We recently had a fire drill at Refugee Resettlement. This was the first fire drill since I started working there in August of last year. This drill taught me that after ten months of working with refugees, I still assume a few things I should not (or maybe a lot of things).
I did not realize that the clients who were in my office during the fire drill wouldn’t know to leave the building (but really, why would they know what it was and what to do?). I our defense (mine and the client’s), no actual alarm was going off--someone was blowing a whistle. After the person blowing the whistle was someone else saying “this is a fire drill.”
I got up to leave the room, but my clients did not. I stepped into the hall and was about to start walking to the door, but then realize my clients were still sitting in my office. I had to tell them a couple of times that we had to leave the building before they got up and followed me to the hall.
Had there been an actual fire alarm going off, I would have known what to do, but would my clients? And if I simply assumed they knew what a fire drill was, what else am I still assuming after ten months?
Showing posts with label refugees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label refugees. Show all posts
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Please Take Action
I’ve been trying a lot of new things lately. Until Wednesday, I never used the forward button on my email and until yesterday, I never called a senator’s office. Yesterday I forwarded an email asking that people sign a petition to save AmeriCorps and today I forwarded an email asking people to contact their senators to keep funding for refugee programs.
I’ve sent many form letters and signed numerous online petitions in the past year or so, but today I also wrote my own personal letter and emailed it to Maine senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe.
Many things will be cut in the new budget for our country and I agree that we need to spend less money, but I’m not sure all the cuts are from the right places. The two cuts in funding that I asked the senators not to support in my calls and emails are the potential cuts to Migration and Refugee Assistance and the Office of Refugee Resettlement as well as the proposed cut in funding to the Corporation for National and Community Service (which includes AmeriCorps).
Congress proposed that we completely cut the AmeriCorps program and reduce funding for refugee assistance programs by a huge amount. Both programs are extremely important. As much as I hate the idea of cutting funding for either of these programs—I can understand the need to cut some, but all of the funding for AmeriCorps? And half of the funding for refugee programs?
What I am including below is part of an email the director of my program sent to all Catholic Charities of Western New York employees.
“On Saturday, February 19, the House of Representatives recommended massive cuts to various humanitarian assistance programs, including:
45% cut to Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA);
10.4% cut to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR); and,
67% cut to International Disaster Assistance (IDA).
"Since we are already five months into the federal fiscal year those cuts would basically shut down the refugee assistance program within the US and severely reduce refugee processing overseas. There would not be money available to resettle more refugees until October 2011. Since our funding is per capita performance-based, no new arrivals equals no more funding.”
I understand the desire to cut programs that serve non-Americans, but refugees are some of the most vulnerable people in the world who have experienced great violence, oppression, and human rights violations in their home countries, as well as in many of the refugee camps. In addition, refugees bring important diversity to our communities, rent apartments from Americans, work, pay taxes, start businesses, and by cars and homes in the United States. There are also many refugee resettlement and assistance programs similar to the one where I work that would either shut down or have to lay off many employees.
When our director told us of the possibility of these cuts, I felt sick to my stomach, but I’m sure my feeling was nothing compared to many of my coworkers who are themselves former refugees and many of whom are applying to bring their family members to the United States.
Especially in this economy, volunteers fill needed positions in many jobs that directly serve the most vulnerable Americans. Agencies that serve the disadvantaged are already under-funded and under-staffed and often rely on the help of full-time volunteers. Not only would fewer services be provided without AmeriCorps, but more people would need those services because at least some of the volunteers would be unemployed if they were not in full-time volunteer programs. AmeriCorps provides important job experience to More than 85,000 young Americans a year. I know that AmeriCorps is an expensive program, but it is far less expensive than having a regular, paid employee and paying for all the consequences of less services to those most in need.
Again and again programs that help the poor and vulnerable are the programs that are cut by the government because the people don’t have a voice and are forgotten. I disagree with the Catholic Church on many issues, but I strongly believe in the Catholic Social Teachings that tells us we need to have preferential options for the poor. Cutting programs for refugees and AmeriCorps (as well as other service programs) do not follow with this social teaching.
Please sign a petition, send a letter to your senator, or call your senator to help protect funding for refugee programs and AmeriCorps. I believe it is our moral obligation to help those most in need, which includes Americans and non-Americans.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that we have to take action and fight for justice for things that directly affect us and for people who are poor and marginalized. We are all in this world together and, as much as we might want to ignore people who are easily forgotten, there will never be peace and justice if we don’t include everyone.
I’ve sent many form letters and signed numerous online petitions in the past year or so, but today I also wrote my own personal letter and emailed it to Maine senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe.
Many things will be cut in the new budget for our country and I agree that we need to spend less money, but I’m not sure all the cuts are from the right places. The two cuts in funding that I asked the senators not to support in my calls and emails are the potential cuts to Migration and Refugee Assistance and the Office of Refugee Resettlement as well as the proposed cut in funding to the Corporation for National and Community Service (which includes AmeriCorps).
Congress proposed that we completely cut the AmeriCorps program and reduce funding for refugee assistance programs by a huge amount. Both programs are extremely important. As much as I hate the idea of cutting funding for either of these programs—I can understand the need to cut some, but all of the funding for AmeriCorps? And half of the funding for refugee programs?
What I am including below is part of an email the director of my program sent to all Catholic Charities of Western New York employees.
