Any spanish book about coming to america?

[brian&yani 0]

My dominican fiancee is a little scared of having to leave everything and go to a new country where she doesn't know anybody besides my family and doesn't speak the language.

Does anyone know of any spanish either movie or book to help her through the transition? PoE will be in a week or two for us i wish to make it smooth for her even with me right next to her.

Any info is appreciated.

[TBoneTX 45,319]

Can't help with that, but this might achieve much the same:

Soon after landfall, and regardless of how religious she is, drop her on a Sunday at a church that has services in Spanish. Pick her up when services end.

I did this with Mrs. T-B. on her second (or was it the first?) Sunday here. She emerged late from the services, bubbling with enthusiasm, and she excitedly introduced me to a family that she'd met.

We repeated the church process twice more. During the next many weeks, Mrs. T-B. spent a lot of phone time and substantial face time with her new circle, including at a Spanish-people party (holy mackerel!) to which I accompanied her. Although none of the direct contacts lasted much longer than a year, she developed other friendships by referral. In short, this all served as a nexus for social activity and to impart a crucial feeling of being included.

The above has the obvious advantages of socialization. It minimizes feelings of isolation, of being a "pescado out of agua" in a strange culture, and even of homesickness (which WILL strike). The unsung benefit is that churchgoers tend to be respectable people, so she won't risk inadvertently falling in with a wrong or unknown crowd. You can drop her at church and shuttle her to outside activities with these people without trepidation.

Of note, Mrs. T-B. isn't particularly religious, and it didn't matter -- in retrospect, the above idea was the best and healthiest technique that there could have been for promoting her comfort in a new country.

[brian&yani 0]

Can't help with that, but this might achieve much the same:

Soon after landfall, and regardless of how religious she is, drop her on a Sunday at a church that has services in Spanish. Pick her up when services end.

I did this with Mrs. T-B. on her second (or was it the first?) Sunday here. She emerged late from the services, bubbling with enthusiasm, and she excitedly introduced me to a family that she'd met.

We repeated the church process twice more. During the next many weeks, Mrs. T-B. spent a lot of phone time and substantial face time with her new circle, including at a Spanish-people party (holy mackerel!) to which I accompanied her. Although none of the direct contacts lasted much longer than a year, she developed other friendships by referral. In short, this all served as a nexus for social activity and to impart a crucial feeling of being included.

The above has the obvious advantages of socialization. It minimizes feelings of isolation, of being a "pescado out of agua" in a strange culture, and even of homesickness (which WILL strike). The unsung benefit is that churchgoers tend to be respectable people, so she won't risk inadvertently falling in with a wrong or unknown crowd. You can drop her at church and shuttle her to outside activities with these people without trepidation.

Of note, Mrs. T-B. isn't particularly religious, and it didn't matter -- in retrospect, the above idea was the best and healthiest technique that there could have been for promoting her comfort in a new country.

thank you for your response.. I have been considering this since it's an easy way for her to mingle with others who have also immigrated. Since I too am spanish, this is something we can do together. I'll run it by her and we'll consider it really. I would love for her to hear the coming to america story of people especially people who have achieved some level of success here as well as passed through the difficult changes I can imagine for a person in a new world.. Thank you for your advice I appreciate the time you took to type it out..

-B

Edited December 17, 2015 by brian&yani

[TBoneTX 45,319]

Glad to hear it. Mrs. T-B. is a social butterfly and had no problems talking to people on her own. If your presence will be of support to your wife-to-be, super. Let us know how it works out for you.

[rms171 20]

Look for local social agencies that provide regular social programming such as English classes or other commingling opportunities. I am in the exact same boat. My Dominican fiancée arrives in two weeks. She is not particularly religious so the church route doesn't work, but in my town there is a dense Spanish speaking population and as such, services agencies tailored to acclimating immigrants, both mom and child. I reached out to one of local agencies weeks ago to get the ball rolling because she may not realize what she faces but I do, and I will do whatever is needed to help her.

By the way the USCIS does publish a book on coming to the USA that is available in Spanish. It's a free pdf which you can find if you poke around on their website.

[brian&yani 0]

Look for local social agencies that provide regular social programming such as English classes or other commingling opportunities. I am in the exact same boat. My Dominican fiancée arrives in two weeks. She is not particularly religious so the church route doesn't work, but in my town there is a dense Spanish speaking population and as such, services agencies tailored to acclimating immigrants, both mom and child. I reached out to one of local agencies weeks ago to get the ball rolling because she may not realize what she faces but I do, and I will do whatever is needed to help her.

By the way the USCIS does publish a book on coming to the USA that is available in Spanish. It's a free pdf which you can find if you poke around on their website.

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it so much

[TBoneTX 45,319]

Mrs. T-B. isn't religious, either. The church route was simply a vehicle to get her amongst high-quality Spanish-speakers.