Country of origin: guinea
Year of settlement: 2014
Age on arrival: 17
City: bochum
Gender: female
Language of the interview: Fula
[i] Yes, hello! My name is [name]. I’m still with our project. “Specially Unknown”… And yes I am responsible for our community from Guinea and. Mrs [name] Is our guest today and she will tell us her life story. My name is [name]. Today we are in Bochum-Hamme. Mrs. [name] wanted us to have the conversation on Fula and therefore we will continue it on Fula. Mrs. [name], be greeted!
[r] Hello!
Today we are your guests, this is about our project anyway, “Specially Unknown” is about migrants. It is about the life stories of people who are particularly unknown. We have chosen them and belong with it among the 10 persons from Guinea. Today it is about your life story and we want to learn more about it. Well, me. We want to know more about you. Today we are … to be your guest. Uhhh. Oh so, we could begin with introduction.
My name is [name], I come from Guinea. I was born and raised in Conakry. And here in Bochum Hamme I live. I’ve been here for 4 years. Since 2014 I came here, that was on February 26, 2014 and since then I live here.
[i] You said yes that your feet hurt, has it gotten better?
[r] Yes, it has got a little better. I was in the hospital, but it’s not like us in Guinea. Here, if you go and say, “I’m not feeling well,” you’re examined, and then they say they didn’t find anything. You don’t get any medication. But with us in Guinea, you at least get medication for pain.
[i] Well, thank God,
Thank God I was at DM and bought medicine there. I rubbed it and it works now, it is much better now.
[i] Ok. Let’s go with them. Your life story begins. You are here in Bochum,
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] We could see if we can look back with a review. Their past could start.
[r] Hmm hm.
i] For example, in your childhood memories related to your family, the place where they were, the country, occupation if they have one, how far they were,
Okay!
[i] how they got here… that’s what this is going to be about in the near future. It’s also about what they’ve experienced since they’ve been here. We’ll talk about the integration, how they deal with the people here and with the culture and. You could also tell us something about your hope for your future. Of course they could also tell us what stage they are in at the moment. We could let all these things flow into it.
[r] Ok.
[i] So, let’s look back. Your childhood. I don’t know if she’s your family now. Want to introduce your family? I’m listening.
[r] Hmm hm, I’m from Guinee-Conakry. My father is a Fula from Foutah. He comes from Pita-Gongore-Massi. My grandfather on the other hand is also a Fula from Fouta, Pita-Gongore-Massi. But my grandmother on theätterlicheseits, comes from Mauritania.
To understand it, your father,
Yes, my father is a Fula from Foutah. My grandpa is also a Fula from Foutah. But my grandmother is from Mauritania.
[i] So your grandma on the mother’s side
My father’s mother comes from Mauritania.
[i] Well, your grandmother Vätterlicherseits,
Yes, she’s from Mauritania.
[i] Okay. Okay. So… comes from Mauritania,
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] Okay. What was your father’s profession?
My father’s name is. Mamadjan [name]. His father or my grandfather is called Ibrahima [name]. My father’s mother is called Cherif Aidara. My father once lived in Senegal. He was a cook. He worked in the field. He also practiced boxing and judo back then. My father had done that. That was when he lived in Dakar. When he was in Guinea, he was unemployed. My mother worked. She had sold food (rice with sose) in Taouyah. That’s how we all grew up.
[i] Ok. As they said it, Oh so, there was something they experienced as a child or teenager,
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] you would like to remember? Something they would like to remember or something they wouldn’t like to remember?
Yes, there have been difficulties, especially when I was a young girl. At that time I had attended the Koranic school. We are Muslims I was in the Koranic school, in the school French-Arabic was taught (École Franco-Arabe). After school, I went to the Koranic school. There, was the son of my Koranic school. He fell in love with me, we loved each other. My mother did not agree. She caused me a lot of stress and it finally led me to break it off. My mother said that as long as I continue to meet with this boy, she will no longer pay for me to go to school. She cancelled me from the Koranic school, she cancelled me from the school because I get the opportunity to meet with this boy there. In that time, everyone in that neighborhood told me about me. Here in Conakry, If the parents, your daughter are powerless against us, the daughter is rejected by all. One is called the evil one of the place. And so I decided to flee and came here. That was the reason why I came here.
Ok, uhh well, according to their descriptions they were discriminated against.
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] You did this in response to your behavior.
[r] Hmm hm. That’s why they rejected me, my parents refused me any support. There was no food for me. So it went until one day, when they caught me with my boyfriend, they locked me in the toilet for a week. I didn’t get any food, I was locked up there all the time. In the evening there was 1 piece of bread for me. And. I received water. I had to make do with it the whole day. So I and my friend decided… He saw himself in the duty to help me, Under these circumstances, he decided to help me to leave the country. That was the reason why I came here.
We are still in the time when they were teenagers,
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] Can you tell us the place where you grew up?
[r] I grew up in Bambeto. In Bambeto. We lived in Bambeto magazine. That’s where my father built his house. That’s where I grew up.
[i] Bambeto is in Conakry to which municipality does Bambeto belong?
Yes, Bambeto is in Conakry and belongs to the commune Ratoma.
[i] Could you tell us something about Bambeto? What can you associate with Bambeto? What are the unique selling points of Bambeto?
