Readers & Writers #4: The Stories of Different Countries

Akiko Hori

Rafika Furey

Alessandra Marucci

Patricia Hicks Harris

Tesfu

Margaret Nambi

Ivareen

Shazea Quraishi

Louis Osayande

Joy Nwachukwu

Marie Eveline Lavoile

Maggie Dube

Eunice Omorere

Elizabeth C. Mendy-Thomas

Nanette Mendoza

Jacqueline Lwanzo

Shazea Quraishi

Yaya Yosoff

Mahmood Alnaimy

Enrico Sibour

Caspar Hall

Aissata Thiam

Different_Countries_JACKET.pdf 10/3/11 14:47:53

First published in Great Britain in 2011 byEnglish PEN, Free Word, 60 Farringdon Road,London EC1R 3GA 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Collection copyright © English PEN, 2011 The moral right of the authors has been asserted. The views expressed in this book are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editors, publishers or English PEN. All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of the book. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 978-0-9564806-3-7 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Aldgate Press, Units 5&6, Gunthorpe Street Workshops, 3 Gunthorpe Street, London E1 7RQ www.aldgatepress.co.uk Designed by Brett Biedscheid, www.statetostate.co.uk

CONTENTS

6 Rain and Magic Shoes Shazea Quraishi8 My First Day Bagher Abduisada9 Me and My Friends Mohammed Hassan10 Raining Everywhere Amani Farhan12 My Favourite Country Khyber Ibrahimi13 My Grandpa’s Hat Hashim Ibrahim16 The Drawing Amanda Lakatosz17 The Parrot Michael Jordan17 The Magic Shoes Muhammad Hassan18 The Ring Mohammed Alfadli18 The Magical Ferrari Car Khyber Ibrahimi 19 Alone Shahagha Safi20 My Favourite Animals Mahish Naran Kanbi21 My House Shilpa Ashok21 Sounds Karolina Girgonyte24 Mr John Ahmadullah Safi25 My Girlfriend Bharat Bhanji Varsani26 White Dog Bruno Raza Sharif26 C11 Hashim Ibrahim27 Mr Ahmad Ahmadullah Safi28 Watch Bruno Raza Sharif29 The Ruler Mohamed Alanzii29 My Father Karolina Grigonyte32 A Photograph Michael Jordan32 Rain From Sky Khalid Wehlise33 My Way To Venus Bagher Abdulsada34 The Rosary Clarisse Nkung35 Rain Ghulam Hussain Ahmahamed36 I Will Wear Golden Shoes Mohammed Alfadli37 Lions and Tigers Vishal Chunilal37 My Brother’s Picture Ghulam Hussain Attamahamed38 I Will Have A Suit Made of Cotton Khalid Wehlise39 Rain in India Shilpa Ashok39 Silver Shoes Vishal Chunilal42 Fashion Girl Clarisse Nkung43 My Uncle Mahad44 The Party! Amanda Lakatosz45 The Lion and the Horse Mohamed Alanzi46 Trainers and a Shirt Jawad Ullah47 Holiday of a Lifetime Mustafa Hassan

Photo By Anna Myers

6

ENGLISH PEN READERS & WRITERS / VOLUME FOUR

RAIN AND MAGIC SHOES

When Nii Parkes and I embarked on a series of reading and writing workshops at the Tricycle Theatre with newly-arrived young people from Wembley, our plan was not to have a plan… to be led by the students. And then we met them. Bright, exuberant, irrepressible, they kept us on our toes. We couldn’t have planned for them. A session that started with a discussion of what we had for breakfast might go on to the beloved exercise ‘adjective/noun/verb/adverb’, followed by reading a poem on rain by Vasyl Holoborodko and ending with writing about rain in Beirut, rain in Birmingham.

For the last two sessions we were joined by Aoife Mannix who took us to an intergalactic party and urged us to revolution. We also had some wonderful guests: we drew in the air with Inua Ellams and drew without looking, sang songs about our names with John Hegley and his mandolin, wrote image-inspired poems with Pascale Petit and listened to Amarjit Chandan read poems in Punjabi and English.

