Personal Narrative: Our Journey To Guinea From Sierra Leone

Intro: Refugees face a far worse life than most people can imagine, and there is no easy way out for them. They first must get out of whatever dangerous place they are in, then travel long distances with almost no resources, and even if they do make it safely to the USA there is a chance they will be sent back or even put in jail. The refugee experience is defined by risks and belonging.

In the battle of immigration, America is its own enemy. By abandoning and victimizing its refugee allies, America is no longer supporting its own. Anna Husarska has spent “two years of interviewing refugees"; with the notes that she gained through this process, her arguments concerning America’s ingratitude towards refugees are supported (90). In Husarska’s journal, “Exile Off Main Street: Refugees and America’s Ingratitude,” Husarska emphasizes how common America’s refugee abandonment is and the multiple temporary and rash reactions to the upset.

For the podcast, I interviewed Lina Abdulnoor, with the intention of exploring the intricacies of refugeehood by analyzing Lina’s refugee experience. Lina lived in Iraq with her family until they began receiving death threats due to their religious beliefs. Convinced that they needed to flee the country to survive, they left Iraq as refugees. After leaving Iraq, they settled in Jordan, where they waited two years until the U.N. to approve their request to move to the U.S. in 2012. Lina and her family initially settled in Virginia, where she experienced culture shock as she adapted to American culture and the English language. However, Lina did not feel accepted in Virginia; her experiences in the state led her to think that Americans treated her according to negative stereotypes of Iraqis. After living in Virginia for several months, Lina and her family chose to resettle in San Diego, California, which harbored a larger Iraqi population than Virginia did. Supported by San Diego’s Iraqi community and various refugee organizations, Lina flourished, and she currently studies at UCSD while holding a stable job.

In a study done by Catherine Bolten 2002, the civilians living in Makeni, Sierra Leone, describe their relationship with the ex-combatants of the Revolutionary

More than any country in the world, the United States has been a haven for refugees fleeing religious and political persecution in their home countries. Linked forever to the phrase inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free," the United States, in the eyes of persecuted people throughout the world, has been idealized as a land of freedom and new beginnings. However, the changing face of refugees seeking asylum in the United States in the past several decades has exposed stark gaps in the legal, administrative, and social treatment of

The United States has been taking in refugee’s since1975 (Refugee Admissions, n.d.). All 50 states combined have welcomed in more than 3 million refugees over the past 40 years, proving the United States can be hospitable to those in need of a safe-haven. The Refugees that have been accepted into the United States mostly have added to their surrounding communities with very few noted issues. America has always been and will continue to be a well sought after dream by most citizens of other countries.

Not many people know that the pursuit for peace began within the country, Abraham explains that, it was actually commenced from the villages that were attacked by the RUF in 1991 (201). Disturbingly enough, not all of the government’s officials were in agreement to end the war and bring peace to the country. Abdullah describes the utter disappointment and disgust expressed by the citizens toward their government. The NPRC government could best be described as coldblooded, proliferating, and fraudulent (203). The Sierra Leone war ended with the help of many outside nations and non-governmental organizations such as Ivory Coast, the British military forces, and especially the United Nations. Although outside involvement had a positive contribution,

This article reveals the stories from five refugees who fled their home countries in hope of a better life. These refugees range from the ages of 26-36 and had to give up their lives back in their home country because of how dangerous it currently is. Sandy Khabbazeh is from Aleppo City, in a house that is on the line between ISIS and the Syrian government. Khabbazeh experienced being shot by a sniper three times, but was lucky to have been missed. She went to America as a student to build her future, but struggles financially as education is expensive. Khabbazeh is working at a job and hopes that in 2016, she would be able to reunite with her family in America. Mustafa Asefi is an Afghan residing in Vancouver. From Kabul, he was sent threats form the Taliban, but was lucky enough to receive an American Visa as a worker for an international company.

A refugee is defined as “someone who has been forced to leave a country because of war or for religious or political reasons.” This definition does little to paint the picture of the horror and terror that many refugees have come from, yet even when refugees flee, they often still live in fear. 95% of all Afghan refugees flee to Iran or Pakistan (UNHCR 4), yet many are not safe there either, with the spread of heat-related diseases and the abuse against women. Thus, many must seek refuge in the United States, where although they must overcome many struggles and difficulties, many look to start a new, safe life.

Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, stated in a conference, “I was one of those children forced into fighting at the age of 13, in my country Sierra Leone, a war that claimed the lives of my mother, father and two brothers. I know too well the emotional, psychological and physical burden that comes with being exposed to violence as a child or at any age for that matter,” (Brainy Quotes). He grew up during the civil war in 1991, when the Revolutionary United Front (R.U.F.) attempted to overthrow the government. The R.U.F. took control of eastern and southern Sierra Leone territories that were rich in diamonds. In order to purchase weapons and ammunitions, the R.U.F. would enslave villages and use the citizens

I believe in Napoleon Hill who's an American author when he says “Your big opportunity may be right where you are.” United States is a big opportunity for refugee. I am so glad that I explore this opportunity. People should explore the opportunities that came to them because this opportunity may change your whole life to a better life. My life had been changed and my future. I have been through many difficulties but I am strong enough to get over all of these difficulties. At the end, no matter what do not wise any

Refugees are innocent human beings who have been forced to escape their homes. As they face mental, physical and emotional trauma, they face and confront astounding obstacles during their escape from their corrupted country.

On globalsecurity.org, the writers state that, “On 30 November 1996, President Kabbah signed the Abidjan Peace Agreement with the Revolutionary United Front.” This agreement sought to unite the country under peace by giving the RUF roles in government. However, a coup led by a portion of the army, known as the AFRC, put many high-ranking officials out of office and incorporated the RUF into their newly taken government to lead (globalsecurity.org). The United Nations later has to step in to fix the broken country. To prevent the importation of weapons and military materials, the United Nations placed an embargo on the country of Sierra Leone. Neighbouring African countries and the UN deployed troops to neutralise the hostile Sierra Leone traitors and the Revolutionary United Front, finally leading to the war’s end on 18 January 2002 (globalsecurity.org). This allows for former government officials to reclaim their positions in

I have been living in Pyla for two years now and let me tell you they it hasn't been easy, the consent longing for money is driving me crazy. There is no work. so i have decided to move Africa. I feel like the need for dental care is a lot greater than here. So that's it i'm leaving. I'm leaving for the airport today. I've been living Africa for about a week now and I now know that there's no business here. Although there is no business I have managed to meet new friends their names are Imani, and Zane they live with a tribe situated in on the edge of the Sahara Desert. They told me that they use branches from a special tree called Salvadora persica. They break off the the branches and scrap off the bark then it is called a Miswak. Since

Prior to the intervention, Sierra Leone was enduring a civil war sparked by socio-economic issues of poverty, resulting in violence. Bakarr Bah (2013) states that “this civil war posed security and humanitarian challenges for the international community”. Lucy Scott mentions that insecurity, social, economic and political exclusion set the conditions for violence. The United Nation, however, became a major participant after the 1999 Lomé Peace Agreement (Bah, 2013). The agreement was a settlement amongst major figures including the rebel armies. The armies, such as the RUF, refused and tensions increased. This resulted in the military intervention of the British. Abu Bakarr Bah (2013) mentions that this intervention implied that there was an international responsibility to protect civilians. Even though the intervention was helpful in ending the war, the post conditions were set up to ensure stability of peace, hoping to promote socio-economic growth.