Community Orientation
-
Take a ride together on public transportation. Help newcomers locate the nearest bus stop and travel to important locations via public transport (grocery store, hospital, public assistance office, library, etc.)
-
Go grocery shopping at an American grocery store and/or an ethnic store. Look at pricing, pounds, sizes, products, and coupons. Teach newcomers how to shop on a budget.
-
Take a tour of a local government office, i.e. post office, fire station, or police station (usually offered for free if arranged in advance).
-
Visit an ethnic restaurant of which the food is familiar for the newcomer.
-
Enjoy parks, holiday festivities, Church, and sporting events with your refugee partners.
-
Give your refugee partners a map of the city, state, country, and/or world so they can have a perspective on where they are now in relation to their home country.
-
Some refugees may enjoy hearing the history of the area and city they are living in now.
Cultural Adaptation
-
Discuss public safety and how to call 911 – when to call, when not to call, what to say.
-
Review the home for maintenance problems. Practice with the newcomer explaining them to the landlord.
-
Teach newcomers simple English phrases and words important to everyday life. Learn the same phrases in their language.
-
Review a map of the community. Ride the bus or drive around town to learn street names.
-
Visit the local post office and show them how to buy stamps and mail a letter.
-
Visit the local library, show them how to use the Internet, apply for a library card, and check out books.
-
Practice making and receiving telephone calls. Practice polite greetings and phone etiquette.
-
Discuss money. Practice making change, tipping, etc.
-
Practice telling time with a clock. Explain the importance of being on time in this culture.
-
Take a trip to the laundromat. Discuss temperatures, color separation, amount of detergent, coin machines, etc.
-
Go to a second-hand store or garage sale together and buy something for yourself. Some newcomers may think there is a stigma to buying used items. If you buy some for yourself that will help them see that it is okay.
Friendship Building Activities
-
Take them to the park
-
Invite them to a cultural event (family birthday party, wedding, cultural celebration)
-
Ask them to teach you how to prepare a dish from their culture or teach you some other skill they have.
-
Find out what they like to do and do it with them! (Bike riding, hiking, sewing, dancing, etc.)
-
Find out about international events in the area (International Festival in Raleigh, etc.)
In addition to what's listed above, here is a list of some friendship building activities around the Triad, included with contact information for each location:
High Point | |
All-A-Flutter Butterfly Farm | 7850 Clinard Farms Rd, High Point, NC 27265 |
336.454.5651 | |
High Point Museum | 1859 E. Lexington Ave, High Point, NC 27262 |
336.885.1859 | |
High Point Theatre | 220 E. Commerce Ave, High Point, NC 27260 |
336.887.3001 | |
Oak Hollow Marina | 3431 N. Centennial St, High Point, NC 27265 |
336.883.3494 | |
Oak Hollow Festival Park | 1841 Eastchester Dr, High Point, NC 27265 |
336.883.3494 | |
Piedmont Environmental Center | 1220 Penny Rd, High Point, NC 27265 |
336.883.8531 | |
Greensboro | |
Rockin' Jump Trampoline Park | 4215 W. Gate City Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27407 |
336.907.8682 | |
Arboretum | 401 Ashland Dr, Greensboro, NC 27403 |
336.373.4334 | |
ArtQuest | 200 N. Davie St, Greensboro, NC 27401 |
336.333.7460 | |
Bog Garden | 1105 Hobbs Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410 |
336.373.5888 | |
Children's Museum | 220 N. Church St, Greensboro NC 27401 |
336.574.2898 | |
Country Park | 3905 Nathanael Greene Dr, Greensboro, NC 27455 |
336.430.6562 | |
Celebration Station | 4315 Big Tree Way, Greensboro, NC 27409 |
336.316.0606 | |
Greensboro Ice House | 6119 Landmark Center Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27407 |
(Ice Skating) | 336.852.1515 |
Natural Science Center | 4301 Lawndale Dr, Greensboro, NC 27455 |
336.288.3769 | |
Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden | 1105 Hobbs Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410 |
336.373.2199 | |
Winston Salem | |
Rockin' Jump Trampoline Park | 7840 North Point Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27106 |
336.777.7640 | |
Kaleidum Downtown | 390 S Liberty St, Wiston-Salem, NC 27101 |
(Formerly the Children's Museum) | 336.723.9111 |
Kaleidum North | 400 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27105 |
(Formerly SciWorks) | 336.767.6730 |
Old Salem Museum and Gardens | 900 Old Salem Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 |
336.721.7300 |