Teil II.1 Leseverstehen

Outline what happens to the narrator on his arrival and during the first weeks in the UK.

Teil II.2 Analyse

Analyse how the narrator’s state of mind is conveyed. Focus on narrative techniques and use of language.

Teil II.3 Persönliche Stellungnahme bzw. gestaltende Schreibaufgabe

Choose ONE of the following:

Teil II. 3a)

“[H]e took the receiver from me and gave my mother a full account of my arrival, piling on the clichés and laughing at my provincial awkwardnesses at the airport.” (ll. 25–26)

Starting from the quote, assess to what extent the boyfriend treats Akunna in a considerate way in the short story “The Thing Around Your Neck” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

OR

Teil II. 3b)

Worldliteratureforum.com is a collaborative website on literature where users have a say in the selection of fiction. At the moment, a collection of migration fiction with the motto “Finding a Sense of Belonging” is being compiled. One of the stories suggested is “The Embassy of Cambodia” by Zadie Smith.

Write a blog entry for the website discussing whether this motto applies to Fatou, the protagonist in the short story.

Teil II.1 Leseverstehen

On his arrival in the UK, the narrator receives a very warm welcome from his aunt and uncle. Auntie Asha tells him that this is his new home and shows him to his spacious, well-furnished room. The luxurious surroundings impress him because they are very different from the modest conditions he is used to. He plans to write to his mother about his new life, although he also feels a slight sense of panic and wonders whether he belongs there.

The next day, his uncle calls the narrator’s mother so that he can speak to her on the phone for the first time. Feeling uncomfortable and inexperienced, the narrator says very little, while Uncle Amir enthusiastically tells his mother about his arrival and jokes about his awkwardness.

After making the necessary arrangements for the narrator’s studies, his aunt and uncle take him shopping for suitable clothes. Since the clothes he has brought from Zanzibar are considered inappropriate for the British climate, they choose an entirely new wardrobe for him. They make all the decisions themselves and do not ask for his opinion.

During the first weeks, the narrator feels uncomfortable in the clothes because they are too large, too warm and embarrassing to wear. Although he is grateful for his relatives’ generosity, he realises that, as their dependent poor relation, he is expected to obey them without questioning their decisions.

Three weeks after arriving in London, the narrator starts college. However, he is frightened by the city. The busy streets, heavy traffic and crowds confuse and overwhelm him, making him feel anxious, insignificant and out of place.

Teil II.2 Analyse

The extract presents the narrator’s first weeks in the UK as an emotionally complex experience. While he is initially impressed by the generosity of his relatives and fascinated by his new surroundings, his excitement is increasingly overshadowed by insecurity, dependence, embarrassment and finally fear. Gurnah conveys this gradual change mainly through a first-person narrator with internal focalisation, the narrator’s inner reflections and the careful use of imagery, contrasts and expressive language.

From the very beginning, the first-person narration provides direct access to the narrator’s thoughts and emotions, allowing the reader to experience his arrival from his personal perspective. Although he is warmly welcomed by his aunt and uncle, he immediately reveals that he is emotionally overwhelmed, admitting that he is "too flustered to take in everything immediately" (l. 4). Instead of simply describing the house objectively, he filters everything through his own perceptions. The comparison between his luxurious room and his previous home ("A whole family lived in a room of this size", ll. 10–11) highlights both his amazement and his awareness of his modest background. His reaction is therefore characterised by gratitude as well as disbelief.

At the same time, Gurnah repeatedly interrupts the external action with the narrator’s inner reflections. Sitting alone in his room, he imagines writing a letter to his mother, addressing her directly as "Mama" (l. 17). This imaginary dialogue creates intimacy and suggests that he seeks emotional reassurance by mentally staying connected to home. However, the optimistic resolution to write about "the wonders" he will encounter (l. 16) is immediately undermined by his fear of "ignorance" (l. 17). The contrast between hope and insecurity culminates in the rhetorical question "What was I doing here?" (l. 19), which exposes his self-doubt. Thus, despite the apparent success of his arrival, feelings of uncertainty remain just beneath the surface.

The narrator’s increasing dependence becomes particularly evident during the shopping trip. Uncle Amir assumes complete control over the situation, while the narrator remains largely passive. This imbalance is emphasised through the repeated description of the uncle’s actions ("explained", "decisions made for me", l. 33), whereas the narrator hardly acts himself. The short declarative sentence "My opinion was not required on any issue" (l. 33) is especially striking because its simplicity reflects the unquestioned nature of his lack of agency. Rather than openly criticising his relatives, however, the narrator adopts a restrained and reflective tone, indicating that he accepts their authority because he feels indebted to them.

