SU_A_43

[i] Hello [name], tell me, Which country do you come from?
[r] I am [name], I am from Afghanistan I’m Nangarhar in Afghanistan born. And I came to Belgium in 2015. And since then I live here.
[i] Do you think a lot about your life in Afghanistan? Do you still miss your country your family?
[r] From the beginning. Then I arrived here I missed my country my family, my friends, I missed everything there, but after a year or so, not anymore, I always think of them, but I don’t miss specifically, not anymore. I feel very happy here I feel completely at home here.
[i] Tell me, why did you come here, Why did you have to leave your country?
[r] By the wars and by the Taliban, Was my life in danger and because of that I had to leave,
[i] was it dangerous life in Afghanistan at that moment.
[r] It was for me and still for me at that moment, my life was in danger, so that’s why I had to leave from Afghanistan. And then I fled here.
[i] And for the Taliban and after the Taliban a very big difference has happened in the country? Or: how was life in Afghanistan for the Taliban?
[r] For the Taliban I was really very small, I know nothing about that, but I hear, I have heard that, That then was better than for the Taliban.
[i] How old are you now?
[r] I am now 26.
[i] Tell me, when you have left Afghanistan? What do you have … Did you leave immediately? Have you been to an embassy or …? How was it?
[r] No, I am first Nangarhar harrow to Kabul by car, and then, I came to Nimrus from Kabul. That is another province And that is close to Iran. And then, we came to Iran through the mountains.
[i] On foot?
[r] On foot. Yes.
[i] And how much time did you take?
[r] At least 4 days until we are in Iran we hit.
[i] Were you with your family? With friends?
[r] No, I left home all by me. Along the way were groups, I was usually with other people, people I didn’t know Some themselves were not Afghans Pakistanis, Indians. Allez, not Indians but Pakistanis, even Irans too. Especially people who were on flight.
[i] For the same reasons?
[r] Not that I know Because then we were like that, stressy, everyone had stress, nobody could ask, To someone else: why did you fled from Afghanistan? We were able to speak very little to other people along the way.
[i] Have you been able to sleep, eat, drink water? How was it?
[r] It was very difficult, we got nothing in the mountains, We couldn’t buy anything. You can’t find anything in the mountains except water, Usually we had bottles of water, But if they were on the road, Then we had nothing else. And we couldn’t find anything water. But in Bergen was very difficult, It was one night and, half a day, so we left Afghanistan at 8 am, And then we are next day, Evening we arrived in Iran. Was completely on foot, but we have the 1.5 liters of water in the front We did take it, I also had two of them and that was suddenly on the way. Nobody wanted to give his water to someone else. Everyone only had 2 bottles of some 3, but I only had 2, on the way they were on and then I had no water.
[i] Have you been able to say to your family day? Or did you just leave?
[r] I was able to say to my brother day but not to my mother, not to my mother, not to my sisters, I couldn’t say that. I was not at home, I couldn’t get back home.
[i] Ok. I understand that. And when you are in Iraq arrived …
[r] Iran.
[i] Iran, sorry. Was that easier or …?
[r] No, Iran we really had a hard time. Because, we are usually, we were usually in places, for example .. With man in the garage or in a room. We could never go outside, we could never buy anything or, We just couldn’t go outside, otherwise .. they grabbed us and then they wanted to send us back And then I might have been in prison for a month or so. Because we were completely illegal there.
[i] the ordinary people out Iran? Or the police mean?
[i] No, the police. But the ordinary people were too, If they saw you then they could, then she told police, There is someone who is not from here, for example. That also happened when you went outside alone, Then there was a military vehicle and they asked you so much money from you. That happened but luckily not with me.
[i] How much time did you have to stay in Iran?
[r] I think I’m about 15 days, or so, I was in Iran. I am …, 4 years ago and when I had so much stress. So we couldn’t count for days, I think that 12 or 13 days,
[i] For sure for more than a week. And after that?
[r] Then we came to Turkey through other mountains.
[i] Always on foot.
[r] Yes, always, always through the boundaries on foot. In some places too, we also came on foot within the country. Along the borders was mostly on foot
[i] was it not dangerous in the mountains?
[r] It was very dangerous, in Turkey, the border between Turkey and .. It was very dark and we could not see anything, there were stones, or mountains that went high, then down, to high and down, we had no special shoes, and so, little water, no special clothes.
