dashing from different corners of the world. Anxiety and nervousness with high emotions was hovering among comers. After so many years you don’t know who you will see and doubt your memory you may not remember your classmates and old friends. Time elapsed, body physically changed and memories started fading. The troubling question one participant may face from an old friend or classmate would be “do you remember me?” Or you may ask yourself saying do I know him or her?

Bluntly speaking some of us doubled our size from the skinny frames of high school to very hard to recognize figure after many years in the Diaspora. But this change will lead to excitement when a friend introduced his/her name and memory game started calculating where and when did we meet? The clue is the name, pointing at overhauled bodies and deceiving look. The factors of illusion and disguised culverts of change are age and over-grazing on the abundant western foods which resulted in gaining weight. Whatever that may be the face and frame changed to irreversible role which is hard to recognize. However, this is the time of reconnection and recognition. At this time and event emotions run high; tears of joy are shed, new friendship established and personal gratification was felt. Collectively each one gracefully said I am glad that I made it to be part of this extraordinary reunion.

Saturday was the day the reunion opened officially at10.30 AM. Mr. Mohammed Ali Mohamed (Geza Banda) Opened the Reunion with remembrance to those heroes and heroine who gave their lives for Eritrea’s independence. The Chairman of the host city, Washington D.C. and its vicinity, Mr. Yemane Desta welcomed the participants and assured them that they will have a great time. The Chairman of the KSSR Mr. Abraha Zerai put things into perspective why we are here and thanked and introduced the rest of the board who made this reunion possible. The Chairman of the board Mr. Abraha Zerai is most deserving of aculeate for his leadership to make this great reunion possible flanked with patience and hard work for the last two years.

Great Speakers:

Great speakers came one after the other. Dr. Woldemariam G/Sellasie (California), Mr. Abdel-Nur Mohammed from England, Mr. Yohannes Drar (Canada), Mr. Michael Embaye (Canada), Dr Kamal Ibrahim Nabarai (USA), provided educational and informative speeches. Memhier Alem Yohannes (USA) and Mr. Galleger (USA) eloquently displayed the days of struggle in Keren and Agurdat respectively and made attendees reflect, remember and even cry. We came a long way and we are grateful for those who gave their lives to give us our freedom and identity as a nation and people. The young men and women lead by Mrs. Kibra Gebre and Dr. Mesgina Yassin presentation was priceless. We are looking forward to see more of them and more activities and presentation in the next reunion.

The rising superstar of the speakers was Araya G/sesllassie. He was practical, invigorating and compassionate about his own story and how to help others. Araya is a role model for many young men and women to change their lives to the fullest. We are proud of his accomplishment and we are grateful of his contribution to all societies and especially to the Eritrean Community. Araya’s service is critically needed to motivate others and to save lives from behavioral diseases.

Healing starts with opening up and expressing emotions with someone you trust, love, respect or may be all of the three. To open up and talk freely with someone is therapeutic. The therapeutic ways of dealing with problems or overcoming loneness is hooking up with friends or families. Then in KSSR the healing process started for many people who made it to the reunion when the broken chain of many years connected through friends, families or classmates. The Keren Secondary School Reunion (KSSR) was therapeutic and genuine healing effect was felt for many participants. These people had been separated for over 40 years and for some more or less. The healing process and reflection of the past good time, bad situation and indifferent conditions was part of the nostalgic memories. Yes indeed, the second reunion brought people together and gave them everlasting memory they will never forget. If I may add a personal testimony without exaggeration, believe me, the reunion was a blast! Let me tell you, it was one of the best times I ever had in my life.

The reunion and reunification of lost friends and classmates was scheduled for three days. The excitement build up Friday night when people started coming to the Hilton hotel from everywhere; through cars, bus, airplanes and may be trains from the surrounding vicinities. The jubilant reunion excited other guests of the hotel through watching the kerenite boys and girls who randeved after a long time. The soft compassionated voice did not change among the former boys and girls. The majority middle aged men and women of my group did not change their culture. The soft greetings which started with “Selamat” and a big hang or a traditional kiss gave the atmosphere full of love and serenity and changed the name of the hotel temporarily from Hilton to the “KSSR Oasis of Love “. Emotions run high tears of love was shaded and concluded with a simple genuine statement of “Good to see you again!!!”

Tears of Joy:

I was one of the pole barriers of tears. I left a good friend and an older sister back in Mekele, Ethiopia during the time of struggle. She was a nurse. Her name was Leteberhan Michael. She survived the killings of Eritreans by the Derge but most of her colleagues were vanished. Now she lives in Edmonton, Canada. Our reunification after 36 years was due for tears of joy and I shaded it joyfully.

