**Friends**

Many times Tsegaye and I would run together, the Ethiopia landscape surrounding us, easy conversation flowing as we would pass cows or sheep.

I just finished speaking with my good friend Tsegaye.

We have not spoken for a while and it was nice to catch up with him. I met Tsegaye at the Palermo marathon in Sicily, which he won. A few years ago I lived in Ethiopia with Tsegaye and his family, we shared a room with some other runners. We had so many good times together, running, cooking, eating and talking. I was to learn about Ethiopian culture through Tsegaye and he became a great teacher.

I was saddened to hear that his mother has passed away last year, I met her many times and she made me feel as if I was a true family member. I will never forget her and times I spent in her home. We would all go and eat at Tsegaye's mother house, she would take care of us all as if we were all her children. I remember spending easter at her house, eating traditional Ethiopian easter dishes, Tsegaye slaughtered a chicken which we all ate, drinking three cups of coffee after eating as in Ethiopia thats how they do it. I would say Tsegaye's mum is one of the nicest women I ever met.

Many times Tsegaye and I would run together, the Ethiopia landscape surrounding us, easy conversation flowing as we would pass cows or sheep. We would talk about running goals for the future, dreams of visiting other places around the world and finally food as we became tired and hungry. Tsegaye will be a friend of mine forever, I value the times we have spent together in the past and look forward to the times will will have together in the future.