"Let's put it this way: at home, I was less than nothing, and my name was considered an epithet. Here, I'm a whole person, and I don't have to fight anyone on the subject. And..." She leans closer, quieting down. "For the first time someone called me beautiful."

Her smile is softer, obviously pleased.

"I've been here...maybe a couple of months by now. As soon as I found a niche to settle into, it was all I needed. I won't say that it's exactly what you need but I think if you do find your own space here, absolutely nobody will have a problem with you."