I had good friends in my neighborhood growing up near “Auqudeto” in Keren. I would like to mention those who departed (passed a way) from us in fond of good memories and they are: Yemane Estifanos, Shumdehan (forgot his last name) and Semere Gebreegzabeher. They were all good boys and fun loving. Semere was my favorite and younger than me. But his eloquent manner and communication ability was enduring and satisfying. He had two Sisters I know of. One of them was Alganesh who came from Sweden to be part of the KSSR. I left Keren when she was a teen age, beautiful, vibrant and friendly. Anybody dream of her and wish of her at those days to be his future wife. She was innocent and young as she was never thought of marriage except having fun and carrying on the Kerinite sprit of joking and intermingling with her neighborhood boys and girls as I remember her distinctively. I did not see Alganeshe for over 36 years. The young and beautiful portrait of her childhood stayed framed in my mind. She still looks beautiful. But in my mind I never let her grow, she stayed young. Now she changed and grown up, married and much matured. Sadly, I did not recognize that young beautiful girl who joked and laughed with me regularly in those days of struggle and tribunal. Time played a big role in all of us. I saw Allganesh talking with someone. I knew her, I said. She resembles someone I know, but I didn’t remember her. Her smile forced me to remember her combined with her name and ultimately I bridged and connected her to my good friend Semere and who was her older brother. Semere was very complementary. He always gave me that Kerenite sprit and boosts my ego with “Big Foss” more than I can handle. Made me feel like a million bucks. Yes! I remember “the girl next door” his sister Alganesh who forced me to shade a nostalgic tears of joy. I have talked with Alganish frequently in our reunion for a short period of time but not too long because she reminded me of the old good days of our sweet childhood and of course, she remained me of my good looking eloquent friend, her brother, my good friend, Semere Gebregzabiher.

Please don’t be offended if I mention selectively only my classmates who attend the reunion. In the meantime, please accept my sincere apology if I forget to mention some of my classmates, if you where there. I would like to report to you all my Keren Secondary School (KSS) classmates look much younger than me. Here they come nine of them:

Fouzi Saad Saleh (Cambo police), who came all the way from Australia, looks young like I left him 36 years ago. Fouzi still is funny and enjoys a good laughter as I remember him in high school. The fraternal twins, Asefaw and Mulugeta Abraha made it from Kansas and California, USA respectively. Still they posses their honorable respectful personality as I remember them in Keren. I don’t remember seeing them fighting with anyone. Asafaw is still friendly, nice and typical fun loving Kerenaite. Mulugeta still reserved and quite as I remember him back in high school. Asfefaw lost weight. It is my loss he uses to be in my honorable club of fat Kerenite (.:.). Mulugeta lost his muscle but looks slim and look typical Kerenite with humble and respectful manners.

Who would believe me if I tell you that that Michael Tekabo Neguse (Wendi Recco) is quieter and gentler. I was pleasantly surprised to see him carry on and talk about civilly, political affairs, community relationship and overall a family. Wow!!! That is something that tells me we are getting older and grown up in our own right. As a group with Michael we had sleepless night talking the whole night until the sun shined on us in the morning believe it or not. Wow! What fun we had!!!

The one I love to hate was Tewelde Keflom. He still looks young, skinny and did not change at all with all of his mischievous behaviors intact. His street smart act is still in action as needed prevailing in his conversation and complemented with a sharp”Foss”. The first time I arrived in Keren from school in Beleza, Tewelde welcomed me with my first fight in Keren and terrorized me passionately with his threading words. I had to fight him to get a respect from “my home boys” and I came out victoriously which earned me a great deal of respect in my area and neighborhood but that lead me to another fight with Abdelkanee which was devastating. Abelkenee’s fight is another story by itself for different time. Abdulkanee lives in Toronto, Canada. He grows up to be quieter and gentler, but cracks the best jokes as typical Kerenite. I always enjoy being around him except reminding me of the incident 40 years ago. Back to Tewelde Keflom:

Tewelde Keflom has adorable young boys and they look exactly like him. He looked at one of his boys and told him straight up, with straight face that he was biting me up when we were kids. One of his boys looks at me with amusement and he rehearsed the story of David and Goliath in his mind. The excitement of wow! Was written all over his face and applauded his father for biting that giant man. The kid affirmed that his dad is a hero. Tewelde may weigh about 140 pounds. I am 270 in a good day. I told the kid, yes your dad use to bit me. I did not want to silence the big thunder and “foss’ of Tewelde Keflom. As we grow up Tewelde had a big “foss” now it may be dull but “a leopard never loses his spot”.