[i] It was cold.
[r] Yes, it was very cold. Then was really super cold, I just didn’t have a sweater with, I just had a jacket but .. It was a very thin jacket against water. Against the rain, but it was very cold. But we were walking so we didn’t feel so cold. At the end we sat down somewhere and, then I felt really cold. It was so cold, I never had so cold.
[i] How many days. Were you a lot of time in the mountains?
[r] We were usually boundaries, On the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan we were also 2 days and 2 nights. Up in border between Turkey and Iran we were also 2 nights oh no, 1 night sorry, 1 night we were on the border and the next night we arrived in Turkey and then we are . .. We have a long time, on foot, we are on foot on foot from border to a …
[i] village?
[r] … village arrived, arrived, So that was a lot far away. So we walked for about 1 day.
[i] And were people sympathetic or? Have people helped you in the first village? where you were in Turkey or not special?
[r] No, no, certainly not. We have seen no, very few people ourselves. That was places where very few people lived.
[i] But have you been able to eat?
[r] No, food. That was difficult. We had bought something in Iran. Allez we got that because of those people we were with them, we got food like that. For example, fish or something in small boxes. We got that But on the way they were gone And then we are to Turkey arrived And then we did … we did eat but very little
[i] And after that ..? So you were already in Turkey?
[r] And after Turkey we are to .. Bulgaria, also on foot
[i] On foot too?
[r] All, sometimes by car, pieces by car, pieces on foot so .. Not always by car, and from We went to Serbia Bulgaria. That was sometimes on foot, sometimes by car At the borders there was always on foot, we always got on foot. And we are from Bulgaria to Serbia gone and from Serbia to .. … I think about Slovakia I don’t know that anymore .. After that I don’t know anymore, because we didn’t stay long in those countries. Sometimes by train, sometimes by car, And uhm …. And in the end I am about 55 days or something like that, I was on my way.
[i] 55 days?
[r] Something so yes, about … from Afghanistan from home to Brussels.
[i] Ah yes, and how did you arrive in Brussels? Was that … you wanted to go to Brussels arrive or …?
[r] We were with a group, A number of people and those … We all arrived in Germany together, but then we went looking for a long time where we had to go. We didn’t know where we had to go. And then we have taken a train. But that was without a ticket, we didn’t have a ticket. So we are in train. And the last stop of the train was .. Brussels, ehh, … Midi, I think I don’t know anymore, that was a long time ago. But I think it was Brussels-Midi.
[i] And you were how many, On the train to Brussels?
[r] I think on the train Brussels, we were three, I think Three or four, but they were also people who were from Afghanistan. But we couldn’t talk, Because everyone was frightened and nobody wanted to talk to someone else. Then we arrived in Brussels and we are in Brussels, we were .. Everyone went apart and that was also at night, 1 hour or so And I had no place to go to sleep somewhere or to rest somewhere. And then I stayed awake until tomorrow Allez, first we stayed in the station for a while but at three or four hours If people were cleaning and then we had, then I had to outside. And then I am, … then I had to come outside, and from there I walked all night and asked people, and I didn’t dare ask people. And they couldn’t understand me because I only talked Pashto and Farsi … And a little English but I didn’t know how to ask. Where can I submit asylum application so that was difficult for me … So I have been looking there for two days. What should I do? I had no other option and in the end someone helped me. And then he brought me to DVZ to Brussels-Noord. And there I was able to apply for asylum and after asylum I was still outside for two days. Because then was super busy and many people were waiting … And then I have stayed in a hotel for four days via Red Cross … And after those four days they first got me to a small asylum center … sent to Brussels, and I was 1 night there and after that 1 night they have me .. sent to Antwerp, to Broechem.
[i] To Broechem?
[r] Yes, so I arrived in Broechem, by train .. And … I had papers on which that address stood and I wanted to go to that address. And there were: you have to grab that bus 420 or 21 but I didn’t know where it is. But I had boarded the right bus.
[i] Were you alone?