“On Saturday, February 19, the House of Representatives recommended massive cuts to various humanitarian assistance programs, including:
45% cut to Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA);
10.4% cut to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR); and,
67% cut to International Disaster Assistance (IDA).
"Since we are already five months into the federal fiscal year those cuts would basically shut down the refugee assistance program within the US and severely reduce refugee processing overseas. There would not be money available to resettle more refugees until October 2011. Since our funding is per capita performance-based, no new arrivals equals no more funding.”
I understand the desire to cut programs that serve non-Americans, but refugees are some of the most vulnerable people in the world who have experienced great violence, oppression, and human rights violations in their home countries, as well as in many of the refugee camps. In addition, refugees bring important diversity to our communities, rent apartments from Americans, work, pay taxes, start businesses, and by cars and homes in the United States. There are also many refugee resettlement and assistance programs similar to the one where I work that would either shut down or have to lay off many employees.
When our director told us of the possibility of these cuts, I felt sick to my stomach, but I’m sure my feeling was nothing compared to many of my coworkers who are themselves former refugees and many of whom are applying to bring their family members to the United States.
Especially in this economy, volunteers fill needed positions in many jobs that directly serve the most vulnerable Americans. Agencies that serve the disadvantaged are already under-funded and under-staffed and often rely on the help of full-time volunteers. Not only would fewer services be provided without AmeriCorps, but more people would need those services because at least some of the volunteers would be unemployed if they were not in full-time volunteer programs. AmeriCorps provides important job experience to More than 85,000 young Americans a year. I know that AmeriCorps is an expensive program, but it is far less expensive than having a regular, paid employee and paying for all the consequences of less services to those most in need.
Again and again programs that help the poor and vulnerable are the programs that are cut by the government because the people don’t have a voice and are forgotten. I disagree with the Catholic Church on many issues, but I strongly believe in the Catholic Social Teachings that tells us we need to have preferential options for the poor. Cutting programs for refugees and AmeriCorps (as well as other service programs) do not follow with this social teaching.
Please sign a petition, send a letter to your senator, or call your senator to help protect funding for refugee programs and AmeriCorps. I believe it is our moral obligation to help those most in need, which includes Americans and non-Americans.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that we have to take action and fight for justice for things that directly affect us and for people who are poor and marginalized. We are all in this world together and, as much as we might want to ignore people who are easily forgotten, there will never be peace and justice if we don’t include everyone.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
What I hate about my job
I like my job, but there is one thing I hate about it and it's not even the paperwork (though I greatly dislike the paperwork). What I hate is telling people they can't bring a loved one to be with them in the United States. I had to do that this week.
There is a very sweet woman about my parent's age from Burma who arrived in Buffalo a few months ago. She left behind her husband and two daughters. She came to file for her family to come, but using the I-730 form (the only form someone without a Green Card can use) she can only bring a spouse and unmarried children under 21. This woman's two daughters are 20 and 23, so she can only bring one of them.
When she came to the office she showed me the pictures of her two beautiful daughters. She said, "I made a mistake in coming. I should not have come without my family." She told me that every day she is sick to her stomach without her children.
I am helping her apply for her younger daughter and husband, but she cannot apply for her older daughter until she has her green card. She will probably have her Green Card in a little less than a year (as long as there aren't any problems or hang-ups getting it). Once she has her Green Card she can file an I-130 for her older daughter. That application takes longer to process and is expensive (the I-730 is free). Hopefully, her daughter will join her and the rest of her family in the United States, but in the meantime she has to wait for potentially a few years.
I had to explain this to the woman and all I could do when she cried was listen and offer her a tissue. The daughter that she cannot bring is my age. I can't help but think about how it is for me to be away from my family and how it is for them to be away from me. I get to see them every few months and we're in the same time zone (not to mention the same country). If suddenly I was stricken with a homesickness that made me physically ill, I could go home. Sure, her daughter is an adult, but that doesn't mean she doesn't want to be with her mother and that her mother doesn't want to be with her.
There is a very sweet woman about my parent's age from Burma who arrived in Buffalo a few months ago. She left behind her husband and two daughters. She came to file for her family to come, but using the I-730 form (the only form someone without a Green Card can use) she can only bring a spouse and unmarried children under 21. This woman's two daughters are 20 and 23, so she can only bring one of them.
When she came to the office she showed me the pictures of her two beautiful daughters. She said, "I made a mistake in coming. I should not have come without my family." She told me that every day she is sick to her stomach without her children.
I am helping her apply for her younger daughter and husband, but she cannot apply for her older daughter until she has her green card. She will probably have her Green Card in a little less than a year (as long as there aren't any problems or hang-ups getting it). Once she has her Green Card she can file an I-130 for her older daughter. That application takes longer to process and is expensive (the I-730 is free). Hopefully, her daughter will join her and the rest of her family in the United States, but in the meantime she has to wait for potentially a few years.
I had to explain this to the woman and all I could do when she cried was listen and offer her a tissue. The daughter that she cannot bring is my age. I can't help but think about how it is for me to be away from my family and how it is for them to be away from me. I get to see them every few months and we're in the same time zone (not to mention the same country). If suddenly I was stricken with a homesickness that made me physically ill, I could go home. Sure, her daughter is an adult, but that doesn't mean she doesn't want to be with her mother and that her mother doesn't want to be with her.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
A Thanksgiving Refugee Story
About two weeks before I started working for Refugee Resettlement, a young man filed an application to bring wife and baby daughter to the United States. He is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and arrived in the US this spring. For the last few years he’s lived in a refugee camp in Tanzania which is where he met his wife (though she's also from the Congo). This isn't his name, but I'll call him Ibrahim because it's less confusing to use a name.
