The book's title is roughly translated to English as "Preserving your national identity abroad." A memoir exquisitely written in Amharic (Ethiopia's official language) of the author's personal growth and transformation from his upbringing in a small rural town in Ethiopia to a college student and later college instructor in Addis Ababa, a graduate student in Europe and the United States, and settling as a college professor in Houston, Texas. The author recounts his family history and the tough times growing up in the 1970s in Ethiopia during a very turbulent period in the country's history. He left behind many siblings, friends, and close relatives on what was supposed to be a two-year education trip to Europe, only to return 30 years later, and most of his family and kin were not alive anymore.
The book recites the author's active and challenging role in forming and leading social, civic, religious, and professional organizations, laments about the growing political problems in his native country, and pleads for sanity and tolerance for the common good. He sheds light on his leadership role in organizing his community in Houston, not only to build institutions that make them feel at home but also to support the democratic movements and civil societies in Ethiopia and lobby American government officials to condemn human rights abuses by the Ethiopian government.
The writer also highlights the incredible opportunities available in the adopted land to those who quickly adapt and understand the system without losing their identity, explains in detail what it is like to be an immigrant in the United States, describes how some bright immigrants or their children built trillion-dollar companies and provides invaluable advice on being successful professionally, financially, and personally.