The Black Saint (Il Santo nero)

No one likes to leave their homeland,

to go to another country, to another land.

No one likes to do it.

There are two kinds of immigration and I know because I've lived through it

and when I talk to the others, I see it.

There's economic immigration,

where the person wants to change, wants to improve

their way of life

for social reasons.

But there's also a type of immigration where a person

is forced

to leave his homeland

and go to another land.

Because he's just looking for a refuge, that's all.

Mireille, come here please, bring me a t-shirt.

-Is white ok? -It doesn't matter, thanks.

Can you put a little talc powder here?

-Since I just shaved. -A little bit here?

Don't use too much.

Just where I didn't use enough.

What were you saying?

You want to leave Agrigento, you want to go away?

Do you want to stay in Agrigento or not?

It's not bad here, but we're going to Turin. I prefer Turin.

You like it better there?

It's not bad here, but I prefer Turin.

Let's go there.

Do you want to try it?

Green is good, right?

Ah yes, a bit.

Let's go sit outside -Okay.

Thanks.

-How is it? Is it good? -It's fine.

Pretty good. Nice.

I arrived on March 10th.

On March 10th I came here.

First, I was in Spain

and after Spain I came here

for family reunification.

Since my husband had been here for a long time, I came to him.

Then I came here.

I'm cooking fish and vegetables.

My husband is about to return.

He'll return from work for lunch.

Usually, we eat at one o'clock, but if he gets here late

we eat at two or three,

so I have to wait

until he gets here.

I got married on January 23rd, 2003.

January 23rd 2003, in Congo.

We signed.

I was…

I was 17 years old, then.

Francis was…

He was 20,

if I'm not mistaken. I've forgotten, but we were very young.

Because I…

I gave birth when I was about 15 or 16.

You see, back home…

we start having sex very early,

so I had two daughters before Francis married me.

Janie Shemisi and Marie Shemisi.

That's how it is.

You need to eat, you just washed up. Eat and then rest.

Yes, I know.

It's good.

It makes you want to keep eating.

We don't have this fish back home.

It's like the Thomson, we call it a Thomson.

No, it's not the same fish.

This one is called sgombro.

This one is from here; it's not the same kind as ours.

This is fish from the sea, not from the Ocean.

Here there are species we don't have. This is a Mediterranean fish.

But it's very good.

Get cleaned up.

Every day I look for work for you

and everyone asks if you're learning Italian.

But the language… there's the class! I'll start to speak--

-In October you'll go to the class. -And then?

-At the language school. -But all the young people that arrived

began with the language class? -Not everyone.

-No, for example Camarà-- -Or they've learned while working.

Camarà for example learned the language like this.

Working.

Working, meeting people, reading the dictionary.

That's a lot.

It's by working that I'll learn better.

Yes, that's true, but you also have to do the exercises.

I am already practicing

by speaking with you.

Yes I know, but you only talk to me, you also have to speak with other people

Piano piano, you say it like this, no?

Little by little, bit by bit.

-It will come. -The problem is finding a job, you see?

-Don't worry, you'll find a job. -But a little work would be better.

You'll find a job. God will help us.

You need to pray and you will find a job.

Now I'm alone without anything to do.

I also went through this.

No, it's not the same; you got here with

all your papers and found work right away.

Yes I know but--

Yes and you know why?

Because you suffered a lot back there.

Yes it's true.

God didn't want you to keep suffering here.

That's why.

And then I'd never want to go live

in Milan or Rome.

Why? I like these cities!

Yes, I know, but you also know that I had problems

that made me leave our country to come here.

In Rome there are many Congolese,

there's also the Embassy. People that know me.

-But they can't persecute you anymore! -You never know.

Those are big cities.

Yes I know, but it's a problem of safety.

You never know.

I have to wash the tablecloth.

-You want to remove it? -Yes, I'll take it off.

I'll put it in the washing machine.

You should try…

to practice. Reading the Bible, for example.

The more you read, the more you learn. You'll see.

I'm tired.

You're tired, what did you do?

I want to go and rest.

Here, for example, it's a bit like French, you see?

So, Song of Songs.

So the French C plus the I is "chee".

The only difference is that in French the C is "sey".

-Like Cicero. -Cicerone, in Italian.

So the French C here is "chee".

Therefore C plus I sounds like "chee",

And C plus E is "che".

-And with A is "cha". -No, with A it's "ca".

-But why does it change like this? -It's an exception.

It all gets mixed up in my head.

-It's just with E and I. -My head spins.

No, you'll get used to it.

How is it here?

-Cantico dei Cantici. -Yes, good, that's it!

-My gosh. -Little by little you'll get used to it.

To speak, to speak…

You, too, will end up speaking.

I understand, but speaking…

You'll speak, little by little.

First I have to learn the language, when will I speak?

TARIK PROJECT

PROTECTING ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES

It doesn't seem like there are very many people.

Once there were lots of people, then it dwindled to almost nothing.

Almost nothing.

-Hey Jimmi. -Good morning brother, how's it going?

-Hello, how's it going? Welcome. -Thank you.

-Do you know my wife? -Welcome. Are you okay?

What's up, Francis?

I have to meet Piero

for a literacy course for my wife.

Ok, he's here, come with me, let's go.

-Piero, they're here to see you. -Finally.

I've been waiting for you.

-Mr. Piero, how are you? -Hello beautiful, how's it going?

Sit down guys.

-Well? -How is it?

Just fine, everything's okay. And you both?

Yes yes, we're getting by.

How's it going here in Agrigento?

-Are you getting used to it? A bit? -Just a bit.

So, regarding the literacy course,

I'll include you as an auditor,

which means you'll attend the lessons so you can start speaking a bit of Italian.

But I was also thinking in fact, I would like

to work on your résumé with you, to insert your personal information,

education, aptitudes, etcetera.

Also because I'd be interested, since you're here,

in placing you somewhere in the association.

-Is that ok? -Ok.

I was especially thinking about the fact that the children

are still down in Congo.

-Bambini, the children? -The children.

Now, from what Francis has explained,

you need a minimum income to be able to bring the children here.

If, let's say, in a year,

if nothing else happens to facilitate the reunification with them,

in a year you've taken a class

and have started speaking Italian well, etcetera,

I think that we can sign a contract.

With a contract, hopefully you'll reach an income

that will allow you to have your children

here, which is the most important thing.

-This is our goal. They're helping us. -Thank you.

So, let's do one thing, let's prepare your résumé.

Does she have records from the schools she attended? From her studies?

She has them, we can--

I need everything, we'll make copies and attach them

to the résumé.

She doesn't have them here.

-Can we get the documents sent here? -The documents?