Posted by Benjamin on: 05.20.2008 /
Your very own friendly neighborhood blog host–er, that is, I, and my lovely family, are hosting a Burmese family of 5 who are entering the U.S. later this week as refugees. They have 3 youngish children about the same age as our two girls. And they speak relatively little English, and no French or Spanish (our other two languages), and we speak none of their 3 languages, so communication is going to be an adventure! We get to meet them on Thursday and they’re staying with us for 12 days until their apartment becomes available.
So I’m super excited and a little nervous about this. I’m sure things will be a little crazy occasionally, but … hopefully we can get to be friends with them and stay in contact in the years to come as they go through the intense process of language acquisition and so forth. If you are one of those folks who prays, we would love your prayers! Most of all we want to be successful at being kind and connective. =)
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Comment by: joe
1 05/20/08 3:05 AM | Comment Link |Good luck with that :)
My advice would be to show them the kitchen and not even attempt to cook something they might like - as palates can be totally different.
I suspect as you both have kids, language is going to not be a major problem.
Comment by: Janice
2 05/20/08 8:17 AM | Comment Link |YAY! Have fun. It will work out fine - the Burmese over all are a VERY gracious people. Will be praying for you all.
As far as cooking. Rice. Lots of rice. Morning, noon and night. :) Its a staple.
Do you know where they are coming from?
Comment by: Rachel
3 05/20/08 8:25 AM | Comment Link |That’s great, Benjamin! I’ve experienced the warm hospitality of your household myself so I know the family will feel very welcomed.
And I agree with Joe - language won’t be a problem for the kiddos. A couple minutes of shyness and then they’ll probably be off to play!
I will be praying for all of you to have a blessed time together.
Comment by: Chris Kirk
4 05/20/08 9:25 AM | Comment Link |What a tremendous opportunity! You’ll be in our prayers.
Chris Kirk
http://www.chrismichaelkirk.com
Comment by: Helen
5 05/20/08 2:48 PM | Comment Link |Benjamin and Megan, that’s wonderfully kind of you. I hope it goes well and it’s a good experience for all of you.
Comment by: martin gugino
6 05/21/08 8:51 AM | Comment Link |How wonderful. How exciting! I am so jealous of you, you selfish argh. Humph. Crosses arms, stamps foot, grits teeth.
What are their three languages?
Comment by: Benjamin
7 05/21/08 2:14 PM | Comment Link |Thank you all for your kind comments!!
Janice. I think I’m not supposed to say where their coming from. (BICBW) =)
Martin. I have this on a piece of paper somewhere. I think: Burmese, Thai, and Karen.
what’s an “argh”?
Don’t grit them too much–it can lead, eventually, to long term damage (from one who knows by experience).
It *is* rather one of the benefits of living in one of the big cities where refugees get settled.
Comment by: Janice
8 05/21/08 2:39 PM | Comment Link |ok. Thats intersting, I’ve never heard of that secrecy before. I don’t know what BICBW means…sorry.
Janice
Comment by: Benjamin
9 05/21/08 7:52 PM | Comment Link |Janice
BICBW=But I Could Be Wrong =)
I guess the deal is that “a refugee is a person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of their nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail him/herself of the protection of that country”
and hence … sometimes there can be reprisal, or threat of reprisal, against the families/friends of refugees back in the country they came from.
So there is a sort of general … secrecy, as in, for instance, we are not to post photos of our guest family on the web. and so forth. And I’m not sure that extends to where they came from, but I guess I’d rather be safe than sorry. Hope that makes sense. I’m just learning all this stuff myself, so I don’t really know much more than anybody, and a lot less than many, no doubt.
I must correct myself on the languages. They speak Burmese and Sgaw Karen and a little English. Hooray =)
Comment by: Janice
10 05/22/08 7:58 AM | Comment Link |Burma doesn’t tend to work that way, which is what made it strange. But I am sure agencies apply their rules across the board. In any event - enjoy meeting your new friends. (BTW, that definition of refugee is interesting - its rather limited, unfortunately there are refugees for more reasons than those. )
~Janice
Comment by: Benjamin
11 05/23/08 11:16 AM | Comment Link |Janice,
I’m really curious what you mean when you say “Burma doesn’t tend to work that way.” Could you unpack that a bit?
They arrived last night and they are really delightful. And we’re getting *lots* of help with food and so forth from a lovely Christian community group with whom we are very loosely associated. I feel pretty freaking lucky to get to do this, actually.
Comment by: Janice
12 05/23/08 11:59 AM | Comment Link |Simply that the SPDC isn’t known for that kind of action (reprisal). (from my experience)(Of corse those who leave through regular channels - those the SPDC keeps very close tabs. The money they gain from the wages of those abroad make those persons very important to the SPDC). Anyway, glad you are fairing well, opening our hearts and lives is indeed a blessing and a gift. :)
Janice
Comment by: Teresa
13 05/25/08 6:27 PM | Comment Link |One of the most rewarding things I ever had the privilegeof doing was hosting a family of refugees for a week. Was blessed by a great team from our church who could bring meals, go to appointments with them, and teach about grocery stores, and other oddities while my husband and I went to work. Team work rocks! Thank you for caring. Still friends with the family we hosted…they were the first of many new arrivals to come to our community.