many neighbors, many stories

Transcription

MANY NEIGHBORS,
MANY STORIES
This is your community!
A NewHolly Neighbor to Neighbor Project
2003 - 2006
First Edition
100
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Ideas for Building Community
•
Get involved in a block party
Part I: Our Cultural Heritages.....................22
•
Sit on my front porch more often
A. Africa ................................................23
•
Say Hello to my neighbors
B. East Asia/Pacific Region ..................34
•
Share the food from my garden
C. Latin America ..................................55
•
Learn my neighbors first names
•
______________________________________
•
______________________________________
Part II: Some of Our Many Stories..............70
•
______________________________________
Part III: Background.....................................87
•
______________________________________
Thank You! .....................................................94
•
______________________________________
Map of NewHolly and Othello Station..........96
•
______________________________________
•
______________________________________
•
______________________________________
•
______________________________________
•
______________________________________
Why and How this Book was Written.............3
D. African-American ............................61
E. Native American...............................64
F. European ...........................................68
2
99
Knowing My Neighbors
Names
Address
Phone
Email
Languages
NewHolly: Many Neighbors, Many
Stories
Why and how this book has been written:
The hope of the Many Neighbors, Many Stories volunteers has been
that we can learn more about each other through sharing our stories, our
cultures and our dreams. We want our neighborhood to be a good place
to raise our children, a good place to learn and grow.
The Many Neighbors, Many Stories project was funded by a Race and
Social Justice Grant from the City of Seattle’s Department of
Neighborhoods. This grant was created to support community projects
that helped build bridges between people from different backgrounds,
religions, races, language groups, ages, and ethnicities. A group of
NewHolly neighbors came together and designed a project that would
build their community. They competed for the grant in September 2003
and were awarded just over $14,000.
Volunteers interviewed neighbors,
attended cultural events, organized
multicultural celebrations, and learned
a lot about their community and one
another. They then designed a book
they hope will help NewHolly
neighbors know more about their
community, learn about other
cultures, and feel more confident
about communicating with neighbors
who are different from themselves.
Neighbors volunteering with the
project have donated hundreds of
hours of their time, and yet the project
had barely begun to gather together
the complexity of NewHolly.
The New Holly community is a rich tapestry of cultures and languages,
of personal and family histories and traditions, of perspectives on life
and relationships. This neighborhood is home to over 1200 families,
more than 20 different cultures and languages. Some of us own our
homes; some of us rent our homes. Some live independently, others
98
3
require assistance and support in our Elder Village. We moved here
from other parts of Seattle, from different places in the United States,
and from countries around the world. We came here by choice. We
came because of circumstances. We came here through difficulties.
We came because of hope. Each of our many families has stories.
The book that we have prepared here is only the beginning. We hope
that this book and this project will inspire more neighbors to tell their
own stories – stories that will be added to the next edition of the book,
stories that will be shared with other neighbors over our fences and on
our porches. By simply forming relationships with one another, we can
continue to create a friendly, safe, and strong community that we all are
proud to call our home.
Explanation of how the book is organized:
Because this was our first try, the book you are about to read is
incomplete. Volunteers gathered information from as many neighbors
as they could during this project. Ideally, every culture and language
within NewHolly will be included. We could not speak with everyone,
and we did not get volunteers from every culture. Information we
collected is that told by neighbors to neighbors, and so cannot presume
to represent entire cultures. Please talk to your neighbors to learn
more!
Future Projects about Race Relations, Cultural Awareness, and
NewHolly Stories:
This is only a beginning. We
hope that with future editions
of this book, more neighbors
will volunteer to share their
stories so we can better
represent
our
diverse
community. If you find
anything missing in this
edition, or disagree with
anything you have read, we
hope you will participate in
the future projects. Please go to www.newholly.org on the web to
contact the NewHolly Community Builder who can put you in touch
with neighborhood volunteers.
4
97
SOMALI
This map generously provided by Fusionpartners, LLC and the helpfulness of Al Doyle.
New Holly: Deris badan, sheekooyin badan Sida buuggan loo
qoray iyo sababta loo qoray:
Rajada deris badan, Sheekooyin badan waxaynu ka baranay
naftood hurayaasha oo ah wadaagga sheekooyin keena, wadaagga
dhaqankeena, wadaagga rajada mustaqbalka,. Waxaynu rabnaa in
deriskeenu noqdo meel wanaagsan oo caruurta lagu koriyo waxna
lagu baro ayna ku koraan. Mashruuca ah deris badan iyo
sheekooyin badan waxa maal geliyey “Race and social justice
grant” oo ka tirsan magaalada Seattle qaybta deriska. Maal
gelintaas waxa loo sameeyey inay caawiso mashruuca bulshada
taasoo caawisay inay isku xidho dadka ku kala duwan meesha ay
kazoo jeedaan, diinta, midabka, afka, da’ada iyo cidda ay kazoo
jeedaan. Waxa isu timid koox ka tirsan deriska New Holly oo
abuuray mshruuc dhisaya bulshadadooda. Waxay u tartameen
deeq lacageed bishii September, 2003 waxaa la siiyey deeq ka
badan $ 14000 doollar.
Naftood hurayaashu waxay su’aalo ka qaadeen deriska waxay ka
qayb galeen shirar dhaqan, waxay qaban qaabiyeen shirar loogu
dabaal degayey dhaqamo kala duwan, waxayna aad u barteen
isbarashada bulshada. Dabadeedna waxaanu abuuray bug kaas oo
caawinaya in dadka ku nool New Holly ay si fiican u fahmaan
bulshadooda, ayna si fiican u bartaan dhaqamada kale, oo ay
dareemaan inay si kalsooni ah ula xiriiraan deriskooda kuwaas oo
kala duwan. Naftood hurayaasha derisku ee mashruucan waxay u
hureen boqolaal saacadood oo shaqo ah, welina mashruucu ma
bilaabmin sidii uu isugu xiriirin lahaa dhismaha New Holly.
Bulshada New Holly waxay hodan ku tahay dhaqanka iyo afafka
kala duwan, Dhaqanka iyo taariikhda qof ahaan iyo faamli ahaan,
sida nolosha iyo xiriirka dadka. Deriskani waxa uu ka
koobanyahay 1200 faamli, iyo in ka badan 20 dhaqan iyo afaf
kala duwan. Qaar ka mid ahi guryaha way gateen, qaar waa
kiraysteen, qaarkood waxay u noolyihiin isku filaansho, qaar
waxay u badan yihiin caawimo iyo kaalmo sida xaafadda dadka
waaweyn. Waxay kazoo guureen qaybaha kale ee Seattle, meelo
96
5
kale oo ka mid ah gobollada kale ee maraykanka, iyo waddamo
kale oo adduunka ka tirsan. Halkan waxaanu ku nimid doorasho.
Waxaanu u nimid si adag. Waxaanu halkan u nimid rajo fiican.
Faamli kasta oo naga tirsan sheekadiisu waa gaar.
Buugga halkan laga abuuray waa bilow. Waxaan filaynaa buugan
iyo mashruucani inuu dhiiri gelin doono in derisku sheego wixii
soo maray sheeko- sheekadaas oo lagu dari doono qaybta labaad
ee buugan, sheekadaas oo lala wadaagi doono deriska. Samaynta
isku xidhnaanta waxaynu abuuri karaa bulsho leh saaxiibtinimo
xoogan taasoo aynu u han weynahay inaynu ku magacawno guri
geenii.
City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
We could not have completed this project without the financial
support from the Race and Social Justice Grant. This grant
funding helped our Club become more focused and productive.
We especially appreciate the guidance and support from
department staff and our grant administrator Anne Takekawa.
Seattle Housing Authority
Thank you for acting as our fiscal sponsor which made if possible
for our neighborhood group to apply for grant funding.
Faaqidaada sida buuggan loo habeeyey:
Buugani ma dhamma sababtoo ah waa kii ugu horeeyey ee la
jirrabo. Naftood hurayaashu waxay deriska kasoo uririyeen
warkii ugu badnaa intii mashruucan lagu jirey. Dhaqan iyo af
kasta oo leeyihiin New Holly waa lagu dari doonaa. Qof kasta
lama hadli karro, isla markaas dhaqan kastana kama heli karro
naftood hurayaal. Wararka aanu soo ururinay waa warkii derisku
isu sheegeen, mana meteli karto dhaqamada kala duwan oo dhan.
FedEx Kinko’s Georgetown Branch
We would like to thank you for supporting this project by
donating a portion of the printing costs for this first edition.
Waxaan kaa codsanaynaa inaad la hadashid deriskaaga si aad
wax badan uga baratid.
Mashaariicda mustaqbalka eek u saabsan
dhaqanka, iyo sheekooyinkii New Holly:
midabka,
Tani waa bilow keliya. Waxaanu mustaqbalka rajeynaynaa
qaybaha kale ee buugan in deris badani naftooda u huraan sidii ay
sheekooyinka u wadaagi lahaayeen si aan wakiil uga noqono
bulshadeena kala duwan. Haddii aad heshid in buuggan wax ka
maqanyihiin qaybtan amase aad wax ku diidantahay noo soo
sheeg kana soo qayb gal mashaariicda soo socda.
Waxaad eegtaa webka www.newholly.org si aad ula xiriirtid qof
qaabilsan dhismaha bulshada New Holly kaas oo kugu xiri kara
naftood hurayaasha deriska iyo wax qabsashada bulshada.
6
95
THANK YOU!
AMHARIC
The NewHolly Multicultural Communication Club
would like to thank everyone who helped make the
Many Neighbors, Many Stories project successful!
NewHolly Volunteers
We want to express a deep appreciation to our volunteers,
neighbors who participated in interviews and any others who
gave of their time, their ideas and creative abilities and their
hearts to turn the ideas behind this project into a reality.
This was a complex project that grew and changed as we worked
on it. From getting together the first ideas and vision, to
developing the questionnaires, to setting up and conducting
interviews, to gathering photographs, to transcribing the
interviews, to editing the content into a book format, and finally
putting together the book – there was a LOT of skill and effort of
all kinds by many people put into this collection you hold.
In particular, we wish to thank (in alphabetical order): Madeline
Acevedo, Suka Alaki, Ina Bliss, Keith Bowers, Rob Gelder,
