Chinese illegal immigrant:
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the 8800 miles smuggling voyage plus 10 years best time of life, is the distance between heaven and hell In 2013, Xue Jianhua finally chose a terrace as his new UK home in an international community located in district 4 of Newcastle city. It takes 10 minutes for him to walk to the working place---a buffet restaurant in Chinatown.
Within this community, various skin colour and races residences live together. Even though all house have the same appearance, it is easy to distinguish Xue’s home from others with the decoration on the front door. He put on a sticker on the door with a huge Chinese character “福”, means happiness. Happiness is the thing what really happening in my life However, it is a contrary situation in the past 10 years.
In the year of 2000, Chinese peasant Xue Jianhua from Fujian Province heard about a story that his clansman got rich by working in UK. He got inspired and finally chose the same way to his millionaire dream. Half month later, he paid a huge amount money he loaned from friends and relatives to the snakehead for his “ticket” to UK. “This is decision of gambling. If I made it, I can give a happier life to my family. Otherwise, my family will go broke.” He says. In September 2000, he bidded farewell to his pregnant wife and 11 years old son and fight to Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, under the guide of the snakehead. Afterwards, they changed the transportation to set foot inside the Turkey boarder, in order to get closer to the EU country--- Greece. The cross border of Greece is lucky-depended event. The snakehead and the stowaways stocked in Turkey for months to wait for the “opportunity”. However, both of the several temptations ended with failure. Xue says, after got caught by the Greek boarder police, they will be send back inside the Turkey boarder. After the sunset, they tried again by walking whole night. Pain inside my feet are going to kill me. But the only thing I was thinking is to make it After they sneaked into Greece, they took ferry to approach France, and hidden inside a container to reach UK.
The smuggling rout between France and UK has become the top choice for stowaways in decades. Just 3 months before Xue started to go UK, 58 Chinese illegal immigrants found died inside a container in Dover Port because of the running out of air. Even though the tragedy, they chose this way finally. Because the destination of 7 months smuggling voyage is right here under his nose. “It deserve the risks”. After arrived Birmingham, he quickly applied a job inside a Chinese restaurant kitchen as a dish washer, the lowest level labour. “6 days to work, 10 hours per day with being paid 10 pounds .” “I am so lucky that I can get that job. But some of my friends didn’t get it and lost their life on the Morecambe bay beach.” Xue express those words with a complex facial expression. On 5 February 2004, at least 21 Chinese cockle pickers who were collecting cockles to make living were drowned by an incoming tide off the Lancashire/Cumbrian coast. The hard working rapidly helped him to earned a promotion, but unable to help him to reunion with his family. Due to the illegal identity and economic hardship, he cannot meet his family members. The only access to contact is to use cell phone. “The only pleasure for me is to speak with my wife on phone after I finished my work every day in the past 10 years. I am so guilty that I was unable to accompany with her.” His eyes get wet. All it is worth the wait for him. In 2010, Xue, the chief of a Chinese restaurant, finally successfully to apply for amnesty and got his “permanent residence” identity. Sooner after that, he gave a fond embrace to his wife, his grown-up boy and the daughter he have never met before in Newcastle Airport, after 10 years segregation. The life now is easier for him and the immigrant family. He is the vice chief in Chinatown restaurant, cooks hundred people’s food every day. His 18 years son is studying in Birmingham University. The 13 years old daughter stopped crying to go home, and can speak simple English at school. For Xue, he is more willing to grab a cup of beer and talking with his neighbours with silly English. I am saving money now. After years, I will give my 1 million pounds to my children to start their own business. That is the design for the future, Xue dreams. Meanwhile, the UK government reduced the possibility of amnesty, dropped from 20% before 2010 to 0.3%, according to a Chinese immigrant agency. |