In Bambeto at the moment, when a girl wears trousers or a hairstyle with a shaver extension, everyone is labelled as a “bad person”. You will have a chance or a future there. So you won’t have a man who wants to marry you. No one will dare to do anything with you. So we lived at that time in the quarter (quarter). All… have worn headscarves. And if you did not wear a headscarf, you become a loner. That’s how we lived in this quarter. In this quarter.
i] If you are asked the question, what role did religion play for you? You can refer to your upbringing. Could you tell us something about it?
Yes, the role of religion in my upbringing is because with us one must first learn what is Ismal and in doing so learn how to behave. If you have learned … (Islam), then you will not wear a hair extension, you will not wear a mini skirt, you should dress and wear a headscarf. Only in this way will you find someone who is willing to marry you. And so people can encourage you to do something with them. You become approachable. So they think that you are not a bad person as long as you adapt. That was also the reason why they took me to school to learn the Koran. So that I can adapt with them. According to the Islamic norm. And that also fits the expectations in Bambeto. Yes.
[i] Ok. When you lived with your family, what did you do from morning till night? What did your everyday life look like? That’s how it would be expressed in German. ([now again in Fula) What have you done from morning to evening? What did you do in the evening?
When I was still at school, in the morning when we got up, we first cleaned our entrance area. That was my job because I have a younger brother. And I was the one who had to clean the entrance early in the morning, the cutlery… etc. Clean had made. Everything that was left behind for the dinner before I had to clean first and then I could go to school. At 14 o’clock I come back from school. My mother sold food (rice+sose). Then we go to support her, there we stayed all sold out, then we came back with my mother about 20 o’clock. Then we made our way back to Bambeto. That was to be said, my everyday life.
i] What was it like on the weekends?
[r] Hmm hm.
Did you have time for yourself to meet friends?
Yes, I got bigger with time, on weekends like Saturday we secretly left. We went dancing and my younger brother opened the door for me. My parents shouldn’t know. I waited until my mother fell asleep, then I told my younger brother that I wanted to go away. I asked him to keep it secret and had 1 room alone for me. When I’m ready, I’ll go out, and when I come back, I’ll go to the window and ask my brother to open the door for me. Sometimes my mother went to the mosque during that time, that’s early in the morning. About 5 o’clock in the morning. He then opens the door for me and I sneak in.
Did your brother get anything in return?
Yes, sometimes when I’m away, men invite us to dinner. When I come in, I say to him… Sometimes he asks me to give him money for it. Or. Food. When I buy food or am invited, I bring him money or food. And when I get money, he also gets some of it.
[i] Ehhmm. Ok, you have something to give you to yours. Family remembered? A souvenir from home?
Yes, I have a photo of my mother here. When I look at the photo, I have the feeling that she is just behind me. She had caused me so much stress. I didn’t dare go anywhere else. She was very authoritarian. Here she is. I have the picture here, when I sometimes look at it, I think she came to pick me up. Yes, I took the photo with me, I have a memory of my parents with it, And when I sometimes think about it, When I think about it, I get sad. I don’t have a relative here. Except people I met here. Here I have no father and no mother. I have people whom I have met here. They are all I have here. But I sometimes think about my parents, I get sad.
i] Eh, what about the neighbors in Guinea? To the place where they once lived? What role did your neighbors play for you?
Yes, the neighbours, in Bambeto, where I once lived, there was no mutual support. If something worse happens to you, you have to deal with it on your own. In my case, for example, I wore trousers, went dancing. Everyone kept me at a distance. That was also the reason why my friend decided to support me because my future looks bad there. He introduced me to his uncle, who supports me for the departure up to here. The neighbours there excluded me and only spread rumours about me. If you don’t look where like yourself, then you are typed. They point fingers at me when they see me. Our neighbours were like that.
[i] Gives. Places within Conakry of the city where you once lived that you liked, with which you associate something positive?
Yes, there are, for example, in “en Ville” (part of Conakry that belongs to Kaloum municipality) we went there if we could afford the money for the transport.
[i] Is that Kalou?
[r] Yes, in Kaloum. There it is built (houses) There you can do many things. There is also the big city / the center. There is also the place where the president has his residence. There you can see and experience diversity. In Bambeto, where I once lived, there is no such thing. What you can find in Kaloum you won’t find in Bambeto. I have been there once to discover many things. If I want to visit places, I go there. There is also a place called “Jardin d’enfants”. I used to go there with my sister and nephew when they visited us. We had visited the place together. Many go there to relax, have fun, where a lot of games are played.
i] Is the Jardin (garden) that can be found behind the bridge.
Yes, it is after the bridge in this direction.
From there you can take the road along the sea, can’t you?
[r] Yes.
Is it also places that they are associated with bad memories for them? Places they don’t like to remember.
The only thing I think about and worry about is the fact that my parents are there and my boyfriend who supported me so much. Sometimes when I think about you, I’m very sad. That worries me a lot. Because here I live alone. There (Guinea) I had no freedom. And now I have freedom and don’t know where to go. I am alone. I am lonely here without a family. I live alone here.
You said earlier that in Conakry or in the Kaloum district, where the president of the country has his residence, where the central authority is located.
[r] Hmm hm. You describe the place as a place where you liked to go. If you are there, then you are relaxed.
[r] Hmm hm.
Is there also a place where they feel the opposite? And connect something negative with the place?
[r] Then I would think of the time when my mother was locked up. Bambeto or the neighborhood where we used to live. There I was stamped and left alone. When I sometimes think about it, I don’t feel like going there. But since I also have my family there, there are times when I feel the need to visit my parents there. And that is all.