Last three not least; one of them is my childhood buddy and my friend, Dr. Selah Ibrahim Nabarai. Salah is still jolly and fun loving. His humble and low key domineers is still there as you know him in Keren. He is modest and the word “ego” never crossed his vocabulary. The only change I saw on him is getting greyer. Simple advice and highly recommended solution for the good doctor is go ahead and use “just for men” product. The other fine gentleman and my former classmate is Hassan Mina. I remember Hassan very well. He uses to put on beautiful shirts and steer at you with a beautiful smile. I think braces to construct beautiful teeth were invented in Helet Sudan and Hassan was one of the beneficiaries. Over all Hassan is and was a gentleman then and now. “Good name is better than silver and gold”.

As we grow up one of the young man fun loving and really a peaceful in high school was Yemane Desta. Believe it or not Yemane was very nice and he grew up in Keren Lehalay. Briefly, Beshier Osman Neberai, (Ala yerhamu), Yemane and I hanged around together for awhile and we had a lot of fun. Both of them were from Kern Lehaly and supervised and couched by Zacharias Tewelde (.:.). Some times miracle comes out of kern Lehaly. Yemane still looks good, in good shape, gentle and handsome. These are the short stories of my classmates as I saw them in the reunion.

If you paid attention I did not mention any female classmate of mine because I did not see one nor I remember any one. I was told Hewit Fitiwi (Combo police) who came from England was my classmate, unfortunately I didn’t remember her. There were many but; sorry I don’t remember them in high school. May be they were good students and not troublemakers enough to be remembered. However, there were a lot of them who were there before me and behind me and to say the least all look good and it was good to see them all.

I know you are waiting to hear about Awkerat “ladies”. I am not in liberty nor do I have a permission to talk too much about anybody in detail. But to say the least the good looking ladies where in attendance, moving around the reunion with class, dignity and sophistication as I always remembered them and seen them in the past. In this reunion we are honored also to have former young and old Alumni. The President of University of love which was located in Geza Woreket, Mr. Tesfagaber Mesgina with his two Deans of the University of Love Mr. Jemhai (Geza Banda) and d Mr. Jemeal all former “ESTELA” players were in attendance. The wealth of knowledge how to communicate effectively and successfully into a young women heart is most their contribution. The gentlemen deserve statue in their honor to be to erect in Shareh Paris, in Keren (.:.). Contrary love is fight. The “fight defense” minister (in my time) from Keren Lehaly Mr. Zacharias Twelede was also in attendance just for your information. Without judgment the former general and captain of fight now sounds, acts like Saint Michael (Kidues Michael) believe it or not. Zacharias is quieter, gentler with a lot of humor. I have seen miracles including cheating death in my own life but Zacharias’ change are one of the top 3 miracles in my life. Next reunion come and see for yourself (.:.).

In conclusion, Dashim Mesgina and Sammy Gimboat were fantastic. The music was just appropriate for the occasion. Sammy is also a wonderful poet. These young men gave us the opportunity to walk through the memory line. Hey, guys job well done! Please promise yourself and make us proud again through your unbelievable performance on the coming reunion.

Woldesellaise Tesfai Omer pomes were sensational and heavy in content. That was a talent at its best. I admired his ability to conduct this kind of highly sophisticated poems. The unsung heroes were Hajji and Heyab who stood up the whole two days taking pictures without rest. You will thank them as you enjoy watching the videos and looking at the pictures.

Habtemichael who was glued to the table day and night was my hero. That kind of dedication and commitment made us to say what a wonderful time we had and to brag the well conducted and operated reunion because of the effortless hard work of people such as Habtemichael. The living legend Weldai Wedi Abe is typical Kerenite in character and humor. Yes he was in attendance. He brought nostalgic memory through his comedy and always remains to be our favorite King of comedy associated with KSSR.

The reunion was super great. Most of the participants had a super time. Please write your experience to make those who miss it to be super jealous. Those of you who miss these two reunions redeem yourself and participate on the next one and plan to attend super fast. My experience in simple words and may be the idea of most of my friends, we defiantly died and went to heaven for three days. Personally, I am convinced that “THE ROAD TO HEAVEN PASS’ THROUGH THE KEREN SECONDARY SCHOOL REUNION’.

Love and peace to all!!!

See you on the next reunion.

Until then so long!!!

Feehabtes@yahoo.com