Ahmad’s experience gives us a picture of the Iraqi refugees plight. Most Iraqis were professional people in Iraq and were used to working and being able to support their families. Their inability to work, the threat of the small welfare pensions they receive and the lack of English language all conspire to make life difficult for them. Ahmad talked to us about the differences in what it was like when he arrived as a refugee and what Iraqi refugees face today (2012). He was able to move around from job to job and learn a lot of how things worked in America. He was able to go to college and work and provide for his daughter and later a son. He has a lot of school loans and lives a modest life, but he feels he can contribute now to his community. Today, there are few jobs. They don’t have English, and there are not enough professional ESL (English as Second Language) classes for the Iraqis. Iraqis suffer from PTSD, a form of anxiety and depression. This interferes with their ability to learn a new language and adapt rapidly to their new circumstances. While the younger refugees are more adaptable, the older ones are struggling.