The Middle of Everywhere (42 page)

I noticed Fatima and Deena sitting on the edge of the fountain giggling together, just as they did at Sycamore School. They greeted me happily and Fatima asked, "Miss Mary, please take our picture." I hugged them and asked them to smile for the camera.

American teens with tattoos and rings in their noses lolled around the Chilean musicians and African drummers. A woman in traditional Middle Eastern clothes strolled past with her husband. The couple looked happy, talking to each other, and carrying a bag of peppers and tomatoes. Patti, the student at the high school who had been interested in information about birth control, listened to the music with Khoi and her baby, a little boy who looked a lot like his father. Khoi clapped his son's hands to the music. Patti showed me their wedding rings and I snapped their picture.

Country people displayed hostas, pottery, quilts, and rag rugs. Mennonite ladies sold angel food cakes and dilly bread. A big guy dressed in high heels and a cotton dress sold cut flowers and bedding plants to somewhat puzzled locals. Our local community college had a chef-in-training booth. Fresh-faced chefs from many countries handed out samples of quesadillas and crepes. Long lines of people of all nationalities—Bosnian, Sudanese, Vietnamese, Afghani, and Mexican—waited behind pickup trucks for fresh sweet corn.

We stopped at our favorite booth to buy lettuce and greens. The air always smelled of basil and mint around this booth. Today Maren, the baby daughter of a friend, and my friend Twyla were celebrating their birthdays. Maren, wearing a hat made of balloons, nibbled on a pita from the Greek booth. Every time I saw her she was eating a new kind of bread. I photographed the birthday girls together.

Our friends Terry and Chris played music in the sunshine by the train mural. They played Irish songs, Civil War ballads, waltzes, and Czech polkas. All ages and kinds of people enjoyed the music played outdoors, where music sounds best.

The train mural was made of locally produced bricks. Already it had acquired a legend about a hidden image in the bricks—supposedly a picture of a naked woman. People of all ages have searched for this woman in the train smoke, clouds, and landscape.

As the musicians played a waltz, children and a few older people danced, and Leda tapped her toes and swayed. Maria and Rosa from Even Start showed up with all their kids and with Rosa's new baby in a stroller. I marveled at so many new babies on this sunny morning.

Chunky Nebraskans and smaller, darker newcomers shared ice-cream cones and sunlight as they absorbed the music, the color, and the aromas of this busy place and time. The beautiful Kurdish sisters were buying cucumbers and tomatoes. I waved to them and asked when Tanya would make me some biryani. Jim took my picture with the laughing sisters.

Patti and Khoi bought Asian eggplants, fresh lemongrass, and bitter melons. The longest lines were for the Norfolk melons. As I waited in line, I could almost inhale the hope of this Saturday morning. I bought a three-dollar watermelon and thought of a Greg Brown line about life, "It's like a thump ripe melon. So sweet and such a mess."

As I looked at our truck beds of sweet corn and nectarines, our booths of tomatoes and bread, our neighbors and musician friends, the refugees and old-timers, the blue sky above and the gladiolas and coneflowers below, I thought to myself that my healing package is my hometown. On a morning like this, it's the best healing package for us all.

There are two main rules: Don't assume anything and Ask questions. For example, How do you greet people in your culture?

Interviews are stressful and the setting is important. Try to have the setting be informal, friendly, and calm.

Even knowing a few words of a foreign language makes newcomers feel more relaxed.

Remember that without English, people can show you only the tip of the iceberg. Most of their personalities, intelligence, problem-solving abilities, and humor are hidden.

Communicating with Language

Use short simple sentences and speak slowly.

Pause frequently to check that you have been understood.

If you are not understood, do not repeat exactly what you said before; rather, paraphrase what you said with even simpler language. Do not move on until you understand and are understood.

Many times newcomers pretend to understand when they don't. Have newcomers repeat any essential information or instructions to make sure they understand.

Do not use jargon or professional language.

Avoid colloquialisms and slang.

Many newcomers have odd knowledge gaps. Don't assume people understand the whole because they understand part of a concept.

When possible use pictures and gestures to go with your words.

Write instructions down, even if the newcomer cannot read or write. Many newcomers have someone who can read the instructions to them.

A little information carefully selected and clearly communicated is better than lots of information that's misunderstood and overwhelming.

Good manners are always in order. You can't overdo please, thank you, and statements of respect, empathy, and appreciation.

Humor is appreciated and defuses tension. Laughter is calming for everyone. Try to have a little fun and make sure your last interaction is positive.

Clock-watching or rushing people is often interpreted as rude and uncaring. Take plenty of time.

Remember that different cultures have different ideas about the way to express emotions and about the value of emotional control.

Silence means different things in different cultures. In many cultures silence is a sign of respect and it is considered impolite to interrupt or to speak right after another person finishes.

Suggestions Concerning Nonverbal Behavior

Because language skills are limited, newcomers pay careful attention to nonverbal cues. Be aware of the message your posture, voice, facial expression, and eyes are sending. Use your body language to signal respect, attention, and optimism.

Be sensitive to cultural differences about touching. For example, many Muslim women are not comfortable shaking hands with men. Many Asians regard being touched on the head as an insult.

Be aware that different cultures have different ideas about personal space. Americans tend to be farther apart when speaking than most other peoples. This distance can be interpreted as coldness.

When Working with Interpreters

Seek interpreters who are both linguistically and culturally competent.

Be aware of problems with interpreters. They may be personally involved with the newcomer and not objective. They may be perpetrators of violence toward the newcomer's ethnic group. They may be gossipy, opinionated, or judgmental. They may be traumatized by what the newcomer says.

Try not to use children or family members as translators.

Make sure the newcomer is comfortable with the interpreter and also that the interpreter understands confidentiality.

Remember to keep your eyes on the newcomer.

Try to keep your sentences short and ask die newcomer to communicate in short simple sentences. (Most interpreters struggle with languages themselves and do not have strong memories.)

If the interpreter is abbreviating too much, ask politely, "What else did the newcomer say?" or say, "Please translate everything."

Before and after the session, talk with your interpreter. Make sure that he/she understands the task at hand and gets the help necessary to do a good job.

Why You Should Help

To learn languages

To learn about other cultures

To have greater involvement in international affairs

To put our own culture in perspective and see America in a new way

To feel useful and helpful

How to Get Involved

1. Visit with refugees whenever you can, on the streets, in the stores, especially when you see someone looking lost or confused.
   
2. Help when you can identify that help is needed. For example, a woman in Lincoln knew a boy with an Afghani mother who didn't have anyone to help him with homework. She volunteered to go to the school one hour a day and tutor him. Now she wants to organize all our parent/teacher organizations to recruit volunteers to help kids in their study halls.
   
3. Encourage your church or civic group to adopt a family.
   
4. Join a group that is helping new Americans learn English or work toward a GED. Teach classes to newcomers.
   
5. Volunteer at an agency that serves immigrants and refugees.
   
6. Make a contribution of cash or goods. Find a program that serves refugees and ask what they need. Cars, bicycles, clothing, furniture, appliances, and tools can be put to good use.
   

Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948

On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the assembly called upon all member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read, and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

Preamble

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law, Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
proclaims
THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act toward one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.

Everyone isn entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.

Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional, or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing, or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.

Article 4.

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.

Article 10.

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.

(1) Everyone charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense.

(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offense on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offense, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offense was committed.

Article 12.