SU_B_37

[i] Yes, hello! Welcome, Ms. [Name]. We are here today as part of our project “Specially Unknown”. It’s about ten people, which makes me one Fieldworker makes. My job is to interview people or to listen to them, what they have to say about themselves and something about her to learn life story. A journey from hers past to today and about theirs Perspectives for the future. We will start with the introduction. Who are you? Hello! Warm welcome.
[r] My name is [name], I come from Guinea and am 30 years old. I’ve been living for two years in Germany. I’m doing an integration course at IFAK in Bochum. I live in Haltern am See, I’m single and today I’ll tell you about my children’s story. I wanted to tell my story in German, but my German is not yet good enough. I have to continue on Fula.
[i] Okay, if I understood you correctly, it is easier for you to tell your story in Fula than in German.
[r] Yes.
[i] That’s understandable and that’s what we do too. Now let’s do everything in Fula. This project is about that Life stories of people. They are among ten people from Guinea who were selected. I am a fieldworker. I am what you called fieldworker. I will Ask comprehension questions. It’s about your life story and that’s also the reason for our session. Now my question is, where do we start? Did I understand it correctly? Do you go to school here? You can decide where we start. We can at theirs begin childhood. We can start with your life story.
[r] Okay, I will now tell you my life story. How I grew up my school attendance from the beginning, at school, how it went until I got here. My name is [name], my father’s name is [name] and my mother’s name is [name]. After I was born mine were My mother and father don’t get together often. I’m with mine mother grew up, but it was no obstacle to seeing my father. He came to us once and I visited him too. I lived with my mother and my father was in the capital Conakry or in Banankoro [inland]. We were everywhere he was.
[i] Was it work-related or other reasons?
[r] It was because of his job, my father was a gendarme. He was transferred everywhere. Our mothers couldn’t stay there permanently. They stayed with him for a while and then went back. My mother lived in Kindia at the time. I was born and raised there. My mother worked in retail. She sold everything. She dyed and sold fabrics. As I grew up, I was enrolled in school. I started school in 1995. We lived in the neighborhood called “Kassya” lived there and she also dyed fabrics there. She has mostly from the fabrics that she dyed. She dyed the fabrics and sold them. I lived with her and started school there. I went to primary school “Ecole Primaire Sounounou” attended. I started there in first grade. That’s where I’m at went to school. My mother was with her Fabric dyeing busy. After school I went to her place and she went about her work. When my mother finished dyeing the fabric, we washed it in the river. We brought them home and let them dry, then ironed them. My mother sold them and I went back to school. Later I came back home. This went on for years until I was in first, second and third grade the primary school [Sounounou]. I also did fourth grade there. When we reached fourth grade, my mother had finished building the house. She has it with hers business financed. She built the house in Kenende. I should now Change school. But I could while running Do not change school year. I insisted on staying in school because I already had very good friends there. But it was too far for me. At the end of the year, an application to change schools was submitted and approved. I then went to primary school “Ecole Primaire Banllieu” changed. I continued to attend school there and my mother worked her job. At the beginning it was hard for me because I was new there. I now had new teachers and classmates and friends. Over time, I got used to my new school in fifth and sixth grade and made new friends. Over time I forgot about my old friends and was rarely with my old friends. We stayed there. I experienced a lot in elementary school. In primary school, you are small and what you experience there, you only experience there. What you experience in primary school is different than in secondary school. For example, that you work for the teachers and have to carry water for their garden. The teachers have vegetable gardens, where they grow lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, okra, white eggplant and hot peppers. Such work for teachers only exists in primary school. In college and lycée [High school] there is no such thing. The feeling of being beaten for being late will then be over. That you are in “Demi-season” dressing and being sent home from school only exists in elementary school. “Demi-season” means that the boys wear shorts and a short Wear shirt in khaki uniform. The girls wear one Skirt and a short shirt.
[i] What color?
