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The first time I saw, Nick Noorani, a video posted on a government website, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, where he shared his experience and own story of coming to Canada, I realized one important thing that has inspired me.
He said, ...people who have other friends and make connections to other people, other than your own culture, are the ones who stay happy and successful living in Canada. (I have paraphrased what he said on the video). And therefore, that is one of the secrets of staying happy of where you are. Because if you are happy, everything else falls into place. You make connections. You explore the new world. You get involved into your community. A community is not just one language, or one culture, or one neighbour. This is the starting place of a newcomers successful journey to a new career, a new life, a new family! Sure, I miss everything about the place I grew up, and miss the lifestyle I had, with familiar faces, places and activities. These things do not go away, it stays with us no matter where we go. I took these memories and who I was before I came to Canada, and turned them into strength, as opposed to distractions. I went to school and met new friends. I took part in workshops, orientations and group activities offered by settlement agencies and recreation centres where I live. I started friendships with people, other than my own native community. I participated in mentorship programs offered by non-profit agencies. As soon as I get a chance, I went to further my education and went back to college. I read literature, specialized in newcomers, such as pamphlets provided to me at the airport, flyers in the libraries, books that discuss about life in Canada. I got involved in some research projects , when I was invited to join a focus group, I agreed. networking is one of the most powerful tool of success , as a newcomer, most especially, since, we are starting a new life. It is really moving to a new area. It was hard to leave everything behind, especially if, like most newcomers who are coming within the last 5 years- we were highly educated. We owned our house. We owned a business. We had colleagues, and people whom we know for many many years, people whom we trust and worked with for many years. Now that we are finally here, by choice! we have been given an opportunity to prove ourselves again. Prove that we can obtain and finish an education. To prove that we can earn money , and own a house, in due time. To prove that we can establish a career. To prove that we can meet and keep new friendships, much like the same way we have done in our previous country. Coming to Canada should not change the way we were and who we are! Sure, there are changes - our emotions change the day we landed here in Canada, our physical environment is different and most of all, our economic status was significantly affected, from an Employed professional, to Unemployed professional. However, these things are temporary! This is not your permanent destination! Everyone has its way of dealing with frustrations, to me the best way to deal with these things, is that over the years, just as what I have mentioned, I have kept myself busy. I initiated contact with different people. I got involved in my community, who has a lot of things to offer, I made myself available to anything that is offered to me- from workshops, programs, activities and information meetings that were available in my community. I did not stay in my own comfort zone, which is, staying close and friends with my own culture who speaks the same language as I do. I met new people who speak my language, AND I met and befriend people who does not speak my language. That is when I started to feel connected in my own community! This is how I started to feel Canada, as my new home! Not a second home, as what other people described it! This is my story, and hope that a lot of you would feel the benefit of the things that I have done, for the first 3 months of my stay in Canada. I proved to myself that the same person who was successful back in my native country, can be successful here in Canada. and I did. I got my college education. I started my own family, with 3 children who were born in Canada. I have a circle of friends , who speaks, over 10 languages! I have a full-time job that, 3 years ago, I would have never thought possible! As for you, are you ready to prove to yourself that you can still be all of these things that you were before you came to Canada, a big question mark- only YOU can answer. Start your journey now, use the resources that are available to you. Once you start and keep going, do not look back and stop...picture your mind when you first coming out the airport, and saw the word bienvenue Canada, and you will feel, that you are welcome here in Canada and that YOU have a place, yet to be found and yet to be discovered! Good luck !
He said, ...people who have other friends and make connections to other people, other than your own culture, are the ones who stay happy and successful living in Canada. (I have paraphrased what he said on the video). And therefore, that is one of the secrets of staying happy of where you are. Because if you are happy, everything else falls into place. You make connections. You explore the new world. You get involved into your community. A community is not just one language, or one culture, or one neighbour. This is the starting place of a newcomers successful journey to a new career, a new life, a new family! Sure, I miss everything about the place I grew up, and miss the lifestyle I had, with familiar faces, places and activities. These things do not go away, it stays with us no matter where we go. I took these memories and who I was before I came to Canada, and turned them into strength, as opposed to distractions. I went to school and met new friends. I took part in workshops, orientations and group activities offered by settlement agencies and recreation centres where I live. I started friendships with people, other than my own native community. I participated in mentorship programs offered by non-profit agencies. As soon as I get a chance, I went to further my education and went back to college. I read literature, specialized in newcomers, such as pamphlets provided to me at the airport, flyers in the libraries, books that discuss about life in Canada. I got involved in some research projects , when I was invited to join a focus group, I agreed. networking is one of the most powerful tool of success , as a newcomer, most especially, since, we are starting a new life. It is really moving to a new area. It was hard to leave everything behind, especially if, like most newcomers who are coming within the last 5 years- we were highly educated. We owned our house. We owned a business. We had colleagues, and people whom we know for many many years, people whom we trust and worked with for many years. Now that we are finally here, by choice! we have been given an opportunity to prove ourselves again. Prove that we can obtain and finish an education. To prove that we can earn money , and own a house, in due time. To prove that we can establish a career. To prove that we can meet and keep new friendships, much like the same way we have done in our previous country. Coming to Canada should not change the way we were and who we are! Sure, there are changes - our emotions change the day we landed here in Canada, our physical environment is different and most of all, our economic status was significantly affected, from an Employed professional, to Unemployed professional. However, these things are temporary! This is not your permanent destination! Everyone has its way of dealing with frustrations, to me the best way to deal with these things, is that over the years, just as what I have mentioned, I have kept myself busy. I initiated contact with different people. I got involved in my community, who has a lot of things to offer, I made myself available to anything that is offered to me- from workshops, programs, activities and information meetings that were available in my community. I did not stay in my own comfort zone, which is, staying close and friends with my own culture who speaks the same language as I do. I met new people who speak my language, AND I met and befriend people who does not speak my language. That is when I started to feel connected in my own community! This is how I started to feel Canada, as my new home! Not a second home, as what other people described it! This is my story, and hope that a lot of you would feel the benefit of the things that I have done, for the first 3 months of my stay in Canada. I proved to myself that the same person who was successful back in my native country, can be successful here in Canada. and I did. I got my college education. I started my own family, with 3 children who were born in Canada. I have a circle of friends , who speaks, over 10 languages! I have a full-time job that, 3 years ago, I would have never thought possible! As for you, are you ready to prove to yourself that you can still be all of these things that you were before you came to Canada, a big question mark- only YOU can answer. Start your journey now, use the resources that are available to you. Once you start and keep going, do not look back and stop...picture your mind when you first coming out the airport, and saw the word bienvenue Canada, and you will feel, that you are welcome here in Canada and that YOU have a place, yet to be found and yet to be discovered! Good luck !
