I fought for a chance of lifetime
Every job was a learning experience
This is the thirteenth in a series of articles on the life story of Lidia Qattan, a writer, columnist and an artist.
– Editor
When I applied for a teaching job I discovered I had a long queue of applicants before me. Waiting for my chance would have been a long wait, so I looked for any job I could find to help out.
The first I could find was at a shipping company, preparing boxes for sending fruits abroad and sticking label on them.
Work started at six in the morning till eight in the evening with one hour break for lunch.
Going to work was a long walk from home, hence during the break I simply bought a piece of bread to eat with some fruit, at home in the evening I could have supper.
I had a hole in the sole of the shoe I was wearing, so till I could buy a new pair I had to cover the hole with a piece of cardboard, it served the purpose in warm, dry weather, but when the cold set in or it was raining, my feet were cold and wet. Holding back some of the money I finally bought a new pair.
Probably because I was petite and almost always hidden among piles of boxes, someone called me “little mouse”, the nickname stuck to me.
I liked the job, the pay was good, I felt proud to be able to contribute substantially in the home.
When work at the shipping company stopped, I promptly looked for another job. It was then that I joined the groups of workers harvesting fruits or doing other jobs in farms near Ferrara. Usually my job was to carry bottles of water to the workers; I loved working in the open air, every new job was an exciting adventure, till one day I almost drowned in one of the pools used for soaking hemp.
It was a hot day, during lunchbreak, while the other workers were resting in the shade, I thought to take a dip in that cool water. I could not swim so I kept close to the edges moving slowly with my feet touching the slippery mud.
I was enjoying the cool, when suddenly unable to feel the ground I panicked ; the more I struggled, the faster I was sinking.
I was about to drown when I felt a powerful hand pulling me out. My rescuer was a young man who seeing me disappearing under the water jumped in to save me. Every new job was a welcome learning experience for me, it was also an opportunity for making new friends. Once I worked in a coffee shop making espresso and cappuccino, but I didn’t stay long because it paid very little and I had to stand for hours on my feet.
When I worked in a restaurant, the pay was good, I was happy there, but one day an old client tried to get fresh with me, so I slapped him; immediately I was dismissed.
It was then that I thought to apply as a student nurse at the Santa Anna Hospital, hoping to get a steady job, but when I met the Matron, she told me I needed a sponsor.
“I’ll be working and studying,” I told her.
“Indeed you will be working and studying, but you must have a sponsor to pay for your tuition!” Disappointed I left. By then I became a regular visitor at the “White House”, an office in downtown Farrara run by a team of graduates helping young people to find a job. That day leaving the Sant Anna Hospital heavy hearted, on entering that office my mood changed instantly when the director told me if I were interested to go to England. “What is the catch?” I asked “There is a request for student nurses. Are you interested ?”
Coincidence
I could not believe what I was hearing. Was this a coincidence, or the call of my destiny? I was so amazed and delighted that without a second thought I told him to send my credentials to the hospital right-away. “You should consult your mother.” “Oh don’t worry about it, mother will be very happy, please Sir send my credentials,” I replied.
On leaving the thought of going to England as a student nurse made me euphoric, it was the answer to my prayer, at last I had the chance to live a life of dignity and security; I felt buoyant, happy and excited but when I reached home but I told to no one of my intention.
In the meantime I found a job looking after an elderly couple. They were so kind to me that I took an immediate liking to them. In my spare time I also tried to learn English from a secondhand book I bought from the market and began holding back some of my earning to pay for the documents and to buy a dress for the cooler weather.
Almost every day I went back to the office to check for a reply; about a month later my permit arrived with the ticket for traveling.
In that moment I felt a relief and joy beyond description, I was so excited that I couldn’t hold back the tears. I felt as my whole life had become gyred onto a new level of consciousness that made me more certain of myself and emotionally more mature.
Leaving the office, thankful to those young people who made it all possible, I felt on the top of the world, I could hardly believe it was happening.
Already I had my passport and all the other documents ready for leaving; but, being a minor, I still needed my mother’s consent for leaving the country. That evening over supper, I gave mother my last earnings and told her I was leaving for England after three
In the morning as promised mother took me to see the judge, who after hearing the whole story he said he would find a job for me as a teacher. I knew there was a long queue of applicants before me, so I asked when it would be. “Within this month,” he replied. “Please put it in writing, sign it and give me the paper,” I urged.
The judge looked at me surprised, then sent me out of the room to have a word in private with my mother.
After a short while she appeared with a long face. I could easily guess what the judge told her.
Disappointed mother was finally convinced to let me go. On the next day I was leaving. The last night was spent mostly in thoughts, I was too excited to sleep.
In going to England I already programmed myself to expect the worse, not to be overconfident or overoptimistic; I was ready and willing to face any hardship and with that spirit and presence of mind I was leaving home determined to succeed.
Incidentally the years I spend in the boarding school, being the most crucial phase of my growing up, had tempered my soul and enhanced my free spirit, for I emerged neither indoctrinated or meek. The world is not meant for the timid and weak in heart, especially in the case of an emigrant who has to leave the protection of his surrounding and face the unknown.
An emigrant to be successful must have the will and the determination to make it through.
Being a free spirit, I was more of a free thinker than a follower of old dogmas, I only followed my own conviction and beliefs, I was therefore not afraid of the unknown, I had enough trust in myself to face my destiny.
I was also a teenager. Teenagers are ready, indeed eager to discover the world, to try new things unhindered by fear of the unexpected.
On the day I was leaving home mother made no secret of her perturbed state of mind. I could feel her anger, I wanted to talk to her, but I couldn’t. I wanted to leave in peace with her, without regret or reproach, but her cold countenance made it impossible for me to leave without feeling hurt. That day I hardly touched food. Though I knew I would be hungry on the way, I was too proud even to pack some sandwiches for the long journey ahead. I was also leaving home without any money, whatever I had I gave it to mother.
At the moment I was leaving, instead of a hug, mother gave me a cold stare more eloquent than thousand words. When she spoke she said: “If you ever go into trouble, don’t come back to me. This door will be closed on you.”
That cold remark only confirmed she never knew me!