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World Refugee Day – Afghanistan to California -- WEB
June 15, 2022
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptWorld Refugee Day – Afghanistan to California
HEADLINE: World Refugee Day: Afghan Accountant Teleworking From California
TEASER: In his new US home, Abu Baker Samoon and family embrace American culture while retaining their Afghan ways
PUBLISHED AT: 06/15/22 at 915p
BYLINE: Genia Dulot
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: San Diego, California
VIDEOGRAPHER: Genia Dulot
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: SKS, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): All VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:39
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ((All interviews in English))
[[((INTRO)) June 20 is World Refugee Day. As part of VOA’s coverage, Genia Dulot spoke with an Afghan accountant who fled the Taliban takeover and took his family to California.]]
((NARRATOR))
Back in Afghanistan, accountant Abu Baker Samoon had no plans to leave his country and every hope that a coalition government would follow the U.S. withdrawal.
((Abu Baker Samoon, Afghan Refugee)) ((In English))
"I still had hopes. Everyone had hopes that things are going to get better. There's going to be peace treaty and the current government and Taliban leadership are going to agree on peace deals, and things are going to get better and better."
((NARRATOR))
Things did not get better. As the Taliban took over Kabul in August, Samoon feared his previous work for the U.S. government would put his family in danger.
Becoming one of the lucky few to quickly secure a special immigrant visa, he boarded a U.S. evacuation flight with his wife and their three children. The family lived in a refugee camp in Texas for 45 days before reuniting with relatives here in San Diego.
Working remotely, Samoon says he has kept one of his consulting jobs in Afghanistan.
((Abu Baker Samoon, Afghan Refugee)) ((In English))
"Because our offices start at 8 a.m. in the morning in Afghanistan, that’s 7:30 and 8:30 — between 7:30 and 8:30 depending on daylight saving —in the U.S., in San Diego. I end up working at night, and I get some sleep during the day."
((NARRATOR))
Samoon says San Diego’s large Muslim community has welcomed his family and helped them adjust to life in the United States. So he is now volunteering to help other refugees find their way in a new country. Shakib Nawabi is the imam at the local Darululoom Mosque.
((Shakib Nawabi, Darululoom Mosque Imam)) ((In English))
"I encourage them to be patient. I encourage them that in this country, you can really achieve a lot of things by being patient and, at the same time, pursue your goals here, so you can benefit in this country.
((NARRATOR))
Samoon has American ambitions for his children but does not want them to lose their Afghan roots.
((Abu Baker Samoon, Afghan Refugee)) ((In English))
"I do want them to become Americans, but I also do want them to be at the same time Afghans. I want both of that to go side by side, parallel. I want them to know not just one language, but three languages: both of my national languages, Pashto and Dari, as well as English. I want all of that to go parallel, and I’ll definitely work hard on making sure that I do achieve that goal."
((NARRATOR)) Samoon is working on earning his accountant certification in the United States and hopes to own his own business, as he did in Afghanistan.
Genia Dulot, for VOA News, San Diego, California
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)San Diego, California
Embargo DateJune 15, 2022 18:50 EDT
BylineGenia Dulot, for VOA News, San Diego, California
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