[r] There are those for the girls Color blue and red with checkered stripes. The fabric is in checkered stripes and is available in blue and red. The boys only have a khaki uniform. A pair of shorts and a short shirt. In college [high school] they wear Boys long trousers and a short shirt. For the girls there is a dress in khaki uniform, or a skirt with one Khaki uniform shirt. In elementary school we like to wear “demi-season. ” The boys put on a khaki shirt and jeans or trousers. There are teachers or principals who use the “demi-season” don’t like it and then when they see you, If the principal sees you like this, he will ask you to leave the school premises. Even if you manage to get into the classroom, the teacher may refuse to allow you to participate. With the girls when they wear a loincloth. Then the loincloth is confiscated. They say that we wore the “demi-season”. This only happens in elementary school. Being forced to share something you bought for yourself or that you are intimidated. You only experience that in elementary school. You don’t dare to do something different or get some money, for example 50 or 100 or 200 FGN, Bring with you to buy something. All of these things can only be experienced in… Elementary school. That’s why you feel so liberated, I was recently talking to a friend about this. You have a kind of longing for that time. I found my girlfriend over the internet and we talked about our experiences. We talked about the time when we didn’t dare buy something. She asked for the name of our class representative and classmate. We talked about the penalties we received. If you take the exam to complete the had completed primary school and had passed, then you no longer have anything to do with the “demi-season”. Then you have the stage which is called “Guinean cement” [the secondary school]. The uniform is the color that looks similar to cement [Khaki]. In college we will Called “newcomer”. After primary school I went to “Kindia 4” [college]. “Kindia 4” is a college, a little further away. Since we don’t have a college nearby Since we had a Lycée [high school] nearby, we had to go to “Kindia 4”. Everything had to be rebuilt there again. With time comes familiarity. You pay more attention to yourself Look, otherwise you will be laughed at. In December it’s fresh, you can see that your feet are clean and you brush your hair. The eighth graders make fun of us seventh graders and call us the “newcomers.” When we reach eighth grade, we do the same game with seventh grade. In “Kindia 4” I was only up to the eighth grade, Afterwards I was on the “Gl. Lansana Conte”. There you could attend college and lycee. I attended the ninth and tenth grades there. The school director’s name is Mr. Toure, he is no longer alive, God rest his soul. He had the habit of attending all classes personally. He was originally from Moria and he always wore special suits. He was often very well dressed and went to the classrooms. If you noticed him, that he is dressed smartly, he promptly replies that he is a child of Moria. He then added that “the kids are out Moria, the white people of the Soussou, and he is the one White from “Moria”. We nicknamed him “Moria Fote” [the white man from Moria]. That’s how we spent the time and after my When I finished school, I moved to the capital. New place, new friends and that I attended high school in “Lyce Yimbayah”. I remembered that there too Accustomed to life in the capital. You have to get used to that too. It is often the case that those in the capital living are more enlightened, than those from the interior. You are considered the one from Interior stereotyped. After three years this label disappears. By bus or taxi to Driving to school is difficult. But with time you get used to it. Our school principal from Lycee Yimbayah High School was strict and everyone in the schoolyard knew what to do. He was called “Koto Barry”. If you went out during class, you would be followed by him “Hey” is called and that’s why everyone knows that that doesn’t work. Everyone goes to their classroom and you won’t find anyone in the pavilions. I experienced that at school. Those were mine experiences at school. About my family, how I grew up with you.
[i] Let’s continue with school. You talked about elementary school and high school [college]. What came after secondary school?
[r] The high school.
[i] How did things go in high school?
[r] As I said, I moved from Kindia to Conakry, the capital. I have my primary school in Kindia, made inland. Everything was new again in high school. It was like that there too New ones from the interior, there is always a kind of arrogance, they think they are something better. Even in the classroom, when answering a question, there are comments. In addition, that the classrooms are very full. You can get up to per class 200, no, 100 people see. That takes some getting used to for someone from that country Interior. You can have problems with that. Getting to school from Dabompa to Yimbayah by bus also takes some getting used to. The fear that I wouldn’t find the way home was also there. So I attended school there until I graduated from high school.
[i] After you finished high school, what happened next?
[r] I have the exam for this Failed high school and then I was at a vocational school [Ecole Professional]. When I finished it, I Lucky. My mother and uncle financed a ticket for me to Accra [Ghana]. I’ve been in for four years Accra [Ghana]. Things were a bit difficult for me in Accra. This has to do with my journey and getting used to it. When the time came and we were in Term were to buy a ticket. At the time I had never been outside Guinea. I only knew Conakry – Kindia. And now I should go outside Guinea. My mother was very worried about this. She called friends. She told me one day that people say “people are killed there. ” I explained to her that I hadn’t heard anything about it. She added that there were cannibals there. She further asks if I am aware that women prostitute themselves there. “There are shops where women take off their clothes, dance and sell yourself,” she continued. I explained to her that I won’t do anything like that. My mother reminded that we have no relatives there. My uncle explained that in the Embassy on-site relatives are. After a long speech, a ticket was purchased. An uncle of mine had one Work colleague who had family there. The family was contacted and asked if I could temporarily live with them until I found a shared apartment. The family agreed to take me in. I got the address and number and they called the woman from Ghana. When I landed in Accra Ms. Doris picked me up at the airport. Then I lived with her. It was difficult for me. I couldn’t even say “good morning” in English. A week later, she registered me at a language school. I attended language school for a year and lived with her for four months. We were able to meet each other now notify and to the local I also got used to eating. But at the beginning it was so hard for me that I mean called my mother and said that I want to return. My mother said “No, “that doesn’t work” and adds, that I should stay there. I pulled myself together. The situation was such that I couldn’t communicate could and I had to go Hands and feet communicate. I’ll be with you if necessary communicated using sign language. Four months later, I was gradually able to communicate. I saw a student campus, There was a free student room there and I informed Doris about it. I moved and continued to finish language school. After one I got used to it over the year. Over time I had new friends from Ghana and Guinea and with that the difficulties were over. I’ve gotten used to it.
[i] So, you have one Attended language school?
[r] Yes, I learned the language for a year and after that, Afterwards I completed a commercial apprenticeship area and I finished it too.
[i] Accounting?
[r] I did accounting and finished it successfully. I stayed there and visited the “Accra Mall” found an internship position for seven months. “Accra-mall” is a large shopping center. There is a shop there called “Shoppoint”. So I stayed there and wanted to look for a job there. My mother said that she did longing for me and I should come back again, because I was done learning. After that I went back.
[i] Yes, you then returned to Guinea and what happened next? Were you able to work in the field you trained in in Accra?
