Samira’s Story

[SAMIRA] This is episode 6.  It will begin with idle chatter from Samira’s family members.  The main event will be an interview between Samira and her family.

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[VOICES OVERLAPPING IN BENGALI]

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[LAUGHS] Ya-a-a-a-a! Wanna eat some samosas? Nah, nah. C’mon eat some, there’s no time. No, no. No food. That’s why, innit! Oi, what you mean?

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[PODCAST MUSIC]

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[BECKAH]

[INTRO]

Hi!  And welcome to this series – Who Cares?  We are a collaboration between four students from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama otherwise known as Bandobast Theatre Collective, and Camden Carers – a service for improving the quality of life, health and wellbeing for all carers in the borough of Camden.

With the help of Claudia, Chris, Mekhled, Berni, Fionnuala and Jacky, we have compiled a series of episodes each – using their creative content, and curated by us to hopefully celebrate the fact that there is no single story when it comes to carers – each person being a unique creative in their own right, with the only single narrative applicable being that each of these fantastic persons is brimming to the top as an inspiration of love.

Each day, for the seven days of this Carers’ Week, we will be releasing another specially made episode.  Each one focusing on one person we worked with for this project.

In this episode, we have a special episode where our own Bandobast member, Samira talks about her experience as a person cared for and speaks honestly with the persons caring for her – her parents.

[PODCAST MUSIC]

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(Interview)

MUM:  Yeah. [IN BENGALI] by the time, we — when, um, when you were 2 years old. We... we took you to the GP, and they...they like send you to hearing test, and then in hearing test – they said you are fine, but when you were three – when you went to school like your behaviour was different.  You couldn’t speak, and then [IN BENGALI] we did a check, hearing test, and then we find out you can’t hear properly.  That’s why we went to the GP and they send you to the hearing test and then we found out you are deaf.

SAMIRA: Was it hard raising me?  What was hard?

MUM: It was hard because..erm, you couldn’t hear us and...when you want something, and you couldn’t speak when you was six year old...you couldn’t [IN BENGALI] understand what we were saying, you didn’t know what we were saying, that’s why… so it was hard, but we managed.

SAMIRA: How do you guys get me support?  I remember in school it took me a long time to get support...like... [IN BENGALI] How? how did you get it?

MUM: The school, we applied for to the council for your SEN [DAD]: One-to one service for [MUM] special needs and then they...they rejected at the first time, and in the beginning and then after a year they...we applied again and then they approved.

SAMIRA: How long did that take?

MUM: It take two years... you were in year 1 innit?  [SAMIRA] Mmm?! Mmm. [MUM] Year 2...Year 2

SAMIRA: I only remember getting support after year 2. [FAMILY] Yeah...year 2 – year 3...[SAMIRA] It took me a long time.

SAMIRA: I - I don’t remember learning my alphabet for the longest and… we skipped that.

MUM: We applied in year 1 but, they...they didn’t - they rejected it and then after one or two years later then we applied again, and then you got it then after that...

SAMIRA: Did you guys had to fight hard to get the support, or did you have to pay extra? [IN BENGALI] Stuff like that?

MUM: At the beginning they didn’t do it,but they approved your SEN...that kind of thing

SAMIRA: And what age was I? 

MUM: You were about eight...

SAMIRA: Ya... that was year 2 then, and I couldn’t get any support and did-did the teachers not realise how hard it was for me?

MUM: They picked up – they tried but... they – you know...they couldn’t agree – that’s why.

SAMIRA: Then how did you get them to agree?  Did you get...

MUM: So we applied a second time again.

SAMIRA: Did someone tell you to apply?  Or did you...

MUM: Yes.  School and us...both of – both your primary school and parents – we applied.  We... we can see that you’re not improving anything - you’re not learning anything, and they...they are like seeing as well – they’re seeing that as well, so both of us work together – school and us, and we applied again and we had to go for a hearing as well.  Then they agreed...that you need extra help [DAD] Support...yeah.

SAMIRA: I’m trying to remember...all I remember is when I was young, [IN BENGALI] There had- we had to go to so many appointments...[MUM] Yeah...yeah [SAMIRA] and it was really hard at first...because I remember in year 1 – year 2, everyone’s learning their timetable – I didn’t know anything.  I’ve learnt about the time from you in year 5. [MUM] Yeah....

SAMIRA: ...And it was like I remember we would have meetings... [IN BENGALI] And they said to me my delayment... like it’s really, really low [MUM] Yeah, it was.

MUM: But you picked up after you went to secondary school.

SAMIRA: What did I do when I was angry?

MUM: Yeah...you threw stuff at us - throw your hearing aid away...and, um...you used to scream as well...and...[IN BENGALI] you didn’t listen, you didn’t listen to us at all.

SAMIRA: Is it… hard raising me now?  Any improvement?

MUM: You improve a lot...you improved a lot, but you still don’t realise what’s happening around you – when you don’t put your hearing aid, you don’t know what happening, and you don’t wanna put your hearing aid as well.

SAMIRA: [GIGGLING] There are some things now I can’t do right because of my deafness that gets in the way.  You said something about my awareness?

MUM: Yes. Because of your hearing, you don’t aware what happening around you.  When you go cross the road, you don’t look around! Yes...you just stay one focus – and going, going.  You don’t see if like the car is coming or not.

SAMIRA: How did you handle me?

MUM: It was a... yeah – sticker!  Er...you didn’t listen to us when you did a tantrum then er...you know I used to give you a sticker. A sticker to bribe you – to stop you to do those stuff, then you used to listen to us.

SAMIRA: [IN BENGALI] What changed? Do I- is it easier for me now?

MUM: It’s easier, you’ve calmed down, you started to talk...and you can listen. Everything changed after you got the hearing aid.

DAD: You manage everything...your education [MUM] Yeah, we were worried about your future and everything at the beginning.

DAD: Now you are adult,[SAMIRA GIGGLING] you understand everything, you are good girl now.

SAMIRA: Is there anything that you’re worried about?

MUM: Awareness! We’re still worried about.  You don’t be very aware what happening around you.

SAMIRA: Talk about a good memory you have of me.

MUM: Good memory...erm, when you are year 6, you did a drama – it was really good.  Everyone was very impressed.  You dressed as Cheryl Cole and you did very, very, your  acting was very good. Everyone was so impressed.

SAMIRA: Have I improved?

DAD: Yes, improved a lot. Because now you are a student, a university student. Also, you… [SAMIRA] Ah! [DAD] working part-time so you got more experience about these people, [SAMIRA] before- [DAD]  experience about your like...community...and and—

SAMIRA: —before, did you guys think that I would be like the way I am now...like be able to get a job? That I would go to uni?

MUM: No. We didn’t think that.  We were worried about those stuff as well. But we are very, very happy and very, very proud. [SAMIRA LAUGHS]

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[INTERVIEW ENDS]

[MUSIC ENDS]

[PODCAST MUSIC]

[OUTRO]

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[BECKAH]

Hi again! I’m Beckah, and you’ve been listening to Who Cares?  A collaboration between us  – Bandobast Theatre Collective and Camden Carers.  This episode was about Samira’s personal life story, and it was narrated by Samira herself.   It also featured her parents - Rifa and Kabir.  We hope you enjoyed it and will be tuning in the next episode, hosted by the whole Bandobast team, and where we will meet Claudia.  Bye for now!

[End of podcast]