Abdihakim Hassan, Kay Lutz, the staff and residents of the
Peter Claver House, Mohamed Mohamud, Gary Pope, Beverly
Riley, Agnes Roche, Jerry Saltzman, Gurdeep Singh Sembhi, Vi
Tiatia, Gail Marie Vielle, Lisa Wilson-Stockill, Adron Yusuf.
NewHolly Community Builder
We wish especially to thank Joy Bryngleson, our NewHolly
Community Builder, who guided us through the grant process
and helped keep the ever-changing team of volunteers working in
the same direction. Without her optimism, leadership, good
humor, and, well, “Joy-ousness” this project would never have
come into being.
94
7
TIGRINYA
•
More time for the work
•
A part-time project manager
•
More effort to reach elders in different communities
Future Involvement?
Everyone who responded to the survey said “YES!”
Our First Try!
Because this was a new project, one that none of the volunteers
had ever done before, it is incomplete. We could not speak to
everyone, and not everyone to whom we talked wanted to
participate. In spite of those difficulties, we did get a lot of
information to share!
The information we have collected in this book is that told by
neighbors to neighbors, and so cannot and does not presume to
represent entire cultures! These are our stories and our
understandings of our different cultures that we wanted to share
with each other.
If, when you read this book, you find something missing, or
something with which you disagree, please let us know. We
hope to create an updated version of this book based on what you
want to add, and include your suggestions and corrections. We
would love to hear from you!
8
93
Challenging Experiences
•
A bigger project than initially imagined – may have set
goals too high
•
Volunteers are already busy people, time demands were
high
•
Difficulty setting up interviews, with cultural attitudes
toward time
•
Language barriers
•
Project organization reflects a cultural bias: not every
culture has so many meetings, or conducts them in the
same way! Interview model may have been intimidating.
•
Project was an evolving organism – changed a lot over
time
•
Using the camcorder
CAMBODIAN
Lessons Learned
•
Building community takes time!
•
This is a learn-as-you-go project!
•
Harder to recognize and bridge cultural gaps than
expected
•
Challenged assumptions
•
In spite of differences, there are a lot of similarities
Ideas to Improve Project
•
Acknowledge complexity to avoid being overwhelmed
•
Emphasize building one-to-one relationships to make
project more accessible and less threatening to a multicultural neighborhood
•
More people-focused publicity such as newspaper stories
(with pictures) about neighbors
92
9
Summary of the Many Neighbors, Many
Stories project and its volunteers
Involvement
Hours: Volunteers who participated in the survey contributed
from 2 to 100 hours of time as of October 2004, with an average
of nearly 50 hours of volunteer time per person.
Volunteers included both New Holly renters and homeowners;
some hail from Seattle and other parts of the Northwest, and
others from different parts of the U.S. and world. We all sought
to use our individual talents toward the common goal of
fostering connections among neighbors.
Aspects of the Project:
•
Leadership Roles (meetings, reports, setting tasks)
•
Conducting interviews and translation
•
Transcribing interviews
•
Outreach (phone calls, flyers, publicity, voluntering)
•
Administrative (forms, database, reports, budgeting)
•
Research
•
Compiling book
Favorite Experiences
10
•
Meeting neighbors and other project volunteers
•
Conducting interviews
•
Improving communication
•
Feeling more connected, building person-to-person bonds
•
Greater understanding of other cultures and customs,
broadening horizons
•
Sharing stories
91
failing beyond repair and had become the most distressed of
Seattle Housing Authority’s housing stock. In 1995 the Seattle
Housing Authority began the ambitious project of tearing down
the aging Holly Park and surrounding community buildings and
replacing them with a mix of low-income, moderate-income,
market-rate housing and community and health services.
NewHolly was designed to blend into the surrounding
neighborhood and to end the stigma and challenges often
associated with high concentrations of public housing. All 871
units of the old Holly Park low-income housing were torn down
and are in the process of being replaced. Now nearly finished,
NewHolly will have approximately 1,390 units of new housing
along with community services that make up the NewHolly
Neighborhood Campus.
We neighbors in the NewHolly neighborhood have been shaped
by many different cultures. A trend toward increasing cultural
diversity in Holly Park has continued through its transformation
to NewHolly. Some of us lived here when it was Holly Park;
others of us have moved here from other parts of the city, other
parts of the country, or other parts of the world.
90
11
level, our race, our age, our income level, our power to effect
change for ourselves and others, and so on.
Nurturing friendships and working relationships through this
complex web requires a high degree of self-honesty, openness in
communication and willingness to change lifelong assumptions
and patterns of expectation.
The inspiration for this small volume came from the idea of
developing New Holly into a community where mutual
interaction, respect and support would be the assumed norm. Its
publication constitutes a small but important step in the
developmental task of bringing this vision of New Holly into a
flourishing reality. The material in these pages was compiled on
the basis of cultural research and interviews with New Holly
residents. We envision the publication of this book as a beginning
and hopefully a model for the sorts of conversations and
interactions we will all pursue with each other in our journey
toward a very sustainable diverse human community.
Information on our NewHolly community and its
history
NewHolly is one of the first housing communities of its kind in
the country. The redevelopment of Holly Park to create
NewHolly was funded by public and private contributions and
federal HOPE VI grants. NewHolly is now a housing and
community model for the rest of the nation, and has even
garnered interest internationally.
NewHolly is situated on the south part of Beacon Hill in Seattle,
extending from near Beacon Avenue at the crest of Beacon Hill
to M.L. King Jr. Way south, at the east margin of Beacon Hill. It
occupies land originally settled by Dutch pioneer Henry Van
Asselt in the 1850s.
The original Holly Park was built in the 1940s to house defense
workers and veterans. In 1953 Holly Park was converted into
housing for low-income families, managed by the Seattle
Housing Authority. By the 1980s this housing community was
12
89
Project Background
The New Holly community is a rich tapestry of cultures and
languages, of personal and family histories and traditions, of
perspectives on life and relationships. Making and developing
human connections across the lines that traditionally separate
individuals and groups of people affords us an opportunity for
learning to live more peacefully, cooperatively and respectfully
with each other in a world where diversity is increasingly
knocking on the door of our consciousness and consciences.
Bringing this vision into reality requires mutual trust and
understanding, which needs to be nourished on a number of
levels. On one level it is necessary to be aware of cross-cultural
etiquette. How do we greet each other and show warmth and
friendliness, particularly if we cannot speak each others’
language? What behavior is and is not appropriate when we visit
each others’ homes? What are the areas of our interactions where
we might be vulnerable to offending us accidentally?
A second level of understanding relates to the life histories that
impact our attitudes, degrees of trust and mistrust, and
willingness to engage in community with culturally diverse
people. Many who have chosen to settle in New Holly have had
to overcome almost insurmountable obstacles to immigrate to this
country. Many have fled from oppressive and/or dangerous
situations ultimately resulting from harsh colonial or imperialistic
practices. In order to reach for each other through the emotional
remnants of these experiences, we will have to become sensitive
to each other’s stories and their impact on the character of our
relationships.
A third level of understanding connects to differences in
assimilation and life opportunities afforded different groups.
Expectations, assumptions, levels of hope and other elements of
the pictures we carry about our lives and our possibilities vary
depending on many factors: Our country of origin, our citizenship
88
13
Part III: Background
14
87
If you get very sick, the family invites the monks come to the
house. Four or five monks come to pray for the sick person to
get healthy.
Pchnum Benn: second most important Cambodian
festival after New Year’s
The Cambodian community celebrates Chung Bahn in midSeptember. It is a celebration to honor people who have passed
away.
In Cambodia, people get together to cook special foods for
Chung Bahn especially sticky rice with banana or sweet bean. A
big plate of food with sticky rice and other dishes is taken to the
temple and left overnight. The people get up in the morning and
make a “boat” with banana leaves. They put food in the boat
which is like a bowl, put it in the water and let it go. Some
people put money, rice, beans, salty fish or other things in the
little boats.
In America, it’s a little different. They go to the temple and write
down the name of the people who pass away: Grandpa,
Grandma, Uncle, and Cousin. They pray at the temple and bring
food but don’t make a “boat” to put in the water.
Coming Home
I lived in Holly Park back in 1944 while my father worked at
Boeing. I remember riding around the neighborhood on my
tricycle or walking on “stilts” my friend Judy and I fashioned
from tin cans and string. We collected caterpillars for pets. My
family moved back to Idaho, but twenty years later I returned to
Seattle to teach music. When I heard about the redevelopment of
Holly Park into NewHolly, I bought a house here.
VIETNAMESE
New Holly: Nhiều người láng giềng, nhiều chuyện kể Tại sao
và bằng cách nào quyển sách này được viết ra:
Hy vọng quyển sách “ Nhiều người láng giềng, nhiều chuyện kể
“được góp nhặt sẽ giúp chúng ta học hỏi lẫn nhau cùng trao đổi
những chuyện kể, văn hoá tập quán và niềm hy vọng của chúng
ta.Chúng tôi muốn láng giềng cúa chúng ta là một khu vực tốt
