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The Last Nomad


In her brilliant memoir, Salh chronicles the unique survival skills and folklore...
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What are the ways in which Salh leans on community as she flees the Somali Civil War? How did Salh's expectation of North America compare to her reality?

Created: 08/25/22

Replies: 1

Posted Aug. 25, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

What are the ways in which Salh leans on community as she flees the Somali Civil War? How did Salh's expectation of North America compare to her reality?

What are the ways in which Salh leans on community as she flees the Somali Civil War and finds refuge in Kenya and ultimately North America?

How did Salh's expectation of North America compare to her reality?


Posted Aug. 26, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
acstrine

Join Date: 02/06/17

Posts: 438

RE: What are the ways in which Salh ...

I think I remember reading at some point that Salh had 250 family members who were involved in protecting/moving/housing the family! Wow! I think just being surrounded by so many people provided some level of protection along the way. Each member of the family seemed to know someone, or have another connection elsewhere that moved the group further along to safety. With this large of a group there were definitely more resources to share- -food, vehicles, even homes in safer spaces. While there were definitely sad and scary moments, I didn't have the picture in my mind that Sahl was struggling as much as some refugees, for example Syrians or even Somalis from the north. And how weird that I would compare refugee experiences anyway. No matter the circumstance, it would be utterly awful to be forced from your home that you love.

I found it fascinating that Sahl landed in Ottawa in winter...she didn't even have a word for snow in her language! I can see how her being in North America must have been as strange as if I had been transported to the desert. I love the word Sahl used to describe Somalia- - raw. So to see things so neat, clean, run via technology, never mind that she was seeing so many of them for the first time in her life was overwhelming. She seemed to feel safer inside. After realizing though that a new country represented new opportunities and learning, she seemed frustrated by some of the ways of her past life. She wasn't willing to be abused any more. This motivated her to immerse herself in her new city. She also didn't strike me as a person who often asked for help. Yet, she was willing to do so in order to take advantage of new chances.


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