Family from Afghanistan Celebrates One Year in Gettysburg

The Refugee Resettlement Partnership  (RRP) of Gettysburg has welcomed two families from Afghanistan.  The first family passed the milestone of one year in Gettysburg on February 12^th.   We celebrated this first anniversary with a small gathering of family members–those who were not at work or sports — and RRP members who dropped in for tea and shared memories and laughter.  When asked what surprised them about America, one teen-ager said, “Everything was a surprise! New language, new culture, new food—like [being] newborn!”  Others concurred. She spoke of her “funny friends in gym class” and added, “so many kind people, friends. I love Gettysburg people.”   Other children chimed in about friends at school and beloved teachers.  One younger child said she had been surprised that we didn’t speak her language.

Certainly, all family members have come a long way in learning English and communication is getting easier. Most family members had only a few English words when they arrived.  Most of us in the RRP could only say “hello” in Pashto (as salam u alaikum). I remember a conversation early on: one of the teenagers was searching for the word for something they needed. He came up with “dish shampoo”, and that’s what we call it in my house now.  Sometimes my attempts to speak Pashto met with blank looks or friendly laughter.

There were lots of memories of events: making slime at Fun Fest, attending a welcoming party in the neighborhood, bashing the piñata at Kids Day, swimming in a backyard pool, watching Fireworks on July 4^th, winning prizes at the Fire Department Open House, participating in Heritage Festival, Trick-or-Treating, gleaning for the Gleaning Project, decorating a gingerbread house.  Homecoming Dance was a new experience for the two oldest sons.  A highlight for all was going to Caledonia.  The Mom remembered putting her feet in the water and wading – that it felt “so good- like Afghanistan, [but] in Afghanistan the water goes whoosh, whoosh, here the water [was] calm.”  Some family members went on trips to New York, Washington, and Virginia.

We Gettysburgians learned a lot, too.  Through cell phone pictures we saw some of the beautiful large home, grape arbor, and land the relatives the family was forced to leave behind. We were surprised to learn that during the holy month of Ramadan even teenagers fast and have no food or water from sunrise till after sunset for an entire month.  This fasting reminds Muslims of the hardship of those who don’t have enough. We learned about Halal (allowed) and Haram (forbidden) foods. We also learned the joy of celebrating Eid al Fitr at the end of Ramadan and of the important event of Eid al Adha.  For Eid al Adha, the family moved rugs, cushions, and tables outdoors in order to have room to host RRP members for feasting. We shared some of our dishes and sampled delicious Afghan dishes. One of our members helped in the kitchen and learned to make naan (Afghan bread) and Afghan sponge cake.  She also learned how a goat is slaughtered in the humane Halal manner and blessed.

Over the course of the year, the family acquired a donated car and four family members have learned to drive. The father has been employed since shortly after his arrival. The older sons have had part-time jobs. The dining room table and chairs have been replaced with lovely low cushions in the Afghan style.  The children have participated in school sports and events.  The family has a garden plot and the mother finds pleasure in gardening since, in Afghanistan, only men would farm or garden.  The two oldest sons are graduating from high school and looking into what might come next.  So much other necessary and practical learning has taken place and continues—for all of us.  As one RRP member said, “A year ago we were strangers and now we are family.”