MAY |JUNE 2016
CARLOS HERNANDEZ CARMONA 7NEWCOMER
8
MAKING LOVE IN A CANOE & OTHER STORIES
16 THOSE THAI BAR GIRLS 21ABOUT
DE-MYSTIFYING REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT MONIA MAZIGH’S MIRRORS AND MIRAGES PAGE 23
FOR NEWCOMERS TO CANADA
IN THIS ISSUE Volume 3‚ Issue 2
VICTORIA WELCOMES CARLOS!
MEET THE
MYTHBUSTERS
DE-MYSTIFYING
REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT
7 8 16
home 21 Kedsanee Broome tackles an emotional and complicated cultural reality in her exploration of why the stereotype of Thai “bar girls” persists.
read 23 Academic‚ ac tivist‚ and author Monia Mazigh reads from Mirrors and Mirages ‚ her novel following the lives of several Muslim women.
rent 24 Alex Creighton of Devon Proper ties unpacks some common my ths related to renting.
money 25 Leat Ahrony debunks three personal financial my ths.
focus 26 Explore your own understanding of cultural my ths and stereotypes with “iconic stereotypes.”
Cover photo: bigstockphoto.com, titled Mexican-lazy-man-sit-serape-agave-guitar-napsiesta-typical. Cover design: Fiona Bramble. Designer’s note: Stock photo websites are the ideal place to find racialized and stereotyping language.
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any of us came from somewhere else. Some of us arrived 10 0 years ago; some of us 10 0 days ago. Now we are here — working‚ living‚ and learning together. We may have arrived in different ways and may have come for different reasons; we may be going down different paths, but one thing is the same: here is home.
Immigrant
HERE! IS THERE: OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY
Welcome Centre
BUILDING CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
Publisher | Functionall Books Editor | Fiona Bramble
The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) helps individuals and organizations to connect across cultures. We provide information, support and tools to help immigrants and refugees reach their goals. By engaging people through networks, education and arts programming we create a welcoming community.
Copy Editor | Christy Sebelius Contributing Writers | Leat Ahrony‚ Kedsanee Broome‚ Alex Creighton‚ Sabine Lehr‚ Jakelina Listes‚ Nadia Tapia‚ Zhang Liang Liao‚ Yutan Han‚ Franelee Sheen Guira‚ Arnel Abog‚ David Tseng‚ Surakshya Sapkota‚ Kuo Yan‚ Ling Wang‚ Shuying Sun‚ Wonja Lee Design and Layout | Fiona Bramble
Immigrant Welcome Centre and Main Office: 930 Balmoral Road (At Quadra) Victoria BC, V8T 1A8 info@icavictoria.org Phone: 250-388-4728 Fax: 250-386-4395 Mon–Thurs: 8:30am–6:30pm Friday: 8:30am–4:30pm
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Letter from the editor “Th e j ob of a r t i s n ot to co rre c t a n i m p re s s i o n , it ’s to p lu n g e
u s m o re d e ep ly i nto o u r h u m a n it y, i nto o u r co ntra d i c ti o n s. ” — Ayad A khtar
The question of the question It wasn’t without hesitation that the Here! editorial team began to ask people in our community to talk about the cultural myths and stereotypes they brush up against in their daily interactions. The nature of the question has the potential to perpetuate those stereotypes—or worse‚ create new ones. This was hammered home to me when we collected the answers to a short questionnaire at a recent community event. The questionnaire posed three questions: 1. What stereotype about your culture or country of origin upsets you? 2. What is the most common‚ but false stereotype about your culture or country of origin? 3. What is a “ safe” stereotype about your culture or
As the quotation above suggests‚ this “mythbusting” issue is actually less of a factfinding mission and more of an opportunity to begin a dialogue and to explore how all those false-true jumbled-up assumptions make us feel. Our fearless contributors offer their experiences in the spirit of knowledge-sharing and building meaningful relationships. There are serious revelations‚ such as people feeling stereotyped as terrorists (Naji‚ IRAN) or drug dealers (Ximena‚ COLOMBIA)‚ but our local cultural ambassadors also have a little fun with the we-are-notall-having-a-siesta-in-Chile variety of cultural stereotype. At the heart of the issue is a simple question: Are there any “safe” stereotypes?
country of origin‚ and how do you feel about it?
