He Was An Interpreter For U.S. Forces In Afghanistan And Now He's Driving For Uber
Many Afghans who worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan end up doing gig work or other low wage jobs in America, even when they come with language and professional skills.
Ahmad Zai Ahmadi was just a teenager when he ran into a group of U.S. Marines at a bazaar in his hometown of Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2003.
"I just started saying 'Hi' and 'How are you,' and they say, 'Okay, you speak English. Do you want to be translating for us?' I say, 'Of course, yes!'" recalls Ahmadi, now 36.
He went on to work as an interpreter for U.S. forces for nearly a decade, a job that took him all over Afghanistan. He forged friendships with American service members, including a number of high-ranking officers. His nickname was Rock.
In 2009, he applied for a to come to the U.S., a program set up for Afghans who'd served the U.S. government and faced
