An immigrant's way to a new life

Mr. Cherif Ousman, one of our partners on the project, originally comes from Togo, a small country in West Africa. He came to Norway in August 1999. During an interview we had in December, he concludes his story by emphasizing: An immigrant should do everything he can to adapt to the new society, not trying to recreate the life he left behind.

The getaway

Cherif was a university student when he participated in a democratic movement in Togo. Political riots broke out against the country’s former dictator. These demonstrations were bloody, and Cherif fronted a very unfortunate situation. He tried to live for a while in Benin, a small country east of Togo. Here he got the possibility to escape. He had to pay several persons to help him get to Europe.

During our interview I asked Cherif why he preferred to come to Norway. He answered that when he left Africa, he was very disappointed about his home country, and that he wanted to go as far away as possible.

Alone in a new country

When he arrived in Norway, he applied for asylum in Oslo. After one month he was sent to a reception-center which was situated in the woods far from any towns. For a young man used to having people around him, this was a very different situation which would last almost 2 years. Loneliness gave him allot of time philosophizing about life. Luckily he learned Norwegian and got his first job in Norway, and things started to normalize.

Many things were changed in his life. Things that he took for granted in his youth, got a whole new meaning and suddenly meant everything! He says that things you are used to having get a complete new meaning when they are not there anymore. This discovery was painful, but also enriching. His family and friends were in Togo. Even the sun was different! It was much colder and even absent for days – in the winter for months! He could not take anything for granted anymore. Instead he had to adapt to this new country.

Stressful situation

Cherif admits that the worst about coming to a new country is the uncertainness and the waiting. “Will I have a positive answer from the Government? Can I stay in this new country? What do I do if they turn my application down?” Allot of questions arose, and he had no control over the situation. This is a huge psychological burden for many people. From being an active student with a large network and lots of things to do in Togo, he now was reduced to a young man without much to fill the days with. He was bored!

Cherif was lucky; he god the permit after a long 2 years period of waiting, and could finally start planning his life in Norway. He made the necessary language tests proving that his Norwegian was good, took various courses and finished his degree from Togo. Even though his first jobs were far under his education skills, he worked to obtain better chances on the labor market. Today he is happily married and has 2 beautiful children. The family now owns their own house, and enjoys life in Kongsberg where Cherif is a leader of the Culture section in our municipality.

Creating a new future

He stresses in the interview that it is very important that an immigrant realizes that building a new life in another country is about adapting to it, not to try to recreate one’s former life from his country of origin! I asked him to list up challenges an immigrant meets in a new country, and try to give some advices around these:

The most difficult thing is to get the first permanent job in Norway, to be able to show the new society that you are capable of doing it.

In the beginning you must perhaps accept jobs you are overqualified for. Look at it as a start, and use it to get the next job. It looks better on your CV, and means allot in a job interview.

Do not sit and wait – no one will call you. You must find your own options.

There is allot for you to learn in the new society, and everyone you meet along this road might be an important source for you later. Network means everything.

Your social life will never be the same as in your home country. Accept this and create your new network.

Your focus must always be on the positive aspects of life, not the problems you meet. Problems can be solved, and you must be an active part in solving them.

Never give up – life is beautiful!

Cherif admits that he misses his country, and hopes that he can spend time there in the future. But he has never wanted to go back to live in Togo, he is too disappointed about how his country treated him during the riots. He believes that everyone who really wants a good life in a new country has the opportunity to succeed. It is all about what you do yourself.

CARPE DIEM – seize the day!