The questionnaire also asked for the participant’s first name and country of origin‚ to help put the answers in context. We received many thoughtful‚ and frank replies. One questionnaire‚ however‚ left the participant details blank. The answers to questions 2 and 3‚ respectively‚ were: “uneducated‚ drunks‚ on welfare”; and “song and dance—love the ceremonies of our songs and dances.” I can’t quite explain how I felt reading those words‚ nor can I say I am proud of the assumptions I made in the vaccuum of context. It was a powerful moment for me‚ and a harsh reminder of the poison and legacy of some stereotypes. Perhaps you are having a similar experience as you read this.
Fiona Bramble, Editor Second-generation Irish-Scottish Canadian
PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US!
community@heremagazine.ca
FROM THE INBOX
None of the stereotypes that are said about African people u pset me as I do believe that stereotypes are
“ true ” whether
we like them or not. What u psets me is
when people generalize, and think that all Africans are warlords for example. Are there warlords in Africa? Yes, a lot of them, u nfortu nately. Is every African a warlord? Well no.
— SI LVIA M., EQ UATO RIAL G U I N EA
As an Au strian- Canadian, I do not like to be referred to as G erman. Yes, the language is the same and there are definite similarities, but the cou ntries are as different as Canada and the U. S. — CH RISTA , AUSTRIA
OUR MU LTICU LTUR AL COMM UNIT Y V ic toria ha s a v ib rant and grow ing multic ultural communit y! T he s e org aniza tion s ce leb ra te c ulture and di ver sit y w ith annu al event s like the D ra g on Para d e‚ Flam enco F e s ti val‚ G re ek fe s t ‚ F e s ti val M ex ican o‚ India M e la‚ Loy K ra tong ‚ A friC a F e s t ‚ and the Highland G am e s and C e ltic F e s ti val. T hey al s o of fer s up p or t and s er v ice s to their m emb er s and newcom er s ‚ inclu ding langu a g e s up p or t ‚ he alth and we lln e s s a c ti v itie s ‚ net work ing op p or tunitie s ‚ and work- re la te d sk ill d eve lop m ent .
V i c to r i a an d Van co u ve r I s l an d G r e e k C o mmuni t y S o ci e t y
H un g ar i an S o ci e t y of V i c to r i a
V ic tor ia Canada- China Fr iendship A s so ciation Fa c e b o o k : V i c t o r i a C a n a d a - C h i n a
Chin e s e C o n s o li d a t e d B e n evo l e n t A s s o ci a t io n 6 3 6 Fi s g a r d S t.‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .
W hi t e Ea gl e Po lis h A s s o ci a t io n
V i c to r i a N a t i ve Fr i e n d s hip C e n t r e
4 6 4 8 E l k L a ke D r. ‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .
Fr i e n d s h i p A s s o c i a t i o n
476 B a y S t.‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C . 250 -388 -50 04
9 0 D o c k S t. ‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .
231 R e g i n a A v e . ‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C . 2 5 0 - 3 8 4 - 3 211
U k r aini an C an a di an Cul t ur al S o ci e t y of Van co u ve r I s l an d
V ic tor ia Filipino - Canadian S enior s A s so ciation B a y a n i h a n C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e
V i c to r i a H i ghl an d G am e s A s s o ci a t io n
L a S o ci é t é f r an co p h o n e d e V i c to r i a
3 27 7 D o u g l a s S t. ‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .
5 5 5 L a m p s o n S t. ‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .
S o n s of S cot l an d‚ 20 4 B al g ow ni e
We b: s o n s o f s c o t l a n d .c o m /a b o u t - u s /p r o v i n c i a l locations/204-balgownie
170 9 B l a n s h a r d S t.‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .
2 0 0 - 5 3 5 Ya t e s S t.‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C . 2 5 0 - 3 8 8 -73 5 0
V i c to r i an Cr o a t i an C o mmuni t y
4 0 81 G o r d o n H e a d R d .‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .
Vic toria Korean- Canadian Women’s A ssociation We b: v kc w a.w o r d p r e s s .c o m
L e o n ar d o D a V in ci C e n t r e
I n di a C an a d a Cul t ur al A s s o ci a t io n
V i c to r i a Filip in o - C an a di an A s s o ci a t io n
Fa c e b o o k : I n d i a C a n a d a C u l t u r a l A s s o c i a t i o n
Bayanihan Communit y Centre 170 9 B l a n s h a r d S t.‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .
Victoria Filipino-Canadian Caregivers Association B a y a n i h a n C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e
J e w is h Fe d e r a t io n of V i c to r i a an d Van co u ve r I s l an d 3 6 3 6 S h e l b o u r n e S t.‚
170 9 B l a n s h a r d S t. ‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .
