As Karenni refugees are being resettled, it's a great comfort for them to be able to access foods that are familiar to them.  A .pdf file is attached with a list of foods that they enjoy as well as items that are not appropriate.  The Karenni eat rice twice a day with a curry topping and some soup. Most have never had hamburger, spaghetti, pizza or ‘typical’ American foods.  Coming to America means that they will be exposed to quite a variety of food, and children will need to be encouraged to try all kinds of food at the school cafeteria! Bringing them to a McDonalds, or inviting them to share a meal with your family is an important part of their adaptation to America. Just be aware of how stretching it can be to adjust to so many new things  all at once!

RICE RICE RICE!!  You can never give Karenni people too much rice.  Before food stamps are available to them, try to provide large bags of rice and check at least weekly to see if they have run out or are running low.   The Karenni can be timid so it's important that you take the initiative to check their cupboards and refrigerators during those initial weeks to make sure they have adequate rice, vegetables, fruits, meat and snacks.   Don't be afraid to help them understand what can and cannot go in the refrigerator. 

If it's possible, connect the Karenni to the closest Asian food store where they can buy the special things that they love. The Karenni will be thrilled and the Asian food store owners will love you!  In one location, the Asian food store owner picks a group of Karenni up to shop at his store and then drops them back off with all their Asian comfort food.

We translated this document so that one of the Kayah who previously worked in the camp clinic could conduct the necessary pre-immunization questions with each family before they got ALL those immunizations.  The questions and answers are in both English and Kayah.  The form could be filled out prior to going to the doctor or while at the doctor's office.  You can download the file below.

In the refugee camp, water is boiled to purify it before drinking.  In America, we can drink the water right out of the faucet and don't need to waste our money buying plastic bottles of water.   Resettlement workers and volunteers should take the opportunity to explain this and demonstrate this inexpensive freedom by drinking a cup of water right from the faucet.

The following website's purpose is to help volunteers learn how to resettle refugees.  It includes a place to sign up for the future release of a refugee resettlement "how to" guide.  www.resettlementsupport.com