Volunteer Tip #26

Here is a link shared by a Global Neighborhood volunteer, Erik Hoffman, to a radio segment done by This American Life called "True Urban Legends." The 2nd chapter of this show tells the story of immigrants and refugees, and their perspectives on American culture (starting at about 35:25 into the episode). Here is the link:http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/406/true-urban-legends. Click on "stream episode" to listen, and you can fast forward through the first segment of the episode to the appropriate section.

Volunteer Tip #25

Bring a refugee family to the Spokane Farmer's Market. This summer, they have temporarily moved to 5th Ave and Division St. Many refugees come from farming backgrounds, and may find this market to be much more familiar to them (and fun!) than a normal grocery store. Check out the Spokane Farmer's Market website to see what produce and items are available: http://www.spokanefarmersmarket.org/

Volunteer Tip #24

Volunteer Tip #23

Breakfast foods in the U.S. are oftentimes quite different from those in other cultures. Invite your family over to your house this week and prepare a traditional American breakfast (pancakes, bacon, eggs, french toast, syrup, orange juice, toast, etc.). You could prepare this for dinner, and explain that these foods are what many Americans eat for breakfast every day. Please keep in mind dietary restrictions your family may have, especially with dairy and meats. 

Volunteer Tip #22

Educate your family on telecommunication and telemarketing phone calls. Many refugee families receive calls like these, and have no idea what the person is trying to say to them. Sometimes this results in a family signing up for something that they don't want. Even if the family has not received calls like this before, give them a few examples of what they might hear, and perhaps do a bit of role-playing. This will help them be more prepared when they receive these types of calls. A seemingly obvious but crucial tip!

Volunteer Tip #21

Find a recent news story from the country of origin of the refugee family you visit. Bring it with you on your next visit, and use it as a conversation piece. If anything, it will serve as a great ESL lesson! You can find a few different international news sources on the Global Neighborhood website under "Links" or "Volunteer Support."

Volunteer Tip #20

With the Easter season in full swing, take some time to share about the meaning of Easter with your family. Explain the significance of celebrating it, as well as a few ways your family has celebrated it in the past. 

Volunteer Tip #19

Check out the following website:http://www.cal.org/co/   This site contains a number of histo-cultural guides on almost all of the countries of origins of refugees in Spokane. These guides may be helpful for you to read through over the course of your volunteer service, as new information may shed light on how different people-groups adjust to life in America. This site and many others can be found under the "About Refugees" section on the Global Neighborhood website, as well.

Volunteer Tip #18

On March 15th, refugee families (and all other households) received the U.S. Census form. It is really important for them to fill it out. However, they will probably need someone who speaks good English to help them- that is, if they don't speak very much English. The forms, unfortunately, do not come in any of the languages refugees speak. Please ask them about this form when you go to visit them next. Why, you may ask? Proving that there are substantial numbers in a population gives them the power to advocate for the city to build them community centers, and for funds to be allocated for lower-income populations. Global Neighborhood is currently partnering with the U.S. Census in trying to figure out how to get refugees counted, and for their voice to be heard! 

Volunteer Tip #17

This weekend, take some or all of your refugee family to Bowl and Pitcher for a hike. Make sure to bring some extra water and snacks! Saturday looks like it will be partly cloudy- great hiking weather!