[r] No, there was another Afghan boy also with me. So that was too, they also sent me here with me. He was an Afghan Iranian. He was an Afghan but born in Iran and his family still lives in that Iran and he came here from Iran. But not mine. No, other people. He happened to have to come here with me. And he could also only Farsi and Pashto. And no English and I could do a little English. And we couldn’t do Dutch at all. But then it was raining very hard that evening, around 5 o’clock it was .. And .. I didn’t dare ask anyone. But in the end I had to ask someone because I didn’t know what to do. And then I asked a lady and that was raining so hard that the lady was waiting for tram 9. I still remember. That lady was waiting for tram 9 and I asked in English ….. I want to go there … that lady looks at those papers .. Ah yes, you are in the right place so you have to take bus 420 or 421 bus. Then I say to her, but I don’t know where those buses are, is a bus stop. And then that lady said, just come with me and then she has Missed a tram 9 for me so that was very sweet of her. And then she missed a tram for me and brought me and us to a bus stop. And then she also told the bus driver “That boy has to go to that address”. And if you are there, then definitely step out of it. And then the driver said: yes, Okay that’s good I’ll do that. And then I told the lady “Thank you” and that was super sweet. And I was really super grateful. And we were in bus. And …. on the way .. That was 45 minutes we had to be in a bus. But every 10 minutes …. I went to ask that bus driver. Yes … are we there? And then he said: wait efkes. When we arrive I will say it. And 10 minutes later again and after 10 minutes later again so 2 or 3 times I asked and the third time he said: Are you new here or do you not trust me? Then I said: yes, sir, I trust you but I don’t know … I’m new here. Step insecure in the right stop otherwise we could not find the address. And then that bus driver has dropped us off at the right bus stop. Then we are on foot to Berchem .. Sorry Been Broechem. To the asylum center.
[i] [name], in which month was that. Do you remember, was in which …?
[r] Yes, it was November. November 18, I think.
[i] so, so cold.
[r] Yes, it was cold, yes.
[i] So, you have arrived by bus. Have you had to walk a lot to the asylum center?
[r] In Broechem?
[i] Yes.
[r] The asylum center of Broechem is a bit far, from the bus stop, about fifteen minutes walk. I didn’t have a GSM, no GPS I had nothing with it, just a paper on which the address stood. But luckily there were other people who also went to asylum center, Other refugees, we just followed the people.
[i] yes, nice, and when you were on the way to the asylum center, did you perhaps feel safer then? What did you think?
[r] Yes, but I was ….
[i] Less stress or something?
[r] Then we arrived in Brussels. Along the way I have not felt safe anywhere. Nowhere. And that was normal too. I was really shocked and I didn’t know where I was. And I didn’t know what to do I do and didn’t know what will happen. But then we arrived in the asylum center. And that first …. it was evening … 6 o’clock evening. And we first got food and after eating I got a room, with four people and then I was able to sleep for a long time, yes .. A few days, really slept for a long time and good.
[i] Yes, I can imagine that. After 15 days you were finally able to sleep on a bed. And ate warm!
[r] But that was only 2 nights so … I was really able to rest there.
[i] And how much time did you stay in the asylum center?
[r] Of November 2015 to July 2017, I was in the reception center of Broechem. So I lived there. And in July I left.
[i] And was it okay? How was it? It was more than a year.
[r] Yes, sure. It was ….
[i] was it good? What memories do you have from that period?
[r] … yes, I remember …. the first … days that I was in the center, so there were other refugees from different nationalities, Afghans, Iranies, Eritreans, Somalis Iraqis, Syrians, and that was super interesting for me to get so much .. different nationalities to live. And to see how, what kind of people are they. And even Belgians. So that was all new for me …. But I do have .. but unfortunately we couldn’t talk to each other because …. Some people who spoke alone Arabic, some only spoke Eritrees, or that language of Eritrea, Somalezen, They spoke his own language and we spoke, I only spoke Pashto and Dari so that was a bit difficult. We could not communicate with each other. I couldn’t do not Dutch either and they couldn’t do Dutch either. So that was difficult but just we looked at each other and sometimes … we played, if we …, We had such a small … Snookerplaats where we could … That was not a snooker but billiards. And sometimes we started playing there but we couldn’t understand each other, so that was a bit difficult but also fun. People were … some people were super sweet and friendly.
[i] And had your activities during the day, for example, Dutch lessons or walking around.
[r] In the beginning 4 months I could not study. I couldn’t study Dutch, because I didn’t have an Orange card and then I waited about 4 months until I got Orange card and after that orange card I immediately started to learn Dutch.