V i c to r i a A f r i c an C ar ib b e an Cul t ur al S o ci e t y We b: v a c c s o c i e t y.c o m
Van co u ve r I s l an d T h ai A s s o ci a t io n
Fa c e b o o k : Va n c o u v e r I s l a n d T h a i A s s o c i a t i o n
195 B a y S t.‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .
V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C .
V i c to r i a N ik ke i Cul t ur al S o ci e t y Fa c e b o o k : v n c s .c a
M e x i c an C an a di an C o mmuni t y A s s o ci a t io n of V i c to r i a We b: v i c t o r i a m e x i c a n c a n a d i a n .o r g
V I C TO R I A I M M I G R A N T & REFUGEE CENTRE SOCIET Y 9 3 0 B a l m o r a l R d .‚ V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C. 2 5 0 - 3 8 8 - 47 2 8
6 37 B ay S t ., 3 r d F l o o r, V i c t o r i a ‚ B .C. 2 5 0 - 3 61- 9 4 3 3
P l e a s e co n t a c t u s a t co m m u n i t y @ h e re m a g a z in e.ca i f yo u n e e d t o u p d a t e yo u r o r g a n iza t i o n’s in fo r m a t i o n o r i f yo u w o u l d li ke t o hi g h li g h t yo u r o r g an iza t i o n o r e ve n t in H e re ! M a g a z in e.
Fiona Bramble meets Carlos at Serious Coffee in Victoria’s Cook St. Village neighbourhood to talk about his path to Canada‚ his cultural ties‚ and his biggest challenge in our beautiful city.
IRENE OGBOMIDA
Victoria welcomes
Carlos‚ what is your professional background? I am an accountant. My bachelor’s degree is in accounting (CPA‚ Mexico and CMA ICMA‚ Hong Kong Branch)‚ my master’s in managing international companies. Why did you leave Spain? I have loved to travel from the very beginning! When I was a teenager in Spain‚ I loved going to Europe. I left Spain when I was 19 years old and went to Mexico. I’m very happy experiencing new things and seeing different ways of living. My wife and I are actually here now after several years in China. What was your first emotion upon arriving in Canada? Always when you start something‚ you are nervous. It doesn’t matter how much you prepare. You know you are losing something you had and there is no way to return. You are throwing the dice. It is a leap of faith. Who here has helped you the most since you arrived? Lisa‚ from Volunteer Victoria. Lisa Mort-Putland. It was the first time someone in Canada recognized my professional experience and what I could contribute. She saw a place for me and helped me make connections. She trusted me. I am very grateful to her.
Sitting down with Fiona Bramble on a November afternoon in the Juan De Fuca Library in Colwood‚ Irene shares her enthusiasm for her new life in Canada.
CARLOS HERNANDEZ CARMONA HOMETOWN: Barcelona, Spain MOTHER TONGUE: Spanish DAYS IN CANADA: 300
What do you miss most from home? The warmth and ease of talking to people and being with my family—the support. How many Spaniards are there in Victoria? Oh‚ not many‚ I don’t think; I have only met three or four. There are many Spanish speakers here though‚ from all over the world. How do you stay connected to your own culture? I don’t need to stay connected. I feel now like a battery or something like that! I was born in that culture‚ so I am wired to that culture‚ but I don’t need to stay connected. Maybe I would feel homesick if I did.
You mention that the job market is one of your biggest challenges here; did that surprise you? Yes‚ actually. Canada seems much less open and globally-minded than I expected. There are many restrictions. It’s like all my qualifications and overseas experience have disappeared‚ like they don’t exist. What is your favourite thing to do in Victoria? Go to the sea. Walk the beach. Also Beacon Hill Park is nice—it’s important for me to get outside. Any advice for other newcomers? Be prepared! Prepare and learn as much as you can before you arrive. READ CARLOS’ FULL INTERVIEW AT
w w w.h e re m a g az in e.ca
welcome to the community!
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making love IN A CANOE RENOWNED CANADIAN AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST‚ PIERRE BERTON MAY NEVER HAVE ACTUALLY SAID THE MUCH-REPEATED: “A CANADIAN IS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO MAKE LOVE IN A CANOE‚” BUT THESE WORDS HAVE TROUBLED MANY AN ADVENTUROUS‚ BUT CLUMSY‚ CANADIAN FOR DECADES. ARE THERE SAFE STEREOTYPES? HOW DO CULTURAL MYTHS AND STEREOTYPES INFLUENCE US AND OTHERS? WHAT ASSUMPTIONS DO WE MAKE BASED ON CULTURAL MYTHS AND STEREOTYPES? THE HERE! TEAM ASKED NEWCOMERS AND IMMIGRANTS TO SHARE THE CROSS-CULTURAL CONFUSION THEY’VE ENCOUNTERED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT—FROM THEIR INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVES‚ OF COURSE. OTHERWISE‚ WE’D BE STEREOTYPING.
