Field Notes #2

I visited the IIRI Friday of October 25, 2013. This time I visited at around 11:40, way earlier than last time, but it was because I change my work shift with a coworker, because I know the classes Fridays are from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm . Before being able to sit in students' lounge I had to go to Mr. Rahman's office and ask for permission. I have to do so every time I go in the building. This time I had to wait until 12:00 to be able to access the student lounge as that its the time the students get out of class, and she didn't want me in there for some reason. That was perfectly fine with me, as I knew I would get to see the people better from the front  door. While I waited I started talking with the front desk secretaries, who were both Spanish one is from Costa Rica and the other Dominican. I ask them whether the all the professors where American, Bu they answered that there was a mixture, but they didn't specify. As the students stated to run out of the building, I decided to go to the student lounge.
I found myself sitting in a table next to a student, who I assume was working on her homework. From that table I could observe people coming in and out and also had a good view of the teacher's lounge.

What surprised me?
I was surprised because I saw students ranging from 18 years to 50 years old. Also, most of the people getting out of the ESL classes were Spanish speaking. I know because most of them said bye to the secretaries in Spanish as they were leaving.The other few people who said bye in English, but they look like they were Asian or Indian.

What intrigued me ?
I was intrigued when I saw young students who were speaking a  fluent English. It had me wondering whether they were there for something other than an ESL. I saw them around 12:30 , so I  assume they were there for something else, but what? It wasn't until I was about to leave that I realized that they were for the GED class.

What disturbed me?
I haven't seem much that disturbed me really. Only the painting were there is a white guy holding a little African American boy. I think its sort of depicts that Americans are superior over the rest, but that its just my interpretation. That painting makes uncomfortable. Other than that the sad combination of the cream colored walls and the blue floors.

Through my Lenses : Moving to the USA.

My professor asked me to talk a little bit about how it was to come to the USA, as it makes me an insider of the immigrants and refugees' subculture, or should I say our subculture.
When I first learned that I was moving from Bolivia to the USA I was 10 about to turn 11 years old, my first though was "where can I hide myself until we miss the plane." Knowing that I would have to leave behind my relatives, my favorite cousin, my best friend ,my 42 classmates who were like my siblings to me,  knowing I would not graduate with them, was like someone had ripped my hearth and tried to put it back in ,but just didn't know how to, so it was left skew. Then the thought of a different language, had me chewing on my nails. I couldn't help thinking that I will never learn English. I had the most negative thought for a 10 year old, but wouldn't you too, if you were being stripped away of everything and everyone you care and love?
Once I arrived the USA, I hated everything. A month after my arrival, I started school. The first day my mom dropped me at Perry Middle School, which was the only middle school that offered ESL classes at that time, I had to swallow hard not to cry, and cross my arms so they wouldn't see how bad my hands were shaking. Once I was taken to the classroom , everything change because all the students in the class spoke Spanish. It was a relieve to know I wouldn't be by myself. It was a bad thing too because I only hang out with Spanish people, so it took me a entire year to start talking in English. Nonetheless, it was good having people to whom I could relate. I became so shy, the total opposite to when I was in Bolivia. Outside of the ESL classroom everything was scary as I couldn't understand what people would say to me. I exited out of ESL the second semester of my freshman year in high school.  At that point I was more use to everything , I was starting to like English, and I became an avid reader. The shyness was starting to disappear too. I also started helping out my friends who were in ESL class. I would help them with their homework, explaining or translating the teachers directions, and motivate them when they felt like giving up. I knew what it felt like to come to a new country, its a tough adjustment. It took me 3 years to adjust. The worst part was that my parents didn't spoke English either so they rely on me to do the talking, when I was barely starting to feel incident about this language. even though I hated it translating , it help me learn to quickly translate from English to Spanish. I still have a rough time translating from Spanish to English. 7 years later, I can now say I love the USA, its a country that has given me so many opportunities. I feel at home now.

After re-reading this myself I know I identify with the immigrants and refugees because they have to go through a similar adjustment processes. No wonder I didn't hesitate when deciding I wanted to do my fieldwork research at the International Institute of RI. No wonder I felt an especial connection to the people of the IIRI the first time I went there.

