45 Gasim (Guinea, Age 17): English

Voice Recorder >>

                                                     My “COUNTRIE”   GUINEA.

Guinea one of the oldest countries in West Africa. Guinea is bordered by Mali in Northeast, Senegal in North, Guinea Bissau in Northwest, West by Atlantic ocean, East by Cote D'ivoire and south By Sierra Leone. Guinea was colonised by French, we had our Independence in September 2 / 1958 , it was reclaimed by  our first president Ahmed Sekou Toure. He reigned 24 years. Guinea has 4 big regions  Lows Guinea occupied by the Soussou, Moyen Guinea occupied by the Fulani , Height Guinea occupied by The Malinke and Forest Guinea. The mean religions in my country is Islam.

------------------------------------------------------------------

My name is Gasim. I was born in Jul 01 / 1997 at Kindia a region of Low Guinea. Kindia has many different people from different cities. I was born and grew up there. When I was 4 years old I started going to primary school called Banlieue Ecole. My mom told me  “In the beginning of the school I was excited about going school but after a few weeks I told her I don’t wanted to go school anymore”. I had a lot of friends in My "college" that’s what the people here call , “middle school.” In Guinea collage is from 7th to 10th grade. When I was in 7th grade, I transferred to another school called General Lansana Conte (GSP/GLC) named after our second president.  That school is one of the best schools in Kindi , when I first go to GSP/GLC it was so bored because I did  not know anybody there, but after some days, I met some people and I realized GLC is a good school because our director and teachers obliged us to still after school, do our homeworks, and to came sometimes in the Saturday. In that school the teachers  never beat us, but if we did something wrong like skip the classes or fighting with someone in school they will call our parents and suspend us.

In Kindia I lived  with my family mom, brothers, sisters, uncle, and my grandma. We did not live with my father because he was here in New York City. Many families in Africa  are like this, fathers will go look for money that moms use to feed the children. The location in Guinea is easy then here because in Guinea  if you build your own house you don’t have to buy billes,  you just have to give the government 10,000 FG per year. Our apartment has 5 bedrooms, one living room and one kitchen. My mom liked to cook Suppu, Fitto, Kossan, and Hako, her favorite food is fitto but my was kossan and my brothers and some of my sisters like Hako . Almost every night we eat together. Me and my two brothers were in same bedroom when we were little guys, if we fought our mom beat us sometimes or advise us she was always telling  us “ we have to support, help,  respect, love and to forgive  each other.” I had a lot of friends around my home my best friends were  Mamadou, Lamarana, Barry, And Alpha, cellou. We were born and grown up at  same part in Kindia.We were almost any times together we also  liked to help, support each other I feel safety with them, and  they make feel happy.

---------------------------------------------------------------

                                My  “IMMIGRATION STORY.”

Before we came to New York CIty, first  we went to Senegal ( Dakar) for DNA text between us and our father and Interviews, after 25 minutes for interviews  they  told us we pass, he took our passport and give us the visas, we were so happy then we called our dad, friends, mom and other family  members to inform them we had the visas. The next 2 days we went back to Guinea . Our family and friends were so happy for us . After two week  we came here. I traveled with my two brothers Moustapha and Mamadou. We came here by plane, first when we took off in Guinea airport we went to Egypt, we flew many hours  before we get Egypte airport, then we took another plane we flew also many hours before we land in John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK),  we stay inside of the airport 2 hours  and some minutes before we get out. My dad was waiting for us outside, then he drove us at home.

---------------------------------------------------------

My “FIRST TIME TO NEW YORK CITY.”

The next day our family members came for welcome to us. I did not know we have a lot of families here . After one week we went to visit Manhattan, statue of liberty, prospect park and another famous places. My dad show me my uncle son he has same age as me, if I wanted to go somewhere I go with him because he has been here 6 years so if I wanted to say or buy something he helped me.

After some week that I spend at home my dad took me to Prospect International High School their principal said he doesn't have place anymore because I came in the end of the year, he said he gonna take me next year in 10th grade but I did not wanted to stay at home only. We went to Department of Education Administrative Building, They look at their computers and  said International High School at  Lafayette that school gonna take me they have enough place. The next day we went there they asked what grade was I in Guinea, my dad  told them I was in 11th grade in Africa but they said they cannot take  even in 10th grade because the 10th graders have to take math  Regents, if I  came to the beginning of the year they could take me in 10th grade so since I didn’t understand English and I came in the end of the year, they take me in 9th grade.

                     -------------------------------------------------------

                                         My English teacher told me

                    “You can ask me to help you whenever you need  help Gasim

helping a student  is my job.”

I started taking the classes at  same day, my first class was Global Studie  when I first walked in the class, the teacher asked me to identify myself I had no idea about what she was talking about , then she asked me what is your name then I told her my name. The second period was math class. It was not too hard because it is very similar to French the Geometrical words and Algebra. When I started going to school it was so boring because I did not have friends and I could not said or understand what my friends and teachers are talking about. I was always quiet in class but the teachers was so helpful my English teacher told me, “You can ask me to help you whenever you need help Gasim, helping is my job.” Now I feel good about my school and living in New York because I have some friends in my school I also understand a little of English and our school has a patient and helpful teachers.