S T E R E O T Y P E
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CHILE:
LA
SIESTA THE NAP
“
1:00 Lunchtime 1:10 Wait for the waitress 1:20 Start to eat 1:55 Pay the Bill 2:00 Walk to the office 2:10 Brush your teeth 2:20 Return to work Oh! Sorry we missed “The Siesta”. 2:25 3:25 3:25 3:50 4:50
Take the subway home Arrive home Sleep a beautiful siesta Take the subway to the office Start the second part of your office day.
Sounds unreal‚ doesn’t it? Yes‚ it is unreal. Unfortunately‚ the dream to sleep twenty minutes after the lunch hour is just that: A DREAM.
If you want to take a nap‚ it is impossible to do so during the week in so busy a city as Santiago. Six million people live there! In Santiago‚ a typical day starts when you are trying to take the bus or the subway at 7:30 in the morning to be at the office for 8:30. Your day finishes around 7:00 p.m. (with luck) and the fight to get home begins anew. On average‚ the commute time is around one hour and when you finally are at home‚ you want to just rest for the next day. What about the weekends? Well‚ your agenda is full with all the activities you couldn’t do during the week: visit friends‚ do
laundry‚ cook something special‚ play with your kids‚ read a book‚ etc. Oh! Sorry we missed “The Siesta”. Maybe on your vacations. But wait‚ you want to meet new people‚ visit new places‚ maybe read the book that sat on your night table for the last year. Oh! Sorry we missed “The Siesta”. Maybe when you are retired. Nadia arrived in Victoria in November‚ 2015. She has a background in Industrial Engineering and is currently volunteering at the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS). She loves eating ice cream and sharing her thoughts at her blog: nadianulan.blogspot.ca (in Spanish). heremagazine.ca
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#2: DO PEOPLE IN CHIN A USE CE LLPHONE S OR COMPUTERS? M Y HO S T MOTH ER’S FATH ER aske d me this que s tion. At fir s t‚ I was confu se d with the qu e s tion b e cau se I couldn’t under s tand why he aske d me a que s tion like this. O f cour se we have cellphone s and compu ter s. S o I wondere d: doe s he think my countr y is ver y p o or ? I think it was a lit tle bit rude and discriminator y to ask me this. There are also generalizations in the me dia here sometime s that Chine se p e ople are imp olite — they lump the Chine se under one ro of. — Zhang Liang Liao
S T E R E O T Y P E
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HE Y, CHI N E SE PEO PLE E AT DOGS. SO DISGUS TI N G!
I COME FROM CHINA‚ and there are many weird stereotypes about this ancient eastern country. One stereotype that makes me really uncomfortable is about Chinese eating habits. Once‚ my friends and I were talking about pets and one of my friends said: “Hey‚ Chinese eat dogs; so disgusting.” I have also heard some people tell me they don’t like Chinese food because it is so greasy. Every time I meet these situations‚ to be honest‚ I have no idea how to respond. I want to say back that not all Chinese eat dogs; besides‚ chicken and cows are lovely too—would you stop eating them? I also want to say: “Have you tried all Chinese food?” However‚ the way I deal with stereotypes is to keep smiling and by being kind. Being in Canada‚ I have learned to never judge what I do not know to be the truth. —Yutan Han
SOME FILIPINO STEROTYPE S might be true...#5 MOST PEOPLE SAY that we Filipinos are hospitable and that we truly love and are dedicated to our work. When we have a family gathering‚ we ensure that our guests are entertained properly in the way they deserve. We accept guests wholeheartedly and offer everything they need for as long as we can. Filipinos work hard for their family‚ so they can provide everything the family needs for the future. A lot of Filipinos are working abroad because they believe that they have a better future and a better salary in other countries. Filipinos sacrifice a lot by leaving their families. My mother left for another country to give me a better and brighter future. It’s hard growing up knowing your parents are not beside you‚ but as I grew‚ I understood clearly why she had to leave me.
