Past Refugee Tells Her Story of Coming to America and Working

Paul Yeager: As you can tell already, we're going to do something completely different than normal. Or can you? Colleen Bradford Krantz is with us. This is the MToM podcast. And this is different because of a number of reasons. We haven't chatted with you. We used to chat with you all the time about your stories in the field, and then I decided to, you know, you had enough of me. I had enough of you, and that's really what it was. Obviously, she knows, us too. Well, it's just your stories, you know, it used to be you'd go on these nice, clean three trips stories, two trip stories. Then it's like I went here. Went there. I was like, 

Colleen Krantz: Yes. I just feature the stories now I feature in the newsletter. How about that? Yeah. There we go.

Paul: Talk about it in the newsletter. 

Colleen: Yeah, there we go. 

Paul: You did a story, recently on Market to Market about refugees. The refugee center in Illinois. How did that story come about? 

Colleen: I was honestly just looking at the, interested in getting a refugee story done at some point. I think there's a big difference in that category of immigrants. And I think, Midwesterners sort of have a history of stepping forward and I thought it'd be interesting to, you know, tell one of those stories. And I honestly stumbled across the, center in Champaign-Urbana. And, it was a fascinating story I thought to tell. So. 

Paul: And we have, common person that we work with here at Iowa PBS who is a refugee from Africa. Yes. named Eden. Eden. Yes. And she the first time I heard her story, I didn't know much about her. And then I somehow it came up one day. Her story is incredible. 

Colleen: It is. It's amazing. And I. I felt the same way when I first heard it. you know, I, you know, she's had this, these amazing experiences as a refugee and scary experiences. And I think I was pestering you: We should tell her story. 

Paul: You were pestering?

Colleen:.. or Dave, maybe Dave Miller, our boss.

Paul: Yeah.  

Colleen: So I just felt like her story is so fascinating. The viewers would appreciate hearing it. 

Paul: She didn't make it into your TV story, but she made it into a conversation that you had in here. 

Colleen: Yes, exactly. 

Paul: And so you get her to tell where she's from? 

Colleen: Yes. 

Paul: And how she went across the desert? She had a bunch of family?

Colleen: Yeah, she came from Eritrea, which was at the time in her childhood, was at war with Ethiopia, a neighbor neighboring country. So it forced her to basically flee for her safety and ended up in Sudan. And really, what she talked to us about was the what that that escape was like and how she ended up in the United States and, and then ended up in North Dakota first before coming to Iowa later.

Paul: And she has been in Iowa. How long? 

Colleen: She's been here about 40 years now. So, yeah, she's an Iowan now. 

Paul: She is. She has been in Iowa longer than she was in her homeland. 

Colleen: Yes. 

Paul: Her conversation. you could talk to her for a long time. she she's certainly a person who has adapted to many American things, but also other things she hasn't.

Colleen: Yes, she has. She has a funny story she'll tell that I won't completely ruin here. But where she hit an animal driving and told the sheriff it was probably a lion or giraffe, which I'm sure the deputy thought was very funny. 

Paul: Probably an original. Yeah, her car is another story in itself, but, so that is that is going to be the discussion with her that we're going to see.

Colleen: Exactly. 

Paul: All right. So let's watch it. Now. This is the M2 and podcast. If you have any ideas for us send us an email at Market to Market at Iowa. PBS.org. If you like the discussions that you hear, that's fine if you don't, but share them with a friend that you think might like it. leave us a review or five star rating. That'd be great so other people can see it. But now let's get to Colleen's interview.

Colleen: Thanks for agreeing to do this. I didn't have to twist your arm too badly, did I? 

Eden Tesfazghi: No, it's no problem. I would love to do that. 

Colleen: Okay. Can you start out by telling everyone your name and, where you live now and what you do at Iowa PBS?

Eden: My name is Eden. Eden Tesfazghi. Eden Kibroum Tesfazghi. And I live here in, Des Moines, Iowa, and I work for Iowa PBS and started at Iowa PTV as, I helped on Market to Market, Iowa Press, Living in Iowa. All kinds of - you can name it. And then, five years ago, I had, permission for the, programing department. I work as a production assistant. I do broadcasting logs. Okay? I do channel four, channel two, channel three. 

