SU_T_09

[i] Hello, aunt [name].
[r] Hello, love.
[i] Would you like to tell us who aunt [name] is, and above all: where were you born, what do you do here in Turin… like this?
[r] So, hello love my name is [name], I was born in Eritrea many years ago, I’m so old, then having studied a bit I was a teacher and after all, history in our country was not so good, and in 1974 I came to Italy. I had two very small children, very small. When I came to Italy I didn’t have a bad time, I worked to raise my children. And then, it was the time of the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and even in this area I did my best, I was in charge of the community, I was very attached to my country with my villagers, my friends, my sisters my brothers. We did everything together with what was in front of us I did what I could do and thank God it all ended, then later I had two children arrive here. They grew up here they studied here and they were good too. Now, I cannot tell you more, we have found our independence, our freedom thanks to God. Thanks also to our guerrillas, everyone now I say thanks to God I am an old woman, my children have studied, they got married I have two grandchildren I go back every two years to my country, I rest two three months, I am happy here I have many friends, many relatives, many grandchildren like you. In my country also the same. I think it’s enough if we talk about the history of the world too much. I have been in Italy for 40 years, so with what we have been through there is so much history to tell, we have to write a book.
[i] And we will also write a book, let’s go one step at a time, I’ll take an example of what I, you said you used to teach when you were down, what did you teach?
[r] I used to teach until the first/second grade.
[i] What subject?
[r] You know, it’s not like here in Italy that there’s a teacher of maths, geography, that and the other. There, there are all the books together and a teacher can do everything. Studying is no different from here. It’s also different when you go to university, I didn’t finish it. Because I got married when I was little, in fact with my strength I studied after I got married, it’s like this….
[i] So you have always been a revolutionary woman.
[r] That is my part, even now that I am old I go to church in Jerusalem. I like to go to church, I like to pray, on the other side also there is that country thing.
[i] This thing of the country and activism that you did when you arrived here in Italy. What was the impact like, especially the clash with Italy when you first arrived, do you remember?
[r] When I arrived in Italy, my clash was with the Italians, because they took me from my home country. I arrived with a contract, with the place in order, I came from Asmara airport, I went to Rome. And then from Rome to Turin, I had no work difficulties. I don’t know, I was also young, I was 25 and something, but I didn’t have any difficulties.
[i] Did you already speak Italian?
[r] At that time I spoke English, not perfectly, but I spoke it Where I worked, however, they also spoke English, for three or four months I spoke English. After that I learned I don’t even know if they ask me ‘what’s your name’ in English. I forgot everything and just live like that.
[i] And your role in the Eritrean community is a very important role.
[r] I can’t say that I had or have so much of a role, but what we had were difficulties at that time when I was there in ‘75 “76 ”77 it was very difficult. For our people, for our country, I don’t even want to remember it as history passed.
[i] What were you doing here to contribute?
[r] Here we were all together we had a community, we met every Thursday afternoon. It’s not that it was like freedom now, you work and work you can’t do what you want. But we did our day for our country, there were others in Rome. Everything was organised. Organised in Rome there were many, who didn’t work anything and only did for the country. And by working we did what we could I did that.
[i] Did this serve the country?
[r] Yes I’m happy, there’s nothing to say for what I did I say thank God, because after 30 years we found freedom. I say thank God that I was in it, both the women’s side and the students‘ side and all the workers’ side. There was more women’s and workers’ part, I was always there as a presence anyway. But I didn’t regret what I did, it wasn’t a nice thing to talk about the war or anything else. But what there was is over now, thank God, it ended well, I’m happy now if I go to my country I’m happy. Proud, my whole house is full of history, full of books, full of videos. However even when I did small things.
[i] For example?
[r] For me it was a pleasure I am happy, I thank God, and to all those who did everything.
[i] And how was the women’s community here in Turin? What did you do together?
[r] It was good, particularly with the women, we were all both male and female, we did what we could, that was our strength. With the women it was special, they were better, both with students and workers and with women. we were more even in numbers they were interesting.
[i] What did you do? Give me an example of concrete things.
[r] We also had a party in Bologna every year, when we went there all the women who were inside even if they were not all Eritrean those I knew and those who were there. We did embroidery, sheets, knitwear, scarves… everyone did the important things without saying anything. We made everything and took it to Bologna when we had a party, we sold everything to help our government, which we didn’t know was at war, but we did something to help. When it’s Sunday we get together and have a meeting, we tell what’s being told and on the evening of every Sunday three women make our food. In my country we eat on big plates where the whole family, mum and dad…. we all eat together instead here in Italy everybody eats on their own plate even we are used to eat like this at the meeting but when we finished we had big plates and we were eating so happy we think that we are in our country the women prepare everything, they work everything, it was the Eritrean women who are in Turin, who was our community, they were brief I say even I was earning I was doing my part, but everybody had their part. They were very good and I want to say thank you to them too. They are good, I am proud of my comrades and sisters.
[i] And if I say ‘the Italian mothers’, were you part of them?
[r] But I lived in many parts, both with Italians and other foreigners like me we were always united. Even when with them I didn’t find myself badly because I found myself well up to now, I have many friends and friendships. even when with them I didn’t find myself badly because I found myself well up to now I have many friends and friendships.
[i] Have your grandchildren who were born here ever been to Eritrea?
[r] In Eritrea? They were born here and on the one hand we want to be Eritrean, I want to and so do my daughters, one of the big ones is called Natan and he spoke Eritrean completely. He likes to speak Eritrean.
[i] In Tigrinya?
[r] In Tigrinya. He dances, he sings, he does everything, just like an Eritrean child born there, you can’t believe he was born here. The other one is a bit lively, they are different, but they say that Eritrea is ours, Massawa is ours, we have the sea, they talk with their Italian friends, they are proud too, because this starts from home. Because I speak it and they see all the Eritrean things and so….
[i] So you transmit Eritrea to them?
[r] Of course, I am from Eritrea. I am proud that I was born in Eritrea. And that I am from Eritrea.
[i] Where were you born?
[r] I was born … we can say in Decamerè, because it’s a small town where my daughter got married and now she also has another name, but I can also say Decamerè.
[i] Do you remember what Decamerè was like?
[r] When I was studying, I studied in the village called Quabarer, I also studied in Decamerè I also studied in Asmara. I remember everything because I grew up in my country, until I came to Italy I was in Eritrea I never left Eritrea. The first time from Eritrea to Italy.
[i] What do you remember about Eritrea when you were young? What was Eritrea like at that time?
[r] The memories are many, but you can’t remember them all, I remember going to school, growing up with my cousins and relatives. The things to remember are many what should I say what was important I have already said what I saw of importance is that, I think that’s enough.
[i] Thank you.
[r] Thank you very much.