A Kurd’s story
Last night, I met Mr. and Mrs. Yilmaz, who live in my neighborhood. They come from Turkey and they were with their daughter who was the interpreter of the interview. I spoke with them during an hour and I learned lots of interesting things about Turkeys’ life and culture.
This is my interview, enjoy!
First of all, when did you arrive in France and why did you leave your homeland?
Mr. Yilmaz : We come from Kurdistan, a region divided between four countries in 1917 : Iraq, Pakistan, Syria and Turkey. In 1974, I was eighteen and there was a war in my country. There were discrimination and ill-treatment against poor people. We lived in a little village in the mountains and during the winter, it was very difficult to find a job.
Mrs. Yilmaz : We were married and had a child, our first son. We decided to leave Kurdistan because life was too dangerous and hard for us and our family. My husband left first. He went to Germany by plane and I joined him a few months later. We stayed in Germany, in a village which is situated three kilometers from the French frontiers. Four years later, the renewal of our residence permits hadn’t been accepted so we left Germany to reach France. My cousin, who lived in Savoie, said he could find us a job so we went to Chambery. Here, the government gave us the right papers and now, our residence permits are renewed every ten years.
Did you find it difficult to integrate into French society?
Mrs. Yilmaz : When we arrived, I told my husband “I can’t stay here more than two years !” but finally, French people were really friendly and understanding with us. A neighbor helped us to get the right papers and I learned French by speaking with people or at work. I think French is a very difficult language: I understand it but it’s hard for me to express myself.
Mr. Yilmaz : The French government is also very helpful with its inhabitants. There are accommodation help and school grants which don’t exist in Turkey.
Do you ever go back to your homeland?
Mr. Yilmaz : Yes of course ! Unfortunately, we can’t go to Turkey every year because the journey is too expensive. We’ve got 6 children and a plane ticket costs 500 Euros. The last time we came to our homeland was in 2006, during the whole summer. We came by car and the journey lasted 3 days! We drove across Italy and took a boat to Greece. Then, we joined Turkey and Kurdistan. I really miss my family, and my wife and I would like to go back to our country for retirement.
Audrey MIEGE 1ere ES3
Sunday, November 22, 2009
interviews with immigrants Quiterie
- From Bangladesh to France or a step in a different life -
Good morning, could you introduce yourself ? Who are you and where are you from ? Could you tell us a bit about your country ?
My name is Faisal and I am from Tunghy a town which is near the capital of Bangladesh, Dhâkâ. Bangladesh is a South-Asian state which was given independance from Pakistan in 1971. This country is a parliamentary democracy where Islam is the state religion. Although it is a democracy the country underwent many political turmoils. Bangladesh is the seventh most populous country and is among the most densely populated countries in the world with a high poverty rate. Even if this country faces economic difficulties it also has an important History, and the most wounderful places in the whole world.
How come you had to leave your country ?
My reasons are at the same time clear and complicated ; Bangladesh is mostly poor and there is no possibility to have a future. Then my case is a bit special, in fact I was under the threat of death there...
That's why I had to leave house, friends and family...
How did you travel to France ?
I did not go to France at the begining. First I spent two years in India where I travelled by car. Then I took a plane in order to go to Austria, at that moment I had a false passport. After staying several months in Austria I went in Italy and then arrived in France. Today I have the status of politica l refugee.
How long have you been in France ? And why did you come to Chambéry ? Did you know anyone ?
I've been living in France since 2005. First I lived in Lyon then friends of mine were in Chambéry that's why I came here. I also found a job here, in a restaurant, something that is really important for me.
I do like the city of Chambéry with the mountains and the nice climate. I enjoy walking around and discovering new places...
I got to contact you by the means of the association Fraternexo in Chambéry. Would you mind telling us about it ?
No, I would be glad to speak about it ! The aim of this new association is to help people like me who had received the status of refugee integrating into society. They organize excursions, tours of the city... . Fraternexo also organized a new event in Chambéry called ''le cercle du silence'' which involved more than 120 people last September. Those people made a circle and stayed totaly quiet for one hour to show their concern about the treatment reserved for foreigners coming to France. Another ''cercle du silence'' will take place on place saint léger in Chambéry on the 16th of December from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. To me, it is an excellent way to show our opinions without any violence.
