Afsana is a teacher from Afghanistan who has learned through her life experiences how to find hope amid displacement and uncertainty. In 2021, Afsana’s husband had to flee Afghanistan to escape persecution, leaving behind his wife, son, and daughter who was just 20 days old. The family had no idea how long they would be apart.

Afsana remembers the lonely uncertainty of those days – and the drive to keep moving forward for the sake of her children. Thankfully, through a lot of waiting and anxiety over whether they would be accepted or not, the family was reunited in Idaho over three years later.

Afsana is once again doing work she loves as a family literacy coordinator at a local language school where she started out as a student. She encourages other immigrants to remember their strength as they learn to live life in a totally different country and system.

“Please stop comparing yourself with those people that have been a long time here," she shares. "Everybody has their own journey, and you are stronger than you’re feeling.” Note: We are using Afsana's first name only out of an abundance of caution for her loved ones.

00:00 Welcome to Mosaics

00:31 Afsana’s Teaching Roots

02:32 Life Upended in 2021

07:25 Reunited at the Airport

11:32 Starting Over in Idaho

17:45 Encouragement for Immigrant Women

21:13 Staying Positive Through Hardship

27:56 Friendship and Culture Shifts

31:58 New Joys in Boise