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Albert Lea High School Newspaper

THE AHLAHASA

Albert Lea High School Newspaper

THE AHLAHASA

Albert Lea High School Newspaper

THE AHLAHASA

A Different life: Burmese students new to ALHS

A+Different+life%3A+Burmese+students+new+to+ALHS

They were told not to leave the refugee camp at night. They were told that there could be Burmese people looking to capture them for money. They heard screams late at night and didn’t know what was happening. They were children.
Leaving Burma when they were young, Ka see Yar and Tabe Htoo, juniors at Albert Lea High School grew up in a refugee camp in Thailand. The camp was like a small community. They went to school every day, did chores after school, and went to church on Sundays. Yet there were viable differences.
At school, Instead of moving class to class, they stayed in the same room while the teachers switched. To watch TV they had to pay money. To get water for the day they had to go get it from the community water source unless they had money to pay for running water in their house. If they were sick they could go to the hospital and get medicine for free.
“We would go into the forest and find vegetables like mushrooms.” Yar said.
Life was different. They had their countries fight always in the back of their minds. Families had dug holes in their yards to hide their things and their family just in case.
“I did feel safe.” Htoo said.
Though the refugee camp was relatively safe, things did happen. If people were found outside the camp without an I.D. they were jailed and had to pay to get out.
Three years ago, after a long application process, they came to Saint Paul Minnesota where there were a growing number of Karen people. At least 4,600 Karen immigrants have received refugee status in Saint Paul.
“It was nice. There was other Karen people like us there.” Htoo said.
They started attending school and learning English. Yar has been learning English for two years while Htoo has been learning for 5 years. Their parents had also started learning English when they cam to America.
“For our parents it would be hard.” Htoo said.
Htoo and Yar are here because an organization called Karen organization of Minnesota is trying to help the Karen people by setting them up with jobs so their family can start over. The organization has sent families to Albert Lea with jobs working at Select Foods.
Yar and Htoo have lived in Albert Lea since the beginning of the school year but they miss Saint Paul. Because there are so many Karen people in Saint Paul, the Karen’s culture is now there.
“I have more friends there and our own church.” Htoo said.
One of their favorite memories is the Karen New Year. They sing and dance. It’s like a big party.
“It’s very fun.” Yar said.
Their culture and other cultures were on display first hand at the Taste of Heritage at the mall on April 2. There was food and entertainment and an opportunity to learn more about the people of Albert Lea.

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