Читать книгу Against the Odds - Ben Igwe - Страница 16

Eight

While Nnamdi looked for his cousin, Jamike internalized everything he saw around him at the airport. There were people of different nationalities, speaking different languages. Many times he would shake his head as if to confirm to himself that he was really in a foreign land. He overheard some black people speaking English with a different accent and tone. He stared at them occasionally, wondering if these were the American Negroes he heard about in Nigeria. He did not see any difference between them and the people back home. In fact, Jamike thought that each one looked familiar.

However, in the course of his stay in America, Jamike came to realize that there was a great deal of difference between the experiences of the black people he saw in America and those back in his home in Africa. He would find out that the experience of racism, oppression, and discrimination against black people in America would color their perspectives on life and society in general. It was in Regius that the clothing store merchant insulted Jamike the week he arrived by telling him that he was not like the other black students who make away with his merchandise. Jamike had gone to buy some clothing, when the merchant who had been watching his movements suspiciously approached.

“May I help you find something, sir? Are you looking for anything in particular?”

“I want to get some clothes for the season.”

“ Oh, where are you from? You have a beautiful accent.”

“I am from Nigeria.”

“Boy, you have traveled a long way from home. Isn’t that country somewhere in Africa?”

“Yes, it is West Africa.”

He was showing Jamike the various items of clothing that would interest him, when suddenly he said in low tone.

“Your accent shows you are not from here. You know, those black kids from Pittsburgh, we watch them closely when they come into the store because once they leave, our goods disappear. You are not like them. You are all right.” Jamike was shocked to hear his comment but went about making his selection while he thought over the remark that took him unawares. After he paid for his merchandise, Jamike said to the store man:

“I am new to the college, but I think what you said is not good.”

“That’s your opinion. Have a good day.” He began chatting with other customers.

Through this and other encounters, Jamike realized that he would need to identify with the black students in Regius, whether or not his experience was similar to theirs. As long as he shared the same skin color with them, his nationality would not matter; instead, race would matter because he was black. He would become as much a target of racism and discrimination, as the clothing store merchant had shown. By telling him that he was better than American blacks, Jamike felt that the clothing merchant and other racists would try to put a wedge between blacks from the continent and those born in America. He concluded that by using the tactic of divide and conquer, blacks from Africa were encouraged to remove themselves from the group they belonged to. This first encounter with racism would sensitize Jamike to always be on his guard whenever he came in contact with people who had similar stereotypes of black people. Jamike would find out more.

As Nnamdi looked for his cousin, another passenger was looking inside the same building for him. He was a businessman who was on the flight from Nigeria. He had a letter for Nnamdi, which informed him that his cousin could not travel because the date on an important document he had had expired. He was disappointed after he read the letter. He then rejoined Jamike.

“Man, what did you say brought you to this land?”

“The man I saw you talking to was on the plane with me because I saw him in Lagos. Does he know anything about your cousin?”

“He had a letter for me. The American Embassy did not give my cousin a visa. And do you know what? It is because his Form I-20 was overdue for just one day. Can you believe it?”

“I can believe it! I was warned that embassy officials would not bend the rules about school deadlines. The deadline for reporting to school should be in one of the letters the school sent him. I am sure he saw the date. That is a pity.”

“Do you think one day is enough to deny him a visa?”

“I don’t know, but I heard embassy staff is serious about adhering to stated dates. I was warned about it. You should know better than I, because you live here and know the system. It seems that Americans rigidly stick to rules in official matters.” Jamike kept his eyes with interest on a woman obviously agitated as she made a phone call and talked loudly in a foreign language.

“You talk as if you are one of the embassy officials.”

“No, Nnamdi, I speak as a teacher who knows what rules and regulations are. Rules should be followed once they are made, or there would be no need for them to be made. Suppose he was allowed to travel with expired documents and upon his arrival in New York the immigration officials refuse him entry and send him back on the same plane. I hear they can do so. That would not only be a big waste of money but also would cause embarrassment and shame at home. Most people would misunderstand it; they would think he had committed a crime already to be sent back home. You know how some people think.”

As the friends talked, three uniformed New York police officers including a female officer, appeared and moved briskly among people in the terminal, looking around, apparently in search of an offender. Jamike stood up to watch them. Nnamdi’s eyes followed them. The officers entered a room and shortly after came out with two men whom they led away in handcuffs.

“You are right Jamike,” Nnamdi said, continuing the conversation. “To be sent back would be the worst situation and would definitely cause embarrassment.” They stood watching the police until the apprehended men were put in police cars outside and driven away.

“Did you say you are here to go to school?”

“I will be attending Regius State College, in Pennsylvania.”

“Oh, Regius State College. I know where it is, in Pennsylvania. I know a co-worker who went to college there. It is a good school.”

“You call it college but it is a university. You know when Nigerians at home hear one is in a college in America, they wonder how you can enter college again after you have completed college at home. They expect you to enter a university, a post-secondary institution.”

“A college here is a post-secondary institution. The high school here is what we call college or secondary school back home.”

“I heard that some time in the past, Nigerians who received their education in Britain did not think much of American degrees. I don’t know if it is because they were awarded by colleges. Some people, it was said, returned to Nigeria with American degrees and had difficulty finding work. It seems their degrees were not regarded as equivalent to similar British degrees.”

