In our Voices blog, immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers share their experiences and thoughts with other newcomers. Blog posts are published mostly in English.

I studied English at school in my home country, so by the time I was an adult I thought I could speak it fluently. I did not think I needed much English practice. However, as soon as I arrived in the USA and had my first interaction, I realized I didn’t understand as much as ... Read more

An interpreter career has great benefits but it does come with a lot of challenges. An interpreter is someone who changes verbal information from one language to another. A translator is someone who changes written words to a different language. There is a great need for interpreters and translators in newcomer communities. These jobs are ... Read more

When I first arrived in the USA, I qualified as many others do to receive the types of public assistance that are available under the refugee program. When I first arrived in the US, I qualified as many others to receive the types of public assistance that are available under the refugee program. However, navigating ... Read more

My name is Jeanna and I am an immigrant. When I moved to the United States, I was 6 months away from graduating high school. My family and I had waited a long time for this moment.  I naively thought I was just going to be able to finish school in the USA. But I ... Read more