Kami ng dalawa kong kapatid ay dumating sa Norway noong Disyembre 2016. Nagsuot kami ng damit pang-init dahil akala namin ay magiging kasing init sa Norway ang sa Somalia. Gayunpaman, pagdating namin sa airport, umuulan ng niyebe. Nilalamig na kami at malamig ang panahon. Bagama’t kaunti lang ang dala naming maleta, puro damit pang-init lang ang dala nila.
My two brothers and I came to Norway in December 2016. We wore summer clothes because we thought it would be as warm in Norway as it was in Somalia. However, when we arrived at the airport, it was snowing. We were cold and the weather was chilly. Although we had brought a few suitcases, they only had summer clothes in them.
Kahit malamig, sobrang saya ko nang makarating kami sa Norway. Sa wakas makikita ko na ulit ang aking ina, na anim na taon ko nang hindi nakikita. Sinalubong kami ng nanay ko at ng dalawa niyang kaibigan. Nang makita namin siya, naiyak kami sa tuwa. Nagmaneho kami papunta sa maliit na bayan kung saan nakatira si mama.
Even though it was cold, I was very happy when we came to Norway. I would finally meet my mum again, whom I had not seen for six years. My mum and two of her friends met us. When we saw her, we wept with joy. We drove to the small town where Mum lives.
Ang mga unang araw sa bayan ni nanay ay lubhang kakaiba. Malamig at maniyebe at walang gaanong makikita. Ang mga lansangan ay ganap na walang laman. Ang ilang taong nakilala ko ay tila malamig at hindi palakaibigan. Sa Somalia mayroong mga tao sa lahat ng dako, kaya lahat ay tila hindi pamilyar dito. Ang aking ina at ang kanyang mga kaibigan ay nagbigay sa amin ng ilang mga regalo, at pagkatapos ay isinama niya kami sa pamimili ng mga damit pang-taglamig.
The first days in Mum’s town were very strange. It was cold and snowy and there was not much to see. The streets were completely empty. The few people I met seemed cold and unfriendly. In Somalia there were people everywhere, so everything felt unfamiliar here. My mum and her friends gave us some presents, and then she took us to buy winter clothes.
Pagkatapos ng pasko ay sumali ako sa kursong Norwegian sa sentro ng edukasyon para sa mga nasa hustong gulang. Doon ako nag-aral ng dalawang taon bago magsimula sa isang ordinaryong paaralan. Ngayon ay nasa huling taon na ako, at marami na akong na kilalang mga bagong kaibigan. Ako ay sobrang palakaibigan at nasisiyahan ako makisalamuha sa ibang tao.
After the Christmas holidays I joined a Norwegian course at the adult education centre. I studied there for two years before starting in an ordinary school. Now I am in my final year, and I have made many new friends. I am very sociable and enjoy meeting other people.
Pagkatapos sa eskwela, pumunta ako sa isang center na pinamamahalaan ng mga boluntaryo kung saan makakakuha ako ng tulong sa aking takdang-aralin. Sumali na rin ako sa kursong pananahi sa sentro.
After school I go to a centre run by volunteers where I get help with my homework. I have also joined a sewing course at the centre.
Sa Somalia hindi ako nag-aral o gumawa ng anumang kurso maliban sa paaralan ng Quran. Hindi ako marunong magbasa o magsulat. Ngayon ay natutuhan ko na kung paano magsulat sa parehong Somali at Norwegian, at marami pang ibang paksa. Nang walang edukasyon, naramdaman kong wala akong katauhan. Ngayon ay nakaramdam ako ng kaalaman at kasiyahan.
In Somalia I never went to school or did any courses except Quran school. I did not know how to read or write. Now I have learned how to write in both Somali and Norwegian, and many other subjects. Without education I felt I was nobody. Now I feel knowledgeable and happy.
Sa susunod na taon ay magsisimula ako ng sekondaryang paaralan sa seksyon ng kalusugan at pag-unlad ng kabataan. Sa hinaharap, gusto kong maging isang manggagawang kabataan. Kapag natapos ko ang aking pag-aaral, ang pangarap ko ay makakuha ng permanenteng trabaho. Gusto ko rin matutong magmaneho at kumuha ng lisensya sa pagmamaneho.
Next year I will start secondary school in the health and youth development section. In the future I want to become a youth worker. When I have finished my education, my dream is to get a permanent job. I also want to learn how to drive and get my driver’s licence.
Kung nanatili ako sa Somalia, sa tingin ko ay naging isa na akong ina ngayon. Baka marami na akong anak. Kung ako ay nasa Somalia, hindi ako magkakaroon ng parehong mga pagkakataon tulad ng mayroon ako ngayon. Pakiramdam ko swerte akong nakatira sa Norway.
If I had stayed in Somalia, I think I would have been a mother by now. Perhaps I would already have many children. If I had been in Somalia, I would not have had the same opportunities as I have had now. I feel lucky to live in Norway.
