Refugee and immigrant high school students — many of them from war-torn countries — can teach us a thing or two about gratitude.
That's what Joan Fox, an English language development teacher at Amphitheater High School, realized when she asked students in her emergent writing class to write letters to Mayor Jonathan Rothschild at the end of last school year.
She gave them some guidelines — maybe share their background, what they like about life in Tucson and what could be better.
It was the second year she had given the assignment.
"What struck me was how the concerns, complaints and dreams of the immigrants and refugees were identical to folks who have lived in the city for decades," Rothschild writes in an email. "And how over and over they expressed their thanks for being in Tucson and how they each wanted to work hard, get as much education as possible, and make their new country an even better place."
The refugee and immigrant students in the class came from around the world, and many barely spoke English when they started the school year.
But by the end of the year, Fox had them writing letters to their mayor.
"Their progress is just miraculous, and it doesn't matter where they come from or what they start with," says Fox, who is on medical leave right now. "They're all so intent on learning the language, and I have never seen people who love America more. They're so grateful to be here, and they see what we have with new eyes. Their gratitude and their love and their innocence, despite everything, is beautiful."
Fox sent almost two dozen student letters, written in April and May, to Rothschild this year. Here's what some of her students had to say. Some of the letters have been edited for clarity.
Gentille Shurweryimana
Age: 16
Current grade: 11th
Home country: Tanzania
What she's thankful for: "In Africa, I can't go to school. My parents didn't have money. Here I go for free. I am thankful for school because it is important in my life."
Gentille Shurweryimana — Credit: Johanna Willett
Her letter:
Dear Mayor Rothschild:
My name is Gentille. I’m from Tanzania. I came to Tucson on March 23, 2015 with my family. I traveled with my family to come here. I have lived here for one year in Tucson. I am a student at Amphi High School. I am in 10th grade. When I finish high school, I want to go to college to learn many things. I’m 15 years old. In Tucson I live in an apartment with my family. My family is beautiful. In my family we are five children, and I am the oldest. I have three brothers and one sister. I don’t want to change anything in Tucson, because everything is wonderful. Many people find jobs, but they work hard to find money. I don’t like my first country, because there is too much fighting.
I love my family and how my mom still teaches us to be kind with our neighbors. They help us when we are sick. I don’t want to change anything, because everything is wonderful. The most important things is to have many jobs. People want to be safe. I want you to help us at our school to have everything we want. Everything is better in Tucson, because sometimes it is going to be cold and hot. I love Tucson so much.
Thank you for reading my letter.
Sincerely:
Gentille Shurweryimana
Linda Hussein
Age: 15
Current grade: 10th
Home country: Iraq
What she's thankful for: "If you try for a good future, you can, but in Iraq you can't. I'm thankful for safety and free school."
Linda Hussein — Credit: Johanna Willett
Her letter:
Dear Mayor Rothschild:
My name is Linda Hussein. I am from Shingal, Iraq. I am Ezidi. I came to America because ISIS came to my country and Shingal. They came and took anything. They killed fathers, and they tried to change our religion, only because we are Ezidi. Please, we need help. Please you can help Ezidi. We are not Muslim, but this is happening to all of us in my country. We want to live in our country, but don’t have anything. The army fled in my country. In my country there is so much fighting.
The students here say they want to change some things in school, but they don’t know this school is good. I don’t want to change anything in this school. In my school in Shingal the teachers are Muslim. They fight with students. I do want to change my country, because it is so bad. I want to change my country's schools and cities; we don’t have anything. I want tell you: Please help my country.
Thank you for reading my letter, but please help Ezidi.
Sincerely:
Linda Hussein
Oanh Lai
Age: 18
Current grade: 11th
Home country: Vietnam
What she's thankful for: "I'm thankful for my family here."
Oanh Lai — Credit: Johanna Willett
Her letter:
Dear Mayor Rothschild:
My name is Oanh. I’m from Vietnam. I moved to Tucson on June 19, 2015. My country is shaped like a big capital S. Do you eat Vietnamese food? It’s good and tasty. I love the food in my country. In my country, I left my uncle and my grandma. I miss them very much. I want them to come here to me and bring the food from Vietnam to Tucson. I like my school in Tucson, because it is big, and I have many friends from other countries.
I live with my parents, my brothers and my sisters in Tucson. My parents go to work every day, and I just see them at night. When I go home, my sister and I help our parents cook food and clean house. I think one thing that can be changed in Tucson are the parks. I want all parks to have many games and water slides for the kids. That will make our city a beautiful place.
Sincerely
Oanh Lai
Sara Mohamed
Age: 15
Current grade: 10th
Home country: Eritrea (She was born in Sudan but identifies as Eritrean.)
What she's thankful for: "There is no more work there, but there is work here. I'm thankful for my family who are all living here."
