It was a challenge from the beginning. Moving to a new country is never easy – much less so as a refugee family with only three bags of possessions and limited English. But the Villanueva family stayed open to the experience and embraced life in a new city.
Originally from Venezuela, Carlos and his wife, Crysta, desired a brighter future for their family. In Venezuela, they lacked food and faced political upheaval. The couple determined that they did not want their children (ages seven and five) to grow up in such an environment.
They moved to Colombia where they stayed for five years, but many of the same challenges persisted and were further complicated by prejudice. They wanted more for their children and requested resettlement in the U.S.
As soon as they received word that they would be going to Spokane, the couple began to research the city.
“We were just checking on the internet to know more about Spokane. We have some friends living here, and they shared with us what kind of city Spokane is,” Carlos said. “We know that this place is the place for us.”
Upon arriving at the airport, they were greeted by family friends. The children ran circles around the welcome party, laughing with glee. After a few minutes embracing and greeting each other, they piled into the car and drove to their new apartment.
The Villanuevas found the residents of Spokane to be very friendly. “We feel that Spokane is a beautiful, welcoming city,” said the couple.
The next morning, they were visited by a Resettlement Specialist.
Sarah, a World Relief Resettlement Specialist, visited the Villanuevas the day after they arrived. They discussed next steps in the resettlement process including attending doctors’ appointments and school enrollment.
“Sarah is a lovely person. We really understand each other very good,” said Crysta.
Because refugees generally do not arrive with cars or drivers’ licenses, they need to learn how to navigate the American bus system within the first few days of arrival. Carlos and Crysta laugh when they remember their first ride on Spokane Public Transit.
“Sarah went with us in the bus,” said Crysta. After sharing with the family how to get to a destination, Sarah had them show her how to get home. “It was funny.”
“In a week, we already went to the different markets and shops, and now we are super independent,” said Carlos. “So, we can say that we can do everything because Sarah had trained us how to take buses, and after that we learned so fast… Now we can say that we are thriving in these aspects.”
Reunited with friends in Spokane
The Villanuevas are especially happy to be reunited with a family they had previously hosted in Colombia. These friends are making sure the Villanueva family have the best resettlement experience possible.
By connecting with other refugee families that live in their area, the Villanuevas have built a supportive community. They share recipes, where to go shopping for Latin goods and spend time together. Their kids play together.
“We feel here that we are happy,” said Carlos.
Goals for the future
Carlos is certain that Spokane is the place where his family will flourish. “We are here for our kids. That is the reason we decide just to become an immigrant.” “The first goal is to provide to our children the best education possible. This is the principal goal for us,” said Crysta.
Their children will be attending public school. Carlos looks forward to getting employed and supporting his family. “We just want to get a nice job and to try to be self-sufficient as soon as possible. And of course… to learn English as soon as possible too.”
The couple has enrolled in Adult English classes at SCC. They also attend English Conversation Club and English for Driving classes at the Education Center.
“We are learning a lot,” said Crysta.
Crysta has experience as a graphic designer and looks forward to working in her field again. She faces one significant obstacle: “I have all of my work saved on a hard drive and I don’t have a computer.”
After finishing Computer Literacy classes, Crysta looks forward to obtaining a computer so that she can transfer her designs and begin working again.
Volunteering means a lot to Carlos and Crysta. They always make time to give back to the community and currently assist the Education Center with childcare. While there, they connect with other volunteers.
In less than a month, the Villanueva family have woven themselves into the fabric of the Spokane community. They look forward to their success in the city.
“You provide to us classes, and we have case managers, and we can have opportunities to have a focus on our goals,” said Carlos.
“We want to say thank you to Spokane… For everything that each person is doing for us. We never had this kind of experience in another country, where we were for many years. And now we feel that we belong to this community. We cannot have a better experience.”
Become a part of welcoming families like the Villanuevas. Click on the link below to learn more.
About the Author
Keri Bambock is the Communications Coordinator at World Relief Spokane. Her hobbies include sketching and painting. She likes riding her bike to the office and always gets the best parking spot.