Archive for the ‘A day in the life’ Category

First Impressions

Monday, September 28th, 2009

First Impressions

By Evan Armstrong,

Community Engagement VISTA

A new endeavor by the International Institute this year involves the acceptance of five AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers to serve at the Institute. As one of those VISTA volunteers, I have been allowed to shadow the majority of the services the Institute offers as part of our on-site orientation. One of the most important services that the Institute provides (especially in the eyes of the refugees) involves picking individuals and families up from the airport when they first arrive in St. Louis. Many new clients have been away from their homes for many years, in camps or other countries providing temporary asylum. The landing of their plane in St. Louis marks the first stage of their resettlement process, while the sights and sounds as they leave the airport provide their first real impressions of America. I was fortunate enough to get to participate in an airport pickup this past week, and left impressed both at the smoothness of the operation International Institute employees carry out, and also at the resolve of the refugees who are coping with extraordinary change in their lives.

Disclosure rights prevent me from giving many details, but I was present at the arrival of a male refugee from Liberia. The flight got in pretty late, after 10pm CST – but I can’t complain while knowing that the refugee on board had been traveling for more than 24 hours in cramped airplane seats. We greeted Peter (name changed for protection) as he arrived, and after picking up a single piece of luggage for all his possessions, he was ready to go. Before the airport pickup, Institute employees secure housing for refugees who do not have family in the area to live with, so a modest apartment had been set up for this man. We drove Peter from the airport to his new apartment, and walked through how to work the basic appliances, as well as reading through the rules for the terms of lease agreement. Some basic food items had been bought earlier in the day for his use as well. After that, there was some quick signing of paperwork, and then we wished him good luck and promised to return the next day to take him shopping for more food and essential items.

Every new refugee at the Institute receives a small check from the government to allow for basic living as they acclimate to the United States, with a hope that by the time that money runs out, refugees will have found jobs and can be self-sustaining. The International Institute is heavily involved in that process, devoting time and resources to ensure that every client has opportunities to find work. After the grocery run the next day with Peter, he was instructed on when to come in next to begin his search for employment.

Peter comes to the International Institute almost every day right now. I smile and talk with him briefly whenever I see him, knowing he must be glad to recognize a face. It is an interesting feeling, knowing I was present from the moment he first arrived, and knowing that the Institute is his primary resource in this new stage of his life. I wish nothing but the best for him and all persons who have come from suffering countries to seek a better life. I hope we are able to live up to the promise of America, and believe strongly that the International Institute will provide positive, necessary services toward that end.

In the Lunchroom

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

by Laura Eschbacher, Communications Intern

Today, like any other day, I went to the staff lunchroom to eat my sandwich. But this time, I found an older man and a young woman in there. He was helping her take an English test on a story she’d just read. Both looked up at me, and I smiled to assure them that I would be as quiet as possible, and try not to disturb them. I got my bag from the fridge and sat down, observing the lesson as I ate.
The tutor reminded me a lot of my grandfather. He was supportive and helpful with each question she didn’t quite understand. I wondered how he’d first heard of the International Institute, and how he came to be an English tutor here. He seemed to really love the work.
She was eager to learn and kept asking questions. She laughed when he reminded her jokingly, “now, I can’t give you the answer, that’s not the point!” She smiled in between her concentration faces. She looked up at me a few times, and I smiled back and kept chewing quietly.
Neither of them spoke to me directly, but I was still excited to have witnessed the English lesson. The man was a volunteer tutor, genuinely enjoying helping the young woman, and you could see the appreciation in her face, and the happiness when she came across the correct answer. It was a simple, but remarkable interaction to watch.
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At times during my internship, I’ve wished that I had a more active role in directly helping the people in the classes on the floor below me. (Jessica and I went to sit in on an English class once, but couldn’t stay long because the teacher was sick that day.) But when I really thought about my role here, I came to the conclusion that I’m helping out in the place where I fit best. My job is to spread the word about the Institute so that these teachers and students have financial and societal support and can continue with everything they do. I’ve never been a tutor before and I can’t speak Vietnamese, but I have written and edited blogs and audio presentations. That is my area of expertise. I’m content with my role behind the scenes. I’m happy to be the quiet, supportive person in the lunchroom, because I know that I’m helping in a way that’s hidden, but still necessary.