Ok, if we’re talking about school, you went to school, right?
[r] Yes. I went to school. I was last in 10th grade. And at some point I didn’t get any support anymore. My boyfriend couldn’t help me there either. I only went to school up to the 10th grade.
Where they went to school, what was the rhythm like?
We have school from tomorrow until 14 o’clock. It was from 08 Ur to 14 o’clock.
i] In the afternoon there were no lessons?
[r] No, after school I go. After school(fr) at 14 o’clock, I go to the Koranic school. At 16 o’clock… So after school I went to the Koranic school because I was at a Franco-Arabe (French-Arabic) school.
[i] Hmm hm, ehh we stay with the topic school, you told me at what time… uhhh. You have to go to school in the morning.
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] Did they have friends there? Friends?
[r]Yes, I had friends at school (Fr-Arb). I found some friends on the Internet. Hmm hm, I had many friends in school.
[i] There at school (Fr-Arab) do you have nice experiences? Things you like to remember. To cause calmness and serenity. Or perhaps the opposite.
Ahh lately I was just stressed because my mother had stopped. ..(the fees) to pay. When I was there, I was always thinking about how to go on with me. I had many things in my head. (dreams), I had told myself that if I had achieved this while learning, then I had this and then I will. To do that. Then I had no more hope, no more hope. (the school fees) were no longer paid. (my mother) had said, would no longer be willing to pay for me. At school, my friends also asked me what was wrong with me. I couldn’t tell you that and they turned away from me. So it was.
[i] Now let’s talk about the people you supported. Did your friend support you all this time?
Yes, it was my friend, his name is Ibrahim. He supported me and so I could continue to go to school, even though he had very little himself. We realized at some point that things couldn’t go on like this. Then I quit school. At that time, he had introduced me to his uncle, His uncle, had supported me until I came here.
Do you have a job to make a living…? Um. To make a living? Or…
I had no occupation, I was young and could not do.
[i] Okay, you hadn’t seen any possibility of taking a trainee, e.g. in a tailor’s or hairdresser’s?
[r] No, I didn’t have the opportunity. After I quit school, I had no hope. I had not seen any hope.
[i] Okay, it’s in your family. Any siblings you supported?
[r] Nobody supported me. You left me alone. Here in Guinea, Conakry, you get labelled as a bad person, then everyone will keep their distance from you. No one will support you then. Everyone will leave you alone. Because of my friend, I was left alone. With the reason: “they did everything” “they beat me, locked me up, “denied everything” and I stayed together with my friend they gave me up. I had nothing to do with any of them.
After your parents put so much pressure on you to end the relationship with your boyfriend,
[r] Hmm hm. Why didn’t they give up? They held on to him so tightly.
Yes, because he was my first friend and he loved me. Hmm hm, that was the reason. I loved him too.
[i] Has it on the side. Yours. Brothers and sisters who were afraid to distance themselves from you, but still met with you to maybe keep them up to date? Or was there something like that not happening?
[r] No, no. My father was very very strict, after they gave me up, nobody could dare to have contact with me and tell me anything. Yes, except my younger brother but he did it secretly when we were alone at home. It was so that the others were older and no longer lived with us. I was only me and my younger brother there. He was the only one who dared to tell me anything, only when we were alone at home. After all, my father was very strict. Hmm hm.
[i] In Conakry, for example,
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] Did you grow up in Conakry?
[r] I was born and raised in Conakry. I have never been to Foutah. I only know Conakry. I was born in Conakry or Bambeto. That’s where I grew up. I have not even been in Km 36. I was never in that direction (inland).
Did you (as a child) have a dream what you wanted to become?
Yes, in my school days I always wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to become a doctor. That was my wish, my dream to become a doctor and treat people and in the field of surgery. OP in particular I wanted to be active. But I didn’t get a chance for it.
i] With the chance, is the possibility in the field to …(study)?
I didn’t have the opportunity to continue my studies in this field in order to become a doctor later.
[i] Ok, So, In Guinea, what about food?
Many starve to death there.
[i] Ok.
[r] There you’ll see a whole family sharing 1 kilo of stimulation. It’s not easy. At least in the time I left the country. With us back then, my father was married, but my mother provided for our livelihood. She covered the costs. The costs were very high and many are hungry. Hmm hm.
[i] Ok, how about the security when you go out? Should you be afraid?
[r] No, there was no security. There was no security. You go out because you were born and raised there. I’m not afraid, but it was still dangerous. There’s no security, the bandits arrest people and kill them. Or they rape… or if Jemaden is mad at you, they could just arrest you. Or for example, in the neighbourhoods it is told that a girl was raped… They do it to damage the girl’s reputation. There is such a thing there. Yes.
[i] That doesn’t sound good.
[r] Hmm hm.
Were there any acquaintances that something like this happened to?
[r] Yes, many. Sometimes you do that because you’re angry with the person in the quarter. They wait until the person goes out night, then they rape him. There are also older women who have been victims of this when she was on her way to the mosque. You do this to make her feel ashamed in the neighborhood. So everyone would know that the person was raped. There are people who have been raped. Hmm hm.
i] Uh, if something like that happened to you, couldn’t you go to the authorities and file a complaint?
