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NameAbraham
Gendermale
Country of OriginEritrea
Destination CountrySwitzerland
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I left my country, Eritrea, by foot for the same reasons as thousands of my compatriots. I did not want to have to take part in the compulsory military service. So I went to Sudan, where I worked as a hairdresser for five years. What Ive been through since the very moment I crossed the Eritrean border is very difficult to tell.  A whole day is not long enough to tell you everything. From Sudan, I tried to reach Libya with many other hopeful people as well. Many died during the journey. I was lucky and made it to the country. Thats when hell started. You cant do anything there; you cant go outside without at least some kind of authorization. I was constantly thinking of my wife, who I left in Sudan, pregnant with our second child. I was lucky enough to reach the Libyan coast, and then to risk my life in the Mediterranean sea. I arrived in Italy and continued to Switzerland. At first, life here was not easy. I was constantly stressed. I had to take care of myself first, and then do my best to bring my wife here. A constant reminder of her throughout my journey was my wedding ring which I hid for safe keeping in my then long hair. But now Im feeling better, despite the tiredness. I believe that things will get brighter one day. Now that I feel better, Im running a lot and I ran the half marathon in Lausanne and in Fribourg. Why do I run that much? To remind myself that Ive done a long journey and yet, Im still alive. In the end, life is only a long journey.

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