had the South African consulate to get my study using? OK Johnsburg. Uh
August 2011 Fly out of Cairo heading to july spent about three weeks. I've
got my study absolute Johannesburg. Was that also through the U. N.
Program? No no this was a private institution. Okay that was helping
refugees. How did you come to recruiting based across the continent? So
the academy is called African Issues. Okay. Open some stores. She hasn't
the mission and vision of academies to develop the next generation.
Yourself. Okay. Okay. Okay. Well that's fascinating. So then you made it,
did you make it to your health? Okay you guys. and 11 was there? It's a
two year program. So I went there was just that. Yeah African studies. I
was also studying for Cambridge international examinations which is an
equivalent high school certification. Those of us who wanted to apply to
universities that uh so from traveling 11 shots in 13 grand
had already applied to Arizona State University
sponsored by the Mastercard Foundation scholarship. Okay. She was
responsible subset of students. Okay. Come and attend 40 years to study
what it was up to. The. Okay but where did you decide to stay? I did
economics and business. The concentration of public policy, public service.
So have you completed your degree? I did. So that's 2000 13. That's when
I started and then I right away at this man. Yeah.
Thunderbird School this one. Oh do my masters in. Oh that's good very good
school. So what is your immigration status right now I'm an international
student international story. Mr. Okay And so I alluded to this earlier.
But now someone with your status um with with your life experience um what
is your sort of sense of how things are now here in the United States? Are
are you concerned at all do you like? But I've heard recently attorneys
giving refugees the advice that if you don't have to leave the country,
don't leave the country because we don't know what trump will do tomorrow.
So are those things going through your mind and they are it's a scary
time
at the same time. I feel bad for refugees who aren't able to come to the
US or those who are already here but they're afraid of their status
changing at any moment given what the administration is doing.
But you're an international students, international students but you don't
have a permanent residents, don't have a permanent residents. So
I feel like I'm I'm saved a little bit compared to those seeking asylum.
Permanent residents have an effort. I'm an international student.
I have the advantage of
of the fact that at least the US benefits for my being here as an
international student. And it's not it's not free. Somebody's paying for
me to come here and it goes into the U. S.
U. S. Budget or economy. But when does your visa expire?
But these are is only for entrance and exit. So it has nothing with me
saying for me to stay here. I have to full time steve Mhm have to maintain
My F one status okay or 20 for me to stay here for the visas for when I
leave me too, so when you complete your degree well you have to make a
decision about returning returning here actually not make a decision but I
will have to return you have to read because there was nothing that would
let me stay here. You couldn't, you couldn't because I'm an international
student so
I decided to apply for status. Uh huh and get Mhm As if I'd done then yep
but I've seem to recall I know there's been a lot of variations on the
various bands travel bans but it seems like Saddam is on that list right,
no Sudan was but it's been lifted.
Oh right and but where would you go? Have you thought that far? Because it
sounds like you're from a lot of places but family is still in any other
dual citizenship, so that's your citizenship, you still have family there
and are they safe now they are relatively safe with waste. Mhm. He's got
to know where it goes to correct, could you imagine yourself returning
there if you were to complete your degree tomorrow to return to South
Sudan now in the midst of what's going on there, I could you know I could
if that's the only option
if I had to return it
seek work opportunities
because one thing I've realized here in the US is we have a significant
number of South Sudanese who are now becoming citizens of the United
States. And so this is literally their second home, the first one
I've been thinking, what does that for South Sudan? And there's something
we can do that now
country that is safe, we have the opportunity to go to school and work.
You make a living. Is there something we can do as a community right? You
know, to be an example whether it be community existence resources that we
could directly take the South Sudan or that South Sudanese there can look
at us and say if our people manage to live in harmony where wherever they
are and be successful? Where to? Mhm. So that's been my thinking whether I
have to get involved here or not, you know, sort of like the the bridge
between the south and I asked for,
it's one of the things that me lead to my being here or at least seeing
some permanent rescue, some type of resident that would allow me to stay
here and be able to travel back home as well and just do some community
organization work at this stage. You you have probably another two years
before you have to kind of make that decision, right? We have to kind of
cross that bridge. Um is are there are there resources available either
private or public or through some refugee services in which you can start
to address this question at this point or is it something that you're just
gonna have to do sort of on your own? Unilaterally not that there are
resources. I mean where we are at the moment. This is it's a community
church. Yeah. Where South and east community trade. We have the Lost boys
center. Uh huh. Have other subject positions aware that I want to do about
it helps the diaspora. Okay sort of like find their place here social
equality
but my role would be mortified
because my George is different. My status is different. I'm not, I'm not a
refugee and had a problem. You are resettled here. Resettled here based on
my academic qualifications
expected to go back when I finished And so I think I'm bringing a
different perspective to the community here in terms of life we're not
just sending him but also looking back to what from try to make a
difference,
possible anxiety think of myself as just with the bridge, reaching the
diaspora with South Sudan and uh huh Have you ever thought specifically
about a career?
Uh huh What would you like to take this Thunderbird degree and do what it
be? So the degree I'm taking right now. Global affairs and management is
more based on the public sector. Lot of us going to work nations, herbs
where but n gos or work in the government for me the government option is
not Arabic South Sudan is a conflict.
Only two options is the NGO with the nonprofit world versus the private
sector.
I'm qualified to work with those given my don't experience what the issue
is.
Where do I get to work with these organizations? Because where determines
what papers I need us here. My employee will have to sponsor. Right? It's
pitch B one Visa or something. Huh? And then it's somewhere else. They'd
say on the continent it's the same story, needs some work authorization
authorization. But look at my nationality and see if they have my legs
will. It's with sausages. So uh the opportunities are there. I'm not
limited. I've never been in terms of residents
and teaching. Mhm. You see employment opportunities outside of South Sudan.
Right?
Um Maybe it's my last question. I'm gonna keep it too late. But
you child childhood South Sudan eventually make your way to cartoon. Get
to Cairo, spent several years there eventually get here.
Yeah. Having been here now. Is the United States anything like you
imagined or is it nothing like you imagined or you what between what you
may have pictured in your mind when you were getting on the plane and
coming here and then now having spent time here and now I need an adult.
What's going back in your home country. What what if anything has changed
about your perspective about the United States? In life in the United
States. That's a great question. I always struggle. Um Because the common
question comes in terms of did I experience any culture shocks coming into
the U. S. I always struggled to answer that. And I think as I reflect on
that thing,
my stay in Cairo pretty much preferred me. You know, for life here in the
US in Cairo in terms of development, development levels on the african
continent, it's pretty much country,
the house I was staying in had electricity, hot tap water. We have
television. Eventually I was able to get a desktop computer connected even
to internet in the later years. Right before and after Cairo and so I was
watching how I was watching american shows. I was on the internet, reading
about America these facebook Youtube always think
not to say that representswhat