SHC: Mahnoush, you came to the US over 3 years ago and now you have a regular job and a car. Your mother and brother even bought a house. How do you feel your family is doing?

Mahnoush: I am so happy, we are so happy. It was a hard time but now we have a good job, good money. Things are good. People think everything will be good here [in the US]. I don’t want to say it is not true but you need to be really smart and really strong. Life is not easy here at all.

I have one memory from my first week. Never I will forget that week. I was sharing a room in Laurel and I went for an interview in Virginia. Because I was new, I didn’t know anything. I did not check the hours for the bus. When I finished the interview I realized there was no bus until 5:00 am. I swear to God, I was stuck and it was snowing and freezing and I sat there for almost four to five hours. Finally one of the bus drivers came over. He said he had seen me there for the past four hours. He said: “You cannot be homeless? Do you have an address?” I was crying as a baby. He let me sit in his bus and he took me to my house. When I got home I was shaking and I cried for two to three more hours. But after that week I got a job as a life-guard. They [my employer] helped me a lot and gave me an advance on my pay. With my money I went to a dealership. The owner was an old man. I told him I have no credit but I can make the payments. He said: "that’s fine". He didn’t even ask for a down-payment! I don’t know why he trusted me or why he helped me but he put my name on his insurance as if I were his step-daughter. Six months later I got my own insurance and two years ago I went to visit him and brought him coffee and donuts to say thank you. I hope God is good to him.

SHC: When you think about episodes like this and your life since you arrived in the US, what makes you feel proudest?

Mahnoush: I didn’t see my son for eight years. I need to fix everything before he gets here. [Mahnoush is petitioning the US government for a visa to bring her son to the US to live with her.] Now I have a government job as a manager for a big pool. I have a nice car. That is not easy to do but I need to be perfect because of my son. I am proud that I did it and everything is ready for him.

SHC: Today you have an instagram page to help people in the community?

Mahnoush: Yes I have an instagram page with more than 5,000 followers. While I have been staying home for Coronavirus, I started to make donations to people who do not have anything to eat, who cannot pay rent, or pay the doctor. I ask for help from my friends. We need to help each other. It makes me feel really good and I can sleep at night.

SHC:We will observe World Refugee Day on June 20th. What message would you like to share on this occasion?

Mahnoush: If people [newcomers] come to the US and do not know English, I tell them do not get nervous and confused, you can learn everything. As a refugee you have to be strong. Leave behind who you were in your country and start from zero. I feel you because I had the same situation. I know you will pass this hard time and one day you will look back on it and be proud that you are past it.

SHC: Do you have a message to add for SHC volunteers?

Mahnoush: Yes, I appreciate you for your hard work. Most people don’t care but I am so happy that we have you and that you care about what happens in our life”.