Participants' narratives

The third way through which data was collected in order to answer the research question was through some form of interview during the last session of therapy. We wanted to learn about the participants' overall impression about the whole experi-ence. During the last session we let our participants know that we would give them the opportunity towards the end of the session to give us their overall impression about what they experienced throughout the whole process. We explained that we wanted them one after the other to give us a summary of what the experience of spending two and half months with us had been like. There were 9 participants on that day but only 8 responses are included here since one had attended only 4 ses-sions. Most of the texts are translated from Dari or Pashto to English, except that of our only participant who was relatively fluent in English and helped very much in translation during therapy sessions. To maintain privacy, we use pseudonyms where there might have been possibilities for them to be identified. Notable to mention here is the fact that we had four participants called Amir and three called Mohamed, so the use of pseudonyms is almost redundant. The texts have been included without any modification and seem repetitive at some point but reflect the atmosphere at the time when it was recorded.

Amir: I thank Mara and Alexis for having given us the opportunity to take part in this project. I am very happy because of everything that I was able to learn with you. In the beginning when I came here, I did not really know what I was going to get and I mainly came because I heard that it was going to be something with music.

I was able to learn here many things about myself and how music can make me hap-py. I like very much drawing but also the other thing we did, But drawing when listening to music was very good. I like very much that you are very friendly with us and I see you as good friends. I hope that we could help you with your school pro-gram and that we were kind… and did not cause you too many problems. I am a little sad that this is end and I will never see you again. Thank you

Amir 2: Thank you Mara. Alexis. I feel very good. I like playing music a lot. I like playing the drums. I am very happy that I was able to learn to play the drums better and now I can play like the people who play on television. I like it very much that I could just come here after school when outside was cold and dark, and that I could just be here with you and play music and talk and have fun. Some days I felt really sad and when I come here, we played music and I felt happy. I also like very much talking with you because you are very friendly, and you listen to us and you make us laugh. I wish that group would continue much longer but I know that you have your own school and other things to do.. Thank you very much.

Mohamed 1: Thank you Mara and Alexis. I learned very much with you and I learned many things about music and those music games. When I came here, I did not really know how to play anything and I was feeling a bit shy,... I feel very confi-dent and very happy now. In the beginning, I was a bit afraid to play the music and to say something. Now I can play many instruments; I don't feel shy to talk. You have been very good friends and you make me feel like I should not be afraid to play and I should not be ashamed to talk. Now when I feel sad, I can come down here and play some music and feel happy. You are very good friends, thanks you.

Samira: Thank you very much Mara and Alexis for all that you done for us. Here with you, I was able to learn so many things; I learned to play and sing in front of many people, I also danced in front of many people without being afraid or ashamed.

Many times I came here very sad and very tired and I don't know why. Sometimes before I came here, I was just in my room very sad and I was crying and I don't know why but when I come here, and played music together, I felt better. I feel sorry and I apologize because some days it was very difficult, but you were still very friendly and very nice to me. Now I am a bit sad that you are going to go but I know that you have to go. I am going to keep learning the guitar, maybe one day it will be good like you, thank you.

Soheil: Thank you Mara and Alexis. I thank you for many things that you gave us and you did for us. When I come here, I feel very happy when we play music and we do all the music games. Some days I feel very sad because I miss my parent and I miss my country then when I come here, we do many things and I forget about that.

Sometimes we play some music and I feel like I am back home in Afghanistan with my parents and relatives and my friends. I think that you Alexis you a very good friend, Mara is very nice also. I hope we were also friendly with you and we were able to help you with your school project, thank you.

Amir 3: I like very much this music games and all the dancing and singing that we did here. It made me feel good and happy during the days when I was sad and it was very good to be here instead of being in my room alone. I also like playing the darbuka very much because it makes me feel strong and powerful, and I also like the sound of the djembe. I also like when we play and dance music from my country because it makes me feel like I was in Afghanistan again. I miss my country very much and when I come here I am like in my country again with many friends. Thank you, Mara and Alexis, because you are good friends, and you accepted me and were very nice to me.

Mohamed 2: I like very much being here and playing music and listening to mu-sic. Before I came here, I never played any music and I sang only when I was alone.

When I came here, I played many instruments and I sang with many other people and it made me feel happy. Now I like music even more, and I want to play music when I feel sad or when I feel lonely. I like it because Alexis and Mara behave very nice with us and accepted us. I like it because you treated us like friends and like

Brothers. I am sad that this is end, because I am already used to coming here every week and playing music and talking with you. Thank you very much for everything.

Museba: I think I feel the same like everybody else here and I will say thank you for everything. I have learned to play the drum here and now every time when I have free time, I come here to practice with the big drum. Now I am not shy anymore and I think that if I keep practicing, I am going to become a good drummer. I am sad that this is ending because I still wanted to learn many things from you. I think you are very good friends and you treat us very nice.