A Long Way From Iraq

--by CindyD, posted Oct 9, 2013

A family of Iraqis live in my neighborhood. The father of the family served as an interpreter for the American Forces for ten years.

When the Americans were withdrawing they gave my friend's family visas to come to America. They didn't give them much else. Two years before Ali, my friend, came to the USA he was able to get two of his sons out of Iraq and they got jobs at Walmart and ATT. They have good English skills and are college educated.

My friend Ali is in his 60s and has worked as an English/Arabic interpreter much of his life. He has worked for some very important international companies doing business in the Middle East. But here in America he is just an old Muslim man trying to get a job.

After more than a year of trying he has finally got a job as a security guard for a shopping center.

He and I became friends when my dog got loose from the dog park and chased a cat into his yard. Since then I have tried to help him get a job by making phone calls for him. I've tried to help him understand some of the subtleties of American culture. I am very fond of his wife and daughters-in-law.

I haven't done much for them except try to be a good neighbor. Today, I researched how to get to his work by bus on Wednesdays.

When his second American grandson was born I took a box of oranges, and my smile, to welcome the new baby.

I've tried to be empathetic to a family in a place completely different from what they knew as home. They are grateful to be here and to live in safety and some comfort. I am happy that they are safe in a world where so many are not.

4703 Reads

Posted by CindyD
Oct 9, 2013
Comments (19)

Readers Comments

3rq4rq34 wrote: Q4t4qt4wrwt3

sara wrote: You are so great with big heart. God bless you.

SmileSharer wrote: Thank you for being so understanding and giving these people a hero in their lives!

Bluebell wrote: You are a fantastic person, the world needs more people like you :-)

Cheryle wrote: Thank you for being such a blessing in this family's life. People are more alike than different,. We just tend to focus more on the differences.

camfarm wrote: Thank you for being such a blessing in this family's life. We are all more alike than we are different. It just seems that most people focus on the differences.

DianneS wrote: When you befriend them you befriend us all.

mpghome2 wrote: A good samaritan! This is the image i have of you! What a wonderful heart you have to make the world a bit smaller and more welcoming to your neighbors

,Marguerite Dawson Bomberry wrote: This man who now works as a security guard served this country well. He did so while putting his life at great risk. Thank you for helping this man and his family. You are doing the right thing.

cyrilsmom wrote: Good cindy. But keep ur distance too

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