This Is Home: A Refugee Story (2018) - full transcript
Four Syrian families struggling to find their way in America.
- Where are you from?
- Huh?
- Where are you from?
- Where are you from?
- Where from?
- Are you from Iraq?
No?
Where are you from?
- Where from?
- Afghanistan?
Where are you from?
- Where from?
- Syria?
- Syria, yeah.
- Syria.
- You are from Syria?
Syria, say, "I am from Syria."
Say, "I am."
- I am Syria.
- "From Syria."
- I am from Syria.
- Very good, Syria.
And then you speak Arabic,
right?
Arabic?
- Arabic?
- You speak Arabic,
your language?
- Do you speak Arabic?
- Arabic--
You speak Arabic, right?
Say, "I speak--"
- Do you speak English?
- Yes, I speak English,
but I do not speak Arabic.
Do you speak Arabic?
- Anna, do you speak Arabic?
- Do you speak Arabic?
Say yes.
- Yes.
Do you speak Arabic?
Yes.
- I am--
I speak Arabic.
Arabic.
Okay, any...
- How are you prepared
for their arrival today?
- I'm fine.
- This is for today and this is for tomorrow.
One, two, three, four.
All these people arriving.
They're coming at 12:30.
They're supposed to be here.
Okay, let's see.
Okay, I'm coming.
Do you have five
or you have seven?
You should have five.
When people come to us,
they have eight months
to be self-sufficient,
and that eight-month clock
starts
from the moment of arrival.
- Hello!
- It's very intense.
- Let me begin
by telling you the purpose
of cultural orientation.
One of the purposes is
to help you build life skills
that you will need during
your first eight months
in America.
- Can you think of some times
when you might need
to say your address
in English?
Hello, 9-1-1?
- Police.
- Police, okay?
- So now I'm gonna have you all
introduce yourself
to both the class and to me.
- Hello, my name is Maria.
I am from Syria.
In my country,
I was a student.
- I want to know more
about getting a job.
Um, and also maybe after that,
I want to get back
to the university.
- We have a lot of families
coming this month,
so there will be a lot more
Syrian families
in the neighborhood.
Yes, here.
Yes.
- You have to be willing
to accept
the first job
that's offered to you.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Okay, I'm gonna call
an interpreter.
- You entered August 1, 1981.
- I'm going to activate
his food stamp card.
- Your card is ready to use.
- All right.
Me and you go to grocery.
Yes. Yeah.
Okay, let's go.
- Okay.
- Vegetables.
Potato?
Yeah, let's go get some.
- Okay.
- Please continue to hold
for the next available
interpreter.
- Hello, this is an interpreter
for Arabic.
- Hi, uh, my client's with me.
We're in the grocery store.
I might just need you
to figure out what he needs.
Let me have you on hold
for right now.
- Oh, wow.
- So I'm just
gonna explain how
to, um, read the prices.
- Okay.
Uh...
- With the milk?
- Milk, yeah.
So, for milk,
we have full fat.
It's gonna be this one.
And then we have
reduced-fat milk
and then we have low-fat milk
and then no fat.
Yeah.
No, we don't want that.
- Ah, you--
I mean, "I need yogurt."
- Yogurt, okay.
Plain yogurt, Greek yogurt.
This one is plain and all these
other ones have flavors.
- So, uh, we are used to,
in Syria,
having yogurt, uh,
from, like, lamb.
- From the lamb, yeah.
- Like a goat, goat,
made from goat.
- Greek yogurt is the best
we're gonna get.
- Okay.
- So let's do the cheaper one.
- Okay?
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Hi?
- Hi, how are you?
- Hi.
- What's your name?
- Omar.
- I am Linda.
- Omar?
- Omar.
And what is your name?
- Linda.
- Linda.
And what's your name?
- Ahmad.
- Ahmad.
And you?
- My name is Sedra.
- Sedra.
- Uh, how are you?
- Mm-hmm.
- My from Syria.
- Mm-hmm.
- Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you, too.
- Nice to meet you, too.
Hi, how are you?
What's your name?
- My name is Omar.
- Mm-hmm.
- My from is Syria.
- Mm-hmm.
- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you too.
- Nice to meet you too.
- My name is Mohamad.
- Your name is Mohamad.
- My from...
- My from...
- ...is Syria.
- ...is Syria.
- Nice...
- Nice to meet you.
- Mm-hmm.
Nice to meet you, too.
- Yeah.
- Uh, Linda.
- Linda.
- I am Linda.
- How are you, Linda?
- Good.
- Okay.
Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you, too.
- Nice to meet you.
- No.
- IRC, may I help you?
- 17 things you need to know?
I can give it to you in Arabic.
- Yeah.
- 'Cause I think they need
to know what's--
what's, like,
the basic service and stuff.
I will get you the document.
I'll give you--
I give it to them in Arabic
and they can understand it.
- Yeah.
- Yeah, I'll give it to you.
- Okay, thank you.
- Do you want me to bring it
to you or can you carry it?
- Extra small.
Extra small.
- The dog eats.
I eat vegetables.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Hi, everybody.
- Hi, Cate.
How are you?
- Good, how are you?
- Good, thank you.
- You got a haircut.
- What?
- You got a haircut.
- Yes.
- Okay.
Looks good.
- Thank you.
- I was hoping we could do
some kindergarten words.
"Am."
- I am.
I am 14 years old.
- Very good, perfect.
Madiha.
- He.
- He.
- He... he.
- He?
He what?
- He...
- He my husband.
- He is my husband.
Is.
"To be" is the verb.
I am, you are, he is.
- Go.
- He, she, it want.
- "Went."
- I-N-G, present.
- Yes.
- Um, do we have... Diombe?
No.
- Let's go right over here.
- Is this your card?
Yeah, Evan, hi.
- Yeah, that's correct.
- Okay.
- He's gonna teach you Arabic.
- Sounds good.
- Can you tell me what
the last job you had was?
- He used to work in Syria
fixing cars, you know,
mechanical or electrical things
in the cars.
- Right, I would love
for you to be able to go
right back into car repair.