To finish with all those questions, I would like to know how do French welcome you here ?
People are very very friendly, they are all very nice, with huge smiles. I am now motivated to stay here and to integrate into French society.
Quiterie Landèche
1 ES3
Good morning, could you introduce yourself ? Who are you and where are you from ? Could you tell us a bit about your country ?
My name is Faisal and I am from Tunghy a town which is near the capital of Bangladesh, Dhâkâ. Bangladesh is a South-Asian state which was given independance from Pakistan in 1971. This country is a parliamentary democracy where Islam is the state religion. Although it is a democracy the country underwent many political turmoils. Bangladesh is the seventh most populous country and is among the most densely populated countries in the world with a high poverty rate. Even if this country faces economic difficulties it also has an important History, and the most wounderful places in the whole world.
How come you had to leave your country ?
My reasons are at the same time clear and complicated ; Bangladesh is mostly poor and there is no possibility to have a future. Then my case is a bit special, in fact I was under the threat of death there...
That's why I had to leave house, friends and family...
How did you travel to France ?
I did not go to France at the begining. First I spent two years in India where I travelled by car. Then I took a plane in order to go to Austria, at that moment I had a false passport. After staying several months in Austria I went in Italy and then arrived in France. Today I have the status of politica l refugee.
How long have you been in France ? And why did you come to Chambéry ? Did you know anyone ?
I've been living in France since 2005. First I lived in Lyon then friends of mine were in Chambéry that's why I came here. I also found a job here, in a restaurant, something that is really important for me.
I do like the city of Chambéry with the mountains and the nice climate. I enjoy walking around and discovering new places...
I got to contact you by the means of the association Fraternexo in Chambéry. Would you mind telling us about it ?
No, I would be glad to speak about it ! The aim of this new association is to help people like me who had received the status of refugee integrating into society. They organize excursions, tours of the city... . Fraternexo also organized a new event in Chambéry called ''le cercle du silence'' which involved more than 120 people last September. Those people made a circle and stayed totaly quiet for one hour to show their concern about the treatment reserved for foreigners coming to France. Another ''cercle du silence'' will take place on place saint léger in Chambéry on the 16th of December from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. To me, it is an excellent way to show our opinions without any violence.
To finish with all those questions, I would like to know how do French welcome you here ?
People are very very friendly, they are all very nice, with huge smiles. I am now motivated to stay here and to integrate into French society.
Quiterie Landèche
1 ES3
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Integration
The meeting we had with Beverly Killeen during our English class was once more very pleasant, entertaining and productive at the same time. The thing I found most interesting were her captivating stories related to her personal life. I was very glad that she had shared all that information with us. My dream is to be able to travel around the world to discover different cultures, people and communities so I was captivated by Beverly’s words because she has done that almost all her life. I can say that it was a great opportunity to realize that it is not easy to move to another country or several other countries. From what I’ve heard and seen, not only from Beverly but from my friends and close relatives, it’s a very difficult thing to do. The result may be the integration of you and your family in that country, or not. Listening to others, especially the ones older than us is essential because you can be inspired to do the same or learn from their mistakes. I strongly believe that every piece of advice is useful and should be taken in consideration especially from the ones close to us like out family.
I could see that everyone in the class felt at ease and loved Beverly’s presence. So I can say that I admire her because of what she had accomplished. Overall I think that the meeting was a great success and I can’t wait for the next time Beverly will visit us.
Adrian Andreica 12 E
Yesterday, during the English class, we had an unforgetable experience.
Our class teacher gave us the chance to learn from another person's experience.
It's about a teacher who was all over the world, we might say. Her experiences made me think about life and realize that there is no place like home.
It was an awesome class, everyone was asking questions and we were all amazed and curious to know more about her trips.
I was deeply impressed by the fact that she was a very sociable, communicative person. I had so much to learn from her experiences, and in another way or the other, it marked each and every one of us and made us see things different.
I am thankful to my class teacher for this class.
