Many people from my birth country have asked me this question:
"what is it like for an immigrant living in Canada"
My answer is always a generalization, as my experience can't be uasd as the only criteria.
However, there is one underlying fact "IT IS NOT AS EASY AS MANY MAY SAY".
One must be prepared for rejection and racism, but you should also know when and what battles to fight: you can't win them all.
Recently there were two letters published in the Gleaner, so it started me thinking that I may issue this session on Immigration to North America and Canada, in particular.
Here is a quote from one letter:
Consider going back to college to get a Canadian certificate; they tend to discriminate against all others, including those from the USA. Always remember, Canadians are not as open as Americans - they just like to project themselves as such.
Please take the time to read the letters "here" and "here"
The Canadian Society prides itself to be a mosaic, however, the social system is complex and racism is systemic and not as blatant as in the USA.
Before anyone migrats to the US or Canada, I would stronly suggest to them to think very hard and be sure of what you want to accomplish, There is no safety net to bail you out if you make any mistake. If you migrate to an area with colder climates, remember that it is like living in a freezer and there is no neighbour that will come over to give you a quart of milk or provide warmth, you are on your own.
One last word of warning ..... it is not your country and you must always focus on why you are living in the foriegn country.
5 comments:
Very good and informative post! Leaving ones home country to live in another is not a bed of roses, those who have plans to migrate must remember it's not a bed of roses, but a challenge we must overcome.
Morpheus....your last paragraph is the most important one....it is not our birth country and therefore if you take it up on yourself to leave your home country, you must learn to accept what comes your (figuratively speaking)way. One just has to decide what they want from the experience.
@stunner
Thanks for dropping in and leaving your valid comments, it is appreciated.
@JG
Your taking the time to comment in my blog is highly gratifying, and I thank you.
You are correct in saying that one must decide what they want from the experience.
This topic seems to have hit a discordant note with some readers.
I am NOT implying that Jamaicans should NOT immigrate to the USA or Canada (that is two negatives), but they should be aware of the vast culture difference. Some may attach racism to education and upbringing, and that is a very naive outlook. They should experience "racial profiling", which has nothing to do with education, but in realistic terms the individual is "branded" by authorities.
EXAMPLE: Black man driving a BMW/Lexus/MB, not breaking any laws, will be stopped by the police, checked and released. Why does that happen?..... "racial profiling", as ALL black men in that type of car is "profiled" as a POTENTIAL or POSSIBLE drug dealer. That has nothing to do with his "educational background".
Each persons experience will be different, and IMHO, eventually the immigrant will yearn to return to his/her roots of their home country (that is my personal viewpoint).
Thanks for dropping in.
Walk Good
Thanks for this timely post. Lately, I've been considering migrating. A coworker and a friend each suggested Canada. I know that migration carries challenges with such a decision. Not that naive. My only issue is the cold, lol. If I have any questions, though, I'll contact you via e-mail.
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