The Crazy Wisdom Community Journal • September - December 2012 • Page 49
I'm Here, Now What? Organizations and Businesses Help Internationals Access Ann Arbor By Jen Eberbach In my estimation, the more a community can offer international populations, the more likely it is going to be a comfortable place to land and get acclimated to life in a foreign country. As I set out to explore some local organizations and institutions that are helping immigrants and international people feel welcome in town, some best practices began to emerge. I found many amazing groups working to increase people’s access to city life and resources, encourage community engagement and friendships, provide educational opportunities, inform people about their rights (and help them if there is trouble), or help people acclimate in other ways. These groups are working to build strength through diversity and have ample opportunities for more people to get involved in their work.
Activities like knitting, cooking, hiking, and other “special interest” groups give women something fun to do that does not require any English skills. And casual English conversation and discussion groups allow non-native speakers to practice everyday conversation skills. “It’s not textbookish ESL training. It’s not about perfect grammar, but rather how to use English in practical ways,” Bhatia explains. For example, they take women out to buy groceries together and practice the English names of the foods they are buying. Bhatia also hosts a film discussion group that provides a casual opportunity to practice English.
What is the proof that Ann Arbor is a welcoming place for immigrants and temporary international residents? International Neighbors Make Nice House Guests “Making people feel welcome is at the heart of our mission,” says Martha Bhatia, the president of local women’s social activity group International Neighbors. The group centers on a number of socially oriented activities that foster friendships among women. Currently, about 800 women from 50 countries, including U.S. “hostesses,” participate in the volunteer run non-profit. “No matter where you are from, the common experience is that you are in this new place together — that’s key,” Bhatia explains. “In social situations, women will discuss what their questions or concerns are with each other. They share a lot of advice amongst themselves about life in Ann Arbor — from things like where to buy certain products and what grocery stores carry food from their country, to how to sell a car, to being homesick. The international women treat the women from here like we are their American family and ask us for advice. It becomes a self-engaging group.” What started as a small “Tea Group” in 1958, based around American women inviting spouses of international U-M scholars and students to their homes, has expanded beyond its university affiliation and into a full-fledged program of social activities for large and small groups of women throughout Ann Arbor.
Martha Bhatia, president of International Neighbors The International Neighbors Fall Reception is open to the public and will be on Thursday, September 20, 2012, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian at 1500 Scio Church Road in Ann Arbor. Mariko Suzuki, a young Japanese woman who followed her husband to U-M and already has a good grasp of the language, recently attended a monthly “International Day” celebrating the hats of the world so that she could practice speaking with other English language learners. “The difference between being in an international community and just an American community is that we feel comfortable listening to English that is slow. If you go directly into an American community, they speak really fast! Here, we don’t get intimidated because everyone is struggling to get their words out,” she says.
“The international women treat the women from here like we are their American family and ask us for advice. It becomes a self-engaging group.” –Martha Bhatia, president of International Neighbors
Photo by Andrew Fang of photasa, photasa.com
Second-generation Chinese American writer and activist Frances Kai-Hwa Wang serves as the Outreach Coordinator for Ann Arbor Chinese Center of Michigan
Natasha Sheera, a young Indian woman who also followed her husband to town, makes the point that “it’s really nice to meet people from different places rather than just staying in a group from your own particular country.” Adding, “I don’t just want to hang out the whole time with only people from my own country, I have that at home.” Continued on page 50