March non fic post

I read an article called “Helping Immigrants Adjust to New England Winters” from the anytime’s website. The author tells the story of African refugees seeking political asylum in the United States. These refugees are required to take certain classes to help adjust to life in the United States. In this article it talks about how refugees are coming from Africa to Portland, Maine and they have to face harsh New England winters. A man named Mr. Alluding teaches the class. He tells the refugees about how to walk on the icy streets and what clothes to wear during the winter. He tells how parents should dress their kids. He tells them to watch the weather forecast at the beginning of the day to plan ahead. All these things are things the most New Englanders know but it would be completely new for people from Africa.

Some craft moves that the author uses to get the reader to feel the way he wants them to feel is by adding quotes from the refugees. I think that the author uses these types of quotes make the reader feel sympathy for the refugees. He adds quotes like, ““Deadly!” Ms. Masengu, 29, said in French, shaking her head as she remembered the snowstorm. “I didn’t feel good at all. I wanted to leave.” The author uses this quote to set up the stage for explaining how much the winter class is going to help refugees. He also tells how “Amel Joudha, an Iraqi refugee who arrived here in mid-February, said she initially stayed in a shelter that provided her with space only in the evening, leaving her to navigate cold streets during the day.” This quote shows how hard winter can be for homeless refugees.

           

I think its really important that this class is being taught to refugees from warmer countries. It might seem silly for people who live out here but for refugees who had to leave their homes and are seeking refuge in a new land its not. They all ready have so many problems coming into the country, and they don’t need winter standing in their way.