A year after the Taliban takeover, Afghan families reflect on their evacuation and...
, as his wife and daughters cook in a small, steaming kitchen and serve hot tea and fresh fruit. He sits with his sons on an old, likely donated chair. A piece of fabric hangs from the window, in lieu of functioning blinds.
Unlike many refugees who come to the U.S. after being part of a long resettlement process, evacuated Afghans were airlifted from their homes in a matter of days, quickly and suddenly separated from parents, children, brothers and sisters — kin left behind including many who face Taliban harassment due to their family’s ties to the U.S. military.
It’s clear, one year later, the pain of leaving family and friends behind is still fresh. But as with the 1.6 million immigrants in the region, new homes and new lives are forged in Houston. The Afghans will adjust to the city, and the city will adjust around them. Whether it was fixing the paperwork problems, getting a driver’s license, or something else, every single process has required a tedious series of steps that were unfamiliar to Aziz. He said he’s never experienced automated customer service before.
Omer Yousafzai owns Afghan Village, a restaurant that is a hub of the Afghan community, making him privy to the struggles and successes of the recently arrived evacuees. He’s seen many families flourish in their new homes. Though the adults may struggle with English, Yousafzai said their children — already enrolled in Houston-area schools — are soaking up the language like sponges and are already helping their parents interpret.Once heavily overworked case managers are also freeing up to follow up with the Afghan families with more needs.to take on the logistical nightmare of welcoming a crush of incoming Afghans.
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