đẹp đễ nuôi dưỡng con cái của chúng ta, là một khu vực tốt đẹp
đễ học hỏi và phát triễn.
Kế hoạch “Nhiều người láng giềng, nhiều chuyện kể “được bảo
trợ bởi Vốn trợ cấp Công bằng Xã hội và Nguồn gốc dân tộc từ
Bộ Đặc Trách Láng giềng của Thành phố Seattle. Trợ cấp này
được thành lập đễ hộ trợ những công trình Cộng đồng hầu giúp
xây dựng những nhịp cầu giữa những cư dân khác nhau về hoàn
cảnh, tôn giáo, gốc dân, ngôn ngữ, tuổi tác, và dân tộc. Một nhóm
người trong khu gia cư New Holly đã cùng nhau gặp gỡ và phác
họa ra một công trình đễ xây dựng cộng đồng của họ. Họ đã phấn
đấu xin vốn trợ cấp từ tháng Chín năm 2003 và đã được nhận
thưởng số tiền hơn $14,000 chút ít.
Những người thiện nguyện đã phỏng vấn cư dân trong khu vực,
tham dự những biến cố văn hoá, tổ chức những ngày lễ đa văn
hóa, và đã học hỏi nhiều về cộng đồng của họ và giữa ho với
nhau. Vì vậy chúng tôi đã thành hình quyển sách với ước vọng
giúp cho cư dân New Holly hiểu biết them nhiều về cộng đồng
của họ, học hỏi về các văn hóa khác nhau, và cảm thấy tự tin hơn
khi liên hệ với những người láng giềng gốc dân khác với chính
họ. Nhiều cư dân thiện nguyện cho công trình đã đóng góp trăm
ngàn giờ công, tuy vậy công trình chỉ mới bắt đầu gom góp
những phức tạp khúc mắc trong New Holly.
I love the multicultural, diverse nature of the community, the
local projects and festivals. The neighborhood is so dynamic.
I’m glad to be back.
Cộng đồng New Holly là một tấm thảm đa văn hóa và ngôn ngữ,
tràn đầy truyền thống cá nhân và gia đình, thực trạng và liên hệ
trong đời sống. Khu gia cư này gồm hơn 1200 gia đình , với hơn
20 văn hóa và ngôn ngữ khác nhau. Một số người trong chúng tôi
có nhà riêng, số khác thì ở nhà thuê. Có những người sống tự
86
15
lập, những người khác cần giúp đỡ và hộ trợ sống trong Làng Bô
lão. Chúng tôi đến sinh sống nơi đây từ những vùng trong
Seattle, khắp nơi trong Nước Mỹ, và từ các quốc gia trên toàn thế
giới. Chúng tôi đến đây do chọn lựa. Chúng tôi đến đây do hoàn
cảnh. Chúng tôi đến đây qua bao là khó khăn. Chúng tôi đã đến
do Niềm Hy vọng. Mỗi một số đông gia đình của chúng tôi đều
có những câu chuyện kể nhau nghe.
Cuốn sách mà chúng tôi đã thực hiện từ nơi đây chỉ là bước đầu.
Chúng tôi hy vọng cuốn sách này và công trình này sẽ truyền đạt
được cảm hứng cho nhiều cư dân đễ nói lên những câu chuyện
của chính mình - những câu chuyện này sẽ được đăng vào phát
hành tới của tập sách, những câu chuyện sẽ được chia sẽ trong
láng giềng qua vách rào và ngưỡng cửa. Bằng cách tạo ra những
lien hệ cư dân với cư dân, chúng ta có thể tiếp tục xây dựng được
một Cộng đồng vững mạnh an toàn và thân thiện và tất cả chúng
ta đều hãnh diện gọi đây là khu nhà của chúng ta.
Giải thích về quyển sách đã được thành hình như thế nào:
A NewHolly Neighbor
“In the place where I was living, I was going to purchase it and
the owner decided not to sell it. I knew a family friend that
owned this house and that’s how I moved here.”
“I like the fact that they made NewHolly a neighborhood as
opposed to what it was before. It is inviting. I like the fact that
around every corner is a playground. It is much friendlier and it
is nice and clean. When you walk the streets you don’t need a
car because a couple blocks over is a main street. It’s like a nice
little suburb within the area.”
“I see a lot of people from different countries in NewHolly…I
think about my son growing up…he’s going to grow up and it is
going to become the norm to him. It’s not going to be something
he has to learn as an adult, you know…it’s going to be something
he’s a part of. He’s going to have friends of all kinds, you
know.”
Đây là quyển sách đầu tay, nên còn nhiều thiếu sót. Trong công
trình này nhiều thiện nguyện viên đã cố gắng hết mình thu thập
tin tức từ nhiều cư dân. Lý tưởng thì mỗi văn hóa và ngôn ngữ
trong New Holly đều được đề cập trong sách. Chúng tôi không
thể nào tiếp xúc được với mọi người, và cũng không thể tuyển
được thiện nguyện viên trong mỗi văn hoá. Tin tức mà chúng tôi
đã thu thập là đã được kể từ người này qua người nọ, và vì thế
không thể được coi là văn hoá toàn diện. Xin vui lòng trò chuyện
với những cư dân đễ học biết thêm nhiều!
The importance of the temple: Cambodia and the
U.S.
Công trình tương lai về Liên hệ nguồn gốc, Văn hóa, và
những câu chuyện New Holly:
In Cambodia, the monks walk outside a lot. The people make
food and give it to the monks.
Đây chỉ là bước đầu. Chúng tôi hy vọng trong những tái bản mới
của cuốn sách, sẽ có nhiều cư dân thiện chí chia sẽ những câu
chuyện của họ đễ chúng ta có thể biểu lộ đầy đủ hơn Cộng đồng
đa tính của chúng ta. Nếu độc gỉa nhận thấy thiếu sót nào trong
phát hành sách kỳ này, hoặc không đồng ý với bất cứ điều gì,xin
vui lòng thông báo cho chúng tôi được biết và tham gia vào các
công trình tương lai. Vui lòng liên hệ với Nhà xây dựng Cộng
In America, the monks stay at the temple. People bring rice, oil,
and other food. Some people don’t cook food for the monks but
give money. And there is somebody at the temple who cooks for
the monks.
16
In Cambodia, people have a temple very near to where they live
so they can walk to the temple. The rule is that everybody should
visit the temple four times a month, or once a week.
In America, people go to work and some people have no car.
Sometimes it is difficult to get to the temple because of job,
children and time.
In old Holly Park, the Cambodian people had a little kitchen.
They got together to cook food and give to the monks. The
people bring food to the temple for the poor and sick.
85
“I liked the fact that there are a lot of young families with
children [here]. I think this is a community that was planned
with families in mind and I am grateful that I live here. I love
children and there are a lot of them here. Another thing that I
like is that the community is very united and very
diverse…children will know each other as toddlers and will grow
up knowing each other, as they become young adults.”
đồng New Holly qua địa chỉ www.newholly.org để được giới
thiệu đến nhân viên thiện nguyện của khu gia cư cùng với các
sinh hoạt cộng đồng khác.
Involved from the Beginning
鄰里多,故事多的義工希望通过分享我们的故事,文化,
希望來彼此学习多些.
我们願望我们的鄰里是一个好地方來培育孩子,
來学习,來成長.
I was on the original Holly Park Community Council that worked
with the government agencies to develop our NewHolly
neighborhood. We gave many, many hours and lot of work to
create the nice place we have today. The agencies didn’t always
listen to the voice of the residents, but many of our ideas were put
into place.
CHINESE
NewHolly: 鄰里多, 故事多這本書是怎様和爲甚麽会冩出來:
鄰里多, 故事多计划基金是由西雅图城市鄰里部门的A Race
and Social Justice 撥款,
這份撥款是支持社区计划用作帮助聯络不同背景,宗教,種族,
语言,年龄和人種.一组New Holly
的鄰里一齊來设计一个计划建设他们的社区. 他们在2003
年得到撥款和知道是刚过$14,000.
義工访问鄰里,参加文化活动,组织多種文化庆祝会,和互相学
了很多关於他们的社区. 然后我们设计一本書,
我们希望能帮助New Holly 的鄰里知道多些关於他们的社区,
学习其它的文化,与不同文化的鄰里溝通多些信心.
鄰里義工做这计划已经义务做了上百个小时,
而同时这个计划僅开始聚集多成份的New Holly 社区.
New Holly 是一个丰富聚集文化和语言,
个人和家庭历史,传统,生活和关系回想的社
区.这鄰里有超过1200 个家庭,多过20 種不同的文化和语言.
有些人擁有房子, 有些人租房子,有的单独居住,
在老人屋村居住的需要帮忙和支持.我们從西雅图其它部分,
美国的不同地方,世界的不同国家搬來这里.我们來是由於机
会,环境,希望而每一个家庭都有一个故事.
84
我们预备这本書只是开始,我们希望这本書和这个计划会激起
更多鄰里告诉他们自己的故事17
这些故事将会加在下一次出版的書内,故事将会与其它社区鄰
里分享.为了形成互相间的关系,我们会继续創造一个友谊,安
全和强壯的社区而我们很骄傲那是我们的家.
解释如何形成这本書:
因为这是我们第一次嘗试,
这第一本書是还没有完成.義工盡量從鄰里處收集故事给我们
做这个计划,在理想上, New Holly
的各種文化和语言都会包含在内.我们不能和每一位交谈,和
我们不能從每種文化中找到義工.我们所收集到的讯息是從鄰
里到鄰里传達,所以不敢说是代表所有的文化.请与你的鄰里
倾谈來学习多些.将來的计划关于種族关系,文化知识,和New
Holly
的故事:这僅僅是开始,我们希望将來出版这本書,更多的鄰里
会自願分享他们的故事所以我
们能够更好的代表我们多元文化的社区.如果你發现这次出版
有甚麽漏了的事,或者不同意任何事情,我们希望你讓我们知
道和加入将來的计划.请阅网址www.newholly.org 來聯络New
Holly 社区聯络员,他能帮你聯络鄰里的義工和社区活動.
landowner had us living. The landowner who was my boss had 6
or 7 immigrants working and living together in the stable,
without any electricity, running water, or shower facilities. We
would wash up using the garden hose. It was horrible…I got
paid $3 an hour. So when the President granted amnesty in 1988
to the illegal immigrants, I fixed my status and became a U.S.
citizen. In 1989 I left Utah, and went to California to start a
different life…”
“We felt disrespected when we lived in California and relied on
food stamps. Every time we went to the grocery store we felt
uncomfortable. We felt that we were treated like third class
citizens. We feel that Mexicans as a whole are looked down on
by the rest of the population.”
“We feel that we get along great with our neighbors. This is a
great neighborhood to live in and raise children.”
“My daughter’s father told me about this program that was
available to low-income, first-time homebuyers where I could
purchase a home for my children and me. It was the program
called Habitat for Humanity. After the screening and the credit
checks were done my name was put into the lottery for a home.
There were 300 applicants. I was one of the 10 selected that year
(1996)…We felt welcomed and respected when we moved in.”
“I like my neighbors a lot. This is a very peaceful place to live.”
“I met a gentleman at work who was a waiter, who talked to me
about Habitat for Humanity for people with families that were
living in substandard housing. I found where to go to apply, an
interview was conducted in my home with the representative of
Habitat for Humanity, and I qualified, so my name was submitted
for the lottery which would be pulled from 350 applicants. Every
year 10 people are chosen to be the recipient…I was one of the
ten…this is one of the happiest moments of my life. The only
requirement that I had to fulfill was put 500 hours labor into my
home. But my home was built on volunteer power.
“I like everything about NewHolly.”
18
83
“…I was 10 years old, maybe younger, when my mother went
with my father to do some shopping and chores outside the home
and left me to take care of my younger brothers and sisters. They
were gone for a long time. I remember I could not reach the
stove and had trouble reaching the dining room table. But when
my brothers and sisters started crying because they were hungry,
I got some boxes and stacked them up so I could reach the table
and the stove. When my mother and father returned there I was
making tortillas with dinner on the stove. They started laughing
because I was so little and I could not reach anything.
Circumstances made us grow up before our time. My mother
was very surprised and couldn’t believe that I would start making
supper.”
“We had a lot of economic problems because my mother was
pregnant every year and we were farmers. I did not want to end
up like my mother. We were always hungry when I was growing
up. There was never enough food to feed everyone in my family.
If you had beans, rice, and tortillas, you had everything in life
and you were considered to be doing well.”