[r] Yes, when I came back to Guinea, after a while I applied for several jobs, including at Firstbank. I received a response from Firstbank, where I did an internship for six months. I have mine Internship ended and I still had documents Ghana, which I then picked up. After some time, I applied to Firstbank again. The bank got back to me and I went there and stayed there again for six months, then I took a bit of a break. After that there was an opportunity to leave the country, and I did that too.
[i] Okay, now let’s go back to your family. I don’t know if you might want to try it in German? If you brought a souvenir with you. I have to say something briefly in German now: The question is, did Ms. [Name] bring us anything as a souvenir?
[r] Hmm hmm.
[i] Do you have anything there?
[r] Yes.
[i] You could also say that in German!
[r] In German, I have a little the problem with speaking. I would rather continue speaking in Fula.
[i] Okay, have something Did you bring us? I have two photos of myself here. The first photo is of my mother’s family.
[i] Yes, a little closer. Okay, okay.
[r] My mother’s family is shown in the photo. Here is […]
[i] Let’s see. Exactly, now you can see it. Yes, okay.
[r] A […] picture here. The picture is very, very old.
[i] The picture is very […]
[r] Yes, very, very old. Old.
[i] Okay.
[r] My mother’s family [can be seen] in the picture. Here is my mother. Behind mine Mother is my mother’s sister. And here is one too my mother’s sister. Here too and here is my grandmother.
[i] Hold it up!
[r] My grandma, yes. Here is my grandma and here is my uncle.
[i] Uncle?
[r] Yes, here is my uncle and here is one of my sisters.
[i] A sister or cousin?
[r] A cousin or a sister, because she […]
[i] Who is her mother?
[r] Here is my mother.
[i] Yes, but from the sister and the cousin. Who is her mother?
[r] Here is mine Mother/grandmother [?].
[i] Let’s focus on the small one.
[r] The little one is my cousin.
[i] The cousin, okay. Hmm hmm.
[r] Yes.
[i] In the picture I also see the picture of the first president of Guinea, with Grandma.
[r] At my grandmother’s, there is a picture of my old president Sekou Toure. Yes, he was the first President of Guinea.
[i] The President, okay. The President of Guinea. And that is one Picture of him, right?
[r] Yes.
[i] Okay, yes. That’s a picture and the second?
[r] On the second Picture is my grandma, no, my mother. This is my mother’s sister and he is the one My mother’s brother.
[i] So your uncle.
[r] Yes, my uncle.
[i] So your mother first, hmm hmm.
[r] Here the first one is mine Mother, my aunt and my uncle.
[i] Okay. How old are they? Pictures now, guess what?
[r] My mother told me the pictures are forty years old.
[i] Yes, okay. These are Pictures of your mother.
[r] Yes.
[i] Okay, do you have a story about yours parents. Anything you want to tell us. Maybe also on Fula, if that makes it easier. We can continue on Fula.
[r] Yes, I would like to speak in Fula.
[i] Yes, you just showed us photos.
[r] In the picture is my mother, her younger sister and her brother to see and this is mine mother, her older sisters, a younger brother, her older sister’s child and her mother. This is an old photo that is at least 40 years old. Or even 45 years old. My mother is sitting here. This is her sister. Her name is [Name]. Her name is Neene [Name], her name is [name]. This is my grandma, my mother’s mother. Her name is [Name]. He is my uncle, his name is Uncle [Name]. But I never saw him. He and my grandmother passed away before I was born. She is a daughter of my mother’s older sister, Sister [Name]. All of these here, God rest their souls, are no longer with us today. Mom [name] passed away, Mom [name] passed away, mine Grandma passed away and uncle [Name] also passed away. Mine are still alive Mother, my aunt [name], and sister [name], who lives in France. She was with a Frenchman, who lives in France is married. He lived in Nice and brought her there a long time ago. I got the photo from my mother and she explained the background to me. She said it was done while they were all visiting her. She explains to me that what her mother wears on her head the headscarf with Sekou Toures Photo, not everyone got it. Since she was visiting me, I bought it for her. At this time these were Clothes very popular. Any clothing with the image of Sekou Toure was in demand and not everyone could afford it. Hmm hmm. My mother wears a “Kerdeli dress” and the cut of the dress is called “Temoure”. Whenever I feel longing for my mother, I look at the photo for a long, long time. I didn’t get to know my grandma and neither did the other one. But the three standing there I know. My sister here I know. She lives in Paris and sometimes we talk on the phone. Hmm hmm. The photo here is mine Mother, my aunt and my uncle. You’ve got it in a famous one Taken cafe in Mamou. The photo is at least 30 or 35 years old. Yes. My mother and aunt have theirs Headscarves worn in the “Mon mari es capable” style. They both wear earrings that look the same. They all live here and when I look at the picture, it satisfies my longing. Hmm hmm.
[i] You have shown us things here that help you learn a lot from yours connect the past and have great meaning for you.
[r] Yes. Things I took with me.
[i] Okay, now let’s focus on your mother. What can you about Tell your mother?
