What Makes America Great--As Told By Resettled Refugees

by Dayna Safferstein July 01, 2016

To celebrate America for the upcoming Independence day, we asked our resettled refugee staff what their favorite things are about living in America.

Check out all the things they are grateful for:

• Marc (from the Congo via Rwanda, has lived in the USA for 2 years)
• His children can go to school for free! In Rwanda school was very expensive and his children had to drop out of school around 9th grade. Now he has a daughter in college, with help from financial aid!
• Solomon (from Ethiopia, will have lived in the USA for 4 years in September)
• "Any person who respects the laws has peace wherever he goes and can have a job."
• Genet (from Eritrea, will have lived in the USA for 2 years on July 16th)
• "Good jobs, school for kids, good for your family. Everything is good."
• Tayebeh (from Iran via Turkey, has lived in the USA for 6 months)
• She likes that people in the USA are nice to animals! In Iran, animals are killed. Here, people keep animals as pets. She looks forward to eventually getting a dog!
• Bems (from the Congo, has lived in the USA for 10 years)
• He loves being able to meet people from all around the world in one country. 
• Also, lots of people in Africa want jobs but only the most educated can get them. Here, everyone can get jobs. 
• Hibo (from Somalia, has lived in the USA for 1 year and 3 months)
• "People respect you, people help you. Happy independence day!"
• Imad (from Iraq, has lived in the USA for 2 years)
• "Swimming, shopping, bicycle, ties, bowties"
• Hana (from Ethiopia, will have lived in the USA for 3 years in September)
• The weather (snow!), the roads (she learned how to drive here and loves driving), and democracy (she loves that there is a first lady!)

Some favorites were universal: many of the refugees said they loved peace, and being able to sleep soundly at night. Almost all of them said they loved how the government helped out its citizens with education, jobs, Medicaid and food stamps. Quite a few of them said they loved learning and speaking English. Lastly, one of their favorite parts about America is getting to work at Knotty Tie where they get to sew-- which is what they love to do.

Read more about our manufacturing staff as individuals here.

 

Happy Birthday America!

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