“What I remember most is that I started working washing dishes
when I was 8 years old. I would go to the neighbor’s house or to
the restaurant in town. I remember my hands getting red and sore
and peeling from all the dishes I washed to make money to buy
my clothes, shoes, and school supplies.”
Right now I am unemployed and it is very difficult to make ends
meet. I own my own home, so I am constantly worrying about
the bills and the mortgage. If anyone knows of job openings, it
would be greatly appreciated.”
“…we feel that people look at us and think that we are in the
United States illegally. We do not know how to change this
perception…”
“…throwing garbage in our yard. Have had bad experiences with
neighbors taking things…”
“…I lived in a horse stable for 3 years in Utah. I was working in
the fields as a migrant worker picking crops and this is where the
82
SPANISH
NewHolly: Muchos vecinos, muchas historias por qué y cómo
se escribió este libro:
La esperanza de los voluntarios de Muchos vecinos, ha sido que
podemos aprender más acerca del uno y del otro por compartir
nuestras historias, nuestras culturas y nuestras esperanzas.
Queremos que nuestro vecindario sea un buen lugar para criar
nuestros hijos, un buen lugar para aprender y crecer.
El proyecto Muchos Vecinos, Muchas Historias fue financiado
por una Subvención de Raza y Justicia Social del departamento
de Vecindarios de la Ciudad de Seattle. Esta subvención fue
creada para apoyar proyectos comunitarios que ayudaron a
construir puentes entre gente de orígenes, religiones, razas,
idiomas, edades y etnicidades diferentes. Un grupo de vecinos de
NewHolly se unió y diseñó un proyecto que fortalecería su
comunidad. El grupo competió para la subvención en septiembre
del 2003 y se les concedieron $14,000.
Los vuluntarios entrevistaron a sus vecinos, asistieron a eventos
culturales, organizaron celebraciones multiculturales y
aprendieron mucho sobre su comunidad y del uno y del otro.
Entonces diseñamos
un libro, el cual
esperamos les ayude
a los vecinos de
NewHolly saber más
acerca
de
su
comunidad, aprender
sobre otras culturas,
y
sentirse
más
seguros en cuanto a
comunicarse con sus
vecinos quienesson
diferentes de sí mismo.Vecinos voluntando con el proyecto han
donado cientos de horas voluntarias, y todavía el proyecto apenas
empezó a entender la complejidad de NewHolly. La comunidad
19
de NewHolly es una tapiz rica de culturas e idiomas, de historias
familiares y personales y tradiciones, de perspectivas sobre la
vida y las relaciones. En este vecindario habitan más de 1200
familias, más de 20 culturas e idiomas. Algunos de nosotros
somos los dueños de nuestras propias casas; otros rentan las
suyas. Algunos viven independientemente, otros requieren
asistencia y apoyo en nuestro aldea de tercer edad, o, Elder
Village. Nosotros nos mudamos aquí de otras partes de Seattle,
de otros lugares en los EEUU, y de otro paises alrededor del
mundo. Venimos aquí a través de nuestra propia elección.
Venimos debido a circunstancias.
Venimos a través de
dificultades. Venimos debido a la esperanza. Cada una de
nuestras familias tiene su historia.
El libro que hemos preparado aquí es nada más el comienzo.
Esperamos que este libro y este proyecto inspiren a más vecinos
que cuenten sus propias historias–historias que serán añadido a la
próxima edición del libro, historias que se compartirán con otros
vecinos por encima de nuestras vallas y en nuestras verandas.
Con solo formar una relacion entre todos, podemos continuar
creando una comunidad amigable, segura, y fuerte la cual nos da
orgullo llamar nuestra casa.
Explicacion cómo se organiza el libro: Porque este fue nuestro
primer intento, este libro es
incompleto. Los voluntarios
juntaron información de
cuantos vecinos posible
durante este proyecto. Lo
ideal, será que todas las
culturas e idiomas se
incluyan. No pudimos hablar
con todos, y no habían
voluntarios de todos las
culturas.
La información
que juntamos es la contado
de vecinos a vecinos, y por
lo
tanto
no
pretende
20
I had seen from people that visited the U.S., the homes looked
beautiful, the parks were gorgeous. My imagination was not my
reality. When I came to the United States we lived in a little
house in California that was all we could afford and was falling
apart. My home in Mexico was in better condition. So I was
very disappointed about how much housing cost. I did not have
any idea that life was so hard. One time it rained very hard and
our little kitchen got flooded. It was terrible. I thought I would
live in a mansion. The United States was rich in money, jobs,
everything. Even though, I think my life was hard when I came
to the United States, my husband suffered a lot when he first
arrived. I love my husband and that is why I stayed and put up
with poverty I had not seen in Mexico. It was the only thing my
husband could afford and I thought to myself ‘maybe this is all I
deserve.’”
“We lived in California for 8 years and we left when the
company my husband worked for closed down…my sister lived
here in Seattle and she told us to come, that we could stay with
them until we got on our feet…she said jobs were plentiful here
in Seattle. We lived with them for 3 months and then we got a
bigger apartment for all of us. We were lucky because we both
found jobs as soon as we arrived in Seattle. But my sister’s
husband decided to go back to Mexico a couple of months after
we arrived, so we stayed without any friends, no family, anyone
that we could count on. We felt so alone. We were not used to
feeling so isolated. We didn’t speak English and we really didn’t
know the area.”
“I had the necessary things to live, we had plenty to eat, but I
didn’t have everything I wanted. We lived on 4 acres of land and
my father was a farmer. We grew our own food, and to make
money we sold the extra food we didn’t use.”
“We were very poor. We had food to survive, but not the food
we wanted to eat. You could never have money in your pocket to
buy anything. If you wanted a new shirt you couldn’t get it…I
worked in a hatchery for chickens for 1 year in a neighboring
town and I earned $40 a month.”
81
family, the higher the poverty level…I used to know people from
my little town that would leave to come to the US and never
returned. So all I knew was that it had to be better in the United
States. The desperation that you feel when you are poor will
make you do anything to improve your life.”
“I came to the United States alone, without any destination in
mind, or a date. I did not have any idea what the United States
would be like. I came here with just the clothes on my back. I
crossed the border in Tijuana, and entered the United States
through Los Angeles. I had never run so fast in my life. I ran so
that I wouldn’t be seen by immigration officials and, as a result
of all the running I did, the heels of my shoes broke and the nails
protruding from the shoes got imbedded into my feet as I ran.
And that’s how I arrived in the U.S., with torn, infected feet,
unable to walk. I was 17 years old. My life in the United States
was very hard for many years after that.”
representar culturas enteras. Por favor, hablen con sus vecinos
para aprender más!
Proyectos Futuros sobre Relaciones Raciales, Conciencia
Cultural y NewHolly Cuentas: Este es nada mas un comienzo.
Esperamos que con ediciones futuras de este libro, más vecinos
se voluntarán para compartir sus historias para que mejor
representemos a nuestra comunidad diversa. Si es que encuentra
ud. algo que hace falta este libro, o si ud. no está de acuerdo con
cualquier parte, esperamos que se nos indique y que particípe ud.
en los proyectos futuros. Favor de visitar www.newholly.org
para comunicarse con el Alañil Comunitario New Holly quien
puede ponerle en contacto con voluntarios del vecino y
actividades comunitarias.
“I was so innocent that I did not even know what a city was. I
had no idea what the United States would be like. In part, I think
that the United States takes a lot from us, but at the same time it
gives a lot too. I say take away because sometimes people that
come to the United States lose their spiritual ways. People here
live differently. I would like to do more charity work, but I can’t
because I need to get paid in order for me to be able to survive.
We change a lot. I have been here for many years, and I believe
that I have changed. I would like to be a selfless person, but I
realize that I am not. I have to struggle and do what I can to put
food on the table.”
“I left there to find work and a better life.”
“In my mind I saw the United States as very beautiful. I never
imagined it could be the way it was. There are not enough words
to describe what I felt [when I arrived]. My mind was blank. I
thought that when I came to the United States I would have
everything I had ever dreamed of…all the clothes, jewelry, shoes
that I could ever want. Things I couldn’t have in Mexico. I
thought I would have a beautiful home, because in all the photos
80
21
Part I: Our cultural heritages
outside my environment, I realize how my assumptions about
time and space come into conflict with other people’s
assumptions.
I first knew about Holly Park back in the 1980’s when I met my
husband who was involved with the refugee community here. I
was having anthropology major in college at the time and became
quite involved with the Southeast Asian community. I just kind
of hung out three or four nights a week and helped people. When
I did my senior thesis, I interviewed a lot of people in Holly Park
about how their lives changed from traditional life in the hills of
Laos to living in refugee centers to moving to the United States.
Later I went over to Southeast Asia and lived and worked in the
refugee camps, training teachers who were teaching refugees
about American culture. I’ve always had an interest in bridging
the culture gap.
Saved from a Labor Camp
Our father was a single man from the highlands of South
Vietnam, working as a police officer. When the Communists
captured the area, he was sent to a labor camp where he farmed
for four years. When he was released, he returned to his home
village, married, and raised his family. Because he had been in
the labor camp, he was eligible to immigrate to the United States,
and so he brought his family to Seattle where we were sponsored
by another Vietnamese family.
After we arrived in Seattle, we spent our first time in an
apartment building, but we found out from a friend about Habitat
for Humanity. We applied and were accepted. The whole family
worked on our home in NewHolly until it was finished and we