The language used to describe the new clothes further illustrates the narrator’s emotional discomfort. The oversized sweater "wrapped round my neck like a brace" (ll. 34–35), while the raincoat is "two sizes too big" (l. 36). These descriptions suggest physical restriction and discomfort. Later, the simile "as if I was wearing something discarded by one of the giant Englishmen" (ll. 44–45) exaggerates the size difference between himself and the English population. The hyperbolic image of "giant Englishmen" reflects not physical reality but the narrator’s perception of himself as insignificant and inferior. Significantly, the raincoat develops into a metaphor for his social position when he describes it as "a badge of my neediness" (ll. 55–56). Instead of symbolising protection, it becomes a permanent reminder of his financial dependence and outsider status.

What is particularly revealing is the narrator’s growing self-awareness. He realises that his embarrassment is "deeper than what I wore" (l. 57), showing that the clothing merely reflects a more profound emotional conflict. The metaphorical description of the "overbearing shrillness of the strange air around me" (ll. 57–58) conveys his inability to adapt to this unfamiliar environment. The unusual combination of sensory impressions creates an atmosphere of constant unease, suggesting that his alienation affects his entire perception of the new country.

The final paragraph marks the climax of his emotional development. As he starts college, London itself appears threatening and hostile. This impression is created through a semantic field of fear and confusion, including expressions such as "fear and trembling" (l. 60), "terrified" (l. 60), "confused" (l. 61), "muddled" (l. 63), "panicked" (l. 63) and "anxiety" (l. 64). The accumulation of negatively connoted verbs reproduces the narrator’s sensory overload and allows the reader to experience the city from his anxious perspective. In addition, the auditory imagery of buses and cars that "roared past" and "churned up my gut" (l. 62) makes London seem physically aggressive.

Finally, the city is personified when the narrator feels that "the city despised me" (l. 64). This personification externalises his insecurity: rather than recognising that the feeling originates within himself, he experiences the city as actively rejecting him. The subsequent simile comparing himself to "a tiresome and timorous child" (l. 65) reinforces his vulnerability and loss of confidence. In contrast, London is associated with "boldness and greed and swagger" (ll. 66–67). This tricolon presents these qualities as essential for survival and highlights the contrast between the narrator’s timid personality and the demands of his new environment.

Overall, Gurnah presents the narrator’s arrival in Britain not as a straightforward success story but as an emotionally challenging process of displacement. Through the combination of first-person narration, internal focalisation, inner reflections, vivid imagery, contrasts and a lexical field of fear, the reader closely follows the narrator’s gradual transformation from a grateful and hopeful newcomer into a young man who increasingly feels dependent, overwhelmed and alienated by his new surroundings.

Teil II.3 Persönliche Stellungnahme bzw. gestaltende Schreibaufgabe

Teil II. 3a)

The quotation from Gravel Heart illustrates a relationship in which a young newcomer is treated in a patronising way. Uncle Amir takes control of the situation by speaking for his nephew and even laughs at his "provincial awkwardnesses". Unlike Uncle Amir, the boyfriend in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's The Thing Around Your Neck generally treats Akunna with respect and genuine interest. Nevertheless, although he is far more considerate than most other people she meets in the United States, his behaviour is not entirely free from paternalism and cultural privilege.

From the beginning of their relationship, the boyfriend distinguishes himself from other Americans because he approaches Akunna as an individual rather than reducing her to stereotypes. Whereas customers at the restaurant assume that she comes from Jamaica or ask ignorant questions about Africa, he simply asks, "What African country are you from?" and later asks her name. More importantly, "He did not ask what it meant" when she tells him her name (cf. text). Unlike many other characters, he does not exoticise her identity or expect her to educate him. Instead, he accepts her answers without judgement, demonstrating respect for her as a person.

Furthermore, the boyfriend consistently shows genuine curiosity about Akunna's experiences. He has travelled in several African countries, has read African literature and engages in conversations about history and culture. Although Akunna initially expects him to be another patronising white American, she realises that "he didn't shake his head in the superior way" that her college professor had done. Instead of presenting himself as an expert, he listens to her perspective. This willingness to learn rather than lecture suggests emotional maturity and consideration.

His patience also demonstrates his respectful attitude. Akunna repeatedly refuses to go out with him because she feels uncomfortable with his attention. Instead of reacting angrily or trying to pressure her, he simply returns several times and accepts her hesitation. Even after they begin dating, he never attempts to control her decisions. When she eventually tells him about her father's humiliation after the car accident, he does not interrupt her but quietly holds her hand and says that he understands how she feels. His physical gesture expresses empathy without demanding that she justify her emotions.

Another indication of his considerate behaviour is his acceptance of Akunna's cultural background. He searches for an African grocery store so that she can cook familiar food, willingly eats dishes he has never tried before and shows genuine interest in her traditions. Likewise, he introduces her to his parents, who welcome her warmly instead of treating her as an outsider. These actions create a sense of belonging that contrasts sharply with the alienation she has experienced since arriving in America. Significantly, Adichie notes that "the thing" around her neck "started to loosen, to let go", suggesting that the relationship helps her overcome her loneliness.

