Michale -“I am still young.”

“”I never tell my age. I feel young… Israelis are very curious. They ask, ‘How old are you?’ ‘How old is your dog?’ and ‘How much do you earn?’ I came from South Africa. I can’t learn the Hebrew language; I’ve tried a lot. I understand everything but can’t speak. I am dyslexic, and I also panic when something breaks and I can’t fix it. I work day and night, and then I spend all my money on clothes. Everything, to the point where I don’t even have money for challah on Shabbat. I have been connected to Kishorit for 22 years. I don’t live there; I have my place in Karmiel.”

“I should have had children. There was a guy from the USA who wanted to marry me, but I didn’t agree. I was afraid. That was a mistake. Sometimes I felt lonely when I lived in Tel Aviv. I was depressed and took pills… I got out of it… Don’t say ‘touch wood’ – my father told me it’s not Jewish as many people think. I have a sister in London who is a doctor. We see each other sometimes. I am a fighter.”

“I tell young people, don’t trust people, be brave but don’t trust anyone… Don’t give up, always move forward.”