[r] According to my mother’s stories, it was that her first husband [Name] is called. He was treasurer. She then left her village and followed her husband to the big city. She stayed with her husband for a long time, but did not have a child. They organized prayer for it and she got treatment. Then she had twins. During this time they lived in Kundara and were now expecting their twins. That was in 1973 and 1974 respectively. She had the twins [Name] and [Name] via cesarean section. She would then be with her husband and children stayed. Later her husband died. Her husband was the treasurer from Koundara and Treasurer of Kindia. After a while in Koundara, Mr. [Name] was transferred to Kindia. They were in Kindia with my older one sister and my older brother. Your husband, Mr. [Name], then died. After that she stayed in Kindia. She stayed there with my siblings and raised them. Ten years later she married my father and I was born later. I was with my older sister and [with my] older brother. When I was two or three years old, is my sister [Name] passed away. She got sick and everything was tried. She was taken to a hospital in Fria, where many white doctors worked. All of this has mine Mother told me. I was a baby then. My mother was in the hospital with her in Fria. Everything was tried, but she didn’t get well. Mine Mother came back and then my sister passed away. I then stayed with my sister. My father was sometimes in Banankoro and sometimes in Conakry. My mother then commuted. Sometimes she is in Banankoro, been to Conakry. But she had already gotten used to Kindia, there she was with hers Trade more successfully. And as I said before, she was busy dyeing fabrics and selling them. Kindia is a famous town for the production of such goods, that’s why she stayed there. It happened that sometimes she went to my father and sometimes my father came to us. So we stayed and I grew up with my mother. I stayed with my mother, as I already told the school. My Father was with us occasionally. Whenever we had holidays and my father was in Banankoro, I went there. And when he was in Conakry, then I went to Conakry. My mother liked the city and bought a property there. And I already told you what happened next when I changed school. After she finished building the house, we moved. We lived in rent and then moved into a condominium. My father came there occasionally and stayed there with us for a while. My father was married to four women, one in Conakry, another in Banankor and my mother in Kindia. Then he was everywhere. This is how I grew up. He came to us and we visited him too, until he fell ill in Banankoro in 2000. He came to Conakry to the hospital to the pulmonary ward at the Ignace Deen Hospital. After three or four weeks Stay, he said that he was feeling better. But then his health deteriorated. An attempt was made to bring him to Dakar. While my half-sisters and brothers were sorting this out, my father passed away. This is how it went down. My mother came after me Conakry and we were all together. According to our culture, my mothers were widowed and then each returned to where she came from. My mother returned to Kindia. That’s how it went and I got a good one Relationship with my half-sister and brothers. We visited each other and stayed together there. My father had four women. One is Malinke.
[i] What is her name?
[r] Mom [name]. His first wife is an aunt [Name]. She I also his cousin. Here you can marry your cousin. He married his uncle’s daughter. She was promised to him at 13 and she is the first wife. She had six children. After that he has mom [name] married and had three children. Then he married mine Mother, she had a child. Afterwards he marries his mother [Name], she had four children. In that sense, we are one big family. When he was transferred to Banankoro, we were there too. There he married Ms. [Name]. We were there during the holiday season. He had many cows. He took us to his farm and we could see the cows there. We were shown how to milk the cows and how milk fermentation works. We were given milk and oil. There are workers there who look after the cows. We went to the farm with our stepmothers. The farm is twelve kilometers from the center of Banankoro. We walked the route on foot. We stayed in Banankoro for two to three months. So we spent the time together until he passed away. The main apartment was in Conakry or in Aviation. When I left Kindia, I was in the main apartment. I have with my stepmother and Half siblings lived together. That’s how it was until now, as God wanted it.
[i] As they say in Africa, one belongs not only to one’s own mother, but also to the entire family. You stayed with your mother, at [name], used to. Are they somewhere else in the Family stayed that long?
[r] Yes, I also lived with my uncle. I lived with my uncle [name] for about three years. I got there with his wife and children lived. That was at the time when I came from the interior, or rather from Kindia. I lived with him when I was in high school because it was closer to school. Later, I went to my father’s primary residence in Aviation.
[i] Okay, is there anything else you can tell us about it Want to tell your parents, your family, your village?
[r] Hmm hmm. My mother’s family, so mine Grandpa on my mother’s side was a “Chef de Canton”. My grandfather’s name was [Name]. “Chef de Canton” of his village in “Gongore” and Kourou belongs to the municipality of Gongore. I once heard that he was very strict and he had 28 wives. I have my mother one Asked one day if that was true. She confirmed to me that my grandfather had 28 wives. I asked the reason why he had 28 wives. My mother explained that he was the boss of the village. And only for this reason could he, or rather he was allowed to marry 28 women. I asked how many children he had. He had 62 children. The number is based on their Count and that of her half-brothers. I was amazed and mine Mother explained that my grandfather could afford it, because the “Chef de Canton” was. I’m happy with mine Mother always made fun of the fact that her father had so many children. My mother replied that her Father was a strong and strict man. He always had and had the last word “Sofas”. I asked what “sofas” meant. “Sofas” were the people, who worked for him. He was rich and had horses. He often traveled with his horses. When asked, she replied that he didn’t have one at the time Had a car because there were hardly any back then. There was only one car in Mamou, it was called “Gabar”. I asked what it was like when he had to go very far. He was carried, my mother replied. There was something, but I don’t remember what it was called, that’s called a “flaw” that was how he was transported.
[i] Is this what you tie to horses?