Nowhere, when you file a complaint, you have to pay money first, and even if you pay the money, you won’t know anything. You won’t learn anything clear. If you don’t pay attention to the ad, they’ll give you the chance to kill you as a bonus. That is the reason why the people there do not dare to file a complaint. That’s why we say you can’t complain anywhere. It doesn’t make sense.
[i] Uh, did you have a hobby? A hobby is everything you like to do outside of school. A free time activity.
Yes, there were times when I was in Guinea, Sundays… There are places where I liked to go, like La Rose, Pieds dans l’eau that’s in Ratoma municipality, but. La Rose is in Lambanyi. These are places where boy and girl meet. They are places where you can relax and many go. Or in Taouyah(place in Conakry) Pieds dans l’eau etc…. There are several places where we went on Sundays. There you meet friends and acquaintances and you are happy. From 19 o’clock we went back home.
There was something like. Sports, reading, or…
[r] No. I was happy to do what I told you earlier. But it was so that I couldn’t, because I was prevented from doing many things. They didn’t let us play or go… to go and play.
You told me about the school where they were, was it a public school or a private school?
[r] I was at a private school.
i] You were at a private school where your parents later refused to pay the fees?
Yes, it was a private school. When my mother refused to pay, I couldn’t afford it.
i] There at school, were boys and girls taught separately? Or was it a mixed one?
It was mixed with us. The school was in “Pharmacie Hamdallaye”. Franco-Arab.
[i] You also learned Arabic there?
[r] Hmm hm.
[r] I learned French and Arabic up to the 10th grade. Yes.
[i] Were there Arabs who taught there? Or… r ] There were 2 Arabs, but they taught for the higher class. Gave lessons. Those were 11th grade and 12th grade. For the pupils in the grammar school. Our teacher was a black one.
[i] Hmm hm. Okay, in your opinion, you were in the family they had older brothers and/or sisters and a younger brother
[r] Hmm
[i] were girls and boys treated equally?
[r] No, men know there is no risk of loss. It is said that boys are less worthy of protection. Girls, on the other hand, are much more worthy of protection. That’s why girls are prevented… For example, with us, I was the one who was forbidden to do a lot of things. But my brother, when he got a little bigger, he could go out. He could go anywhere and stay until 00 o’clock. When he comes back and opens the door for my mother. My mother will not complain. But if I stay outside somewhere until 7 p.m. then there would be a problem. She will not accept that.
Is that perhaps to do with the fear for you to protect her better?
Yes, it has to do with the fear that something will happen to me or that I won’t become a habit. And then everyone will stay away from you, and as a girl you’ll have a hard time in the future. That’s why they do it.
Now, even though you’ve already told us about it, you could tell us something about it. Your reason for escape. What happened?
[r] Yes. It was like I didn’t have a boyfriend in the neighborhood, there were daily problems with my mother. Problem with my mother and my father. It was like that every day. For example, if I released myself today, or if they locked me up for 1 week, 2 days later, if they only learned something about the other (my boyfriend)… It was very stressful for me, they took food from me. I had no life there anymore. I couldn’t stay with anyone. That was also the reason why …(friend) decided to help me, so that I can run away from there. That was the reason why I left the country.
Yes, you then realized that you couldn’t stay there any longer. What did they hope for when they left? Or was it just that they wanted to leave the country? Did they also have a destination in that time where you wanted to go exactly? And the hope associated with it.
My hope was, as he had said, that when I was no longer with my parents,
[i] Who do you mean when you say it?
Ibrahim, my friend. He said he had the idea that if I didn’t live with my family anymore, maybe there would be a better future for me. It also gave me hope and motivated me to leave the country. That was my hope after he explained to me that I had no chance in the place where I was then. He had already separated from me, but I loved him so much… He sat that I would lose everything because of him and decided to help me so that I could leave. So that I could have a better future somewhere else. That was the reason why I left the country.
Yes, so there were people who were going to take her to the. helped them leave the country?
Yes, his uncle supported us. My friend’s uncle, who had also been worried about it. My boyfriend at the time was the only son they had. That was also one of the reasons why they always tried to support him and he is also a boy. So the uncle supported us.
[i] Um… When you finally decided to leave the country,
[r] Hmm hm.
i] How did the separation go or how did they say goodbye?
[r] I was worried a lot and he calmed me down. He said it was normal, and he went on to say that otherwise I would never get any peace there. And he added that the best thing for me is to leave. That was the reason why I came here. To this day I still think of him, ever since I had to leave him. I still think about it.
[i] Okay, uh, so, someone of yours did. Family heard about it?
My family didn’t know until 2 years later after I arrived here.
[i] Have information about whether they are. Worried?
They didn’t ask about me. After your own story. But my mother… A mother will always worry about her own children. When I called her, I had had my brother’s phone number, I told her it was me. According to my brother’s story, she fell over because she assumed that either I was living somewhere now or I had died. She had some information from me. No information about me.
[i] She kept that to herself the whole time in silence.
[r] Yes, then my brother should calm her down and say: “Mama, finally talk to my sister so that we can find out where she is”. “She shouldn’t be left alone like this any longer.” “After all, she is also a woman,” my brother said. They talked about it for a long time. Later my uncles came and talked to her about it. After that, when I called, she answered the phone. I told her where I was now. She cried a lot.
Did you also tell her that they were in Germany?
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] Um, what about her father?
With my father it was also very difficult for him. And he was helpless. Yes. He accepted it.
