Summer at the Elder Program

Hi! My name is Katie and I’m the new intern for the Elder Program this summer. I’ve only been here for about a month and I’ve already gotten to experience so much! My first week here, I got to go with the elders on a field trip to the Refugee Agriculture Partnership Project where we learned how they can get involved with growing their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers here in Louisville. They were all very excited to teach me about the plants that they recognized since I don’t know very much about gardening.

                                     

I was also able to listen to several speakers that came and talked to the group about important topics such as what it’s like to be a senior citizen in the United States and how to be informed about applying for citizenship. I think I learned just as much as they did! I also got to see the elders participate in a drumming exercise. They had a lot of fun showing off their musical talents and had a lot of great questions for the speakers. 

 I think my favorite part about this internship so far has just been getting to interact with the elders and help them in class. I’m majoring in Spanish at Western Kentucky University, and I’ve been able to learn a lot about Spanish while helping the Cuban elders with their English! I’ve already learned more than I ever could at school in this short amount of time. Dioenis and Orestes are always excited to teach me new words. All of the elders work so hard when practicing their English. I can’t imagine what it’s like being surrounded by a completely new language and trying to communicate. It’s so exciting to see them learn a new word or fact. I have gotten to sit in on several different levels of English classes and it’s awesome to see the progress that the elders make!

I always look forward to coming to the Elder Program on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I love seeing how excited the elders are to learn something new. I’ve already gotten to experience so much, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the summer goes!

The Intern Adventures: Experiences

Intern Morgan here. I have less than a month left of being an Intern with the Elder Program and Healthcare Access Department in Louisville's Kentucky Refugee Ministries. HOW TIME HAS FLOWN BY! I really can not say enough about how thankful I am for this experience and as time ticks down I am missing everything more and more. Now I know what you are thinking; yes I do have a month left, but have you ever thought about how many places you have already visited for the last time? That is how I am taking every day right now.

Going into this internship,  I thought it would be a fun volunteer opportunity that gave me some college credit. I sort of knew I wanted to work with other cultures but I didn't know how. I didn't think it would help me decide on my future career path or give me so many laughs and smiles. I am truly going to miss this a lot. But enough mushy stuff-- I will talk about some of my favorite times here at the Louisville Elder Refugee Program.

From Left: Bal and Amber (Bhutan), Emma and Isabel (Cuba),
Ambar (Bhutan) and David (Karen State) playing Bingo.

Once upon a time (about 2 weeks ago) there was a little situation at the Elder Program. On the day of the Wall Together reception and exhibit, Emma and Ambar came 3 hours early and no one was there to open the door (uh-oh). Well I went down to the church, where we meet for class, and let the two in. It was funny just sitting there in an empty church with two refugees and nothing to do but wait. However we eventually got a letter bingo game going.  The prize for winning the unorganized game-- a cookie or galleta as it is called in Spanish. But then there was also crackers on the table as a snack, which are also called galletas in Spanish. So this led to a impromptu class on the word "cracker" and how crackers make cracking noises. It was really amusing sitting there with with about 4 refugees cracking crackers in half to hear the cracking noise. The refugees also found it interesting how I went from crack to crack around the room explaining that, yes splits in the wall and floor were also called cracks.

As more early birds came a long we had about 9 people playing bingo before the school bus arrived for the trip to the Speed Art Museum. It was a good memory for sure.

Fellow Intern Jon substituting in Julie's class.

I have also really enjoyed assisting the teachers during ESL class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My supervisors were really great in trying to get me to see every level of English class. Beth's class with the newest English speakers, was truly the most heartfelt. So many of those in her class have a hard time even writing in their native language, I can only imagine how difficult it is to learn a new writing system and language on top of it. 

