VOA常速英语:暖心：美国社区组织与难民共进晚餐，努力打破种族界限

There is a melting pot of foods from different cultures representing the face of America.The host of this dinner is an organization called Trybe that celebrates different cultural and religious traditions within a community.

They are preparing for the guests of honor.Among them is Mohamad Naser Trad, a Syrian refugee who just turned 19, it’s his first birthday in America.

“It’s a big step to come here, and it’s a big difference because it’s different culture, so I hope to adapt here very quick.”

Trad arrived in the US six months ago.He feels that he can’t completely adapt until he speaks English fluently (And thank you very much to inviting us here…),which he’s trying hard to learn in college.

But he is adapting in other ways.

“I try to make some grilled cheese, some quesadillas some stuff, yeah, I learned some, so I try it at home.”

Trad’s sister, Laila is 15 and having a rough time fitting in at school.

“Some of them they talk to me like, ‘Can I see your hair? Why [are] you with [wear] this [hijab]?’Like this, yeah.And sometimes they bother me like, ‘ You’re a terrorist,’ or something like this, but I don’t listen to them.”

“It’s hard for her and for me because just [they are] taking the news from the TV.They don’t know the truth.”

Syrian refugees are barred from entering the US for 120 days under a new executive order signed on Monday by President Donald Trump.

“He judge one people that a Syrian can be a terrorist.Maybe anyone can be. I mean, it’s not… you can’t judge anyone by just his nationality,”

but Trad’s critique of President Donald Trump stopped there.

“It’s the will of God, so I’m happy because he chose him.”

Trad said so far his experience in the US has been very different than the White House rhetoric.

“A lot of Americans welcome us and so nice to us, and they want to help us.”

The aim is that these kinds of interactions continue long past the dinners in all the communities where refugees are trying to be settled and hoping to celebrate many more birthdays in the US.

Elizabeth Lee, VOA news, Los Angeles.