Produced by the I Lab at W-B-U-R, Boston.

Hi everyone, this is Yasminaver.

Today I've got a great classic kind world

episode for you two stories about finding a new home and starting life over

things that seem daunting, almost impossible, until you realize that there are people who

have your back.

Here's our classic episode, Stuck in transit.

Hassan Alkuntar is from a Syrian city called Sueda. He grew up with two siblings and a tight-knit middle-class family.

Dad was an engineer, mom was a nurse.

We have a lot of cousins, big family, he used.

But it's been more than a decade since Hassan has seen his family.

Now he just has fond memories of their time together.

I used to go to farm with my father every weekend.

A small farm with some olive trees and small house with no electricity but there when he

teach me the value of the nature how to not forget my roots.

In 2006 Hassan traveled to a wealthier state, the United Arab Emirates, or UAE,

hoping to give his family greater financial security.

But in 2011, everything changed.

The assault began at first light, the Syrian regime bringing war to a city of 700,000.

A brutal civil war broke out in Syria.

Hassan knew if he went back home, he'd be forced to serve in the army.

It was against my principles, my morals.

...