From Lagos to Boston

A year has passed since. I am really helped by the association and I make a formation to work in school canteens. Moreover I learned to read and write so as to talk about the situation in the Nigeria and the excision. I want to inform people.

I am always amazed by the fact that the Americans are constantly sad and depressed whereas they have money, home… contrary of the Nigeria!!

My life has considerably changed! I am free in a free country. I feel sometimes alone but I am okay… My daughter goes to school and become a real little American. Moreover she is friend with many Americans of her age. I know that I saved her and I could give her a good life.

I want to say thank you to all people who helped me in this adventure. Thank you so much.

Fortunately, the immigration judge made a favorable decision!  A few months later, I could have a small studio apartment and receive benefits. I was so glad! I could stay here! You believe that? It was absolutely awesome!

I was right to hold out!  Now I could begin a new life with Messia! I could have a job, money, give better clothes to my baby… where there's life there's hope!

I waited 150 days in other to make record for a work permit

I had to pass by the judges who asked me many questions. They thought that I lied.  I didn’t stop crying. I was so humiliated! Even if I spoke good English there were many misunderstandings. For example, they made a mistake about my age and other stuff… It was so complicated… nevertheless I tried hard to give a better life to my girl.

I passed few weeks in the street however some tramps. Now that I remember it, it was rather funny because they understood nothing when I spoke! Nevertheless they helped me.

On the other side it’s appalling the number of homeless persons in the street. I thought that the USA was a great and rich country! I was really confused and at loose ends.

A night, I searched again the priest and felled in the street in that I was by reason of my condition. Therefore I was taken to the hospital. There I met a social worker and with her Help I could ask the asylum for me and Messia from the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service’s). The social work contacted an association for the defense of women. I felt hopeful again…

My name is Angele David. I come from the tribe Yoruba and I am native of a village near Owu in the Nigerian South.

I made this blog because it seems important to me to tell you my story.

I ran away with my daughter Messia because she risked an excision. She had only one year old. I arrived three days later to Lagos. I had to prostitute myself during six months in other to pay the clandestine boarding.

I arrived in Boston three weeks later. I was terrified during this travel because the conditions were very difficult. Thus I thought that my daughter would not survive.

Having gone out of the port I looked for a church. I met a black priest who helped me. I was taken to the social services. Unfortunately it was full…

I was really in despair. It was cold and I didn’t have warm clothes. I saw the long avenue, the lit enlightened, the plentiful food... Although people in Africa were poor, we helped each other. We were always united. There, people were not interested in me while they saw that I was desperate with my baby. I was shocked by this individualism. They probably thought that I was a beggar…