A new country, a new culture, a new life: Kenyan family thankful for welcoming
atmosphere at Bishop Chatard High School
Shortly after the death of their father in Kenya, Indiana University School of Medicine student Alex Ondari, right, searched for a high school in Indianapolis that could become a new educational home for his sister, Annabelle, left. Since arriving in the United States in July, Annabelle has found that home at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis. (Photo by John Shaughnessy)
By John Shaughnessy
It’s the story of a brother and sister, the tragedy that brought their lives together after years of separation, and the Catholic school that has given them a sense of hope for the future.
It’s a story that began in the spring of 2008 as Alex Ondari, heartbroken and discouraged at the time, waited to talk to another school administrator, hoping that someone would be willing to help him with his dream for his younger sister.
As he waited at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis, Ondari, a native of Kenya, was still reeling from the unexpected death of his father a few weeks earlier.
He was also still struggling with his decision to drop out of his first year at Indiana University School of Medicine, where he had been studying to become a doctor—a decision he made so he could return to his homeland to be there for his mother, his two brothers and his sister as they grieved together.
Yet even in the midst of all the tragedy and turmoil that marked his life in the spring of 2008, the then-26-year-old Ondari sought a way to make the future brighter for his sister, Annabelle, who is nearly 10 years younger.
After spending a month with his family in Kenya, Ondari returned to Indiana and began visiting different high schools on the north side of Indianapolis.
At each school, he shared the story of how his father died from a head injury from a car accident in Kenya, an injury similar to the one that recently killed actress Natasha Richardson after she fell while skiing in Canada.
He also shared how he wanted to bring his sister to the United States so she could continue her education there.
“My father’s death was very sudden,” Ondari, now 27, recalls. “I knew it was going to change the whole dynamic for my family. My dad was the major supporter for our family. I was planning to return to my studies because I knew that’s what my dad would want me to do. But one of my brothers wasn’t doing well. My mom had to be there for him. I tried to think about my sister. I wondered if I could find a school for her to go to here.”
Some of the high schools he visited didn’t feel right to Ondari. Officials at other schools said they sympathized, but they couldn’t help his family.
That’s when Ondari’s search led him to Bishop Chatard High School. He shared the same story he had told at the other schools. He also talked about Annabelle.
“I left Kenya to come to college in the United States when she was a very small girl,” he recalls. “We’re nine years and some months apart. Being here, I was only able to go back about every two years. I was worried about her future. We both went to a Catholic school in Kenya. They have the discipline. They talk about the tenets of God. It helps prepare you for life.”
Bishop Chatard decided to accept Annabelle as a student. She came to live in Indianapolis with her brother in late July 2008. In August, she started classes at the same time that her brother returned to medical school.
Annabelle and Alex appreciated the way that Bishop Chatard students approached her during orientation, helping her try to get adjusted to a new school—part of a challenging transition that included getting used to a new country, a new culture, a new life.
“It hasn’t always been easy,” says Annabelle, who is 17. “People don’t always understand what you say, and you don’t always understand what they say. But it’s a good school. The people are nice. You meet many people. It’s not like you’re alone. There are a lot of activities going on in and out of school. I find that interesting. I’m proud of how I do in class. With my teachers, I try to get to know them and let them get to know me. I think I have done great in a lot of ways.”
So does the staff at the school.
“I see how happy she is, and the friends she’s making,” says William Sahm, the school’s president. “You don’t adjust to a new culture and all the things a teenager goes through without that.”
“Teachers adore her,” says Jamie Marx, a guidance counselor for juniors at Bishop Chatard. “She works so hard, she’s so bright and she takes advantage of every opportunity she can. She wanted to learn a musical instrument so she worked with our band director during her lunch and study time. Now, she knows how to play the trumpet, and she’s in band. That’s an example of how she is. She’s so optimistic, friendly, polite and respectful.”
Alex has also been impressed by his sister.
“What I admire most is the way she transitioned so quickly,” he says. “I felt she would need me for everything. She hasn’t. It has been very encouraging to me.”
The loss of their father continues to touch their lives. Annabelle wants to become an accountant, her father’s profession. Alex hopes his career as a doctor will help him save lives.
Their father’s death has also deepened their connection to each other.
“I always feel close to him,” Annabelle says about Alex. “When he was in high school and college, he would bring me little gifts home. I developed that love for him, and I’m proud of him.”
The feeling is mutual.
“Just having her around feels good,” Alex says. “The whole part of losing our dad, it would have been much harder for me without her being here. Having her here helps.”
He’s grateful for the role that the Bishop Chatard community has played in their relationship—and how it has created another touch of family for them.
“It has changed her life,” Alex says. “Now, she’ll be able to get into a good college—all because they had the heart to listen. I’m on student loans. It’s been hard, but they’ve been there for us. They’re incredible, loving people. Because of that, everything has turned out well for my sister.” †