I would absolutely think that
that was great.
Unfortunately,
that is not going to be possible
for the first job
in the United States.
I know a lot of mechanic work
and car repair work requires
a lot of different types
of licensings or certifications.
My focus is just
on the first job,
so the goal will be
to have a job
that allows you
to help pay your bills
while you are learning English.
Um, so are you are both
in the employment program,
which means
that you both need
to be-- be preparing
for working.
Yasmen could work some days
at one place, and, Khaldoun,
you could work
in a different place,
and you could be alternating
so that someone
is always home
with the children.
That usually works best
in terms of an employment plan
for the family.
So, we'll focus
on Khaldoun first for now,
but I need you to start
mentally preparing yourself
for the idea that you
will be working as well.
So, now I'd like to know
if there's anything medically
that would make it difficult
for you to work.
- He says, this is the drill,
where he got the drill.
And they cut it out
from that side.
Sometimes--
- Is there anything else
medically
that I should know about?
- The...
They took it with the--
Not the wrench.
- Pliers.
- Yes.
- Okay.
And so I'm just gonna make
a suggestion
that I want you guys--
- Hey, time's up.
We have, like,
several more appointments.
- Oh, okay.
- Thank you much.
Whenever Khaldoun's done,
he needs to go see Eli, uh,
because your social security
cards came
and you need to sign for them
and then they need
to get on the bus
'cause they have an appointment
at 2:00 at their home.
- Go with Eli.
I think you wanna leave.
- Using your map
and your knowledge
of the building numbers,
you need to lead us
to the address on your sheet.
So remember,
we're looking for 3-4-0.
- 3-4-0.
- Look, the red hand means
we cannot cross right now.
- Oh, yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
- Okay, is it okay now?
- Yeah, yeah.
- Come here!
- Okay, so what is this place?
Yeah, post office, good.
Can I ever put cash
in the mail?
- Yes.
- Yes.
- No!
- No.
Never put cash in the mail.
Let's go to the next address.
- All right, number one.
What types of jobs
does the IRC find for you?
"A," the IRC finds jobs
that you want to work?
The IRC finds jobs
that are the same
as what you did
in your country?
Or "C," the IRC finds jobs
that are entry-level
and help you become
self-sufficient?
I think the hardest thing
for me sometimes,
especially in the higher
English classes,
is that I have
to almost destroy the ideas
that they came here with because
what they've done back home
doesn't often translate
to what we do here.
So the question is,
why do you...
- Why do you...
- ...want to...
- ...want to...
- ...work here?
- ...work here?
- Very good.
And you're answering,
to be self...
- To be self...
- ...sufficient...
- ...sufficient...
- ...and...
- ...and...
- ...independent.
- ...independent.
- Very good.
All right, so the job
we're applying for...
- Me and my sister, Maria,
we didn't work before.
It's my first time now.
I hope to be working
in the technology field.
That's my dream.
And maybe, uh, have a car.
- This website is great
for you guys because both of you
almost finished college,
almost finished.
So, Batoul, you went to school
for engineering.
What kind of engineer?
- Telecommunications.
- Telecommunication.
So the job we're applying for
is for cashier.
And I left February 2013--
2014.
And after two years
and two months, they came.
- She said that after
six months, she can bring us.
She will get her asylum
and she can bring us.
That's what the lawyer said
to her,
but, um, the truth,
that she waited,
like, two years
and she didn't get her asylum.
And we have to do
all things by ourselves.
And we didn't know anyone there.
- I have to take care
of my two sisters.
They are younger than me
and they were still in school.
At first, it was really hard,
but we, like...
We had to do that.
- He wants to loan some money.
- No, we are in class right now,
so this is not
the appropriate time
to talk about it.
- Let somebody get by.
- Okay.
Do you have your EAD card?
The employment
authorization document?
To go to the bank--
Right, hold on.
The bank is requesting
your EAD card
in order to open
the bank account.
But there's a photo ID.
So I can talk about this
with you at a later time.
You can call me
and you say your name
and your telephone number
and you say "interpreter."
And I will call you
with an interpreter
and we will make
the appointment.
You can also say "motarjem."
I understand that.
Okay, yeah.
- "Hello, hi.
How are you?
Interpreter."
- Okay, okay, yeah.
- So we, of course, do our best
to get you a job
that'll be able to pay
for your bills,
but in America, most times,
husbands and wives work,
not just the husbands.
- All right.
Can we move on?
When you're going
to an interview, never ever...
...wear jeans.
No, you cannot wear that
to an interview.
- No?
- Your pants are okay,
your pants are okay.
Those are okay.
Your shirt, no.
You can't wear any of that.
I'm sorry, Khaldoun.
All right,
so I'm going to have you
practice your handshake
with me, yes?
Oh!
Okay, okay.
Too--
Too much, too much.
It's okay.
He tried to break my hand.
Okay, just like that.
Not tight.
Okay, good.
- Hello, how are you?
How are you?
- Let go,
and stop holding hands,
stop holding hands,
stop holding hands.
- I am good.
How are you?
- Oh, my!
Okay.
Tell me about yourself.
Ceramic?
- Ceramic.
- Construction.
- "Can-shuck-took."
- It's okay.
Look, it's a "C."
- Ceramic?
- Construction.
- "Sheran-teck-shun."
- Ceramic.
- So, listen!
Tomorrow, class starts
at 10:00 a.m.
What time are you
gonna be here?
Very good.
Buh-bye.
- Bye.
- Buh-bye.
- Hello, how are you?
- Hello, how are you?
- Nice to see you, Mohammad.
- Hi, how are you?
- Down here.
We're all in the same color.
- I know.
- Just like we planned it.
- How are you?
Nice to see you.
- How are you?
- Thank you.
- Nice to see you.
Are we not shaking hands?
- Yeah.
- No, you know, Americans want
to shake hands.
- Sometimes.
- Always.
Americans always want
to shake hands.
- Okay, so, thank you guys
for waiting.
I'm really sorry
that, um, it took so long,
but I wanted to meet with you
because Hannah and Evan
are both not here this week
and we want to talk about work.
