“When I think of being alone in America, I don’t even feel like eating. I won’t grow fatter as I will be lonely.”
Sudan has been a country with immense conflict for the past 30 years. The northern Sudan, ruled by the Arabs wanted to kill southern Sudanese men for not being Muslim. Cattle and people were shot dead. Women and girls were raped, used as slaves or adopted by other families. Thus very few girls were able to flee. As the boys were the people who mainly the outdoor chores in southern Sudan (the Dinkas), they were able to flee. About 27,000 boys fled to other countries like Ethiopia and Kenya. Some weren’t strong enough to take the pressure and faced death due to starvation and dehydration. Many died while crossing the Gillo River. The young ones were the prime targets for becoming the prey of lions. After weeks and weeks of travelling by foot, the boys managed to reach refugee camps. They had been forced to migrate from their land and could probably never see their families again. The massive exodus led to many casualties.
In 2001, the U.S sent out a helping hand to the refugees and since 2001 many boys have been resettled there, in hope to make the boys’ lives better. The term “Lost Boys” was coined as they were found without parents.
In 2001, the U.S sent out a helping hand to the refugees and since 2001 many boys have been resettled there, in hope to make the boys’ lives better. The term “Lost Boys” was coined as they were found without parents.
Peter and Santino, two of the “lost boys” had been selected to go to U.S from the Kakuma Refugee camp in Kenya. They had been told that they were going to “heaven.” They must finish their education there and help their own people back in Africa – that should be their main goal. They had been warned not to forget their main goal – help the ones back in Africa. They should not act the like the people wearing the baggy jeans.
With the awkwardness of being on a flight for the first time, the boys land in America. The place was new, its people were new and so was its culture. They had to start a new life. Reaching there at first, they were glad and felt welcome. They felt that if the people back in Africa saw them, they’d say the boys have become rich – “they eat 24 hours and still have food left!” They were surprised to see the size of their “new village,” Houston. Life was going great!
But soon they were face to face with many problems. They realised that they would have to leave their African culture behind to become successful in America. They were used to living in mud huts and in America managing a two – storey house was proving to be difficult. With many conveniences such as beds, cooking stoves and cupboards, they simply did not know how to arrange these things. But they overcame the cultural shock. The boys decided to start to clean up and make their house a better place to live in. They quickly realised that the boys could not hold hands in front of public, unlike in Africa, as the Americans would regard them as being homosexual. The boys saw that they were much darker the African Americans and people looked that them unusually. They understood that the others were afraid of them as they thought the Lost Boys would “beat them up.” This made them feel inferior to the others.
But soon they were face to face with many problems. They realised that they would have to leave their African culture behind to become successful in America. They were used to living in mud huts and in America managing a two – storey house was proving to be difficult. With many conveniences such as beds, cooking stoves and cupboards, they simply did not know how to arrange these things. But they overcame the cultural shock. The boys decided to start to clean up and make their house a better place to live in. They quickly realised that the boys could not hold hands in front of public, unlike in Africa, as the Americans would regard them as being homosexual. The boys saw that they were much darker the African Americans and people looked that them unusually. They understood that the others were afraid of them as they thought the Lost Boys would “beat them up.” This made them feel inferior to the others.
One of their biggest challenges was to be able to communicate their thoughts properly. They spoke very basic English which limited their speech. Enrolling for the boys into school was extremely difficult as they did not have birth certificates to prove their ages. Yet, Peter joined school; he was taken into an ESL (English as a Secondary Language) class where he learnt better English, along with other classes. This allowed not only to communicate properly but to also find better jobs. But life wasn’t easy. He attended school, then worked, finished his homework and cooked food. With so much to do and earning so little, the boys realised that U.S wasn’t “heaven.” They slowly had money to buy a car and live a decent life but yet they weren’t satisfied – they couldn’t succeed in accomplishing their main goal, help the ones back in Africa. They realised that there was “no heaven on earth.”
They tend to adapt to America’s culture over a period of time as they are wearing baggy jeans and shirts. They use more slang words while in a conversation like “man.” They make new friends and have lunch with them and slowly move out form one house into different places of the U.S. they have realised that “you have to make it yourself in America,” unlike in Africa where the depended on each other. They hope to live a better life.
In my opinion, the Lost Boys adapted the American culture rather than adopting or rejecting it. This can be proven as when Peter calls back to the refugee camp, he still speaks Dinka along with speaking the slang English in America. If he had adopted the American culture, he would have completely forgotten speaking Dinka. Another instance that proves that they still love Sudan is that all the refugee boys came to the Sudan Liberation Day function. Also when asked would you go back to Sudan - they said that if they get the same opportunities, they would.
No comments:
Post a Comment