However, it would be misleading to describe the boyfriend as entirely considerate. Despite his good intentions, he sometimes fails to recognise his own privileged position. One example is his habit of buying Akunna expensive presents although she repeatedly tells him that she does not want them. He insists on giving them to her because, in his life, "he could buy presents that were just presents and nothing else". His generosity is genuine, yet it also reveals that he does not fully understand that, for Akunna, gifts are closely connected to financial dependence and obligation. Instead of listening to her concerns, he assumes that his own perspective is universal.

Similarly, he unintentionally exoticises aspects of Africa. He wants to visit Nigeria "to see how real people lived", a remark that unintentionally reflects an exoticising attitude. Although he rejects simplistic stereotypes and sincerely admires African cultures, his fascination sometimes turns Akunna's homeland into an object of curiosity rather than simply the place where she grew up. Their argument about travelling to Nigeria illustrates that he does not always understand why she experiences his enthusiasm differently from him.

Moreover, the relationship is marked by structural inequalities that even his kindness cannot overcome. Unlike Akunna, he comes from a wealthy and secure background, can choose whether or not to attend university and is free to travel around the world. Akunna, by contrast, constantly worries about money, immigration and supporting her family. Although he never exploits these differences, he cannot fully comprehend the pressures that shape her life. Consequently, there are limits to his ability to understand her emotional world.

Overall, the boyfriend treats Akunna in a remarkably considerate way and stands in clear contrast to many other characters in the story. He listens carefully, respects her identity, supports her emotionally and contributes significantly to her growing sense of belonging. Nevertheless, Adichie also shows that good intentions do not automatically eliminate cultural misunderstandings or differences in privilege. Therefore, the boyfriend can be regarded as considerate to a great extent, but his empathy remains necessarily incomplete because he cannot entirely escape his own social and cultural perspective.

Teil II. 3b)

Does Fatou Ever Find a Sense of Belonging?

When I first read The Embassy of Cambodia, I thought the answer to this question was obvious: No. Fatou seems to be lonely wherever she goes. However, after finishing the story, I realised that the answer is much more complicated. Although she never truly belongs in the traditional sense, she gradually creates small moments of connection that make her life more bearable. For me, this is exactly what makes Zadie Smith's story such a powerful contribution to a collection called "Finding a Sense of Belonging."

To begin with, Fatou's situation is defined by exclusion. As an undocumented migrant working as a domestic servant for the Derawal family, she has almost no control over her own life. She works long hours, receives little appreciation and is exploited by her employers. Even simple freedoms, such as using the internet or going out whenever she wants, depend on other people's decisions. This makes it difficult for her to develop any real feeling of belonging because she is treated more as a servant than as an individual.

Moreover, Fatou often finds herself between different worlds. She lives in London but is never fully accepted as part of British society. At the same time, she is separated from her own home and culture. This feeling of being "in between" is typical of migration fiction. Smith therefore presents belonging not as something migrants automatically achieve after arriving in a new country, but as something that remains uncertain and fragile.

Nevertheless, the story also shows that belonging does not necessarily have to mean having a permanent home. Fatou develops meaningful relationships, especially with Andrew. Their conversations during their walks allow her to speak openly about politics, religion and everyday life. Most importantly, Andrew listens to her and treats her as an equal. Although their friendship is imperfect and does not solve her problems, it offers Fatou something she rarely experiences: respect and genuine human connection.

Another important place where she can momentarily reclaim her individuality is Fatou's everyday routine. Swimming at the health club becomes much more than physical exercise. In the water, she is temporarily free from the restrictions of her daily life. Likewise, the regular walks through Willesden create moments of stability in an otherwise uncertain existence. Smith suggests that belonging can also develop through familiar places and repeated routines rather than through legal status or family ties.

At the same time, Smith avoids offering a simplistic happy ending. Andrew eventually disappears from Fatou's life, and she loses one of the few people with whom she felt comfortable. Her working conditions do not improve either, and many of the structural inequalities remain unchanged. In this respect, Fatou never achieves the kind of security and acceptance that many readers might associate with belonging.

However, I think the title of the collection still fits the story. Smith deliberately broadens the meaning of belonging. Instead of presenting it as a final destination, she portrays it as something that exists in brief encounters, shared conversations and small acts of kindness. Fatou may never fully belong to one country, one family or one community, but she remains open to human connection despite repeated experiences of exclusion. That quiet resilience is perhaps her greatest achievement.

For these reasons, I would definitely include The Embassy of Cambodia in a collection entitled "Finding a Sense of Belonging." The story reminds us that belonging is not simply about having a passport or a permanent home. Sometimes it means finding moments of humanity even in situations marked by loneliness, displacement and injustice. Fatou's story is therefore not about successfully arriving somewhere—it is about continuing to search for a place where one can truly belong, even if that place remains incomplete.