“That is pure ignorance on the part of the people who have this mindset. It is what is called a colonial mentality, our belief in those days that anything or any system that came from the British, our colonial masters, is the best. You see, some people like to see that notion perpetuated. Anyone who wants to know about American colleges and the quality of the degrees they award can find that out at the United States Information Service offices in Nigeria. Let’ s talk about something else. What is your plan from here on?” They sat down.

“I will travel to Franklintown, Pennsylvania, at four o’clock this afternoon. A good friend of mine, Mr. Laski, a white man, will be waiting to pick me up. He said I should call him collect from the airport so he can come for me. I don’t know what a collect call is or how to make it. I am sure you know what it is and you can help me.”

“Calling collect is easy. I can show you that. When you call collect, the person you are calling will pay for the call. But you may need a quarter to initiate the call.”

“What is a quarter? He said he would pay the cost of the call.”

“That is true but you still need a quarter, a coin you will use to call him collect.”

“Where will I get it? Who will give it to me? The money I have is in traveler’s checks.”

“Don’t worry about that Jamike; you are not leaving for Pennsylvania right this minute.” Nnamdi tapped Jamike on the shoulder. “What time is your connecting flight?”

“My flight is at four o’clock, but I plan to walk around in the airport until that time. There is so much to see here.”

Nnamdi thought about asking Jamike to spend the weekend with him before leaving for Pennsylvania. He wanted to catch up on the years they had not seen each other since they were both students at the Teacher Training College. Besides, he had planned a small reception for his cousin and invited a few friends to the house that evening. Jamike might as well be his guest of honor, Nnamdi thought.

“Jamike, do you have to be in Regius today?”

“Do you want me to be late like your cousin? Why?”

“Do you know the exact date when the college will open for fall?”

“I know I still have two weeks. I wanted to come early to participate in the foreign students’ orientation.” Jamike opened his suitcase and brought out an envelope containing some documents from the college.

They looked at the college academic calendar and confirm ed that school would actually start in three weeks.

“You are okay. You have time to spend with your host family in Regius before school starts.”

“Now, if I have to spend any day with you, it is important that I inform my host in Pennsylvania. I will like us to do so from the airport. He is waiting for me, and if my plans change he ought to know. He might have made some preparations for my coming. It is only fair that he knows.”

Jamike was thinking that he wouldn’t want to displease his friend immediately on arrival, and moreover, if anything happened to him in New York he would be blamed for stopping short of his destination to be with a friend he had not seen in years. Jamike was concerned and it showed on his face.

“Can we call him when we get to the house?”

“Nnamdi, I think I owe it to him to know right away.”

“That’s fine, but calling him from the pay phone here will be expensive.” Jamike reached for the inside pocket of his jacket and brought out an envelope that contained his passport, airline ticket, and traveler’s checks. He handed a traveler’s check to Nnamdi.

“Here, you can change this to get the money for the call.” Nnamdi shook his head.

“Oh, no, this shouldn’t cost you anything.” Nnamdi brought out his wallet and pulled a Visa credit card.

“We are in good shape. We can call your friend from here. I have a credit card I can use. Jamike didn’t know what a credit card was but his interest lay in the call and not how it was made. Nnamdi took Jamike to a pay phone and placed a call to Paul Laski in Regius, Pennsylvania. Nnamdi introduced himself and asked Laski to take a call from a friend who had just arrived from Nigeria. Jamike smiled broadly and in a loud voice said,

“Mr. Laski, this is Jamike Nnorom.”

“Jamike?” he asked excitedly.

“Yes, Jamike.”

“Good heavens! I am so glad to hear from you. Where are you?” Laski thought his friend was calling from Franklintown as arranged.

“I am at the New York airport.”

“Oh, you are not in Franklintown. Did you just arrive?”

“No, we arrived early this morning.”

“Do you know how to get to the Allegheny terminal? Your best bet would be to take a taxi.” Nnamdi was next to Jamike, listening and wishing he could talk to Laski and tell him up front what he wanted to do. He put his hands in his pant’s pocket and paced the floor.

“I want to tell you that I have a slight change in my plans. I met a friend I knew in Nigeria at the airport. He would like me to spend the weekend with him before coming to Regius. I would like to do that, if you don’t mind.”

“That’s fine with me. How did you meet this friend?”

“He came to the airport to welcome a cousin who was supposed to be on the same flight with me. His relative did not make the trip. It was such a coincidence. He invited me to be his guest for the weekend. When I looked at some college documents with me, I found out I have three weeks before I can enroll in school. On the basis of that I accepted his invitation.”

“I am glad you met someone you knew back home. That’s wonderful. Remember, you need to be in Regius for the foreign students’ orientation that starts in a week’s time. It is required. Also, I would like to spend some days with you, too, before you start your studies or move to the dormitory.”

“That is all right. I will be here for the weekend only and come there on Monday.”

“That’s good. I will be waiting. Call me from the airport on Monday when you arrive in Franklintown.” Laski was pleased that Jamike was in the United States. His efforts for him had borne fruit. He telephoned a friend to inform him that his Nigerian friend had arrived in the country. Jamike handed the telephone to Nnamdi to put back in its cradle.

“I knew your friend wouldn’t have any problem with your staying the weekend in New York. He will like you to have a good time. Americans love a good time.”

“ Am I here for a good time?”

“That’s okay, just relax.”

“I am happy I informed him of the situation. I can now stay with you in a happy mood and don’t have to worry that he did not know.”

“It is good that you talked with him.” Nnamdi took Jamike’s lightweight suitcase, and they walked to the parking lot.