I don't know what European language is spoken in Somalia; in the past parts of it have been colonized by British, French, and Italians. I met a Somali refugee today, one of a good many that our Church has "adopted." Catholic charities are also working with some of the Somalis in Salt Lake City, and I'm sure that other churches I don't know about are doing the same.

 

In this small group, there is one adult male, who speaks broken English; two young adult women, one of whom speaks broken English and the other of whom speaks only a few words; an older adult woman who speaks very little English; and four children. They are all Muslims, and their first language is Somali. The man got a job about two days after he got here; the young adult women are both starting work tomorrow, even though one of them had a miscarriage only yesterday. The grandmother will be caring for the children while the other adults are working.

 

They all want desperately to learn English.

 

PG has a lot of children's books, and I can prepare a CD of them. But T and I don't have a spare computer. Does ANYBODY have an extra laptop or notebook that could be given to them? If so, let me know, and I'll find out whether it should be sent directly to them or to me to get to them. I think the grandmother could learn a lot more English in a hurry if they had a computer and if the two adults who speak reasonably good English would read and translate.

 

Uh . . . what was that about people in Africa don't need books in English?

 

We gave them some paper reference books, but we long since gave all our children's books to the shelter for battered women and their children. We'll probably be able to get them some books through the library's book sale, but having a whole CD of children's books and a way to read them would help them so much.

 

I am a scholar. I have written reference books, and I am very grateful to those who post scholarly material, especially Pepys's diaries, which are some of the most fascinating books I have ever read.

 

But to my mind, it is these people, and others in unfortunate situations or locations, to whom PG should be mainly aiming. Scholars are going to get their books one way or another, if they have to hitchhike to the closest good library.

 

I grew up in a town without a library; when I went to visit my grandmother she knew that the first place she had to take me was the library. What a blessing it would have been to me to have computers and PG then!

 

Anne