SU_T_48

[i] Hello [name] .

[r] Hello.

[i] How are you?

[r] Good.

[i] Could you tell us who [name] is and where you’re from and how long you’ve been in Italy?

[r] I’m [name] , I’m from Annaba Algeria and I’ve been in Italy since September 18, 2018. I arrived by sea to an Italian island we were 15 Algerians took us the marine police. They took our fingerprints and photographed us and they made us a dossier. We didn’t spend even one night there because they had brought cars and they took us to take a ferry that left us in Rome. There we separated.

[i] And did you [name] come underground by sea?

[r] Yes.

[i] And why did you choose this way?

a] I had no choice because I had no job, in the middle of the sea I lost my money documents everything.

[i] And how long did the journey in the middle of the sea last?

[r] 3 days, the sea was very high I blocked the boat, we used the GPS. We lost our way following the light of the ship every time we saw a light we thought it was an island.

[i] How many were you?

[r] 15 people.

[i] Were there any women?

[r] No.

[i] And when you arrived on the island of Sardinia how did it feel?

a] When we got off the boat nobody was walking forward and they were going backwards. Our legs were weak because we sat for 3 days without food. And when we arrived they took us to a centre and we told them we were hungry and wanted to eat. They took us to a restaurant to eat and then they started calling us one at a time to take our fingerprints. We told them that we want to wash and wash our stuff but they told us no and that we have to go and get the ferry. We took him took us to Rome and then they left us, there we separated every two went on their own.

[i] Did they take you to some reception centre?

a] No, they had appointed a Pakistani or a Bengalese who was with us told them when they arrived in Rome let them go. When they arrived at the port he told us to leave.

[i] And did you know where to go with no money and nothing?

a] We had no money or anything.

[i] And how did you live those days?

a] I haven’t been there long, as I told you we were 15 out of every 2 went away. I was with an Algerian we didn’t know the way, and we met a Moroccan who was going to Genoa. We went with him to Genoa after we took the ticket to Ventimiglia from there we went to Nice.

[i] When you arrived in Nice what did you do?

a] In Nice we met a Moroccan married to a Frenchwoman and he knew that we were illegal and that we had nothing. We stayed with him for a month in Marseille, we ate and slept with him and he also gave us clothes.

[i] He helped you.

a] Yes, he knew we had nothing. He had a brother-in-law in Melusa called him and came by taxi to bring the other guy to Melusa. And then he asked me where I want to go, I told him in Paris. If, like him, he’s been there for 10 years and he knows a lot of people, a Moroccan transporter called who works in Paris and I went with him and French gentleman. He paid me for the trip. I arrived in Paris and that same evening the police took me to a paper mill. They handcuffed me and asked me for my documents, I told them I didn’t have them, then they took me to the police station in Paris. I spent the night there and in the morning they took my fingerprints they made me a file and then they told me you’re free. I went out and walked around and found myself in the neighborhood where the Algerians and the illegal immigrants sell cigarettes. I stayed with them and every one of them gave me something to eat and sleep in the hostel for 20 days.

[i] And then what?

a] I couldn’t find work.

[i] Where were you sleeping during this time?

a] There were Algerians who had rented a house with a contract and I was paying a fee with them. He didn’t like the fact that one of their countrymen sleeps outside.

[i] true.

a] At that time it was a bit cold, we slept in 6 or 7. I didn’t know the way and when they went out to work they would take me to the cigarette district and on the way back they would pick me up and we’d go home with the subway to sleep. The next day the same thing, so I would get by a little bit and get by a little bit from the others. At a certain point I saw that things were not going well and decided to go to Belgium. They collected money for me to go to Belgium. I went and after 6 days the police took me.

[i] You’re unlucky.

a] They took me and took me to the airport, they took my fingerprints and then they took me to the police station. They made me a file and told me that I have 5 days and then I have to leave. I left the station and went to the train station even though I didn’t know the way because I’ve only been in Belgium for 6 days. I met a student I spoke with him a bit French and he told me that he will take the bus and that he will show me where the station. I went with him to the station and then he went to school. As soon as I enter the station a Tunisian calls me “Hello Algerian” I don’t know how he let me know that I am Algerian. I told him how you did he told me “you Algerians are recognizable” From afar he recognized me.

[i] Without talking did Algerian tell you?

[r] Yes without talking, however, talking advised me to go either to Holland or Germany. In the station I found the train from Holland and the train from Germany was 7 minutes away. Without any documents or money I got on the train and sat down in front of it there was an Algerian lady but I didn’t know. The train left after a while the inspector asked me for the ticket I told him not to have asked for the documents I told him not to have. He told me you give me something to identify you I told him ok and I pulled the paper they gave me in Belgium. He told me they gave you 5 days you’re 2 more days away. There I said there are 2 days if they catch me they send me to prison. That lady replied saying that I can stay even 10 years will not tell me anything as long as I behave well.

a] After we talked I found out he was Arabic, I asked him where he told me from Algeria. I told him I was Algerian too, and he told me that he was going to visit his two sons who live in Holland and that she lives in Belgium. He told me that the controller wouldn’t let me down, in fact that’s what happened. After a while, the inspector came back and asked me where I want to get off in Holland. I told him where if the train stops there, I’ll get off.

[i] Since you don’t know where to go for you wherever I took you, is that okay?

