Chapter 11 and 12 Summary and Analysis

"A Trial by the Elders" opens with Ayaan's euphoric feeling of freedom as she can now register for services and official living arrangements. She begins receiving her refugee allowances and takes language classes to start learning Dutch. She feels some guilt about lying, but also lucky to have her refugee status, so she tries to help other people. She begins volunteering at the center and became an unofficial translator when Somalis were have difficulties in the camp.

As the days grew colder, she received a letter from her father, addressed with kindness and love and trying to persuade her to return to her husband and requesting help with money for eye surgery. Several days later, Osman Moussa, her husband, called the center and spoke with her. He told her to return to Germany and she said she would, she...