Our first family was an 18-year-old man from Burma. My first impression was that we were talking with a young teen and I was wondering why his parents weren’t meeting with us. He’s a small, young looking man who has already experienced immense turmoil. When in Burma, he had been a member of the Buddhist Monks in Burma (which was a group of monks that rose up in non-voilent protest tot he government for how they were treating the people of Burma) fighting against the Burmese government. He ran away to a refugee camp at age 14. It was unclear how long he had been with the Buddhist Monks. He believes his parents and 3 or 4 of his 5 brothers are still in his home village; 1 or 2 of his brothers are still in the camp. He now lives with two other men from Burma who do not speak his language. It seems this has been a recurring issue for him as he stated education was offered at the camp but the teacher did not speak his language. His job was to detassle corn.

He says he likes it here very much. He misses his family yet realizes he can do nothing about this. He would like some books for studying, warm clothes and a blanket. Heart-breaking simplicity.

Our second family is from Bhutan: mother, father, 5-year-old son and sister of the father. The sister speaks English quite well and so a translator was not needed. The sister told us that the family had lived in a refugee camp in Nepal for 18 years. Getting to the camp had been a hardship. She got teary-eyed when relating how they had to beg for food during the day and sleep on the ground at night, hiding from the soldiers. They were finally put on a bus and taken to the refugee camp. Food was scarce in the camp. They would have to wait for rice, dai, salt, and sugar, which were their staples. Each family was given four bamboo branches to make their hut. The men had to work to get sticks to use. A piece of plastic served as the roof. She’s anticipating her parents coming soon. Her father is in poor health. Does she like America? “It’s very nice. I’m so happy now. I am not going back again.”  

Our third family is from Bhutan. Flavorful aromas were in the air as we approached our last visit of the day. The family was on the floor, busily preparing food. They quickly moved everything and spread a bedspread on the floor for us to sit on. Two married couples live here: middle-aged parents and their son and his wife. Several other people were sitting around in the living room with us. It was later revealed why the others were present….

The translator told us the son and his wife had lived here first, having transferred from California with his job. His parents just moved from California to join them. It was apparent they had brought nothing with them.

Prior to coming to the USA, they had lived in a refugee camp in Nepal, having been forced to leave Bhutan. The dad had been a carpenter and mason; they were southern Hindus. In 1989 the king adopted a policy to "cleanse" the country of Hindus and Christians. He said the army came to the villages and announced everyone had one week to leave the country. Many were imprisoned and killed. They chose to leave, expecting to be received with tolerance by India. It sounded like their 18 years in the refugee camp were not pleasant. They were provided with little food, substandard healthcare and some education. In the camp there were 150,000 people who had registered. Years later, many are still in the camp. They had only expected to stay for 4-6 months, not 18 years.

About America he says, “Here we have options, hope, and aspirations. We trust America.”

We thought this concluded our visit but we were wrong. The food they had been preparing was for us…and the other guests who were there with us. We were served a delicious meal of “Maw-mu,” which is steamed vegetables wrapped in pastry. As is their tradition, we from WTAP and their guests were served first; when they were sure we had been given enough, the parents ate. We were told the daughter-in-law is always the last to eat. I never did see her eat and only hope she did as it was so very tasty. We left full and feeling very special.

 

Our first family is from Congo. A family of 10: mother and father, four boys and four girls. Their youngest is a cute 1-year-old girl & the oldest is a beautiful 18-year-old girl. She is the only one in the family who speaks English, and helped as our interpreter. The family had to flee the Congo in 1993 during the conflicts between the Katanga and Kasai. They were in a refugee camp in Zambia for 15 years. All the children, apart from the eldest two, were born in the camp. Back in Congo the father worked in a copper mine as a security officer. He still has a brother in Congo, but they have not communicated in 15 years. The wife’s family is still in Congo, and they are hoping to get some help to come to the US. This wonderful family has been in America for 3 weeks. They are happy to be here.

 

Our second family is from Iraq, a mother and father and their 5 children: 4 girls, ages 18, 14, 12 and 4, and a 10 year old boy. They also have a daughter who is married and still living in Iraq. They are very sad to have missed her wedding and have not seen their first grandchild, a one-month-old baby girl.

After fleeing Iraq in 2006 the family lived in Damascus, Syria. The husband’s brother and father were killed in Iraq. He told us that he and his wife have lost 10% of their family members. 

They think of America as a beautiful and safe place to live. Their 4 year old is eager to start pre-school, unfortunately they cannot afford it, and she is still too young for kindergarten. The rest of the children will be starting school within the next few weeks.

 

Our third family is from Congo, a mother, father and their 6 children 4 girls ages 14,12,6,3 and 2 boys ages 9,4. The father’s 17 year old sister also lives with them. They fled Congo in 1999 for security reasons and spent 2 years in Tanzania and another 8 years in Mozambique. The father speaks a little English; however, his brother will be there on deliveries to translate.

Our first family is from Burma. The dad was home with his 2 children; his 6-year-old son is not yet in school as he’s still getting the required inoculations. I think he’s looking forward to going to school as he said through the interpreter that he likes to play but doesn’t have any friends. His sister is only 2. Dad claims to be 37 yet looks much younger. His wife was not home. He thinks she is 45. Dad is actually from the state of Karen and does not speak Burmese, so 2 interpreters were needed and found. Through them, we learned that the dad had lived on a farm near the mountains with his parents, growing rice and corn. The family was ordered by the Army, under threat of death, to stop growing these crops. Without food, the family had no choice but to leave. They went to Thailand in 1996 and were in a refugee camp until this past August when the dad and his family were able to come to the U.S. His parents remain in the camp. The dad said it was in the camp that he met his wife.  When asked to describe his life in the refugee camp, his response was, “Not happy.” His first impression of Arizona was “Happy but hot!” The father has no training but would like a job doing anything.

