You are a new person to USA. You could be lucky and get to live with an American who may show you the ropes. It could be a community such as a church. Hadwen Park Church in Worcester, MA is one such community.
You were chased out of a home you grew up from. This could be right here in USA or you could be a non-resident/ non citizen. It means you left another country to come to USA.
It is the reason you are here. This country has what one calls assimilation or integration milestones. Like a baby who is born without teeth, there comes a time when the teeth will grow. This is called "teething." It is a milestone. Your stay here has the same milestones. The milestones revolve around these points.
Let us unpack the issues:
1. Housing: You need somewhere to stay. It is your mailing address too. A house is where you are warm, have food and live with other people. It is imperative that you are watching your house keeping and management practices. At all times, seek advice, ask questions on how to operate household instruments. Discuss your general and food preferences and ask about your hosts preferences too.
2. Employment: This will take time. You may engage in voluntary work. But, until you have your work authorization card do watch your penny and needs. The card will be in the mail once you have met the eligible time of waiting.
3. Spiritual growth and development: You may have been told "you are evil" and this common from all the anecdotes I have collected from asylum seekers. This emotional assault needs healing. You need to join a spiritual community. USA has many of them. Hadwen Park Church in Worcester is a welcoming church for all. Try it. It is found in Worcester, MA.
4. Insurance: You will get this from a health facility. It is your money on a card in case you get ill and need treatment.
5. Livelihood: You may have to give up the kind of transactions you engaged in back home. You may not be making money the way you used to. You may not be meeting with people and friends the way it used to be back home. Adjust to this new life. Do take time to ask around. Join volunteer teams. Universities have community clean up teams, reading clubs, Environment day teams, jogging teams and singing teams. You will never go wrong. Join a team to increase on your 'community' dimension. About this time you can learn driving or polish your driving. For those coming from former British colonies ( well ,I mean other colonies and not America!), you drive on the left hand side. In USA, we drive on the righthand side.
6. Security: Know your way around cities and neighborhoods. Have your documentation in order ( yes, that passport is important). Do not make wrong turns or be seen loitering in neighborhoods where you are new.
7. Citizenship: You come as an asylum seeker. You have to file your application through alawyer at a specific time. You may then be directed where to go for your biometrics. Later, you will be given a schedule for your hearing. Once successful, your status becomes: a resident green card holder.
8. Child rearing: You may have come with a child or children. Seek advice on child care in the health facility near you. Attend those meetings in order to learn so much about child welfare in USA.
9. Positive parenting: As a parent also attend parenting workshops. This will help you in understanding parenting.
10. Accountability: If you happen to live with other people in the community or a house there are expectations you all have. Meeting these expectations, minding about others and not disappointing them constitutes accountability. Be an accountability practitioner.
11. Taking stock of action and decisions: Do you write something down? Do you make notes? Well, if you do also note some of your activities down. Join others in the chores at the home you live in. No one will make the bed you lie in but yourself.
12. Decision-making:You came to USA. Your English is different, it is good or it may be such that you need to attend the English as Second Language class-ESL. Join ESL if you always find your self talking something like "English." Many have failed to get work in USA because of that.
13. Associations: Join an association, such as: YMCA, YWCA or any other.
14. Conflict with law: Learn what the police wants.
15. Illnesses. sickness and health-care: Regularly visit a health facility. Most especially watch your dental, skin and ear and eye health.
16. Remittances: You may have started working and back home from your original country are one or two people you need to send money to. Watch out for scam money transfer offices!
17. Social networks: Twitter, face book, blogs constitute part of your social networks. The physical communities such as churches, school, community and hobbies should be another area you need to enrich.
18. Professionalism: start with GED, go on to join a formal training. The education system of USA is envied worldwide. Get the certificates, diplomas and all the degrees you can. WATCH OUT! Diploma mills are lurking in the dark.
19. Health Chronic illnesses, weight watching, nutrition and Aging: Engage in health education on these subjects. Get to do the exercises too.
20. Treatment of your remains in case of death: Have you considered the fact that you may die, like now? Arrange to have your remains treated with dignity. Leave instructions and...pay for the service while you are alive.
21. Asset building: It is possible to make it in USA. Yes, join the chamber of commerce or workforce or business training ( a friend calls it "terraining"). Your financial dimensions will grow in direct proportion to effort, timing and planning for money.
22. Voluntarism: Volunteer as much as possible. I have made more friends through this than I have made as a scientist!
23. Subscription and membership to clubs or organizations: Pay to play. I heard that from a friend.I want to add: pay to have say.