Colleen: You have a lot going on, don't you? Yeah, on World, Create and then Kids too. Okay. 

Eden: And I work at, broadcasting logs. Okay. Every day. 

Colleen: Okay. And you have a really interesting background that wasn't always easy, but I wanted to. We're going to go through some of that. We can't get into all the fascinating stories, but we'll have time for some of them. but you came to the United States as a refugee. Is that right? 

Eden: Yeah.

Colleen: Tell me where your what's your home country? You know. And can you tell me a little bit about it? 

Eden: Yeah. My country is Eritrea. And I born and raised in Asmara. The capital city of Eritrea is Asmara A-S-M-A-R-A. And the country is E r I t r e a and do you find a lot of it? 

Colleen: And a lot of people are, don't know a lot about it. Probably like we should. Can you tell a little bit about the country and, and sort of what, what's the economics like there? And what's what, you know, is it agricultural based country or is it more industrial or what's the what do we need to know about Eritrea? 

Eden: Eritrea is a very I mean, interesting country. It's a great people, great country and everybody is like, you know, doing working hard and they do on their own - everything to survive. And the people is very politely, very nicely. And they I mean, it's a peaceful country. I can say. 

Colleen: But something happened during your childhood to change that, that didn't allow you to stay in Eritrea, right? Can you tell me what happened? 

Eden: Yeah. Many years ago, which is? I, left in 1982, because we had a war from Ethiopia, and we was colonized by Ethiopia at that time. So my people had in, they been fighting for 30 years to get us the freedom. 

Colleen: 30 years? 

Eden: We had 30 years with Ethiopia. Yeah. So we had, like, my brother was in a war also, and then he came in and wounded his right elbow. But he survive in. And right now he lives with me in the U.S.

Colleen: But this war was already going on when you were born. Yeah. Born. Right. You so you kind of grew up with as a child. 

Eden: As a child. Yeah. We had a really bad rough time and we had, most of the time we don't have any food, actually, because the Ethiopian was colonized the country and we had we cannot leave sometimes, you know, you have to stay home like a curfew. 

Colleen: You had curfews? Yeah. And so what happened when you. I think it was in 19. How old were you in 1982? 

Eden: I would say about 15. 

Colleen: And tell me what happened that at that point, I think if I remember your story right, you left through.

Eden: Yeah. Okay. to survive, you know, and then to help my family. So my oldest sibling, my big brother, he decided to take us with his kids and his wife to Sudan. So that way we can survive, you know, from the war. 

Colleen: Because you were starving, essentially? 

Eden: Yeah, we had the war. 

Colleen: And and no food? 

Eden: Little food. Yeah. My my dad was working, but it was not enough, everything to survive for all of us. We was nine children. Yeah, for my family. 

Colleen: And so then you decided, did you go on your own? You decided to follow. You went with your brother to Sudan? My. 

Eden: Yeah. My brother's wife came to the hometown in Asmara from a village that they used to live. She she decided to take us one the family from Asmara with them to travel and. But we have to walk. It's a three weeks walk. 

Colleen: And what? Describe where. Was it the desert region? I think you were walking.. 

Eden: Yeah. Walking across desert? Yeah, we we mostly my brother was carrying some food and a little water, but it was not enough, actually. So we we were starving actually, on the road because we don't have enough food and we had a bad people attack us actually, and, after like a week later. And so we have nothing food, nothing. And then we, we got to the border of Sudan. 

Colleen: And that was how many days of walking? 

Eden: Totally is three weeks walking. 

Colleen: And at least a week of that without any food? 

Eden: Yeah. 

Colleen: Oh, wow. 

Eden: And then but we survive. And so when we got to the border in Sudan, it was a very nice family that they got us in their place. We was 15 of us, actually, to walk with my brother. 

Colleen: Others from your from that - the city? 

Eden: Yeah. There is no direction but they know - my brother knows where he's going, but there is nothing like a direction, you know, east or west and literally nothing. You just had to keep walking and follow the people. 

Colleen: Was this the same brother that was in had fought in the war? So he knew the area? 

Eden: Yeah. We walk actually in nighttime. Daytime we have to hide because some enemy, if they find you, then they will kill you or they will, you know, kidnap you, whatever. So we have to walk in the night only when it's dark. 