So you were supposed to go
to work on Monday, correct?
But you didn't go.
- Can I speak?
- Not yet.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Thank you for asking, though.
Okay, so you arranged a ride
for the two of you
to go with a friend to work,
is that correct?
- The work hours...
...uh, too much for him.
- Mm-hmm.
- His standing.
- Did you or did you not go
to work on Monday?
- No.
- Okay.
That is your choice.
However, there is a consequence
for that.
Then what you should have done
is come here yesterday
and asked for me,
asked for Rebecca,
and explained to us
that the ride
you had arranged
was unable to take you.
Instead, you made
a personal choice
to just not go
and not tell anybody,
and that's the problem we have.
This is not a punishment.
This is a contract you signed.
- It's any job.
You have to accept...
- ...the first job.
- And to be clear,
there are state
and federal rules that we are
obligated to abide by.
- So the first punishment
is a verbal.
This is your verbal warning.
- The second warning will be
that your money will be withheld
and that's what we're trying
to explain to you.
If you want IRC to help you...
...and you agree to the job
offered, you have to go.
And if you don't want the job,
you need to be honest
with your employment specialist
and say,
"I don't want this job."
- I want to emphasize
that we are here to help you.
We do not like punishing you.
- Okay. New page.
- New page.
So go home to your wives
and your children
and go to bed and come back
tomorrow for class.
So go home
before we get mad again.
Go, go, go.
- Are we going to Hilton?
Are we going to Hilton?
- So keep going.
It's not downtown.
- Yes?
- Going downtown?
- Yes, ma'am.
Thanks.
- Mohammad!
All right, so Dr. Brady
will come in
to see you shortly, okay?
- Shh.
Ayman.
- Ready?
- This or there?
- Right here.
- Two here? One?
- Yeah, yeah, but you can't--
After I clean,
you can't touch.
Be almost over.
- Ooh.
- You all right?
It's a needle.
You gotta get it.
- I don't want to.
- Here, look-- look over there,
look at your mom.
Look at your mom.
- Okay.
- One more.
One more.
Don't move.
All right.
See, that's not bad.
It's not bad.
Excuse me.
- Thank you.
- Hello, hello, Mohammad.
How is everyone today?
How's school going?
- It's good.
- So...
how often are you
having nightmares?
Um, how does that compare
with how many nightmares
you were having before,
before you arrived
in this country?
- Four times in a week.
- We do know that people,
including children
that have experienced
psychological trauma,
can have symptoms like this, um,
and for younger kids,
it's not as big of a deal
to them, but for older kids,
there can be a lot
of embarrassment about it.
And so the treatment
really is therapy.
Maybe some medications that we
could try to help out Mohammad.
You're in agreement?
Good.
- Hi, Khaldoun?
- Uh-huh?
- This is Evan.
Okay, we're working
with a staffing agency
and they have not, um, they
have yet offered a job to you.
Um, if an opportunity comes,
I'm going to talk
with your caseworker.
Okay.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Morning.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- You wanna call the police?
- Hello?
- This is the house.
This is another house.
This is a third house.
- And there was our neighbor
with his little daughter,
and when we were
in the elevator,
she "hided" behind him
and she was whispering to him,
"Are they dangerous?"
because we were wearing hijab.
And that's very sad
because this little girl
have these strong ideas
in her head.
- When we were living alone
without parents,
we could do anything we want,
but after coming
and living with my mom
and my stepfather,
they want to take care of us.
They are really scared
of, uh... everything.
- This is "The Takeaway,"
I'm John Hockenberry.
Thanks so much for listening,
and I trust
you followed all the drama
this weekend.
How there's suddenly
an asterisk and some fine print
next to the "Give me
your tired, your poor" message
greeting immigrants
at the U.S. borders.
- President Donald Trump
delivered an order on Friday
stopping all refugees
and visitors
from some countries
from entering
the United States.
- In just the last 24 hours,
Trump has suspended
all refugees
from entering
the United States
and suspended immigration
for the next three months
from seven countries that have
Muslim majority populations.
- Oh, no.
Oh, my gosh.
IRC, Sawsan.
Hi, Ruben.
No, it is the single women
who came here and they're
supposed to be followed
by their family members,
and suddenly, their family
members are not able to come.
Okay, sure.
- It was just signed on Friday.
It's still unfolding,
so I don't really know.
- At least get a state ID
because I don't want her
to get the I-94,
and suddenly at the airport,
you never know what will happen.
Do you need anything else?
- No, I think that's good.
- Okay.
- Hi, Sawsan.
- We called about
the Syrian support group.
Nobody came.
- Oh, my goodness.
- I don't know-- it was, like,
right after Trump's order,
so I don't know if that's why
people stayed away.
One of the families said
their son was sick.
Um...
Is everything else going okay
for the family?
- Thank you so much.
- No problem.
Done?
I am originally
from Baghdad, Iraq,
and I came as a refugee
and I understand that when
you're coming from a war zone
and you feel like
you reached your haven
and you're gonna be safe,
and suddenly,
this place is not haven anymore.
And you add to it,
soon will be their eight months,
so this is where,
in resettlement,
it's like you're not supported
and you're, like,
most on your own,
so it's too much for them.
It's too much to be, um,
really handling and, um...
Um...
I hope we pass this period.
I don't know how it will go,
but, you know, I have--
I have no answers,
but it's really tough times
and hard for-- for people,
for all of us.
Yasiin?
- I think the hardest thing
is realizing
that we're bringing people
from another country
and we're telling them
that we are helping them,
like, I'm gonna move to America
and I'm gonna live
the American dream,
and yet you get here,
and the American dream
is nothing like what TV
or movies tell you.
And we want to be
the greatest country
in the world,
but we don't treat people
like we are the greatest country
in the world.
- ...they change.
Like, you can--
you can see that
in their talk and their,
like, behavior that...
I feel like the day
that I come here,
I feel that it's my country,
really.
And I'm worried, really.
I'm thinking, like, if one day,
some decision come up
and we have to go out, I don't
know where to go, actually.
I don't know.
