A Letter to a New Arrival
This was the real moment when the participants in the programme finally started realising what the sessions were trying to achieve. We took our time talking about what we would tell a new arrival as they began their journey to come as a refugee/asylum seeker to Manchester. By this time five weeks had passed and we as a group felt safe in sharing personal stories, tragedies, victories. The result was this collaborative letter –
“Everything you need to know!”
Dear friend,
Welcome to Manchester! I am writing to you to let you know what is going to happen when you first arrive. I was new, too. You need to know so much. You will be frightened, but you will be free! You won’t be disappointed, but you will be frustrated. You will meet new people, some good, some bad. You’re going to spend a lot of time alone, and you may need to change in order to survive. Change is a challenge.
Everyone is a stranger. You will need to speak a new language. You will be surprised at how different the accents of English can be. Even simple things like tea have a different word for it. But soon you’ll be able to say “Yes” if you want a brew. You’ll enjoy a builder’s. You’ll learn the difference between having people want to chuck you out and inquire “Are you alright, chuck?” Often times you won’t be understood. You will have to hold yourself differently, your body language will change. Fake it until it feels real. You will need to learn new rules and ways. You will be playing the most important game of your life.
You came to Manchester with the hope of earning your own living. You will not be allowed to. You will have to find other ways to define yourself and be valued. All your money goes on bus fares and you have nothing left for food. No one cares about what you like to eat. You have no control over what you’re given. You have to queue for everything and wait your turn. But you can share and enjoy food together. British food is bland and tasteless so you will have to be creative to find the tastes of home.
It seems to rain all the time, washing your mind, body and spirit away. But when the sun breaks through the clouds, things may feel a bit better. The cold will be a shock, like opening the freezer door. You will need to learn a new way of dressing, from your feet to your head. You will protect yourself with layers of woollen armour!
It may take you a long time to settle here, but when you do, you will feel safe, confident, motivated, happy. What we hope for you is peace of mind as you turn over a new leaf in the story of your life.
Good luck in your new adventure.
Bon chance!
Boa sorte!
Bit-tawfīq
Veel geluk!
Mo’afagh bashed
Kila la kheri!
There was a real sense of achievement in the group once the letter was written. It had been a hard proess to put so much of their struggles down onto paper. Writing the letter dealt with all the different places people were in the process. Some were still struggling in very real and tangible ways. Some, however, were starting to see the way through, although it was still a very precarious time for them all. But they were conscious of the need to keep trying, to not give up even when things were bleak.
Running these life-writing sessions has been for me an inspiration. Some of the participants were sleeping rough on the streets, and yet they came to group, they consciously put their troubles to one side and focused on creative writing. I can only hope that I would be as strong in a similar situation.