Susie - Friends of Refugees - Blog 4

Since I have focused my first three entries on the Mommy and Me program, I want to take this one to focus on what I learned at Cafe Clarkston. During this afternoon at Cafe Clarkston, I worked with a man from Myanmar, who had significant experience in maintenance work but, lacking certification in it in the United States, was unable to get a job in that field. This was not an uncommon problem. In fact many refugees who had a strong educational background and respected career in their home countries were forced to work as taxi drivers or factory workers in this country. What amazed me even more was by how unfazed they were by this. They showed no bitterness that their skills were going unrecognized and simply grateful we were helping them find a job. Any job. The man from Myanmar told me he had no problem working any day of the week any shift and this was also the common attitude taken by many of the refugees. They were literally willing to work practically any job any time anywhere. Friends of Refugees told us that many of the factories and other industries with high turnover rates loved to hire refugees because they were the only legal workers who stayed in those jobs. Even during the height of the economic crisis of 2008 and anti-immigrant attitudes out of fear that foreigners were taking American jobs, Americans were simply unwilling to work the jobs that the refugees filled  due to the poor conditions, hours, and wages. Needless to say I was blown away by their attitudes taken towards employment and their gratefulness towards us volunteers who helped them find such jobs. I have no idea where they find such resilience inside themselves, but I was so glad that I could help in any way possible.