In 2007, 30,000 Africans landed in Spain's Canary Islands on their way to the European mainland looking for work, an increase of 600% over 2006. Thousands more who attempted the crossing are believed to have died at sea.

In this Reporter's Notebook, Daniela Gerson introduces us to one of those immigrants who made it safely to Spain — a man who identifies himself only as Mohammed. He was a carpenter back in Senegal, but in Spain he sells bootleg DVDs in the bars of Granada and lives in an apartment with six other African immigrants.

He says life in Europe is not what he envisioned.

Music for this show ...