moved in.
From Poverty to Hope
22
“I left to find a better life. Not live the kind of life my parents
did. I wanted to get away from the poverty surrounding me.
Families in Mexico are big, 10 to 12 per family. The bigger the
79
I rarely go a day without pursuing some activity at the New Holly
Neighborhood Campus. When I completed the parenting class
offered by the Atlantic Street Center, I felt "good from head to toe."
I was dedicated to my role on the committee that planned for the
redevelopment of Holly Park, knowing that my daughter and I
would benefit from the dramatic improvements planned.
A. AFRICA
Meanwhile, my daughter can't stay away from the Seattle Public
Library branch at the neighborhood campus. She says she likes her
crossword puzzle club and the computer classes the best.
Escape from Poverty
Having escaped Somalia in poverty, I arrived at Holly Park in 1992
with nothing. I didn't even know a word of English. Since then, my
life has changed dramatically. I attended childcare training at the
NewHolly Neighborhood Campus and now operate a daycare
business out of my NewHolly home.
At the NewHolly Neighborhood Campus, I studied English as well
as childcare. Today, as I raise two children alone and operate my
home daycare business, I am a leader in my community. I speak at
conferences for refugees on community building, and encourage
others to participate in the neighborhood campus programs. Most
days, my children are participating in the art and tutoring programs
at the campus.
I love my home at NewHolly and dream of opening another
business some day. I will continue to work with the Career
Development Center to help me focus on what to do next. "I want
to create an idea. I want to know more about what is in the world."
Ethiopia...................................................................................... 24
Eritrea........................................................................................ 26
Oromia ....................................................................................... 38
Somalia....................................................................................... 31
Bridging the Culture Gap
I was born in Illinois, but moved to a small farming community
outside of Madison, so I consider Wisconsin my home. I was
definitely raised in what you might call mainstream Northern
European American culture. When I moved to Thailand, I could
definitely see, experience what that means. When I’m taken
78
23
ETHIOPIA
care, I pursued my dream of beauty school with financial help from
the career center, and earned my two-year beauty degree in 1999.
Today, I am a completely different person, full of energy and
excited about planning for my future. I have a full-time job at a
nearby beauty salon and a home in NewHolly. I was able to buy
myself a plane ticket to visit my mother in Vietnam for the first time
since I left seven years ago.
My eldest son is also in beauty school. We two have a dream to
open a salon as a family business. With our determination, we will
make that dream come true.
Separation Leads to Reunion
We left Vietnam for a better life. My husband and our eldest son
spent 15 months in a Malaysian refugee camp and six months in a
Philippine camp before arriving in the United States. Five years
later, in 1994, I and our other sons finally came from Vietnam
and the family was reunited.
Today, we are planning to purchase a house at NewHolly, a
community that offers the support and conveniences that we
enjoy. We couldn't have done it without the NewHolly
Neighborhood Campus, where I took English classes and got the
help I needed to open my daycare business. My husband,
meanwhile, works full time as a cook.
POPULATION: 68 million
CAPITAL CITY: Addis Ababa
MAIN LANGUAGES: Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna,
Our eldest son is a student at the University of Washington and
says, "The Neighborhood Campus is a real help for newcomers in
America. It helps everyone who needs it."
Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, other local languages, English
MAIN RELIGIONS: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox
35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8%
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION: High plateau with central
mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley. Located in eastern
Africa, west of Somalia.
24
Single Dad Works for Changes
A Korean War veteran, I moved to Holly Park in the early 1990s
and recently moved to a house in NewHolly. I am proud to live at
NewHolly and want to make sure it's a safe place for me to live with
my ten-year-old daughter. That's why I’m involved in the Block
Watch Program.
77
Some phrases in Amharic:
Long Walk Leads to NewHolly
Hello.
Endminaleh
We fled Cambodia in 1979, trudging over the mountains to
Thailand, where we spent 10 years in a refugee camp. Nine years
ago we found our way to the United States and finally, to Holly
Park.
How are you?
Endeminlah?
I am fine.
Dehna negn
What’s your name?
Smih man new?
Today, our family is well-ensconced in the NewHolly
community. My wife takes daily English classes at the NewHolly
Neighborhood Campus Family Center [operated by the Atlantic
Street Center] and earned her American citizenship in 1998. She
plans to take the computer classes offered on the campus by the
Seattle Public Schools. Our five children love the Seattle Public
Library branch on the campus, and also look forward to art
classes taught there.
My name is…
Simye ________ ybalal.
Thank you.
Amesginalehu.
Good bye.
Dehna hun.
Phrases I’ve Learned:
I work in the NewHolly community gardens, growing and selling
fresh vegetables like bok choy, beans, sweet chard, beets, cherry
tomatoes and snap peas. I made a bamboo fence when the garden
needed protection from wind and foraging animals.
The NewHolly Block Watch program is important to us as a way
to keep our community safe. When troublemakers started
hanging out in a small park down the street, I turned that park
into a garden, and the troublemakers went away.
A Struggle from Depression to Success
I left Vietnam with my husband in 1992 and landed in Seattle after
spending six months in a Philippine refugee camp. When my
husband disappeared a few years later, leaving me to care for our
four children, I fell into a depression. But I was unhappy living on
welfare, and aspired to become a good role model for my kids.
Thanks to support from the Career Development Center at the
NewHolly Neighborhood Campus [sponsored by the Seattle-King
County Private Industry Council] I turned my situation around. I
took English classes and worked nights in a bakery as I studied for
certification in elderly home care. Once I started working in home
76
25
ERITREA
A Better Place for My Children
I left China because it is not a good place to live. China is getting
better now – but when I left we’d just gotten TV and the radio.
People in China think that everyone is rich here, so that’s why
some come. I came because I felt the case for the future might be
better. My grandfather and grandmother moved to Mexico
seventy years ago, and then in 1978 my father went to Mexico. I
finally came over in 1992. My grandfather came by ship. I came
by air. My grandfather sent us money so we could go to school
in China – there is no free school there.
People in China, they still don’t believe us even though I tell
them, frankly, I have to work 40 hours a week. I spend a lot,
even though I’ve got so much money. I have to pay the
mortgage, pay everything.
I didn’t really think about NewHolly. I was first in San Francisco
for nine years, where my father was. But I have two sisters in
Seattle, and they introduced me to NewHolly. It’s a good place
to live, so beautiful. People are so nice, so calm. My kids are
happy here.
POPULATION: 4.4 million
CAPITAL CITY: Asmara
MAIN LANGUAGES: Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama,
Tigrinya
MAIN RELIGIONS: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman
Catholic, Protestant
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION: Desert plain at coast, hilly
in northwest and flat-to-rolling plains in southwest. Located in
eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and
Sudan.
26
75
Our First House, Our First Real Neighborhood
Some phrases in Tigrinya:
My sweetheart and I had been together for sixteen years and had
been half-heartedly looking at homes we could afford to buy. We
knew that our apartment building was going to be sold before
long, and thought it’d be good to get an idea of what was
available to people who never owned a house before. There
wasn’t much. Then we decided to look at NewHolly. We loved
the location with all the bus service, and the people we met
seemed really nice. The houses were really well-made and good
looking. We took all our savings, borrowed some money from
our families, and made a down-payment for a house here.
Hello.
Selam
How are you?
Kemy aloka
I am fine.
Dehanaiye
What’s your name?
Simka menyu?
My name is…
Simey_______________
Thank you.
Yekeniyeley
Good bye.
Dehan kun
We’ve enjoyed being part of the neighborhood, and getting to
know people. It wasn’t like that as much were we lived before in
Seattle. Here there’s a lot of opportunity to get involved in a
variety of things – gardening, clubs, things like that. We really
like the idea of living in a neighborhood with so many different
cultures, but we also feel challenged by our own lack of
knowledge. We need to be aware of our own assumptions – the
ones we do not even realize that we are making. We need to be
continually challenging these assumptions – how we do things,
how we think, how we interact with others. Our own culture and
assumptions are like the air we live in. We never feel the 15
pounds per square inch of pressure on our bodies – because it’s
normal to us. We filter out the sensation. We only feel it when
it’s windy.
I really like how we help each other – like when we gave money
and supplies to our neighbor who had family in Aceh during the
tsunami, and our neighbor who lost everything in a house fire.
This kind of generosity and caring helps build community and
friendships.
I also see that people are so busy here. It takes time to make
acquaintanceships and even longer to make friendships, but we
plan to live here a long time!
74
27
OROMIA
walking and there’s a playground going one way and there’s
another playground. It is much friendlier and much cleaner
compared to the old Holly Park. It is nice and clean, an inviting
neighborhood. You don’t need a car.
