Nelica and Calli’s Letter Exchange—June 2021

Letter from Nelica to Cally

Dear Cally,

I am writing to you as my lovely Refugee Tales walking companion and friend. It has been so good to walk together, experience nature and to share thoughts and food in our little group.  Each time we walk in different parts of London with different people from our community I return home invigorated.

At times I feel buoyed by the strength and creativity of Refugee Tales. Coming together for Zoom meetings on Saturday evening after the walk is valuable, even though we are online and wish we were together in real time.  Detention remains a brutal and traumatising experience in contrast to our meetings which feel safe, warm and inviting.  When I see the gallery of people smiling at each other, recognising friends it gives a warm precious feeling. At the same time I know behind some faces is loss, damage and sadness. But because the community is safe and trusting all can feel welcomed.

When Anna asked us to share our letters to each other I wanted to respond positively as she is such a gracious and inspirational person. However I felt shy about appearing publicly. Then I thought about our friends with experience of detention who have been brave enough to get actively involved and speak out and I felt admiration for their steps.

At first when I heard about the Walking Enquiry and the range of topics this would cover I wondered how it was possible to shape a focused response from the wealth of testimonies and issues it would include. I have been so impressed at the way each meeting attends to a topic and gradually a tapestry of powerful contributions, including Ridy’s urgent films, have been gathered. The fact that such a huge proportion of the population has no knowledge of indefinite detention continues to leave me with a deep sense of shame.

But this community and our friendship which has gently grown over the months gives hope and I am so glad we keep each other company as we stay walking towards Ali Smith’s beautiful phrase, which we keep holding onto, ‘the better imagined’.

Lots of love and affection,

Nelica

Reply from Cally to Nelica

Dear Nelica,

Thank you for your lovely and thoughtful letter kind friend.

Meeting you and becoming friends through walking and talking with Refugee Tales has been one of the many good things that the privilege of joining this inclusive and inspiring community has afforded me. I am learning that we have similar outlooks on many issues and that you have many wise words to offer.

I am a novice compared to you in only having found out about Refugee Tales in 2019. So I have had more walks during the strange times of the pandemic than not. Walking on my own for Refugee Tales during Lockdown and then first with one then two others, was a new and different pleasure.  On the first occasion when we could finally have been a group of 6, we were reduced to 5 when at the last moment a member of our party was abruptly and with almost no notice moved out of London – such is the harsh and unkind reality for many of our fellow walkers. However, from the wonderful big group walks with many new faces and stories and lives and picnics and cake and glorious scenery to smaller more intimate ones, the overall feelings have been of kinship and solidarity.

I am still shocked as I know you are too, by how many people still do not know about the lack of a maximum time limit on those who are detained.  It goes without saying that this is even worse when detention comes at a time for many when they most need a warm and compassionate welcome. That unkindness and cruelty is in such stark contrast to the friendliness and support on the walks we have been on. The people I have met and talked with have helped me better understand these injustices so I feel better prepared to explain to friends and acquaintances how much there is that needs to change and how much support is still needed.

The walking inquiry is a heartening and active way of bearing witness as we hear of so many experiences that need to be heard, as of course are the Refugee Tales books. Hearing these stories seems even more important than ever now when in some arenas there is a scant regard for the truth and too many opportunities for the unscrupulous controlling of narratives.  Despite our joy at seeing so many lovely faces on the Zoom meetings each month, I know both of us miss seeing all those who walk but don't Zoom and that we both look ahead to when we will be able to walk in new places with many again.

The way this country treats people when they are at their most vulnerable can sometimes make me feel overwhelmed, frustrated and disempowered but when we are out with our fellow walkers, your companionship and compassionate nature give me optimism that we are a tiny part of “the better imagined future” too. Thank you Nelica.