Colleen: And there's not much for food to find in nature? Yeah.

Eden: Whatever we had with us, that's the only thing we can eat. And then there was an interesting - I've never seen it before because, like I said, I'm from the city -but my brother was living in the village, so they know what to make the food without like, you know, you don't have a stove in the road. There's it's jungle, it desert, nothing is in there. So he make, you know, the dough. And then he had the stone. It's like a wide stone and he put it in the fire. Like he’d find some wood, you know. And then he had like the stone and then he makes like a bread. Yes. So from that that's what we survive. 

Colleen: Oh wow. 

Eden: To, to go all the way.

Colleen: And you had the, flour of some. It was different than not wheat flour, but it be the like what you make injera from? 

Eden: Not injera. But this is the bread, okay? Injera is very hard. You cannot make it in the road. Oh, okay. But bread, you can make it like that from the stone. Okay. 

Colleen: So that's how you survived. And you made it to Sudan and then. Yeah. What happened? And you a family helped you. Did you end up in a refugee camp then? 

Eden: No, we did not go to the refugee camp but some people that my brother knows, some family. So we split, he and his wife and kids in some other family together. And then me. I go up to other families. Okay, so after that, it was like six months later. I said, I don't want to stay in Kassala. I want to go to Khartoum, the big city, because I'm from the city. Yes. So he's he let me go to Khartoum later. Like after six months later. Okay. And then I had some friends, so I stayed with them.

Colleen: And then did they help you start the refugee application process, or how did that start? 

Eden: Well it was a year later. It takes a long process. After a year later, I went myself to get, sign up with they called GBA, I think. Okay. The refugee status, it was in Khartoum. Okay. And so it was thousands thousands people was lined up to get sign their name for the status. And then I was, were babysitting some Sudanese family. Okay. And then she would not allowed me to go that long. So I was going to leave. And then suddenly, I saw my neighbor from back home. She was right in front. In the line? On the line. For the refugee status? Yeah. And she's helping the people. I mean, she asked the people in front of her and and behind her if she can take me because she's my big sister. Oh, so she said, please, you know, allow her to go in front of me. So she asked the people in front and back. They said, yeah, sure. Okay. So I got lucky and I got in and then I applied my name. 

Colleen: And I should explain the so most people will know this, but those who don't, refugee is a category for immigrants, and it's a legal category where you have to first be in another country besides your home country, and then you can apply to come to the United States, but only if you have fear or, or, risk of persecution at home. So it's dangerous to go back home. And so - but I don't think people understand how long it takes. Like you said, it took what, a year and a half before you actually were on the plane to come to the United States. Or two years? 

Eden: Yeah, after three years, three years, 1985, I came here. Okay. 

Colleen: So you have a very funny story. I hope you remember the one I'm going to refer to. But as you are on the plane coming to the United States, and you're looking out the window of the plane to where you're about to land. And do you remember the story you told me because you expected to see New York City? Do you remember your impression? Tell me, tell us, tell us what you thought when you looked out the window. 

Eden: Yeah, when I came, when I arrived, was in Bismarck, North Dakota. 

Colleen: Yes. Bismarck, North Dakota. 

Eden: Yeah, that is the, I guess the bigger airport to come, because I have to go to small town. So when I arrived, there was a lady, like a sponsor. They told us your sponsor came and you go with them. Yes. And. But if it's not the name on your list, do not go. So that's. They direct me that when I come from Sudan. So when I she said was Miss Herman. And I remember that she was a teacher and she said I came to pick you up seven hours drive at least. I said, ma'am, I am not going because your name is not on my list. And and she said, no, I have to take you because your sponsor cannot make it. So you have to go to the different town like called New England, North Dakota. Yes, New England, North Dakota. Yeah, it's a small town. So. 

Colleen: And you did you didn't want to go with her because her name was not the name you were given, right?

Eden: Plus, my town was supposed to go to Fargo, North Dakota. Okay. So everything the list was totally different. 

Colleen: So then you weren't sure what to do? 

Eden: Yeah, but, then she took me to some kind of station, you know, like the police come, they have to make her sign, you know, because. Oh, okay. I just don't want to go, like, you know, I, I speak little English, but I understand what I was saying.

Colleen: Yes. And then, So you felt better after the police said it was okay? 