I see a lot of people from different countries in NewHolly. My
neighbors, I mean, other than they are a different color, they
pretty much come from the same world I come from. They do
exactly the same thing I do. When my son is growing up this is
going to be the norm to him. It’s not going to be something he
has to learn as an adult, you know. It is going to be something
that he is part of. He’s going to have friends with all kinds of
different friends.
I worry sometimes about all the kids, especially the young ones,
with all the traffic.
CAPITAL CITY: Finfinee (also called Shaggar and Addis Ababa)
MAIN LANGUAGE: Oromo, also called Afan Oromo or
Oromiffa
MAIN RELIGIONS: Waaqqefata (the traditional belief in Waaqa
or God), Islam, and Christian
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION: Mountain ranges in the
center and north to flat grassland in most of the lowlands of the
west, east and south. Located mostly within political borders of
Ethiopia, bounded in the east by Somali and Afar lands and
Djibouti, in the West by the Sudan, in the South by Somalia, Kenya
and other lands, and in the North by Amhara and Tigre land.
28
73
taught them how to play soccer. It’s a lot of fun. I think it is
very important to know and understand other cultures. I think it
would be much more peaceful.
Isolation
This can be a lonely place. I’ve often thought that when we get
together, it’s not really a get-together. It’s this group, and then
the same group the next time. We don’t really get to know each
other….
Saved from Homelessness
I was born about 30 miles north of Chicago. My background is
kind of Heinz 57 – Irish, Scotch, Dutch, Indian, Bohemian,
German, and French. For about nine years before I moved to
Seattle, I was living in Phoenix, Arizona. It was 122 degrees for
nine or ten days in a row--just too hot. I hated it there. I had to
come to a cooler place, and this seemed like a good one. And we
wound up here. My sons and I went through some bad
circumstances, and our last day at the last shelter rolled around.
The manager of the shelter called the Seattle Housing Authority
and they picked NewHolly for me. I live here now with my three
teenage boys. My oldest son is in the Navy.
Some phrases in Oromo:
Hello.
Haloo
How are you?
Ati akkami?
I am fine.
Ani Nagaadha
What’s your name?
Maqaan kee enyu?
My name is…
Maqaan koo/kiyaa ____________
Thank you.
Galaatomi
Good bye
Nagaati
My family is really private, and I can’t say there is adult life
because people don’t really pry into each other’s business. We
have some Somali neighbors on one side of us, and some Asian
people on the other side. The language differences make it hard
to get to know people. We talk some, but not a lot.
The management here has been very helpful because my
circumstances are much different than those of most people. Life
is easier for me now.
For my son, friends from many cultures will be
normal
I was born in Missouri, and now my family and I live in
NewHolly. We like it here because it’s just very inviting. I like
that around every corner there is a playground. We can go
72
29
Escape
I was born on the border between Vietnam and Laos. My father
is Vietnamese and my mother is Italian. My wife is East Indian
and Norwegian. My son is a United Nations child! A church on
Bainbridge Island sponsored my parents and their nine children
to come to the United States in 1980. I was nine years old.
We had an opportunity to leave and go to Thailand, but we didn’t
think things were going to be that bad. By the time we could go
back to Laos, it was too late. We had to escape like refugees
from another country. We children were too young to know how
serious things were, how dangerous. We thought it was kind of
fun, you know, being sneaky and this and that – but for our
parents! Here I am with grey hair and I have only one child!
Moving to the United States was a culture shock, but at the same
time, we were prepared. There was a class that taught what it
was going to be like going to America, and we watched TV. We
believed that everyone in America had money. We could have
our own soccer field. I could drink Pepsi whenever I wanted.
Mom told us we wouldn’t get any rice to eat in America because
Americans only ate bread. She actually trained us to eat bread
for a whole week before we came.
We lived first on Bainbridge Island, but it was not so good – 98%
Caucasian and Filipino – so when I went to school, I lived on
Queen Anne. I was there for about ten years and my wife’s
father suggested we check out NewHolly. So, we came and
checked it out, and that’s it. We’re glad to have moved here. I
think the people here are amazing. Family and friendship,
building trust – these are very important in Asian culture.
Sharing a dish of food is a way to begin trusting and believing in
each other. I think this neighborhood has that. The people on
our block share food and talk.
30
Last summer my family and I were playing in the Van Asselt
playfield and saw a family of five kids from Ethiopia also
playing. We started playing with them and talked with each other
about our religions – Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam – and we
71
SOMALIA
Part II
Some of our Many Stories
CAPITAL CITY: Mogadishu
MAIN LANGUAGES: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian,
English
MAIN RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION: Mostly flat to undulating
plateau rising to hills in north. Located in eastern Africa, bordering
the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia.
70
31
Some phrases in Somali:
English
In Somali and sounded out in
Hello.
“Hi” or “Nabad”
How are you?
Sietehet Sieetehee
I am fine.
Wa fi ana hee
What’s your name?
Matha ga
Magacaa
My name is…
Matha aya
Mageceygu Waa
Thank you.
Mahasanid
Mahadsanid
Good bye
Maa Salamu
Nabad Gelyo
Iska Warran
Waan Fiicanahay
Some important holidays and celebrations in Europe are…
Christian holidays: Christmas falls on December 25 for Roman
Catholics and Protestants, and a few days later for Eastern Orthodox.
Easter arrives in the spring.
Muslim holidays: The period of Ramadan and the celebration Eid-alfitr arrive at different dates each year.
Jewish holidays: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur generally occur in
September. Chanukah is celebrated in December.
32
69
F. EUROPE
Being Polite
How would you greet us on the street?
Alicum Salam
Things to do or not do to avoid offending us accidentally:
Men who are religious tend to avoid handshakes, but it all
depends on the individual. Eye contact is avoided, especially by
female when talking to a male. We are modest in dress. The
women wear a nigab, a long garment, with a gono, or short skirt
underneath. We respect our elders all the time.
Our Foods
Our favorite foods include birs (rice), basta (pasta), and anjera
(sour bread). We do not eat pork.
Some important holidays and celebrations in Somalia are…
Eid: a festival
Ramadan: a month of fasting
To hear some of our music, go to www.hiiraan.com and click
on Somali Music link.
POPULATION: 380 million. All of the countries, in both eastern and
western Europe, are represented among the ancestries of people of
European descent living in the U.S.; however, the most common
ancestries are English, German, and Italian. In the Seattle area, many
have roots in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, and Denmark) and also in
the Netherlands. Persons of Russian descent are also present.
LANGUAGES: In general, each country has its own language.
MAIN RELIGIONS: Christian (Protestant and Roman Catholic in
Western Europe, Eastern Orthodox in Eastern Europe), Muslim, Jewish.
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION: North of Africa and west of Asia.
Mountains in central and northern UK, the Spain/France border, interior
Scandinavia, and through the central part of the continent.
68
33
B. East Asia/Pacific region
Salmon is an important part of Northwest Native American
culture.
Foods
Buffalo meat, beef tongue, frybread, corn bread, bannock bread,
Indian tacos, deer meet, bear meat, salmon and other fish, elk,
moose, berries, and squash are some of our traditional foods. We
frequently use flour, corn, beans, and berries in our preparations.
More about our culture
Cambodia................................................................................... 35
China.......................................................................................... 37
Hmong and Mien ...................................................................... 41
Japan.......................................................................................... 43
Laos ............................................................................................ 44
Phillipines .................................................................................. 45
Samoa......................................................................................... 48
Vietnam...................................................................................... 51
34
We use flutes, hand drums, rattles, and big drums that nine
people can sit at. The drum is more than just an instrument; it is
the head singer. The drum is vital to Natives, and it must be
approached with dignity and respect, just as we must approach
our Elders. Any person who sits at the drum must do so with
humility and the belief that he is only part of all those who are
there. Often the drum is “open” to anyone who wishes to share
their experiences and knowledge. There are many dances at
potlatches and pow wows. Flutes are not used at Pow Wows or
Potlatches.
For recreation, camping and sports are favorites.
We wear traditional Native attire that’s indigenous to our native
nation. Wearing Eagle feathers is considered an honor and a
privilege, and they are to be treated with respect and dignity. The
Eagle feather is never to touch the ground.
67
Being Polite
CAMBODIA
How you would greet us on the street?
O Gyee Nah Bee (Pronounced Okee Nah Pee) means “Hello my
friend.
Something you can do to avoid offending Native American people
Do not refer to our regalia as “costumes.” Regalia are our outfits
we wear for dancing and ceremonies.
POPULATION: 13.4 million
CAPITAL CITY: Phnom Penh
About our Religion and Traditions
We are of different beliefs. In Seattle, we have the Salmon
Return festival every year, with the Coming of the Canoes. In the
fall East coast natives have the Green Corn festival, and west
coast and plains natives have the Harvest festival. We have
ceremonies in mid-winter. East coast natives call it Mid-Winter
Conference. West coast and plains natives have potlatches and
