Seeking Refuge in the Future

While thousands of refugees have already arrived in Toronto, many more are expected to follow. I spoke with my friend Hinna Hatif, who was a refugee before moving to Canada 14 years ago, to get an idea of how her situation, attitude, and perspective differs from that of other immigrants.

Where did you emigrate from?

My family and I moved to Canada from India but I am originally from Afghanistan. We took refuge in India after the civil war started in Afghanistan and survival became difficult. The life threatening circumstances drove us out of our country, which my family never intended to leave.

Why did you come to Canada?

Most of my family migrated to Europe, which is where we were also headed but they advised us to move to Canada because it would be easier for us to advance here since we all knew english. Members of my family also lived in Toronto and were very happy here, which made the decision much easier for us.

How were the first ten years like for you and your family?

The first ten years were great and so were the last four years. Every moment spent in Canada is a moment to be thankful for. Our lives in India were very different. We were living comfortably however we were very distant from all our relatives. We were not able to travel with our Afghan passports because a lot of countries do not issue visas on Afghan passports and so we were not able to see our families unless they visited us.

My mom was only able to see her family after we received our Canadian passports. I will never forget the day I met some of my family for the first time in Europe after 16 years of being separated from them.

What are you up to now?

I work as the Administrative Support to the Marketing and Communications team at OntarioMD, which is a non-for-profit organization that certifies companies who provide physicians and clinics with Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). They also work on new initiatives to improve Ontario’s health care.

Over the years I have been very involved in the community especially the Afghan community in terms of running to become the president of the Afghan Student’s Association at York University. I have always enjoyed organizing events and getting the community together and involved.

A young Hinna celebrating her birthday with her grandparents in India.

How have other members of your family adjusted?

My dad work as a mechanic with his brother. They have a garage and a dealership in Toronto and love what they do. My mom works at a daycare right by our house, and since she loves children, she naturally enjoys her job as well.

My sister wants to become a police officer and serve the city that gave her a new life. She is in her final years of completing Seneca College’s Social Work program. My little brother is 12 but he has a lot of aspirations. He wants to become a professional soccer player when he grows up.

Biggest struggle you faced when you first came to Toronto?

The cold…definitely the cold. We landed in Canada on a cold winter day in February, which is one of the coldest months of the winter. Having lived in a hot country for many years, it was hard for me to even adjust my breathing in such cold temperatures but I learned.

What shocked you the most when you came here?

A lot of things! I remember the first thing I smelled as we left customs was the smell of coffee. It was very alien to me and until today the smell of Tim Hortons coffee reminds me of my first day in Canada. I also remember looking out the window of our room in COSTI Immigrant Services, which is where we stayed for two days before moving into my uncle’s house, and seeing snow for the first time. It was always a dream of mine to see real snowflakes and I couldn’t wait to go outside and play in the snow.

I was also amazed at the fact that you could drink water straight from the tap because tap water was clean. In India we had to boil our water in order to drink it since it wasn’t safe. Our electricity would also often go out and it was always the worst during the hot summer days. I remember being amazed that electricity was always on in Canada. I will never forget the nights my family and I spent staying up all night because it was too hot to sleep and there was no electricity so we had to go to the roof of our house and sleep on cots in order to get some fresh air, but the air was never fresh, just recycled, polluted air and lots of mosquitos.

Any tips for other refugees coming to Toronto?

Please take advantage of the education system in Toronto and in Canada. Educate yourself to your fullest capacity. I don’t know where or what I would be doing if I was still in Afghanistan or in India and sometimes even thinking about it scares me. Our parents make a very hard journey that we as their children take for granted. It’s not easy to leave everything and everyone you know behind but they do it for us so my advice to newcomers is to make your parents proud and make something out of yourselves so that you can help support them the way that they helped support you.

If you’d like to learn more about Hinna and her news broadcasting work with Vibe FM, you can check out her page here.

Albanian Born, Canadian Raised

Marvin was born in Elbasan, Albania, and moved to Canada when he was only eight years old. Although I usually only post about people who have been in Toronto for ten years or less, today I thought I would take a different perspective and see what it’s like for people who grew up here in surroundings much different from their parents.

So first things first, why did you come to Canada? And why Toronto specifically?

We came to Canada because it offered better opportunities and education. There was nothing specific about Toronto aside from it just happened to be the place we came to.

How long have you been living in Toronto for?

About 16 years now.

What do you do now?

At the moment, I’m a masters student at Ryerson University studying biomathematics.

What were the early years like for you and your family?

The first few years were difficult, but as time progressed it became easier. When we first came here we stayed in a one bedroom apartment, and I remember sleeping on the sofa for a while. Luckily, my aunt moved here before us so it was a lot easier to get settled.

Biggest struggle you faced when you first came to Toronto?

