Meet Raya and Pam

When Raya first made the journey with her family from Uzbekistan to Fayetteville, the landscape, culture, and people were all unfamiliar to her. She spoke Russian and Uzbek, and she knew no English. 

“In the USA you should speak only English. My Russian doesn’t go here, and I should learn English.” Raya explains. Over ten years ago, she learned about the Ozark Literacy Council through her friends and came to OLC to take her first English class.  

At OLC, Raya was able to study English through grammar lessons, reading and conversation, and even cooking classes. 

“First time it was so hard,” Raya shares. “OLC teachers and tutors helped.” It was through OLC that Raya was introduced to Pam.

Pam came from Oklahoma to Northwest Arkansas in 2005. She learned about Ozark Literacy Council through Instagram and decided to volunteer so she could add diversity to her life.

“I think it’s important to see different ways of life and cultures outside of your bubble,” Pam expresses, “because it’s easy to get complacent as far as what you think the world is like, when it is very different if you get outside of what you’re used to.” 

In a typical tutoring session, Raya and Pam sit and talk about what’s going on in their lives. They often discuss each other’s countries, highlighting similarities and differences. Raya will talk about what she enjoys about America as well as the challenges she has encountered. 

“When I came first time, I can’t speak English and I can’t drive,” Raya says, “When I study English I studied driver’s book. In one year, I got driver’s license.”

Pam says that, before coming to Ozark Literacy Council, she had never realized the basic, yet taken for granted, day-to-day difficulties that immigrants face when they come to America, like getting a driver's license or opening a bank account. 

“I’ve learned so many things about her culture and that we have a lot of things in common. We’re about the same age, our kids are grown and out of the house,” Pam says. “We just kinda chat about things about life. She helps me and I help her.” Pam went on to say the pair has formed a friendship; they share unique opinions, hobbies, and experiences that helped them solidify an unexpected bond.

Both Pam and Raya have enjoyed their time together at Ozark Literacy Council, and they hope it continues. They encourage other people to get involved in the tutoring community at OLC, a place that opens opportunities for communication and connection no matter who you are or where you come from.