CAPS4

Our class was asked to read three different articles that depicted stories of refugees that live in Lincoln and what adapting to American culture is like. We were then asked to pick one concept on intercultural transitions that could be used as a lens for understanding the articles. There is no better concept to use then the U-curve theory. The U-curve theory is a theory of cultural adaption positing that migrants go through fairly predictable phases—excitement/anticipation, shock/disorientation, and adjustment—in adapting to a new cultural situation (Martin & Nakayama p.337). All of the phases of the U-curve model can be used in understanding the feelings of the immigrants talked about in these articles. 

                                  

The anticipation phase is the first phase of the U-curve model and is based of the idea that when a migrant first enters a new cultural context, he or she may be excited to be in the new situation and only a little apprehensive. Although none of these articles directly say the immigrants were excited at arriving to the U.S., it is safe to assume that they were. As a refugee anything is going to be better then the country you are fleeing. Yes, you are leaving your home, but knowing that you are going to a place that’s safer for you and your family is always going to leave a little room for excitement. For some people that have never been to America before; America is a place of opportunity and a chance at a fresh start. One of my closest friends is a refugee and he told me that the excitement he felt arriving to America was unparalleled.

The second phase, culture shock, is shown in all three of these articles and happens to almost everyone in intercultural transitions. Culture shock is a relatively short-term feeling of disorientation and discomfort due to the lack of familiar cues in the environment (Martin & Nakayama p.338). All three of the refugee’s admitted to struggling with learning the culture especially English. Moe Free, from Burma, said, “My family and me too, no speak English. Shopping, talking, somebody come to my house and I couldn’t understand. It was very, very hard work for me. I know that I don’t know the language. No speak English. I don’t really know English.” You can even see the struggles of grasping the English language in the context of the quote. What would be harder then being in a place where it is almost impossible to directly communicate to someone?

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The third phase, Adjustment, is where migrants learn the rules and customs of the new cultural context. Khu Say, a 14-year-old freshman at Lincoln High School, has only been speaking English for three years. Khu Say said that when he does have a question, he opens the dictionary; a perfect sign of adjusting. His older brother, Khu Htoo, shows another sign of adjustment by asking his teachers for help. “When I don’t understand something,” Khu Htoo said, “I will stay after class and ask the teacher.” If his question will take some time to answer, he said he sets up times with teachers before and after school to meet. With these adjustments, immigrants can better adapt to the obstacles of being from another country.

The interpretive perspective may be the best way to inform the process of refugee resettlement in Nebraska and intercultural transitions overall, because that perspective holds that communication not only reinforces culture but influences it as well. The more that immigrants communicate with citizens of the U.S. the better they will understand our culture.