The Long Walk

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

By Agata Szydelko, Development Intern

Have you ever had one of those days, when you felt like it can not get any worse…?
Of course you have, we all do! I had one of those days just recently.
Simply everything was going wrong! Or at least that’s how I felt, until I came across one of the books I have read over the summer; “The Long Walk” by Slavomir Rawicz. An instant sweat broke down my back, when I tried to imagine Rawicz’es escape from labor camp in Siberia during WW II, his struggle to live, his determination to be free.
During every day life, sometimes it may be hard to relate to Rawicz and his situation,
it happened so long ago…the situation was completely different….it will never happen again….not even close to be as bad, right? One would hope so…
Countries torn apart by war, domestic conflict, unemployment, hunger, disease…this is not an ancient history, this is happening now!
According to the UN Refugee Agency, over 31 million of people is considered as “the total population of concern” including refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons.
Wait, did I get this right, 31 million…really? I hope I will never complain about my bad day again.

As a new intern at International Institute and a foreigner myself, I highly appreciate the importance of agencies helping refugees assimilate to a new environment, making the transition to a new home as smooth as possible.

Making the Rounds

Friday, October 10th, 2008

Today’s post is our first from our new Communications Intern, Andrew Chappelle. He is a graduate student at

Webster University in International Relations. 

When I heard that I would get the opportunity to sit in and possibly help out in a few classes and other programs here at the International Institute, I was very relieved. I certainly didn’t want to just sit behind a desk the whole time, especially when I’ve heard about all the great programs and services the Institute offers refugees and new immigrants to St. Louis.  

Hearing about it is one thing. Being able to see it is, of course, totally different.  

This morning I sat in an English class for beginners and was surprised to see so many people from different backgrounds, all working through a difficult, shared process together—people from Vietnam, Bhutan and parts of Africa who come to the Institute for several hours each day to do what they can to learn English as quickly as possible.  

Many of these people are heads of household and several of them—especially the women—have never been in a class or used a pencil before. It’s amazing the dedication they show to establish themselves in this country; it’s good to know the Institute provides them with tools to thrive once they are here. 

Later in the morning, I sat in an advanced class with people from Chile,

Bosnia and other parts of the globe. Today they were learning about amendments to the constitution, and how they serve to continually adapt the document to reflect our constantly changing, ever diverse and dynamic society. I saw in these students the relief that comes knowing that no one person can change the document to suit his or her own political agenda.
 

Meanwhile, I thought to myself about those times when people have tried to change the constitution for the sake of dividing the people. 

This November, Missourians will have such a measure before them—Constitutional Amendment 1. It focuses on official government meetings, but would also require that the state driver’s license exam be given only in English, even though it is currently administered in 11 other languages.  

For decades this system has worked, yet now it appears the state is choosing to punish non-English speakers. While you may hear it euphemistically referred to as “an incentive to learn English”, I see it as flat-out anti-immigrant.  

With less than a month to go before the election, my hope is that more people will start talking about this measure and others like it around the country that seek to divide us. This is, after all, a nation of immigrants and only by accepting one another can we form that more perfect union.  

Diary of a Festival Director, Part 2

Friday, August 15th, 2008

By Ann Rynearson

 

This year’s stage line-ups are lead by several major dance performances. Eileen Wolfington is organizing a “Fiesta Mexicana” to celebrate, as she says, “the complex heritage of different regions of our neighbor to the south.”

Diadie Bathily, the famous dancer-presenter from Mali will be leading a special, choreographed performance of Afriky Lolo and bringing in a special guest artist direct from the Ivory Coast.  Grupo Atlantico brings music, songs and dances of the Colombian coast to the stage, including a Carnaval celebration featuring masked dancers. In addition, Soorya Performance Company is bringing a troupe of professional dancers and musicians to present the best of classical Indian traditions. Along with so many other strong troupes in the local area, this should be an “all star” show. 

The World Music Stage brings a performance of one of St. Louis’ most popular groups—world percussion group Joia. Look for them early Sunday. Many other popular local “world beat” troupes also appear, including French jazz-based Poor People of Paris, the haunting notes of Native American bone flutes of Autumn’s Child, Iranian- Gypsy-Latin tunes from Farshid and Friends and Latin rhythms of Clave Sol and Samba Bom. 

In the crafts area, the festival-long exhibit will be the process of making fantastic masks from Puebla, Mexico, said to be the embodiment of bad dream-spirits brought to life only to drive themaway. On a rotating basis, we’ll have demos and workshops of Kiowa bead and quill work, Mandingo tie dying, Chinese painting, German woodcarving and pinch pottery and Mexican sugar skulls used for the Day of the Dead.


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