[r] In fact. The train didn’t enter as far as the centre of Amsterdam but if it stops nearby. I got off and met a lady and asked her where the train to Amsterdam told me this is it. I got on and fell asleep until I found myself in Amsterdam and got off. I was turning around at the end I didn’t find where to sleep and I fell asleep near the train station in Amsterdam. Some policemen were walking around checking at a certain point a policeman came to me and told me for a long time that I was watching you, he spoke Dutch to me and I spoke a little French to her. He called his colleague and asked him if he spoke French, he said yes. He spoke to me and I told him asylum. He pulled a piece of paper and a pen and wrote me the address of a reception centre and he also wrote me another one in case I can’t find the first one. I went there I found many Algerians and Moroccans, the person in charge told me that he is full.

[i] Was there no place?

A] Yes, I told him the police are sending me and he told me I can’t do anything to you except send you to another centre. He wrote me the address, I went asking people until I got there. The Dutchman helps you feed you everything but doesn’t let you sleep. I said it’s okay so I’ll eat and we’ll talk outside. I went on like this, one day I went back to the one who told me that there were no places. I told him that they sent me again and that you have to find me where I’m going. He told me to send you to another center, if it is put to designate a map, I thought that if it was nearby. I left to look for the address I went all over the city and I got lost. I met 2 Dutchmen and I asked them where to find the address and they told me that it was far away and that I had to take either the train or the bus.

[i] Another city?

a] Yes, another city, the two guys told me to come and we’ll bring you and they brought me to the door of the center. I arrived I rang the bell and a Pakistani opened the door for me who said come back tomorrow. I told him I have no place to sleep, there was a vocal garden I slept there. There were almost 30 Africans there. In the morning I came back and the person in charge was a Lebanese woman who told me that you slept outside now I’ll bring you a coffee. She made me another map and sent me to another center because that one was complete. I asked him where I can go from, he told me that I have to go back to the station and that I have to go back from where I arrived with 3 hours of road While I was coming back I dislocated my ankle if it is breathy and I was walking with effort. I wasn’t upset I saw a bus and asked him if he was going to Amsterdam and told me not to take the bus behind. I took the bus without a ticket took me to the train station. I took the train and after 2 hours passed the inspector asked me for the ticket I said there is no ticket I have. He told me as soon as the train stops I have to get off, I told him that I hurt my ankle told me not to care I have to get off. Otherwise I’ll bring you the police, in fact if the train stopped and I got off. As soon as I got off there was a seated Dutchman who understood my situation and gave me 10 euros. That train went I met another person and asked him where this place told me to go to the opposite side of the place where I got off. And that I have to change trains until I get to my destination.

[i] And did you finally get to that place?

a] Yes, after the guy told me I have to go on the other side I went and there I found a thrown ticket picked him up and got on the train. After he arrived the inspector I gave him the ticket told me okay, and with that ticket I went until I got to the center.

[i] And when you got to the center was there a place or was he full too?

a] I found a place, in fact I stayed there almost 2 months there were some Moroccans Algerians, after they made us an interview after they moved us.

[i] And after that how did you get back to Italy?

a] I didn’t stay there all the time but I had been transferred to another center in Notherdam where I was 4 months. After that they had taken out my fingerprints that I had made in Italy and they told me that I have to go back to Italy.

[i] Basically where to go back to the first country who welcomed you and took your fingerprints?

a] Yes, and not only I but many people have returned to Germany Espegna Svezzia. And the plane left only at night, around one o’clock they tell you to take your things and put you in the plane.

[i] And when you arrived in Turin what did you do?

A] I didn’t know Turin. The Dutch sent my file with the pilot of the plane and handed it over to the police of Turin who took my fingerprints and gave me a document. Then I asked a policeman what the city’s name was and he told me about Turin. I asked the policeman for a cigarette because I hadn’t smoked yet, he told me to go outside and smoke. We smoked and then he took my fingerprints and gave me a bus ticket told me to go to court. They gave me the sheet then I went to look for the place I asked the driver but he did not know. A lady told me to tell you, I showed him the address and he told me that it is behind this building. I went and they told me to come back tomorrow. I slept there for 20 days because every time I go they tell me tomorrow. At the end I went I found a Moroccan lady made me a sheet of paper and sent me to an office where they make the papers. I went and there was a lot of people asking me where I was, I told him that I have not slept for 20 days. The lady who worked there was talking to me and I fell asleep, she wrote my statements. And then she told me to go to the reception center of Settimo Torinese, and on the day of the appointment they will take you to do the documents. And he told me to bring some photos, I brought them and they made me the document.

[i] [name] in the midst of all that chaos and thinking about your dreams how did you feel?

a] I didn’t feel anything because I was lost, I slept in the middle of the street eating badly and saw my life lost.

[i] What work did you do in Algeria?

a] I worked in the field of building buildings and masonry.

[i] Were you a bricklayer?

a] Yes.

[i] So you have a job and you don’t have a problem working?

a] If I found a job, I wouldn’t say no. Of course I came here on purpose to work, so I improve my life and earn money to take the calculations out of my kidneys.

[i] You told me you were sick.

a] To the kidneys.

[i] But do you want to work anyway?

a] Yes.

[i] And in this period have you managed to achieve anything?

[r] Nothing. Yesterday I was with a fellow countryman of mine who told me that there is no work in Turin. And I’m not the only one to say this, others have said the same thing to me.

[i] The situation is hard for those who arrive new.

a] Yesterday a Moroccan told me that he hadn’t worked for nine months.

i] And during this time did you manage to make friends to integrate a bit in this society and learn the language?

A] I speak some Italian, I go to the bar to buy cigarettes, I try to communicate with people. And when I stop, I speak French with those who can understand me.

[i] Does it matter to you to interact with people?

[r] Yes.

[i] [name] thank you for this interview and because you wanted to share your story with us. I hope that you can overcome this difficulty and realize all your dreams you dreamed of when you decided to risk your life to come to Italy.

[r] I hope.