pow-wows.
66
MAIN LANGUAGES: Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
MAIN RELIGIONS: Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
Mostly low, flat plains;
mountains in southwest and north. Located in southeastern Asia,
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION:
bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and
Laos.
35
Some phrases in Khmer:
Hello.
How are you?
I am fine.
What’s your name?
My name is…
Some phrases in Blackfoot:
CMrabsYr
Hello.
Oki
Chum reap soow
How are you?
Git soo gau bihp
I am fine.
Mah too gayee kihp
Tah nak sok sapbai che-a tae?
What’s your name?
Tsah-gid ahn ikoo?
x\úMsuxsb|ayCaeT
My name is…
Nee dah ikoo_____________
etIGμksuxsb|ayCaeT/
Kinyom sok sapbai che-a tae
We never say “good-bye” but instead say “See you again”
Ah dah mah tsee noo tsee yoop.
Tah nak chi mua a-wai
etIGnkeQμaHGIV/
x\uMeQμaH
Kinyom chi mua ____________
Thank you.
sUmGrKuN Som or kun
Good bye.
CMrabla
Chum reap lear
36
65
CHINA
E. NATIVE AMERICAN
POPULATION: 1.3 billion
This map shows only a few of the hundreds of tribes in the
continental United States: In Seattle and NewHolly you will
find people from many Native American Nations and Peoples,
not only those from the Northwest. One of our neighbors is of
the Abanaki people who were originally from the northeast of the
US. She married a man from the Blackfoot people who are from
northern plains. Because the national and state boundaries were
created by European settlers, surviving Native nations exist
across these arbitrary lines.
While there were many languages among the Native Americans,
all shared a common sign language which is still used today.
CAPITAL CITY: Beijing
MAIN LANGUAGES: Mandarin, Yue (Cantonese), Wu
(Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese),
Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages
MAIN RELIGIONS: Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Muslim (1-2%),
Christian (3-4%)
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION: Mostly mountains, high
plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east. Located
in Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea,
and South China Sea.
64
37
Some phrases in Mandarin:
Hello.
How are you?
Being Polite
哈囉
How you could greet us on the street?
Hah-low
Say “hello,” or wave.
你好嗎?
“I just kind of take people as they come—people are like they are
for whatever reason—unless they are abusive or cruel or mean.
People are people and they are different, and that’s just how it
is.”
Nee how mah?
I am fine.
我很好
Wuo hun how
What’s your name?
請問你貴姓名?
Ching wun nee quay seeng?
My name is…
我的姓名是__________
Wuo dtuh seeng ming shuh _____
Thank you.
謝謝你
Se se nee
Good bye.
再見
Chai jien
Our Foods
Our favorite dishes/recipes are:
The typical American mixture! “I have one favorite food and
that is pizza. Pizza and cheerios and Italian food. Anything with
a red sauce and Mexican.”
Some prepare dishes that connect with traditional AfricanAmerican cooking or ingredients, such as fish, collard greens,
grits (a type of corn preparation), chicken, macaroni and cheese,
beans and rice, and yams.
38
63
About language:
Some phrases in Cantonese:
The Africans who were brought here were members of different
societies from different areas of Africa. Although their language often
had a common Bantu base, they spoke different dialects that had
developed over thousands of years. They could not easily understand
each other. English was known only to the Africans who had spent
some time on one of the Caribbean islands. So most had a difficult
time trying to communicate with whites as well as with each other.
Hello.
In struggling to bridge this gap, Africans began to borrow words from
each other. They blended words with the English they learned. The
resulting language was more than just the words. Africans also blended
voice tones, the rhythms of speaking, pronunciation, and ways of
expressing ideas. The result was what is called a “Creole” language.
One particular Creole language is Gullah, which can still be heard on
the Sea Islands on the southeast coast of the United States.
African influences are woven into the English that is spoken in the
United States today. Sometimes the words themselves are African, and
sometimes the words may be English but the way they are put together
is African.
Some important holidays and celebrations in this society:
In addition to the typical American holidays (for example New Year’s
Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and religious holidays),
African-Americans often observe:
哈囉
Hah-low
How are you?
你好嗎?
Nay ho mah
I am fine.
我很好
Gnoh hahn ho
What’s your name?
請問你貴姓名?
Chang mahn nay quay seng?
My name is…
我的姓名是____________
Gnoh dtek seng meng see _______
Thank you.
謝謝你
Mm coy nay
Good bye.
再見
Joy keen
Juneteenth: This holiday, celebrated in mid-June, recalls the arrival in
Texas in June 1865 of the news that the War Between the States had
been won by the Union, and that all slaves were therefore free.
King Day: This holiday, observed in January, commemorates the life
of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a leader of the struggle for
equal civil rights through the middle of the 20th century.
Kwanzaa: This unique African American celebration, with focus on
the traditional African values of family, community responsibility,
commerce, and self-improvement, is observed from December 26 to
January 1.
62
39
Being Polite
D. AFRICAN-AMERICAN
Nod and bow
Some things you could do or not do to avoid offending us
accidentally:
Light smile and nod, then gently change the subject or go away.
About our Tradition
Buddhist families may burn incense, and may have a mini set of
“temple” at home, where we may bow and pray in front of
Buddhist statues.
Our Foods
Some favorite foods include Dim Sum (from Hong Kong), Hot
Pot, rice soup and won ton. We frequently use soy sauce, oyster
sauce, hot sauce, and spicy bean sauce.
We usually have soup every day plus a dish with some kind of
vegetable. We change it – broccoli one day, cucumber or potato
the next. Sometimes there will be meat, fish, and poultry or beef
bone. The kids really like chicken wings.
We don’t have any food restrictions. When I was young, there
was a sentence in my Chinese cooking dictionary: If it is fat and
faces up to the sky, you can eat it.
Some important holidays and celebrations in Chinese society
are…
Chinese Lunar New Year
Lantern Festival
Moon Festival: A mid-autumn festival celebrated with special
moon cakes.
Dragon Boat Festival
African-Americans are persons of African ancestry whose forbears
arrived in America generations ago. The majority are descended from
people of western Africa who were brought as slaves into what is now
the United States beginning in 1526 (at San Miguel de Gualdupe), 80
years before the founding of the first permanent English colony in
North America. This practice was banned by Congress in 1807, before
the United States was even twenty years old. Thus, most of today’s
African-Americans possess American lineages extending back two,
three, or four centuries, or even more.
Slavery was outlawed by the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
Today, African-Americans live throughout the United States and
number about 35 million, accounting for about 12% of the nation’s
population.
Ghost Festival
40
61
HMONG and MIEN
Ingredients we use frequently are: Pimiento, garlic (ajo), salt,
commino, sugar, oregano, cinnamon, hot sauce, tortillas, beans
(navy, pinto, garbanzos, lentils), and rice.
Other information about our culture
Flag and other visual symbols: Our flag is red, white, and green,
which stands respectively for union, purity, and hope. The
emblem symbolizes Aztec culture. Every state in Mexico also
has a flag.
Songs, dances, or other musical favorites: Favorite songs are El
Rancho Grande and Ojos Negros.
Recreational or other activities we often do: Singing and dancing
with rancheras, bands, and mariachi. There are many different
types of music and dances. We like to visit one another’s homes
and celebrate special days. Lots of family activities—picnics in
the park, Church on Sundays, and we travel to Mexico to visit
family.
Children’s favorite stories: La llorona (The Cryer). All the
children hear this story. Also, in my town on the coast, the
stories say that during Holy week, you cannot take a bath because
that is when Christ died. If you do, it is a sin.
Clothing: No special style; in accordance with taste and budget.
Typical families: The family is very united
(Hmong in mountains and Mien in middle-altitude areas)
You probably didn’t know:
POPULATION: 5 million Hmong, 1 million Miens
Sometimes alcohol can be a problem in our families; sometimes
the head of the household is alcoholic, and then you cannot lift
yourself up. Some Mexicans like to drink and dance, and that’s
when problems arise.
CAPITAL CITY: Beijing
Mexicans are never going to leave anyone alone in a nursing
home, when we can have them with us. Older family members
will die at home and in our arms. There are no nursing homes in
Mexico, and no homeless people.
MAIN RELIGIONS: Animist and Taoist, some Christian (in
60
MAIN LANGUAGES: Hmong, Mien
U.S.)
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION: The Hmong and Mien live
in the highland and mid-altitude areas of southern China, Burma
(Myanmar), Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.
41
Some phrases in Mein:
Hello.
No equivalent in Mien
How are you?
Meih yiem longx nyei saah?
May yim lohng nyay sah?
I am fine.
Yie yiem longx nyei.
Yi-eh yim lohng nyay
What’s your name?
Meih nyei mbuox heuc haaix nyungc?
May nyay buah hay-oh hi nyu?
My name is…
Yie nyei mbuox heuc ____________
Yi-eh nyay buah hay-oh ____________
Some important holidays and celebrations in Mexican
society:
El dia de la Bandera (Fiesta of the American Flag): Celebrated
on February 24, it commemorates victory in the independence
movement, when the flag was created in 1821.
Patron Saint’s Day: Each town has a patron saint, and a
celebration day with festivals to honor that saint. It is believed
that the saint protects the people year round against illness,
disease, natural disasters such as flooding, and ensures the crops
are plentiful and people have enough to eat.
Thank you.
Laengz zingh
Lang sing
Other special days include: Birthdays, Mexican Independence
Day, Mothers’ Day, New Years’ Day, Cinco de Mayo, Day of the
Virgin Guadalupe.
Good bye.
Mingh nziaauc oc.
More about our Religion
Ming zeeow oh. (Literally means “Go
visit me”)