The Digital Landscape

I decided to start my digital landscape search by researching different International Institutes in RI, my search was not as successful as I would have hope. As I was researching online, I discovered a few things about the International institute of RI. First of all, the IIRI has partnered with the Dorcas Place Adult and Family learning Center, which is now called the Dorcas International Institute of RI (DIIRI), and this located just a few streets away, in 220 Elmwood Ave. The IIRI is referred to as the south campus, while the DIIRI is referred to as the north campus. I also found out that the IIRI doesn’t have its own website, as they share a website with the DIIRI.  Interestingly, they do have their own blogger site. With this said, I decided to take a look at the DIIRI website first. As I was expecting their site is not fancy, nor colorful, but that’s is ok because its fill with tons of information to help people, not just immigrants and refugees. They also help people who didn’t get to graduate High school and are looking to get their GED, or people who want to gain computer skill, ESL classes for people who want to start learning or become fluent in English, and they also prepared people to continue to college. Even the green color they used on the top of the site is forgiven with all the helpful information offer in the site.  Their website shows some pictures of different people, some are in a class, other are outside planting plants, and they are all from different ethnicities. This shows the multicultural variety of the DIIRI and the IIRI. The website is divided in to four categories: education / workforce, support services, our impact, and how you can help. Like I mention the website is simple but filled with important information. When you click in “our impact”, you will find “stories of success”, not only they offer life changing opportunities, but also inspire the people to keep working hard. The fact that they took time to ask, and write down these people stories shows a real interest and care for the community they are creating. On the “how can you help section” I found a volunteering application, and a description of the different positions needed help with. This made me realized that most of the people volunteering at the DIIRI and IIRI are Rhode Island or out of state residents who care enough to help this community and are attracted by a new subculture. I think that people whom volunteer for the International institutes do it because they want to incorporate people into the overall culture, not just seclude them from the rest.

The blogger page of the IIRI is more colorful and bright as its background color is yellow, and the top the name “International Institute of RI” is written on top of a blue section. Now that I remember those are the colors of the inside of the IIRI, but instead of a bright yellows the walls are more of a pale cream yellow, and the floors are a dark blue, but its close enough. Their blog is as simple as my blog. It seems like the blog purposed is to inform people of what’s going on, there was a post warning of possible immigration scams, and other was informing Japanese immigrants of their benefits, there also a post about immigration fees going up, there was one where they were asking for volunteers. They keep the immigrant community updated. Upsettingly enough at the end I realized the last post had been made on June 21, 2011. The year that they posted the most was the 2010.Now this leaves me wondering why did they stopped posting information. Was it because not many people cared to check their blog, or because the DIIRI website is enough to provide information.

Lastly I found the DIIRI Facebook page, and I'm happy to see that they are up to date  and informing people of what's going on in the country, events in RI, events in the institute itself, promoting products made by their students, and promoting local places. Its a page full of pictures, and information. It has 880 likes, so we know there is 880 people following them. Because most people are connected to Facebook nowadays, its the most efficient way to inform people of what's going on. Our society revolves and depends on the internet, its our most useful tool to finding information.

Regardless of the whys they stop blogging, we can concentrate on the fact that they are helping many people living throughout RI, and people coming to RI from other countries, and it shows in the DIIRI website and Facebook page. Along my search I inferred that people who volunteer care, and want to integrate refugees, immigrants, and other members of the community whom somehow seem to be secluded from the USA culture, and even learn new things themselves. Now whether every immigrant and refugees are aware of this low cost services is a different story. When you first come to USA everything is new and unknown, so it takes time, and someone who will inform you about the services out there. As we come from countries that are not as develop as the USA.

