Blog 4 - Refugees

There are many common challenges among migrants, whether they are voluntary or not. These challenges can be developed and viewed on a stronger level in our community. Long-term refugees are migrants who move involuntarily because of war, famine, and oppression (Martin & Nakayama, 2012). These migrants are continuing to grow in the U.S., including the Lincoln area. One common theme that I found in the articles on refugees in Lincoln was the various migrant-host relationships. Migrant-host relationships are very complex and can involve economic and/or noneconomic reasons and complex push-pull factors (Martin & Nakayama, 2012). I find these interesting when comparing these ideas to the relationships in Lincoln.

(sorry about the white highlight, it doesn't say it is...so I don't quite know how to fix it. whoops.)

The major refugee factor in the articles is the push factor, to escape for safety reasons. According to the article, Lincoln community home to refugees from around the world, by Erin Myers, “There are three resettlement agencies in Nebraska that assist refugees once they arrive; Lutheran Family Services, Heartland Refugee Resettlement and Catholic Social Services”. These services show that our community does care about refugees coming into our community and giving them the support needed to successfully transition. I was unaware that Lincoln had these organizations let alone three of them to make the migration smoother. This isn’t always common, or in a positive light, in other locations around the country. Integration, when migrants value both the host and their heritage culture (Martin & Nakayama, 2012), is common in our community; however, that does not mean it is easy. The Lincoln Journal Star article by Mitch Smith quoted Idex Kusukika, a refugee from Congo, "The most difficult thing is to be integrated," he said. "When people come, we have many problems." This transition does not come easy, but there are opportunities for the migrant-host relationship to develop. 

Push factors to become a refugee in the Congo.

Culture not only influences communication but also is enacted through, and so is influenced by, communication (Martin & Nakayama, 2012). Communication between different cultures challenges both sides to think outside of their norm and work with others. Flexibility and understanding is needed to overcome changes when moving into a different culture. It is important for one to realize that culture and communication styles are closely related and therefore are important for the transition process. The third article, Lincoln’s refugee students find language barriers when doing homework, discusses the challenges as a student learning English and not having parents that are able to help because they do not know English. LPS is partnering with different agencies to provide learning centers for before and after school programs to assist the students through their challenges. Understanding these differences, whether it is our style of language or meaning put behind words, is necessary to get the transition into a new culture down. Refugees have a wonderful opportunity in Lincoln with the different programs organized and community members to help with the intercultural communication challenges.

Sources:

Myers, E. 2011. Lincoln community home to refugees around the world

Martin & Nakayama, 2012. Intercultural Communications in Contexts, 6th Edition.

Smith, M. 2011. Lincoln refugee finds empathy as strife hits Congo

Stefankiewicz, R. 2012. Lincoln's refugee students find language barriers when doing homework

Home in the U.S. - Refugee Resettlement Video