Like most people, it was the language barrier. It was easier for me to learn because I was young, my parents had a harder time

It seems like family played a big role in your move here. Do you still have family in Albania?

Yes, my grandparents are still there along with some aunts and uncles. I’ve never been back, but they like to visit once in while. I’ve lived in the same neighbourhood since we came here, and while we do like to be near family it’s also because a lot of our family friends from Albania live here as well.

What was it like growing up here for you? Did you have any trouble adjusting to school?

No, not really. The school system here is very welcoming to newcomers, and my school offered ESL classes for new immigrants. There were a lot of Albanian kids at my school too, so we all pretty much grouped together naturally and became friends. We’re all still close friends and live in the same area – but of course, we have friends from all cultural backgrounds now.

I think the European culture has remained strong in our house because my parents did not grow up here, so as a result they were more lax in some areas, for instance letting me drink before I was 19, but were stricter in some other aspects. My younger brother, on the other hand, was born here and he gets everything!

 

 

So You Want To Be Canadian, Eh?

Becoming a citizen is the next step for many immigrants who have decided to call Canada their home. Of course, most of the information you need to apply for citizenship can be found online, so there’s really no need to repeat that information here (the process is long and involves substantial paperwork).

That being said, having become a citizen in August 2014, I would like to share with you three fond memories from my citizenship journey.

1. The Citizenship Test

Do you know how many electoral districts there are in Canada? The answer is 308.

Don’t feel bad if you didn’t know that, the only reason I do is because it was an actual question on my citizenship test (along with questions of who founded hockey, and the history of the Peace Tower).

If you’ve successfully applied to be a citizen, the next thing you will receive is a notification that you’ve been summoned for a citizenship test, along with a study guide.

The citizenship study guide.

Preparing for this test was one the most exciting parts of the entire process, simply because you learn so much about Canada and get to show off your knowledge.

There are different ways to study for this test. If you’re super studious like my Mom was, you can spend weeks reading this booklet, highlighting and making little notes in it. If, on the other hand, you’re pretty confident (read: lazy) and know the basics of Canadian politics and history, you can probably just read the book once and google “citizenship Canada practice tests.” I mean, we both got 10/10 in the end, so it’s really up to you.

Word of advice though, don’t even try to cheat from your family members taking the test alongside you. Not only will it lead to dire consequences, everyone is given a different test anyways, so your answers will all be wrong.

2. The Citizenship Ceremony

This is it. The big day.

The crown jewel of the citizenship process is without a doubt the swearing in ceremony. On this day you will see soon-to-be Canadians of all ethnic backgrounds gathering to take a pledge that will change their family history. There isn’t really a formal dress code, but most people tend to dress up for the occasion, some more than others. For instance, I saw one family dressed in full-on suits, including the baby, and another woman wearing the most beautiful sari I had ever seen.

The actual ceremony itself is pretty quick. After swearing the oath and singing the national anthem, everybody gets called up one by one to receive their citizenship certificate, shake the judge’s hand, and then sign some documents. After that, the judge will give a moving speech about being Canadian, and then everyone lines up to to take a tonne of photos with her and the Canadian flag (like tourists, ironically).

The Canadian starter kit.

Since Canadians are so generous, you’ll also walk away with a swag bag full of goodies – a starter pack to becoming Canadian if you will. These include a mini Canadian flag, a book and poster of Canadian symbols, a 50% off VIA Rail discount coupon, and a Cultural Access Pass that gains you free entry into any Canadian museum and park for a year. The pass was particularly useful and I miss having that most of all.

3. The Aftermath

I remember my friend, who had been a PR (permanent resident) in Canada for many years, telling me about why she never applied to be citizen:

“You get everything Canadians get as a PR, except you can’t vote, so there’s really no need to become a citizen. Why bother?” she told me.

When I heard that, I did wonder if I was just wasting my time – I mean you still get free healthcare and OSAP no matter what, right?

But I’m happy to say that she was wrong. It’s been almost two years since I became a citizen now, and it’s interesting to see how how my life has changed since then. I’ve voted in two elections, become more politically aware, and am eligible for scholarships, grants, and government jobs that I wasn’t before.

I’m also treated differently when I travel. Not only can I go to most countries safely without a visa, I notice that people are kinder when they see my Canadian passport, versus when I had my Indonesian one before. I guess Canadians are loved the world over.

Aside from the obvious perks, it’s also great to be fully invested in this nation’s future. After struggling to get here and living here for so many years, it’s a wonderful feeling to know that you are now a citizen and belong to this country’s unique mosaic.

So now that you know my citizenship story, what was yours like? For those of you born Canadian, what has your experience been?

 

 

Succeeding in the Moment

In only five years since moving to Toronto from Lahore, Pakistan, Momin has accomplished what many international students strive to achieve.

Why did you come to Canada? And why Toronto specifically?