Questioning my Field Notes

After making many calls, and making a wishful visit to the International Institute of RI  (IIRI) I was finally able to get my first field notes, and a feel of the place.
My first visit to my field site as a field worker, was interesting. Despite the fact that there was no one other than a few staff members , and some people coming in and out,  I had a good insight of the place.
I went to the IIRI around 3:30, and started taking notes at 3:54, after I was done talking with Mrs. Raman the education and training director of the IIRI. I decided to sit in a desk in the far end of the student lounge which is an open area. Today the student lounge was filled with lots of blue chairs like there has been an event. I soon realized that because the place was empty I shouldn't be sitting to take my field notes, but I also could not wander around. So I walked about the room and concentrated on the things hanging on the walls. As I found out according to one of the flyers on the walls, the ESL classes had already meet at 9 am -12 pm. That was the reason the IIRI was mostly empty. When I made a closer examination of the pictures accompanied by a paper on the side, I realized this were the stories off the people in the picture. The stories were inspirational, life experiences immigrants has to go trough. I didn't read them all, but the ones I did , talk about the life changing experience of moving to the USA , their adaptation to this country , and how much they love providence RI. I also found two puzzle shaped paintings. They had different faces painted different colors and the border of one said "love" , the other one said "one", but it was repeated in different language. This paintings probably represent the diversity of the IIRI. The painting with the white old man holding the dark child was my least favorite. I think its because it denotes that only Americans help the immigrants and refugees. Maybe I'm misjudging , but I just don't like it.  I will have to ask the meaning of the painting , maybe that will help change my feelings towards it .                  

What surprised me ?
I was surprised when I found the picture of the education and training director , Mrs. Rahman on the wall, with her story as an immigrant. She had started at the IIRI in 1980 as a teacher, and 33 years later she is the education and training director. She demonstrates passion for helping others and a unique love towards the IIRI , she refer to it as a "home away from home, and a place where people where exceptionally kind to immigrants."  What I find interesting is that in my proposal I had changed my decision of interviewing one of the lawyers to interviewing Mrs. Rahman, because as the educational director she would have more information. One of my possible question to her was to ask her what had inspired her to help immigrants and refugees, but her story in the wall basically answered it.
What intrigued me?
I didn't get the chance to see many of the staff at the IIRI , probably because its Friday, but I have the feeling most of them were not born in the USA, like Mrs. Rahman. I wonder if I'm right , and if this is true, why ? Is it because only people who go trough similar situation can understand what the immigrants and refugees go trough and therefore they want to help? Or is just coincidence?
What disturbed me ?
The wall color disturbed me. Why did they have to paint everything cream , and combine it with a dark blue floor, and blue chairs. The tables where also cream.The IIRI without the people and with that wall color, it's just depressing. The lightning doesn't help either. As a non profit organization  I believe that any way to save money is good. Still, some color wouldn't kill anyone. The IIRI  is like every educational building I know in providence colorless and dim , but brought alive by the people in it.

Process of Acquiring Access to the International Institute of RI (IIRI)

The night before yesterday, I sent my revised proposal to the Education & Training Director of the International Institute of RI (IIRI), Mrs. Rahman, I'm hoping she will answer soon , and that she will give me permission to do my field work there. Its sort of nerve racking to know someone outside of school will read my proposal. I'm assuming the IIRI is a busy place and she might not get to read my paper by tomorrow.
Sometimes, insistency and persistency will help you acquired what you want, so I decided to call and ask if she had received my proposal. She said she had read it and that she was happy I had picked the IIRI, but that because there are in such a busy schedule I will have to wait a few days until they will be able to present my proposal to the teachers at the institute, because if you don't remember my purposed is to sit in a class and observe the refugees and or immigrants as they are being taught English (an ESL class). The teachers will then decide if they want somebody in their class or not. I hope they understand I'm not there to evaluate them in any way, I think that would be the main reason for them to deny me access to their classrooms. The educational director Mrs. Raman also gave me the number to call a make an appointment to get a tour of the Institute.
Without delay I called, and I was sent to voicemail, so I left a message explaining why I wanted a tour of the IIRI.
So did I mention I was a persistent person? So because I know I will not be receiving a call back from the IIRI, not soon anyways, as they are such a busy place. I decided to go by again. This time I was faced to face with the Mrs. Rahman, When I introduced myself , she knew who I was right away, she thought I was there to ask permission again to enter a class and she gave me a lecture on why that couldn't happen right away. When she allowed me to explain myself , I was able to explained to her that this time I just wanted to sit outside in the student lounge to get some observations and a feel of the place. And promised her that I wouldn't bother or talk to anyone, although there was really no one to actually talk to. She instantly agreed. We got to talk a little bit, and I got to tell her why this research project is important to me, not just for school but for me as an immigrant myself. She smile at me for the first time at that point, so I'm guessing she likes me a little bit more than at the beginning. Finally, I was able to get my first field notes, and I can't emphasize how happy I am to have picked the IIRI. Another lesson learned, Persistency does get you somewhere haha.

