Welcoming A New Family

The new arriving family to my social service agency is coming from the country of Laos (surrounded by China, Thailand, and Vietnam). In my efforts to be supportive in constructing a welcoming and comfortable environment for all members of the family, the following attempts will be made to prepare; 

·         I would contact former colleagues from the International YMCA (World YMCA http://www.ymca.int) to inquire about speaking to someone employed by them that comes from Laos. This conversation would hopeful give me better insight of some informal and formal customs and practice of their culture.

·         I would also attempt to contact a professor in the International Studies Department at a local University to also have a conversation and share the information that I gathered from International YMCA. During this time, I would compare data to ensure that nothing was unintentionally being left out.

·         Of course, reaching out to colleagues and friends who maybe from Laos, know someone from the country, or worked with a family and have personal/professional firsthand experience in providing quality services would be the next option. Why reinvent to wheel when one already exist through learning from mistakes previously made by others willing to share.

·         Another valuable resource would be inquiring whether there is a Laotian Embassy in/or near my city to contact for additional facts and guidance on what I could do to holistically embrace a family arriving from the country. 

·         Lastly, visiting reliable internet sources and trying to successfully implement the things I’ve learned would be my final goal. Asking someone with prior experience to assess me through role playing would give me the necessary feed back to make adjustments as needed. 

These preparations are mutually to benefit the family (displaying a passion of wanting to learn more about them) as well as an educational opportunity for me (making me more culturally well rounded and appreciative of others). 

 

http://nicolesjourneyinlaos.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/hong-hien-school-part-1/