Hardships Of Refugees

People all over the world have to leave their home and country because of natural disasters, persecution by government, war and many other tragedies. These people are called refugees, which is an individual that flees their homeland in fear of what will happen to them if they stay. Refugees face many hardships and challenges that can make their lives seem “inside out” while trying to find a new place to call home, such as discrimination in their homeland and also when they’re trying to make a living in a new country. Their traditions and culture remind them of who they are and why they’re doing this, and while trying to find a new home being reminded of these things can help raise their spirits and hopes and make the journey a little bit easier.

They yell “Boo-Da, Boo-Da” at me. They pull my arm hair. They call me pancake face. They clap at me in class.” (Lai 215) Ha is being teased for her culture while in a new country like many other refugees go through when they transition to a new country. Another example is from the article “Refugees: Who, Where, Why” by Catherine Gevert about how others feel that they’re superior to other people, “Another important trigger is the feeling of superiority over others: some individuals feel their system of belief, country, or ethnic background is superior to that of others.” (Gevert) People will discriminate others because they feel that they’re superior to them in ethnicity, beliefs, cultures,or where they “came from”.

A feeling at home or comfort for a refugee can give them hope and a feeling of “back again” so that they can cherish the memories of their home and their cultures and traditions. One example of the feeling “back again” is from the book Inside Out and Back Again and Ha wants to bring something from Vietnam to America , “I tell her I’d like to plant flowers from Vietnam in her backyard. I tell her Tet is coming and luck starts over every new year.” (Lai 254) Ha, like many other refugees, want a sense of home and a time of ease in a time where their entire world is flipped inside out. Ha wants to plant flowers from Vietnam to remind her of home. Another example is from the article “Children of War” by Arthur Brice about Emir practicing the religion of his own choosing, “Nobody I know practiced religion. And then suddenly they tried to kill me because of religion. Here, I don’t have that problem anymore." (Emir) Refugees hold strong onto their religion and practices when it’s taken away they can feel that they have nothing left. Being able to practice religion gives them a sense of hope and faithfulness that they will prevail when their life is struggle after struggle. One example of the feeling “back again” is also from the book Inside Out and Back Again By: Thanhha Lai and Ha finds a book of pictures that