A month ago Ibrahim received a letter telling him that his application was denied. He speaks English fairly well, but only reads a little English so he came in to have Marsha explain the denial letter to him. The reason Ibrahim's petition was denied was that when he went for his immigration interview to come to the United States, he told the officers he didn’t have a wife and daughter.
He explained to us that he was afraid to tell the officers about his family because when Ibrahim's brother was interviewed he told them about his wife and daughters, and then they were harassed and beaten in the refugee camp by the officers. When they asked Ibrahim the same question, he lied to protect his family. He didn’t know that this lie would make it difficult to bring them to the United States later on.
Ibrahim said that he misses his family and is afraid for their safety. He also said that they don’t get enough food in the refugee camps and he is worried about his daughter’s health. The refugee camps are not safe anymore. Recently refugees who are enemies of this man’s people in the Congo have been put into the same refugee camps. Now, there are fights in the camps between the two groups and rape is used as a weapon of war, just as it is in the Congo.
He showed us his wrist that had a big lump on it and pointed out the scar on his face. Before he left the Congo for Tanzania, militants came to his hut to kill his father. They beat Ibrahim with the back of a gun (which is what broke his wrist and it was never properly set, so it healed on its own) and cut his face with a machete. Then, they killed his father and uncle in front of him. The same group of people who did this to him are the people who are now in the refugee camp with his family.
He told us that he is so scared for his family that he cries every night. He said he doesn’t care what country he’s in as long as he’s with his family and they’re safe. He said he has no life without his wife and daughter, and then he started to cry.
Marsha told him to write a letter explaining why he lied to the officers when he was interviewed to come to the United States. This is not the first time Marsha has encountered this issue when family members—particularly husbands and fathers—apply for their family. Sometimes the letter works, and sometimes it doesn’t (Marsha thinks it depends on who is handling the case).
On Monday, the Ibrahim came in with a letter from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. I read it and it was simply informing him that they got the change of address form he filed a few weeks ago, but I decided to check the status of his case while he was in the office. I entered his case number into the USCIS website the status was “post-decision.” I didn’t know what that meant since I hadn’t seen it before. “Post-decision” can be either good news or bad news.
In this case, “post-decision” was good news: the petition Ibrahim filed along with the additional letter explaining why he said he didn't have a wife and child in his immigration interview were accepted. The USCIS website said a letter was sent to inform him of the decision on November 18th. Since it was the 22nd when he came in, he will probably receive the official letter very soon.
He asked me to print off the web page so he could have a copy and send another copy to his wife to let her know. I think he was shocked because he kept asking me to read that his petition was accepted over and over again. He thanked God and he said to me, “now every night I do not have to cry in my bed.”
His wife still needs to be interviewed at the US Embassy in Tanzania and then it will be a few more months before she comes, but his wife and daughter will be coming to the United States.
Obviously, Ibrahim was very emotion, and I felt very emotional too. I could hardly believe it when I read that his petition was accepted because I usually see denial after denial. I know I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for this man in the past seven or eight months he’s been away from his family when they’ve been in danger, but even just thinking about it and trying to imagine it is hard.
When he came in with the letter saying his claim was denied, I felt very sad and angry for him and I wondered if he’d be able to bring his family to America. I planned on writing about him and his story, but I’m glad I waited for today because now it is a happy story that comes at the perfect time for Thanksgiving.
A month ago Ibrahim received a letter telling him that his application was denied. He speaks English fairly well, but only reads a little English so he came in to have Marsha explain the denial letter to him. The reason Ibrahim's petition was denied was that when he went for his immigration interview to come to the United States, he told the officers he didn’t have a wife and daughter.
He explained to us that he was afraid to tell the officers about his family because when Ibrahim's brother was interviewed he told them about his wife and daughters, and then they were harassed and beaten in the refugee camp by the officers. When they asked Ibrahim the same question, he lied to protect his family. He didn’t know that this lie would make it difficult to bring them to the United States later on.
Ibrahim said that he misses his family and is afraid for their safety. He also said that they don’t get enough food in the refugee camps and he is worried about his daughter’s health. The refugee camps are not safe anymore. Recently refugees who are enemies of this man’s people in the Congo have been put into the same refugee camps. Now, there are fights in the camps between the two groups and rape is used as a weapon of war, just as it is in the Congo.
He showed us his wrist that had a big lump on it and pointed out the scar on his face. Before he left the Congo for Tanzania, militants came to his hut to kill his father. They beat Ibrahim with the back of a gun (which is what broke his wrist and it was never properly set, so it healed on its own) and cut his face with a machete. Then, they killed his father and uncle in front of him. The same group of people who did this to him are the people who are now in the refugee camp with his family.
He told us that he is so scared for his family that he cries every night. He said he doesn’t care what country he’s in as long as he’s with his family and they’re safe. He said he has no life without his wife and daughter, and then he started to cry.
Marsha told him to write a letter explaining why he lied to the officers when he was interviewed to come to the United States. This is not the first time Marsha has encountered this issue when family members—particularly husbands and fathers—apply for their family. Sometimes the letter works, and sometimes it doesn’t (Marsha thinks it depends on who is handling the case).
