Community Center Helps Somalis Adapt To Colorado

[AlphaCentauri]

As meatpacking jobs attract more Somali immigrants to this northeast Colorado farm town, community leaders have found that simply learning a foreign language can be a matter of life and death.

On June 1, an immigrant who didn't understand English-language traffic signs entered the wrong side of Interstate 76 and collided with another car. The 65-year-old recent arrival, Ali Aden, and a passenger were seriously injured. Passenger Mohamed Najji Mohamed, 44, was killed. A Surprise, Ariz., resident in the other car suffered minor injuries, the Colorado State Patrol said.

The wreck provoked some local resentment toward the 650-strong African community -- mostly Somali -- that either lives or works in Fort Morgan, a town that otherwise has overwhelmingly welcomed the newcomers.

http://cbs4denver.com/local/Community.Center.Helps.2.1120824.html

[snagglepuss]

1. How does someone who doesnt understand traffic signs get a license?

I'd be pissed too because its highly irresponsible of him to drive.

[AlphaCentauri]

2. That's what the community centers are trying to change n/t

[snagglepuss]

4. But a community centre doesn't issue a license. Didn't he have to pass

a driving test?

[vadawg]

3. reminds me of a nigerian friend who attended a class like this

ill never forget when he told me that the teacher showed them a picture and said "this is snow" the look on his face as he was telling me this was priceless....