For me, the best thing about languages is the way they open you up to different ways of making sense of the world, different perspectives. Our students came from over a dozen different countries and spoke two or three languages at least, though many spoke five or six. It was a great privilege to experience their multi-faceted, kaleidoscope-view of the world.

I am looking forward to you reading the poems and stories in this anthology, about rain and precious rings, football, fathers and magic shoes, about a cat called Mr John. And I can’t wait to hear again the voices I came to know, which continue to surprise and delight me.

On behalf of everyone at English PEN, I would like to thank very much the teachers from Copland Community School and everyone at the Tricycle Theatre (and especially Anna Myers) who made our writing experience so special. This project – and the book in your hands – is nothing without the generous support of John Lyon’s Charity, to whom we are grateful for having such vision. Projects like this are rare and require adventurous funding.

Shazea Quraishi

7

THE STORIES OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

Photo By Anna Myers

8


MY FIRST DAYBagher Abduisada

Where I was born there was no happiness.People were running, some were screaming.It was raining, but not water – bombs,And bullets were falling from the sky to the ground.

When I came to Sweden,I was dreaming about flying in to space.If I could build my own space plane to fly with,Then I will be the first young boy in space.

Bagher is from Iraq. He speaks Arabic, Swedish and English.

9


ME AND MY FRIENDSMohammed Hassan

One time I was with my friends in my country. I went outside. It was raining and a little bit stormy. I went to the seaside. It was near to my home when I went and stood with my friends, talking. I wasn’t, no I didn’t see the hole in the ground. I took some steps. There was a big hole in the ground, full of water. I fell in to the hole. I was so scared, I couldn’t move in the hole, it was small and my whole body was stuck. I shouted to my friends “Help”. My whole body was in the water and my friends helped me to get out from the hole. When I got out from the hole I was all wet and all my friends laughed at me. I felt so embarrassed.

Mohammed (16) is from Afghanistan and speaks English, Pashto, Urdu and Hindi.

He likes listening to music and playing games.

10


RAINING EVERYWHEREAmani Farhan

Early morning rain in my country – Kuwait.Everybody was excited.The children were very happy.They were playing with raindrops.

Early morning rain in Beirut.I woke up and I was so happy.After that I went with my family.It was so cold and the rain – it was light.My father’s glasses got foggy.

Afternoon rain in Germany.The rain was heavy,But the air was pure.I was so happy.The people were running

11


To their home.They were shivering.

Midnight rain in London.I was in my room,Reading a story.The rain was so heavyAnd stormy.I felt cold so I turned on the heater.It was so dark outside.I like to watch the rain.

In my country the rain is light.In this country the rain is heavy,Different, but comforting.I breathe the pure airof Kuwait, Beirut, Germany,and now London.

Amani (16) is from Kuwait. She speaks Arabic and English and likes reading.

12


MY FAVOURITE COUNTRY Khyber Ibrahimi

My favourite country is South Africa.The weather of South Africa is the same as my country.There is a city called Cape Town.The city is really beautiful. This city has nice beaches that you can dream of.It also has nice swimming pools.People of this country are really dangerous.If you have money or a car, they will steal it.

My country, Afghanistan, is the same – beautiful and dangerous.

Khyber (18), from Afghanistan, speaks Dari, Pashto, Urdu and English.

13


MY GRANDPA S HATHashim Ibrahim

Always, like his hair,My grandpa had a hat.

He loved it more than anybody thought.

He kept it safe from dangerWhile other soldiersSaved their soulsFrom the angel of death.

“My father gave it to me when I was young,”My grandpa said when I asked him,“Why are you so fond of your hat?”

However, it’s on my head now.My grandpa died.

I will keep it safe,Whatever the cost.

Hashim (16) is from Syria and speaks English, Arabic and French.

Photo By Anna Myers

16


THE DRAWINGAmanda Lakatosz

She lives in a dark room. She is drawing a blue sea on a piece of paper. She’s using a black pencil to draw a sailing boat.

