Khadija and Fartun
Khadija and Fartun were both born in a refugee camp in Kenya. Their parents are from Somalia, and they fled across the border into Kenya and have been living in the camp for over ten years.
Their father Haji speaks just a tiny amount of English but he eagerly imparts what he does know to these his two oldest children. They answer every "How are you?" with a very polite and articulate "I am fine thank you, and you?" They can both recite their home address and can answer the question "what is your name", but those simple phrases are the entirety of their English knowledge and Monday they entered the big world of an American public elementary school as a brand new Kindergardener and First grader.
They, just like every other child I have picked up to take to their first day of school, were so eager on Monday. I arrived at their apartment just before 8:00am and they were totally ready, head scarf firmly in place, coats on, shoes tied, backpacks already on their backs. Haji introduced me to his wife and their three smaller children, a smiling crop of pretty babies. Khadija and Fartun's four year old sister started crying and Haji said to me "she wants to go to school too".
Khadija held my hand the whole length of the hallway leading to her classroom. Every few steps she looked up at me and smiled this huge beautiful smile. I met the ESOL teacher who said I she would take care of them and I left. It's hard sometimes to leave them alone on their first day, but they seem unfazed, unfearful...just excited, with their brand new backpacks and their fancy dress clothes .
Their father Haji speaks just a tiny amount of English but he eagerly imparts what he does know to these his two oldest children. They answer every "How are you?" with a very polite and articulate "I am fine thank you, and you?" They can both recite their home address and can answer the question "what is your name", but those simple phrases are the entirety of their English knowledge and Monday they entered the big world of an American public elementary school as a brand new Kindergardener and First grader.
They, just like every other child I have picked up to take to their first day of school, were so eager on Monday. I arrived at their apartment just before 8:00am and they were totally ready, head scarf firmly in place, coats on, shoes tied, backpacks already on their backs. Haji introduced me to his wife and their three smaller children, a smiling crop of pretty babies. Khadija and Fartun's four year old sister started crying and Haji said to me "she wants to go to school too".Khadija held my hand the whole length of the hallway leading to her classroom. Every few steps she looked up at me and smiled this huge beautiful smile. I met the ESOL teacher who said I she would take care of them and I left. It's hard sometimes to leave them alone on their first day, but they seem unfazed, unfearful...just excited, with their brand new backpacks and their fancy dress clothes .
posted by melinda | 10:17 AM
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