Eden: After this they sign because you have no choice. You going there to New England, North Dakota? Because she had the paperwork that my name, the list, everything. 

Colleen: And I think I remember you saying that as you were flying in, you looked out the window and you thought they had made a mistake. Do you remember this I think you said that, you know, because you expected a big city when you knew you were coming to the United States? 

Eden: First of all, she asked me, actually, would you like to eat? I said, no, ma'am, I'm not hungry. But, she want me to eat because I traveled a long way from Sudan to Greece and from Greek to United States. And so most of my the people that I came like we was 50 of us, all Eritrean, and then, they all of them have to go like two people together or three people. I am the only one by myself. And there was a couple of them to go to Minnesota. I still can talk to them, but I haven't see them for a while.

Colleen: Yeah, and you were only. How old were you? Now, at this point? 16 or at that? Oh, no. You would have been 17 or 18, 18, 

Eden: Eighteen. 

Colleen: Okay. And you're traveling alone in a new country, and now you're in, North Dakota. And yeah, you had I think you experienced snow for the first time. and didn't they have to convince you to not take your sandals out into the snow?

Eden: Yeah. Well, first of all, when, the lady was driving me to New England, North Dakota, I look out the window, there is nothing I see. Like skyscrapers, like big buildings, because I came from the city. Plus, I've seen New York - on the way coming to North Dakota. Well then I asked her: Ma'am, are you sure you are taking me to America? She said, yeah, this is America, I said. This looked like a country village. Yeah. She said, yeah, that's right. We're going to the farm. So that was my first time experience to go to a farm. 

Colleen: That's great. 

Eden: But there was nice people. Everybody was greeting me well. And then I think it was three months later. So I came September Friday the 13th, 1985. So about two months or three months, the big snow came overnight, okay. And I was asleep. Everybody was asleep. We was in a dorm, high school dorm. Yeah. 

Colleen: So you stayed in a it was a like a yeah. A it was a Catholic or a Catholic. Catholic it was. So she stayed and it was it New England, North Dakota, in a Catholic boarding school, essentially, or residential school. Yeah. And with a few other refugees. And so there's a lot of girls that were there already. Right. 

Eden: Refugees is only like three people. It was everyone else was from and everybody's from like a different town, Bismarck. Okay. From all over

Colleen: All over that region. 

Eden: So they had their families there except me and the other two,

Colleen: which I did look at that school up and it is closed now, sadly.

Eden: They closed? 

Colleen: Yes. It's I looked it up and it's a prison now. Oh wow. Which is probably not what you wanted to hear, but. 

Eden: Yeah. That's sad. Yeah, but it's.. Anyway then with the snow came overnight with about 18 inches of snow. At that time I didn't know anything about snow, I never heard it, I'd never seen it. We had snow in back home but it's snow like ice, like I sleet, sleet and it melted immediately. Okay, but this is like everything was white. The whole roof, the. There is no trees - all covered with snow white. So then I did - I come with a slipper shoes to go to eat breakfast. 

Colleen: Slippers? Slippers like 

Eden: Yeah okay a slipper shoes. So. And then I only had is miniskirt - That's how I came from Sudan because it was hot in Sudan. But here nobody explained to me about snow, so I have no jacket. I have no nothing yet because I was new. What the people bringing me, but it's not, doesn't fit me. I was very tiny. Okay, so then, I came to eat breakfast, so everybody have to wait at the waiting area. So we all got together. All the girls, they saw me with the bare, like, slipper shoes, and I have no jacket. And they said, oh, no, you have to go back, wear boots. I said, for what? It's snow. I said, what is that? Well, then they know that I didn't know anything about snow. So look at the glass door.

So I look everything was - I said what is that? Where does that come from? So I go walk without the shoes, I came  immediately I told them I'm not going to eat breakfast. I was cold

Colleen: It was too cold. 

Eden: Yes, yes, that was a whole new experience. I said, how long is this going to stay? They said a long time. 

Colleen: We're just starting.

Eden: Yeah. It just started. It was the first day of snow. Yes. 

Colleen: Now you had a lot. I think you made friends it seems like from some photos I saw and will probably share some of those photos. Yeah. but the, one person I think especially stood out to you will several several people especially were helpful. But there was a farmer, who I think, not only helped you out, but another, I think she was another refugee. Possibly. And and part of the problem you had was adjusting to the food here, and, Can you tell me about him? The farmer? I think he was a farmer. The one I'm referring to. 

