Alieu Khan left his native Gambia for Austria to pursue a Master's Degree in Peace and Conflict Transformation. When financial problems deferred his dreams, he went to Sweden for a while before moving to Åland, a cluster of islands in Finland, to live with his Finnish wife, Tessy. He shared his experience in this foreign world in a memoir: Within a Year — An African Immigrant on the Åland Islands.
Alieu's marriage with Tessy became characterized by a lot of misunderstandings: cultural and language barriers, which relentlessly frustrated him. Lack of job and inability to speak the language of the Island made things even more difficult for him. But never a quitter, he would attend some language classes to incorporate himself in the system; attend programs; write in newspaper columns; attend community and music concerts; meet different people and a lot more.
Alieu's memoir is typical of what most immigrants in Europe and America go through. For him, it was time for Europeans to recognize the valuable contributions of their immigrant populations. While he intends in the memoir to give a good exposure to the outside world about this notable Island, the tale is driven more by his passion to set an example for other immigrants. He reiterated the need for a diverse world in which all humans are seen and treated equal.
Alieu’s living tale of a true adventure will give hope and confidence to many immigrants during darkest hours of struggle.
Yero Ghedda Jallow (Dalton)
Co-editor of Gainako Online Newspaper
Minnesota, USA
