Global Migration and the New Latino South. Slides of a report from the NC Office of Latino/Hispanic Affairs.
Bridging Spanish language barriers in Southern Schools. A series of articles about Latino students in NC schools. Sections include (1) Background of Latino students, (2) Connecting with Latino students, (3) Policies for immigrant transfer students, and (4) Curriculum for Latinos.
El Centro Hispano has a branch in Carrboro Plaza.
Refugee Community Partnership based in Chapel Hill/Carrboro
Refugee Support Center, housed in Carolina Apartments in Carrboro
Karen History and Culture, Karen Organization of Minnesota
Information about Myanmar (Burma), BBC News
The Story of Three Farmers, a short documentary created by the Youth Collaborative of Transplanting Traditions Community Farm
Video for Learning about Refugees from Burma, by the Cultural Orientation Resource Center
Karen News - Journalists who live and work in Karen communities.
Cultural Competence: What Does It Mean For Educators? - From the NEA
What is Global Competence? - Why our students need Global Education
Cultural Gaffes Beyond Your Borders - Peace Corps training video
Cultural Gaffes At Home and Abroad - Peace Corps training video
Culture shock is the feeling of discomfort and disorientation that a person feels when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life. Going through culture shock has predictable stages, similar to the way grief has stages. Typically a person who is new to a country or a region within a country (for example, moving from a small town to a big city or vice versa) goes through this process of acculturation:
Honeymoon stage: Everything is exciting, novel and charming. Differences are incomprehensible but fascinating. Tourists never pass this stage because they’re in the mindset of “just visiting.”
Frustration stage: The novelty has worn off. One finds people’s behavior unpredictable and annoying and the host culture distasteful. It’s common to feel anxious, to withdraw, and show hostility toward the people. Having to do everything in an unfamiliar way, and often in a new language, is mentally and physically exhausting.
Adjustment/integration stage: One gets used to the host culture, develops everyday routines, and knows what to expect in most situations. Life settles into a “new normal.”
Acceptance/mastery stage: Enjoys living in the culture and functions well in it. Prefers some aspects of the host culture to his/her own. May adopt some perspectives and behaviors from the host culture, creating a self-tailored blend of the original and new cultures.