Syrian Refugees Are Embracing Their New Lives. But At What Cost?

When Aya, a 23-year-old Syrian refugee living in the west German town of Xanten, came home from her language lessons one afternoon in October, the house was in disarray. A frantic search revealed that her 2-year-old son's stroller was missing, along with their passports and IDs. She tried her husband; his phone was off. A few hours later Aya received a telephone call from Syria. "Go pack your bags," her husband's brother told her. "Mohammad is taking Joud to Syria, and he wants you to go with them.

When Aya, a 23-year-old Syrian refugee living in the west German town of Xanten, came home from her language lessons one afternoon in October, the house was in disarray. A frantic search revealed that her 2-year-old son's stroller was missing, along with their passports and IDs. She tried her husband; his phone was off. A few hours later Aya received a telephone call from Syria. "Go pack your bags," her husband's brother told her. "Mohammad is taking Joud to Syria, and he wants you to go with them.