AFGHANISTAN TORTURED FAMILY SAGA, PART III

 The saga of the 7 children who fled torture by the Taliban by coming to our country continues unabated.

First: the good news. The eldest, a young woman whom I call S1 continues to amaze us. She is in her last couple weeks of Junior College. She has amassed a grade point near perfect A’s, all with knowing barely a word of English when she arrived here some 3 years ago. She is the designated foster care provider for her 6 siblings. She manages to get tooth care for her family which had not seen a dentist in 5 years. She has applied for admission for university level work and just yesterday was informed that she was accepted at the prestigious University of San Diego as she awaits word on her other applications. She passes weekly very meticulous in-home inspections conducted by a very legalistic representative from the foster care agency.

The second oldest son whom I will call B2 is also doing very well. He works (for $10.00 an hour) at McDonald’s, keeps a to the penny budget, incredibly saved $5000.00 and last week purchased (on credit) a nice used car. His plan is to go to school full time, work full-time and also drive Uber and Lyft, save enough money and then open an Indian bakery The youngest, aged 12, is doing great in school and speaks “American” without even the hint of an accent.

Yet the challenges continue. The first is the changing attitude about them that they perceive in society. They are increasingly hearing terrible slurs about their Muslim faith. They fear that threats about deportation will be carried out even though they are here 100% legally and have green cards. They face some outright discrimination when they go in public wearing their headscarves.

S2 is having the hardest time. She is really struggling with her G.E.D. classes and her English. Her mental health is still not well. After all, when her family was informed they were next on the Taliban death list, they fled in the middle of the night and she fell and broke her leg as she ran. Then some “friends” took them in but after a while demanded payment: in the form of her (a 12 year old at the time) becoming the third wife of her protector who was aged 62. That is when they fled to Pakistan where they lived in exile for some two years.

Now money has become a significant issue. S1 cannot at the moment come up with the $300.00 university registration fees, much less the university tuition. They have exceeded their medical expense limits on health and dental care and so are going without, including not getting eyeglasses badly needed. S1 really thinks she will pass her drivers license test this Christmas season but does not know where she can find the money for the car insurance for a car which friends have found and paid for. And then comes the message from their landlord: “I intend to sell the house so you’d better start looking at an alternative.”

Yet-their determination is undeterred. All of them daily ‘show up’. All of them still see America as the land of dreams and opportunities. Their gratitude for all who have and are now helping continues to be expressed most profoundly.

And here is my pitch: If you feel moved to help I will be happy to “manage” checks made out in my name or in the name of Shamayel Ameri. My mailing address is 7831 Rush Rose Dr. 323 Carlsbad CA 92009.

Together, under God, they will be blessed and will be a blessing to our country and to the world.

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