Florina Fanea XIIE
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Interviewing a foreigner
Today, we had Mrs Beverly as our guest at our English class to tell us what she had experienced throughout the period when she travelled.
The meeting which took place today was the best one that we had during this school year
We were interested on the way she “tasted” the goods and bads of our country and the feelings that she had during this period.
I was surprised of the fact that a person can travel and experience so many things just in a lifetime, that a life of someone can be represented by traveling and experiencing new ways of living, meeting new people, different nations, and races.
What impressed me most was that integrating is not as difficult as it looks. At the beginning I thought that if I would go in a foreign country I wouldn`t be able to integrate but as Mrs Beverly told us the people are friendly almost everywhere and integrating cannot be a problem. Also, during our discussion with Mrs Beverly I realized that the rules are everywhere and this cannot be an obstacle of integrating if we accept and respect them.
After this meeting, I see much easier this style of living: traveling, experiencing. If before the meeting, I thought that I will never leave this country now I have a different opinion.
I think that you need ambition and courage to start living like this!
Xanta Luckacsovits
Yesterday was a special day for our class. Mrs. Beverly was invited to one of our classes to share with us her visions and impressions about traveling, accommodating and integrating in every country she had been to as foreigner.
The meeting began with smiles and a few emotions but during the discussion emotions faded away and everybody got connected in a conversation. My colleague, Paul gave her a bouquet of flowers to show our respect for her.
It was nice to see her again because she’s a nice person who loves to communicate with people. I like the way she presented her experiences and her memories from her travels around the world. She makes a warm atmosphere in communicating with others. That makes you concentrated when she talks, you can’t get bored because she catches your attention.
I liked the class with Mrs. Beverly because it was a relaxing one. It was funny and I’ve learned some things about integration and accommodation between strangers in a strange country by a person who lived and still lives in this way. I also liked the way she talked about herself and the sincerity with which she said what she likes and dislikes in Baia Mare and Romania.
During the discussion I learned that every person in the world is realy the same, everybody is equal. And I also learned how I should talk openly, relaxed and how to be polite in discussions.
Ionut Sleam
Monday, October 26, 2009
What I feel about the project
“Immigrants- Past and Present” is a Comenius project with partners from 6 European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania and Turkey.
Each year, students from these countries participate in project meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to understand that even though we are living in different countries, with different traditions and customs, we are all equal.
Last project meeting took place here, in Romania. Students from ''Mihai Eminescu National College'' Baia Mare hosted students from the five partner countries.
I was very excited to participate in this project, together with my colleagues.
The meeting was very successful!
For 4 days, we had the opportunity to spend time with the foreign students. We made a lot of new friends and we were able to change some ideas with one another. I was very surprised to discover that they actually think as we do.
In fact they have a life of teenagers very similar to ours. The only things that make us seem different are the language and country of origin with its culture.
Communication between us was very good .We practiced speaking English with the others.
During the conference, we attended many interesting activities. Students from each country made a short presentation of their country and we found a lot of new interesting things about their cultures.
We also talked about our future plans and wishes.
We had the opportunity for several days to spend time with foreigners not only during the conference program. In our free time we visited the city and we shared each other opinions about various topics of teenager life.
The meeting was very successful! I am very happy because I had the opportunity to attend this conference.
I would like to attend the next meeting of the project which will take place in Germany.
Living together for 4 days meant a great experience for me! I gained a lot of new friends and I won the opportunity to understand better the ''foreign'' word that seems so weird.
Tania
Romania
Getting involved in this project was the most beautiful thing I did during these three years of high school.
I had never participated in this kind of conference before and I honestly say that I was astonished. I didn’t expect it to be so beautiful.
What I liked the most was that everyone was relaxed, we all felt good to be together in this project, both teachers and students. We met teenagers from other countries, we found out that we had the same preoccupations, the same interests, and we became friends.
I am very happy that I had the opportunity to be in the project..
I would also like to thank my form teacher because she offered me the chance to participate in the project meeting that will be held in Germany.
I am very happy because this opportunity is once in a lifetime.
I’ve seen other colleagues of mine who have participated in project meetings in other countries and they came back very changed.