Eden Steve Smith family I think. Yes, yes. 

Colleen: Tell me about Steve and his family. 

Eden: The girl that they - she was sponsored by Smith family. Her name was Jamilla. Okay? Mohammed. She's from Eritrea. 

Colleen: And tell me what Steve and his family did for you to run. Tell me how they helped you. Steve and his family. How did they help you? 

Eden: Well, they helped me how to you know, they got me clothes, shoes, and they helped me, like, how to eat food because she even she doesn't know how to make injera, but it looks like injera that she fed me. So until I get used to it today, was food 

Colleen: And we should explain injera is a type of - it's not bread - 

Eden: It's, sourdough bread. A sourdough. A fluffy bread. 

Colleen: And it's made with teff is the grain. 

Eden: It's like a fluffy bread, it’s sour. Right. And it has, like, natural rised. Yeah. 

Colleen: And it would look to us maybe a little bit like a pancake with. Yeah. The fermenting bubbles sort of. And then bake or. Yeah. Yeah. 

Eden: It's got a bubble is. Yeah. Yes. 

Colleen: But it's the grain is teff that it's made from. Right. 

Eden: So but at that time she doesn't know how to do it. You know, because you have to have the product how to do it. But she tried. She made it and she make my country food and was good.

Colleen: And I think, you said Steve taught you and the other girl who was there a little bit about farm life, or were you not too interested? Was it just the other girl? 

Eden: Yeah, for farming, actually, they tried to teach me how to garden and stuff. I told them my dad was a gardener also. Okay. And then I was really interested in. I was feeding the horses, you know, the cows. And he. I mean, everything he has over there, we can do anything. And then he teach us how to drive a little bit. But I was scared. But, Jamilla know how to drive. 

Colleen: Was it a hard adjustment? Did you, were you sad at first, or was it. Did you adjust pretty quickly?

Eden: I adjusted quickly, yeah. You were. 

Colleen: It was an adventure for you? 

Eden: It took me maybe six, seven months, okay. To get used to it. Everything. Then after that, I was like, you know, I was okay. 

Colleen: I think that, well, first of all, the refugee program is in trouble right now because because the administration has shut down funding for some of the contracts, the groups that, help refugees resettle. It's a resettlement program. But but there is also a long history of churches and other groups helping in the U.S, so we'll have to see how this plays out. But I'm curious because some of the rules have changed since you arrived. Where if I have this correct, at some point you could no longer accept refugees in your town if you didn't have public transportation, which is in a in a, and maybe that's just some of the contracts, but essentially that would mean somebody would not have your experience now where they would not come to a small town. Unless for some reason, they have a busing system. Do you think is that unfortunate, or do you think a bigger city would have been easier for you or or do you think being in a small town people gave you more attention and, help because it was small and they knew you were there? 

Eden: Yeah, actually, I really loved the small town because it was very interesting. And then you learn a lot, you know, you can do yourself, especially at the farmer’s - Steve. That family helped us a lot - how to learn even like our English. You know, getting better. He had some kind of typewriter and he used to teach us that. Me and Jamilla and then, and so I since then, I really like small town. I don't like a big town anymore. 

Colleen: And he was he didn't have any obligation. He had had not made any legal obligation to you. He was just doing this as a friend. Yeah. And his family was helping. 

Eden: He was her sponsor, but not my sponsor. But he helped me like, he was like our father. Yes. Okay. We feel like he's our family. Yeah. So he told us you guys are the same thing as my daughters. Yeah, I see you the same. 

Colleen: Oh. That's great. 

Eden: And so even his daughters, they loved us - both of us. And they don't want us to go, you know, they want us to stay there, but suddenly I move. 

Colleen: I mean, you're you're grown. You're grown up now, and. Yeah. And you probably wanted to make your own money. so at that point, I think you were in Duluth, Minnesota for a while, and then you ended up deciding to come to Iowa. And I like your reason. Tell me why you chose Iowa. 

Eden: Iowa is the - First when I heard Iowa, I said, you mean the there is a name called Iowa. They said, yeah, that's it's a Des Moines, Iowa. What Iowa means is “yes” in Arabic. 

