September - Cultural Orientation

Moving to a new country is hard - and with a language barrier, culture shock, and so many other factors, this transition is even more challenging for New Americans. That’s why CRIS holds Cultural Orientations for every new arrival that is resettled through CRIS, to help alleviate some of these stressors and to support a smooth transition to life in Columbus, Ohio. 

CRIS’ Cultural Orientation Coordinator, Elizabeth Goussetis works tirelessly to organize the orientation, deciding which languages an interpreter will be needed for, which clients need to attend, and more. Groups for each orientation range from one or two individuals, to groups of over fifteen, and they are often scheduled with a specific language in mind - some weeks it’s Nepali, other times it’s Swahili, to make sure participants get the most out of their orientation.

Cultural Orientation is an  important service CRIS offers for newly arrived refugees - moving to Ohio as a refugee is a huge change, and many come with a limited knowledge of our city, state and country. While the orientation focuses on adjusting to life in the U.S., there is a focus on living specifically within the Columbus area. Orientations often start by looking at a map, helping to orient everyone to their location in the country, the state, and the city. From there, the day focuses on many different customs and aspects of life in America and Columbus; transportation, communication, finances, health and safety, and more. The orientations cover a range of topics - what is appropriate in public spaces, what a tornado siren is, driving and traffic laws, and rights and responsibilities, to name a few, all of which are important to living a successful and happy life in the United States. Though some of the information may seem like second nature to many of us, some New Americans have never had to rely on public transportation before, are unaware of how U.S. medical care system works, and have never spent a winter in cold, snowy Ohio! 

At many of the orientations, a representative from the Columbus Police Department comes by to introduce and familiarize the participants with local law enforcement. An officer will discuss laws and safety, and work to establish a positive relationship between the refugee community and the department. The Cultural Orientation is also a great time for a valuable and supportive relationship to be established between CRIS and our clients, and for new arrivals to meet others who may speak their same language, or be going through similar adjustment. After their orientation refugees are better equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to immerse themselves and thrive in the Columbus Community.