SU_T_38

[i] Hi [name]!
[r] Hi
[i] How are you?
[r] All right, and you?
[i] I’m quite well, thank you. Would you like to introduce yourself and tell us who [name] is?
[r] So my name is [name] I come from Gambia I’ve been in Italy for 4 years now and I’m quite well, I’m working so let’s just say thank God.
[i] Thank God. What did you do in your home country before coming to Italy?
[r] Well, before coming to Italy I did a bit of this and that in my country. I worked as a bricklayer, I also worked a bit for a restaurant, then I thought I’d do some travelling because I wanted to learn more for many jobs because you never know for the future.
[i] So, your desire to learn and see other places made you decide to immigrate to Italy
[r] Yes, I thought about it because I wanted to learn about other cultures for the future because jobs in Africa are a bit different from here, working life in Africa and here is different. Here you work well and earn enough money, that’s what brought me to travel here to Italy.
[i] To build a future. Can I ask you [name] how old are you?
[r] I’m 24 now.
[i] You’re young.
[r] Yes. I’m still a bit young.
[i] And do you have this desire to learn, to open yourself up to new cultures?
[r] Yes, of course I want these things.
[i] When you first came to Italy, what was your first impression and how did you see this reality that is totally different from yours?
[r] The first time I came to Italy, I arrived in Lampedusa and I didn’t understand how things work in Europe, I was a little scared.
[i] And why were you in Lampedusa?
[r] Because I arrived by boat to Lampedusa.
[i] Ah so you came by sea?
[r] Yes, we arrived by sea. I travelled through the desert to Libya. From Libya we arrived in Lampedusa.
[i] And what was the journey like?
[r] The journey was very, very difficult because people die on this route, it’s a dangerous journey for everyone. And there are people dying all the time.
[i] Despite being aware that it is a risky journey, you did it anyway, but what pushed you towards this deadly journey, do you also risk your life?
[i] Oh yes, let’s say why, let’s say it’s my heart, because if I want to do something, only God can stop me, but nobody can stop me from not doing this thing, so there are also some reasons that have the problem in the country, they can’t stay there, so they want to have another future for tomorrow, because if you feel bad in your country, there’s no point in going to another country to travel a bit and change things, so I decided to come here.
[i] To improve your situation?
[r] Yes, I know the situation is very dangerous and risky, but I’ve taken this risk.
[i] And if you could turn back time, would you make the same journey?
[r] Of course I would do it again. Yes.
[i] Are you determined?
[r] Yes, I will do it. Nobody can stop me.
[i] When you arrived in Lampedusa, how long did you stay there?
[r] Well, we only stayed there for a week, and there I was also observing the situation, how everything works there, and then when we arrived there, we stayed there for a week, then after Lampedusa we were transferred to Sicily, we arrived in Sicily there too for a week. And there things are a bit difficult, they give you some clothes and food, so it’s true that things are changing slowly. Because when we arrived we only had one pair of trousers, one shirt, we didn’t even have shoes.
[i] Oh my goodness! And how many of you were on this boat?
[r] There were 135 of us
[i] And how many people could the boat hold?
[r] Let’s say 50 people
[i] So can we imagine how you were there?
[r] Yes
[i] Did any of you lose your life on this journey?
[r] None of us lost our lives on the boat, but it was very difficult on this trip. Because let’s say there’s a risk that some people get scared when they see the sea.
[i] They were agitated.
[r] Yes, they do a lot of things…
[i] And then after Sicily?
[r] After Sicily I also stayed there for a week, then we came here to Turin.
[i] Who did you come to Turin with? Did you come with an organisation, an association, or did you decide to come here to Turin on your own?
[r] If you come by sea there are international organisations that take immigrants and bring them here. Let’s just say it’s a project, a project that works for immigrants.
[i] To welcome immigrants who come by sea?
[r] By sea, yes. And so we went there, those people who helped us brought them here to Turin, to Croccia Rossa.
[i] And did you stay there in this place? And did you stay there in this place?
[r] When I arrived at C.R.I. I was there for 2 or 3 days, then they sent us to another town called Alpignano to a co-operative and I was there for 3 years.
[i] Are you now established there?
[r] Yes. There are people there who help you and explain how things work. It’s like a co-operative, they help you with work, also with documents, everything.
[i] And how did you manage with the Italian language, you speak it quite well considering you’ve been here for 4 years.
[r] When I arrived in this city, I immediately started studying because I wanted to understand the language, to learn for the future. Because if you want to stay here in Italy you have to learn the language, you also have to understand it. Because if you go to work and someone takes your job and you don’t understand the language it’s very difficult to communicate with people.
[i] Of course, we can say [name] that for you the language is important for integration into society.
