Gloria came to the United States from Puerto Rico to study signlanguage and interpreting. There are very few people in Puerto Ricowith these skills. Her husband is disabled, his disability check isnot enough to support a family of five, and she wants training sothat she can help support her family.
From her pastor in Puerto Rico, she learns about a trainingprogram at a university in the southeastern United States. Inaddition, the program pays each participant a stipend for livingexpenses as well as tuition and fees. Gloria moves to the UnitedStates and begins the program. Her husband and three childreneventually join her, and they move to a two-bedroom apartment inthe university housing complex. In addition to crowded livingconditions, neither the husband nor the children speak English. Herhusband never leaves the apartment. They are settled one month whenthe problems begin.
1. What are your initial impressions of Gloria?
2. What do you know about Puerto Rico and its culture?
3. Indifity the challenges that you would face working withGloria, who has a different cultural background than you?
4. What skills would you use to encourage her to share values,preferences, and other information about herself and her situation?Provide examples.
