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These "epilogues" are interviews with refugee women from the Middle East who have resettled in the United States. The first two were conducted entirely in Arabic and translated to English, and the last one was conducted in English. In each of these interviews, the women describe their experiences adjusting to U.S. culture, learning English, finding work, nagivating school for themselves and for their children, and receiving or giving hospitality after resettling in the United States.
Because of the sensitive nature of these stories, all names are fictitious unless I received explicit permission otherwise.
Here [in America], our life is going to start. We are going to return to living. We were dead… our life was very, very difficult. But now we have a new life, a new hope...
خلاس، هنا حياة رح نبلش. يعني، رح نرجع ان نعيش. كانا مياتين، يعني. …كانت حياة كثير كثير صعبة، وهلا حياة جديدة، أمل جديد
When I know that someone is coming tomorrow, I like to make their favorite food to make them happy, and I am happy when they are happy and eat well.
لما بعرف ان واحد بيجي بكرا، بحب ان بعمل اكل مفضل ان يفرح فيه، وانا افرح لما هو يفرح، ياكل كثير طيب
Here, hospitality is like lending a hand because everyone is busy. Everyone works full time jobs. You're not always available. But hospitality here is taking the time out of your day to say, “Hey, how can I help you?” And even if it's a really small gesture, it means the world.