Asmara, Eritrea came to it's independence on May 24, 1991. Eritrea was at war with Ethiopia to gain it's freedom from their unfair political view. (thesis sentence) On October 1, 1959 Almaz Haile child of Haile Gebrehiwot and Zewdi Tefera was born. Her father was a successful business man and her mother a home maker. As a young girl growing up fifth youngest she enjoyed spending time with her eight brothers and sisters. Almaz attended an all girls private catholic school from grades K-8. Since private school ended at eighth grade in Eritrea Almaz was sent to a public high school called Red Sea High. While in high school she involved herself in many extra curricular activities such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, and gymnastics. Being athletic helped her balance her social life and academics.


While in in 11th grade the Civil war between Eritrea and Ethiopia broke out and all schools were closed for a year. Two of her older brothers one a high school history teacher and the other business man both killed during the war because they were Eritrean. After a year of chaos school resumed and Almaz was able to graduate. Right after she had graduated she was arrested and tortured for two weeks because of relationship with her siblings. Then her older sister joined the ELF (Eritrean Liberation Front) for 15 years until the independence. In 1981 Almaz fled the country in fear of becoming the third victim of war casualties.


On August 16, 1981 Almaz arrived at the Dullas Washington Airport on a student visa. Almaz enrolled in a community collage to take ESL as she spoke very little English when she arrived. She worked very hard to fit in a new country that was nothing like she was used too. Almaz`s dad lost his business so money was very tight. When she realized she was the only hope for her family surviving she began working and going to school full time. Almaz successfully completed her community collage courses and transferred to UDC studying marketing. Almaz needed to rescue her three younger siblings and was forced to drop out of UDC. As she started working two jobs saved enough money to pay the authority a bribe in order to get them out of the country. On July 1985 two of her siblings escaped Asmara with the help of a refugee organization. In 1987 she brought her youngest sister over from Eritrea paying someone off 10 grand to help her flee the country.


Almaz brought a great deal of her culture with her to America such as the way she raised her children, the way her family spends their holidays, and the food. Growing up Almaz’s family had three maids for nine children. That never meant they could be spoiled and leave everything a mess. The maids were there to help her mother with anything she needed. All the kids were still expected to make their beds and pick up after themselves no questions. Eritrea’s Christmas is on January seventh and is something she and her family enjoy doing. Big family gathering with traditional meals such as ingera, special coffee ceremonies, music, and dance always makes for a party.


July 16, 1988 Almaz Haile married her childhood sweetheart Bealfan Rusmini also an immigrant. They bought their first house in Lorton, Virginia and raised three children, Sam, Hermela, and Roby, Bealfan. At the moment she has been an American citizen for the past 16 years and has a successful job. She lives the American dream she has always hoped for.