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** Aske Mamma ** #ThePeopleInMyLife Today, Ethiopia celebrates Genna—Ethiopian Christmas, according to the Julian calendar they follow. For me, Genna will always bring a flood of memories of Aske Mamma—aka Askalyn, the lovely mother of my bestie, Tigist. Oh, and in Ethiopia, it’s perfectly normal to call someone’s parents by their names. Cool, right? Speaking of Tiji (yes, that’s what we called her), she was my personal Asthamaari—my teacher of the Amharic language, Ethiopian culture and Habesha customs and traditions...And, um, the "finer nuances" of Habesha slang and inappropriate words. Like “Baalagey”! Which I, of course, decided to use immediately… on my boss. Genius move, huh? And then there was the time she tricked me into drinking dishwashing liquid. Yes, you did, Nathiye, you don't remember??! Be unet?! Afar bi, Aitt 😉 😀 (excuse the language, everyone) Ethiopian food? Pure HEAVEN. Oh, how I miss the migib. My spicy Mithmitha, the Injeras with Quanta firfir, Gommen ba Siga, Chikina Tibs, and Honey Fetira… and, of course, Bunna. But my absolute favorite? The Ye tsom Beyyenettu—the colorful veg feast during the fasting seasons. The Shiro wet, Alicha Kik, and Chechebsa? ALL amazing. But nothing—and I mean nothing—tops Aske Mamma’s Shimbhra Aasa. Those little chickpea ‘fish’ swimming in that dreamy gravy? Bezmaam, my soul aches for those loaded gurshas! And in Ethiopia, when you absolutely adore the food, there’s this beautiful tradition of showing respect to the Balemoya (chef) by kissing their hands. I am sending my kisses to Aske Mamma’s hands today —not only for the food; ifor all the love and care she poured into it. The Sethoch, Ethiopian women are something else, aren’t they? So strong, so resilient. Aske was exactly that—a force of nature. Tiji would tell me stories about her mom, how she raised her, the values she instilled… and it all made sense. She wasn’t just an amazing cook; she was pure magic. For 2.5 years, I shamelessly devoured Tiji’s lunches, lovingly cooked by Aske. I was practically a fixture in her home, feasting on her never-ending banquet of love. So every Genna and every Addis Aamet, I feel this wave of nostalgia for my second motherland, Ethiopia. I miss the people, the food, and all those moments that filled my heart. To all my Ethiopian friends, Melkam Genna! May God bless you all. ❤️ This Menze leej will not be Atitfa, I will be back one day! ♥