Visceral and Virtual Cultural Experience

Being aware of our own assumptions and biases as a counselor is important when working with clients, especially with clients who are culturally different than us. Understanding other cultural groups and populations' worldview, apart from our own, is crucial in the client-counselor relationship. This understanding can help build rapport, trust, empathy, and a good therapeutic relationship. Through this experience I have learned more about the Vietnamese culture and their value of collectivism. Acknowledging this value in a counseling relationship with a client of this culture will be important is assisting them effectively. I can support a student of this culture who is experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders by using Adlerian techniques or Family Systems theory. Using these techniques can help me understand the client as a part of their family and how this has impacted them. This culture's value of family may have an impact on how this client copes and manages issues in their lives.
To assist a client who is part of a lower SES, homeless, or is facing good insecurity and is experiencing mental health and substance abuse disorders, I would use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT can be effective when working with clients with psychological disorders or issues. Helping the client with their mental health may also assist the client to control their substance abuse. These disorders may come hand in hand, so I believe solving one issue can help with conquering another.

Here is a link for some ways that you can develop cultural competency from home to promote safety, due to COVID-19. Check it out!

https://www.goabroad.com/articles/how-to-experience-other-cultures

9 At-Home Cultural Immersion Activities for the Covid Era Stuck at home due to travel restrictions? There are plenty of cultural immersion activities you can do without traveling. Virtual tours, pen pals, and more!

Here are some resources and services that people in Winona and surrounding communities can utilize if they are dealing with food insecurity or financial hardships. I also have included the links to the websites that I've virtually visited for this project.

The Feast: Central Lutheran Church Winona-
https://www.centrallutheranchurch.org/the-feast/

Winona Volunteer Services Food Shelf-https://www.winonavs.org/client-services/food-shelf/

Winona Volunteer Services Home Delivered Meals-
https://www.winonavs.org/client-services/home-delivered-meals/

Southern Buffalo County Community Mobile Food Pantry-
608-687-8418
Local contact: Christy Helps- [email protected]

Rushford SEMCAC Food Shelf-https://www.semcac.org/outreach-services/food-shelves/

Wabasha-Kellogg Area Food Share-
http://wabashafood.com/index.html

Hunger Task Force of La Crosse Inc-
https://lacrossehtf.org

Catholic Charities La Crosee Food Pantry-
https://cclse.org/la-crosse-food-pantrymens-clothing-closet/

Salvation Army Food Pantry La Crosse-
https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/lacrosse/cure-hunger/

Saint Elizabeth Ann Setonn Food Pantry-
https://www.seaseton.org/Ministries/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1452

LaCrescent Food Shelf-
https://www.facebook.com/lacrescentfoodshelf/

Before going to Pho Tai, I felt excited but also nervous to try their food and walk into the restaurant. During this experience, I developed awareness of how little I knew about this culture. I wasn't sure what their menu would include or how the restaurant environment would feel. At the restaurant, I felt very welcomed and it was relaxing. It was a quiet spot to eat and enjoy company of others. Through this I gained a new perspective of the Vietnamese culture part of their worldview through food. I've learned that I love Vietnamese food and am excited to try other Vietnamese restaurants to expand my knowledge and competency with this culture.

Through observation while at the restaurant, I noticed that the Vietnamese culture is very family-orientated. Because the restaurant wasn't very busy at the time I went, the staff, all ate their meals together, some even sharing. While paying for my meal, I had a quick conversation with a worker at the restaurant which also gave me new insight of this culture. The worker mentioned that it was a family owned business and that most employees that work there are all related. Being this is a family-run restaurant, I saw that this culture values family relationships. The term collectivism came to mind during this experience because of the value that emphasizes unity between individuals rather than individualism. I have become aware that the Vietnamese culture is collectivist and that they value the needs of the group over the individual.

Pho Tai is a traditional Vietnamese restaurant that serves dishes in a low-key, quiet space. I visited this restaurant, which is located in Rochester, MN, and had the opportunity to experience new perspective on White privilege and how this minority culture navigates through society.

