It is cold in here, and there are not enough blankets

There is no peace because too many people are crowded together.

I am afraid that someone will steal my boots in the night so I wear them in bed.

Men are swearing and smoking outside the window. My father is out there. I can hear his voice, it sounds angry.

I miss my mother. 

The journey here was long and hard. I was hungry. All the money we had was paid to the man who organised the trip. My father said we should stand a better chance without my mother and sisters. We would send for them later.

I thought that by now they would be here and we would all be together in a house with a garden. That my sisters and I would be going to school, learning English, playing football with our new friends. My mother and sisters are still back there, at home, waiting. They will be worried. We have not sent word yet that we are here and still alive. We heard on the radio that there had been an earthquake in our town. God willing they will be ok.

I must be hard for them

I miss my sisters.

There is an English woman one who comes and takes us, the children of the camp, to a big room. She is kind. I am learning to speak English now. I teach it to my father at night. He gets impatient and days he is too old to learn but I tell him he must if we are to survive.

 The food in here is not too bad but it is strange to us.  The sausages and chips, the mince and potatoes in a dish called shepherds pie. I do not eat the meat, I do not know where it comes from I like the chocolate and crisps the teacher brings us but I would love to eat dates with a drink of milk, and couscous and lamb, and those little cakes made with sugar and almonds

I miss my Mother. 

Six months... six months we have been in this place. My father says we will be sent back, that we should try to escape.  If we could escape he knows people in London who will take us in. He will get a job. Probably in a Pizza place or a coffee shop, he has cousins in Fulham.  Why do we have to run like criminals? We came here to be safe. Away from the fear of my father being shot by the police for our beliefs. We wanted a better life, not this....waiting

I miss my mother.