Our Experiences

by Blue Ridge Literacy Learners

We are from Pakistan and Afghanistan. We live in Roanoke, VA and we have been living here for over three months. In Afghanistan people are kind. The weather is good. The summer isn’t hot and we have a lot of fruits during this time. The grass is green and there are a lot of flowers. We have a lot of beautiful rivers. The food is delicious and we have good clothing stores for Afghani dresses called lebas. But it also has bad things. Electricity is bad, two nights on and two nights off. We always lose electricity. Education is very bad because girls can only study for six years but men can keep studying. Women can’t work and become professionals. The Taliban says women have to stay home and clean, cook, wash clothes, and take care of the kids. Women also have to wear hijab and can’t go out without her husband, brother or cousin. Also, the internet is very slow and expensive.

In the United States everything is good. My English teacher is good and all my classmates are nice. The city is very clean and beautiful. Education is very good and free. The internet, electricity, water, and gas are good. The police and ambulance come fast when you call them and the hospitals and doctors are good. I feel safe. This city is very good.

Note: This piece was written as a group project by learners who participate in Blue Ridge Literacy’s daily workforce readiness ESOL classes.