Welcoming an Indonesian Family

“As an early childhood professional you will encounter children from diverse backgrounds whose families may have come from many different countries.”

I will like to welcome a family from Indonesia into my childcare center. My mission is to make sure that the family feels comfortable and welcomed as they enter into their new educational journey. I know nothing about this culture; however, I am preparing myself to welcome the child and her family, so that they feel respected and included. Luckily for me, I am enrolled in a course about diversity and I have learned that in order to support families who have immigrated, I need to know more than surface facts about their country of origin.

My Preparation

First, I will prepare myself to be receptive to the things that are new and/or different from me. However, remaining unbiased and opened minded that the family may not share similar customs or remedies.  

2^nd, communication is key; therefore, I will conduct a research on language in order to prepare whether or not I will need a translator to adequately conduct the meeting between the family and myself.

3^rd, I will ask relevant questions in regards to the family’s culture, values, and/or beliefs (pertaining to their educational desires for their child).

4^th, I will ask the family to state their expectations, so that I will be aware of what the family expects from my center, and the different type of learning techniques that the family may believe will help their child to learn.

5^th, after obtaining needed information about the child and her family, I will discover if the family is willing to be partakers (family participation) in their child’s learning process. And if so, I will discover ways to include the family without being too pushy or demanding.

I am expecting that these preparations will benefit both me and the family in order to work together to ensure that their child is receiving high quality education. I hope that a relationship and trust will be formed, in order to continue to partner together to make certain that the family’s educational needs are met and that the child and her family feel important, visible, and respected.

 

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

When I was a small child I can recall one memory of an incident when I experienced bias behavior. I remember always been made fun of and being questioned whether or not I was truly an African American. I was teased and made fun of due to my light sandy hair and my light skin complexion. Other kids treated me unfair at times and I always wondered why. It was not until my mother explained to me that some view a black person as not having healthy hair and only being dark in color. I appeared different from my siblings; therefore, my being was questioned on several occasions. I can remember being asked “are you adopted?” as well as being questioned by my own race.

This specific bias diminished the state of equity because I was treated unfair and the behavior insinuated that blacks are not viewed as being privileged in their outer appearance. Some people have tunnel vision and have a fixed opinion on how a black person should appear, behave, etc.

It will take for everyone to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity. Everyone will have to change their perception on things that appear different from themselves in order to all to experience equity in the world.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Often times, some US citizens are being alienated in their own land and are being treated indifferent due to appearing “different from the norm.” At times, people are blind to their own biases and prejudices due to the fact that their intentions may not be purposed to cause another to feel inferior or less than being adequate.

 I can recall a time when I walked into a clothing store and was not greeted while I entered the establishment; and shortly after, another person from a different race made the same entrance and received a warm greeting. As I finished accumulating my items I stood at the counter for checkout. The same person who I mentioned above walked and approached the same store counter; and then she was asked “ma’am are you ready to check out?” I felt invisible and disregarded at this point, because clearly I was being treated as unimportant, insufficient, and devalued as well.

I felt as though the other person was being considered a more valued customer, and that I was seen as being lesser than. Even though the lady never verbally expressed her microaggressions, the body language that I received spoke louder than words.

I have realized that some individuals are unaware and unconscious of their own behaviors and may not intentionally mean to cause harm, but harm is being done to others. I am learning how to overlook a lot of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes. People will only improve if they are willing to learn in order to become knowledgeable about things that seem different from themselves. The main key is to  remain conscious of our own behaviors.