Life not what they expected

As I was beginning to think about this blog, I read an article in the LA Times about Iraqi refugees to this country, Iraqi refugees find U.S. life not what they expected. For Iraqi refuges, coming to the U.S. presents multiple conflicts. They are often part of the previously dominant Sunni culture of Iraq, often highly educated, accustomed to a high position in society, which included staff to cook and clean. But furthermore, they are coming to the country that conquered them and removed the possibility to continue the privileged life they had known. Often they will need retraining to be able to hold a position even vaguely resembling what they had known.

The article describes the travails of a woman lawyer, whose husband disappeared, and her adult daughter, who has a master's in computer science. I assume particularly the daughter speaks English somewhat fluently, and will soon be able to find work somewhat related to her education; her lawyer mother had hoped that she would at least be able to do clerical work in a law office. But this has not yet happened because of the current economic situation.

The Iraqis are some of the most educated and skilled refugees to come here, aid workers say. Used to a middle-class life, many hope to work as doctors, lawyers or accountants. But recertification is costly and time-consuming. So they are advised to at first pursue more typical refugee work as shop attendants and cleaners.
(Zavis, p 2)

They all discuss whether it would be better to return to Iraq, but then they remember why they had to flee. The new identity forced upon them here is distressing, but the life available to them - their former identity no longer exists.

"Everything in my life was destroyed, even my dreams," Ann said after mother and daughter labored over a meal that back home would have been cooked for them. [the daughter continued:] "I blame her. I'm sorry for that. . . . She always protect me. Why she can't protect me this time?"
(Zavis, p 3)

They will have to renegotiate their identity time and again in this country until they can feel comfortable with what it has become.