[i] And what is an orange card?
[r] Oranje card is not a nationality card but if you submit asylum application. And after 4 months you get a card called orange card. That is a residence permit and that is valid every three months. After 3 months you have to set up a new stamp in the municipality there.
[i] That means you are always waiting for an answer?
[r] Yes, that means that you are still waiting. And after that orange card you can also request another card from the municipality and that is called labor card. You can work by law with that labor card. … but first you have to wait 4 months .. And then you only get orange card. So then I got an orange card and I can’t do a registration for that, in Dutch, but I really had, I really wanted to learn Dutch because … For me that was really super important and that is still important, but then that was even more important because .. I couldn’t communicate with anyone. Even if I had an appointment with the doctor, I had to explain everything with Such Such. So that was super difficult.
[i] But was a patient doctor? Anyway, a doctor who has made an effort to …
[r] Yes, yes for sure. Occasionally I had someone who talked English but … But if it was not available then we were unlucky, huh.
[i] And after the asylum center, Are you, you have then … From the asylum center was, you had already received an answer or not yet?
[r] No, when I was in the asylum center I did not get a good answer, so I first got negative. So negative means that I was not allowed to stay here .. And then after the negative I submitted a professional application, and then I could temporarily stay there,
[i] And do you remember why did you get a negative answer? What did people say?
[r] That was such a paper … Then … I couldn’t read that, and I couldn’t understand that either. Those were a few things they said. We don’t believe that or I don’t know. I still don’t know why they have made a negative decision for me.
[i] So you have been on appeal and afterwards? Do you have a positive one?
[r] And after that I did have a positive decision.
[i] And did you have to wait a lot of time between …?
[r] Yes, 2 years about.
[i] 2 years, that is not possible. I can’t .. for me is super difficult.
[r] My asylum procedure took a total of 3 years. After 3 years I have … I could stay here by law.
[i] So 3 years that you were not sure whether you can stay here or have to leave.
[r] Yes, I was not sure for three years.
[i] And what is the life of someone who is not sure, for example … What were your feelings during these three years? Maybe it was super difficult. You couldn’t start rebuilding your life. Because you didn’t know …
[r] The problem was especially that if you are negative … Then you can’t start thinking about your further life, about your future. So you can’t make a good plan for your life. To study or to find work or I don’t know, other things, so you can’t do that.
[i] stress?
[r] And especially a lot of stress, yes.
[i] And what did you do during these three years here in Belgium.
[r] Yes, studied Dutch, Integration Study – Lesson done, …. Integration …. Integration lesson followed. So those are lessons via Antwerp City that given … To all integrators and all foreigners and all refugees. And I followed that and that was 1 month and after that 1 month I did follow a course via the VDAB as a seller at the Tweedeetaal. And then I worked at the Delhaize for three – four months. And 1 month I worked as a trainee and after that I received a contract there.
[i] And was it a good experience?
[r] It was certainly good experience. That was my first job.
[i] And in which Delhaize?
[r] That was in Herentalsebaan. In that Delhaize I worked for 3 months.
[i] And where did you live at that moment?
[r] In the Broechem asylum center.
[i] Ah yes, still in the shelter?
[r] Yes, I was already in the Broechem asylum center.
[i] And after the asylum center, To where have you moved? To Antwerp Direct or?
[r] Yes, I immediately came to live here.
[i] Here with ………
[i] Okay, so after the asylum center you arrived directly to Antwerp?
[r] Yes, after the asylum center I immediately went to Berchem … … come and live with my foster parents And since then I still live here.
[i] And …. where have you found your foster parents? Here in Antwerp or when you were still in the asylum center?
[r] I was in the center and my mother who worked at … For “everyone reads” and she was looking for someone who talked Pashto and could read that for children in the Pashto. But I had another friend. He was also an Afghan. And we were both in the center and he wanted …. He had been instructed through Atlas and he had to speak with Eva, Allez, with my foster mother, but he could not do Dutch at all. So I came to come with him as an interpreter and that is why we got to know each other and that is how I got on and now I am here.
[i] And more than 2 years maybe?
[r] Yes, more than I have been living here for 2 years.
[i] And how do you feel?
[r] I feel at home, have a new family here, I have a new life here. So … I feel completely happy. I feel good here.