24. Vacations: Rest as much as possible.
25. Altruism and philanthropy: Give because someone gave in order for you to be here. Those first days you arrived in USA, someone came for you, someone called your phone. That money was as a result of someone who donated some money or a large lump some. Thank you in advance.
1. Housing: You need somewhere to stay. It is your mailing address too. A house is where you are warm, have food and live with other people. It is imperative that you are watching your house keeping and management practices. At all times, seek advice, ask questions on how to operate household instruments. Discuss your general and food preferences and ask about your hosts preferences too.
2. Employment: This will take time. You may engage in voluntary work. But, until you have your work authorization card do watch your penny and needs. The card will be in the mail once you have met the eligible time of waiting.
3. Spiritual growth and development: You may have been told "you are evil" and this common from all the anecdotes I have collected from asylum seekers. This emotional assault needs healing. You need to join a spiritual community. USA has many of them. Hadwen Park Church in Worcester is a welcoming church for all. Try it. It is found in Worcester, MA.
4. Insurance: You will get this from a health facility. It is your money on a card in case you get ill and need treatment.
5. Livelihood: You may have to give up the kind of transactions you engaged in back home. You may not be making money the way you used to. You may not be meeting with people and friends the way it used to be back home. Adjust to this new life. Do take time to ask around. Join volunteer teams. Universities have community clean up teams, reading clubs, Environment day teams, jogging teams and singing teams. You will never go wrong. Join a team to increase on your 'community' dimension. About this time you can learn driving or polish your driving. For those coming from former British colonies ( well ,I mean other colonies and not America!), you drive on the left hand side. In USA, we drive on the righthand side.
6. Security: Know your way around cities and neighborhoods. Have your documentation in order ( yes, that passport is important). Do not make wrong turns or be seen loitering in neighborhoods where you are new.
7. Citizenship: You come as an asylum seeker. You have to file your application through alawyer at a specific time. You may then be directed where to go for your biometrics. Later, you will be given a schedule for your hearing. Once successful, your status becomes: a resident green card holder.
8. Child rearing: You may have come with a child or children. Seek advice on child care in the health facility near you. Attend those meetings in order to learn so much about child welfare in USA.
9. Positive parenting: As a parent also attend parenting workshops. This will help you in understanding parenting.
10. Accountability: If you happen to live with other people in the community or a house there are expectations you all have. Meeting these expectations, minding about others and not disappointing them constitutes accountability. Be an accountability practitioner.
11. Taking stock of action and decisions: Do you write something down? Do you make notes? Well, if you do also note some of your activities down. Join others in the chores at the home you live in. No one will make the bed you lie in but yourself.
12. Decision-making:You came to USA. Your English is different, it is good or it may be such that you need to attend the English as Second Language class-ESL. Join ESL if you always find your self talking something like "English." Many have failed to get work in USA because of that.
13. Associations: Join an association, such as: YMCA, YWCA or any other.
14. Conflict with law: Learn what the police wants.
15. Illnesses. sickness and health-care: Regularly visit a health facility. Most especially watch your dental, skin and ear and eye health.
16. Remittances: You may have started working and back home from your original country are one or two people you need to send money to. Watch out for scam money transfer offices!
17. Social networks: Twitter, face book, blogs constitute part of your social networks. The physical communities such as churches, school, community and hobbies should be another area you need to enrich.
18. Professionalism: start with GED, go on to join a formal training. The education system of USA is envied worldwide. Get the certificates, diplomas and all the degrees you can. WATCH OUT! Diploma mills are lurking in the dark.
19. Health Chronic illnesses, weight watching, nutrition and Aging: Engage in health education on these subjects. Get to do the exercises too.
20. Treatment of your remains in case of death: Have you considered the fact that you may die, like now? Arrange to have your remains treated with dignity. Leave instructions and...pay for the service while you are alive.
21. Asset building: It is possible to make it in USA. Yes, join the chamber of commerce or workforce or business training ( a friend calls it "terraining"). Your financial dimensions will grow in direct proportion to effort, timing and planning for money.
22. Voluntarism: Volunteer as much as possible. I have made more friends through this than I have made as a scientist!
23. Subscription and membership to clubs or organizations: Pay to play. I heard that from a friend.I want to add: pay to have say.
24. Vacations: Rest as much as possible.
25. Altruism and philanthropy: Give because someone gave in order for you to be here. Those first days you arrived in USA, someone came for you, someone called your phone. That money was as a result of someone who donated some money or a large lump some. Thank you in advance.