On Monday, the Ibrahim came in with a letter from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. I read it and it was simply informing him that they got the change of address form he filed a few weeks ago, but I decided to check the status of his case while he was in the office. I entered his case number into the USCIS website the status was “post-decision.” I didn’t know what that meant since I hadn’t seen it before. “Post-decision” can be either good news or bad news.
In this case, “post-decision” was good news: the petition Ibrahim filed along with the additional letter explaining why he said he didn't have a wife and child in his immigration interview were accepted. The USCIS website said a letter was sent to inform him of the decision on November 18th. Since it was the 22nd when he came in, he will probably receive the official letter very soon.
He asked me to print off the web page so he could have a copy and send another copy to his wife to let her know. I think he was shocked because he kept asking me to read that his petition was accepted over and over again. He thanked God and he said to me, “now every night I do not have to cry in my bed.”
His wife still needs to be interviewed at the US Embassy in Tanzania and then it will be a few more months before she comes, but his wife and daughter will be coming to the United States.
Obviously, Ibrahim was very emotion, and I felt very emotional too. I could hardly believe it when I read that his petition was accepted because I usually see denial after denial. I know I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for this man in the past seven or eight months he’s been away from his family when they’ve been in danger, but even just thinking about it and trying to imagine it is hard.
When he came in with the letter saying his claim was denied, I felt very sad and angry for him and I wondered if he’d be able to bring his family to America. I planned on writing about him and his story, but I’m glad I waited for today because now it is a happy story that comes at the perfect time for Thanksgiving.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Refugee Story One
I’ve worked at Refugee Resettlement for almost three months, and in that time I’ve heard a lot of stories. The stories have been heartbreaking, inspiring, and infuriating. I've decided to share some of the stories I've heard at Refugee Resettlement throughout the year.
Typically, the stories that stand out the most to me are the heartbreaking and infuriating ones. I think there are more sad stories than any other kind, but I would like to start off with a story that is happy.
A Sudanese woman in her late fifties/early sixties came in to file an I-130, which is a form that's used to bring family members to the United States. She has been in America for fifteen years and is now a citizen. She told me that seventeen years ago, when the youngest of her nine children was a baby, she had to flee from her village during the middle of the day. When she left, she didn't know where her husband was.
Fortunately, she made it to a refugee camp with all of her children. The woman tried to find her husband through family members and friends, but could not. After a few months at the refugee camp, she came to believe her husband was dead.
After two years in the refugee camp, she was able to come to the United States with her family. In America, she has worked hard and has almost always had two jobs. All of her children have gone through school and all but her youngest, who is seventeen and still in high school, have gone to college. She has twelve grandchildren and one of her daughters is in medical school.
A few weeks before the woman came in to Catholic Charities, she got a call from her sister-in-law (who is still in Africa) that her husband is alive. She didn’t believe it, but the next day she spoke to her husband on the phone. She said his voice was the most wonderful sound she ever heard.
Her husband is now elderly and sick (he's about ten years older than her). She said his mind is confused, but he knows who she is and wants to be with his family. Her children are all asking her to bring their father to America and she said they talk about him all the time now.
She’s filed the paperwork she needs in order to bring her husband to the United States, her husband will be interviewed, he will have a medical exam, and he will more than likely be in Buffalo in six months to a year.
The woman said she’s always believed in miracles, but she didn’t believe that there could be one this big. She hopes that when her husband is here in the United States and is surrounded by the love of his family, he’ll get some of his health back.
Typically, the stories that stand out the most to me are the heartbreaking and infuriating ones. I think there are more sad stories than any other kind, but I would like to start off with a story that is happy.
A Sudanese woman in her late fifties/early sixties came in to file an I-130, which is a form that's used to bring family members to the United States. She has been in America for fifteen years and is now a citizen. She told me that seventeen years ago, when the youngest of her nine children was a baby, she had to flee from her village during the middle of the day. When she left, she didn't know where her husband was.
Fortunately, she made it to a refugee camp with all of her children. The woman tried to find her husband through family members and friends, but could not. After a few months at the refugee camp, she came to believe her husband was dead.
After two years in the refugee camp, she was able to come to the United States with her family. In America, she has worked hard and has almost always had two jobs. All of her children have gone through school and all but her youngest, who is seventeen and still in high school, have gone to college. She has twelve grandchildren and one of her daughters is in medical school.
A few weeks before the woman came in to Catholic Charities, she got a call from her sister-in-law (who is still in Africa) that her husband is alive. She didn’t believe it, but the next day she spoke to her husband on the phone. She said his voice was the most wonderful sound she ever heard.
Her husband is now elderly and sick (he's about ten years older than her). She said his mind is confused, but he knows who she is and wants to be with his family. Her children are all asking her to bring their father to America and she said they talk about him all the time now.
She’s filed the paperwork she needs in order to bring her husband to the United States, her husband will be interviewed, he will have a medical exam, and he will more than likely be in Buffalo in six months to a year.
The woman said she’s always believed in miracles, but she didn’t believe that there could be one this big. She hopes that when her husband is here in the United States and is surrounded by the love of his family, he’ll get some of his health back.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Miss Mary, Teacher Mary, Gloria and Otis
On my first day at Catholic Charities Immigration and Refugee Assistance (from here on referred to as Refugee Resettlement), I got a tour of both the office and the ESL (English as a Second Language) school that’s in a different building than the one I work in. I’m very excited to be working at Refugee Resettlement and, overall, I had a good first day. I truly believe that Refugee Resettlement does a good job with the limited resources it has and that the employees really care about the clients and about what they’re doing. However, there were a few things that stuck out to me and bothered me on the first day.
