I attended the Tree of Hope service event on September 25th, 2018 from 7pm to 8pm in Smith-Steeb Hall. During this event I made a card for a refugee family who is moving to Columbus. Making a card made me more deeply consider what it would be like to be in their situation. Because I more deeply considered what it would be like to be in the situation of these refugees, this event caused me to gain perspective on my privilege. When looking beyond the event to consider my privilege, I also considered how this event related to international affairs.
Making a card made me more deeply consider what it would be like to be in their situation. When making the card I considered what kind of pictures and words I would like to receive. I would want to receive a card reassuring me I was coming to a welcoming community, a caring atmosphere, and an assurance that things will get better. I tried to convey this message in my card by including positive imagery of Columbus; I choose to draw a cloud of hearts over the skyline on the front of the card. I also used the following statement to convey that message. “I hope you enjoy Columbus! Some fun things to do are: Cosi, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus Museum of Art, and the Columbus Zoo. We are happy to have you here and [we are] excited to welcome you to the community”. I hope the family who receives the card feels a little more welcome, cared for, and assured that things will get better.
Because I more deeply considered what it would be like to be in the situation of these refugees this event caused me to gain perspective on my privilege. I gained perspective by analyzing my privilege and comparing it to situations refugees are in because they do not have the same privileges. Because I am a white, young, American citizen I would be able to move to another country more easily than someone who has brown skin and is not an American citizen. If more people analyzed themselves in the same way, the difficulties refugees face could be decreased. The Trees of Hope event should be done in schools for that reason. It will make kids more empathetic to people different from them and it will introduce them to principles their parents might not teach them, like being kind to someone who does not look like you.
This event relates to the topic of international affairs because it involves refugees from other countries receiving the welcome cards. These families have dealt with conflict in their home country, a tough process to settle in the United States, and they now have to adjust to living in a foreign country. Safety and security, migration, and living abroad apply directly to these experiences. These categories also are major parts of the study of international affairs. When the categories are studied more vigorously and applied to policy consistently the experiences of the refugees coming to America will be less tedious and difficult.
Front of card. Inside of card.