This experience will certainly help me improve my English.
I’m sure I’ll never forget this experience.
Boga Petruta
Romania
Hy!
I'm Manuela Grigoruta from Romania.
I'm very glad each time we talk about our project which means a lot to me.
The meeting in Baia Mare was great, I felt a real communion between us all.
For me and for my classmates it was a start to be more united.
We did everything together as a family for that meeting to be perfect.
I think it helped us to communicate openly with one another.
We found new friends from the other countries that participated in the conference.
We learned how to make a business plan, how to express our feelings and we improved our English and enlarged our cultural background.
I liked everything and I want to thank my form teacher who gave us this chance to make her proud of us, because she trusted us.
Thank you all that you were receptive and friendly.
I truly hope there will be other opportunities to meet again, virtually if not physically. .
Manuela
Hello!
I'm Roxana from Romania and I'd like to share with you some impressions about this project, what it means for me.
It was my first time involving in this kind of project and I was a little bit nervous because I didn't know many things about what it really means to be involved in a project or about the immigration problem.
It was a nice opportunity for me to learn about how a project is made, how to do a good presentation and why immigration can be a problem. I also had the opportunity to host two students and we spent such nice moments together ,finding more about their countries and also, practicing my English skills.
What I liked most was the friendly atmosphere and I also liked where and how the conference was organized and the trip to Maramures.
I am happy that I have the opportunity to take part in the reunion organized in Germany and I'm sure I'll enjoy it a lot.
Roxana
Each year, students from these countries participate in project meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to understand that even though we are living in different countries, with different traditions and customs, we are all equal.
Last project meeting took place here, in Romania. Students from ''Mihai Eminescu National College'' Baia Mare hosted students from the five partner countries.
I was very excited to participate in this project, together with my colleagues.
The meeting was very successful!
For 4 days, we had the opportunity to spend time with the foreign students. We made a lot of new friends and we were able to change some ideas with one another. I was very surprised to discover that they actually think as we do.
In fact they have a life of teenagers very similar to ours. The only things that make us seem different are the language and country of origin with its culture.
Communication between us was very good .We practiced speaking English with the others.
During the conference, we attended many interesting activities. Students from each country made a short presentation of their country and we found a lot of new interesting things about their cultures.
We also talked about our future plans and wishes.
We had the opportunity for several days to spend time with foreigners not only during the conference program. In our free time we visited the city and we shared each other opinions about various topics of teenager life.
The meeting was very successful! I am very happy because I had the opportunity to attend this conference.
I would like to attend the next meeting of the project which will take place in Germany.
Living together for 4 days meant a great experience for me! I gained a lot of new friends and I won the opportunity to understand better the ''foreign'' word that seems so weird.
Tania
Romania
Getting involved in this project was the most beautiful thing I did during these three years of high school.
I had never participated in this kind of conference before and I honestly say that I was astonished. I didn’t expect it to be so beautiful.
What I liked the most was that everyone was relaxed, we all felt good to be together in this project, both teachers and students. We met teenagers from other countries, we found out that we had the same preoccupations, the same interests, and we became friends.
I am very happy that I had the opportunity to be in the project..
I would also like to thank my form teacher because she offered me the chance to participate in the project meeting that will be held in Germany.
I am very happy because this opportunity is once in a lifetime.
I’ve seen other colleagues of mine who have participated in project meetings in other countries and they came back very changed.
This experience will certainly help me improve my English.
I’m sure I’ll never forget this experience.
Boga Petruta
Romania
Hy!
I'm Manuela Grigoruta from Romania.
I'm very glad each time we talk about our project which means a lot to me.
The meeting in Baia Mare was great, I felt a real communion between us all.
For me and for my classmates it was a start to be more united.
We did everything together as a family for that meeting to be perfect.
I think it helped us to communicate openly with one another.
We found new friends from the other countries that participated in the conference.
We learned how to make a business plan, how to express our feelings and we improved our English and enlarged our cultural background.
I liked everything and I want to thank my form teacher who gave us this chance to make her proud of us, because she trusted us.
Thank you all that you were receptive and friendly.