The sea that she draws on a piece of paper – it looks really very blue and quiet,

that when you look at it you want to stay there and look at it for ever.

She wants to add to her bedroom some light and a happy look.

Amanda (16) is from Poland and likes talking and listening to music.

17


THE PARROTMichael Jordan

The Philippines is like a bird. It is a parrot. Because the parrot is colourful, yellow, white and red and it’s flying. The parrot is clever and it can talk.

Ang Pilipinas ay gusto ang mga ibon. Ito ay isang parrot. Dahil ang parrot ay makulay: Ang kulay ni to ay dilaw. Puti at pula at itoy lumili-pad. Ito ibon na ito ay matalino at pwede mo pa itong kausapin.

Michael Jordan (16) is from the Philippines and speaks Tagalog and English.

He likes playing basketball.

THE MAGIC SHOESMuhammad Hassan

My shoes will be made from leather.Soft, light and shiny. They will be magical.I will fly in the sky.

I will wear a jacketMade from lion leatherAnd a pink shirtMade from cotton.

My brown trousersWill be made from the leather of a deer.

I will fly with the help of my shoes

And go to Venus alone to the party.

Muhammad (16) is from Pakistan. He speaks Pashto, Urdu and Hindi.

He would like to be an air steward or a driver.

18


THE RINGMohammed Alfadli

The ring from my big brother – it was silver and thick, formal with a square top and nine diamonds. It was perfect on my finger. He gave it to me four years ago, before he travelled to another country. He said, “Be a good man and make me proud”. Then he gave me the ring and walked away. I felt ashamed of myself when I lost it, because that ring meant a lot for me and my brother.

Me and my brother at the airport. It was in the afternoon. He was sad and I could see the tears in his eyes. He wouldn’t cry in front of me because he was trying to be strong. When he gave me the ring he said, “Make me proud and be a good man”. He slowly turned and walked to the check in. I was standing close to the exit. He walked up to the gate. He was still looking at me and I could see the tears falling down his cheek.

Mohammed, from Kuwait, speaks Arabic and English. He likes football.

THE MAGICAL FERRARI CARKhyber Ibrahimi

I like to wear Nike shoes.They are good for football and the gym.

I like to wear ripped trousers with a blue shirt.I like to travel by magical Ferrari car.

The colour of this car is black.Because black is my favourite colour.

Khyber (18), from Afghanistan, speaks Dari, Pashto, Urdu and English.

19


ALONEShahagha Safi

I am feeling lonely. I can see my home, the place is good – Afghanistan.I can taste the restaurant food.I can see the picture of my country – Afghanistan.I can hear you because I am talking on the phone in Wembley. I am watching TV in my room.I am afraid of your dogs barking. The sound of your dog is loud.My house is the sound of cooking in the kitchen – rice and chicken. I am happy here with my friends.But I miss my brother.

Shahagha (17) speaks Pashto, Hindi, Urdu and English. He likes to play football and cricket.

20


MY FAVOURITE ANIMALSMahish Naran Kanbi

I would like to be a monkey because they eat bananas. Monkeys are clever.

My country would be a tiger – a hunter, wild and white. In my village it is famous because it has white skin and is very soft.

Mahish (17) is from India and speaks Gujarati, Hindi, English and Kachhi.

Mahish likes playing football, boxing, swimming and computers.

21


MY HOUSEShilpa Ashok

My house is the sound of my mother working.My house is Wembley Central.

My house is my happy mother cooking.My house is the smell of cooking – rice, vegetables, curry.

My house is watching TV, listening to radio, music, cleaning.My house is the sound of my family, very happy.

My house feels like love.

Shilpa is from India and speaks Gujarati and Hindi.

She likes reading a book and dancing.

SOUNDSKarolina Grigonyte

My house is the sound of my sister singing in the room.My house is the sound of the TV I am watching.

My house is the sound of my father listening to music and singing. My house is the sound of laughter.

