Didn’t I tell you so, way back in November that this lady kicked ass!? Well, she did!! Today, our housekeeper, Aragu Sisay
Abate, won 3rd place on the Women’s 10K Challenge Run here in Beirut.
She’s only been training for some 5 months with the Inter-Lebanon Road Running &
Athletics Club, but they obviously take it seriously. Her running
buddies, Sonia Hanna and Marie el Amm, won 1st and 2nd
place and Aregu Abate passed the finish line at 45:15 min, good for a
3rd place.
Most of these guys were on their second shift, first helping out at the rocket blast in Chiyeh |
The women of the Internal Security Forces also ran |
And so she made it to the podium of the 10K. Her trainer
said she would, but she didn’t quite believe it. She was shy about her outfit.
She didn’t want to wear the short top, opted for the long one instead, and
thought her shorts looked as if she was walking in a ‘kulotte’ (underwear). But
heck, her team mates all said she could do it, and so she did.
With her trainer of the Inter-Lebanon Road Running & Athletics Club, Roger Bejjani |
I wonder what it all means to her. She comes out of a very small farming
community on the highlands of Ethopia, in the Wollo district. They grow wheat
and millet. Never had been out of her district, let alone her country. She was
good in sports at school. Her brother, on the other hand, did not like sports
at all; she’s the only runner in the house. When she came to Lebanon, it was
her first air plane flight. She did not know how to fasten the seat belt in a
car. Had never seen a microwave, and although she never let on, the elevator
was something scary. She still won’t take an escalator.
And here she is, some 18 months later, and she’s been in
the paper twice. She’s running with a group of hard-core athletes that
encourage her, and push her to go further. Today, she made it to the podium, she’s
been interviewed in front of TV cameras, she was ‘crowned’ by the wife of the
president of Lebanon, got a running outfit from Aisti, a ladies watch and prize
money, ended up on a stage in front of hundreds of people and photo journalists,
and had many people ask her if they
could take a picture with her. I doubt if she ever had this much attention. I
am proud I’ve got such a kick-ass housekeeper. I secretly bask in her glory.
Heck, if it weren’t for her, I would never have sat next to the President’s wife.
Heck, if it weren’t for her, I would never have sat next to the President’s wife.
Secretly I hope she’ll stay with us, but I know she won’t.
When her contract is up, she intends to go back home and get married. Maybe we
can get her to reconsider, and choose running as a career. According to the
Beirut International Marathon, that organized the event, this 10 K Challenge
run was a ‘special day for women to fight for their rights, share their stories
and run for their health.’ I couldn’t
agree more.
A happy woman |
10 comments:
So happy for her!
After reading your previous blog entry we watched the first few runners along the corniche from our balcony and she was right there in the front group, down the road and back. We were keeping our fingers crossed for the rest of the way and she did it! So pleased to hear this! Well done, Aregu:)
Kirsten
Way to go Aragu!!! Bravo!!! Another bravo for you Sietske for being so supportive!!!
Mabrook :)
D.k.
Congratulations to you Sietske!! Be proud of the wonderful role you chose to play in another person's life!
Les
Such an inspiration! I hope she keeps on running!
Friends and I were talking about your blog and your housekeeper as we lined up yesterday for the 5K fun run. Delighted to get your blog post this morning and see how well she did! Amazing!
Congratulations to Argu, and hat off to you Sietske !!!!!!
This post made me tear up a little. Please congratulate her and tell her we're all proud!
Thank you all! It was quite a day. She's still talking about all the people along the road that were cheering her on.
Congrats Aregu! Sietske bravo for being supportive!
Post a Comment