- For me and my sisters,
we are considered
as permanent residents,
but my mother, she is--
her case is pending asylum.
She, like...
She is scared that she
might not be accepted here.
It's really scary for us.
Come in.
Hi.
Hi.
- Okay, what is nine times one?
Nine.
- Ooh... baby time.
- Hey.
What is nine times two?
- No.
- It's okay, come on.
You are smart.
You are smart, come on.
And this one is--
what do you call this one?
- Cut, cut cake.
- Piece, piece of cake.
Cut is like this.
- Oh, yeah.
- Multiplication.
- Multiplication?
- Like, do you know,
like, nine times six?
- You just have to.
- Let's say it again.
Ready?
- One, two, three,
four, five, six.
- Good, stop.
Sneak peek to tomorrow...
- Okay.
Can you read the sentence,
Ahmad?
- "I see with my eyes."
- Very good.
- 4 divided by 1/5.
- Let's take a look
at your colleges.
I know the big school is what?
- Is UMBC.
- UMBC.
What is it about UMBC
that you like?
Okay.
Does your sister know that?
- Yeah.
- Okay.
- So let-- let us continue
our conversation from last week.
A stereotype had to do
with a generalization, yes?
Do people see one person
act one way
and they believe that everyone
in that group is the same?
That is one of the things
that we are exploring
with this conversation.
Why do some people get treated
differently than others?
- How old are you?
- Eight.
- Eight.
- How old are you?
- Nine years old.
- Where are you from?
- My from is Syria.
- You have hair.
- Yes.
Yes, I like my hair.
- Are you excited about going
to grade six next year?
- Yeah, I'm excited.
- Yeah?
You've been doing really good
in fifth grade.
- Yeah, I like reading.
My teacher gave me paper.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.
I give it to teacher,
she said good.
- Is this?
What?
- This is a clock.
A clock can tell time.
60 seconds...
- One minute.
- ...is one...
- One minute.
- ...one minute.
- 60 seconds.
- 60 seconds, okay.
- Okay.
Okay, do you understand or no?
I understand or I don't?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- I understand?
- Hi.
Can I get Madiha?
Hi, Madiha.
- Oh, hi.
See you tomorrow.
- See you tomorrow.
- Hi, how are you?
- Good, how are you?
- Good, you know.
Haven't seen you in a while.
- How are you, Leah?
- I'm good.
How about yourself?
- Good.
- Wanna get in your car seat?
- I had this idea,
and I was talking
to some members of my church,
and I would like--
given that you're such
a great cook,
I thought it might be
a nice idea
if you cook a meal for--
and we sell tickets.
And we would use the money
from the tickets
to pay for the ingredients,
and then whatever money
was left over, would be
to help support you guys.
And then thought that that might
be a good idea for the church
to-- to come together
and also to help you.
- In cooking?
- In cooking.
Is 100 people too much?
Is 100 people good?
Are you good to cook--
- 100?
- 100.
- 100?
- Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Thank you, Leah.
- You're welcome.
a path for you
to maybe cook for other people,
to start a catering business.
- Yeah.
- And maybe you can take orders
and cook.
- Yes.
- Okay, okay.
Bye-bye.
This is a big step.
Really, I hope these families
will be okay,
but it-- it takes time.
- Sawsan, you have time?
- Yes, I have time.
Yes, come on in.
- Hi, how are you?
- Hi, how are you?
- Hi, I'm doing okay.
Thank the Lord.
- Thank you.
- Stop sign, stop sign.
School?
- Yeah, school.
- Yeah.
- I have some good news.
So I told you
we might sell 100 tickets.
I think we've sold 125 tickets.
- 25.
- 125.
- 125.
Okay.
- Are you okay with that?
- Okay, okay.
- You're good?
- Yes.
- Okay.
- No.
- No, not that.
We may have to go somewhere else
and get that.
Good?
- Yes.
- So we'll get 130 of those?
- Yeah.
- So Mr. Derry's just given me
a map of Syria.
And it has your hometown.
What is your hometown?
- Daraa.
- Daraa.
- Uh, Leah?
I want this... one.
- You want that?
- This.
- What do you want me
to do with it?
- One.
- You need another pan?
- Yes.
- Okay, I'll be right back.
Use as many as you want.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Wow.
- Morning, you can come in.
- Hi.
- This is Riley.
- Hi.
- And Ethan.
And this is Mohannad
and Mohammad.
- Mohannad and Mohammad.
- Yep.
- Lemonade.
- Hi! How are you?
- Good, how are you?
- Good.
- This is my mom.
- Oh, hi.
- Hi.
Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you too.
- There's a lot of people here.
Do you know how many are coming?
- 150.
- 150?
- Hey, guys,
so this is Madiha.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Nice to meet you.
- Madiha, this is my dad.
- Mohannad, nice to meet you.
- Yes.
- We're gonna do
the English classes.
Have you started those yet?
- No.
- Where is it?
- In Baltimore, downtown.
- Downtown Baltimore?
- Yeah.
- How are you gonna get there?
- The bus.
- Yeah.
- Hello. Hi.
- How do you say that?
"Kah-bah"?
- Kubbah.
- Kubbah.
- This is very sweet.
- Harissa is...
- Hot spice.
- Exactly.
- What was the rice
seasoned with?
- Advieh.
- How long did it take you?
- How long was the trip?
- Oh, how long?
- Uh...
- From like 3:00 p.m.
to 9:00 p.m., walking.
- Daraa.
- From here.
18 hours in the airplane.
- Yeah. You know Irbid?
- Irbid!
- But you speak Arabic good.
- Hello.
My name is Mohammad.
I would like
to thank this church
for setting up this dinner.
I would like to thank Leah
for help me and my family
in many things.
And Mrs. Cate and Deborah
and Elizabeth
to help me learn English.
Thank you.
- Hello, everyone.
- Hello.
- I am Mohannad.
I was eight years old
when we left Syria.
I don't remember very much
about Syria.
We were all happy when we know
we were coming to America.
I am happy now.
I like school.
My teacher is good
and I have friends.
My brothers like
to live here, too.
