The second half of Tom’s conversation with his friend, Elvir, focuses on Elvir’s integration into American life after arriving from a refugee camp in Croatia. Elvir shares his initial reactions to elements of American culture that we take for granted. He talks about the experience of being an immigrant in this country and adds context to the stereotypes that many Americans have toward that community. Finally, Elvir talks about the steps he has taken to ensure others feel welcome and comfortable joining this community, including establishing a small scholarship at his alma mater, Virginia Western Community College, to help other immigrants who are following in his path.

If you would like to contribute, you can visit this link: https://www.virginiawestern.edu/giving/give-now/ and contribute any amount you want. When you scroll to the bottom of the form, you have the option to write in the specific scholarship you wish to support. Elvir’s scholarship is the “Refugee and Immigrant Scholarship.”