[r] No, it was a kind Carrying strap. But there were also the horses with which he was taken from A to B. I was amazed and asked if it was the same Horses were also the case. She said yes.
[i] We talked about the grandparents. Could you Tell us how your parents met?
[r] You know, in Guinea is like this: You don’t talk about how you met your husband that often. This is a taboo and it’s not like now, where a lot of things are revealed on the Internet. People don’t talk about things like that and that’s why they don’t hear anything.
[i] If we have a Looking back on your childhood and your neighborhood, were there events that shaped you? What significance did the neighbors play for you?
[r] The role of the neighbors! My mother worked in the textile trade and had to travel. When my mother was away, the neighbors told her everything I did. How the Example when I was dancing secretly, when I went swimming or when I didn’t go to school. They told my mother everything and then she beat me. At the same time it was also the case that they protected me. When I was sick, they took me to the hospital Brought to hospital. If there is none who cooked for us, they also made food for us. The parents informed each other. As soon as the parents were back, they told each other everything. They snitched. It was especially with an older woman. The lady had with us Quarter a hut with a thatched roof. Grandma simply reported everything, what she saw in the neighborhood. I walked past her when I wanted to swim. My mother didn’t want me to go to the river to swim. They say that the river is dangerous and eats people. I liked going swimming and when I walked past her on the way back, said Grandma: “So, you went swimming. I’ll tell your mother.” Then I just said, “Okay.” When my mother came back, She reminds me that she found out from Grandma that I went swimming. I denied everything and I got beaten for it. Afterwards I went to grandma and told her: “You are a liar.” I said to grandma: “You can’t stop talking, can you?” She replies with: “I was happy to do that. I got another beating from mine mother. This happened almost every day. I just couldn’t stop swimming, even when my mother was home. My mother hit me again, saying I was warned and did it on purpose. Or, when I went to buy coal, there were boys who blocked my way. And every time I went to buy coal, they took some of the coal. When we got home, my mother asked if the amount was equal to 200 GNF. I said yes and she asked me to come with her. She assumed that The coal seller didn’t give me enough. But it was actually the guys who took my money. When we were at the saleswoman, she showed how much I got from her. Then I revealed who took the money. Childhood is not always easy.
[i] We’re talking about Memories. Are there places, like Kindia for example, that you have memories of? Were there things or places that brought back good or bad memories for you?
[r] Hmm hmm. When I am in Kindia and reach the place where the cemetery is, there where My older brother, the one of the twins, also passed away. When I am at the cemetery and I reach the place where he is buried, it is near the river, there is also the path to my mother’s house, I always have to cry. When I reach the place, I cry because I know he’s lying there. I used to often walk past there and past that with him He always tried to intimidate people with fear. Then we ran away. That’s why I don’t want to go past there. At the cemetery, near the river. When I reach the place, I think of him and tears run down my eyes. I have this place. When I’m in the market square in Kindia, It fills me with joy when I’m at the hangars. When I’m there, I think of a lot of things from my childhood. I’ll be happy then.
[i] What did you do from morning to evening? In French they say “Activités journalières”. What was your everyday life like?
[r] There?
[i] Yes, in Guinea. What did you regularly do there from morning to evening?
[r] Hmm hmm.
[i] Let’s start with when you were a child.
[r] When I was a child, when I got up in the morning, We were woken up at six o’clock and learned to read the Koran.
[i] The Koran school.
[r] Yes. My corn teacher is no longer alive. He lived nearby. I studied the Quran there from 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Then I was allowed to go home again. I had breakfast and pulled mine Put on school uniform and went to school. I studied there until 12:30 p.m. Lunch was eaten at home and then the dishes had to be washed completely. I rinsed that Dishes complete. After that I had to go around 1:00 p.m go to Koran school. You were allowed to go home at 2:00 p.m. and I had to go back to school at 3:30 p.m. When you got home you had to change again Take your school bag and go to school. We had classes until 5 p.m. and then we were allowed to go home. Back home, I had to Clean the entrance area. The wells were opened towards evening, because it wasn’t easy to get water. We set off to get water. Everyone needed water and fought for it To get water in his bucket. We got home late and it was getting dark. We had kerosene lamps. There was no electricity and we buy petroleum for the lamps. The glass of the lamp needed to be cleaned. Everything was finished and after that Evening prayer we went to the Koran teacher. We studied there until 8:30 p.m. and then went home again. Then we went to bed. That’s been my routine.
[i] What are you doing? Did it over the weekend?
[r] At the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, we had to wash. On Sunday morning everyone goes to the river and do their laundry. School uniforms and other laundry are washed that day. Along the river, it’s full everywhere, you can hardly get a seat. Sometimes you have to wait until a space becomes available because it is so full on Saturdays. You wait until a spot becomes available and then you go in. It also happens that Water has become too dirty. That’s why my mother sent us out very early. At 6:00 a.m. she woke us up and reminded us that it was Sunday. And notes that many will be going today. We started early and were on our way back around 9:00 a.m. The laundry was hung up and we went shopping, cooked and cleaned. The interiors were cleaned really well because we did it on the weekend. We had a kind of competition to see who cleaned the apartment best. There were no tiles, no carpet, it was just the cement floor. But it was cleaned brilliantly. You cleaned the apartment, cooked and then ate. And on Monday it was business as usual. That was my everyday life. Life inland and life in Conakry are not the same. What I experienced as a small child in Kindia is something I did not experience in Conakry or Ghana. My rhythm of life in Kindia was unique and I have never experienced anything like it since. Sometimes I sit down alone and think about how I felt at the time and how I felt Childhood memories come back. Especially with old colleagues, that I grew up with and went to school, we talk for a long time. It’s especially special when I meet with colleagues from… Inland, or from Kindia. We talk about it and have a kind of longing for the past. But you can’t undo time.