What do you think of that? Was it love, a father’s, a mother’s, towards his own daughter? Or could one explain it with religion, understand it. Or do you ask yourself why they didn’t think they were their own daughter? Do you have an explanation? After all, you are your own daughter. How do you see that?
Yes, I am your daughter and no matter how you turned away from me, the fact is that I no longer live there. You have noticed that she… must accept. They have to accept me and I am their daughter. In religion it is also said that if a child leaves the father and mother without the blessing, it will… remain. The child will remain without orientation. That is how I heard it. A child needs the blessing of its parents. Otherwise, it will not be happy in the end. And that is why I asked them for forgiveness. I begged them until they told me that they had forgiven me. So now we have become one.
[i] How yours looks today. Relationship? Do they have a normal relationship with each other?
[r] Yes, now I can. Alhamdulilahi (thank God). Everything is fine.
When they made their decision, there were friends with them. Talked about escape intent?
No, I didn’t dare to tell anyone about it for fear that my father would find out later. Only we, my friend, his uncle, and I did it. No one else knew about it.
Now you could tell us something about the trip. Did they originally want to come to Germany? Or did they just want to leave the country?
[r] I just wanted to leave the country and I didn’t think about Germany at that time. I didn’t know anything about …(Europe) Even in Conakry, where I was born, I know almost only Bambeto and… Kaloum. I don’t know anywhere else.
[i] You are then from Conakry to
[r] Hmm. The day I left Conakry, my friend did everything for me. My papers, he took care of the paperwork and entrusted me to someone. And I flew with that person.
[i] Ok,
We came through Casablanca with Royal. Air Maroc we flew. In Casablanca we changed planes and then I was confused and don’t remember how it went in detail. I didn’t know where the flight was going, with the flight change I didn’t know anymore. I asked, but the man I was entrusted to says that I will continue right away. He went on to say that he had been told to help me leave the country. So we landed at another airport and later we drove on with a car, and the journey took about 4 hours until we arrived in the city where I am now. Here in Bochum.
[i] Then you arrived in Bochum? Hadn’t you had any stress on the way?
[r] It was within limits. The stress was that I wasn’t with my parents and my boyfriend anymore. That was the stress I had in my head.
They then arrived in Europe or Germany,
[r] I arrived in Germany or Bochum. I… When I arrived here, people looked different, only white people could be seen everywhere. I didn’t see any people from Schwaz. I didn’t even know which ones they were talking about. After that I fed on a man and greeted him. The first one ran away from me, after which I greeted him. I was worried, I walked almost the whole day everywhere here. The man who had glided me was no longer there. I am the whole. I walked around all day until I greeted a woman and she was with a child. I greeted her and it turns out that the woman is a stranger here, and she also speaks French. I have told her that I have come here again, and I do not know anyone here. I asked for help. I had not even had breakfast. So she showed me the place where I had applied for asylum. She showed me where to go. She tells me that she sees many children going in there. And I could go in and ask. So I went in and there I was taken in.
Ok, when you first arrived in Germany,
[r] Hmm
[i] What was your first impression? In French they say “Impression”.
[r] Hmm.
When they got out, what were you thinking about? When you got out. What is. Did you notice?
[r] Ohh, everyone was in a hurry, even when you greet people, they didn’t even look at you. They were almost only running. And then I knew how to talk to someone. Everyone you tried to talk to kept running. When I tried to greet the people with “Allô, Ca va”, no answer was given. They all ran quickly here. They don’t give you any time and keep on running. I worried a lot. In addition, I came in winter and it was cold. It was very cold. Very cold and we are used to the warmth in Africa. It is not cold there. We are not used to the cold. I was worried about it at that time. I didn’t know how to adapt here. I thought about whether I could stand it. And I only saw white people around me. I did not have a black one. People seen. I worried a lot about it. That was my first one. Impression mixed with worry.
[i] What about the language? How did it sound? What were they thinking about? How was it for you? Could you classify the language? What is the language called at all?
When I arrived at the place where I registered and people listened to me, I wondered what language people were talking in. But they brought me an interpreter who speaks my language. It happened in such a way that the interpreter had translated everything for me. You spoke, the interpreter translated it. The interpreter was also a Fula who had translated everything for me. The interpreter was the first black person I saw here. At first I got scared when I saw the interpreter. I was very unfamiliar with all this. I didn’t know that something like that existed. They then asked the interpreter to tell me that I didn’t need to be afraid. And they further explained that they are there to support people like me. And that is also their work.
You told about people you met here at the beginning and about your first impressions that you gained at that time. What did you experience afterwards? How did it go? What did you do from morning to evening?
When I arrived and applied for asylum here, you first gave me a small blanket lying on the floor.
Did you then immediately apply for asylum on the spot? Or did you go to a reception centre?
Yes, I was given a small mattress and a blanket where I was admitted. I slept there until the next day. I got my baby here and now even if I leave here… My son will live here. I have no other place where he would follow me. Even if you have mine. Son about… he would say that he was born here, but his parents get along. Africa are coming. I myself come from Africa but today I live here in bochum.
[i] Er. When they came here, you did. Comparisons made between the government here and those at home?