Nothing makes me happier than seeing the expression of a refugee who has come to understand a concept. Kameela from Iraq, learning the color "pink" and pointing to everything pink as far as the eye can see is just an example of that happiness I felt. Sometimes teaching English is frustrating and difficult too, especially when you don't know that refugee's language. There were so many times in Beth's class I truly felt frustrated for Lan from Vietnam, She was trying so hard and had so much to say but she just did't know how to put it into words for me to understand. That sad look that would come over her face as she just gave up, She couldn't tell me what she wanted to say. She didn't know the words in English. I have faith in Lan. She is smart and I'm sure one day she will learn enough English to be able to tell the stories she has been wanting to tell.

Ler Htoo & David (Karen State) learning to use a computer.
I kept telling them we had no internet connection but....

I really could type more, but I feel that this post is already long enough. In the end, this experience has helped me to decide to get a TEFL (Teaching English as Foreign Language) certification. With it I plan on going overseas to teach English for a year or two. I hope to come back to Louisville one day and look for employment in a field where I can continue to work with diverse people and help make a difference in someone's life. I plan on visiting the Louisville Elder Refugee Program and volunteering a little throughout this Summer 2016, but it won't be the same as interning for sure.

Thank you Elders, Staff and other volunteers so much.

A selfie with the Elders during the YMCA field trip in January.

March 2016

March went by really fast. It was probably because there were so many events that the elder program got to attend. The weather was quite nice this month and the days we had field trips were made more enjoyable by the pleasant weather.

The first event of the month was having a couple of speakers come in and talk about housing and also the  interfaith community of Louisville. The Louisville Elder Program is really thankful to our Intern, Jon who put together a wonderful presentation on housing. Many of the elders found it really informative to learn about their rights as renters and the do's and don'ts of being a renter. 

Jon presenting about Housing.

Also that day we had Haleh Karimi, the executive director of Interfaith Faith Paths to Peace in Louisville come and talk to the elders about the interfaith community in Louisville. Many of the elders found her message about support within different religions very comforting, considering some of the elders dealt with religious persecution in their native countries.

Haleh Karimi presenting.

Two days this month we got the program together on a Wednesday and went on important field trips. 

1) The Elder Program Attended Refugee Advocacy Day in Frankfort, Kentucky.

David & Ler Htoo (Karen State) as well as Zaki (Iraq) wait to meet with their state legislators..

2) The Elders went to the Speed Art Museum reception to look a the Wall Together exhibit, in which the elders helped create pieces for. Also featured was art by Presentation Academy.

Francisco with his art.

Cubans, Emma & Isabel

Ram (Bhutan)

There are many other things to talk about, like the eye glasses that many received from Dee Dee's Hurt Eyeglass Clinic and attending the first ever Global Health Fair at Kentucky Refugee Ministries.

Hari Maya (Bhutan) getting her blood pressure checked by a UofL med student.

Elder Art

Intern Morgan beautified the office with artwork by the Elders,

Everything is going alright at the Louisville Elder Program. We finally got around to hanging up 31 pieces of artwork that so many elders have made in the last year. The office looks a lot better now. We have surrounded ourselves in out client's artwork. 

Its like we have our own little art show happening...which by the way.... Everyone should attend the Wall Together, Making Our Way Home: Stories from Louisville and Beyond exposition at the Speed Art Museum from March 12-June 26. There is also a open reception on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 from 3-5PM. Several of the elder refugees artwork will be displayed in the museum. 

We Have a New United States Citizen!

Elmira from Azerbaijan at the Citizenship Ceremony on February 10th.

Congrats Elmira!

Intern Adventures Continue!

