My first day in school

It was 1997 on a Monday morning when my father took me to a school. Actually I was not willing to go to school. Why? Because to me school was a place of punishment.

My father said to me “Fatuma, today I am going to take you to school!” I started crying “Father, no-o-o.” Father said “My daughter, you have to learn this is the way of becoming a woman.” I said to him “No Father going to school will not make woman but initiation will make a woman (circumcision).” And my father smiled at me and said to me “my daughter, I will show you other girls learning at school.” And he took me to the school. The first person I met was a “madam.” The madam was called “Fatma.” Even Fatma is going to school!

I stand behind my father to make sure that madam wouldn’t beat me. She took me to class one where I met some girls and boys who were singing:

“Take the book and the pen, start education,

Education will give you light.”

It was a Somali song and actually I joined in those who were singing and I started introducing myself to the boys and the girls who were ??? girls.

In the evening when I came back to the home, I came while singing:

“Take the pen and the book, start education,

Education will give you light.”

And my father laughed and laughed and said to me “My dear daughter you are now growing into a woman.”

I understand that “school is not a place of punishment.”