Nola Kambanda shares with us the journey that she takes as a first-generation immigrant woman in the United States. She uncovers and shares with us her unique experiences in the new world and provides us with a lens through which to view America from a newcomer's vantage point. She speaks to issues of identity, ethnicity, and race as well as issues of acceptance. As educators who are seeing greater and greater diversity in our classrooms, it is important that we become familiar with and sensitive toward the feelings of those who have newly arrived in this country, thus the inclusion of this literary work in our multicultural discussion.
Assignment:
Please choose two statements that Kambanda makes in this short story and react to those statements. Why did those statements stand out to you? Were you surprised by her observations and assumptions? Why? What did you learn about the immigrant experience in the United States as you read about and took into consideration her perspective of our country and its people? What can we as teachers learn from Kambanda's reflections?
The first thing that stood out to me was right on the first page in reading about Nola, “The first thing that hit me was the speed with which everything was going. It seemed too fast paced. The movement of the people was rushed, and no one was looking anywhere else except where they where going; the cars moved too fast; there were too many lights, too many buttons to press, too many escalators. I was suddenly asking myself if these people ever stopped talking to one another” (p 147).
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about the pace of America I do sometimes feel like it never stops, that we are always reaching for something greater and more advanced, even though I have never lived anywhere else other than america I can relate to how she feels in that we as a society are always on the move and always rushed. I suppose we should stop and appreciate the simple things in life.
Another quote that also stood out to me is on page 152, “I will admit that the American way is definitely more convenient. But lacks a certain ritual of intimacy. There is a care that I like to put into the cleaning of my clothes, those things that cover and protect my body, so I still invariably find myself hand washing.”
This quote almost made me refer back to the other quote I chose, that we are so consumed by the simple but yet complex operations that allows our society to get things done fast and all at once. Nola is right we don’t have enough time in our daily lives and these “sophisticated and simple” inventions that help our culture have made us forget the value of living. Although Nola has now grown accustomed to America and is now working in America, it is clear that she never forgets the home she had and family values they instilled in her.
Christine, It would appear that Nola's essay has given you an opportunity to think about the impression that our country and our way of life makes on newcomers. It is always helpful to have someone who has lived through this immigrant experience share with us his/her impressions, thoughts, hurts, and insecurities. In that way we, as teachers can better address the needs of both parents and students who are newly arrived and of diverse backgrounds. You have made some excellent connections here. er
DeleteHello all, this is Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteHere are my two responses to Nola Kambanda's statements that I found important:
"All refugees grow up with this understanding. You grow up knowing that you do not automatically belong, that you always have to prove yourself, earn your place in the society which has so graciously allowed you the freedom of life" (Kambanda 148).
Kambanda’s statement really got an emotional reaction out of me because I could not imagine going through life with the feeling that I had no true home. Her story reminded me of a lot of the literature I read in my Refugee in Crisis Literature class. I took this course a couple semesters ago. Her feeling of not knowing where her identity lies, and feeling like she has to constantly prove herself shows the pressure a refugee has to make their life better. Is it fair that she has this expectation for herself? The last part of her statement, “earn your place in the society which has so graciously allowed you the freedom of life,” applies to this notion that America is this great Melting Pot that embraces all. However, in many instances throughout Kambanda’s story there was a sense of feeling inferior to those around her. I feel like this contradicts our principle of melting pot. As a future teacher, I would hope that if I had a child in my classroom from this type of background I would make sure they knew this is where they belonged.
"After I completed my studies at the community college, I transferred to California State University--Los Angeles. I declared electrical engineering as my major. It did not go by unnoticed--by me or anyone else--that I happened to be the only black person, not to mention black woman, sitting in most of my classes" (Kambanda 154).
Her accomplishments of graduating community college, then pursuing a career in electrical engineering are impressive no matter the person’s status. However, her goals mean almost more because of her status of being a refugee, and always working hard towards anything. Kambanda is an inspiration to me as a reader. I enjoyed her story, and it impacted me thinking of my future career in teaching. She came from a place where she could easily fail, but somehow overcome any of her life challenges. Also, she is commenting on gender being an issue; she mentions that the peers around were often in wonder of how a black woman managed to be in this field area dominated by men. I think this is a significant attribute to her story because at the end we as readers come to understand her struggles as a female refugee. She gained so much success, and became an advocate for others. Personally, this was my favorite story we have read so far.
She gained much success, but at a price............wouldn't you agree? Would you also agree that immigrants to this country (those who come at a young age) are forced to grow up at a much faster pace than are our own young people? They have gone through so much before they came here. Nice going.....this course is intended to foster the idea that you will make immigrant children in your classroom "know this is where they belonged." eries
DeleteHello, this is Kathy.
ReplyDeleteOne of Nola's first statements in the reading really struck me. Upon her arrival to the U.S., she states "It made me feel like a toddler in a toy store, unable to decide which adventure to tackle first" (Kambanda 147). This comparison to a toddler overhelmed by external stimuli is a feeling that I believe most of us can relate to at one time or another. I wasn't surprised by this statement as I feel like I have witnessed it on a smaller degree when a new student arrives in my school and class. Initially, everything is new to the new student - new friends, new teachers, new procedures and new rules. I've seen new students become overwhelmed by the changes and I can only imagine how Nola felt coming to a new country and learning to adapt to a new language and a new culture.
