5 Fun Facts About Tiberah
I was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Aunt Aster pictured in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
I was raised in the town of Gullele until the age of six. I don’t remember much from my upbringing in Ethiopia but I do recall leslasa (soda), mangos from my dear Aunt Aster and running away from my older brother Berhan when he would try to discipline me. My late Aunt Aster lived next door and I knew that if I made it to her house, I would be safe.
A fortune teller once told me I would write children’s books.
She looked at my palm casually, while drinking a beverage. I was eighteen-years-old and with my best friend from high school at the time. The fortune teller also told me that I would have four children. Well, I’m glad she was right about the part where I would write children’s books!
I met my dad when I was six-years-old.
Holiday photo with my father, Mer. Tsehai Berhanu
My mother was late into her pregnancy with me and had to wait until I was born for the big move to America. By the time we arrived in America, I was already six-years-old. The first time I saw my father was in the airport in America. I still remember running to my dad and how he picked me up in the air.
My favorite superhero is Superwoman.
Since I was a child, I loved Superwoman and how she could fly. What I loved the most about her was that she helped people in distress. Anytime I would swing in the park, I imagined being able to fly into the sky. I would help a cat off a tree, visit the skyscrapers in NY and catch some bank robbers and tie them up until the police came. You know, just like what I used to watch in all the Superwoman and Superman movies.
As a child, I had a wild imagination.
Me and my family during my seventh birthday celebration.
I made up stories, like all the time. I even had an imaginary friend that looked just like me. We would talk for hours. Once, my parents overheard me talking with my imaginary friend in the kitchen and started looking all over the place, thinking someone else was there. I remember them looking everywhere - even behind the fridge!