Here is a reflection I wrote on my first day:
Today I was introduced to a couple of ESL classes. Two of the classes were the lower-level classes in the main office and one of them was at the Herkimer school where the mid and upper level classes are held.
I was introduced to the first two classes as “Miss Mary.” This made me uncomfortable for a couple of reasons. For one, I think it sounds funny: I’m all about alliteration, but Miss Mary doesn’t sound good to me. Also, I don’t really like “Miss” for myself in general—I prefer Ms. However, the biggest reason it made me uncomfortable was that I was introduced to them and told to call them by their first names while they were using “Miss” for me as a sign of respect. In my opinion, there is no need for the higher level I’m put on simply by the title I’m given. I have great respect for our clients as people and for all they’ve seen, experienced, and gone through (and are still going through), so why should they call me “Miss” while I call them by their first names?
At the Herkimer school I was introduced as “Teacher Mary,” which makes no sense at all because I’m not a teacher. At least “Miss Mary” is accurate.
The actual teacher of the ESL class asked me to photocopy some pages out of a workbook, which I was happy to do. While waiting for the pages to be copied, I flipped through the workbook and looked at the illustrations that went along with the exercises. I wasn’t particularly surprised by what I found in the book, but that didn’t make it any less disturbing.
There were about a dozen characters that were used consistently throughout the book. All but two of these characters were white. The exceptions to the white rule were Gloria and her boyfriend, Otis. There wasn’t even the infamous “Juan” who shows up so often in the word problem sections of math books. Now, I know that there are no doubt white people somewhere in an ESL class, but not in this particular class and I’m guessing that white people are a tiny minority of the students who use this book. The people in this ESL class are from Sudan, Burma/Myanmar, Bhutan, Somalia, Iraq, and the Congo—no one in the text books looks like the students in the class (not even Gloria and Otis).
There was another problem with the workbook: the main activities that women were depicted doing were cooking, shopping, talking on the phone, and serving men while the main things the men did were working, playing various sports, eating the food the women prepared for them, and fixing things around the house. In one, Otis drops by Gloria’s house and valiantly saves her from having to paint her living room and THEN he even takes her out on a date. What a guy.
This book’s copyright is either 2007 or 2008, I can’t remember.
I would think that an ESL book would have characters that looked like the students who were using the books. I also think it would be more helpful for the pictures to depict people applying for jobs, taking their children to school, going the post office, using public transportation, and other things new immigrants and refugees are likely to do.
Here is a reflection I wrote on my first day:
Today I was introduced to a couple of ESL classes. Two of the classes were the lower-level classes in the main office and one of them was at the Herkimer school where the mid and upper level classes are held.
I was introduced to the first two classes as “Miss Mary.” This made me uncomfortable for a couple of reasons. For one, I think it sounds funny: I’m all about alliteration, but Miss Mary doesn’t sound good to me. Also, I don’t really like “Miss” for myself in general—I prefer Ms. However, the biggest reason it made me uncomfortable was that I was introduced to them and told to call them by their first names while they were using “Miss” for me as a sign of respect. In my opinion, there is no need for the higher level I’m put on simply by the title I’m given. I have great respect for our clients as people and for all they’ve seen, experienced, and gone through (and are still going through), so why should they call me “Miss” while I call them by their first names?
At the Herkimer school I was introduced as “Teacher Mary,” which makes no sense at all because I’m not a teacher. At least “Miss Mary” is accurate.
The actual teacher of the ESL class asked me to photocopy some pages out of a workbook, which I was happy to do. While waiting for the pages to be copied, I flipped through the workbook and looked at the illustrations that went along with the exercises. I wasn’t particularly surprised by what I found in the book, but that didn’t make it any less disturbing.
There were about a dozen characters that were used consistently throughout the book. All but two of these characters were white. The exceptions to the white rule were Gloria and her boyfriend, Otis. There wasn’t even the infamous “Juan” who shows up so often in the word problem sections of math books. Now, I know that there are no doubt white people somewhere in an ESL class, but not in this particular class and I’m guessing that white people are a tiny minority of the students who use this book. The people in this ESL class are from Sudan, Burma/Myanmar, Bhutan, Somalia, Iraq, and the Congo—no one in the text books looks like the students in the class (not even Gloria and Otis).
There was another problem with the workbook: the main activities that women were depicted doing were cooking, shopping, talking on the phone, and serving men while the main things the men did were working, playing various sports, eating the food the women prepared for them, and fixing things around the house. In one, Otis drops by Gloria’s house and valiantly saves her from having to paint her living room and THEN he even takes her out on a date. What a guy.
This book’s copyright is either 2007 or 2008, I can’t remember.
I would think that an ESL book would have characters that looked like the students who were using the books. I also think it would be more helpful for the pictures to depict people applying for jobs, taking their children to school, going the post office, using public transportation, and other things new immigrants and refugees are likely to do.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Back to the Future
Well, the technology fast is over and I feel like celebrating. The only problem is that my computer is broken. I cannot even turn my computer on, so it is now in the shop. Right now I'm using a computer that belongs to one of my community members. I suppose I'm going to be doing technology fast extended edition.
