About 7 years ago, we moved to a wonderful country very far from our homeland. Culture, values, society, language, political structure, people, life-style, climate, and everything else were different, not accustomed to. And yet, simple.
It was weird to be greeted by a bus driver in the morning, and have him explain you the city’s transportation system.
It was unusual to hear tens of different languages spoken at the same time on subway, in the lobby, at work, in a park, everywhere and everyday. At first, it was very peculiar when non-white people (non-Caucasian; Indian, Asian, Semite, Arabic, Persian, Russian, Slavic, Turkish, etc.) who were not born here and moved to this country only several years before, spoke English with an accent and yet called themselves Canadians.
It was weird to have a Member of Parliament knock on your door and ask how you were, invite you to come to vote for him/her, and when he/she found out we were not citizens yet, welcomed to Canada and still invited to the constituency office.
It was strange to visit a hospital, go through all the necessary procedures, talk to a doctor, and not pay a penny. Well, yes, we had to wait hours to get to the doctor, but nevertheless. Everything, and almost everyone seemed unusual, weird, unfamiliar, strange, and yet interesting, reasonable, unrestricted, lawful, and sincere.
This country never made me feel alienated. Different, but not alienated. Coexistence of tens, even hundreds of cultures, values, ideas and beliefs astonished me. Diversity is a part of Canadian identity, and the idea is to invite you to preserve and share with your roots and culture, augmenting the rich Canadian cultural mosaic. The diversity makes a person to learn from everyone, and become culturally rich.
Canada gave me a quality education and an obstructed future.
Canada gave me the right to vote, observe the vote-counting process and be unafraid to engage in the local politics, legally pressure politicians, and encourage other voters to vote for a certain politician.
Canada provided an opportunity to be a proud Canadian, while embracing my roots. It gave me the right to raise the Azerbaijani flag, play the anthem and have local politicians speak with my compatriots in front of a City Hall.
It gave me the liberty to assemble and protest or support the local, and any other government. Canada, and my parents, gave me an opportunity and a privilege to hold the most respected passport in the world.
What still remains weird to me is that some people who were born here take it for granted, and waste their time and lives. I’ll make sure my children value what this country has to offer.
Happy Birthday Canada! Happy Canada Day!
Peace, Tolerance, Diversity and Prosperity.
It was weird to be greeted by a bus driver in the morning, and have him explain you the city’s transportation system.
It was unusual to hear tens of different languages spoken at the same time on subway, in the lobby, at work, in a park, everywhere and everyday. At first, it was very peculiar when non-white people (non-Caucasian; Indian, Asian, Semite, Arabic, Persian, Russian, Slavic, Turkish, etc.) who were not born here and moved to this country only several years before, spoke English with an accent and yet called themselves Canadians.
It was weird to have a Member of Parliament knock on your door and ask how you were, invite you to come to vote for him/her, and when he/she found out we were not citizens yet, welcomed to Canada and still invited to the constituency office.
It was strange to visit a hospital, go through all the necessary procedures, talk to a doctor, and not pay a penny. Well, yes, we had to wait hours to get to the doctor, but nevertheless. Everything, and almost everyone seemed unusual, weird, unfamiliar, strange, and yet interesting, reasonable, unrestricted, lawful, and sincere.
This country never made me feel alienated. Different, but not alienated. Coexistence of tens, even hundreds of cultures, values, ideas and beliefs astonished me. Diversity is a part of Canadian identity, and the idea is to invite you to preserve and share with your roots and culture, augmenting the rich Canadian cultural mosaic. The diversity makes a person to learn from everyone, and become culturally rich.
Canada gave me a quality education and an obstructed future.
Canada gave me the right to vote, observe the vote-counting process and be unafraid to engage in the local politics, legally pressure politicians, and encourage other voters to vote for a certain politician.
Canada provided an opportunity to be a proud Canadian, while embracing my roots. It gave me the right to raise the Azerbaijani flag, play the anthem and have local politicians speak with my compatriots in front of a City Hall.
It gave me the liberty to assemble and protest or support the local, and any other government. Canada, and my parents, gave me an opportunity and a privilege to hold the most respected passport in the world.
What still remains weird to me is that some people who were born here take it for granted, and waste their time and lives. I’ll make sure my children value what this country has to offer.
Happy Birthday Canada! Happy Canada Day!
Peace, Tolerance, Diversity and Prosperity.
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