I was curious about the Washington Post reporter, Emily Wax, who wrote that story on the Ethopian girls who are running to escape a life of servitude. Did a little research on google. Apparently Wax, who is 31 or 32, was one of the few American journalists report much on the genocide in Sudan:
During her trip with rebel fighters in August, Wax lost 10 pounds and became ill from drinking “chocolate-colored water,” as she describes it. “Temperatures got so high, the tires [on the Land Cruiser] would burn,” she says. “None of us had showered for three weeks. We smelled like hell.”
The soldiers were skinny, ragged and living hand to mouth. One day, they bought a camel in a village market to be butchered for food; another time they shot an antelope after chasing it through the brush.
What motivated a big-city girl from Queens to sleep on the ground night after night, go unwashed and live on camel meat? “Everything about it, I love. I feel part of something bigger than drinking Starbucks and hanging around with my friends,” Wax says. “I could be writing 24 hours a day and never feeling I’m doing enough. This is an important part of who I am.”
Yowza. I’m reminded of a friend’s email signature, a quote from the poet Mary Oliver: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Here’s an account of Wax’s talk on winning the Medill Medal for Courage in Journalism, and here’s a profile by Women’s ENews.
She’s cute.
You can be sure that I am darn proud of her!! It’s more than a blessing to be her dad.
P. Wax
You can be sure that I am very proud of my daughter, Emily! It is a blessing to bring someone into this world that can and does make a difference!
I guess that her Mom and I did a great job raising her up to care for others!
Sincerely,
Paul S. Wax (Emily’s Dad)
You should be proud, Emily’s Dad!!!
We need more people like her in the world who care about others and do something rather than just talking about it.
Thanks, “Girl”! It’s very nice to see how she is appreciated – she earned it and continues to do so. Not every Dad can have a daughter like Emily!
Em’s Dad Paul S. Wax
hi, derek.
i’m wondering if you knew that emily’s article was the inspiration for the founding of our charitable organization, Girls Gotta Run (http://www/gottarun.org) and if you might want to help us out in some way.
best wishes,
pat
Hello Emily’s dad! I was JUST reading one of her articles and I am crazily inspired. Reading more about her continues to make her my idol! I am in high school and my dream is to be a journalist. Hopefully as good as her.
Emily was my soft rival as a freelancer at Newsday many years ago. I knew she went to WAPO and figured she got downsized, but I’m glad to see that she’s shed her liberal biases and reports on reality — there’s racism among all groups, and sexism and homophobia, too, imagine that. Better her than me, being in a war zone reporting, though it must be exciting. When she comes back, she’ll be golden, but she paid her dues and kudos to her.
Hi,
Was wondering if Wax was REALLY Emily’s name–there are so few of “us” around–would love to know more about the family.I was born and raised in Baton Rouge and when I travel I am always looking to see if there are ANY with the Wax name in that area–I have found VERY few!
The work that “THIS” Emily has done is outstanding!!