The second statement that stood out to me was "Sometimes I am not sure whether home is behind me or in front of me" (Kambanda 155). Having spent her life as a immigrant, it's easy to understand why Nola is unsure of what or where "home" is for her. I think this statement is important for me as a teacher when working with students who have emigrated to the U.S., that they may have feelings of insecurity about where they are and how they fit in. It's not just as simple as saying we have new members to our class and let's embrace them. These students may carry concerns with them that may impact them and their ability to be successful in the classroom and it's important to be aware of those concerns and worries.
I'm with Elizabeth on this reading assignment - favorite reading so far :)
I think that in this fast-paced, standardized test environment in which we now exist, it is very easy to forget the overwhelming newness with which new students must contend. Your words, as well as Nola's words, send us the message that we need to stop, think, and put ourselves not only in the young newcomer's shoes BUT also in their parents' shoes. Thank you for you insights.
DeleteHi there, This is Carrie. I really enjoyed this reading too. So I think I am agreeing with everyone so far! A quote that I picked is on page 148, "You will always be followed by the shadow of your heritage and of ancestry". It struck me because since the beginning of this story she was struck by the difference of society and longing to find some sort of familiar. And then she talks about how she has always considered herself an immigrant because of her parents and not really belonging anywhere. Yet, something was always holding on to her and that was her background, how her parents raised her. Her culture. The other quote I found interesting was on page 155, "In that case, Burundi is home. As so is Swaziland. And so is America." The willingness to have all these places become home is a great feat on her end. For all the places she has been to and how she was raised and all the experiences she had. She decided to make each place her home, as each would mold her to the woman she was.
ReplyDeleteTrue, Nola has given us a deep understanding of the difficulties with which one must contend when one is forced to move from country to country, from culture to culture. She has, I believe, given us a good lesson in survival skills. Despite the fact that she has survived and adapted, she has not forgotten here first happy experiences in life. I think this is a lesson that we ,as teachers, need to internalize as we deal with new arrivals in the United States. Nota lets us realize how each of the new arrivals is truly overwhelmed and "torn."
DeleteHi, this is Berkis. I have to confess that I was crying all the way through this reading. It is not that some quote called my attention, I identify myself with almost all of them. One has to be an immigrant to understand what she means, as I did. Just to mention two things from page 150, te quote which stated :"I COULD NOT FAIL HERE IN AMERICA" and the other "I WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY TO MY FAMILY'S WELL-BEING" drove me back to 1991 when I came to New Jersey from my country. I am sure that all immigrants lived through the same situation. When immigrants leaves their home, in most cases it is to look for a better life. their family expects that the person will succeed in the other country and that he or she will help the rest of the family that was left behind. In Nola's case it was because of a political reason, but the same as any immigrant, she cannot fail and has to see for her family's well-being. This story really touches me and brought me to tears. She resembles myself and I could talk to you almost about each statement she expresses. On the same page she said "I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO SPEAK AS FAST AND AS WELL AS THESE PEOPLE", I know what she means and I know how she felt. She came to the Unite States being young. I, on the other hand, came at age 31 and did my higher education here after age 35. I have been living here for more than twenty years and I still struggle with the English language.
ReplyDeleteBerkis, You have said it all. Thank you for your insight and for sharing your personal experience. As teachers, we all have to be sensitive to the pressures placed on new arrivals and realize that they are pulled in many directions.
DeleteHi everyone, it's Emily -
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading "A New World," a few things struck me deeply. The first being on page 147, "the movement of the people was rushed, and no one was looking anywhere else besides where they were going..." I can imagine the feeling, imagine coming to a new country for the first time, not being used to such a fast-paced way of living? I can connect to this because I went to Portugal a few summers ago, and when I go there I felt a culture shock as well -- everything was so laissez faire, people were having casual conversations in the middle of day with no rush to be anywhere. If you came to America in the middle of a work week, you'd need to watch that you wouldn't get trampled over by people rushing to the office.
Another thing that struck me, is also what Carrie had mentioned. On page 148, "You will always be followed by the shadow of your heritage and of ancestry," meaning that you cannot assume you belong somewhere because you live there. You are where you come from, who you come from, and the sad reality is, that's how people will always perceive those that are new and look like they "don't belong."
No matter how long you have been somewhere, you are what your heritage is, and it seems to me that Nola explained this well, being that she was born and raised in a country that wasn't her "ethnically cultural" background. She still felt as if she didn't belong even though it was all she know, and others did not let her forget that.
................and, as teachers, is it not our job to embrace those who are newly arrived and let them know that they are accepted in this new environment? We know everything is new, everything is different, everything is rushed, but we will slow down and give you a chance to let you and your family get used to us and feel at home. Would you agree?
ReplyDelete