Sara Mohamed — Credit: Johanna Willett
Her letter:
Dear Mayor Rothschild:
Hi I am Sara Mohamed. I was born in Sudan. My dad and my mom were born in Eritrea. I didn’t see Eritrea, but my family tells me it is pretty. I went to school in Sudan. ... My mom and my dad ran away to Sudan. And after that they married in Sudan. Sudan has rivers but Eritrea has the sea. I have friends in Sudan. All my friends are beautiful. ... The last time I celebrated (a holiday) with them was a sad day, because I can’t see them again, only after six years. I have my grandmother in Sudan. I miss her. And I have my brother in Sudan. He was married on March 29, 2015. Three months later I came to the United States. I came to America on June 16, 2015.
I live in Tucson Arizona. Arizona is next to New Mexico, south Utah, north Mexico, and west California. The weather in Tucson is good. The weather in Sudan and Arizona are the same. I like Arizona people. Arizona is my favorite state. I want to help the Arizona people who are homeless. They don’t have food. They don’t have homes. When the weather is hot, they are hot. When the weather is cold, they are cold. I want more big parking lots and hotels here. Also, the university, the education is too expensive. All the people come from there to sit and to learn. I want to graduate from an Arizona university. I would like Arizona to be famous. I want to save people who need help. My best state is Arizona.
Thank you for reading my letter.
Sincerely:
Sara Mohamed
Adam Uwikunze
Age: 15
Current grade: 10th grade
Home country: Tanzania
What he's thankful for: "In my first country, there was war. But in America, there is no war. It's safe here. I'm thankful USA cares about refugees and to help them."
Adam Uwikunze — Credit: Johanna Willett
His letter:
Dear Mayor Rothschild:
I am Adam Uwikunze. I am from Tanzania. I moved to Tucson on October 15, 2015. In my first country it was very dangerous and scary, because there is war. Our president kills people like animals. Now I live with my big family here. We are ten people. We have lived in Tucson about five months. In Tucson, I like soldiers because they help people in the world. I need to be a soldier, and help my first country. I like my first country. I will never forget my country.
I have my family. I live with my parents, one brother, and six sisters. I don’t want to change anything here. I think all is better for me. I like Tucson and the people who live in Tucson. First, I like the weather. It is too hot, but that is good. We need to praise God.
Thank you for reading my letter. God bless you!
Sincerely:
Adam Uwikunze
Beatrice Kashindi
Age: 15
Current grade: 10th grade
Home country: Tanzania
What she's thankful for: "Life in Tanzania is different than life in Tucson. The teachers beat students, but here teachers don't beat students. I am thankful for school because it's giving us everything."
Beatrice Kashindi — Credit: Johanna Willett
Her letter:
Dear Mayor Rothschild:
My name is Beatrice. I am from Tanzania, and I speak Swahili and English. I moved to Tucson from Tanzania. My parents are from Congo, but they lived in Tanzania. I like my life to be with peace not war. I like my family. I feel happy when I see my family. In Tanzania there are many people, but there are few houses, and many people live in tents. But here I live in a house. I am so very happy when I sleep in my own bedroom. I like school in Tucson. The teachers can’t hit students, but in Tanzania teachers hit students and slap them. I like to be happy and have peace all my life.
My parents like Tucson, because it has more jobs. They earn money every month. All my father’s relatives live in South Africa. My father’s brother has lived in Canada for eight years now. He has five children. I would like to visit my uncle in Canada. I want more lights on streets so people can see better when it is night.
Thank you for being our mayor.
Sincerely:
Beatrice Kashindi
Tangi Ndayishimiye
Age: 15
Current grade: 10th grade
Home country: Burundi
What he's thankful for: "In my country, there is no freedom. People fight. There are no jobs and a lot of homeless people. Here ... there is freedom, I go to school for free. I can have a better life here. I'm thankful for America and people who live in America who can bring refugees here. They don't care if you die or not (in Burundi). Here people care if something happens to you. They don't want you to die. They want you to live."
Tangi Ndayishimiye — Credit: Johanna Willett
His letter:
Dear Mayor Rothschild:
My name is Tangi Ndayishimiye. I am from Burundi. I have been in Tucson for four weeks. My country is small, but it is beautiful. There are many houses and many people and many friends. I have three brothers and one sister. We came here, my two brothers and I. My sister and my other brother stayed in Burundi. My sister is married, and my brother didn’t want to come. I like my family so much. I like Tucson, because in this city you can buy everything you want, everything you want to drink, and there is freedom. There many houses, and we play everything we want. I like this place, because it is better than my country.
My family and I like this city. We have food, a nice house, and a nice car. We live in freedom. I go to school. I eat what I want. One thing I want to be changed in Tucson is to make more jobs for people and to have more buildings. Thank you for reading my letter.
Sincerely:
Tangi Ndayishimiye