You can’t compare them and it’s different here. It’s like that here, when you make a problem, you’re only addressed about what you’ve done. That’s the way it is here. You’re only confronted with what you’ve done. No more and no less. The law applies here. Here you are not attacked just like that. There are laws for that here. Here, for example, if you were attacked, if you did not call the police yourself, the neighbours would do it. You don’t often talk to the neighbours here, but everyone knows what to do. For example, if something were to happen to my neighbours here and I heard about it, I could call the police. But with us in Conakry, there is no such thing. And if the police would come, they would call you first. Take things away. So it’s completely different. Here you can live with people without contacts between you, but if something should happen to you, they will be there for you. That’s also the difference. That’s better in …(Europe). This is better here. It’s better here in Bochum. Hmm hm. Paradoxically, it’s the case that you hardly. contacts with each other, but the power of the law is noticeable. There are places where you can turn to if necessary.
[r] Hmm hm. If you’re sick, the neighbors may not come, but they could come for you. Request help. That’s what they have here, too. My neighbor is an older man, sometimes when I haven’t seen him for 2 days, I go to him and ask. With us it is like that, if you. Someone like him doesn’t see here, you would ask if everything is okay. That is the way it is and that is all.
[i] Uh, how does it look? At the moment we’re talking about language at school? How far are they now?
[r] I went to school once and had one. I had a high school diploma from the 10th grade. I graduated 2 times from 9th grade. Class and 10th. Class
[i] Hmm hm. I was at 2 schools. I was at the “Klaustermann” school here in Wattenscheid. I was also at a school in “Loren…” Hmm hm. Yes.
[i] What are you doing at the moment?
At the moment don’t do, I take care of my child. When I was pregnant, I have up. At the end of the school year I couldn’t go because of my pregnancy. At school they also told me to take care of my pregnancy now. And they also wanted to prevent others from seeing me like this and trying to imitate me. Because normally, you don’t get pregnant in school. You shouldn’t have children in school. That’s why they advised me to take a break because of my pregnancy. They suggested that I should stop now and pointed out that my stomach had grown. At the moment I am watching my child. I am here with him now.
i] What about your baby, do you get support? Do you have someone you can give your baby to or do you do it all by yourself? I take care of my child alone and since I want to go on to school, I went to the job centre last time and told them that I wanted to work. They then said that I had the opportunity to go to school for 1 year and see if I could get an education in an area that I had chosen. I get support from the Job Center and I should find a place where I can take my child to and care costs will be covered. This is my construction site at the moment and I am working on it. That’s what I’m doing right now.
Ok, but you haven’t found a childminder or something like that yet?
[r] Yes, I haven’t found one yet, but I’ll keep looking. Hmm hm.
i] You could then spend a few hours for yourself.
Yes, the one where I go to school we learn exactly 5 hours. We go from 09 o’clock to 14 o’clock. School.
[i] Hmm hm.
On the way back, I pick up my child and then we make our way home.
That’s your daily routine, isn’t it?
[r] Yes, that’s what I call my daily routine. That’s what I’ve been doing lately.
i] When you are asked about yours. What do you do from morning to evening?
Right now, I’m taking care of my baby. I just take care of my baby. This is my activity now. Hmm hm, I have no other activity. And when I get bored at home, I take the train to town, walk around a bit and go back. And on the other hand I use the time to go out with my child. Apart from that, I have no other occupation at the moment.
i] You also said that you dreamed of becoming a doctor or a surgeon, or that your dream job was to become a doctor or a surgeon.
[r] Hmm hm.
i] If you get the support…
That was the reason why I went to…(Job Center) and told them that I wanted to go on to school. (Job Center) gave me the opportunity to continue attending school. This year I still go to school, this year, if I manage to go to school this year, I will try to get an appropriate apprenticeship. There is the training as a nurse. The training would take 3 3 years.
i] That would start in 2019, because 2018 will end now.
[r] I will start 2019. I have already completed all the formalities. But I still have to do a test in January.
i] For what?
To get a place for 1 year. The whole year. Hmm hm.
Where would they see each other in 5 years? …
[r] I would have a better future. More beautiful and better than in Guinea. If I were here… I will get a job and easily finance my own living and take care of my child. I have the hope of a better future for myself and my son.
i] Um, how about if your dream job of becoming a surgeon doesn’t work out, have you changed your mind?
[r] Hmm hm. Because she had also told me that I had to study for my dream job. And I can’t afford to go to university because I have to do 11th and 12th grade for that.
i] This means that I still have to make up for my high school diploma.
That would be too long for me. Now I have a child and you get older. That’s why I thought about doing it. I mean to make up my degree first and then the training will take 3 years. I’ll get a job afterwards, and that fits with my age. Yes.
[i] Okay, Wa is here with the bureaucracy, can tell us something about it?
Since I came here, I haven’t had any problems here. When I recently arrived here, and at… they all helped us a lot. So, since I came here, I haven’t had a problem. And I live here. Hmm hm.
i] It is rumored that they also tell about the party called AFD
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] This is a political party, … The supporters claim that they must defend the country, shoot
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] They have resentments against people they call strangers.
[r] Hmm hm.
The party is called AFD, have you ever heard of the party? (Background noise: A chair was pushed) Have you heard of it?
I haven’t heard of them.
[i] Hmm
I’ve been watching TV and since I came here, a lot of things would be made easier for me. I haven’t watched it. Hmm hm.
[i] Well, … … As you already said, you live here, and with the whole family, … have you all forgiven each other?
Yes, I asked them for forgiveness and they forgave me, they now know that I live here, now everything is fine again. Now there is no more problem between my parents and me and that was also the reason why I agreed to my traditional wedding ceremony. I wanted to show that I have complied with your wishes. She always wanted me to be at… and that wanted to show you that I had become reasonable now.