Thank you.
- Look.
Oh, congrats!
- Yippee!
- Huh?
- Where are you from?
- Where are you from?
- Where from?
- Are you from Iraq?
No?
Where are you from?
- Where from?
- Afghanistan?
Where are you from?
- Where from?
- Syria?
- Syria, yeah.
- Syria.
- You are from Syria?
Syria, say, "I am from Syria."
Say, "I am."
- I am Syria.
- "From Syria."
- I am from Syria.
- Very good, Syria.
And then you speak Arabic,
right?
Arabic?
- Arabic?
- You speak Arabic,
your language?
- Do you speak Arabic?
- Arabic--
You speak Arabic, right?
Say, "I speak--"
- Do you speak English?
- Yes, I speak English,
but I do not speak Arabic.
Do you speak Arabic?
- Anna, do you speak Arabic?
- Do you speak Arabic?
Say yes.
- Yes.
Do you speak Arabic?
Yes.
- I am--
I speak Arabic.
Arabic.
Okay, any...
- How are you prepared
for their arrival today?
- I'm fine.
- This is for today and this is for tomorrow.
One, two, three, four.
All these people arriving.
They're coming at 12:30.
They're supposed to be here.
Okay, let's see.
Okay, I'm coming.
Do you have five
or you have seven?
You should have five.
When people come to us,
they have eight months
to be self-sufficient,
and that eight-month clock
starts
from the moment of arrival.
- Hello!
- It's very intense.
- Let me begin
by telling you the purpose
of cultural orientation.
One of the purposes is
to help you build life skills
that you will need during
your first eight months
in America.
- Can you think of some times
when you might need
to say your address
in English?
Hello, 9-1-1?
- Police.
- Police, okay?
- So now I'm gonna have you all
introduce yourself
to both the class and to me.
- Hello, my name is Maria.
I am from Syria.
In my country,
I was a student.
- I want to know more
about getting a job.
Um, and also maybe after that,
I want to get back
to the university.
- We have a lot of families
coming this month,
so there will be a lot more
Syrian families
in the neighborhood.
Yes, here.
Yes.
- You have to be willing
to accept
the first job
that's offered to you.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Okay, I'm gonna call
an interpreter.
- You entered August 1, 1981.
- I'm going to activate
his food stamp card.
- Your card is ready to use.
- All right.
Me and you go to grocery.
Yes. Yeah.
Okay, let's go.
- Okay.
- Vegetables.
Potato?
Yeah, let's go get some.
- Okay.
- Please continue to hold
for the next available
interpreter.
- Hello, this is an interpreter
for Arabic.
- Hi, uh, my client's with me.
We're in the grocery store.
I might just need you
to figure out what he needs.
Let me have you on hold
for right now.
- Oh, wow.
- So I'm just
gonna explain how
to, um, read the prices.
- Okay.
Uh...
- With the milk?
- Milk, yeah.
So, for milk,
we have full fat.
It's gonna be this one.
And then we have
reduced-fat milk
and then we have low-fat milk
and then no fat.
Yeah.
No, we don't want that.
- Ah, you--
I mean, "I need yogurt."
- Yogurt, okay.
Plain yogurt, Greek yogurt.
This one is plain and all these
other ones have flavors.
- So, uh, we are used to,
in Syria,
having yogurt, uh,
from, like, lamb.
- From the lamb, yeah.
- Like a goat, goat,
made from goat.
- Greek yogurt is the best
we're gonna get.
- Okay.
- So let's do the cheaper one.
- Okay?
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Hi?
- Hi, how are you?
- Hi.
- What's your name?
- Omar.
- I am Linda.
- Omar?
- Omar.
And what is your name?
- Linda.
- Linda.
And what's your name?
- Ahmad.
- Ahmad.
And you?
- My name is Sedra.
- Sedra.
- Uh, how are you?
- Mm-hmm.
- My from Syria.
- Mm-hmm.
- Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you, too.
- Nice to meet you, too.
Hi, how are you?
What's your name?
- My name is Omar.
- Mm-hmm.
- My from is Syria.
- Mm-hmm.
- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you too.
- Nice to meet you too.
- My name is Mohamad.
- Your name is Mohamad.
- My from...
- My from...
- ...is Syria.
- ...is Syria.
- Nice...
- Nice to meet you.
- Mm-hmm.
Nice to meet you, too.
- Yeah.
- Uh, Linda.
- Linda.
- I am Linda.
- How are you, Linda?
- Good.
- Okay.
Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you, too.
- Nice to meet you.
- No.
- IRC, may I help you?
- 17 things you need to know?
I can give it to you in Arabic.
- Yeah.
- 'Cause I think they need
to know what's--
what's, like,
the basic service and stuff.
I will get you the document.
I'll give you--
I give it to them in Arabic
and they can understand it.
- Yeah.
- Yeah, I'll give it to you.
- Okay, thank you.
- Do you want me to bring it
to you or can you carry it?
- Extra small.
Extra small.
- The dog eats.
I eat vegetables.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Hi, everybody.
- Hi, Cate.
How are you?
- Good, how are you?
- Good, thank you.
- You got a haircut.
- What?
- You got a haircut.
- Yes.
- Okay.
Looks good.
- Thank you.
- I was hoping we could do
some kindergarten words.
"Am."
- I am.
I am 14 years old.
- Very good, perfect.
Madiha.
- He.
- He.
- He... he.
- He?
He what?
- He...
- He my husband.
- He is my husband.
Is.
"To be" is the verb.
I am, you are, he is.
- Go.
- He, she, it want.
- "Went."
- I-N-G, present.
- Yes.
- Um, do we have... Diombe?
No.
- Let's go right over here.
- Is this your card?
Yeah, Evan, hi.
- Yeah, that's correct.
- Okay.
- He's gonna teach you Arabic.
- Sounds good.
- Can you tell me what
the last job you had was?
- He used to work in Syria
fixing cars, you know,
mechanical or electrical things
in the cars.
- Right, I would love
for you to be able to go
right back into car repair.
I would absolutely think that
that was great.
