Even though they have been here for a few weeks, people from the community finally got to welcome the Syrian family to Humboldt at a potluck dinner on Dec. 19.
Abdulkerim and Sena may not be able to speak much English but they are getting by with a translation app as everyone had the chance to say hi and welcome them to Canada.
Their children, Ahmed and Abdulhak, played with the other children while baby Nur had a chance to be cuddled by everyone.
Talking to Abdulkerim through the app, he says he is very happy that his family has been so generously welcomed into the community.
“I’m so happy about your hospitality,” Abdulkerim says through the translator app, “Sena and the boys go to school and learn the English language. It is possible I get job in the future.”
Abdulkerim says his family is so grateful for the support they have received, especially from the Humboldt and Area Refugee Coalition.
“Your presence is important, providing assistance on daily things.”
Odessa Sherbaniuk may be the newest member of the Coalition but she knows how happy everyone is to have the family here, especially after all the work that members have put in for over a year.
“When Sena first spoke to Sheena (another Coalition member) at the airport, she said plain clearly, ‘it’s like a dream’ and I think that’s how it feels on the other side too.”
Being a naturally welcoming community, Sherbaniuk is very happy about how Abdulkerim and his family have been treated since their arrival in Humboldt. However there is still a lot for everyone to learn.
“We haven’t had to explain too much about why we were going to bring the family here, people understand that and they reached out in different ways.”
Not everything went smoothly over the last year but Sherbaniuk says to finally have them here is amazing.
Even the cold has not bothered Abdulkerim as he says Turkey was rather cold as well.
Abdulkerim and his family spent two years in Turkey but trying to find work was difficult. He worked many jobs while they lived in Kayseri, Turkey, he says, however, it was very expensive to live there with his wife and children.
Abdulkerim says they still have parents back in Syria and even though they are in a safe place, they are not without their own problems.
As for right now, Abdulkerim is working towards getting his license and a job while the children have started pre-Kindergarten.
Sherbaniuk says there is always more to be done and there are ways that people can volunteer to help the family with grocery shopping and appointments, as well as setting up playdates with the children.
When asked what they missed about home, Abdulkerim’s answer was simple.
Nothing.
