Wani’s relative, Khalid Mohamed, holds a degree in management from the University of Khartoum and intends to pursue an MBA when his English is strong enough. Other refugees bear tribal facial markings from a life that holds no resemblance to the urban, American reality they face today.

The New Americans program tries to ease the cultural adjustment. Last summer, men, children, and women in native dress tried their hand at video games and sampled hand lotions on a field trip to the Mall of New Hampshire. They also obtained library cards, made use of the city bus system, and visited a Manchester hospital. Spitia and Howland helped students sign on to the Internet, turning puzzled looks into smiles as pictures of their native countries appeared on the screen.

“They are so eager to learn,” said Daniel Forbes, Meelia Center director. “That’s what’s so infectious about the program.”

Learning goes both ways, however, as the New Americans program blossoms into a full-blown cultural exchange. Spitia can be heard sounding out the Arabic words spoken by her students and Howland tries out Swahili. There is talk of starting a game night, featuring games from different countries. And the Conversational Café has developed into a freewheeling, monthly evening of shared language, culture, and song. One café gathering featured a dance demonstration by Spitia and a fellow native Colombian.

“The system is very good here,” said Osman Nurelhuda, a Sudanese mason, as he looked around the Discovery Store. “It is very easy here. Very good.”

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