CULTURE SHOCK; REFUGEES SPEND DIZZYING DAY IN L.A.

Byline: Phillip W. Browne Daily News Staff Writer

Two months ago, Nuhi Vlashi watched helplessly as Serbian forces executed and ``chopped to pieces'' his neighbors in a Kosovar village, then stole everything they had.

He and his family of eight were among the last to escape the town of Hani-Elezit before Serbs closed the Macedonian border and planted land mines.

On Friday, they spent their first day as the Los Angeles area's newest residents in a two-story house in Simi Valley. They ate beef stew and soup, watched a little television and got some much-needed sleep.

``I didn't even dream I would ever be in America. It's still a dream,'' Vlashi, 55, said through an interpreter Friday, flanked by his family.

``Everybody is very kind and hospitable. I am very pleased.''

Despite America's glamorous lifestyle and its creature comforts, he ultimately wishes to return to his homeland.

``My dream is for NATO to help us go back home,'' Vlashi said. ``We don't want them to stop the bombing, even if it kills Albanians. If they kill all of us, it's OK.

``Death is better than oppression.''

Vlashi was among the first 28 Albanian refugees from Kosovo to settle in Los Angeles on Friday, spending the day reacquainting themselves with a relative who hasn't seen them in eight years. The refugees, all members of the Vlashi family, arrived in Los Angeles just before midnight Thursday to stay with volunteer families who have opened their homes to them.

In Sherman Oaks, another relative, 17-year-old Nick Vlashi, said he wished he could be back home.

``I want to go home to my country,'' he said in broken English. But before then, he will be going to a baseball game, to the beach and to see the new ``Star Wars'' film, said Bobbie Black, who is hosting his family.

At the Simi Valley home of Lloyd and Joan Martin, Nuhi Vlashi's sons Safete, 12, and Mirvete, 13, ran through the back yard and played. His daughters helped sweep the white tile entryway. Vlashi's wife, 48-year-old Muradja, rested for the first time in months in a crisp, clean bed.

They all prayed for their 25-year-old son and brother who remains in Kosovo, fighting with the Kosovo Liberation Army.

``We pray every day and night, but we know he is fighting for freedom,'' he said, his eyes welling up. ``We pray he will return to us.''

Joan Martin, who opened her home to the refugees, said her first 24 hours with the family has been awe-inspiring.

``When they came into the airport with tears in their eyes, my heart just sank,'' Martin said. ``But I was encouraged and inspired.''

Martin said they looked ``very scared'' and wouldn't speak the first night. But the next morning, Lloyd Martin put out boxes of cereal, cartons of milk, and a battery of spoons and bowls.

``We showed them what cereal is,'' Lloyd Martin said. ``Cheerios was the winner.''

All of the refugees now in Los Angeles are extended relatives of Hajrush Vlashi and his wife, Renee. On Friday, Renee stood outside her West Hills home while her extended family members ate and rested.

``They are much more high-spirited today,'' Renee Vlashi said. ``They were very quiet and scared last night.''

Things started to lighten up when she took a few of the women shopping at Ralphs supermarket.

``They were looking around at all of the food and smiling a bit, but they were still worn down after what they've been through,'' Renee Vlashi said. ``It would be different if they were here on vacation.''

When the Vlashis learned that they could sponsor family members as immigrants, Renee Vlashi, a professional puppeteer, pulled some strings.

The couple, who live in the San Fernando Valley, enlisted the Jewish Federation to help them bring family members to the United States from Macedonia, where they had fled from Kosovo.

Four synagogues in the San Fernando Valley became involved in the effort. Six families agreed to house Vlashi's relatives for several weeks.

Four other family members remain in Macedonia and were expected to arrive later.

``We're very proud that we were able to accomplish this,'' said Sunny Caine, chairwoman of the federation's resettlement subcommittee.

Other families are being housed in Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas and West Hills. The federation provides signed assurances to the federal government that the agency will resettle the families, who are recognized as refugees by the State Department.

The refugees will receive one month of cash assistance, which averages about $300 a person, and three months of services.

The hosts have been asked to house families for as long as two weeks. In the meantime, the federation will seek rental housing and provide limited financial assistance.

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) The Vlashi family in Simi are, from left, Jani, 15; father Nuhi; mother Muradja; Nurije, 24; Emrije, 22; Feride, 21; and Sufete, 12.

(2) Nick Vlashi, 17, is interviewed by a large group of media at a home in Sherman Oaks.

John Lazar/Daily News