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Celebrating differences
[Photos: Joanne Beaudet]
Samantha Keovongsa, Tiffany Phetsadasack and Julie Phouy, all 5, performed a dance from their native Laos at the party for refugee families given by the Junior Vincentians of St. Raphael’s Catholic School in St. Petersburg. |
By ALLISON E. HOLDER
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 13, 2002
St. Raphael's Catholic School students invite refugees they've been assisting to share the varied aspects of their culture.
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ST. PETERSBURG -- Laughing, singing, dancing and eating are things kids from every culture like to do. So when members of a student service organization at St. Raphael's Catholic School decided they would like to meet some of the young refugees they had been collecting school supplies for, it was party time!
The Junior Vincentians hosted "Called to One Table," a multicultural celebration for about 40 refugee families who have resettled here from Bosnia, Cuba and Vietnam. The families came to America in search of a better quality of life.
Bosnian Mirza Begovic, 16, expresses himself on guitar.
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At the party, which took place at St. Raphael's Parish Center, guests and hosts shared their music and art and learned to appreciate the differences of their cultures.
The event last month was cosponsored by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, which operates a Refugee Resettlement Program.
"Last year assistance was provided to over 575 refugees," said Gigi Camara, program director of the Refugee Resettlement Program. The assistance included housing, food, help with school registration and job placement. Assistance is offered for up to four months while the refugees adjust to life in America.
The Junior Vincentians at St. Raphael's have been especially active in helping the refugees this school year. A drive to collect backpacks and school supplies helped nearly 100 refugee children. Members decided it would be great to meet some of the people they had helped, so they planned a social for the refugee families.
Junior Vincentians greeted the group by saying hello in Vietnamese, Spanish and Bosnian. To show the diversity of world cultures, several refugee children danced, sang or played instruments and shared how the customs of their country are different from American customs. Armin Tatarevic of Bosnia talked about Bosnian customs.
Anja Zecevic of Bosnia shared her country’s culture through dance.
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"The Bosnians are very touchy-feely," he said, explaining that when you walk by people in Bosnia it is considered friendly to touch their arms or backs as you say hello.
Vietnamese customs are quite different. "When speaking to an elder it is considered disrespectful to look directly in their eye," said Sean Nguyen. "Eye contact is all right only when the people talking are the same age."
There was such diversity and talent at the social: dancing from Bosnia, Laos and Puerto Rico; poetry written by a Bosnian girl; and piano playing, singing and dancing from Cuba.
"I enjoyed all of the performances," said Jackie Smith, 12, a sixth-grader at St. Raphael's. "Each one was different and showed a part of their cultures."
The Junior Vincentians shared their talents and culture, too, singing You're a Grand Old Flag and the more religious Paradox of Love.
Students also got a chance to meet and talk to the refugees, even though not all could speak English (some had translators with them). Junior Vincentians said they were reminded often of how terrific it is to live in America.
"My father was a political leader in Cuba," said 12-year-old Jesmel Rodriguez. "I came for a better future. My favorite thing in America is the freedom. You can go wherever you want to go!"
American flags and God Bless America brought the social to a close and cultures closer together.
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Sometimes Americans take freedom for granted. "It really taught kids about the cultural differences," said Therese Plummer, 12. At the end of the party, Junior Vincentians handed out song lyrics and American flags with candy attached. Everyone joined to sing God Bless America, and the refugees waved the banner of their new home.
-- For more information about the Refugee Resettlement Program or to learn how you can help, please contact Gigi Camara at Catholic Charities, (727) 893-1311 ext. 222.
-- Allison E. Holder, 13, is in the seventh grade at St. Raphael's Catholic School in St. Petersburg.
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