The Cleaning Expert

2019 n05
Yasmin was upset. She handed her quarterly inspection report to our culture coach, wondering why she was on the verge of being evicted. It said “uncleanliness,” but she kept her house clean and tidy. Our culture coach went to her apartment and found everything else clean, but the two bathrooms covered with mold and mildew.

Mold and mildew don’t grow in the dessert. It’s too dry. But here in East Tennessee, they can grow in a couple of days--just one of the thousands of things to which many immigrants and refugees must adjust!

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Our culture coach cleaned the first bathroom while Yasmin watched. Then, Yasmin cleaned the second while the coach supervised. Leaving the cleaning supplies with Yasmin afterward, the coach instructed Yasmin to pass along her new-found knowledge. Now Yasmin is known as the “cleaning expert” in her apartment complex. When other families have problems with “uncleanliness,” they go to her!

READY TO BE INVOLVED?
It’s not just mold and mildew. Many aspects of American life pass under our radar but create immense challenges for our newest neighbors. Would you like to build a relationship with an international family and help them learn to thrive here in Knoxville? Explore our page, How to Volunteer, to get started.