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One Neighbor's Story - Uganda to the High Plains

Dodge City Community College

Mohammad Omar - Hi, my mane is Mohammad Omar.  I am from Africa, especially Uganda.  I am here since 2014, but I am living now in Dodge City.  I like Dodge City, Kansas, because we have a lot of work here.  Before I am working Tyson Food.  I start again Cargill Company.  Now I am working three years at National Beef.  So, we are happy to be here in Kansas, Dodge City.

Greta – Why are you happy to live in Dodge City, Kansas?

Mohammad Omar - Because, it is a good city in here.  Not everything is very cheap when you have the income from your company.  It’s expensive, but not that expensive.  Everything is good. Because every week, you can eat like $70!  Me and my family, we eat $120 each week. That is why it is good.

Greta – How did you get to United States from Uganda?  

Mohammad Omar – I came like a refugee. I came on an airplane, like 43 hours from Africa to Dodge City. 

Greta – You learned English in the classes at Dodge City Community College, but where else do you speak English?  Do you speak English all the time?

Mohammad Omar -  Before 2008, I started to work at a group of companies called Mandela group of companies.  They are changing tires, changing oil, and fuel like a gas station.  Yes, a gas station.  I was a supervisor there.  Then I was a sales manager.  So, when I came here, I started at Dodge City Community College in like four months.

Great – And, you love Kansas because  . . .

Mohammad Omar – Because it is very cheap houses and good job like those companies.  Beef is good because in other states, you can work like in a warehouse, but it is very little money because this one by hour, you can start like at Tyson Food, $16 when you are a new hire.  Here, $14.50, but when you are working in a warehouse, you can start $7.50.

Greta – So, you love Kansas because you have a good life and you make good money?

Mohammad Omar -  Yes, and because of the money.

Greta -  Do you have children?

Mohammad Omar – Yes, I have one son.  He was born in 2014 and now he is one year and 8 months, so he is 20 months now.

Greta – And do you want him to go to school in Kansas?

Mohammad Omar – Yes.  I will start on that.  Now my wife is in Africa.  She travelled there. She will come back in December.  When they come, I would like to start mechanic, working on engines.  Maybe be an engineer.

Greta – Thank you Mohammad.  Thank you for sharing your story with High Plains Public Radio’s Radio Readers Book Club.