2/3/2020; Week 5: Cultural Paradigms and Me

I watched an interesting documentary tonight. It made me wonder about how I view others, especially those from cultures other than my own. I thought about how we view our own culture. Is our culture the only "correct" way to do things, or think things (our paradigm), or can the way we have been raised color how we think of ourselves and others (our interpretation)? 

The documentary is titled, "God Grew Tired of Us -- The Lost Boys of Sudan" (https://youtu.be/Mhxi7yleSNw). It tells the story of several young men who left the war torn area of Sudan as young "orphans" along with thousands of others, traveled by foot to Ethiopia, were displaced and relocated to a refugee camp in Kenya, where they languished for 10 years with no hope of returning to their beloved native land. Through United Nations help, these boys were taught academic subjects along with English. Some of the "Lost Boys" (named after the boys in James M. Barrie's "Peter Pan") were selected to come to the United States for employment and schooling. The cameras accompany them in their journey to a country that they found very different from the one they left behind. The United States, they said, was very unfriendly. "People don't talk to each other." They had questions about culture, but found few to give them answers. "How," one man asked, "are we going to be acquainted with this life here?" if no one would speak to them to give them the answers they needed. 

In their refugee camp, they had friends, they had a "parliament" where they could come together to talk about their thoughts and dreams, and they had responsibilities for each other. Here they felt very alone. 

As African Christians, they had many questions about American Christmas traditions. Why did we have a Christmas tree? What role did Santa Claus have in the story of the birth of Jesus Christ? One man described Christmas Eve in his home country. That was the day to prepare their hearts for the coming of the Baby Jesus. 

Watching all of this while considering teaching English Language Learners gave me some compassion for how newly arrived students might feel. So much is different and strange for them. We try to teach them a new way of life, familiarize them with the customs and culture of their new home, but are we understanding of what they have experienced in their lives that has brought them here? Do we ask about their homeland? Do we allow them to celebrate holidays in their own way? 

I was very interested in their assessment of American culture as being unfriendly.  I thought about President Gordon B. Hinckley's comment about how to help new members of the church to feel "at home" in the Church. One of the things that he said every one needed was a friend (see Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley, 301). As a teacher, I might be the first "friend" that a student has when they arrive in this strange place! If I can listen to their questions and concerns, help them to find the answers they need to the cultural dilemmas they encounter, and be there as someone they can turn to, I can help them to "be acquainted with this life here." 

Here in the United States, immigration is a very important topic right now. What is our role in helping people like these "Lost Boys" who have come from far away? I believe that those who come to this land are brought here by the hand of God. A scripture from the Book of Mormon addresses my belief: "...[T]here shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord" (2 Nephi 1:6). If they come by the hand of the Lord, then it is my responsibility, working as His hands here on earth, to help those who come to feel welcome. It is one reason why I am learning to Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages. 

What can I do to fulfill that role that I believe I am responsible to fulfill? As someone new to the United States, what would you want to know? How could I help you to feel comfortable and respected in your new country?