[i] If you think about the kind of upbringing you received, what we mean by “education” names, how do you see them today?
[r] I would say that they raised us well. The reason is: If you see how you are today, because I have a mother, who was strict with me. She was stricter than the men. I have with mine Father didn’t live together. She showed me everything and she was very strict. She raised me and made sure that I was able to attend school and learn the Koran. She has certain ones Things not allowed. Back then she didn’t allow that I put on long pants. She didn’t allow that I put on a skirt. I wasn’t allowed to wear short skirts. She didn’t buy it for me and no one else could buy it for me. If you didn’t follow their rules, there were consequences. If you did your hair differently than she said, or you had your hair cut differently than agreed, there was a punishment when you came back. So the way she raised us we resented her back then. We perceived her as an evil woman. But now we realize that the way she was raised has particularly helped us with our community.
[i] Okay, how do you have the company, perceived by the people there? You can have one make comparison. A comparison between what they saw here and their homeland. How both relate to a problem. How do you see that?
[r] In my opinion, it is difficult to compare the two societies with each other. The comparison between there [Home] and don’t go here. The people there, the way they grew up, what they learned and what they know and the people here, considering how they live here, are not comparable. But both have their good sides. That’s the good thing about it and that’s what it’s all about. People help each other there, the family is big. Here they also support each other. But if you come here alone, without family, you won’t understand it so quickly. That’s the way it is.
[i] These have been your experiences in Guinea so far. Now you are here. What did you find here, what have you got You noticed, what did you do? What did you do to get to where you are today?
[r] When I got here, Everything was upside down for me. If you come to a country and can’t speak the language, then everything is a blur for you and it seems as if you have lost everything. At the beginning, when I… heard people talking, heard the locals talking, I thought I would never understand the language. Or you think that this language is the most difficult language in the world. When I arrived and applied for asylum and answered all questions, I became one Accommodation brought. There were Arabs there and Black. All nationalities were there. We got food there, Clothing. There was a clothes room there. Caritas was represented there and one of the security staff was there with us. For example, where I was was the Maltese in the camp. An asylum accommodation. We were monitored there. If you wanted to go out, you had to sign that you were leaving and say where you wanted to go. You get pocket money. We got food there until I was transferred somewhere else. Then I came along Recklinghausen, or to Haltern am See. I then went to the job center and everything became clearer over time. But we were there together. We were always explained how things worked. There were people who supported us as “guides”. They are people who are not in a hurry. Everything takes its course over time. They weren’t in a hurry, though if you can’t communicate with you, one had the impression that they were not nice. Or you think that they are deliberately doing everything against you. But it’s not like that. They’re just doing their job. Everything was recorded in writing or printed out on paper. People talk to each other and they are in no hurry. That’s how it is. You supported me a lot, because I go to school. In case of illness, you will be treated. I go to school and am slowly speaking the language. It’s not the same outside anymore At the beginning, when I didn’t understand anything. At the beginning, when I… heard people talking, I didn’t understand anything. But I can say, thank God, I go to school and do an integration course. I have completed A1 and A2 and am currently moving on to B1. There are many advantages here. But there are also disadvantages. If you can’t communicate, you just become that see disadvantages. But that’s not the case. It is important that you can communicate with them and learn the language.
[i] Here in Germany a lot is being done to make it easier for you to arrive so that you can get used to it. So that they can integrate better here. There are also many communities that are well organized. For some it is not the case but many are well organized. Some are just less organized. What advantages do you see in organizations or associations of people from Guinea? Especially in this one Place where you are. Where you live or where you go to school. What is your opinion on this?
[r] I’m currently going to school at IFAK. There are mostly Syrians there. One from Nigeria and me from Guinea. They give everything so that we learn be able to understand and speak. They teach us learning methods and show us how we can learn more easily. We always get homework. The lessons are divided into speaking, listening and writing. You have […] that’s all. We do everything. This is all so that we can read and speak. Everyone [from the? ] Community tries to speak the language in order to communicate and you are helped. It’s not like in the beginning. You try to find something to do every day to find. Until you finish what you started.
[i] If I understood you correctly, you hardly had any problems. Got people from your country, with whom you support each other? Or perhaps you have met others who were less fortunate than you. Some have it difficult and others easier.
[r] Yes, I meet people who are doing well and have it easier. They are integrated, they speak well [German] language and work occasionally. I meet some too who still don’t have one have access to the language. They have no residence and do not go to school. Some are sick and cannot converse [in German]. Everything is difficult for you and always need someone to accompany them to understand what it’s about. This group of There are people too.
[i] In your opinion, what could be done? What can you do? about the people who Having difficulty supporting?
