Mohamed-Mahad Dirieh Darar Guest columnist  Back to: News
November 20, 2012 Follow News  Darar: Thanks to those who help
refugees on their journeys    Foosiya is a Somali refugee who
lives in Greeley. She goes to the Global Refugee Center in
Greeley to attend her daily English classes. With her limited
English skills, she occasionally encounters difficulties
assimilating into American culture.  Many in Greeley are
perplexed by refugees like Foosiya. The most obvious differences
are in her clothes — a long, open-faced vestment that covers her
entirely from the head to the feet traditionally named Hijab in
Somali — and long, slack pants. This style of clothes, in the
eyes of the media, is only imposes upon wives of Islamic
extremists. For Foosiya, it is a modest traditional dress. Being
so loyal and devoted to her religion and custom, Foosiya appears
to be uneasy about embracing Western clothing styles. Foosiya
thus finds herself struggling between her tradition and the
modern life in the free world. Finding a