I don't often personify objects, but--like so many computers--mine seems to have a mind of its own that practically demands personification. Right now, I believe my computer was so upset over my neglect that it broke itself.
Computer problems aside, my first month and a half of CCSC has been a wonderful experience. I like my community, I like my house (expect for the bathroom door that doesn't close and a few other old house quirks), I like my job, and I like Buffalo--though I'm reserving my final judgement until March or whenever winter ends here.
It's hard to reflect much on what has happened so far because it's still the beginning and I've been very busy. However, there are a few things I've learned that I'd like to share.
1) A surprise--being open and sharing isn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. When talking to Amy, the CCSC director, she suggested that learning to be open and sharing myself with others was the next step that I was about to take in my personal development with or without CCSC. I think she may be right, but I also think coming here to volunteer and live in community with other volunteers has helped me with this piece of my personal growth and development.
2) It's really nice to jog outside in a park and smile and say hello to people instead of be so absorbed in the music on my ipod that I hardly notice what's going on around me. Also, other people who are walking and jogging without ipods usually smile and say hello back while people with ipods tend to look the other way.
3) On to work matters--getting a green card seems simple enough, but it isn't and it takes a very long time (four months minimum).
4) If you give children paper and markers, they will write on the table.
5) Walking is a perfectly acceptable mode of transportation and a good way to unwind from as stressful day so that I can be pleasant when I come home to my community members.
6) USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) loves numbers. LOVES. There are immigration numbers, social security numbers, arrival numbers, employment code numbers, alien numbers, case numbers, and on and on and on.
7) People of nearly every culture are responsive to a smile and complements about their children.
8) A lot of people wait until the first day of school to register their children for school even when they've had since January (and I'm not talking about refugees).
9) Don't agree to help a co-worker without knowing what exactly you'll be doing. You might end up waiting in long lines on the first day of school to register children and everyone will look at you funny because even though you look like you're twenty-two you seem to have six children (and one of them is 16).
10) Hide the candy.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The Reading List, part 2
I’ve already written about the books I’ve read this summer that are on the reading list CCSC sent me. In this post I’ll write about the books I’ve read that are not in the CCSC list.
When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
This book has been a good distraction/break from some of the other things I’ve been reading and thinking about. Even though this book is pretty dark at times, Sedaris has the ability to write about unfunny things in hilarious ways and the darkness is nothing compared to genocide. What do I think I’ll bring from this for my year of service? Not much, but if I ever become so stressed out that I’m tempted to start smoking (not that likely) I can think about how Sedaris describes the hotels/hotel rooms where smokers can stay, and, since I like traveling, I’m sure the temptation will pass quickly.
Feminist Theory: the Intellectual Traditions of American Feminism by Josephine Donovan
I’m somewhat familiar with the modern feminist movement and modern feminist ideas, but I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about feminist theory. I’ve only really started paying attention to women’s issues and feminism for a few years and have only considered myself a feminist for about a year and a half. I paid no attention in my Women’s Studies class my first year of college (it was a three hour class on a Monday night that was taught by a monotone professor and there were a lot of annoying people in the class, what can I say?) and I hate to admit it, but I really didn’t care.
I chose this particular book because it seemed like it was a good basic overview, but mostly because it was $0.01 on Amazon. It turned out to be a good choice. I really enjoyed the book because it was so informative and gave me a lot to think about. Also, I think I can take a lot from this book—and feminism in general—and apply it to my year of service.
Feminism can be applied to almost anything that involves women, and whenever a group is oppressed or marginalized, the women of that group have it even worse than the men because not only are they faced with whatever form the oppression takes from their oppressors, but they are also faced with sexism from their oppressors and from within their own group. In addition, rape is almost always a huge component of current conflict in areas such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Darfur and other attacks on groups of people that force them to be refugees.
I know that I will have to be very conscientious in my work of many, many cultural differences and among these differences is the treatment and status of women. Interestingly, women from two of the countries that a large number of the refugees are coming from this year—Burma (Myanmar) and Bhutan—have traditionally had nearly as high standing as men. However, under their current oppressive governments (a military junta in the case of Burma), the role and value of women significantly decreased.
The Journals of Judge Edward Godfrey, Vol. 2 1870-1877
I read this for my internship at the Bangor Historical Society and Museum. I doubt there is much here I can apply to my year of service—even less than in David Sedaris’ book. This book is VERY boring, and also pretty creepy because Godfrey—who was in his sixties—mostly kept the company of high school girls. Every time he mentioned a woman or girl he also mentioned if they were attractive or unattractive and if he considers them to be a lady. In addition, he included some pretty sexist poetry he’d written and published in the local newspaper (one about how society was allowing women to turn into men). He eventually married a woman who was 24 and when he was 67 (he’d been “courting” her since she was 18 and still in high school).
When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
This book has been a good distraction/break from some of the other things I’ve been reading and thinking about. Even though this book is pretty dark at times, Sedaris has the ability to write about unfunny things in hilarious ways and the darkness is nothing compared to genocide. What do I think I’ll bring from this for my year of service? Not much, but if I ever become so stressed out that I’m tempted to start smoking (not that likely) I can think about how Sedaris describes the hotels/hotel rooms where smokers can stay, and, since I like traveling, I’m sure the temptation will pass quickly.
