VOA--Business Grows in US Town That Embraces Refugees

By Christopher Jones-Cruise
29 April, 2017

Refugees often arrive in the United States with few clothes and other belongings.

From these simple beginnings, most refugees rebuild their lives, overcoming language and cultural barriers. Some even set up small businesses, helping to improve the economy in the community where they have resettled.

Yasha Ismailov is one such person. He owns and operates an automobile repair shop in Charlottesville, Virginia.

"We can fix any car. So you know, it happens a lot of times when nobody can fix it in town, they send it here. They know already we'll fix it if no one can fix it."

Ismailov bought the business, called Larry's Auto, nine years ago.

"When we came (to the) United States, we (were) working so hard (for the) first three years before we started (the) business. We (were) working for people, sometimes (working) double jobs. First, my job was painting, second job (was) installing the AC. Third, my job was electric..."

Ismailov was born to a Meskhetian Turkish family in Uzbekistan. Meskthetians are an ethnic subgroup of Turks. They were expelled in railroad cars by the leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, during World War II. Most of them were left in Uzbekistan.

"My family had to run to Russia because (there was a) massacre in Uzbekistan (of) Turks in 1989."

Ismailov was seven years old at the time of the attacks.

But Russian officials were not very welcoming. Meskhetian Turks were barred from Russian citizenship, owning property and holding jobs.

When the United States began accepting Meskhetian Turks as refugees in 2004, Ismailov, his brother and parents were resettled in Charlottesville. Ismailov was 22 years old. He is now 35.

"When we came to Charlottesville back in 2005, we just bring clothes. That's all."

He says the International Rescue Committee (IRC) told him Charlottesville "was a nice place, good and ‘you will like it, so go there.' We felt free. We felt better than over there. We felt safe."

>>>>>美版知乎Quora上的一个帖子唤醒了多少中国人心里的傲娇小公举

____________________________________________________________

Now married to a fellow refugee, Yasha Ismailov has two children and owns his own home. (J. Soh/VOA)

Charlottesville is a small city about 190 kilometers from Washington, D.C. It is known as a place where refugees are welcome.

More than 3,000 refugees have restarted their lives there since the late 1990s with the help of the IRC. Harriet Kuhr is the director of the group's local office.

"There are jobs for them here. And then, as they become more stable, they are opening their own small businesses. It really adds a lot of diversity, but it also adds economic impact. So the refugees are not takers. They're giving back by helping the community grow economically."

Ismailov's car repair business now has seven employees who work on about 150 cars a month. He has also begun to sell used cars.

"We (are) still working so hard to try to do business better. The second business -- the dealer(ship) business -- is going so well, too. Now we almost sell like two, three cars every day..."

Ismailov is now a U.S. citizen and owns his house. He married another refugee.

"My life in America is good. I have two kids. I have my wife. They are in a good school. I have nice neighbors. I have (a) job, and nobody bothers me. I'm proud to be able to contribute to the community in Charlottesville. My daughter (is a) swimmer, and I hope one day she wins (an) Olympic medal for (the) United States."

Yet Ismailov worries about the increasing number of refugees around the world.

"I (could) be one of them, too. I am lucky I am here, (but) they (are) not. I feel sorry about them. So I'd like to help them with something if I can."

I'm Alice Bryant.

VOA Correspondent June Soh reported this story from Charlottesville, Virginia. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our 51VOA.COM.

>>>>>双语阅读|终身受益的9种自我提高法

_______________________________________________________

Words in This Story

install - v. to add something to an existing structure, such as a building

AC - n. air conditioning

massacre - n. the act of killing a number of people

diversity - n. the act of having many differing parts

subgroup - n. a smaller group within a larger group or community

stable - adj. not changing; firmly established

contribute - v. to give or supply something to others

____________________________________________________________

• 上一篇：这些与生物有关的学术词汇你一定要会
• 下一篇：托福动物学背景知识之北极熊

• 相关文章

  • 留学申请 要不要找留学中介
  • 出国留学费用一般要多少
  • 选择留学中介的十大误区
  • 如何选择英国留学中介
  • 最新！2020中国教育部承认的英国大学名单完整版！
  • 2021年英国TOP10大学硕士留学申请条件汇总！

• 最新问答

  查看更多>>
  • 香港留学一年的费用需要多少钱
  • 应届高三学生申请出国留学读本科的途径有哪些？如何选择？
  • 今年高考的文科生，二本线，读什么专业好？
  • 高考成绩刚过一本线，高考志愿填报和出国留学如何选择？
  • 什么是CUG完全大学指南？
  • 什么是CWUR世界大学排名？