Unfortunately,
that is not going to be possible
for the first job
in the United States.
I know a lot of mechanic work
and car repair work requires
a lot of different types
of licensings or certifications.
My focus is just
on the first job,
so the goal will be
to have a job
that allows you
to help pay your bills
while you are learning English.
Um, so are you are both
in the employment program,
which means
that you both need
to be-- be preparing
for working.
Yasmen could work some days
at one place, and, Khaldoun,
you could work
in a different place,
and you could be alternating
so that someone
is always home
with the children.
That usually works best
in terms of an employment plan
for the family.
So, we'll focus
on Khaldoun first for now,
but I need you to start
mentally preparing yourself
for the idea that you
will be working as well.
So, now I'd like to know
if there's anything medically
that would make it difficult
for you to work.
- He says, this is the drill,
where he got the drill.
And they cut it out
from that side.
Sometimes--
- Is there anything else
medically
that I should know about?
- The...
They took it with the--
Not the wrench.
- Pliers.
- Yes.
- Okay.
And so I'm just gonna make
a suggestion
that I want you guys--
- Hey, time's up.
We have, like,
several more appointments.
- Oh, okay.
- Thank you much.
Whenever Khaldoun's done,
he needs to go see Eli, uh,
because your social security
cards came
and you need to sign for them
and then they need
to get on the bus
'cause they have an appointment
at 2:00 at their home.
- Go with Eli.
I think you wanna leave.
- Using your map
and your knowledge
of the building numbers,
you need to lead us
to the address on your sheet.
So remember,
we're looking for 3-4-0.
- 3-4-0.
- Look, the red hand means
we cannot cross right now.
- Oh, yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
- Okay, is it okay now?
- Yeah, yeah.
- Come here!
- Okay, so what is this place?
Yeah, post office, good.
Can I ever put cash
in the mail?
- Yes.
- Yes.
- No!
- No.
Never put cash in the mail.
Let's go to the next address.
- All right, number one.
What types of jobs
does the IRC find for you?
"A," the IRC finds jobs
that you want to work?
The IRC finds jobs
that are the same
as what you did
in your country?
Or "C," the IRC finds jobs
that are entry-level
and help you become
self-sufficient?
I think the hardest thing
for me sometimes,
especially in the higher
English classes,
is that I have
to almost destroy the ideas
that they came here with because
what they've done back home
doesn't often translate
to what we do here.
So the question is,
why do you...
- Why do you...
- ...want to...
- ...want to...
- ...work here?
- ...work here?
- Very good.
And you're answering,
to be self...
- To be self...
- ...sufficient...
- ...sufficient...
- ...and...
- ...and...
- ...independent.
- ...independent.
- Very good.
All right, so the job
we're applying for...
- Me and my sister, Maria,
we didn't work before.
It's my first time now.
I hope to be working
in the technology field.
That's my dream.
And maybe, uh, have a car.
- This website is great
for you guys because both of you
almost finished college,
almost finished.
So, Batoul, you went to school
for engineering.
What kind of engineer?
- Telecommunications.
- Telecommunication.
So the job we're applying for
is for cashier.
And I left February 2013--
2014.
And after two years
and two months, they came.
- She said that after
six months, she can bring us.
She will get her asylum
and she can bring us.
That's what the lawyer said
to her,
but, um, the truth,
that she waited,
like, two years
and she didn't get her asylum.
And we have to do
all things by ourselves.
And we didn't know anyone there.
- I have to take care
of my two sisters.
They are younger than me
and they were still in school.
At first, it was really hard,
but we, like...
We had to do that.
- He wants to loan some money.
- No, we are in class right now,
so this is not
the appropriate time
to talk about it.
- Let somebody get by.
- Okay.
Do you have your EAD card?
The employment
authorization document?
To go to the bank--
Right, hold on.
The bank is requesting
your EAD card
in order to open
the bank account.
But there's a photo ID.
So I can talk about this
with you at a later time.
You can call me
and you say your name
and your telephone number
and you say "interpreter."
And I will call you
with an interpreter
and we will make
the appointment.
You can also say "motarjem."
I understand that.
Okay, yeah.
- "Hello, hi.
How are you?
Interpreter."
- Okay, okay, yeah.
- So we, of course, do our best
to get you a job
that'll be able to pay
for your bills,
but in America, most times,
husbands and wives work,
not just the husbands.
- All right.
Can we move on?
When you're going
to an interview, never ever...
...wear jeans.
No, you cannot wear that
to an interview.
- No?
- Your pants are okay,
your pants are okay.
Those are okay.
Your shirt, no.
You can't wear any of that.
I'm sorry, Khaldoun.
All right,
so I'm going to have you
practice your handshake
with me, yes?
Oh!
Okay, okay.
Too--
Too much, too much.
It's okay.
He tried to break my hand.
Okay, just like that.
Not tight.
Okay, good.
- Hello, how are you?
How are you?
- Let go,
and stop holding hands,
stop holding hands,
stop holding hands.
- I am good.
How are you?
- Oh, my!
Okay.
Tell me about yourself.
Ceramic?
- Ceramic.
- Construction.
- "Can-shuck-took."
- It's okay.
Look, it's a "C."
- Ceramic?
- Construction.
- "Sheran-teck-shun."
- Ceramic.
- So, listen!
Tomorrow, class starts
at 10:00 a.m.
What time are you
gonna be here?
Very good.
Buh-bye.
- Bye.
- Buh-bye.
- Hello, how are you?
- Hello, how are you?
- Nice to see you, Mohammad.
- Hi, how are you?
- Down here.
We're all in the same color.
- I know.
- Just like we planned it.
- How are you?
Nice to see you.
- How are you?
- Thank you.
- Nice to see you.
Are we not shaking hands?
- Yeah.
- No, you know, Americans want
to shake hands.
- Sometimes.
- Always.
Americans always want
to shake hands.
- Okay, so, thank you guys
for waiting.
I'm really sorry
that, um, it took so long,
but I wanted to meet with you
because Hannah and Evan
are both not here this week
and we want to talk about work.
So you were supposed to go
to work on Monday, correct?