Obstacles

Sometimes in the hopes of wishing things will work out in our favor we forget that in todays world things are just not as easy as we wish. Security is very important in every governmental and non governmental institutions. As I have learned on Friday, when I went to the international institute of RI to get my first field notes. I was thoroughly questions and informed that I couldn't stay in the building until I emailed my proposal to the Education &training director of the International Institute of RI. I wasn't prepared to do so as I didn't have my final proposal revised yet. Now I'm running behind schedule, as I don't have my first field notes. I have learned that I can't underestimate the security system within a place.

Through my Lenses

I am an 18 years old, Hispanic female. I was born August 21, 1995 in Reyes, Bolivia. My first language is Spanish, but I'm more or less fluent in English. I grew up in La Paz, Bolivia with my grandmother and cousin who is more like my brother, until I was 11. I was then brought to the USA to live with my parents. In Bolivia my family is considers upper middle class, so while living in Bolivia I always had everything. I went to the best private school, wore the best clothes, and had everything I asked for; I was a spoiled little girl. I had everything, but parents. So although, I was spoiled I never behaved like such, because I knew how hard my parent were working to provide me with all those luxuries. Plus, my grandma always taught me how to share with the less fortunate. Every time someone would ring the bell asking for food, my grandmother would ask me to open the doors for them and invite them in. Nothing edible was thrown away, nothing wearable was deposed off. Everything unnecessary to us was given to someone that actually needed it. We lived in a big house, but although it was just my grandma, cousin and me during the nights, during the day it was always full of relatives. 
Once I was brought to the USA everything change, now my family is consider lower middle class, and sometimes poor , depending the season. The only family I have here is my parents, sisters, and my friends who are my chosen family. In this country I also became more mature, as I had to begin taking care of my two sisters since I was 12. My parents were always working, so in a way I am more of parental figure to my sisters than my parents. I also had to learn how to cook for them. My parents are also very dependent on me because their English is not as develop as they wish. We have moved around providence, 6 times if I'm not mistaken. We have lived in north, east, and south providence. I have learn to adjust quickly to changes, and to not get attached to anything or anyone. The one thing that has been consistent in my life is the generosity of my family. If my parents know someone in need of shoes they will take theirs off and given them to that person.
It was a drastic change for me to move from a Spanish speaking country which was full of tradition, religion, and a very different educational system.  I had to adjust to all of that plus to living with my parents who were like strangers to me. I have seen many things growing up in both Bolivia and the USA. I used to consider USA to be a lucky country because you couldn’t see poverty in the street like in Bolivia, but it has an equivalent which is not as obvious. These groups are the refugees and immigrants, who are not living in the street as far as I know, but some of them are barely making money for the day to day survival, sometimes barely feeding their family. I can honestly say all my experiences have made a very compassionate person, and I am open minded. I will never be stuck on my own ideas, I always make room for new points of views, and I think that is due to the fact that I had to adjust to many different drastic situations in my life. So when I walk into my field site, which is the International Institute of RI, I am open to learn as much of the refugees and immigrants as I can. I am not going there to judge, I’m going there to learn, and understand this new subculture. Furthermore, I can identify with the refugees and immigrants, they probably move around all the time, have few to no family living in this country, had to learn the language, and have become resilient. Making my field site even more important to understand. I think that having experienced both Bolivia and the USA’s culture allows me to see thing in a unique way.

This video is one of the performances done the first time I visited the International Institute of RI. My High School always donates Christmas presents for them, and luckily that year my senior class was picked to be the one to hand out the gifts. Even though we were the ones  there to make their lives a bit happier, they were the ones who unknowingly made a big impact in my life.  

These people captivated me with their enthusiasm, and smiles. Even though they were all mostly new to the USA, and barely spoke english they tried their best to communicate with my friends and me, they were amicable, and they didn't let the fact of their complicated lives get in the way of sharing their excitement. This is the reason why I decided to do my fieldwork about the International Institute, because I want to gain a better understanding of their subculture.