BY KAREN BOSSICK

A Syrian refugee now living in Boise will discuss her journey at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Ketchum.

Asmaa Albukai will discuss her journey in conjunction with the “This Land is Whose Land” BIG IDEA project currently being staged by the Sun Valley Center for the Arts.

Asmaa Albukai made the difficult journey from her homeland in Syria through Egypt and Germany before arriving in Boise in 2014.

Upon arriving in the United States, she was told that Idaho had nothing but snow and potatoes. Despite her initial apprehension upon hearing this, she now says she feels extremely lucky to live where she does.

She works as a case manager at the Agency for New Americans, helping other immigrants from around the world settle in to their new lives in Boise.

Albukai will share her travel journey, reflect on life in Syria and describe her experience in the United States during her talk on Sunday.

St. Thomas will follow this up with a two-part discussion on U.S. immigration policy entitled “Give Me Your Tired and Poor” at 11 a.m.Feb. 11 and 18.