In his spare time, Phun Kar Thang likes to help others who have, like him, left their native Myanmar and its military dictatorship and landed in Frederick .
Thang has been in Frederick for about five years and is a permanent resident.
Mostly, he takes newcomers to doctors' visits, the Motor Vehicle Administration or school appointments, and helps translate for them.
Since he's moved to Frederick , he's seen an increase from about 100 to about 400 people from Myanmar living in the area.
That number would be greater, he said, if the area had more available jobs.
Community life for many is centered around church, he said. Thang is a deeply committed Christian and a chairman of Frederick 's Falam Baptist Church, Maryland.
Most of those from Myanmar who've left the country and become refugees in Frederick are ethnic Chin, a persecuted minority, he said. Many of the Chin are Christian, which is a religious minority in mostly Buddhist Myanmar.
Thang spent the majority of his adult life in Yangon, Myanmar's former capital city.
He worked as a college professor of world government and international relations for about a decade and earned two graduate degrees in those subjects; one in Myanmar and another in Tokyo.
He eventually quit his teaching position and started a publishing company, which he ran for about seven years.
His company published mostly Christian books and journals, he said.
Finally, because of the effects of political instability in Myanmar, he left for Frederick . His wife and two sons joined him about a year later.
Adjustment to life in Frederick was a bit difficult at first, he said.
He'd lived most of his life in large, metropolitan areas. Frederick appeared tidy, comfortable and pleasant. He could speak enough English to get by, but it took him almost four months to obtain a state ID card before he could begin work as a manual laborer at BP Solar.
If he hadn't lived abroad before, and understood how difficult it is for foreigners to gain employment in another country, he said the employment transition he's gone through would have been a lot less bearable.
"In fact it is hard, but I'm prepared to do it," he said.
His wife was an anesthesiologist in Myanmar, but didn't even qualify for a nursing assistant's position in Frederick as she didn't have American credentials.
Also, both he and his wife have applied, but failed to receive official copies of their diplomas from Myanmar.
Now she works in a local company scanning documents.
For the first generation of immigrants, work life can be quite a challenge, he said.
Generally, most of the people from Myanmar he's talked with feel accepted and comfortable living in Frederick , he said.
He said he plans to remain in the United States for good. "There is no hope in my country."
Thang has been in Frederick for about five years and is a permanent resident.
Mostly, he takes newcomers to doctors' visits, the Motor Vehicle Administration or school appointments, and helps translate for them.
Since he's moved to Frederick , he's seen an increase from about 100 to about 400 people from Myanmar living in the area.
That number would be greater, he said, if the area had more available jobs.
Community life for many is centered around church, he said. Thang is a deeply committed Christian and a chairman of Frederick 's Falam Baptist Church, Maryland.
Most of those from Myanmar who've left the country and become refugees in Frederick are ethnic Chin, a persecuted minority, he said. Many of the Chin are Christian, which is a religious minority in mostly Buddhist Myanmar.
Thang spent the majority of his adult life in Yangon, Myanmar's former capital city.
He worked as a college professor of world government and international relations for about a decade and earned two graduate degrees in those subjects; one in Myanmar and another in Tokyo.
He eventually quit his teaching position and started a publishing company, which he ran for about seven years.
His company published mostly Christian books and journals, he said.
Finally, because of the effects of political instability in Myanmar, he left for Frederick . His wife and two sons joined him about a year later.
Adjustment to life in Frederick was a bit difficult at first, he said.
He'd lived most of his life in large, metropolitan areas. Frederick appeared tidy, comfortable and pleasant. He could speak enough English to get by, but it took him almost four months to obtain a state ID card before he could begin work as a manual laborer at BP Solar.
If he hadn't lived abroad before, and understood how difficult it is for foreigners to gain employment in another country, he said the employment transition he's gone through would have been a lot less bearable.
"In fact it is hard, but I'm prepared to do it," he said.
His wife was an anesthesiologist in Myanmar, but didn't even qualify for a nursing assistant's position in Frederick as she didn't have American credentials.
Also, both he and his wife have applied, but failed to receive official copies of their diplomas from Myanmar.
Now she works in a local company scanning documents.
For the first generation of immigrants, work life can be quite a challenge, he said.
Generally, most of the people from Myanmar he's talked with feel accepted and comfortable living in Frederick , he said.
He said he plans to remain in the United States for good. "There is no hope in my country."
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