Unrealistic Expectations

When I started out interning at World Relief, I knew I would be learning many new things. I knew I would be learning about population groups, about working with people, about Social Work practice and many other things. I knew it would be a time of me being stretched and growing but wow, has God amazed me as he has taught and stretched me in my thinking and as an individual. The lessons of my internship are teaching me not only professionally but they are growing and stretching me as an individual.

This week I worked with disappointed families. It seemed that every client I was given was disappointed for various reasons. Most of the disappointment lied in unrealistic expectations. Many of them have expectations when they come to America and when they arrive here they are disappointed. On occasion the surroundings they expect to arrive to are so different than the reality that they become depressed and at times even suicidal as one of my clients this week. Movies set them to believe they are moving to a "downtown" type setting and then they arrive to find that American cities are a far cry from the beautiful downtown area which they think are the whole city. They are shocked and don't understand why that they can't live somewhere nicer but the concept of the housing cost is almost an unattainable concept to grasp. They are promised help with food and cash assistance but the process to be accepted is frustrating and not instantaneous. Family and friends have told them stories of the United States but often times they have immigrated here in past times when the economy was better and finding jobs was easier. The refugees struggle to grasp the fact that while in their home country they were a business owner but when they come here they can't find work. Most jobs are entry level which these individuals have to accept because they speak (in many cases) little English and employers are not interested in the amount of time they spent working overseas. They don't understand why the agency can't do more. In some cases they take it personal as if you can't do more for them personally or you should try harder. It interesting to see the stages that the various families are at in their acceptance of the situation. Some accept the situation quickly and are able to bounce back while other it takes months and you wonder what is going to happen with the family. A social worker told me that with most families it takes a least a year for them to accept the situation and for things to seemingly fall into place and for the family to become happy or adjusted to their new normal. What is amazing is the resilience of the children. They seem to make the quickest recovery in most cases. While they miss home, it is as if they are determined to thrive and survive. It is a beautiful thing!

I am learning more than ever never to judge someone. I am learning to never make assumptions. I am also learning to take time to listen to people. Take time to find out someone's story. What makes that person thrive and survive? What is a day like in that person's world? I am learning earthly things, possessions really don't matter. I am learning happiness can't be tied to things but rather to moments. I am also learning that as humans we can survive and thrive and even when we think we can't go anymore! Each day I go home a little more grateful for what I have. So all these things do not necessarily increase my social work knowledge but they make me a better person.

Shifting gears:

External politics greatly affect my field placement. The President of the United States determines each year how many refugees will be allowed in the United States that year. This directly affects my agency. The agency is run on government grants which help to cover the cost of the refugees coming to the United States and how much money they will receive once they are here. The budget which Congress, the House and the President agree upon affects the funding amounts which the agency will receive. The agency is a nonprofit but it is different in the sense that they are government commissioned (I think that is how you say it) to do this work. The government gives them so much money that has to spent in a fiscal year. It is important for members of the agency and clients to advocate for the rights of the refugees as well as to have their voice heard when budgets are being determined. Federal budgets as well as state budgets have a direct affect on our client base because all of our clients (refugees) receive SNAP and cash assistance from the state. These benefits in addition to health care are promised them when they come into the country. When state funding is cut the amount of the benefits our clients receive are affected. It is important for members of the agency to stay abreast as to current political issues to insure clients are receiving their promised benefits and that they are not being affect in a negative way by state policy.