New Zealand is my second home now
How and when did you manage to arrive to New Zealand?
Initially we fled Afghanistan across the border to Pakistan, and had to stay there for three years. We were the very few lucky ones who didn’t have to live in refugee camps as we had a friend of the family there.
A while later we applied to the United Nations for refugee status, and finally arrived here as part of 750 refugees that New Zealand takes in every year.
Was there a ‘culture shock’ at first? What were the differences?
Our family lived in the United States for some time when my father was studying for his PhD, but overall it was still a bit of a shock – first of all the accent! I knew a bit of English before, but here it felt like a completely new language!
It also seems like Kiwis are a lot less formal with their parents, teachers and other adults.
And back in Afghanistan there was heaps more separation between boys and girls; we never had such things as boyfriends and girlfriends.
Was it hard or easy trying to fit into a New Zealand lifestyle?
When we came over here, we were really apprehensive – new country, no possessions, no friends, no relatives.
But others have made it much easier on us, like a group of volunteers in Christchurch who picked us up at the airport, furnished our house, helped us with shopping, banking and school and checked on us every day! They were amazing!
Since arriving I’ve gone to a few different schools, and at the very first one people were quite awful and cruel – saying things like ‘Fly away home!’
But at my current school people are great – really nice and accepting.
Is New Zealand your home now, or do you still feel a strong connection with Afghanistan? Would you want to go back?
Well, being Afghani is part of my identity, and I can never forget that, but New Zealand is like a second home now.
In the holidays I like to read from Afghani books, study our language and the Koran. If Afghanistan was peaceful I may want to go back – we still have lots of friends and family there.
Are you still haunted by past events?
Sometimes I have dreams about fighting and bombs or I remember the time when two bombs fell on our house and my auntie and uncle were injured. It is hard to forget the running around, the panic and the screams.
What advice would you give New Zealanders about helping refugees feel welcome and ‘at home’ here?
Just be open, friendly and accepting of us. When we go to school, show us around, chat with us – small things make a huge difference!
To read the FULL interview with Amina go to www.tearaway.co.nz (Body & Soul channel)
Check out Amina’s personal account of ‘Life under the Teleban’.
“Older men declare war. But it’s the youth who must fight and die!” – Herbert Hoover
“When I take action I’m not going to fire a 2 million dollar missile at a 10 dollar empty tent and hit a camel in the butt. It’s going to be decisive” – George W. Bush
This article was written as part of Global Focus a collaborative project of Tearaway Magazine and the Global Education Centre. It was first published in Tearaway magazine and is reprinted here with their permission