Colleen: It means what? 

Eden: Yes. Yes. 

Colleen: So it means yes in Arabic. 

Eden: Yeah. And that was like a sign to you that I should I speak Arabic, I still do, yeah. I never forget that. Any language. Oh, good for you. Yeah, I speak my language. I speak Ethiopian language. I speak, a little bit Italian. Okay, a little bit German. Wow. So I just. And the English, of course. Yes. 

Colleen: You're better at languages than I am. Yeah. So then you come. You came to Iowa, and it was a rough start. I think you had maybe knew someone maybe one person here, but then, 

Eden: Yeah, I knew some friend from Eritrea. He was here, like as an intern. But he had to leave to somewhere else. 

Colleen: And then you were kind of on your own, right? 

Eden: And yeah, he found me like a family there, like Egyptian. And then his wife was American, and then I stayed with them. And they do the same thing. They was to be a doctor is like internship. Then they have to go to Cincinnati, Ohio. Suddenly I have no family, I have no quarter, I have no money. 

Colleen: And tell me what happened with I think you said you were at a school or sitting. 

Eden: At the school, I was crying, I was in tears at Roosevelt School. 

Colleen: Sitting at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. Yeah. In tears because you have you're essentially homeless and no money. What did you say you had 25 cents or something. How much money did you have? 

Eden: I don't have anything. Nothing. Then. Yeah. And, the people helping me, the, Egyptian family, they rented for me, like, for three weeks. Oh, okay. The place that they was staying. So they paid for three weeks for me. But after that, I have to be on my own. 

Colleen: And tell me what happened as you're crying at the school. 

Eden: So then there was a teacher saw me that I was crying. And then she took me to the office. She said, tell me what happened. So I explained to her, I have no families, I have nobodys. I'm here but only for three weeks - some people helping me to pay the apartment. It was furnished, but after three weeks, I have no job, I have nothing. I don't know where to go. So she called immediately a friend and called Barry and Mary, the husband and wife. 

Colleen: Yes. Barry and Mary. Yeah. Do you want to say their last name? 

Eden: Mary is the lady. They’re Catholic too. Very good family. 

Colleen: What's their last name? You want to say? 

Eden: Molloy’s m o l l o y. 

Colleen: Barry and Mary Molloy. Yeah.  And they they helped you for several. 

Eden: Like a family. 

Colleen: Like a family. They became your family. And they again, they had no reason they had to. But they. Yeah. 

Eden: They did not charge me. But I help them, like, you know, housekeeping and stuff.

Colleen: And you stayed several years with them, right? 

Eden: Eight years. 

Colleen: Eight years? So they. Yes. Eight years. And then I started, they're the one they introduced me to Sid Sprecher. Oh, yes. He was executive producer for Iowa PBS.  Yes. Sid was here.

Eden: I babysit their kids one time, one child. Okay. And then after that, him and his wife talked. She asked him, why can't you, look for her a job? 

Colleen: And then he helped find one here. 

Eden: They brought me here to work as a Market to Market help. Yes. And that was my first experience for - I love the people at Market to Market. I still do. 

Colleen: And I didn't make you say that, did I? Yeah. No. Well, it's fascinating. And I think you have a few stories when you got to. I think John Nichols, who used to run the show previously before Dave Miller, had a favorite story that he liked you to tell about your car accident when you hit the deer. But you called the sheriff's department or the police and tell this story about what you told them.

Eden: Oh, yeah. That was my first time car and my first experience when I actually, I told the police, I said the deer hit my car. But you didn't say - Yeah, somebody - some animal hit my car. I don't know if it's giraffe, hyena, tiger or lion, I don't know what is it? So he was laughing. He said I should give you a ticket because you don't want hit those animals

Colleen: Yeah was that the sheriff or the the police officer telling you? Yeah, yeah. Because you told him you thought you might have hit a lion or giraffe. Yeah. And that makes sense. From Eritrea, right? 

Eden: Yeah, exactly. Because when I came to, when I traveled with my family to Sudan from Eritrea, there is a lot of safaris. Yes, with the hyenas. Giraffes. With hyena, we get scared of because he will attack you. Yes, but giraffe and all other animals we saw them on the way walking. 

