Web: Click here for the Spanish language version of this article

When one immigrates to another country in which your native language is not spoken, the adaptation process can be difficult. Well, depending on your ability to speak the other language you will confront communication issues. New words, different meanings and diverse accents and intonations are a few of the obstacles that immigrants from non-English speaking origins will encounter on a daily basis. This problem becomes even more serious when one is diagnosed HIV positive as the logical reaction to this news is concern about how to communicate one’s needs appropriately. You want to gather all the information possible and to convey your feelings in a foreign language, to speak it and above all to understand it.

Being diagnosed HIV+

I was diagnosed HIV positive about 7 months ago. It was a heavy blow and one of the many questions I asked myself was how to communicate in a formal sense to doctors, medical personnel and groups which offer support. I also wanted to communicate with other positive men who, like myself, were recently diagnosed with HIV. I discovered that this is a process which unfolds daily, and it begins on the day one receives his diagnosis. Once you begin to confront your new reality, I also learned that you can lose some details in the communication process. There is so much more to gain than there is to lose in this process, although at first these gains reveal themselves bit by bit.

Fortunately for me, my ability to speak some English allowed me to communicate appropriately with my specialist in hospital. As I was conscious that the information was not being absorbed 100%, I could ask a translator to assist when it was necessary. And since then, my physical condition has improved. As to the social aspect of my condition, I was able to ask for support at ACON and utilize their services for newly diagnosed positive gay men. They referred me to Genesis at the PLC. Logically this workshop would be in English and my greatest fear was that I would not be able to understand what was being said. Perhaps I would miss out on important information and I also worried that others would not be able to understand me and that I could not express myself correctly. Ultimately, I decided that this experience was not to test my command of the English language but rather something more important. So I decided to attend the weekend workshop, despite my fears.

Genesis workshop

It was an excellent decision to attend the Genesis workshop, and one which I shall never regret. From the moment I arrived, I was made to feel comfortable and with regards to the language barrier I felt at ease and felt that people understood me. My fears dissipated thanks to the human warmth that I discovered at Genesis and also thanks to the facilitators who were all too ready to ease my doubts. And it wasn’t only the organizers, but the participants as well who assisted me in comprehending that which I did not understand. This has been one of the most gratifying experiences which I have had in the past few years.

My fears originated from the fact that I have only lived here three years, so my command of the language of Shakespeare is not yet total.  I decided to apply some of the strategies learnt during my study of the English language. The first strategy is to remain calm and allow the information to flow and arrive by itself. The second strategy is to focus on the principle idea, which is generally given by the title of the discussion. In this way I could anticipate what was being said and this contributed to a greater understanding of the subject at hand. The third strategy was to ask for clarification when I had a question, not worrying if I was expressing myself correctly or with proper grammar. It helped to remind myself that this was a workshop in how to live positively with HIV and not an English class, though it was a fantastic opportunity to practice the language.

My absorption of the material during the weekend was assisted in great part by the format of the workshop. We did not focus only on one theme but rather delved deeply into the issues at hand. This increased my comprehension of the subject discussed. In this way, for example, I was able to understand that I could live a long and healthy life with my new condition.  I learned about the structure of the HIV virus and how it progresses in the body, about treatments available and how to formulate a relationship with your doctor. I learned about sexually transmitted infections and how to protect oneself and others as well. And I also learned of the care one must take with respect to disclosing ones status. The pamphlets and publications that we were given and which I later read at home assisted further in helping me understand a bit more about all of this.

I am sure that I missed out on a few details, but I sincerely believe that I was able to absorb the most important things. These things were processed, understood and are being applied in my life on a daily basis. Furthermore, the sense that I am not alone in this and that others like myself are working to live healthy, fulfilling lives with HIV is encouraging. I found a place in the PLC, where I can express my thoughts and feelings and where I feel that I am an improved human being with more internal strength and hopes than before I was diagnosed.

- Jose

Find out more

Web: ACON's Genesis group

More info

Contact: ACON’s HIV Men's Health Promotion Team

Tel: (02) 9699 8756

Email: srodriguez@acon.org.au