Some may wonder what can be done while visiting the home of a refugee family, especially if there is a significant language barrier. Here are some ideas. In reality, much of the culture and general way of life in America is different from many nations where displaced people are forced out. So, it doesn’t take much to come up with ideas – just look around to find something that seems strange, missing, or odd. Chances are, they just don’t know any different – everything is strange as a new immigrant to America. Here are a few ideas:
- US Mail: Have kids color pictures, show how to place in envelope, put on a stamp, and mail the letter.
- Grocery Store Basics: how to get there? How to shop? Foods, Money, etc. Putting food away at home (for example, eggs in America go in the fridge, unlike most the world)
- Library: what is it? get a library card, concept of checking out materials and returning them, overdue fines
- Public Transit: it typically takes at least several years before a former refugee family has a job and sufficient means to get a car. Bus passes / tickets, route planning, norms and expectations, etc. can all be demonstrated. Make this part of a field trip elsewhere – library, grocery store, someplace fun, etc.
- Local Sites: play tourist in your town and travel their via public transit. If there are places where people will speak the same language as this family, go pay a visit. As a volunteer among people talking a strange language, perhaps with some foreign objects / decorations around, it can provide a very small glimpse of how they feel every day in their new American life.
- Cleaning in an American Home: consider what may be different from prior homes – carpet and hard surface flooring, windows, counters, appliances, indoor plumbing, etc. Pay attention to the surroundings and help demonstrate how to clean. It’s entirely possible that they’ve no idea how to clean certain parts of their home.
- Household Appliances: What do they do? Safety (think ovents, flames, heat, water flooding, etc.), How to use, etc. Note – do not force this issue either. Demonstrate, explain, then let them decide if they want to use. For example, they may come from a place where water was hard to come by and they have washed clothing in rivers, streams, or pots all their lives. So what if they keep doing that in a bathtub when a washing machine is available. Give them a few years.
- Cooking / Favorite Foods: Have a cooking / baking day. Work together cooking foods from America and from their home country. People bond over food, and it may be fun to try new dishes.
- Gardening / Yard Work: In much of the world people grow vegetables out of necessity, with a few low cost supplies, you may be surprised what they can grow. Plus, it can be fun to work together.