But you didn't go.
- Can I speak?
- Not yet.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Thank you for asking, though.
Okay, so you arranged a ride
for the two of you
to go with a friend to work,
is that correct?
- The work hours...
...uh, too much for him.
- Mm-hmm.
- His standing.
- Did you or did you not go
to work on Monday?
- No.
- Okay.
That is your choice.
However, there is a consequence
for that.
Then what you should have done
is come here yesterday
and asked for me,
asked for Rebecca,
and explained to us
that the ride
you had arranged
was unable to take you.
Instead, you made
a personal choice
to just not go
and not tell anybody,
and that's the problem we have.
This is not a punishment.
This is a contract you signed.
- It's any job.
You have to accept...
- ...the first job.
- And to be clear,
there are state
and federal rules that we are
obligated to abide by.
- So the first punishment
is a verbal.
This is your verbal warning.
- The second warning will be
that your money will be withheld
and that's what we're trying
to explain to you.
If you want IRC to help you...
...and you agree to the job
offered, you have to go.
And if you don't want the job,
you need to be honest
with your employment specialist
and say,
"I don't want this job."
- I want to emphasize
that we are here to help you.
We do not like punishing you.
- Okay. New page.
- New page.
So go home to your wives
and your children
and go to bed and come back
tomorrow for class.
So go home
before we get mad again.
Go, go, go.
- Are we going to Hilton?
Are we going to Hilton?
- So keep going.
It's not downtown.
- Yes?
- Going downtown?
- Yes, ma'am.
Thanks.
- Mohammad!
All right, so Dr. Brady
will come in
to see you shortly, okay?
- Shh.
Ayman.
- Ready?
- This or there?
- Right here.
- Two here? One?
- Yeah, yeah, but you can't--
After I clean,
you can't touch.
Be almost over.
- Ooh.
- You all right?
It's a needle.
You gotta get it.
- I don't want to.
- Here, look-- look over there,
look at your mom.
Look at your mom.
- Okay.
- One more.
One more.
Don't move.
All right.
See, that's not bad.
It's not bad.
Excuse me.
- Thank you.
- Hello, hello, Mohammad.
How is everyone today?
How's school going?
- It's good.
- So...
how often are you
having nightmares?
Um, how does that compare
with how many nightmares
you were having before,
before you arrived
in this country?
- Four times in a week.
- We do know that people,
including children
that have experienced
psychological trauma,
can have symptoms like this, um,
and for younger kids,
it's not as big of a deal
to them, but for older kids,
there can be a lot
of embarrassment about it.
And so the treatment
really is therapy.
Maybe some medications that we
could try to help out Mohammad.
You're in agreement?
Good.
- Hi, Khaldoun?
- Uh-huh?
- This is Evan.
Okay, we're working
with a staffing agency
and they have not, um, they
have yet offered a job to you.
Um, if an opportunity comes,
I'm going to talk
with your caseworker.
Okay.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Morning.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- You wanna call the police?
- Hello?
- This is the house.
This is another house.
This is a third house.
- And there was our neighbor
with his little daughter,
and when we were
in the elevator,
she "hided" behind him
and she was whispering to him,
"Are they dangerous?"
because we were wearing hijab.
And that's very sad
because this little girl
have these strong ideas
in her head.
- When we were living alone
without parents,
we could do anything we want,
but after coming
and living with my mom
and my stepfather,
they want to take care of us.
They are really scared
of, uh... everything.
- This is "The Takeaway,"
I'm John Hockenberry.
Thanks so much for listening,
and I trust
you followed all the drama
this weekend.
How there's suddenly
an asterisk and some fine print
next to the "Give me
your tired, your poor" message
greeting immigrants
at the U.S. borders.
- President Donald Trump
delivered an order on Friday
stopping all refugees
and visitors
from some countries
from entering
the United States.
- In just the last 24 hours,
Trump has suspended
all refugees
from entering
the United States
and suspended immigration
for the next three months
from seven countries that have
Muslim majority populations.
- Oh, no.
Oh, my gosh.
IRC, Sawsan.
Hi, Ruben.
No, it is the single women
who came here and they're
supposed to be followed
by their family members,
and suddenly, their family
members are not able to come.
Okay, sure.
- It was just signed on Friday.
It's still unfolding,
so I don't really know.
- At least get a state ID
because I don't want her
to get the I-94,
and suddenly at the airport,
you never know what will happen.
Do you need anything else?
- No, I think that's good.
- Okay.
- Hi, Sawsan.
- We called about
the Syrian support group.
Nobody came.
- Oh, my goodness.
- I don't know-- it was, like,
right after Trump's order,
so I don't know if that's why
people stayed away.
One of the families said
their son was sick.
Um...
Is everything else going okay
for the family?
- Thank you so much.
- No problem.
Done?
I am originally
from Baghdad, Iraq,
and I came as a refugee
and I understand that when
you're coming from a war zone
and you feel like
you reached your haven
and you're gonna be safe,
and suddenly,
this place is not haven anymore.
And you add to it,
soon will be their eight months,
so this is where,
in resettlement,
it's like you're not supported
and you're, like,
most on your own,
so it's too much for them.
It's too much to be, um,
really handling and, um...
Um...
I hope we pass this period.
I don't know how it will go,
but, you know, I have--
I have no answers,
but it's really tough times
and hard for-- for people,
for all of us.
Yasiin?
- I think the hardest thing
is realizing
that we're bringing people
from another country
and we're telling them
that we are helping them,
like, I'm gonna move to America
and I'm gonna live
the American dream,
and yet you get here,
and the American dream
is nothing like what TV
or movies tell you.
And we want to be
the greatest country
in the world,
but we don't treat people
like we are the greatest country
in the world.
- ...they change.
Like, you can--
you can see that
in their talk and their,
like, behavior that...
I feel like the day
that I come here,
I feel that it's my country,
really.
And I'm worried, really.
I'm thinking, like, if one day,
some decision come up
and we have to go out, I don't
know where to go, actually.
I don't know.
- For me and my sisters,
we are considered
as permanent residents,
but my mother, she is--
her case is pending asylum.
