Germany gives teenage Syrian migrant hope for the future
NOHFELDEN, Germany -- CBS News has been following the journey of a teenage Syrian migrant since last summer.
Jawan Ahmed never thought he would be making apple pancakes in a German high school. But in his short 16 years of life, he didn't think he would have to flee the war in Syria either.
Now, one in ten students here is a migrant. Almost all were young men traveling on their own.
"I miss my family," said Jawan. "It's been about more than four months since I've seen my parents. I'm thinking about, you know, when will this be over?"
He's referring to the war being over.
CBS News first met Jawan in Greece after he survived the treacherous crossing where so many had drowned.
We bumped into Jawan again on a crowded train from Austria. And then again, when he first arrived in Germany, homesick and tired.
He told us a few months ago, a normal life for him is having a home and going to school.
"Come back like with your mom cooking, yelling at you," he said.
He's changed a bit since we last saw him.
He even got his braces off.
But he still doesn't know when he'll see his family again. New German law makes reunions more difficult.
But he said he texts them a lot.
"They miss me a lot," he said.
He said he knows Germany's welcome is wearing thin, and said he was lucky to get this far.
He lives in a dorm that he shares with other migrants. This is only meant to be a temporary shelter while they find a more permanent home.
"I want to, of course, complete my school and start at university," he said.
He said he wants to go straight through school.
"Yeah, all the way," he said.
It may not be home, but he's found in Germany the one thing Syria can no longer offer: a future.