The youngest of the 30 Kosovar full-house refugees celebrated their freedom in all-American style yesterday – they went out for ice cream.
Walking two abreast, 14 of the 17 kids left the Brooklyn home of Eva Shakiri on their way to a Carvel store two blocks away. The stroll was full of firsts for the youngsters, who looked around in hushed awe.
They had never seen such traffic before – or pigeons gobbling bread in the street. “They were beautiful,” said Ajshe Bushi, 4.
It was also the first time they had been to an ice-cream parlor. Everyone wanted vanilla cones.
“It was delicious,” a grinning Ajshe said.
Next on the agenda is a family barbecue today – either at the home of Eva’s brother in New Jersey or in Brooklyn in her Kensington back yard.
“I explained to them what [Memorial Day] was and they thought it was a great holiday,” she said.
It’s also great for another reason, Eva said. “They will enjoy a long weekend without fear.”
Kind-hearted New Yorkers and companies continued to offer help yesterday.
“People are calling with money, food, clothing furniture and also calling to be volunteers, saying, ‘What can I do to help?'” said Tom Chiodo, a spokesman for the New York Association for New Americans.