My house is the sound of my small brother playing. I love those sounds because they are my house.

Photo By Anna Myers

24


MR JOHNAhmadullah Safi

I like cats because cats are very beautiful.I have a cat in Afghanistan. My cat is very dangerous. My cat fights with dogs and other cats.Sometimes my cat goes to another house.He eats live chickens. Always my cat looks after my pigeons.He doesn’t eat them.My cat is yellow and his eyes are green. His name is Mr John. I miss my cat all the time. When I remember you, I cry for you – my cat!

Ahmadullah (16) speaks Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Hindi and English.

He likes football, boxing and cricket.

25


MY GIRLFRIENDBharat Bhanji Varsani

On my last day in India,She gave me the ring.

My girlfriend gave me a silver ringwith a blue diamond.

I wear this ring every dayon my middle fingers.

The blue diamond reminds meof my girlfriend’s eyes.

I like my girlfriend and my ring.My girlfriend is so beautiful.

I can’t believe I have such a beautiful girlfriend.

Bharat (17) speaks Gujarati, Hindi, English and Kachhi and likes swimming,

football and working.

26


WHITE DOGBruno Raza Sharif

Portugal is a dangerouswhite dog. The whitedog is beautiful andhe lives in the northof Portugal in a smallvillage called Arcos.

When he is hungryhe wants somethingand he looksaround for food.

He findsa small or biganimal he wantsto attack, and,very carefully,he has hisbeautiful dinner.

27


C11Hashim Ibrahim

C11, Thursday Evening.Everything was boring– the film had not yet begun.Am I happy? A little bit.I can’t forget the pain.No! I can’t explain.Wait, can I ask?Is that a mask?No, wait! Don’t go!I can follow you.Follow you.Heaven? Hell?I’m going too.If you stay with me,I’II stay with you too.

Hashim (16) is from Syria. He speaks Arabic, English and French.

He likes reading, watching movies and sharing his ideas.

MR AHMADAhmadullah Safi

I like pigeons because pigeons are very beautiful. I had a lot of pigeons in Afghanistan.One day somebody caught one of my pigeons.I am so sad with this person.My pigeon came back after eight months. He was crying. I kissed him.He was very disloyal.

Ahmadullah (16) speaks Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Hindi and English.

He likes football, boxing and cricket.

28


WATCHBruno Raza Sharif

My watch reminds me of my girlfriend.

The watch face was circular and the inside was black.

The hands were white and black and the strap was white.

But one thing I remember she said:“When you lose this watch, say my nameIn your heart and you can find it.”

Then I learned somethingimportant.

When you lose something,

You lose your heart.

29


THE RULERMohamed Alanzii

When I was young in school in Kuwait, my teacher had a plastic ruler as white as teeth. When I said something wrong, he hit me on my hand with it. He hit me ten times. One day when he hit me the ruler broke in half. I kept one half of the ruler – white as teeth – to remind me of the days my teacher hit me on my hand with a ruler, white as teeth.

Mohamed (16) is from Kuwait. He speaks Arabic and English and likes football.

MY FATHERKarolina Grigonyte

My father’s picture on my table. I can’t live together with my father, so this picture reminds me of my father. I don’t want to lose this picture. In this picture my father is so happy, and I can see he is looking at me, so I can feel that I am still with him. If I lose this picture, I will be so sad because I have just this one picture. My father standing near the sea, and wearing a T-shirt, he’s smiling. Karolina (16) is from Lithuania. She likes reading books and dancing.

Photo By Deon Green

32


A PHOTOGRAPHMichael Jordan

I remember looking at the photograph when I was five months old, and I was chubby. My clothes were colourful and my mother was carrying me. My father took a picture of me and my mother. I was smiling and my father and mother were so happy because it was the first time they saw my smile.

Michael Jordan (16) is from the Philippines.

He speaks Tagalog and English likes playing basketball and listening to classical music.

