The Afghans have taken root in the refugee shelter, according to Reuters

By Amira Karaoud and Mary Milliken

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (Reuters) – After a grueling journey from Kabul to Qatar to European cities to U.S. military bases, Afghan families fleeing the Taliban have fled to Kentucky, a small town well known for receiving refugees.

Bowling Green has taken in a large number of refugees over four decades, from Cambodians in the 1980s to Bosnians in the 1990s, as well as Iraqis, Burmese, Rwandans and Congolese, and others who have helped make the 72,000-strong city a diverse and economically prosperous place. .

Wazir Khan was the leader of the Zadran tribe, which fought against the Haqqani network 20 years ago, a strong internal Taliban faction. Although he had recently worked with a non-governmental organization, he knew that the Taliban would come looking for him.

Zadran said the Americans rescued him and his family by taking Chinook in a helicopter in August and taking him to Kabul airport. After being in a military base in New Mexico, they were sent to Bowling Green and quickly realized that they were lucky in their new American life.

(See https://reut.rs/3H4tNjZ for a photo pack on Zadra and other refugees)

“We are so happy at Bowling Green,” said the 41-year-old father, who set up a comfortable home and sent his children to school with the help of a local relocation agency, the International Center, founded in 1981.

“It also helps the local community and introduces us to the culture,” Zadran added.

Her six children are learning songs in English, sending “Dear Santa” letters, going to the library, and grabbing ice cream at Baskin-Robbins.

As a result of the anti-immigrant and refugee sentiment in the Trump administration, the U.S. government is handling the largest evacuation of Vietnamese refugees. Of its nearly 75,000 settlements in the Americas, Bowling Green will host 350 Afghans in 2022.

There are plenty of jobs for the new residents of Bowling Green, an agricultural and manufacturing center, perhaps known for the assembly plant that makes Corvette a prized sports car. Bosnians, now numbering about 10,000 and owning several companies, are proving to be good job opportunities when Afghans ’accelerated work permits arrive in the coming months.

“When I came here in 2000, I arrived with a couple of suitcases and two children and my wife,” said Tahir Zukic, a Bosnian from Srebrenica, owner of Taz Trucking, with 100 people and 140 trucks at work.

“It’s a wonderful place with a lot of opportunities and you can do whatever you want.”

For those who have not worked with Americans in Afghanistan, learning the language may be the hardest part of adapting to a new home, Zukic said. But they also need to learn how America works, how to drive, how to get a credit card. And what to do when tornadoes approach.

The twists and turns that crossed Kentucky this month shook Afghanistan’s sense of security. Kabul reminded them that the 01.00 am sirens were disturbed and that trees, houses with roofs torn down and people killed in a neighborhood of many immigrants were left in ruins.

“We’ve never seen such a storm in our lives in Afghanistan, so maybe we felt like we were going to go to another war,” Zadran said. “But God saved us.”

‘THIS IS MY PLACE’

Firas Majeed arrived at Bowling Green in 2016 from Baghdad, Brooklyn, New York, in 2016. The Iraqi refugee came to visit a friend and decided “this is my place”. Today, it is a grocery store stocked with food from the Middle East and Europe after working as a welder.

“The quality of life is higher than in big cities,” said Majeed, who appreciates the large skies and green farms around Bowling Green, a strong job market, low wages and medical care.

Majeed said the Afghans would receive great help as they all saw images of the chaotic evacuation of Kabul. Iraqis can teach them things, such as how to get a driver’s license.

Bowling Green is also a place that allows refugees to maintain their identity while becoming Americans – providing a socially conservative environment for families to grow up and practice their religions.

At Forest Park Baptist Church, Congolese refugees have given new life to the community. Worship services and Bible study are translated into Swahili and are sometimes conducted in that language.

“We love their gospel singing,” church leader Mike Givens said, and the church translates their songs so everyone can hear the message.

“Our community has changed, so if we don’t look for or follow the immigrant population, our church will not survive,” Givens added.

Returning home to Zadra, the children move forward quickly with their new culture. The eldest, Zuleikha, teaches his siblings a song in English called “What are you thankful for?”

While applauding their performance, Zuleikha sang “It’s over!” and smiles broadly.