I truly hope there will be other opportunities to meet again, virtually if not physically. .
Manuela
Hello!
I'm Roxana from Romania and I'd like to share with you some impressions about this project, what it means for me.
It was my first time involving in this kind of project and I was a little bit nervous because I didn't know many things about what it really means to be involved in a project or about the immigration problem.
It was a nice opportunity for me to learn about how a project is made, how to do a good presentation and why immigration can be a problem. I also had the opportunity to host two students and we spent such nice moments together ,finding more about their countries and also, practicing my English skills.
What I liked most was the friendly atmosphere and I also liked where and how the conference was organized and the trip to Maramures.
I am happy that I have the opportunity to take part in the reunion organized in Germany and I'm sure I'll enjoy it a lot.
Roxana
Friday, October 16, 2009
Preparation for the Project Reunion
We are looking forward to meeting our partners in Germany at the beginning of December.
The students are working on the film dedicated to the Conference held in Romania.
They also started to work on the film presenting the three interviews.
The students are working on the film dedicated to the Conference held in Romania.
They also started to work on the film presenting the three interviews.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Memories... from Turkey
Dear Mariana ,
Unfortunately I haven't had time to write to you until now. I had some other project meetings after our meeting in Baia Mare. And when I came back it was the end of our school year and the most busiest week with exams, marks, reports and everything ...
First of all I want to thank you to all of your great efforts ! I still could not believe how a good organization can organize such a big meeting with approximately 120 participants from a lot of countries ! It was just great and very useful for us to meet people at the conference from other projects and countries.
On the other hand what I also wrote in my national report was that the way you connect the conference with not only our project but the others. So we could find a connection in all of the presentations during the conference. And it is not only the conference but the whole organization which has a big success at all ! The accommodation of us and our students, especially Enver, who stayed at your Headmaster's house , was really happy about their hospitality just like the others. And of course your project team ! The English Teachers ; Simone and Flavia and the students, all of them were very friendly and just paid close attention to feel ourselves like in our countries although they had still lessons during the project meeting.
The organization of our visit to Budesti is also another wonderful experience for all of us! And the wonderful monastery everything was very great , especially the museum which was the final point !
And especially the meals ! I couldn't forget how you could arrange everytime the most suitable for us ! thanks a lot !
So I have no idea how many thanks I could write to you :) I just wish to have another meeting in Baia Mare :)
We had a meeting at home when we turned back from Baia Mare and we evaluated the meeting. Everybody had the same idea of the well organization and the hospitality. And the great programme of course!
Thank you very much again for everything what you did ,
kind regards ,
Huseyin OZTURK
Bursa Police College
Unfortunately I haven't had time to write to you until now. I had some other project meetings after our meeting in Baia Mare. And when I came back it was the end of our school year and the most busiest week with exams, marks, reports and everything ...
First of all I want to thank you to all of your great efforts ! I still could not believe how a good organization can organize such a big meeting with approximately 120 participants from a lot of countries ! It was just great and very useful for us to meet people at the conference from other projects and countries.
On the other hand what I also wrote in my national report was that the way you connect the conference with not only our project but the others. So we could find a connection in all of the presentations during the conference. And it is not only the conference but the whole organization which has a big success at all ! The accommodation of us and our students, especially Enver, who stayed at your Headmaster's house , was really happy about their hospitality just like the others. And of course your project team ! The English Teachers ; Simone and Flavia and the students, all of them were very friendly and just paid close attention to feel ourselves like in our countries although they had still lessons during the project meeting.
The organization of our visit to Budesti is also another wonderful experience for all of us! And the wonderful monastery everything was very great , especially the museum which was the final point !
And especially the meals ! I couldn't forget how you could arrange everytime the most suitable for us ! thanks a lot !
So I have no idea how many thanks I could write to you :) I just wish to have another meeting in Baia Mare :)
We had a meeting at home when we turned back from Baia Mare and we evaluated the meeting. Everybody had the same idea of the well organization and the hospitality. And the great programme of course!
Thank you very much again for everything what you did ,
kind regards ,
Huseyin OZTURK
Bursa Police College
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