Cultural Geography

Refugee’s Tribulations in Becoming American

A refugee is defined as an individual that is forced from his or her home land and is not able to return in fear of persecution because of race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group, or political opinion. In the documentary, Becoming American, a Mong family who has been forced out of Laos is filmed to show some of the difficulties that people face while adapting to a new culture. Throughout their immigration to the U.S. they experienced isolation by: having a language barrier, lack of job skills, immobility, insufficient income, and being less educated.

After the Mong people were forced from their home land they fled to Thailand in hope of living in peace until the post war-time danger stopped, but over time one widowed mother saw that staying in mountain camps with rationed food and a decreasing area of farm land was not the future that she had envisioned for her children. Thus, she applied for U.S. citizenship where another family would sponsor their immigration. A few months later, all 9 members, after TB shots and physical examinations, were cleared to come to the America. Although they were anticipating a better life with more economic opportunities, they had to leave friends, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and a land that was their identity. The family cried at their loss knowing that they might not see their loved ones ever again.

Their trip would take a couple of days with an enduring 24 hour flight. All of their possessions filled a couple of suitcases, hardly enough to begin a new life. Once they reached Seattle, WA, they were transported to their new apartment. They were confronted with the reality that they could not speak the language; they did not know how to use their stove, toilets, fire place, oven, why they should lock their door and windows at night, and other essentials for living in America. To start, they got $262/ person a month from Welfare. Assimilation was tough without knowing the language and living among stranger in a large city. Each family member attended school where they were