Category Archives: Latest Stories

Mon été dans l’Ouest / My Summer Out West

MC40_BanffStreetLargerComme bien des jeunes Québécois, je suis partie dans l’Ouest canadien, à la recherche d’un emploi d’été et d’une immersion dans ma deuxième langue, l’anglais. J’avais 21 ans, un vélo de montagne, un sac de couchage et une grande soif d’aventure. Arrivée à Banff en avril 1994, un peu avant la saison touristique, j’ai séjourné à l’auberge de jeunesse le temps de me chercher du travail. L’endroit étant rempli de Québécois francophones, je me suis liée d’amitié avec une Japonaise qui m’a appris à compter dans sa langue, ce qui m’a été très utile pour servir les clients japonais à la boutique où j’ai finalement travaillé tout l’été.

Par l’entremise de nouveaux amis, j’ai rencontré un garçon charmant à Calgary, un artiste anglophone qui m’a donné envie d’oublier mes plans de rentrer au Québec. C’est vrai qu’il n’y a pas de meilleure manière de se familiariser avec une langue – ou d’oublier les différences de langue. Continue reading →

Slow Dance Down the Hall

MC40_feetWhen I was an undergraduate student living in Edmonton, I made friends with a cheerful, animated PhD in Mathematics, who was originally from Venezuela. We had lots of fun together, and he would often come visit or we would chat in the hall where we lived.

Inevitably, as we chatted, he would take a step towards me and I, feeling the space was too close, would take a step back. He would step forward again and I would step back.

We were both frank people, so eventually I asked him why he kept stepping in so close. He answered: because I kept moving away, and it seemed too far for talking. Thus we both realized that we each had different expectations of personal space.

After that I learned to consciously plant my feet in a conversation (with anyone) and let them decide how close or how far they need to stand to be comfortable. Over time I’ve learned to navigate conversations at distances that used to make me feel uncomfortable, although I still sometimes have to remind myself to avoid the shuffling “Canadian retreat”.

It’s a little thing, but goes a long way in developing rapport with others, and avoids the slow dance down the hall.

- Tiara in Vancouver

Intertwined: A Lived Experience

MC40_Annette-Lisa-RoseI grew up in a primarily Dutch community in Edmonton. I went to a Dutch church, a Dutch school, and while anyone was welcome, not many people of other ethnicities joined us. From birth to Grade 12, most of my friends were of Dutch descent.

This changed when I went to university. I didn’t cast off my Dutch friends, but started to diversify—not with any purposeful intent, but because in my new environment I was surrounded by diversity. I met my Chinese Canadian friends Lisa and Rose in my second year. Our friendship brought together a collection of Dutch and Chinese students who all became obsessed with dim sum lunches. We became part of each other’s families joining in celebrations from Chinese New Year’s to Sinter Klaas. I soon knew as many words in Cantonese as I knew in Dutch and I became an expert with chopsticks.

It didn’t take long to realize that there was little difference between the three of us. Our Canadianness outweighed our Dutch or Chinese heritage. Continue reading →

Contemplating a Kindergarten Lesson

MC40_Mitch-Kev-2My son Mitch and his best friend Kev went to school together from junior kindergarten through grade 12. When the boys were in senior kindergarten, the teacher did a class on how being different can be very cool. When Mitch came home he asked me the following questions…

Mitch: When I was a baby I got milk from you right?

Me: Yes that’s right.

Mitch: Was the milk white?

Me: Yes, why?

Mitch: Kev’s mom must have given him chocolate milk!

-MaryKay in Barrie, Ontario

 

From South Korea and Scotland to Small Town Canada

MC40_OrilliaSignThis story spans many years.

In 1964 my husband, 4-year-old son and I emigrated from Scotland to small town Ontario – Orillia, Stephen Leacock’s Mariposa. We were readily assimilated into the mainly white Caucasian population, many being second and third generation descendants of early settlers. It was an easy transition for us moving from one country to another. We were accepted and made welcome as there were several immigrant families from England and Scotland living there already along with a small, well established Italian community.

It was not the norm for aIl newcomers.

In 1967 I saw a young Asian couple with a little boy carrying their laundry to a nearby laundromat and commented to my husband on how strange and lonely it must be for them as they were the only Asian family in our small town. Continue reading →

40 Year Flashback

MC40_small-world-1If multiculturalism in Canada is 40, then that intersected with our first family trip to Disneyland. The ride that created the lasting memory was “It’s a Small World”, an ambling journey through many world cultures all represented by animatronic smiling dolls accompanied by a theme song heavy on the chorus and light on the lyrics.

What an impression that made – while the ride itself couldn’t have been more manufactured, the feeling I took away was one of being a little more grown-up, knowing that the world is after all, quite large and interesting and full of cultures that aren’t dolls after all.

- Lisa in Vancouver

A Walk in the Park

MC40_Deer_lake_bc_1Looking to enjoy some of the unseasonably nice weather recently, a friend invited me to a place in town I had heard of but really knew nothing about – Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, BC. While walking around this little oasis, I heard many different languages, accents from both east and west. Saw families and individuals of all colours, shapes and sizes picnicking, playing and enjoying each other’s company.

Being surrounded by so many different ethnicities and seeing people using the public space for pastimes and activities from so many different cultures – the diversity I witnessed and enjoyed allowed me to forget what city and country I was in. And if only for an afternoon, I felt like I was one who was on a great adventure to a faraway land trying to soak up the cultures of those around me.

- Eric in Vancouver

-Napa:  photo

Life With Grace

MC40_Grace_My mother was a homemaker and raised six children; our family relocated every three years with my father’s work. As time passed, I decided I too would serve my country and my community as a police officer; I also knew I wanted my children to have roots that would mitigate my shift work and my husband’s travel. How could I do it all?

The lady at the nanny agency put the pieces together. She had just received an application from a lady named Grace who had four children of her own. Grace wanted a job that was near her home and that would accommodate her own family care needs. It took only one meeting for Grace and I to decide we could work together. That day was also the beginning of a lifelong friendship. Whether scouting the garden shops together in the Spring or trading secret wish lists at Christmas, we have enjoyed each other’s company and supported each other when we were needed. Continue reading →

Two Worlds, One Student, and Lunch

MC40_LanguageSymbol2I had lunch a few days ago with a woman who had many ideas and tremendous energy. That much was clear to me, even though we didn’t speak the same language. We were meeting to explore the prospect of a collaboration that would involve my students. Fortunately, one of them joined us to translate.
I watched as this normally shy student was put in the position of translating, not just the words of a language, but the cultural nuances that came with them and all the complex details regarding the potential benefits of the project. Continue reading →