[r] Yes, the first thing when I arrived I thought first of all about the language, then later I thought about finding some work because you can’t do everything at the same time. So I learnt a little then I immediately started looking for work.
[i] So you’re working now, thank goodness. How are you finding it?
[r] I work in a restaurant so I’m happy, I went to lots of restaurants before finding this job with a contract, I worked in 5 or 6 restaurants without a contract, I did a 2-year apprenticeship and they paid me less, I thought the time hadn’t come yet, when I looked for a few jobs I didn’t find one I liked. I like working in the kitchen, but where I was before it was a bit difficult. They don’t give me a contract. I finally found a job with a contract
[i] So [name] are you happy because you’re doing a job you like?
[r] Yes, I’m very, very happy with the job.
[i] I’m happy for you too. Your family is down in the village, how did they take your decision to travel, to risk your life on a boat?
[i] No, my family don’t know about this, about what we’re doing. Because when I left my village I didn’t tell anyone I was going to Italy. And I did the whole journey and when I arrived here you called them.
[i] So it was a surprise for them?
[r] Yes, it was a surprise.
[i] Afterwards they were happy?
[r] They were very happy that I arrived here without any problems.
[i] Do you have any contact with them now?
[r] Yes, I talk to them sometimes, but not much. We don’t talk much.
[i] The culture of your country, how do you experience it here? Have you managed to bring that here too? Your culture, for example the food, the music, how do you experience it here every day?
[r] Yes, so here, in my life here in Italy, there are many cultures that I’ve brought from my country, quite a lot, let’s say, not a lot because I did a lot of things where I was living before in the project. There I did a lot of things for cooking, my Africans food that one and they introduce me sometimes I cook, I cook for one hundred and fifty people. And they all eat them. When they have an event, they ask me to cook for thirty people or one hundred, three hundred people. I’ve done lots of things, this one that’s called fried appetisers, yes, that’s the one.
[i] From your country?
[r] From my country, I used ingredients from my country to make this.
[i] Did they rush your cooking?
[r] Yes, there are a lot of people who like it, they tell me it’s very good, it was perfect.
[i] [name] Do you think you’ll ever return to your country of origin?
[r] I hope so, you never know what the future holds. If I like it here, I can stay here in Italy. But for now I haven’t made a decision to return to my country.
[i] What message do you have for these young people who come here on boats?
[r] For them, we say that I am truly sorry for all the people who have died in this sea, because it is not by their choice, all of us have been through this journey, the people who have arrived here in Italy, it is not that they have the strength, etc., it is God who has helped all the people to arrive in Italy here. And those who died at sea, it’s not that they did something bad to offend God, etc. Let’s just say that their time had come. Their time had come. Yes, it was time for them to die. So I’m very sorry for them, and every now and then when I think that there are still people arriving by sea it makes me think a lot. Then, above all, immigrants here in Italy have so many difficulties, they don’t have work, they don’t have documents, they don’t have a place to sleep. In Italy, when I see my brothers and sisters, this makes me think a lot, even if I’m quite well off, but when I see my brothers in this situation, it makes me think. So I also want to maybe change their lives so they can have a few things.
[i] It’s right, if someone emigrates and leaves their homeland, they risk their life, they have no choice and they only want a better future. [name] what are your dreams for the future, how do you see yourself in the future? Do you have any plans, any goals you want to achieve?
[r] At the moment I’m doing a few things, because I studied before. Now I’m also doing it for my driving licence and we hope that in the future, my future, that it will go well afterwards, because I’m thinking of doing lots of things, you never know in life. It’s not that I say I like working in a restaurant, maybe I can choose later and I want to do another job to work, to learn things. So at the moment I’m working in a restaurant, then we’ll see. I’m studying, I’m doing a few things for my future. I see that my future will be good afterwards, if everything goes well here.
[i] And I wish you a good future. Do you have contact with your community here? Do you have friends from your country, do you meet up, spend time together, go to parties?
[r] Yes, I have friends here, some I met in my country, some we met on this trip here, we became friends, sometimes we see each other, we talk a little about my country, we do a few things like the Muslim festival. We all get together to celebrate. Now my fault isn’t here, but I see my friends…
[i] You have a good relationship.
[r] Yes, yes, I’m happy about that.
[i] Have you made any friends with Italian people?
[r] Yes, I have a few friends. Quite a few.
[i] And how do you get on with them?
[r] I get on very well with them too, so they like me and treat me well. So I’m also very happy with the friends I have here in Italy, they’re all good.
[i] I have no doubt, I met one of your friends who spoke very highly of you. She told me you are a polite and respectful guy, we are pleased to have such quality people here. Would you like to add anything else?
[r] I’d say that’s it for now.
[i] Well then, thank you. Thank you for your time, and for answering my questions.
[r] Thank you very much too.