I moved to Toronto for university. I chose U of T because of the variety of disciplines that i could study and because it represented an opportunity to be immersed in a truly global environment.

What do you do now?

I’m currently head of community and social media at UrbanToronto, which a news website focusing on real estate development, urban politics and city-focused news. My undergraduate degree is in Urban Studies and Economic Geography, and I have work experience in both the digital media and non-profit environs so the position was a great fit for me. It allows me to use my city-building background and digital media interests at the same time.

Biggest struggle you faced when you first came to Toronto?

My biggest struggle was adjusting to the differences between Canadian and American culture. Having grown up on american pop culture and having also lived there as a toddler, I didn’t know how different Canadian culture to be. I was wonderfully surprised to find that Canadian culture is warmer, more welcoming and has a commitment to inclusivity and diversity unparalleled amongst major developed nations.

Momin graduated from the University of Toronto in 2015.

What shocked you the most when you came here?

What shocked me most about Canada was the high amounts of visibility that minorities have in society here. The immersion process and how it can work successfully was a pleasant surprise.

What do you like most about Toronto?

The pace. It’s both fast and slow at the same time, which is rare for a city as booming as it is.

Any tips for newcomers or refugees coming to Toronto?

Have an open mind – without it you may cut yourself off from what makes life here so attractive.

Helena’s Story: From House to Hospital

Occasionally, I’ll post a profile of a recent immigrant to Toronto (ten years or less), along with stories of their struggles, successes, and advice to newcomers. Here is the first.

Name: Helena

Country of origin: Jakarta, Indonesia

Time in Toronto: Six years

Why did you choose to come to Canada, and Toronto specifically?

Because Canada has the same values that I believe in. Toronto is the money capital of Canada, and my thinking was it would provide more opportunities if we were to start from the ground up.

Biggest struggle you faced when you first came to Toronto?

Trying to break into the job market; I was totally clueless as to how to build a proper resume. I was a homemaker for 20 years before I came here, and was trying to start over with just a high school diploma!

What do you do now?

I am an administrative assistant in a hospital setting. It started out as volunteering as part of my internship for a diploma program I was doing at Herzing College. I stayed for seven months volunteering in various administrative offices when an opportunity broke open. It was a temporary seating for a secretary going on her honeymoon for 3 weeks. She was an assistant to a surgeon.

So how did you go from there to a full-time position?

I guess it matters a lot when you are not just doing your job because it is required of you, but also to show your dedication and intention to actually make improvements because you care. I gave my best, and the surgeon actually wanted me to stay in their department. Another opening happened to materialize, and I got the interview. It was a part time position, and I got a probationary month. I came in everyday, as in working full time, but was hired part time. I did it because I wanted to get the job done well. I guess the efforts and attitude showed, and by the third month I was offered a full-time permanent position.

From then on, it got busier, I learned more, and another responsibility, a challenging one was added, almost a year into the job. I was assigned to run a sub specialty clinic with 7 doctors in the team. I am into the fourth year now, and am still learning and developing new systems to match the speed at which the clinic is expanding.

How have other members of your family adjusted?

They have adjusted really nicely and quite effortlessly. My eldest is working as a clinic assistant in a community health centre while continuing her French, and her sister is pursuing her master’s degree.

What do you like most about Toronto?

It’s pace and busyness– The sense that working hard will bring results.

Any tips for newcomers coming to Toronto looking to find work?

If I look back now, it was not experience that put me where I am today. It was determination and strong conviction that I could be a great contribution, that I could make things better. The volunteering part is important because you get to know what is required for a job, and of course you have to like the nature of the job.

I guess the key is never to stay comfortable, the challenges you face can be the stepping stones to more success. You also have to be willing to learn and change. Every country has its own culture, so you have to be open to adjust with the existing standards in order to be accepted.

 

Welcome to Toronto!

When I first came to Toronto six years ago, I faced challenges that most new immigrants faced. Trying to find a place to live, figuring out how to get around, what winter wear to buy, how to fit in–you get the picture.

With that in mind, I started this blog as a way to help the expected rush of immigrants coming to Toronto adjust to their new, and often unexpected, lives.

Canadians welcoming the first Syrian refugee family at Pearson Airport, Toronto. Photo credit: Domnic Santiago

Every week I will be posting about an issue or topic that will help people become acquainted with Toronto, as well as sharing my own experiences on how to get by.

I will also be posting a profile of a recent immigrant (approximately ten years or less) and their accomplishments every two weeks or so. While this does provide insight into the struggles faced by newcomers in Toronto, it also serves as an advice forum- sharing stories from one immigrant to another, so to speak.

Above all else, the purpose of this blog is to encourage those who have come here to strive for greatness, and to remain positive of what the future holds for them and their families (regardless of what life throws at them).

I mean, this is Toronto after all, where anything is possible.