Israel and Ngozi
Nwidor: Episode 1
The Nwidors are part of a group of Ogonis
who are resettled in Chicago, Illinois from
the United Nations refugee camp. The family
is excited to find foam mattresses in their
new apartment in an uptown low-income housing
complex.
While Israel finds a McDonald's hamburger
an interesting experience, much of the family's
new life is confusing. Counselors brief them
on myths and realities of life in the U.S.,
American customs and day-to-day living. It
is a tumultuous time for the Nwidors as they
struggle with low-paying jobs in the hotel
industry and unexpected health problems.
Ngozi not only works nights as a hotel maid,
she also struggles to keep up with her coursework
in nursing school and care for her two children.
She is exhausted by her schedule and reflects
on the lack of community in America: "Back
in Nigeria, you have your parents, your sisters.
They’ll take care of your kids for you.
You can go anyplace you want to. But here,
nobody, no way. I’ve got to work when
I come back from work. I take care of my kids.
No time to read. Nothing."
Israel is coping with family expectations
and a serious conundrum pitting his health
against his ability to work. He learns from
an American doctor that he has dangerously
high blood pressure and should not work. But
the diagnosis jeopardizes his prospects for
a new, higher-paying factory job. Family members
in Nigeria are also pressuring him to send
money, believing that his new life in America
is easy and prosperous.
Ngozi gets distressing news from the same
doctor. She is a tuberculosis carrier and
will need to take medication to control the
disease. The ever-optimistic Israel tries to
comfort a tearful Ngozi: "I know it's
been tough for the family, going through all
this, but I'm thinking that something good
will come out of it. When you suffer like
this from the beginning, at the end of it,
God will make you smile."
Finally, good news comes for the family. Ngozi,
perpetually in danger of failing her certified
nurse's assistant class, passes the final
exam—and the class.
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| Israel’s
first hamburger |
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| Israel’s
family in Nigeria |
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| Israel gets
news about his health |
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