Syracuse, N.Y- According to the Refugee Processing Center, 7,000 refugees have arrived in Syracuse the past decade. When refugees come to America, they have a lot they have to learn. Whether it’s learning English, getting a job or eating new food.
When refugees come to America health care is different for them.
TruCare Connections Vice President Jay Subedi a former refugee from Nepal says refugees struggle with expressing their medical needs to doctors. According to Subedi, in Nepal, those who seek mental health care are treated as “second class” citizens. He added refugees in the U.S. take awhile to view that differently.
“The mental health people is treated as second class people back in country,” said Subedi. “But this is just the medical issue right? So we have to express here and tell the doctors so that the appropriate care and attention can be given.”
Bikash and Kumari Regmi immigrated from Nepal separately in 2009 and met in the U.S. in 2012. One thing they both had to adjust to was the food in America. Especially Bikash.
“The majority of our food was rice,” said Bikash. “Here we did have a rice, but there are a lot of other options. But we are not used to the sandwich, pizza, burger.”
Now like most refugees the Regmis had to learn English. Kumari starting was a housekeeper. Being a housekeeper was a good way to practice her English.
“It was tough, but I did learn so much to speak with people,” said Kumari. “You know even talking with people– you get so many communications with the people going in and out. Even if you’re a housekeeper.”
Another adjustment was housing. The Regmis lived in apartments when they came to Syracuse. The apartment layout was different from what they were used to in their refugee camp in Nepal.
“We used to live in a hut, which is made up of bamboo and plastic,” said Bikash. “Now we have apartment where we have our kitchen, living room, dining room, bedroom. Back in our country we have a small kitchen. So basically we’re given a small hut where we make ourself a kitchen and bedroom, but it’s not this fancy. ”
The Regmis today are nurse practitioners. They’re happy they came to America and give their three children opportunities they never had.