G.

New Hampshire

PART 1

When I came here, I didn't speak any English. 

I didn't even know I was in the United States 

until they started telling that me once I was arrested.

I came from Africa to Mexico then to the border.

But I didn't see anyone who looked like me in detention. 

So I asked, Why am I here?

But nobody could understand me. 

There was no translator in French.  

So I didn’t talk to anyone for a long time. 

I remember writing something in French 

and then trying to translate it to them in English. 

I was telling them, “Hey I'm not an animal. 

I need to talk to people. I've been here for three weeks. 

I never seen someone that can talk to me.”

I felt powerless not speaking any English 

It made me become more quiet

like I'm losing hope.

You don't know what's going to happen next.

Finally, after almost a month, they brought in a translator.

She started talking with me in French.

As soon as I heard her say hello, I asked: 

"Why I'm I here? How long am I going to be here?

I don't know why I am here. What are the reasons?”

She started telling the judge, 

“He said he doesn't know why he's here,

Or how long he's going to stay here.” 

They started asking me Do you have a lawyer? 

I told them, "I don't even know what you're talking about. 

I don't have anyone. 

If you give me a lawyer, I would be happy.

I don't know what you’re saying. 

Asylum? What is that?

I never been in front of a court before.

I had a hard time with the translator feeling like, 

Is she telling them what I am telling her, or is she joking with me?

I had to learn English fast because I was in pain. 

I think that pushed me to learn really quick and fast. 

Actually, the first thing I started speaking was Spanish. 

After a month I started becoming friends with everyone. 

I was detained with people from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala

and we started talking because French is similar sometimes to Spanish.

Some of the words they said I understood. 

One of them had a Spanish book.

They started teaching me and I started learning Spanish. 

We became friends.

They would say “Hey, Africano loco.”

Yes, we were friends. 

That's why sometimes when people say I am African, or I am like this,

I say, I think I'm from everywhere. 

Because all the people I've met, 

all the people I've been bound with,

I still talk with some of them today.

Remembering back home in Africa, everything was similar. 

The people I talk with today is like talking with the same people from home, 

same languages, same culture.

PART 2

I remember the time I went back to my cell, 

I sat down for almost all week. 

I had court papers, and the translated papers 

And I was trying to connect my case. 

I was thinking, This is not right. This is right. This is not right. 

I thought, oh, man, a lot of people here don't know why they're here. 

Knowing all this, you wouldn't be here. 

I started to feel a little confident about myself.

Then I met the people from American Friends Service Committee 

in New Hampshire.

They gave me a French-English dictionary that helped me keep going.

They started calling me and asking me if I need something. 

I felt so relieved after all because I had some people to talk to, 

some people to tell about my immigration problem. 

They would help explain my situation and give me updates. 

It gave me more hope, after all, I was hopeful. 

They helped me find a host family in New Hampshire 

so I could finally be released. 

I remember the last time I went to court.

The translator was there.

They started talking with the judge.

I said, "No, I don't need you. I understand. I respect your time. 

Thank you for coming but I don't want any translation. 

I don’t know whether the judge is ready or not, 

But we're going to talk between me and him."

And after that I was free.

It was good to meet all those people and learn about them, 

and saying, "You know what, I really love this." 

I really admire their culture, their languages.

That’s why I say the country you were born in isn't only your place. 

Wherever you bond with other people, 

where you stay and have fun—

those are your people. 

Not only the people who have the same color or language. 

But the people you bond with can be your home.

I want to contribute to helping people going through immigration. 

I feel like you can find your community everywhere. 

If they make you feel safe, 

If they make you feel at home, 

I think that's your home. 

That's your country.