[r] Clubs would have to organize themselves, form working groups, which deals with the structures here Get in touch, form clubs. For example the organization “Guinee Coop” from Bochum is well organized You have the opportunity to People who are new arrivals here and can’t communicate with the people here, have difficulties, to help those who cannot go to school or who are sick. They don’t know what to say, where to go and what not to do. If we came together we could support “Guinee Coop”. The “Guinee-Coop” association, based in Bochum, could work with the authorities and the existing structures in Bochum so that people who need help can be better supported. Be able to provide guidance and educational work.
[i] Okay, we are still in Bochum. I understood it to be that You go to school here in Bochum and spend here You most of the time. How do you see contact with the locals? By that I mean, on the one hand, the people from Bochum and on the other hand the “people with a migration background”.
[r] In my opinion, If you could speak the language better you would talk to the locals. In this way one could better understand the standards, find out what is allowed and what is forbidden. For example, I go to school here in Bochum. I did what is called “living in Germany”. I do those Orientation courses. I learn about the laws of the land. I’m currently learning how to do that Board members are elected. I’m slowly starting to understand it. Here in Bochum, in North Rhine-Westphalia. I learned about the place of election and the term of office. How will he be? Mayor elected. I’m currently learning all of these things. I’ll find out what’s going on.
[i] There is the word Discrimination, being excluded. Have you had experience with this or do you know someone who has had this happen to you? How do you see that?
[r] It didn’t happen to me. But even here in Bochum, or at IFAK, where I go to school, a woman from Syria said: that something like this happened to her. She is with her son Been to the supermarket and while shopping Boy took a candy. When she was at the checkout she forgot that her son had already eaten a piece of candy. She paid for everything except what the boy ate. The seller said they stole something. The seller explained that what she did was theft. Since they are Arabs, they are known for the cashier claimed. “The woman was not a role model.” It escalated she was discriminated against. She cried and informed her lawyer He in turn informed the police. It found one Group discussion takes place. The woman has one get punishment and the salesman was confronted with his statement and he was subsequently fired. That didn’t happen to me personally.
[i] Are there places in Bochum, that you like?
[r] Yes, there is one in Bochum Places I like. Not just a place, but several. There are places in Bochum, which I like. For example here in Center. When I’m there, When I’m in the planetarium, it fills me with joy. When I’m at Lake Kemnader, I’m happy too. There are beautiful places here.
[i] You spoke about the IFAK. Were there any excursions or something similar that she considered did you think it was beautiful or not beautiful?
[r] Yes, we have with that IFAK went on a trip, which we liked. We went to the mining museum German Mining Museum here in Bochum. We were underground and we were shown the machines that were used for the work Underground mining was used. We were shown how Coal was mined, how the trains ran. They showed us everything that lies down there.
[i] Have you also been to another museum?
[r] Yes, we were also at the [LWL Industrial Museum Zeche Hanover] at an event. In the Hanover colliery. We have them there Seen machines. We were shown the names of the people who worked there. The manufacturers, Drivers and workers. They showed us everything. We looked at everything.
[i] Was there anything that impressed you? Where they said “Wow”?
[r] Yes, the big machine they launched that day. That was very impressive. They showed us how to launch it and they launched it in front of us. I still think about that.
[i] The machine, something different maybe?
[r] Yes, we got one too Steam engine shown. A steam engine running on coal. Hmm hmm.
[i] Ah okay, there always is what you call called education. The education we call “education”.
[r] Hmm hmm.
[i] Could you make a comparison between education here and in Guinea? for example at school, as they have already told us.
[r] Hmm hmm.
[i] At school, for example, there are punishments.
[r] Hmm hmm. […]
[i] In childhood, […] Is there a difference in approach? Or is it similar?
[r] Here?
[i] Yes, between here and here. Try a comparison.
[r] I can’t do one because because I do that I haven’t understood the system well enough yet. I don’t know how things work here. But I know of some parents here who say that they have difficulties with their children. She is often invited to school. There are situations where one person scares the other at school. Memories come back to me, about what I experienced in school. When I was a child. I suspect that something similar is happening here. The difference here is that the parents receive an invitation from the school. In our case it was the case that we sorted things out on our own and the parents were not invited to school.
[i] There is what is called home. If you are asked the question, what is home? Where is your home? Germany, or here where you are or where you come from? What role does home play for you?
[r] Where I come from will always be my home. What I experienced there and the way I like it there. That has a place in me. Where I am, the longer I stay here and make more friends and the fact that I live here, also another place for me. No matter where I go, I will always think of here. I have experienced a lot here.
[i] Um, let’s move on the bureaucracy speak, about what you are asked to do and what happens with it associated waiting time. Have Have you had any experience with this?
[r] Yes, it’s different here than in Guinea. With us in Guinea, if you have an appointment, you can come first and someone else comes after you, the one about better contacts. And even though you the whole thing day you waited, he is preferred. Here, however, no matter where you go, you have to get in line. No one will be put before you, to go to an office. Unless there is an emergency, then you let him go in, or you let him go first. But that you just walk past people because you have relationships, or because you have a certain position, I didn’t see that here. In Guinea, however, there is something like that.
[i] Okay, and what is considered culture?
[r] Hmm hmm.
[i] How do you see the possibilities? To live out your culture here? Are there difficulties that prevent you from practicing it the way you want? How do you see it when it comes to to live out your culture here.
