World Relief
For those of you that know anything about my Master's journey know that is has not been a smooth one, it has been quite long and frustrating and not as I had pictured it going. However, the finish line is now in sight. I am happy to announce that I finally got a formal internship. For the past year I have been essentially freelancing in order to meet my internship requirements but about a month ago I got a formal internship with World Relief Seattle here in Kent.
I am very excited about it and it is everything I have ever wanted from this degree. World Relief is an organization that is a refugee resettlement organization. Basically what that means is they are informed when refugees are being settled in this area and we pick them up from the airport, help them find housing, get their documents in order and then do everything we can to help them resettle and start a life independent from us. This can be anything from English classes, culture classes, job searches, helping them get food stamps, helping them get drivers licenses, showing them how to take the bus, where the bank is, the grocery store, explaining American customs, anything someone living here would need to know.
I love this because I have been the one on the other side before. I have been in a place where you don't know the language, you don't always understand the culture and just going to the grocery store can be a completely emotionally and physically exhausting experience. I have been lost and confused and needed someone to help me. I have been lucky enough to always have someone that spoke my language to help me navigate life in a new strange place. I want to help be that for someone else on this side.
This has really shown me how much I take for granted. I do things every day and I don't think about it. Things that because I speak English fluently and know the culture I don't have to process. However, small things like going to the grocery store is difficult when you don't speak the language or know how to interact with people around you, or how to pay at the register, these are all things that can be hurdles for refugees, not to mention the trauma they carry around with them from the circumstances they have come from.
What my day-to-day looks like is assisting case managers with errands and tasks for our participants (clients). I have taken an Afghani woman to the doctor, and another one to the dentist, I pick them up from their house, take them to their appointment, explain to them that next time they come they have to check in and you know normal things you do when you go to an appointment. I love interacting with them and asking them about their families and their experiences in the U.S. so far. I have made phone calls, organized case files, and helped with English classes.
I love that every day is different yet comes with its own challenges and experiences. I am blessed to have this opportunity and it has changed the way I look at my life. An Afghani man told me that I am lucky to be able to be from America and not from Afghanistan. I have not had to leave everything or flee for my life.
Stay tuned for more stories and experiences!
I am very excited about it and it is everything I have ever wanted from this degree. World Relief is an organization that is a refugee resettlement organization. Basically what that means is they are informed when refugees are being settled in this area and we pick them up from the airport, help them find housing, get their documents in order and then do everything we can to help them resettle and start a life independent from us. This can be anything from English classes, culture classes, job searches, helping them get food stamps, helping them get drivers licenses, showing them how to take the bus, where the bank is, the grocery store, explaining American customs, anything someone living here would need to know.
I love this because I have been the one on the other side before. I have been in a place where you don't know the language, you don't always understand the culture and just going to the grocery store can be a completely emotionally and physically exhausting experience. I have been lost and confused and needed someone to help me. I have been lucky enough to always have someone that spoke my language to help me navigate life in a new strange place. I want to help be that for someone else on this side.
This has really shown me how much I take for granted. I do things every day and I don't think about it. Things that because I speak English fluently and know the culture I don't have to process. However, small things like going to the grocery store is difficult when you don't speak the language or know how to interact with people around you, or how to pay at the register, these are all things that can be hurdles for refugees, not to mention the trauma they carry around with them from the circumstances they have come from.
What my day-to-day looks like is assisting case managers with errands and tasks for our participants (clients). I have taken an Afghani woman to the doctor, and another one to the dentist, I pick them up from their house, take them to their appointment, explain to them that next time they come they have to check in and you know normal things you do when you go to an appointment. I love interacting with them and asking them about their families and their experiences in the U.S. so far. I have made phone calls, organized case files, and helped with English classes.
I love that every day is different yet comes with its own challenges and experiences. I am blessed to have this opportunity and it has changed the way I look at my life. An Afghani man told me that I am lucky to be able to be from America and not from Afghanistan. I have not had to leave everything or flee for my life.
Stay tuned for more stories and experiences!
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