Refugee Family Growing Up
April 19th, 2011 by Jacqueline ComellaA few weeks ago after many set dates and changed dates my refugee family group members and I realized that our family didn’t really need us anymore. As great as it is, it’s also been sad. I’ve really missed spending time laughing over pronunciation of words by the family (and my horrible Spanish pronunciations) but mostly I’ve missed having a family away from home.
While I’m extremely happy that my family has quickly acclimated to the American way of life, I also wish that I had more time with them. I knew after a few visits that our refugee mom was going to be fast at picking up English. By our second visit she was already saying certain phrases to her kids and greeting us in English. While the dad struggled more with English, he was extremely determined to find work. After only a month or so, both the mom and dad were able to find jobs. This has been extremely helpful for the family but has left them little time to spend with my group.
Hopefully I can see the family again and during Loyola Refugee Day. I hope that they can come take a break and just relax and update my group and I about their new jobs and their success with English and their ESL classes. I also really want to see the kids and just have a fun play day with them outside instead of all being crowded in their living room. (Although I definitely loved those loud Sunday afternoons with the parents trying to learn English while the kids continuously turned up the TV to hear it over them).
For me, not having a family has left me feeling a little disconnected with the class. By loosing my family, and not receiving my group project emails (as previously mentioned in my last short ranting blog) I feel like I’m not contributing as much as I’d like to. Upon talking to Dr. Amick however, we’ve figured out ways for me to stay evolved by volunteering to assist others in their group projects. I’ve already been able to help with the bake sell/Carmen’s Fundraiser sale and look forward to helping other groups in the near future.
Tags: Spring 2011
April 23rd, 2011 at 11:33 pm
I don’t know where else to go.
I’m a US citizen from a middle eastern origin and a US army soldier, served in OIF. And I have a mother and a sister, they are all I have in this life.
They are refugees, to say the least. From the country of origin in the middle east into a neighbor country, they fleed, in fear for their lives knowing not that fleeing will become their destiny and refuge the story of their lives.
Now, it started all over again. The host country is living a crises that seems to have a long stretch and only brings destruction to the weak.
Yes, they sought the UN’s help. And yes, I applied for immigration status through the proper channels. I was told to wait 5 years for a visa to become available for my 15 years old sister. And now, I’ve learned that my mother has received a death threat from the citizens of the country of refuge based on nationality and sect.
I go to sleep knowing that I might loss my family sooner before later. It seems that there is no where to go on this wide wide earth and no hart to care in these many many people. I can’t blame those who don’t live in the fire, not feeling the burn.
I think the only thing left to do is to say good bye to my family and hope they will rest in peace.
April 24th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Dear Anonymous Commenter,
Your story is a very touching one and it points out the great injustices for the millions who are seeking sanctuary throughout the world. It is especially hard on families like yours because they become separated.
Thank you for sharing your story so that others might know more about these terrible problems of human suffering. It is especially disheartening to me to know that it can occur to patriotic citizens like you who have served their country so valiantly. Maintaining hope is very important and I wish you the best in continuing your fight to reunify your family in safety.