[i] Hmm hm.
I complied with your wishes and we did the traditional wedding ceremony.
So did you bury the past as a teenage problem?
Yes, it was a mistake on my part, and now I’ve grown taller and understood why they behaved like that. And it wasn’t because they didn’t like me. It wasn’t hate. That was also the reason why they insisted that I… do. A youth does not always know what is good for him. It is like my own child. It will be the result of my education. From today’s point of view, I can understand it.
i] You spoke here about the traditional wedding ceremony,
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] the tradition and you also did that here in Germany.
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] Could you tell us how it went?
We celebrated the wedding ceremony here. We confined ourselves to the white dress, as our tradition allows. And cover the head with a white cloth. That’s what they did here in the room. Here is a photo of it. That’s all.
[r] We made them all here in the apartment. We celebrated with friends from Bochum. For example, I have… invited,
[i] Hmm hm.
[r] We cooked and ate. Then the bride should be dressed in white. So my head was covered with a white cloth. Hmm hm. We ate, we celebrated here, and we agreed to go to the registry office later to sign the papers. But things didn’t go well between us afterwards. With us Muslims, you cannot live together with one man if you are not married.
[i] Hmm hm.
When I see each other and like each other, I propose marriage.
[i] Hmm hm. So we saw each other here and within 2 weeks, everything was done. It turned out later that we had different characters and it didn’t fit. We separated here as well.
[i] Um, though. You had said that you had no contact with the Germans, you have with. Talked to your former caretakers about that?
Yes, I spoke to a woman who had my records at the time.
[i] Hmm hm.
My guardian yes, I told her back then that I had met someone who wanted to marry me. She asked me how I got to know this man until it came to that? She remarked that it hadn’t been long since I came. She advised me not to do everything in a hurry and I should not agree to a marriage proposal. I explained to her that this wasn’t about a wedding in front of the registrars as with a signature. It’s not like you guys here. I further explained to her that you can be married according to tradition if at the traditional ceremony, the bride is dressed in a white dress. And so it is done according to our culture. She did not agree with it and advised me against it. But that is our tradition and my parents did it the same way. Then I said ok to her and did what I wanted. She definitely advised me against it.
i] How do you explain to someone who doesn’t know about our tradition? When it starts, how does it work? What is done at the parent level?
[r] Hmm hm, At the traditional wedding, the consent forms between a couple are symbolically sealed and that’s what we call “Dewgal”. The marriage is thus concluded between bride and groom.
i] What happens next? Cola nuts are needed for this.
[i] Hmm hm.
They buy cola nuts, the elderly and representatives of both families meet in the mosque, pray and bless the marriage. It is then said out loud that the person X now belongs to the person Y.
i] Then what is the next step? Who brings the cola nuts to whom?
The man’s family brings the cola nuts to the woman’s family and says that they have seen a member of the family and gives a declaration of intention to marry her. So the man’s family went to my family to make contact with my family. With us (Guinea/Conakry), our respective families live there and we (I and my friend) live here. Both families got to know each other, talked to each other and were also asked whether something, like intimacies, had not happened between us. Otherwise the principles will be violated and marriage will not take place. That would be the case if you had been together before or something similar, which we considered bad, had already happened between you. We both assured him that nothing had happened between us. So, according to our tradition, the marriage was then concluded in Conakry, Bambeto in the mosque. It was then said out loud that I was now the wife of the man with whom I had now separated. That’s how it went.
Did your family hand you over to the husband or his family?
[r] To the family. At the family. I didn’t know about it, and it was. that first of all for me, and so I experienced it. that’s how they told me.
Did they tell you everything as it happened?
Yes, they told us everything back then and sent us all the pictures of the marriage, the prayer and blessing of marriage. Here have…(friends) decided to dress me in a white dress because this is my first wedding. The white dress of the bride is called “Seleli”.
[i] Hmm hm. Then I invited the people from Guinea, who are here nearby, they dressed me in the white robe. They brought me up to my neighbor’s house, we danced and then they took off the white robe and I wore a dress. We then walked down to me and we all celebrated it together. We ate, then all ended.
[i] What did the neighbors say and do?
The neighbors were secretly watching. It wasn’t so common here. We danced here in the apartment. They saw that my head was dancing with… was tied. It was like us (Guinea). Hmm hm. When a girl gets married, she gets a hat, a white robe and much more. A suitcase belongs to it and everything that belongs to it. Hmm hm.
[i] Ok, so everything you do in culture. If you try to compare it.
[r] Hmm hm.
i] Our tradition and the tradition here(Germany) compare, the tradition here in the country the tradition here(Germany) compare, What would you say? You have lived in both cultures. What would you say? What would be the advantages and disadvantages?
Our tradition (Guinea) is with conform to Islam. I am a Muslim myself. I practice what my parents taught me. This is taken as the truth. Going to the registry office and signing there is the same culture here.
[i] Hmm hm.
But marrying in the sense of Islam is different. You see, I did what my parents showed me. That’s what they taught me.
[i] Hmm hm.
And that is also true for me.
[i] Hmm hm. What is your opinion about the way people here live out their culture?
[r] That’s nice, too. It’s beautiful, it’s beautiful. But the other is more reasonable. The other is much more reasonable. What God has said is just better. That’s the way it’s supposed to be with Islam. That also corresponds to my culture. Culture is also compatible with Islam.
