WireService.ca Media Release
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
The number of Somalia living in St. Cloud, MN, is growing. There is no official number of how many Somalis are living in the city now, but the unofficial estimate could be as high as 25,000 Somalis living in St. Cloud and the surrounding cities, like Waite Park, St. Joseph, Sartell and Sauk Rapids.
First Somalis moved to St Cloud in 2000, but about 50 percent of Somalis moved to the city in the recent years, from 2009 t0 2013.
In the streets of St. Cloud, Somalis are visible and can be easily seen, especially Somali women with their colorful traditional clothing.
Somalis have opened businesses: about seven Halal Meat & Grocery stories, and about four Somali restaurants.
Many Somalis work in assembly line jobs, but a great number of Somalis got educated and they work in white collar jobs. Others opened their own businesses: medical transportation companies, homecare companies and daycare centers.
About 15 percent of the local school district are Somali, and a huge segment of Somalis are in the pipeline of the education process: in high schools, in colleges and in universities.
The biggest challenge facing Somalis in St. Cloud is housing, especially for families whose size is more than eight: there are families who consist of about 10 or 12 family members, there is no housing structures in the city designed for this kind of family sizes.
I talked to Yusuf Hassan, one of the first Somalis moved to the city:
Me: Yusuf, when did you move to St. Cloud?
Yusuf: I moved to St. Cloud in 2001.
Me: how did you like it so far.
Yusuf: It is a great city. I really liked it
Me: Before you moved to St Cloud, where did you move from?
Yusuf: I moved from California.
Me: Don't you think here is colder compared to California?
Yusuf: It is. But I think I got used to the colder weather: this place has become my home now.
Me: Ok, thank you so much for talking to me.
Yusuf: You are welcome. Thanks.
Recently, I went to Somali Cafe in St. Cloud, MN. Food was delicious and it reminded me of my old home, thousands of miles away in the Horn of Africa. Then I met there Ali Farah, one of the brilliant Somalis living in St. Cloud. Ali read me a part of a poem talking about the future of the Somalis in the city:
As Somalis we will succeed
In the American dream
A dream shrouded in golden cream
Cream of luck and hard work
As Somalis we will get educated
And we will never get frustrated
Because education is the navigation
That will lead us to the right direction
Towards integrity,
Towards serenity,
And towards prosperity
I wish all the people of St. Cloud a good life and prosperity. Amen.
In Mogadishu Halal meat & grocery, the place was packed with people. Some people were busy with shopping, where others were casually chatting with each other. Some people were eating in the restaurant inside Mogadishu meat and grocery store building. Some people were buying clothes and traditional scent products from the small size shops inside the building of Mogadishu meat & grocery store. The day was Saturday. And as usual, many people were off from work because I could see how the whole place was busy with activities. I met there Mohamed Dirie:
Me: Mohamed, why do you frequent Mogadishu meat & grocery, because I saw you here for several times, I think?
Mohamed: Besides shopping here, the other main reason I come here is for the Somali tea.
Me: Really?
Mohamed: Yeah. I never get tired of having this delicious Somali tea with cloves, cinnamon, cardamom pods, one tea bag, water and milk, wow!
Me: That looks delicious (as I was point to the tea cup in his hand). Thanks, man.
As I am writing this piece, I am having Somali tea, too. You should try one!
Ahmed Said (Abwaan-kuluc) is Somali American blogger who lives in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He can be reached at [email protected] or [email protected]