Feminist Theory: the Intellectual Traditions of American Feminism by Josephine Donovan
I’m somewhat familiar with the modern feminist movement and modern feminist ideas, but I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about feminist theory. I’ve only really started paying attention to women’s issues and feminism for a few years and have only considered myself a feminist for about a year and a half. I paid no attention in my Women’s Studies class my first year of college (it was a three hour class on a Monday night that was taught by a monotone professor and there were a lot of annoying people in the class, what can I say?) and I hate to admit it, but I really didn’t care.
I chose this particular book because it seemed like it was a good basic overview, but mostly because it was $0.01 on Amazon. It turned out to be a good choice. I really enjoyed the book because it was so informative and gave me a lot to think about. Also, I think I can take a lot from this book—and feminism in general—and apply it to my year of service.
Feminism can be applied to almost anything that involves women, and whenever a group is oppressed or marginalized, the women of that group have it even worse than the men because not only are they faced with whatever form the oppression takes from their oppressors, but they are also faced with sexism from their oppressors and from within their own group. In addition, rape is almost always a huge component of current conflict in areas such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Darfur and other attacks on groups of people that force them to be refugees.
I know that I will have to be very conscientious in my work of many, many cultural differences and among these differences is the treatment and status of women. Interestingly, women from two of the countries that a large number of the refugees are coming from this year—Burma (Myanmar) and Bhutan—have traditionally had nearly as high standing as men. However, under their current oppressive governments (a military junta in the case of Burma), the role and value of women significantly decreased.
The Journals of Judge Edward Godfrey, Vol. 2 1870-1877
I read this for my internship at the Bangor Historical Society and Museum. I doubt there is much here I can apply to my year of service—even less than in David Sedaris’ book. This book is VERY boring, and also pretty creepy because Godfrey—who was in his sixties—mostly kept the company of high school girls. Every time he mentioned a woman or girl he also mentioned if they were attractive or unattractive and if he considers them to be a lady. In addition, he included some pretty sexist poetry he’d written and published in the local newspaper (one about how society was allowing women to turn into men). He eventually married a woman who was 24 and when he was 67 (he’d been “courting” her since she was 18 and still in high school).
Monday, August 2, 2010
Preparations: The Reading List, part 1
In preparation for my year of service, this summer I’ve been reading some books from a suggested reading list provided by Catholic Charities Service Corps (CCSC) along with some other books that I’ll post about later. The summer isn’t quite over yet, but here’s what I’ve read from the CCSC list so far:
Not On Our Watch: the Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond by Don Cheadle and John Prendergast
This book is particularly relevant to what I’ll be doing in my year of service since I’m working for refugee services. This book describes the horrifying genocide being carried out on the people of Darfur and the terrible conditions they face even after escaping to refugee camps. More than a description of genocide, it is a call to action to stop the genocide since our government basically isn’t doing anything. The authors write about finding a way out of apathy and different ways to pressure our government to take action.
This book was as disturbing as it was supposed to be and it took me a very long time to get through it because I could only read a little at a time of the parts about the victims of genocide (since it was so upsetting), and because the other parts of it tended to be pretty repetitive and boring. The fact that I have such a hard time finishing this kind of book—along with my not finishing the movie El Norte that was on the film list provided by CCSC—bothers me because I can’t simply walk away from or turn off the real people who have lived through these horrors that I will be serving. I think it’s possible that my empathy for people who are oppressed and marginalized—which was one of the driving factors in my decision to do a year of service—may make the work more challenging for me.
Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker J. Palmer
I really liked most of what this book had to say about not trying live your life as you think you “ought” to, but instead listening to yourself and knowing your strengths and weaknesses so you can live and do what God intended for you. As it relates to my year of service, I’d been thinking about doing a year of service for a really long time because I thought I “ought” to do something good and because my parents encouraged me to do so (or nagged, whichever you like better). However, I didn’t actually start seriously looking into a year of service until I felt the “call” for myself. That being said, there are plenty of things I’ve done because I think I “ought” to do them, and not because I really want to or feel called to do.
Also interesting was Palmer’s emphasis on living your personal “truth” even when it isn’t the same as what society accepts. He says the prison you create for yourself in the “half-life” you live by living a divided life is worse than how society will punish you. I don’t think this is true all the time, but it’s interesting to think about. Personally, I have a hard time sharing and rarely share my “truth” even when there is little to no chance of “punishment.”
I did have one major problem with this book: in order to do most of the things Palmer suggests to hear and respond to the call of your true vocation (which he says each person must do), the person following these steps would have to be at least somewhat privileged. Most anyone who is willing to put in the time/effort/emotional energy to examine their inner workings and inner truth can find it, but not everyone can just stop whatever they’re doing at the moment and follow their true “vocation.” For example, what if someone is called to be a nurse, but s/he doesn’t have the education and cannot afford to go back to school because they’re working two jobs to support their family? What if you are simply trying to survive? All of this isn’t Palmer’s fault, of course; however, he doesn’t even acknowledge his place of privilege. Also, in some cases there are much bigger obstacles than the “self” or “ego,” as Palmer calls it, standing in the way of discovering personal truth and then following that truth.
Another VERY SUPER SERIOUS problem I had was that Palmer makes the egregious mistake of using exclamation points liberally (sometimes as many as two or three a page). Not only is this annoying, but he’s also breaking an important writing rule: every writer is allowed only three published exclamation points in their entire career as a writer. Clearly, Palmer is in some serious exclamation point debt after the first chapter of this book alone.
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Compassion by Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D.
