Audio

Long Way to the Dentist

The storyteller:
Ahmed comes from Somalia and now lives in Sweden for seven years.

Summary:
A man and his son had just arrived in Sweden, and lived 250 km far from the town. One day, the boy had to go to the dentist, so they took a bus for 3 hours to the town. But when they arrived, they could not find the dentist and we listeners will follow them on their long search in the wrong building. Finally they found the dentist, but they had missed their appointment and had to pay for being late.

Upptäckten (Discovery)

The storyteller:
Othman originates from the Syrian Arab Republic and moved two years ago to Sweden.

Summary:
A story about my own journey to discover how I could understand the Swedish language and what I learned from that. Everyday I go to language learning classes, but the language is so difficult to learn, and the teacher talks so fast with so many words. So I discovered how to use google translate to understand what the teacher said. But one day I was revealed and understood that I was as clever as a computer, so today I am working hard to manage my studies, using my brain.

My Love for Arts and Nature

The storyteller:
Zhara emigrated from Afghanistan to Austria where she has arrived three months ago. That’s why she decided to tell her story in English.

Summary:
As an Afghan it was a very difficult time growing up and trying to study Arts in Afghanistan. I found a way around it and got needed skills for making decor items, accessories and bridal clothing. Luckily I have moved to Austria and the future looks very bright.

How I got my name

The storyteller:
Aida is from Albania. She came to Greece when she was fifteen years old, studied in high school and then went to a vocational school to become a hairdresser.
Aida got married very young at her seventeen and has two grown up children.
She is now living for 21 years in Greece

Summary:
Aida tells a story about her name, because she is very proud of it.
Her name was given to her because in Albania during that time she could not be baptized and get her Christian name that was Charitini after her grandmother.
When she came to Greece and still until now as soon as she is asked her name, the first question is where are you from? so from the beginning she says my name is Aida and I am from Albania.
When Aida came to Greece, she was amazed by the lights on the streets and the houses and the cars on the roads. She did not know a lot about Greece because was prohibited by the system in Albania then to talk about Greece or any other country.

Pray

The storyteller:
Bebe is from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She came with her husband in Greece fifteen years ago.
She is a very active person in the Panafrican Womens Association and in their church. She is very proud of her origin and dresses only with her country’s fashion clothes.
Many women stop her on the street or wherever she goes to ask her why she is wearing her head-wrap (Dhuku). Bebe answers that it is a communal identity and signifies resistance and she is resisting to change her clothes and her identity.

Summary:
Her story is not actually a story but is a pray in Lingala, her mother tongue.

Life Lesson, from Yemen to Austria

The storyteller:
Gewahar moved only six months ago from Yemen to Austria. She wants to share her story with you, but feels more comfortable to tell it in English.

Summary:
After getting a scholarship to do my masters in the University in Innsbruck Austria, the next few months struggling to get a visa and journeying to Austria was a whole new experience for me. Some things were foreseen but others came unexpected.

Blu come il mare a 500 miglia

The storyteller:
Katleen is Colombian and moved first to Spain and later to Italy. She has been living for six months in Italy.

Summary:
It is a story that shows that even in simple things you can find something to tell. It was just a day while a girl was waiting for her boyfriend, and a whole story came. There are the elements of reality like the blue dress, the waiting girl and the late guy, (in the story I decided to give a more decisive ending, he does not come), all this to show that you can tell a story of everything, that sometimes we also become the story.

My First Swimming Experience

The storyteller:
Noor is coming from Iraq and now living for 10 years in Austria.

Summary:
At the age of 5 many years ago, I was excited to learn how to swim. On this sunny Friday afternoon, my family and I set off for the swimming pool close to the house. My mum had earlier registered me for the swimming course and I had the most beautiful swim suit on. At the pool I felt special and couldn’t wait to get inside. After a small pep talk from my brother we entered the water and guess what happened? The rest is history…

A Talented Boy

The storyteller:
Mamadou has grown up in Guinea and is now living in Italy.

Summary:
Omar, a young boy from Guinea Conakry, is dreaming of becoming a singer and a traveller. After the death of his father, he couldn’t stay anymore and decided to escape from his country. He went on a difficult journey and travelled for more than two years.
Now, at the age of 15, he has eventually arrived in Italy and started a new life in Palermo. He is studying and hast started to play theatre and music. His role model in his life is Thomas Sankara.
He wants to spread a message to all African young people migrating to Europe: Have patience and hope. Tomorrow will be a better day!

The Arrogant Princess

The storyteller:
Prudence originates from Nigeria and has lived for five years in Austria.

Summary:
In a Kingdom somewhere in the western part of Africa lived a king who planned to marry out his daughter to any man of her choice. The arrogant princess was too proud and saw nothing good in all her suitors until she learnt her lesson the hard way.