While at this eatery, I gained awareness of the Vietnamese culture. I saw how the minority culture navigates through their surroundings and the process of acculturation. Acculturation is the process of two cultures blending together, usually when a minority culture adapts with the dominant culture, which in this case is a White, middle-class society. I saw acculturation through certain parts of the menu, including some American style options while other dishes were ethnically Vietnamese in flavor and style. Acculturation was also shown through this experience because this restaurant allows the Vietnamese population to connect with their culture as well as White and other cultures to experience Vietnamese food and culture too.

To learn more about Pho Tai or if you are interested in eating there, I have included the link for you!
https://website--3428212098611576402217-vietnameserestaurant.business.site/?m=true

Food shelves can provide individuals and families with a variety of foods and the opportunity to help families' financial crisis with food donations. The second place I virtually visited was the Winona Volunteer Services website, which has a food shelf and also a home delivered meals program. The food shelf provides community members the opportunity to shop once a month and receive this service. This resource creates a client-centered food shelf setting to promote and respect individual choices. You are eligible to receive this food if you meet the income guidelines or participate in a federally funded program.

Due to COVID-19, there are restrictions in place for the safety of the community. All the aisles are one-way to promote social distancing, and one shopper can be in an aisle at a time. There may be longer wait times because of these restrictions and the need for this service.

The Home Delivered Meal program is a service ran by Winona Volunteer Services. Volunteers deliver meals to qualified individuals living in the city of Winona or Goodview. Individuals may receive meals for short-term and others for longer terms.

To be eligible, you must meet certain criteria, including inability to prepare meals due to disability, homebound or unable to drive, living alone, and more. Individuals receiving this support can be covered through a waiver program, or meals cost $5.35 if it is not covered.

As I virtually visited this website, I felt thankful that the Winona community has supports like this one. I have gained awareness of the need and importance for food shelfs and donations. Many individuals and families who are low-income or are faced with food insecurity rely on these services to feed their children and themselves. I was not aware of how little I knew about such resources before this experience. Through researching and visiting websites, I found a variety of food shelves and meal programs that the community can utilize.

Though I was unable to attend this service physically due to COVID-19, I researched the Feast through their website and gained new perspectives on what this program offers and who this service supports.
Central Lutheran Church volunteers take the time out of their week, every Wednesday, and cook a nutritious meal for the community. This service is open to anyone who is facing food insecurity. Because of the pandemic and for everyone's safety, the Feast is offering carry-out meals that you can pick up at their location.

Even without physically attending this service, I still gained awareness of the assumptions and biases that I had before enduring in this experience. At first, I thought that only low-income or the homeless population took part in these services. Boy, was I wrong! I've realized and acknowledged that this service is meant to bring our community closer together and make everyone, regardless or SES, feel welcomed. If I would have attended in person, I think I would've felt ashamed by walking in there, but after researching the Feast, my biases and assumptions changed. I've acknowledged that free meals are not only for the poor or finically unstable, but for all community members to feel accepted. This has taught me to evaluate my assumptions and biases before engaging in a new experience.

Because I am a school counselor in training, I can hopefully use this experience to assist students with recognizing their biases and assumptions. When we are faced with new opportunities, we may have preconceived thoughts or feelings about that experience. I want to teach students that though they may have these biases, they can also have an open mind to learn and grow from the new experiences.

This page was made for my Multicultural and Diversity class. The objective is to learn how minority/oppressed groups experience White culture and society currently.
Exploring local and community resources, such as restaurants, churches and businesses, that support cultures other than my own was an important step to growing my multicultural competency. Engaging in this process has also opened my eyes to how cultural and disadvantaged groups feel about White culture and today’s society. I virtually visited a few websites that provide resources to support food insecurity, families who are low-income and people struggling financially. The Feast, hosted by Central Lutheran Church volunteers, and Winona Volunteer Services, such as the food shelf and home delivered meals, are great local resources for people dealing with food insecurity and financial challenges. I also physically visited Pho Tai, a Vietnamese restaurant, to gain a new perspective of this culture, their business, and to try their yummy food!