Hannah Walker
Graphic Design Student, Visiting Eritrea
Hannah is a student in graphic design based in London. A lot of her life has been abroad, traveling from place to place following her father’s diplomatic career. Last year, she visited her family in their new ephemeral home, Eritrea. Through her roll, she shares her feelings and learnings regarding the rarely highlighted country and its amazing culture. Between modernist landscapes and the various mixes of cultures and influences that make Eritrea so unique, Hannah left a part of her heart behind her.
Where are you from and where do you live now?
I am from Guildford in England and I live in London now studying Graphic Design at university.
What brought you to Eritrea?
My Dad is a diplomat which has meant I have had the opportunity to live and travel to a lot of different places. Right now my parents are living in Eritrea so I went out to visit them over the summer.
Some call Eritrea the North Korea of Africa. Can you tell us more about your experience in one of the most discreet and enigmatic countries in the world?
Surprisingly I found the country extremely welcoming and open. The Modernist architecture is beautiful and the pace of life is easy and relaxed. Cycling around Asmara (the capital) opened my eyes to the beauty of Eritrea and the gentle way of life.
Can you tell us about people you met along the way in the country?
The people of Eritrea are hopeful for the future of their country. They are fiercely determined in the development of Asmara and the preservation of their iconic modernist landscape. They are proud of their culture, which has assimilated various others that have tried to oppress it forming a unique way of life that does not have a parallel anywhere else in Africa. Above all community is a powerful force for the Eritrean people and connection with one another of high importance.
What is the most important lesson you learned while traveling there?
The importance of family and friends in the culture makes everything else second and of less importance. This hierarchy of value placed on everyday life put my life in London in perspective and I learnt to worry less about things that don't matter too much. Things can take more time and be enjoyed rather than rushed.
Your idea of happiness?
Somewhere nice and hot with friends, on the beach, with lots of swimming in the sea :)
Your idea of misery?
Being stuck in a dead end office job
If not yourself, who would you be?
Myself is alright at the minute!
Your heroes?
My friends doing amazing creative things.
What is your present state of mind?
Hopeful and grateful. I feel really on top of my mental health at the minute and that makes me feel really hopeful about the future and grateful for all support I have.
Bedside table books?
I didn't do it for you by Michaela Wrong which is a great book to read if you want to know more about the history of Eritrea
What do you do if you can’t sleep at night?
Lying in bed and overthinking why I can't sleep.
Do you collect?
Pictures and postcards
What do you do in your free time?
Watching true crime documentaries and having big baths with lots of candles and over the top soaps and oils and face masks. I also make sure to go swimming and to yoga to lessen some of that sweet anxiety and keep me feeling good.
What inspires you?
Travelling - the patterns and prints, signs and the people there. Definitely signage, the more broken down and out of place the better.
What do you do for money?
I photograph and photoshop stock for a second-hand designer clothes shop's website called The Dresser.
What do you do for pleasure?
I like cooking dinner with people, going to the pub to watch football and to gigs. I love photography and putting the photos I take together with other bits and pieces to make zines.
What do you usually eat for breakfast?
Porridge with honey but I am starting to hate it :( so might have to make a move to the cereal option
If you could live in a different era?
The 80's looked fun
Favorite fictional character?
Tiana in The Princess and the Frog
Time travel is suddenly possible, when/where do you go?
I'm not sure but definitely somewhere in the past I wouldn't want to go into the future.
Skirt or Pants?
Pants but actually trousers because pants are underwear haha
Tea or coffee?
Coffee
What is the strangest thing you believed as a child?
That I could probably fly I just wasn't doing it right.
A color?
Yellow and grey are a great combo
A city?
Udaipur in India
What are your plans for this weekend?
I am going home for Christmas to see my family who are coming home from Eritrea!
A song?
Lady by D'Angelo
Right or left handed?
Right
What is the best dish you can cook?
Aubergine Parmigiana because aubergine is my favourite food and this dish combines it with mozzarella and tomato so in my opinion its definitely the best way to cook it.
What is your middle name?
Mary, which is my Granny's name and my Mum's middle name.