RAIN FROM SKYKhalid Wehlise

One day I remember it was raining heavily. It was midnight and it was cold. I was alone. There were many stars in the sky, it was dark all round. The clouds came quickly. The stars disappeared. I was on my way home. I had been playing football with my friends. After two minutes there was electricity in the sky. The rain was straight and hard. I couldn’t move. My friend ran away from the river of water. I tried to run but I tripped and fell on my face. There was blood on my face. I was lying on the ground. I was unconscious under water. My older brother saw me. He ran and carried me to my house. He pushed on my chest and water came out. I woke up the next day and was fine. He was happy. I was happy he saved my life.

Khalid (15) is from Somalia. His hobbies include reading and writing.

He wants to be a writer when he’s older.

33


MY WAY TO VENUSBagher Abdulsada

My costume will be red.I will have jet engines in my shoes and gloves.When I arrive at the party, I will arrive by elephant. The elephant will fly like Baba Noel.I just have to spin the tail to start the magic engines. The elephant will have an oxygen balloon around its head.

I will shock people.

Bagher is from Iraq and speaks Arabic, Swedish and English.

He likes Religion and Space.

34


THE ROSARYClarisse Nkung

I remember the rosary that my friend sent for me from Congo.The rosary has silver and white beads. There are so many small beads.The rosary is long and beautiful. There is a cross in the rosary. I’m so careful with that rosarybecause it’s very important to me. If I lose my rosary, I will be so sad. Because it’s a very importantpresent in my life.

Clarisse is from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

She speaks Lingala, French and English and likes dancing.

35


RAINGhulam Hussain Ahmahamed

In the early morning I was with my brother.We were riding bicycles. The rain started very quickly.When I looked up the water came in my eyes. I didn’t see the car coming.I fell of my bike and broke my leg. My father was sad. He told me “Don’t worry, you’re strong.”Then my father gave me money.

36


I WILL WEAR GOLDEN SHOESMohammed Alfadli

I will wear golden shoesWith diamond detailsand magic jeansthat change in to colourswe have never seen before.

The T-shirt is made of neon lightsand is flashing what I’m thinking and saying. I will fly through the skyin my golden car,that will shoot through the sky.

37


LIONS AND TIGERSVishal Chunilal

I would like to be a lion because it’s strong and brave, a hunter: wild, the king of the forest.

My country would be a tiger, because it’s a very strong, wild hunter. Some animals are scared of the tiger. The tiger is the king of some part of the forest.

MY BROTHER S PICTUREGhulam Hussain Attamahamed

In Iran we were playing in the park. I was three years old and my brother was two. My father took this picture on Friday morning. In this picture I can see me and my brother. Every time I see this picture it feels like I am in the park and my Dad is with me. I miss my Dad. When I see this picture, it feels to me like my Dad is alive.

Ghulam (17) is from Afghanistan.

He speaks English, Urdu, Farsi and Pashto and likes playing football.

38


I WILL HAVE A SUIT MADE OF COTTONKhalid Wehlise

I will have a suit made of cotton and Michael Jackson hat glasses. My suit will have black stars and a mirror at the back. I will have shoes made of white wood, with stars, and in front long laces made of glass. I will drive in a flying limousine, yellow and black. Inside there will be a lot of servants and my friends, and a swimming pool.

39


RAIN IN INDIAShilpa Ashok

I remember rain in India.I was alone, it was heavy.It was a warm morning.

I was going to go shopping.I was sad because it was raining.

I remember rain in school. I was with my cousin, Sonia. It was heavy rain in India.

It was warm in the morning.

Early morning rain in London.Alone on the wet streets of a stormy

and cold day in London.

SILVER SHOESVishal Chunilal

I would like magic silver shoes made of metal with a gold zip. I’m wearing a T-shirt with diamonds and mirrors on the sleeves, and jeans with my name on the legs. I have brown and black spiky hair.

Photo By Deon Green

Photo By Deon Green42


FASHION GIRLClarisse Nkung

If I go to the party,I would wear a strapless dress.My top will be pink. The bottom will be short and black.