[i] Hmm hm.
So covering your head like this and wearing a white robe is all. The other is an extension to make it even more beautiful. Hmm hm. To make everything even safer and to adapt it to the culture of the place, you do that. In my case, I live now here in Germany, the signature at the registry office is privileged.
[i] Hmm hm.
I must adapt with the culture of the country. And also to adapt to the system of the country. That was also the reason why we promised each other that we would go to the registry office later. But unfortunately it didn’t take long for us to separate.
i] If we continue with the comparison, one says yes that for effectiveness. Your separation
[r] Hmm hm. The relatives must sit together again to seal the separation. Did you do that? Or what did you do?
It was the case that we argued here every day, for example if you marry one of us, then you are responsible for her livelihood. But here, it’s not a must. Since it’s so common here. When I asked him about it, he always said, “I don’t have anything. And when I was pregnant, when I asked for …(money) about medication, he gave me the answer again: “I have nothing”. He asks me to do it at the… to ask. Then I found out that he doesn’t want to take any responsibility.
[i] Hmm hm. I decided to separate to prevent more children with him. Because later, as a mother, I would have the stress alone.
[i] Oh hm. I can’t leave my child alone. I didn’t see a future with him. I then politely asked him to separate. He didn’t say no. That was also convenient for him. He then called the family and announced his intention to separate. So we ended our relationship. Hmm hm. He then bought cola nuts and asked his family to give them to my family and they did that too. Because also for the separation, the family of the man must explain the separation intention with cola nuts. For the wedding, the man’s family must bring Coal nuts and for the separation the man’s family must again. Bring coke nuts.
Okay, Now we’ve come to the point where you can tell us your final word for your life story, and. You can also tell us something about the integration of the people here. [ Background: The child cries ]
[i] What do you think? What needs to be done,
[r] Hmm hm. In your opinion, to facilitate the integration of people? [ Background: The child cries ] [ Background: The child cries ]
Here it is so that people who want help are also helped. Those who don’t want help are left alone. For example, we were all supported. We have listened to …(Helper/Carer). I have e.g. 2 degrees which I can show if necessary. But there are people who are interested in something else and have different priorities. Otherwise, you help all those who strive for integration. Hmm hm.
i] Here in your city ( Bochum )
[r] Hmm hm. Here all those who try are also helped. That’s how it is. But if the willingness does not bring, then one is left alone. Hmm hm.
i] Do you also have contacts here with people from Guinea who, unlike you, didn’t get any help? Here in Bochum, where I am, everyone who needs help is helped. There are people who are being helped, but who refuse to help. They then say that they want something else. And then they are left alone. But everyone who has come to Bochum will be supported. They make suggestions for school and explain to you the procedure and the tasks. In order to get a better start later, you are registered at school. Because here it is like that, if you strive for a better future, you have to go to school. Here everything has to do with knowledge. You are also supported in this. Hmm hm.
i] Ok, it sounds as if they only have experience with young people who have been accepted as minors.
[r] Hmm hm. And get support from carers.
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] That’s how it works with them. But there are others who came here as adults.
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] And they got a different kind of support. Do you have any insights?
[r] No, no. I only have information about those who were accommodated just like me. I was talking about them, too. Of the others, I have no idea. When I came, I was still. Minor and that’s why I may have supported, but I don’t know. There were also people of my age who wanted something else and then they were left alone because here, when you are 18, you can decide alone. At 18 you are of age and you could do everything alone. But with us (Guinea) the age of majority is reached only with 21.
[i] Hmm hm. And you continue to be supported. Here, on the other hand, you have reached the age of 18 and you are no longer supported by the newspaper. Hmm hm.
i] There were times when you were considered to be a minor until you were 21 years old.
[r] Hmm.
i] Because Derjeniger comes from a country where he comes with age. He becomes of age or is considered of age.
[r] Hmm hm.
i] But this was changed later. Did you hear anything about it?
[r] No, no, I didn’t hear about it. It may have been after my time. I focused on the things that were difficult for me. Then they explained to me how it works. When I finished after that, I didn’t get any more info. Hmm hm.
So, with the training they’re aiming for, you still have people who. Support them too?
[r] They do everything on their own, on their own. But the job center said, support has told me too. And in the meantime I’m doing fine on my own. Can express myself. Now I can only take care of my appointments. I alone can describe my problems in such a way that she can understand me. Hmm hm.
i] Now we want to ask her for her last word. Could you tell us her last word in German? Mrs [name], your last word in German please.
[i] Please say something!
[i] Heavy? Ok then say it in Fula.
In Fula it’s easier for me than in German. If I spoke in German now, you might not understand me. Please let me speak in Fula.
[i] Ok
[r] Hmm hm. I am very grateful to the city, min the people who live here in the city. So what I can tell you,
[i] Hmm hm. That they continue to encourage people,
[i] Hmm hm. The human being: Giving time to… to do. Give them a chance, give them the opportunity…
[i] Hmm hm. Those who have no …(stay) give a chance to do something for their future, because. Everyone deserves a chance. Always give people the opportunity to do something for the future. That would be my request. I am very grateful to the city. I am very grateful to the city for the support that I and my child get. I am very grateful about that.
[i] Ok, your child is crying,
[r] Hmm hm.
[i] Let’s make a point here. We would like to thank you very much.
[r] Ok.
Thank you for the insights into your life story and for your hospitality. Now we stop here.
Thank you very much.