Chinese Struggling for a Better Life in Canada

Chinese Struggling for a Better Life in Canada
thabet_sava Aug 15, 2016 14:15

After fulfilling the obligations of my teaching for the current school year, I thought that I should seize the opportunity to pay a visit to Montreal, Quebec, my hometown. My main objective was relaxing in order to rejuvenate in preparation for handling the challenges of my retirement that lie ahead.

I never thought or imagined that my trip would turn into a learning experience. Through my stay in Montreal, I had the opportunity to encounter numerous Chinese who are struggling to pave their routes to success and subsequently leading a better life in Canada.

My good fortune led me to stay at a hotel called Casa Bella that is run by Chinese. The hotel is located on the corner of Sherbrooke and Parc Avenue in the downtown area. It is a safe haven for Chinese tourists who ache for a friendly Chinese atmosphere. The members of the staff speak English, French and Chinese.

My learning journey paved my way to encounter a variety of Chinese individuals who came to Canada chasing after an elusive dream of a better life.

Some travelled thousands of miles while leaving behind family and friends for the sake of the acquisition of knowledge. They wished to advance their studies at several universities in Montreal including both English and French.

They transcended to the barrier of languages to blend in with their Canadian counterparts.

Speaking with few of them about the obstacles that they had to face upon their arrival to Canada, they mentioned the difficulty to communicate in both the official languages of Canada as the major hurdle that they had to surpass.

For certain, I was impressed by their facility to express their ideas while switching from English to French and vice-versa.

Almost all of those with whom I talked said that often they feel homesick. They miss their families and friends. Despite the fact that Montreal has numerous Chinese dinning establishment, they long for a home-cooked meal prepared by their beloved mothers.

I had the chance to meet tourists who were trying to fulfill their childhood dreams of experiencing the life in a developing country.

Asking them if Montreal visit fulfilled their previous expectations, they were hesitant to reply affirmatively. They indicated that actuality never measures to fantasies. However, they had no apprehensive to state that they were glad to have the opportunity to visit Montreal. They had no regrets about taking the trip.

Not all Chinese whom I encountered were happy. I met a young lady who came to meet a gentleman with whom she made acquaintances with him through the internet to face horrible disappointment of never seeing him after he promised to marry her in Montreal.

I was served by another Chinese who could not handle the challenges of studying in an English environment to end up working in the restaurant service sector with minimum wage.

Exploring different parts of the world, without any doubt, is an enriching experience. However, one should be realistic when it comes to leaving one’s hometown to establish a new life in a foreign country.

One should take to the time to examine the merits and the shortcomings of the venture before deciding to alter the course of his or her life chasing after an elusive dream of achieving success or leading a better life.

Tags:General Travel Language & Culture Expat Rants & Advice Expat Tales Lifestyle

2 Comments

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nitai

I'm from Montreal too. Hare Krishna!

Sep 23, 2016 17:09 Report Abuse

tanbank34

good to know

Aug 26, 2016 19:16 Report Abuse