If I want to be long,I will wear high heels of diamonds.

43


My UncleShilpa Ashok

My uncle sent me a photograph. He is in Somalia now. I remember what he looks like, every time I look at the photograph. He’s a black man, bald and short. In the picture he is wearing a shirt and trousers. He’s funny and he talks a lot. He helped me with my school work before I could even write. I remember him as a good person. I love my uncle. I would like to see him again.

44


THE PARTY! Amanda Lakatosz

If I go to the party,I would wear a strapless dressand top it off with pink diamonds,and on the bottom – long silky pink frills.I will have high heel shoes,full of pink diamonds,that glitter in the sun’s rays.

To travel there I would goby very fast, flying limo.I will take my best friend with me.The limo will take just two secondsto go there with the pressof a magic button.

45


THE LION AND THE HORSEMohamed Alanzi

I am a lion because lions are active. The lion is strong and he is smart. I like to watch lions when they play. I am not scared of lions.

Kuwait is the best animal. It’s a horse because it helps more people to go to another city. If you drive a car sometime, the street is crowded. I think a horse is faster than a car in my city. My city is Alaion. There are a lot of people, they use horses to take them to another city or country, and they are not dangerous.

46


TRAINERS AND A SHIRTJawad Ullah

I would like black trousers made

of gold

And laces made of diamonds.

My shirt would be white and

my suit black.

And my tie also black, made

of snake skin.

I’d like a black jacket made of leather

And a yellow zip made of gold,

And in my pocket – £100.

Jawad (16) is from Pakistan. He speaks English, Pashto, Urdu and Hindi.

He likes football, cricket and swimming.

47


HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIMEMustafa Hassan

Once upon a time I was sitting on a bus

With cloudy and comfortable chairs.

The bus was about to fly on the road like a

bird.

It wasn’t comfortable for the old people,

But the young people were having fun.

The air was wonderful to breathe.

The eyes had so much to see.

Everything was green and shiny.

It was near to the breezy beach.

The sun was bright.

The sky was clear,

Clear of clouds.

Mustafa (17) is from Somalia. He likes reading and writing poems.

When he’s older, he wants to be a pilot or a poet.

The Stories of Different Countries

From Readers & Writers – the literature education

programme of English PEN

Edited by Philip Cowell,

Readers & Writers Programme Manager

The English Centre of PEN International – the worldwide

association of writers – exists to uphold the values of

literature, literacy and freedom of expression. The first PEN

club was founded in London in 1921 to promote intellectual

co-operation and understanding among writers, to create

a world community of writers that would emphasise the

central role of literature in the development of world culture,

and to defend literature against the modern world’s threats

to its survival. Readers & Writers is English PEN’s literature

education programme which brings these international

values back home to London in the form of creative writing

workshops for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.

The programme of workshops that led to this book was

supported by John Lyon’s Charity and Arts Council England

and was facilitated with the support of the Tricycle Theatre.

Thanks to Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Shazea Quraishi, Aoife Mannix,

Inua Ellams, Amarjit Chandan, Pascale Petit and

John Hegley for facilitating and visiting the workshops.

Special thanks to Anna Myers, Helen Seraphin-Mobbs,

Druscilla Rodrigues, Tanja Villikko-Sefton and Deon Green.

English PEN is a company limited by guarantee, number

5747142, and a registered charity, number 1125610.

Akiko Hori

Rafika Furey

Alessandra Marucci

Patricia Hicks Harris

Tesfu

Margaret Nambi

Ivareen

Shazea Quraishi

Louis Osayande

Joy Nwachukwu

Marie Eveline Lavoile

Maggie Dube

Eunice Omorere

Elizabeth C. Mendy-Thomas

Nanette Mendoza

Jacqueline Lwanzo

Shazea Quraishi

Yaya Yosoff

Mahmood Alnaimy

Enrico Sibour

Caspar Hall

Aissata Thiam

Different_Countries_JACKET.pdf 10/3/11 14:47:53

Readers & Writers #4: The Stories of Different Countries

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