Cross-cultural problems for Southeast Asian refugee minors

The process of assimilation is both painful and rewarding to the refugee and the people of the host country. Throughout the history of the United States, people have found creative ways to deal with cross-cultural differences. As illustrated in the composite case illustration, the resolutions involve overt adoption of the host culture's customs, acceptance of the refugee's cultural customs, compromise by both cultures, and peaceful coexistence of the two cultures. The broad issue is how a society responsibly assimilates groups of people with different cultures and customs in a way that does no condemn any culture and allows the refugees to become self-sufficient members of society. The struggles touched upon in this article do not stop after the first year of the refugee's resettlement. The process of assimilation of a group of people into mainstream society generally takes about three generations. For the refugees, it is a life-long struggle between the "old ways" and the "new ways" in their own lives, as well as in the lives of their children.