Hello Again,

Intern Morgan here. I've been interning for about  one month now. Things are going well. I am really enjoying teaching in the class room.  I am helping out Beth's class, which is the lowest level. Most of the students in her class are just learning their letters and how to introduce themselves. I spend most of my time going back and forth from Damber, a Bhutanese refugee who is very very quiet and Jesus, a Cuban asylee who is very very talkative. Damber is new and just getting to know how to write. Jesus is very determined. He participates in class and if he is confused he will ask in Spanish.  In class Thursday,  Jesus thought Damber was the name of a country. So we had to sort out that, also he never had heard of Bhutan so I had to show him on a globe.
I also work with Kameela, from Iraq and Lan from Vietnam. Lan is sweet and tries really hard to learn English. You can see it when you talk to her she has so much to say but just don't know how to express it yet in English. Kameela is a rambunctious lady. She really likes the color pink or "bembi" as she says in Arabic.
Oh I forgot to mention the refugee who makes me smile the most. His name is Saw. He is from Burma. He is in the class I help. He is at the level in English where he knows his letters but not words yet really. He can understand better than talk. He smiles so much and laughs so much it warms my heart. Things that aren't really that funny are hilarious to him.
  Some of the former refugees have already received their citizenship but come for the activities,  friends and further English lessons.
I am really enjoying the classes. I also spent one day in the office, doing computer stuff but that isn't anywhere as fun nor makes me feel as energetic like teaching does.

 

Morgan helping Damber from the Karen State learn his letters.

The Intern Adventures

The Intern Adventures

Hello! My name is Morgan and I am a new Intern with the Elder Program. It's my 3rd week here with the Elder Program, and only this week did I actually meet the elders (what with all the holidays and all). I've been getting used to the complicated building and getting an ear for accents and new languages I haven't heard much. Every one at KRM is very nice and Eva & Michaela are taking good care of me.

So far I have taken  refugee elders to the bank to set up accounts and have tried to explain Star Wars to a few (unsuccessfully I fear). I also have enjoyed my time playing checkers with David from the Karen State of Burma and talking about traveling with Jolyana and Zaki who are both from Iraq. All the refugees I have met so far are always very courteous and have tried to teach me their languages, which I enjoy. I have found the new word I am using most often with Arabic speakers is "sa'ab" which means difficult, because as Murphy's law states: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. 

The Elder Program Has a New Intern!

Our new intern likes cows.

 This is Morgan, our new intern who started with us in December and will be helping out until May. She is in her final semester of undergraduate at Indiana University Southeast and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She became interested in our program after traveling abroad to Oaxaca, Mexico and realizing she would like to work with lots of different cultures and types of people as a job. Reading about the Kentucky Refugee Ministries' involvement in helping resettle Syrian refugees solidified where she would like to do this work.

Morgan's hobbies include watching lots of foreign movies and TV shows. She also enjoys listening to music in lots of different languages, even ones she can't understand. K-pop is her favorite. 

***Look forward to updates to come from her about her experiences with the Elder Program.

 

Tis the Season for Long Sleeves and Hats

November and December were not so busy what with all the holidays and breaks happening. Still there was time for some Bingo and eating cake.

A friendly game of bingo in November.

Elmira made a cake!

October 2015

We continued the Speed Art Museum project, visited Huber’s and had a blast, plus added 3 more citizens!

September 2015

Carnegie Center and the Amphitheater in New Albany, IN!

 

Three close friends: Cuban ladies Isabel & Emma with Hong (Vietnam) in their midst  during the visit at Carnegie!

Lovely group photo at the end of the visit at Carnegie Center.

What we have been up to the last few months...

July 2015

The Elder Program resumed classes in July after a two-weeks break and dived right into exciting hands-on class sessions. We welcomed three new American citizens—Hit Ler from Karen state, Burma, and Kamala Pati and Bishnu Subedi from Bhutan! Congratulations!!!! We are so happy with them!

Hit Ler (Karen state/Burma) is sooo happy to be an American

citizen and having been able to obtain an American passport! 

 August 2015

We enjoyed the Elder Art Show at the Iroqouis Library which exhibited the beautiful creations worked on throughout the year. Another highlight was the opportunity to welcome US Representative Yarmuth to the Program. 

Saw (Karen state-Burma) in front of his great art.

The Elders with Representative John Yarmuth

What we have been up to the last few months.... 

June 

Our outing at Willow Park with the Family Center and Francis of Assisi students was a blast! Another great day was the World Refugee Day Celebration at Tyler Park, and a visit to the Zoo rounded up the activities for June before the short break in July!

World-drawing contest with the Bhutanese @ Willow Park

Musa (Sudan) is selecting his meal.  

Sabee (Iraq) at the Zoo.