[r] Hmm hmm. The culture. If it were up to me, I would live out my culture. But since the countries are not all the same, people will change and adapt here. If you have the financial resources for it, you can find a middle ground. It won’t be like home. I’m trying hard. If you have children or are alone, how I live now, you will imitate a bit of it.
[i] Are there things that you use yourself that give you a feeling of home, for example music? What are these things?
[r] Yes, I use a lot of things here. For example, when I watch TV here and listen to the music, I think of Guinea. Or if I certain cooked sauces, then I feel as if I were in Guinea. That was it.
[i] Voila.
[r] Or, if I definitely wear clothes. When I put on certain clothes then I have the feeling of being at home.
[i] Let’s talk about the language, the German language. What did she sound like? What were you thinking about? What was your first impression?
[r] I wondered if I would ever speak this language. I didn’t understand anything and asked myself what do they want from me? But with time and with the people here and if you are at school and have contact with locals, you will learn to read and write. And you will also be able to speak the language. But at the beginning everything is upside down and you get dizzy. At first you think that they are speaking Chinese or something else to you.
[i] What about the food, How was it with that?
[r] Hmm hmm. With that Food. When I came It wasn’t as hard as that language. I could eat the food. When you’re outside, you can buy food. You have the opportunity to cook something yourself. If you are invited to dinner, you have to eat. That wasn’t that difficult for me.
[i] Um. Why was it for many when they came here? what the Germans call punctuality a problem? Is that what you felt?
[r] Appointments here must be kept. You have to do it exactly like they said. Many people have a problem with this. Sometimes you arrive too early for an appointment, sometimes too late. It is better to arrive at the appointment location earlier. But most of the time many come too late. I had my problems with that too. But over time you get used to it. I’m used to it now.
[i] If you go to Example has an appointment, what measures did you take? to avoid a delay? Or what can you do to people, those who have just arrived, guess?
[r] You should be careful when you have an appointment. Write down the appointment and check it every day. If the date and time are specific, for example at 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m., then you should leave at 7:00 a.m. to arrive on time on time. But I know that many of them Guinea will have a problem with this. It’s because you’re not used to it. But with time it will happen.
[i] You’ve done a lot since you’ve been here. My question is, how do you see your future here?
[r] What?
[i] Your future? Where do you see yourself in five? years, or ten years? What is your vision?
[r] The future. Currently I’m going to school and over time I will see what has become easy and what is still difficult for me. I want to go with that first finish school. Look for work and hopefully find it. Work and benefit from it. Find a good job in Germany and benefit from it yourself. And people I have an obligation to let benefit from it.
[i] Hmm hmm. What do you associate with Germany? When you say Germany, what do you think of? What I mean by that is the time ago Your arrival in Germany.
[r] Before, when I heard Germany, I thought, this is paradise. That’s how it went. But when you’re here, you’ll see and understand what’s going on here. Over time you understand that things are similar everywhere in Europe. When you’re there, you have to make an effort.
[i] What is the rhythm of the people here? Maybe compared to home.
[r] People here are always in a hurry. Everyone does something. There are hardly any people who do nothing, like here in Africa. Here in Africa we meet, people tell each other all sorts of things. Here, however, when you meet, you talk about important things and everyone moves on. It’s different than in Africa. The conversation is more focused. You ask questions and get answers.
[i] And contacts with people, like neighbors or on the street? Where is it easier and where is it more difficult?
[r] I can’t say it’s difficult to get to know people. I would even say that it is easier to get to know people here. For example, when I was in the hospital and wherever I still go, we know each other now. Same at school. It’s similar in Guinea too. If you are straightforward, it will be easier to get to know someone. It’s similar here. There are nice ones and bad ones People, just like in Guinea too. There are good and not so good people. It depends on the people you meet.
[i] There is something you want for the future as a child. A childhood dream. In French they say “Rêves d’enfance”.
[r] Hmm hmm.
[i] What was it for you?
[r] My childhood dream?
[i] What did you want to be?
[r] I wanted one Become a stewardess or work at the bank. See the money every day. I always talked about that. Or see the world on a plane every day.
[i] How realistic is it for you?
[r] Yes, once I finish school now, it could be possible. I have to understand and speak German very well to become a stewardess. To do this I have to understand German very well. At least I speak English, I can speak French and German too. Now I have to concentrate on the language.
[i] There is also that, what are called role models. Are there people who admire you? “Personnes de reférence” is what they say in French.
[r] Hmm hmm.
[i] Who is this to you?
[r] The people I see here in Germany and think that I would like to be like them, for me that would be Angela Merkel.
[i] Okay, why Angela Merkel?
[r] She is one of the people I see and who impress me. How she is and everything she does.
[i] So, Angela Merkel is a politician. Does this have anything to do with the outcome of their policies?
[r] Yes, she helps people and knows what she wants. She knows what she’s doing she is popular. As far as I understood it.
[i] Okay, you told us a lot about yourself.
[r] Hmm hmm.
[i] If there is anything else to add, you can do it. You have the final say.
[r] I was happy to have done this interview. I hope that I do could answer your questions. I wish that Best for everyone and wish that God blesses us all. I wish that we have work, a good education and a good job and a lot of money.
[i] Okay, thank you very much.