Our second family is from Somalia. This family consists of 7 people: a mother, age 43, four sons, ages 19, 17, 13 and 5, and three daughters, ages 15, 10, and 8. She also has another adult son living nearby that we visited a few weeks ago.  She left Somalia in 2006 because of the war and she feared for their safety.  Her husband passed away in Somalia after having surgery.  They arrived in Phoenix two weeks ago. Life in the refugee camp was really tough because of a lack of food and shelter. The water supply was inadequate.  The children have lots of medical issues. One of her daughters had surgery since arriving. In Somalia her husband had worked as a loader with a small cart making deliveries and she worked at a small restaurant.

Our third family consists of nine people: a father, age 44, a mother, age 47, five daughters, ages 4, 8, 9, 11, and 13, and two sons, ages 3 and 6. The father left Somalia in 1992 and ended up in Kenya. He met his wife there. She had two kids from a previous marriage. They had six more children, but one passed away in the refugee camp. One of the younger sons had a stroke, and they think he may have cerebral palsy.  In Somalia the father worked as a sewing machine operator and a farmer.  This family has only been here for four months, and they have a very positive attitude considering how they got here. They were originally supposed to go to Texas, but when they got to the airport they were given tickets to Phoenix. They went from Kenya to London and had a five hour layover then to New York where they also had a five hour layover. Next they arrived in Phoenix where no one was expecting them. They spent most of the night at the airport until airport staff started checking to see why they were there so long. They noticed the family had a bag with them that read Catholic Charities.  So they started calling around and got a hold of someone. So Catholic Charities picked up the family and put them in a hotel for two days. They also brought them some of their native foods. Catholic Charities was able to get their paperwork and decided to relocate them here. The only thing the father could say about the trip is that it was very long and he was tired. 

Our first family is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire. With his family of 10 he fled to Tanzania because of the civil war, leaving behind his older son and aging parents. They stayed in the refugee camps of Kigoma, Tanzania for one and a half years. Life at the camp was no different than living in a jail as food, education, and health services were luxuries. Coming to the USA was a benediction because the institutions in this country fulfill everything they were missing in their own country. He was a vocational math teacher, but he cannot seek employment in that field because of credential issues. 

With his wife and 19 year old daughter, he has been attending the English Language Program in Woodbridge. The remaining children just finished the required vaccinations and are working with the Case Manager to start school. The family has extended support from a friend from Congo who is a five year resident and lives nearby.

 

Our second family is from Somalia and consists of a Mother, Father and five sons ages 25, 20, 19, 12 and  9. One of the sons is blind and deaf.  At the time of our home visit we were only able to meet with their 19 year old son.

 

Our third family is a charming young couple from Iraq and their very active 1 year old daughter. The couple has been married for three years and had over 1,500 people at their wedding. After leaving Iraq, they lived in Istanbul, Turkey for 1 1/2 years. They said in some ways Turkey was worse than Iraq. They were not allowed to work and most of the Turks didn't want them there. They arrived in Phoenix about 5 weeks ago. When we asked the husband what we could bring for him, he said that it was very difficult because he was not brought up this way, to ask for help. 

Our first family is a lovely young couple from Iraq.  They are expecting their first child in March.  The husband is 34 and the wife is 31.  The husband’s most recent job in Iraq was for the American Embassy.  He worked for the rehabilitation and rebuilding of each of the 18 provinces of Iraq.   He is very proud of a letter of commendation from our US Ambassador to Iraq.  His story is similar to so many….his life was threatened because he was working with the Americans.  He has an AA degree in graphic design.  He has worked as a media community manager, an executive manager in clothing sales and other jobs with similar responsibility.  He is fluent in English.  He is trying very hard to find a job. This is his main concern at this time.

 

Our second family is another wonderful young couple from Iraq with a darling 3 year old son and a daughter due on November 16.  The husband is 31 and the wife is 27.  The husband has a degree in computer engineering  and is very qualified and experienced with IT work.  When he began to get threats to his life he went to work in Dubai for 3 years before coming here in July.  The wife has a degree in chemical engineering and worked for a lab supply company.  The husband is fluent in English and the wife understands English well.  They are looking forward to having new “pink” baby clothes and other baby items that are new.  They would especially like to have a changing table with shelves and drawers for their new baby girl.  The husband is also trying to find a job.

 

Our third family is yet another lovely couple from Iraq.  The husband is 36 and the wife is 25.  He worked as a technician for Fox News in Baghdad and she was a teacher of Geography and English at a college there.  They arrived here in July also.  She speaks fluent English.

 

Our fourth family is an energetic happy couple with 2 children from Iraq.  The father is 44 and the mother is 35.  The children are a son age 8 and a daughter age 3.  We visited with the mother and daughter.  The mother speaks no English.  She grew up in Babylon.  She loves to cook and entertain lots of friends and is hoping to have more chairs to accommodate them.  They arrived here in August.  Her husband worked in security in Iraq.