SSince coming to the UK from Ethiopia eight years ago I have lost part of my cultural identity. I was stuck in a monotonous, isolated routine studying a degree in biochemistry at Imperial College London, rather than a family-oriented lifestyle. Back in Ethiopia, I was surrounded by my aunts, grandparents, and friends.
So this year I took 12 months off and moved to my uncle’s house in Leeds. These changes have helped me try new things, like riding a bike. I had never ridden a bicycle as a child. I bought one from a charity shop. My friends donated an adult bicycle because they said it was made for a 10-year-old child.
The bike was in bad condition as it had spent two years in my friend’s garden. It took a month to take it to the repair shop. I also took part in a project called Hackspace, a community-run workshop for makers, where we built a wooden bicycle. Mostly made from recycled materials. For the brakes I used old flip flops. Mark, the director of Hackspace, suggested we go to John o’Groats and ride our bikes all the way down south. At first I thought it was ridiculous, but when I thought about it again, I wanted to try something new.
I didn’t plan any logistics, hoping to figure things out as I went along. My friends and family thought I wouldn’t last a mile. Maybe they had a point: the first three nights were terrible. I didn’t buy a tent to sleep in. All I have is a tarp to cover me. I packed lightly, relying only on a cotton shirt. The wind and rain were harsh.
We didn’t even bring enough food, so we had to ask people for help. It was difficult to find a store in that remote area and there was little money. These wonderful people were often old and isolated, but they were willing to help. This has inspired my fundraising efforts for Age UK and Mekedonia, an Ethiopian charity for vulnerable people.
For two and a half months I was on the road and prepared for the worst. But people offered me friendship. A DJ found my video on TikTok and sent me money for a hotel stay. After I finally bought a tent, people let me set it up in their garden. I have been invited to stay in houses, garages, community halls and even sheds. I met builders in the Scottish village of Tomatin who gave me a place to stay for the night and I helped them in return. I worked bricklaying the next day and made friends with whom I still keep in touch.
The wooden bicycle caused a stir wherever it went. Locals will go crazy for it. I told them my story, and they gathered their friends and family to take pictures and donate to my fundraiser.
Riding a bike wasn’t easy. During Storm Floris I was passing through Dalwhinnie, another Scottish village, and was desperately looking for shelter. Then the loveliest couple invited me into their home, gave me a hot meal, took me to the community hall and provided me with an air mattress.
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I was afraid my bike would be destroyed when I got to the UK. But I always got help. When my chain broke near Newcastle, several cyclists helped me hitchhike to the store, which repaired it for free. A man in the Bedfordshire village of Haynes replaced my front wheel with his daughter’s bike and then let me sleep in his van.
I wondered if I would ever face racism. There have been some tricky encounters, but I hope they change their minds. I also got to know Ethiopians in the UK, who followed my progress through social media. Whenever I arrived in a city with a significant Ethiopian population, they offered to host me.
The last few days have been difficult. I was catching up with friends in London and it felt difficult to leave. But this time too, people helped. A woman from Faversham invited me to her home. We watched Avatar together. Later, an Ethiopian who saw my TikToks booked me a hotel room in Canterbury.
The next day I arrived in Dover. A group of 10 Ethiopians came from London to meet me with food, music and a trophy (a small bicycle with my name on it). My journey is over.
I have felt the absence of community in my life before. This adventure made the world feel bigger. The community helped me complete my journey. Not money or my resilience, just the kindness of strangers.
As told to Sumaiya Motara
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