This is the beginning of my series of blog posts. There are things I learned after immigrating to Canada that I wish I knew sooner. I gained this knowledge from personal experience and from other newcomers I’ve met.
When I was a child, I dreamed of living in a Western country. I looked forward to the opportunities and freedom I would have there. I wanted to see grass and snow. I wanted to play sports in the park with other kids. Then I was lucky enough to move to Canada and do all that. I love living in Canada, but it is neither the utopia nor the isolated forest that I imagined it to be.
Here are ten things that define the immigration experience, and the lessons from them:
#1 Learn the official languages.
Canada has two official languages: English and French. Speaking at least one of these languages before travelling to Canada will help you adapt easier and faster to the new country. Speaking both of these languages is not mandatory, but it increases your social and career opportunities. Explore my website for English and French learning resources.
#2 Expect Financial struggles
This rings true for some newcomers more than others. It is best to have a long-term financial plan. There are government aid programs to financially support refugees and immigrants. However, they are not a guarantee. Many newcomers even refuse to rely on these programs. Unfair discrimination in hiring rarely happens, but racism can be subtle. In contrast, there are affirmative action policies that bring racial diversity to workplaces.
#3 A supportive community is essential.
Who you travel with shapes your journey. Moving to Canada is easier if you already have family here, and harder if you arrive with children. It is good to seek help when it is available, but it is difficult to trust others. It took time for me to reach out and receiving help at school, but it relieved a lot of stress. Integrating with people who are Canadian-born from the start ensures thriving as early as possible. I am glad I did not limit my social circle to friends of Middle Eastern, Arab, or Muslim backgrounds.
#4 Following the law is expected.
This goes from jaywalking to house fixtures. In some countries, written law is different from its application in the community. Not in Canada. It is inconvenient to the small habits of many immigrants, but it also means more security and respect of their human rights (compared to other countries).
#5 Careers move slowly.
It can take at least ten years to reach financial stability and become established in a career. Some newcomers have to start from the bottom many times. Which means moving to different parts of town, to different cities, or different provinces. Many immigrants are shocked to learn that they have to get re-educated and re-licensed to continue their work in Canada. Post-secondary education could add to household debts, and it’s difficult to study while raising a family. Other immigrants take the career makeover path but often have to start from scratch as well. Being patience with life goals is necessary.
#6 Weather talk is normal.
The weather is a daily subject, and it’s no wonder. In Ontario, the weather can shift from sunny to cloudy to rainy in the span of the same day. I wonder whether to pack sunglasses or an umbrella on my daily outings. Meanwhile, climate change is consistently on the news and environmental laws are in effect. Interest in protecting the environment is one of the things I appreciate most in Canada, but I can’t deny that it leads to daily confusion. Each city has a different recycling program, for example.
#7 Promoting yourself gets you ahead.
One of the first things I learned about starting a career in Canada is the importance of networking. Yet, I was raised in a culture that valued being humble, which made me a little shy. Achieving high education alone is not enough to compete in Canada’s job market. Even if I were a doctor or an engineer, I need basic business skills to “sell” my qualifications. It’s comforting to have equal employment opportunities as a legal requirement, but I have to get noticed first. It sounds easy, but it is cryptic for a newcomer. I have often asked “How much should I stand out without employers and colleagues seeing me as an outsider? How much should I blend into the workplace culture without losing my authenticity?” I am still exploring answers to these questions.
#8 Winter months are limiting.
Physically, snow and ice create a driving and walking hazard. This makes it harder for people, especially newcomers to enjoy activities outside of the home. It’s disappointing that I cannot go out in winter as much as I do in the summer. Mentally, I feel tired and I have low moods more often during that season. I’ve noticed this with fellow Middle Eastern newcomers as well. Doctors call this condition Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D). Some of the ways to limit this affect is to spend more time in the sun and take vitamin D supplements. The good news is over several years, I got more used to the harsh winters.
#9 Changing cities is common.
When making the decision to move to Canada, many immigrants do not realize the differences between Canadian cities. For example, Montreal has more francophones than in Toronto, while Vancouver is expensive and more prone to natural disasters. Mid-sized and large cities can provide different things. Bigger cities are more crowded but have more career opportunities. They also have larger immigrant communities from a wider variety of countries. Smaller municipalities have more quiet, spacious, and safe environments. They are better for retirement, studying, or raising families, especially because of lower housing prices. As a young professional, these differences caused me to move from my hometown into a big city, where I felt like a fresh immigrant all over again.
#10 Frequent travel to the USA
It is easier to travel to the United States if you’re from Canada. I know people from my hometown who regularly cross into New York, for example. The two countries share a border and English as an official language. Oddly though, they do not use the same measurement system. The USA uses the imperial system while Canada uses the metric system like most of the world. This is important to remember while driving from Canada to the USA.
Some retired Canadians have homes in Florida and southern states. They fly there to spend the winter months then return to Canada during the warmer months. This impressive “snowbird” lifestyle is an aspiration for many newcomers and Canadians.
At the end of the day, I am proud to be Canadian and I am thankful to have grown up in this beautiful land. That said, being a first-generation immigrant makes it more challenging to reach my social and career goals. I try to enjoy the journey as best as I can.