Special times of year: Christmas, Holy Week, baptisms, first
communions, weddings.
How our religion affects what you see in our household, manner
of dress, or behavior: You might see candles and religious
symbols, or there may not be much to notice. You may see us go
to Church every week; we try to live honestly and with integrity.
Our religion does not affect our manner of dress.
How our neighbors can be respectful of our religion: By not
criticizing one another’s religion and respecting our beliefs.
Our Foods
Our favorite dishes/recipes are: Enchiladas, flauta de pollo,
posole, taquitos de carnitas. We eat all types of meat. Desserts
like flan, homemade gelatin, cake with three types of milk. Atole
(hot drink). Tamales, tacos, tostadas. A typical breakfast is
bread and rice cereal with milk, or bread with a hot drink, and
maybe fruit.
Ingredients we try to avoid are: We try not to use too much rice,
lard, grease, oil. We do not drink coffee or tea.
42
59
JAPAN
Being Polite
How you could
greet us on the
street? Say hello,
or wave. If we
don’t know you,
we would say
hello or good
morning. If we
do know you, we
would also ask
how you and your
family are, catch
up on current
events, and offer
help if any is
needed.
How you could make a visit to our home: We would invite you to
visit if we see you on the street, or you could come unannounced,
though we would not go to your home unannounced. We would
like to be invited and we ask if we should bring something.
How you could show neighborly friendliness if we don’t speak
each others’ language: Say “hello,” use hand signals, and smile
in welcome.
accidentally: Always ask before taking something that doesn’t
belong to you. Respect one another’s property.
MAIN LANGUAGE: Japanese
Things to keep in mind if you or your children talk with our
children: Children should get permission before going to
neighbors’ property. Make sure they are playing safely. Respect
each other and stay united. Don’t make fun of one another’s
races.
58
CAPITAL CITY: Tokyo
MAIN RELIGIONS: 84% observe both Shinto and Buddhist, 16%
other
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION: Mostly rugged and
mountainous. Located in eastern Asia, Japan consists of an island chain
between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the
Korean Peninsula.
43
LAOS
Some phrases in Spanish:
Hello.
Ola.
How are you?
Como esta?
I am fine.
Estoy bien.
What’s your name?
Como se llama?
My name is…
Me llamo______________
Thank you.
Gracias.
It’s nice to meet you.
Es un placer encontrarle.
Is this OK?
Es esto bien?
That’s good.
Es bien.
Good bye.
Adios.
CAPITAL CITY: Vientiane
MAIN LANGUAGES: Lao (official language), French, English, and
various ethnic languages
MAIN RELIGIONS: Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%
(including various Christian denominations 1.5%)
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION: Located in Southeast Asia,
northeast of Thailand and west of Vietnam. Mostly rugged
mountains, with some plains and plateaus.
44
57
MEXICO
PHILIPPINES
CAPITAL CITY: Mexico City
MAIN LANGUAGES: Spanish
MAIN RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic (86%), Protestant (6%)
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION: Bordered by the U.S.A.
on the north and Guatemala and Belize on the south. Eastern
and western mountain ranges converge in the south, with high
plateau between. Southeast and southwest mountains include
active volcanoes. Climate varies from tropical and moist along
the southern and eastern coasts to dry in the northwest and
desert in the north.
56
CAPITAL CITY: Manila
MAIN RELIGION AND LANGUAGES: Roman Catholic 83%.
Other religions are Protestant, Muslim and Buddhist and Catholic.
Languages: Filipino and English.
TOPOGRAPHY: Islands; mostly mountains with coastal lowlands.
45
Some phrases in Filipino
C. LATIN AMERICA
(Based on Tagalog)
Hello.
Hello
How are you?
Kumusta Ka?
I am fine.
Mabuti
What’s your name?
Anong Pangalan Mo?
My name is…
Ang Pangalan Ko Ay___________
CAPITAL CITIES INCLUDE: Mexico City (Mexico), Guatemala
City (Guatemala), San Salvador (El Salvador), Tegucigalpa
(Honduras), Managua (Nicaragua), San Jose (Costa Rica), Panama City
(Panama), Bogota (Colombia), Caracas (Venezuela), Quito (Ecuador),
Lima (Peru), La Paz (Bolivia), Santiago (Chile), Buenos Aires
(Argentina), Asuncion (Paraguay), Montevideo (Uruguay), Brasilia
(Brazil)
Thank you.
Salamat
MAIN LANGUAGES: Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil)
Good bye.
Paalam
MAIN RELIGIONS: Christian
LOCATION: Mexico, Central America, South America, and the
Carribean
46
Mexico........................................................................................ 56
55
Our Traditions
Being Polite
In Vietnam, families often arrange marriages, so dating for many
is new and difficult. Often youth prefer to go out in groups of
friends.
How you could greet us on the street:
Say Hello, smile, nod.
accidentally:
If you do not smile or greet us we may feel you are being rude.
About our Religion
Vietnamese Flag
This is the flag recognized by most Vietnamese immigrants to
America, although the current flag of the Social Republic of
Vietnam is a gold star on a red background.
North Vietnam and South Vietnam have different clothes,
especially for women. In North Vietnam, women were long
dresses. In South Vietnam, women wear more western style
clothing.
Most of us are Christian, and so we observe Christmas and
Easter. The more devout among us may have home altars.
Our Foods
Some of our favorite foods include adobo, eggroll, pansit, rice
cake, fried rice, bibingka, pastries. There aren’t any foods we
intentionally avoid, although some of us don’t care for spicy
foods. Our foods often contain garlic, onion, and ginger.
Some important holidays:
Jobs are better in the South where there is more industry.
Farming is the main occupation in the North. There are also
“levels” in society. If you have more education, if you have more
money, you have a better level.
Christmas
Some important holidays and celebrations in Vietnam are…
Flores de Mayo: The Flowers of May festival is a month-long
celebration, which is distinctly separate from Santakrusan. In
this celebration, the Blessed Virgin - not Santa Elena - is the
focus of devotion. Every afternoon in May, young people go to
church to pray the rosary and offer flowers and songs to the
Blessed Mother.
Lunar New Year
Yu Lan: the July of the Lunar Year. It is the birthday of
Buddha, and a month of spirits. We say thanks to our parents
(still alive and those passed away), and to our ancestors. We pray
and do good things for the souls of ancestors. The souls of those
we don’t know also get the benefit of our good deeds.
54
Easter
New Year
Pista Sa Nayon: In the Philippines today, the annual fiesta is the
main event, the zenith of the year when everyone lives it up,
celebrating the occasion with a profusion of colors, revelry, and
pageantry. In Seattle, Pista Sa Nayon is celebrated at Seward
Park during Seafair.
47
SAMOA
Being Polite
Age and gender are important in the language. When you see a
Vietnamese neighbor, “Cho” is like “hello.” If you are speaking
to a woman older than yourself, you say “Cho ba” which means
“hello, ma’am.” If you are speaking to a man who is older than
yourself, you say “Cho ong,” which means “hello, sir.”
Hello and Goodbye are the same phrases.
accidentally:
While touching such as shaking hands is welcome, public
displays of affection are considered rude.
Other things to be polite:
Shoes are removed and left at the front door before entering the
home.
Our Foods
Our favorite dishes/recipes are:
POPULATION: 178,000
CAPITAL CITY: Apia
MAIN LANGUAGES: Samoan (Polynesian), English.
MAIN RELIGIONS: Christian (99.7%).
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION: Located in Oceania.
Group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the
way from Hawaii to New Zealand. Slightly smaller than the state
of Rhode Island. Samoa consists of two main islands (Savaii,
Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets.
Topography: Narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged
mountains in interior.
48
The greatest cultural difference between Vietnam and Seattle is
food. The family usually has rice three meals a day. Small
amounts of fish or meat and vegetables are cooked in a soup, not
as a salad. The Vietnamese food is a little spicier than American
food. Many Vietnamese families love to entertain friends for
dinner or other meals.
Ingredients we try to avoid are:
We have no dietary restrictions and are happy to try foods from
other places.
Ingredients we use frequently are:
Rice, fish, meat and vegetables.
53
Some phrases in Samoan:
Some phrases in Vietnamese:
Hello
Talofa
Hello.
Xin chào “seen ch-out “
How are you?
Ua A Mai Oe
How are you?
Khoẻ không? “kh-where khon”
I am fine.
Manuia Faafetai
I am fine.
Tôi khỏe “t-oi, kh-where “
What’s your name?
O Ai Lou Igoa
What’s your name?
Anh (Chi) tên gì? “ain ten zee “
My name is…
O Lou Igoa_____________
My name is…
Tên tôi là “ten t-oi la “__________
Thank you.
Faafetai
Thank you.
Cám ơn “cam earn “
Good bye.
Tofa Soifua
Good bye.
Xin từ giã “seen tu zaa “
52
49
VIETNAM
Being Polite
Show respect.
About our traditions
We can’t wear pants. Instead we wear two piece or dresses. For
special occasions, we’ll wear Samoan dresses and ulas (flower
leis). We love dancing and singing.
Our Foods
We love bananas, taros, chop suey.
Some important holidays and celebrations in this society
are…
White Sunday: in October, we celebrate kids on this special
Sunday.
CAPITAL CITY: Hanoi
MAIN LANGUAGE: Vietnamese
MAIN RELIGIONS: Buddhist, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai,
indigenous beliefs, Muslim
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION: Low, flat delta in
south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in
far north and northwest. Located in southeastern Asia,
bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South
China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia.
50
51

many neighbors, many stories

Transcription

Similar documents

Berri-Magic Kids Meserve Holly

Pause for Plants, Yuletide. “Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly

Holly Park - Regency Centers

Ariel Cyclone motorcycle

Weeping Yaupon Holly

In response to the Daily Interlake Guest Opinion (Water company

Enhancing Wright`s Legacy in the Pacific Northwest

Presentation - Green Seattle Partnership

our 2015 Spring Newsletter

Century 21 Design Guidelines

các vấn đề bảo mật nổi bật trong các hệ thống quản trị dữ liệu và

War and Peace