Colleen: And it was dark. So you didn't know what you hit when the accident happened. So I don't know what hit my car. But later I saw the police told me he had a feather on my car under a window because he smashed it. So we had some kind of feather.  Oh, so it wasn't. It was not a deer. It was something else. 

Eden: I don’t know if it was deer or something else. Oh. So when I told John that, he thought that was funny. Yeah. Yes. 

Colleen: And I'm sure the police officer did too. 

Eden: Yeah, he laughed hard.

Colleen: Yeah. Well, and I wish we had time to get into all your stories, but the, but that gives people kind of an idea, but I guess do you have a message for, those who might meet somebody who is a refugee? What, what would you tell them to consider? Is there a way they can help or what would you suggest? If they get a chance to meet somebody who's newly arrived from outside the United States? 

Eden: To the people who is sponsoring or 

Colleen: Or just anybody if they're, you know, how they can help a refugee if they, especially if the programs are shut down. although maybe that's there might not be a chance for that. 

Eden: I would say my message is to the people that do, any like, churches, any organization to help for the refugees because right now there’s not many, you know, refugees like allowed. But when they allow them, they should help them somehow because they are a hard worker when they can. And only thing they know they need help is, you know, to help them how to pay the rent for a few months at least and then get them the job. I would say. And then that way they will do on their own. But if they don't have no help, there is no way they can do it. 

Colleen: And you have and you had a lot of people that sort of helped you get through the those tough first years. 

Eden: And I would do the same thing when newcomers here, I help them a lot, I give my anything. Furniture, you know, food and monies and whatever I can have, I help them out. 

Colleen: So you're extending a hand to those who came after you? 

Eden: Yeah, because I was like that from, you know, in previous when I came to the U.S., people helped me a lot. 

Colleen: And I had a chance to go to a celebration, an Eritrean celebration. There's actually a pretty decent sized Eritrean community now in Des Moines. Is that right? Or is. 

Eden: Oh, yeah. We had a lot of people now, it's a good community, and we even have a church now. So we had to get together like in May 24th for the celebration. And we do food, everything, dance, and then our culture. Yeah, we show them everything because we, the people who fought for us, they brought the freedom, the people who succeeded in the war. And then we really appreciate them, you know, to get us the freedom. So we had party every year in May 24th. 

Colleen: And you do have some family still in Eritrea? 

Eden: Yeah. My sister and her three kids. And my sister is Mariam Kibroum. And her three boys is Devin, Rafael and Daniel. 

Colleen: And even though the war is long over, you've chosen to stay. And this is your home now. 

Eden: Yeah, yeah, I and I would like to go back every at least five years to visit them. 

Colleen: Have you been able to do that? 

Eden: The 2019? The last time I went, I took my mother. Okay. And then she passed away. And then after that I came in and pandemic came and after that I haven't traveled, okay. Yeah. 

Colleen: Is there anything, any last thoughts you want to share with those listening or watching this? 

Eden: I'm sorry. 

Colleen: Is there anything else you want to add before we finish? Any other thoughts, or did we cover the main points?

Eden: I think we we covered. Okay. 

Colleen: Thank you for sharing your story. 

Eden: You're welcome. Thank you for having me here. Yes.

Colleen: So a quick update following our recording of that conversation. And for those watching on the video version, I'll be sharing more photos from Eden's early years in the U.S.. first, Eden felt badly that she did not get a chance to acknowledge another Des Moines resident, Deborah Torture, who after all these others we mentioned, also took Eden under her wings and has been almost like a mom. She was another hero here for Eden and we wanted to make sure to mention her. Secondly, I discovered that Eden remembered the first name of the farmer who helped her incorrectly. It was actually Dale Smith. who was from Belfield, North Dakota. And once I figured that out, I was hoping to find him and get them together on a video call because Eden wanted to thank him. After having lost touch decades ago. But unfortunately, Dale had since passed away. back in 2007. So though that news was hard on Eden, she was happy to hear that I later reached one of his daughters who did remember her. And that year, when her father helped, a couple African refugees who ended up in a place that felt shockingly far from New York City. So, that's the update. And so until next time, this has been the M to M podcast. New episodes come out on Tuesdays, and please consider writing a review wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for being here.

Contact: paul.yeager@iowapbs.org