I’m sure the ideas in this book will come in handy over the next year and, really, the rest of my life. I think the world would be a much better place if everyone spoke respectfully, really listened to what their personal feelings and needs are, could communicate those feelings/needs, and listened to the feelings/needs of others without judging. It’s not very realistic—especially if not everyone who is communicating is using this guide to nonviolent communication—but I think even if I’m only able to consistently adopt an aspect or two of nonviolent communication as described in this book I’ll be a better communicator.
Making a Living While Making a Difference: A Guide to Creating Careers with a Conscience by Melissa Everett
So, I’m not finished with this book (I’m about half-way through), but I thought I’d write about it anyway. Everett makes a good point in this book that in order to make a positive difference in the world, you don’t have to have one of the careers that people typically think of when thinking about what makes a difference such as being a doctor, teacher, social worker, environmental activist, etc. This book is about looking “outside the box” and figuring out how you can make a difference using the skills, experience, and interests you already have. There are exercises, questions, and worksheets in this book to help you recognize and name your skills, relevant experience, and interests. Parts of this book are a bit boring, but I think it will ultimately be worth reading, especially while discerning what I want to do after my year of service to continue serving others and making a positive difference in the world.
Not On Our Watch: the Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond by Don Cheadle and John Prendergast
This book is particularly relevant to what I’ll be doing in my year of service since I’m working for refugee services. This book describes the horrifying genocide being carried out on the people of Darfur and the terrible conditions they face even after escaping to refugee camps. More than a description of genocide, it is a call to action to stop the genocide since our government basically isn’t doing anything. The authors write about finding a way out of apathy and different ways to pressure our government to take action.
This book was as disturbing as it was supposed to be and it took me a very long time to get through it because I could only read a little at a time of the parts about the victims of genocide (since it was so upsetting), and because the other parts of it tended to be pretty repetitive and boring. The fact that I have such a hard time finishing this kind of book—along with my not finishing the movie El Norte that was on the film list provided by CCSC—bothers me because I can’t simply walk away from or turn off the real people who have lived through these horrors that I will be serving. I think it’s possible that my empathy for people who are oppressed and marginalized—which was one of the driving factors in my decision to do a year of service—may make the work more challenging for me.
Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker J. Palmer
I really liked most of what this book had to say about not trying live your life as you think you “ought” to, but instead listening to yourself and knowing your strengths and weaknesses so you can live and do what God intended for you. As it relates to my year of service, I’d been thinking about doing a year of service for a really long time because I thought I “ought” to do something good and because my parents encouraged me to do so (or nagged, whichever you like better). However, I didn’t actually start seriously looking into a year of service until I felt the “call” for myself. That being said, there are plenty of things I’ve done because I think I “ought” to do them, and not because I really want to or feel called to do.
Also interesting was Palmer’s emphasis on living your personal “truth” even when it isn’t the same as what society accepts. He says the prison you create for yourself in the “half-life” you live by living a divided life is worse than how society will punish you. I don’t think this is true all the time, but it’s interesting to think about. Personally, I have a hard time sharing and rarely share my “truth” even when there is little to no chance of “punishment.”
I did have one major problem with this book: in order to do most of the things Palmer suggests to hear and respond to the call of your true vocation (which he says each person must do), the person following these steps would have to be at least somewhat privileged. Most anyone who is willing to put in the time/effort/emotional energy to examine their inner workings and inner truth can find it, but not everyone can just stop whatever they’re doing at the moment and follow their true “vocation.” For example, what if someone is called to be a nurse, but s/he doesn’t have the education and cannot afford to go back to school because they’re working two jobs to support their family? What if you are simply trying to survive? All of this isn’t Palmer’s fault, of course; however, he doesn’t even acknowledge his place of privilege. Also, in some cases there are much bigger obstacles than the “self” or “ego,” as Palmer calls it, standing in the way of discovering personal truth and then following that truth.
Another VERY SUPER SERIOUS problem I had was that Palmer makes the egregious mistake of using exclamation points liberally (sometimes as many as two or three a page). Not only is this annoying, but he’s also breaking an important writing rule: every writer is allowed only three published exclamation points in their entire career as a writer. Clearly, Palmer is in some serious exclamation point debt after the first chapter of this book alone.
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Compassion by Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D.
I’m sure the ideas in this book will come in handy over the next year and, really, the rest of my life. I think the world would be a much better place if everyone spoke respectfully, really listened to what their personal feelings and needs are, could communicate those feelings/needs, and listened to the feelings/needs of others without judging. It’s not very realistic—especially if not everyone who is communicating is using this guide to nonviolent communication—but I think even if I’m only able to consistently adopt an aspect or two of nonviolent communication as described in this book I’ll be a better communicator.
Making a Living While Making a Difference: A Guide to Creating Careers with a Conscience by Melissa Everett
So, I’m not finished with this book (I’m about half-way through), but I thought I’d write about it anyway. Everett makes a good point in this book that in order to make a positive difference in the world, you don’t have to have one of the careers that people typically think of when thinking about what makes a difference such as being a doctor, teacher, social worker, environmental activist, etc. This book is about looking “outside the box” and figuring out how you can make a difference using the skills, experience, and interests you already have. There are exercises, questions, and worksheets in this book to help you recognize and name your skills, relevant experience, and interests. Parts of this book are a bit boring, but I think it will ultimately be worth reading, especially while discerning what I want to do after my year of service to continue serving others and making a positive difference in the world.
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