When I lived in Niamey, my parents’ house was like a busy bird nest. Everybody was there. Now when I go home, there’s only one person in the nest. My mother is by herself. Sometimes I go to visit – I tell people I am going home. But when I am coming back to Canada, I tell people I am going home. So where is home?
I got my adventurist side from my father. I was very close to my father and he pushed me to be who I am today. He did not look at me as a girl – he just looked at me as his child and he wants the best for me. At this time not a lot of girls are educated. Sometimes, they even pull them out from grade school to make them get married. My father saw it otherwise. I went to school, I strived, I got my degree, and worked. Unfortunately, his life was cut short in 1989. I felt an empty space around me without him although I am married with three kids. It became more and more hard for me to visit my mom knowing that she is suffering the loss of her husband and hard for me, too, missing talking with my father.
Toward of the end of April 1992, I took a phone call from the USA’s Cultural Centre in Niamey informing us that my husband application at the Humphrey Institute has been accepted. They wanted him to be in the USA by May 3rd 1992. I said yes, before I contact my husband. It was a mixt filling because I am afraid to leave my mother behind and I also want to go away so I will not have to suffer the emptiness that the death of my father has created. I thought that this will help me to heal.
It was not easy from the beginning because the lack of English language and the difference of culture. In addition, my daughter experienced bullying in her school. We had to move to another school district neighborhood because one day she came home with bloody nose yet the school did not do anything to stop it. But we have hope that things will work out. Luckily the new school has been a good experience for all of us.
My father really passed me his legacy down. All I can remember is that he wanted his children to be educated, open- minded, and treat others as we want to be treated. He also encourages me to be independent. I have passed this legacy down to my children. I want them to strive in their life, and be successful.