I can t believe it s actually safe to travel on these roads, even at night. Although Ghebre no longer lives in Eritrea he often has ideas to improve this or that aspect of life in his native country. But his energy and enthusiasm for his homeland remain thousands of miles from realization. His family is now Canadian and his three daughters have only the remotest memories of Africa. Many other Eritreans are in the same position throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East, for wherever there is war there are few human rights or opportunities, and there are many refugees.
Individuals pay the human costs of exile in the sadness of separation.
Societies pay the costs of exile in the absence of the skills and the spirit of those who have left. One day soon, Ghebre hopes, he will find a way to stay in Eritrea for a year or so and make his contribution felt.