On the Move - Naziri Family
[Mehsud Naziri]
I'm from Kabul, Afghanistan. We used to live in Kabul. So, back in Afghanistan, we had a better life. I used to work as a security guard with Americans, and then later, I started my business. But life was good back then when I was in Afghanistan. I used to sell cars. I enjoyed that business very much. So our daily lives back in Kabul were very good. Whatever we earned, like a 100, or 150, back then was more than enough to have fun and to live our day-to-day lives. But after the Taliban took over, as you know, everything got destroyed and our lives stopped for us. So the news really saddened us that our country fell to the Taliban. We were really worried, and we didn't know what's gonna happen in the future for us. And since I worked with the Americans, I was directly under the threat of the Taliban. So I was afraid for my life and for my family's life. So it could have been a better situation.
[Rabia Rahimi]
There were a lot of emotions that came to us after we heard the country fell. I felt like we had no choice but to be afraid for our lives. Even before this happened, I was aware of the threat we were under. After the country collapsed, we were initially unsure of what to do and were consumed by sadness. We were extremely distressed and felt a great sense of sadness. Eventually, we both determined that we needed to depart the country and there wasn't sufficient time for us to collect our belongings. All we had were a few articles of clothing.
My kid, for instance, did not have a second diaper on hand. For a number of consecutive days, my children stayed in the same diaper. Initially, we were overwhelmed and distressed. However, we came to the realization that we need to depart Afghanistan for the benefit of our children and our own safety. Leaving Kabul was a difficult decision. At that moment, our focus was solely on ourselves and our children, not even our parents.
When we approached the American Embassy, we were told that we could not be granted a visa, and we felt hopeless. The only suggestion given was to try our luck at the airport and attempt to board one of the departing planes. It seemed like our only option. The process was quite difficult. We gathered our children, summoned our courage, and headed to the airport in an attempt to board the planes.
[Mehsud Naziri]
After the government collapsed, we headed to the airport. Unfortunately, it was extremely crowded, and we were stuck there for three days with no chance of getting through the gates due to the large number of people. On the third day, I approached an American soldier, explained the situation, and showed my badge. The soldier allowed us to enter the airport. We stayed there for two more days until we were finally able to catch a flight and leave the country on the fifth day.
[Rabia Rahimi]
So those five days were hell. We had no water or food. We were constantly attacked by the Taliban. It was so terrifying. They yelled at us. My kids were worried about them. People were screaming and pushing, trying to get to the gate. I would try to act as a shield to protect my kids. I saw people jumping on my kids. I was scared for their safety. To this day I still think about that day. It makes us cry. It had a huge impact on our mental health and psyche. Even my oldest son had trouble breathing. I think it’s related to all the tear gas the Taliban shot at us when we waited to enter the airport. The entire time we were waiting at the airport my kids didn't even have their shoes on. They lost their shoes as we ran towards the gate. They walked around barefoot for days. It was like judgment day. Each person was solely focused on their own survival, with no consideration for others. When we encountered others, they were unresponsive to pleas for help. The scene was complete chaos. It's difficult to describe the emotions we experienced when leaving. Initially, we were filled with joy because we were finally rescued. We were able to save our loved ones and ourselves, and we boarded a plane to flee the country. However, we also felt sadness because we left our homeland. We left our lives, family, parents, home, cars, and everything familiar to us. Even now, just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. It was a truly unique experience, and it felt like a huge relief.
[Mehsud Naziri]
As we were leaving the country, I couldn’t help but feel like you were leaving everything behind. It was a scary time. The journey to Abu Dhabi was particularly challenging for our children, as we had no access to food, water, or diapers. We couldn’t wait till the next stop where we could finally tend to their needs. During our stay in Abu Dhabi for 20 days, we had no complaints as the situation was good with enough food and water. Afterward, we were flown to Washington, DC, Virginia, and then Indiana where we spent four and a half months without any issues. Following that, we were sent to Michigan's Double Tree Hotel for three and a half months before finally settling in our current home. We feel grateful and thankful to the American people and the United States of America for allowing us to build our lives here, and we are very happy with the agency and everyone who has helped us until this day. Our family and children now have a brighter future, and we feel safe and content in our new homeland. Adjusting to a new country can be challenging. Every place has its own language, culture, and people, which requires adaptation. Since relocating to this country, my family and I have made a conscious effort to learn about the culture, language, and rules. We have even made some American friends, as well as Afghan friends who share our language or religion. Having been here for two years, we feel at ease, particularly due to the large Muslim population, which has certainly helped in our transition.