She, like...
She is scared that she
might not be accepted here.
It's really scary for us.
Come in.
Hi.
Hi.
- Okay, what is nine times one?
Nine.
- Ooh... baby time.
- Hey.
What is nine times two?
- No.
- It's okay, come on.
You are smart.
You are smart, come on.
And this one is--
what do you call this one?
- Cut, cut cake.
- Piece, piece of cake.
Cut is like this.
- Oh, yeah.
- Multiplication.
- Multiplication?
- Like, do you know,
like, nine times six?
- You just have to.
- Let's say it again.
Ready?
- One, two, three,
four, five, six.
- Good, stop.
Sneak peek to tomorrow...
- Okay.
Can you read the sentence,
Ahmad?
- "I see with my eyes."
- Very good.
- 4 divided by 1/5.
- Let's take a look
at your colleges.
I know the big school is what?
- Is UMBC.
- UMBC.
What is it about UMBC
that you like?
Okay.
Does your sister know that?
- Yeah.
- Okay.
- So let-- let us continue
our conversation from last week.
A stereotype had to do
with a generalization, yes?
Do people see one person
act one way
and they believe that everyone
in that group is the same?
That is one of the things
that we are exploring
with this conversation.
Why do some people get treated
differently than others?
- How old are you?
- Eight.
- Eight.
- How old are you?
- Nine years old.
- Where are you from?
- My from is Syria.
- You have hair.
- Yes.
Yes, I like my hair.
- Are you excited about going
to grade six next year?
- Yeah, I'm excited.
- Yeah?
You've been doing really good
in fifth grade.
- Yeah, I like reading.
My teacher gave me paper.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.
I give it to teacher,
she said good.
- Is this?
What?
- This is a clock.
A clock can tell time.
60 seconds...
- One minute.
- ...is one...
- One minute.
- ...one minute.
- 60 seconds.
- 60 seconds, okay.
- Okay.
Okay, do you understand or no?
I understand or I don't?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- I understand?
- Hi.
Can I get Madiha?
Hi, Madiha.
- Oh, hi.
See you tomorrow.
- See you tomorrow.
- Hi, how are you?
- Good, how are you?
- Good, you know.
Haven't seen you in a while.
- How are you, Leah?
- I'm good.
How about yourself?
- Good.
- Wanna get in your car seat?
- I had this idea,
and I was talking
to some members of my church,
and I would like--
given that you're such
a great cook,
I thought it might be
a nice idea
if you cook a meal for--
and we sell tickets.
And we would use the money
from the tickets
to pay for the ingredients,
and then whatever money
was left over, would be
to help support you guys.
And then thought that that might
be a good idea for the church
to-- to come together
and also to help you.
- In cooking?
- In cooking.
Is 100 people too much?
Is 100 people good?
Are you good to cook--
- 100?
- 100.
- 100?
- Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Thank you, Leah.
- You're welcome.
a path for you
to maybe cook for other people,
to start a catering business.
- Yeah.
- And maybe you can take orders
and cook.
- Yes.
- Okay, okay.
Bye-bye.
This is a big step.
Really, I hope these families
will be okay,
but it-- it takes time.
- Sawsan, you have time?
- Yes, I have time.
Yes, come on in.
- Hi, how are you?
- Hi, how are you?
- Hi, I'm doing okay.
Thank the Lord.
- Thank you.
- Stop sign, stop sign.
School?
- Yeah, school.
- Yeah.
- I have some good news.
So I told you
we might sell 100 tickets.
I think we've sold 125 tickets.
- 25.
- 125.
- 125.
Okay.
- Are you okay with that?
- Okay, okay.
- You're good?
- Yes.
- Okay.
- No.
- No, not that.
We may have to go somewhere else
and get that.
Good?
- Yes.
- So we'll get 130 of those?
- Yeah.
- So Mr. Derry's just given me
a map of Syria.
And it has your hometown.
What is your hometown?
- Daraa.
- Daraa.
- Uh, Leah?
I want this... one.
- You want that?
- This.
- What do you want me
to do with it?
- One.
- You need another pan?
- Yes.
- Okay, I'll be right back.
Use as many as you want.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Wow.
- Morning, you can come in.
- Hi.
- This is Riley.
- Hi.
- And Ethan.
And this is Mohannad
and Mohammad.
- Mohannad and Mohammad.
- Yep.
- Lemonade.
- Hi! How are you?
- Good, how are you?
- Good.
- This is my mom.
- Oh, hi.
- Hi.
Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you too.
- There's a lot of people here.
Do you know how many are coming?
- 150.
- 150?
- Hey, guys,
so this is Madiha.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Nice to meet you.
- Madiha, this is my dad.
- Mohannad, nice to meet you.
- Yes.
- We're gonna do
the English classes.
Have you started those yet?
- No.
- Where is it?
- In Baltimore, downtown.
- Downtown Baltimore?
- Yeah.
- How are you gonna get there?
- The bus.
- Yeah.
- Hello. Hi.
- How do you say that?
"Kah-bah"?
- Kubbah.
- Kubbah.
- This is very sweet.
- Harissa is...
- Hot spice.
- Exactly.
- What was the rice
seasoned with?
- Advieh.
- How long did it take you?
- How long was the trip?
- Oh, how long?
- Uh...
- From like 3:00 p.m.
to 9:00 p.m., walking.
- Daraa.
- From here.
18 hours in the airplane.
- Yeah. You know Irbid?
- Irbid!
- But you speak Arabic good.
- Hello.
My name is Mohammad.
I would like
to thank this church
for setting up this dinner.
I would like to thank Leah
for help me and my family
in many things.
And Mrs. Cate and Deborah
and Elizabeth
to help me learn English.
Thank you.
- Hello, everyone.
- Hello.
- I am Mohannad.
I was eight years old
when we left Syria.
I don't remember very much
about Syria.
We were all happy when we know
we were coming to America.
I am happy now.
I like school.
My teacher is good
and I have friends.
My brothers like
to live here, too.
Thank you.
- Look.
Oh, congrats!
- Yippee!