On Tour with Tribute Tours...
Immigration and Adaptation
How Immigrant Families Excel in North America
by Haskell G. Edwards, D.Min.
Paperback, 254 pages
Published September 15th 2011 by Langdon Street Press
Premise:
Adaptation is a must. But how does one go about doing this? It takes great planning, finances, and courage to leave one's homeland; but then finding support and comfort or anything of familiarity in a new land presents a whole new set of challenges. The stress is overwhelming. How do you gain the happiness and success you dreamed of attaining in the new land?
Immigration and Adaptation is here to help you navigate through these challenges. With the information herein, immigrants coming to North America will be prepared to identify and resolve social, family, and personal challenges with confidence. Mr. Edwards' vast professional experience with diverse immigrant families, as well as his own personal journey and genuinely encouraging approach, not only help immigrant families adapt to new surroundings, but grow stronger together in their journey.
This book includes:
- A family wellness test
- Step-by-step guidelines
- Real-life examples
- Inspirational stories
- Family, parenting, and spousal exercises
- Illustrations
- Single-parenting advice
Immigration and Adaptation also includes tips on: building self-confidence, resolving conflicts, tuning communication skills, networking and building social supports, budgeting, parenting, enhancing spousal relationships, helping teenagers adjust, communicating effectively, and more.
My Review:
This was an emotional read for me. Yea, I know it's not a novel, but there's plenty of story from the author's examples from experience. But more than that, this book celebrates the homeland roots, encouraging memories, while also filing them away to accept the new & different adoptedland.
The author believes strongly in the ability of immigrants to overcome the challenges of adjusting to their new home. He repeats throughout the book that the choice is being comfortable nowhere, or adapting... Adaptation is a Must with the strength of conviction, that it is possible.
The emotional part? The author gets so many things so right. Like, "Home" always feels far away. It's hard to let go of your homeland and embrace the adoptedland. But that feeling of "home" is attached to a period of time in the past that doesn't actually exist anymore. Accepting that makes it easier to move on and create a new "home". Anyone who has moved has felt that and can relate, even if immigrants feel it more intensely. Just listen to my husband share stories from Montana!! Lol.
Some of the discussions the author urges brought back memories for me. My parents asked us kids what new words we'd learned after school every day when we first moved to England when I was ten. Sharing with them helped me see embarrassing situations from a different perspective and I was able to laugh and embrace the differences, instead of draw away from them. The end of each chapter includes an exercise. Some are just discussions between family members. Some are writing down goals. All of them are easy and build upon the previous one, strengthening that conviction that it is possible to adapt.
This is a fast-paced read for anyone who is an immigrant or moved from one place to another or knows someone who has... which is just about everyone. The author daringly tackles parenting issues with great examples that I could relate to as a teenager and a mom. *snort* He encourages spouse communication and accepting the differences each face, outlining how northern America defines men and women rolls so differently than many other places in the world. He clarifies the economic challenges - the disparity between hopes and reality. He breaks down the adaption process into do-able steps. He uses great Bible verses, but broadly addresses all cultures and beliefs.
Personally, I had a few TaDa! moments - those heart-swelling, tear stinging, "oh yea, it's like that, alright" moments. I can see how Edwards is addressing an issue he understands personally and has helped others overcome. I'm grateful he wrote it down. So many people move and yet feel isolated, but many challenges are similar. There's comfort in facing the same issues and it's heartening to hear it from someone who is convinced that success is possible.
Curious if you'll feel the same connection? Read the first chapter for yourself!!
About the Author:
Haskell G. Edwards, D. Min. has vast professional experience for more than forty years as pastor, administrator, family therapist, and director of a family therapy center. His extensive experience gained from working with immigrant families in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic setting, as well as his own personal journey and genuinely encouraging approach, positions him not only to help immigrant families adapt to new surroundings, but grow stronger together in their journey.
He has successfully held immigrant seminars, workshops, and lectures throughout North America. Now a retired pastor, he continues to help immigrant families of a wide cultural heritage transition into their new homeland.
Find & Follow:
Blog Tour - catch all the reviews & giveaways!!
Get your copy!
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-a-Million
E-Book pdf
Thank you, Tribute Tours, for the print copy to review!
