Acculturation: Bosnians in Utica

Our task in this chapter is to review what we have learned about the resettlement experience of these Bosnian families in light of what we know about the families themselves and in terms of the features of their host community—Utica, NewYork. Our research, and that of others (Colic-Peisker, 2003; Colic-Peisker & Tilbury, 2003; Colic-Peisker & Walker, 2003), suggests that the resettlement experience of refugees and their approach to acculturation are largely shaped by the interaction of two sets of variables, namely the characteristics of the refugees themselves and the conditions they encounter in the host society. The salient characteristics of the refugees include their social capital, that is, their education, skills and aptitudes, their age on arrival, and their ability to speak or to learn to speak English. Their age on arrival often determines their ability and willingness to learn the language. Finally, the resettlement experience can also be critically affected by the refugees' experiences in war and transit.