[i] That is a very nice story. And you live with people from Belgium … Did that perhaps help a lot to adjust here in the city? With the language, with the culture, yes or …?
[r] Certainly yes, because the culture is one of the most important .. Because we have different culture and here is completely different. And culture you can only learn by people, so if you don’t have friends or no family from here or no ordinary friends … Being Belgian or who were born here cannot learn culture. So that was really good for me …. ehh …….. Yes, how can I say that?
[i] A good help?
[r] That was a good help for me. And as a result I learned culture and learned language and learned people.
[i] And what do you like three? For example, What do you like to do with your family here? For example a weekend?
[r] together when we are free then we go outside. Nice things, we went to museum, we are going on a trip for example and we mainly do …. Many things that we compete and they like that too and I like that too.
[i] Yes, that is important. And was something that was not easy to .. To live in a new culture? What was the hardest thing for you?
[r] For me was … The hardest thing was … To learn new people and that is why I have learned that in those past three years I have learned how it is that here and how and how. Difference between us and between here. And culture and language and other things like that. That happens, for example, in store, you also use it. Other ways, not with us. If we go shopping and then you buy something. And then they say 50 rupees and then you say, and ultimately you pay, you buy 30 rupees. But everything is here … The supermarket is always a bottom price. So you buy something and you pay directly via bank contact or via cash or I don’t know. So …. those are things I learned here.
[i] And you know other people Afghanistan here in Antwerp or not?
[r] I know a few people, I know many people in general … But what I have contact with those are a few people, maybe 5 or 7 people something like that. And those are my friends, I do have contact there.
[i] And do you also have contact with your family in Afghanistan or …?
[r] I do have contact with my family in Afghanistan, I call once per month or per 2 months.
[i] And your family is quiet, I think you are good here, or …?
[r] Yes, I think so. Now they are reassured. Now they know that I will stay here and now they know that I am safe here.
[i] And do you feel good in Antwerp?
[r] Yes, I think Antwerp is a beautiful city.
[i] And what do you like to do here in Antwerp? What do you like to do? For example: I cycle super.
[r] I don’t like cycling. No, I don’t like cycling. But the best thing in Antwerp is that there are many museums and many beautiful places where you can go and the city is ..
[i] What is your favorite, your favorite place in Antwerp?
[r] My favorite place is in Antwerp. Yes, especially I love center because I .. I am a city walker. When I start walking then … I just walk in the streets where I have never been. I like that And I do that everywhere. If I am alone then I walk a lot in the city.
[i] What are you doing here? Are you still studying? Are you already working?
[r] I already work and I study for ICT. I am following a course.
[i] And where?
[r] At Encora … in Berchem
[i] So you want as IT?
[r] Yes! I study for IT.
[i] And how much time is a course?
[r] that takes … That is 1 year old training, but after that you have to .. Doing an internship too … so that will take 1.5 years and then you can start working.
[i] And is it all day or …?
[r] That is 4 days a week. From the beginning. Four days a week. Three full days and half a day. So 3.5 days.
[i] And your Dutch is super good. Where did you study Dutch?
[r] I mainly studied Dutch here. Now I live here. I always speak to my parents there so that is why I now speak Dutch a little better than before.
[i] Congratulations.
[r] Thank you.
[i] And which are your future plans? For the following year? What would you like to do?
[r] I am currently studying so I would like to complete my studies. And I would like to work as an IT. That’s my plan.
[i] And where for example? Where would you like to work?
[r] I don’t know.
[i] No? , Not yet?
[r] No, not yet.
[i] If you are still in your ….. .. think in your home country. What do you think about? What do you might miss more from your home country?
[r] Now I don’t miss anymore, huh. In the beginning but not anymore. I used to miss except my family members. Allez, I would …. From the beginning I missed that really hard but not much now.
[i] And here for example, If you want to eat Afghan … Do you not like occasional or not?
[r] Yes, occasionally I also cook here when I …
[i] Do you cook yourself?
[r] I already cook myself, yes, sometimes, but very little. But I can do that. And here too sometimes there is an Afghan restaurant and then we go there together.
[i] And do you still listen to Afghan music?
[r] Yes, I listen a lot to Afghan music. But also to Belgian music or in English music. I like different types of music.
[i] Okay, [name], thank you very much for your story.
[r] Thank you. That is happy to be done.