Karen arrived in the United States when she was four years old. She had been living in an “Orphan House” in Russia, as her dad had died in a war, the name of which she does not know; and her mom had died of a drug overdose. In America, Karen grew up in foster care. Her first job was in a Butterball Turkey factory in Arkansas where she earned $13.00 an hour, putting netting and labels on frozen turkeys that moved down the assembly line. When we met Karen, she had lived in four homeless shelters where the shelters had failed to provide her with American Sign Language interpreters. Recently, Karen thought that she had met her life-long partner, but instead she became a victim of domestic violence. When you ask Karen about America, she expresses gratitude. She appreciates the sense of community that she feels here; the friendliness of many strangers; and the diversity. Karen’s dreams: to have a family and earn money for their support; go on a vacation; enjoy a stable life with a routine; and remain healthy.
Karen