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Reaching Out
Not all people want to share their story, as the process of immigration presents many different types of experiences. Recounting stories often times brings up strong emotions. A number of individuals were reached out to, from a number of backgrounds. Some have been in the United States for decades, and some for months. Some came to pursue the next step in their careers, and some had to start from square one despite having extensive experience. Some were retired, and some in school. The individuals contacted came from personal connections, referrals from those who heard about the project, and research into local news and outreach stories. Conversation We sat down together to discuss their country of origin, their journey to the United States, and their perspective on life in the United States. Individuals were willing to share their stories to different degrees, and that is part of the beauty of storytelling; you have the freedom to trust someone with details of your experiences, while simultaneously being able to retain what you would like to remain personal to you alone. Some were eager to share every bit of information they could, while others opted to share their general experience. As the collector of these stories, I acknowledge that these stories are not complete, and this fact serves as a reminder that we will never fully know each other's stories, we will never truly be able to step into each other's shoes, and there is always more to learn and more space to grow. Cross-cultural interaction is a never-ending process that requires constant pursuit. Change within ourselves and our neighbors occurs gradually over time, leading to a need for understanding that learning is life-long. Story Thinking back on and reviewing our recorded conversation, I formed a draft of each individual's story. Editing was done for clarity and flow, but all details are true to the information told to me in conversation. Individuals had the chance to review and confirm the integrity of their story and make changes or additions. Individuals are welcomed to share more information at any time, or conversely have their story removed from the collection. It is a privilege for me to have heard their stories, and a privilege that they are giving us a chance to read them. Publishing Due to a number of factors, not every individual is comfortable sharing their name and/or photo. For the privacy and safety of the individuals, last names and, in some cases, first names were left out. All information published was consented to by the individual. This website is up and running with the assistance of Concordia College's Carl B. Ylvisaker Library and Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (URSCA). |