Shah & Sarker

“I want him to be a doctor. He likes to say, “I want to become scientist!” He’s nine years old. He has a long way to go. There are many journeys ahead.”

Shah’s story:

I’m from Bangladesh, I came to the United States twenty-five years ago. Everything is much easier here. I have had this store going on fourteen years now. I miss my family so much. We were going to go back every one or two years when we first came here. We left our entire family over there. We miss them and we talk to everybody almost every day. Some family members have come here and gone back; it just didn’t work for them. Some are better off financially back home. But we don’t have a choice, this is home now. I feel like most people know India, but not Bangladesh. India is a big country, you know. A lot of people they just aren’t familiar with it geographically or politically.

Sarker’s story:

I came to the U.S. on February twenty-second, 2008. My family and I came together. My brother was already here so we decided to meet him here. It was difficult at first, especially with the language barrier. After a month and a half I found a job in a supermarket. Two years I worked there, and then I started here. Work is pretty steady and good, which is also why my son is over here. That is why I stay, for his future. I want him to be a doctor. He likes to say, “I want to become scientist!” He’s nine years old. He has a long way to go. There are many journeys ahead.