Coming Home to a Place You’ve Never Been Before – Casa Grande

What is it like moving to a place where you do not know the language or culture? Where you do not have any family or friends? Where you do not know what you are eating or where you are sleeping? And now it is your home! Could you do it? Who in your family did it? In this presentation, participants have the opportunity to explore migration to Arizona, share their family history in migrating, and discuss their experiences being welcomed, as well as how they welcome new arrivals.

Rodo spent his first few years in a tiny village called Rijeka Crnojevića, Montenegro—former Yugoslavia. His family fled to Austria and later immigrated to the United States. He speaks, reads, and writes Serbo-Croatian and German. Interestingly, the Montenegrin connection brought him to Arizona in 1974. This diversity of cultures and languages inspire Rodo to read, write, and enjoy sharing stories. As a teacher, translator, mentor, and community organizer, he has worked with people of all ages—from birth to over 100—and in numerous settings, including over 25 years at the university level. Rodo‘s award-wining work embraces varied storytelling, the latest being six fun children’s books.