You Can Call Me Tori!

There are so many other things I could tell you! Like all of the languages I heard, the food I ate, or even the strange places I slept on the way. But, there is one thing i want you to remember..... 

Have you heard other languages before? Can you speak any other languages?

This book was inspired by an amazing exhibit that you can show your students! It is a collection of photographs taken by Madeline Scott, and shows the arrival of several families coming to Boise, Idaho. They are some of the last people to arrive before the travel ban took place. The exhibit is called <a href="https://mrscottphoto.com/portfolio/the-lucky-ones/">The Lucky Ones</a>. This exhibit gives an opportunity to teach others about the journey, hardships, and process people have to go through to become refugees.

Katie Kraus is a senior at the University of Montana Western, who is majoring in Elementary Education. She grew up in Ramsay, just a few miles outside of Butte, Montana. She has always had the dream of coming to Western and becoming an elementary education teacher. Katie loves visiting friends and family, crafting, and reading a variety of books.

It was a LLOOOONNNGGG trip. It took us almost a week to get here! We had to go to a bunch of other places before we even got to the U.S. 

What was the longest trip you have been on?

I kind of miss my old home and friends though... but this place is pretty nice. I really like my new house I live in. The family that took us in is really nice.

How would you feel if you had to move to a new place and leave your friends behind?

I know I am referred to as a refugee, but PLEASE don't call me the refugee student... I just happen to be a student who is a refugee. You can just call me Tori.

Me and my family just moved here from Congo. We moved here because my parents said it is safer in America.

What do you know about Congo? How is it different from where you live?

The purpose of this book is to inform students of people-first language. I find it really important to use people-first language even at a young age. This is something that I am passionate about, and is something I never heard of until college. 

Here are some resources for teachers to continue teaching about refugees in class. There is a variety of websites to look at. Most of these are sites that have stories of real refugees. The first link, however, is to a page that contains a lesson plan that could be used to teach students about the refugee crisis. <a href="http://www.choices.edu/teaching-news-lesson/refugee-stories-mapping-crisis/">Refugee Stories: Mapping a Crisis</a> <a href="http://www.rcusa.org/refugee-success-stories/">Refugee Success Stories Around the Nation</a> <a href="https://www.kvrr.com/2018/01/24/immigrant-and-refugee-students-share-their-journey-to-america/">Immigrant and Refugee Students Share Their Journey to America</a> <a href="https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/you-guys-are-the-america-i-grew-up-with-cambodian/article_d5d3b7cc-c705-56c6-a62b-c46f03fe6dcb.html">Cambodian Refugee Shares Story </a>

We had to fill out a lot of papers before we could come over. Mom and Dad spent lots of time trying to make sure we could all come here together. We didn't want to get split up.

How would you feel if your family was split up while trying to move?

Hi! My name is Victoria. But EVERYONE calls me Tori.

Do you have a nickname that everyone calls you?

And to make it even worse, I couldn't take all the stuff I wanted to. I had to leave almost all of my stuff. I only got to bring ONE bag. 

If you had to pack a bag and give away the rest, what would you have in your bag? 