Bala – Interview 09

Bala is 20 and originally from Kurdistan. He had to leave his home at 16 because it wasn’t safe for him to live there anymore. Bala’s really enjoyed living in England, he’s got many friends and is hoping to start college. He’d like to go back to visit his family one day. (Kurdish).

Bala is 20 and he’s from Kurdistan, in Iran. At the age of 16 he had to leave his home because it was not safe for him to live there. In England, Bala first lived with a few other young people from Kurdistan and has since moved onto a supported housing flat on his own.

Bala says he’s really happy living in England. He says here he has so many opportunities he wouldn’t back home, especially studying. He has made a lot of friends, some Kurdish, some English, as well as young people from other countries. He says nobody has ever treated him badly, but has been really friendly and respectful of him as an individual.

Bala says he will live in England for the rest of his life because it’s not safe for him to go back to Kurdistan. The rest of his family; parents and sisters are still living there. Bala misses them a lot and is hoping to get a visa to get to go and see them. Currently Bala is planning to go to college to do a course in hairdressing. He enjoys cooking and playing on his computer. In the future, he;d like to get married, have a family and get a job in hairdressing.

Bala has friends of different nationalities and backgrounds. He says its not always easy to make…

Age at interview 20

Gender Male

Well I’ve got many friends and, so I got English friends, and different countries’ friends and Kurdish friends as well. I’m happy with them, that aspect. I just want, I’m friendly already. I like making new friends as well and I like my friends, it’s goodat times.

Is it easy for you to make friends?

Well it’s not really easy because you have to know someone to have to be friendly and that’s why it’s not so easy so, because I’m chatting on the computer as well and I cannot say it is easy but if you know someone you can use that person to be your friend.

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At the moment Bala wants to make friends and sort out his life and later on think about…

Age at interview 20

Gender Male

Because I’m still young but I like to make friendly with like you know what I mean. Try to knows more about the person whore been married to, or you who you’re choosing for your life. Because people will only once going to be married not everyyou know what I mean?

So I’m, and that’s my future to be training to be a hairdresser, to be a hairdresser and make a nicelife in England because I have to stay in England forever, I cannot leave England, my life’s not safe in my country so I can never go back to there. See if I choose in England I just waiting for a while, but I’m young now.

Yes [laughs].

[Laughs] I’m young, I’m not thinking about being married, I’m just thinking how to sort out my life.

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Bala is really happy in the supported housing where he lives. Although it can sometimes get…

Age at interview 20

Gender Male

Yeah I’m ok. I’m living in [place name] it’s nice place and I got really, really nice support workers and I’m really, really happy with them.Yeah I really, really respect the people and sometimes is really, really boring because my, I’m alone but so they got their hobbies and I’ve bored, coming to visit them and have a chat with them and they try to help me forget things, you know what I mean?So that’s why I’m really, really happy with them like. Basically my support worker and her name is [staff member] she’s a really, really good for me and [staff member], everyone’s here.

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Bala says its harder to live on his own and take care of everything by himself but hes getting…

Age at interview 20

Gender Male

I’m sure if you’re living with your family, if you’re living with your mum and dad it’s everything is gonna be easier then, for you. Like you are on your own, I’m cooking, I’m washing the clothes for myself, I’m coming into my flat and like I need more time because I’m on my own so. For example I was living in my country my mum was helping me, my sisters was helping me for cooking, for cleaning, for cleaning clothes. Everything is coming to me now, that is why it’s, now that it’s hard for me, but difficult for me. But now I’m be okay because I stayed for about four years.

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