A Journey from Somalia to Horfield

Further Info

This story was created in the artist’s own time.

Transcript

Normal day but there was all just normal day everyone was wake up and everyone going to work or going to school going to clean washing up tidying up the house but that was start all the hard war. Everyone was … my Mum was just cooking the food but everyone was running away run away in the war and there was trouble day. Everyone was scared and you don’t know where you going and that was well hard.

When they start the war it was 1988.

Before we didn’t know if we stay or if we go when they started and the bombed and the fire and every house is burning and a lot of fire. Then we have to run and you don’t know where you go and you are young.

My father and mother was both of them died after 10 days when the war was start.

There was a very small village like a farm and there was lived there a lot of people who ran from the war and there was not a lot of food and there was not clothes because you ran away and don’t have time to take something what you need from your house.

You can’t think because you don’t have time because you have to run away and go.

When I was young they was fighting in Somalia Somalie land they fighting then after my Mum’s died my father died. My aunty bring for me here to apply for visa then I came here.

I live in big town. I live in Hargeysa. Every body go out the home run away some people come in England some people come in other country it was hell. Because I haven’t got Mum I haven’t got Dad.

I was thinking of my family. I have no family there. Everthing every minute every hour every night I was thinking of my family what happened.

I missing my country, I missing my Mum my Father sister all of them I miss them.

First when I move in Horfield I was really afraid. Everybody was “Oh Horfield is no good, don’t go there, people is rude” and so…But when I get the house temporary I don’t have choice because I have to go there but after 2 months it was “Oh this here is nice and quiet.” The people think different, but when you live here then you can see it’s very quiet and I like then, I don’t want to go in other place.

When I come there I was nothing and I don’t know anything and don’t do anything but later life was really nice, was good.

But when I come here I feel like I live half in Africa. Because if I need something to buy then I see it. Then everything was easier really and a lot of Somalish people come from Somalia and speak my language and come to near my family. Was nice.

It’s good, you have your own life.

And when I bring my children here the school the school is also really nice and they help with the children.

I get job 2/3 hours. I’m dinner lady. And I support also the Somalish young children. It’s nice. I like it.

I come from Somalia and I came from Somalia in 1990 and I live in Bristol then I move in Horfield and I got 3 kids. And I like Horfield. It’s good area, nice area but I got problem from the kids. Some of the kids sometimes they kick my house. Knock my door and they run away, but this is a nice area. I like stay in Bristol.

Now I’m free I go college or working.

Now I’m taking course, your life is changing.

I like here the freedom. My country’s not free yet. My country’s still not settled down. That’s why I’m here.

I have to settle really very well because I don’t have choice. I missed first my father my parents.

Was very difficult that. But I say I have to, I was strong and the life will be going on.

Now I have opportunity something what I like to do and that’s why I like also to help with other people if they need it because I know what they feel. That’s why I would like to help people and to do something nice and good for the people.

The first day and the second day it was well hard. But now I’m happy.

 

Credits

All media not otherwise credited created by the participant, or permission obtained, used under copyright licence.