— Franelee Sheen Guira
but don’t de f ine the countr y...#6
THE PHILIPPINES has an average of 20 typhoons annually‚ causing huge damage to infrastructure and agriculture‚ as well as killing many people. After these events‚ I always hear the local news describe Filipinos quickly finding a way to start over again with a smile. Filipinos smile easily with the simple things we receive. — Arnel Abog
#4
DOE S TAIWAN BE LONG TO CHIN A? AS A TAIWANESE‚ I get lots of questions about our relationship with China. When I meet some Chinese in other countries‚ they always ask me: “Does Taiwan belong to China?” When I came to Canada‚ many Chinese asked me the same question too. I don’t know how to reply to this question. I studied in Thailand and China before and only attended primary school in Taiwan. I know the Chinese think that Taiwan belongs to China‚ and the Taiwanese don’t think so. In my opinion‚ it doesn’t matter. The important thing for me is that Taiwan can keep its culture and not assimilate with China. We like people from other countries to feel and enjoy our culture. — David Tseng
THE HERE! TEAM WAS LUCK Y ENOUGH TO COLL ABOR ATE ON OUR MY THBUSTERS ISSUE WITH INSTRUC TOR ELIZ ABETH WEST’S CAMOSUN COLLEGE ENGLISH L ANGUAGE CL ASS. In Elizabeth’s words: “At Camosun College‚ I am privileged to work with students from around the world. These students bring with them a variety of rich experiences and multiple perspectives that enhance the life of the college and provide a wonderful diversity within the classroom. All must operate in English‚ not their first language‚ and their abilities never fail to impress me.”
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E XPLORI NG CULTUR A L MY THS, STEREOT YPE S, & A SSUMP TIO N S
CROATIA DALMATIA‚ where I am from‚ is a southern region of Croatia by the Adriatic sea and is considered one of the most inviting‚ beautiful regions in the world‚ much like British Columbia‚ or Greece‚ or Italy! The number of tourists coming to this region every year supports that claim as well. If you are fortunate to live in Dalmatia‚ it is no wonder that you might be just a little reluctant to spend your days working. As with other people living in Mediterranean region‚ Dalmatians are often stereotyped as lazy‚ slow‚ disorganized‚ and too relaxed‚ which can drive folks who are used to a more strict and organized way of living crazy. Indeed‚ Dalmatians and their guests would rather spend their days sitting in cafés‚ drinking and talking—talking about each other mostly‚ as the traditional pastime of a stereotypical Dalmatian is gossip and complaining. And we do complain. We complain about the heat. We complain about the lack of heat; complain about crowds of tourists; complain when there are no crowds; and complain
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when our football club is doing poorly. Everyday life all over Croatia is very much centered around social coffee drinking‚ where the coffee is the invitation for getting together; where going for coffee means you are going to sit and chat and socialize for hours; where coffee time is the sacred time—you show up! You don’t even have to have a coffee; it can be beer‚ wine‚ whatever. Croatia is where coffee dates turn to dinners and nights out; where most relevant life topics—anything from politics to the economy‚ from sports to personal issues—are discussed and shared; where plans are made and business is conducted; where community catches up on trends and news; and where people seek advice and comfort. For Croatians‚ coffee shops are like extensions of our living rooms! Croatian “café culture” might be a stereotype‚ and if so‚ I’m proud to perpetuate it! —Jakelina Listes
WHERE ARE YO U FRO M?
I AM FROM NEPAL and whenever I encounter people‚ they think that I am Indian or they ask: “Where are you from?” When I tell them I am from Nepal‚ some people say they have never heard of this country—this is the thing that frustrates me the most. — Surakshya Sapkota
HOW ABOUT THOSE SHRIMP BALLS?
I HAVE NEVER SEEN orange chicken or strange spring rolls in China. Actually‚ China has many regional foods but most Chinese restaurants in Canada serve dishes from the north of China. We don’t eat this class of food very frequently. A traditional Chinese diet is very healthy and light. — Kuo Yan
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SAFE? STEREOTYPES
MY CANADIAN ROOMMATE THINKS EVERY CHINESE PERSON KNOWS KUNG FU! I THINK MANY PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW CHINA THINK ALL THE CHINESE ARE GOOD AT KUNG FU.
PEOPLE SAY LIBERIANS ARE RESILIENT. THIS IS TRUE AND I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT BECAUSE‚ IN SPITE OF A CIVIL WAR THAT LASTED 14 YEARS‚ LIBERIANS ARE STILL STRONG‚ HARDWORKING AND FUN-LOVING.
— Chao (China)
— Kade (Liberia)
CANADA, EH? MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE STANDARD CANADIAN STEREOTYPES: CANADIANS ARE HOCKEY-CRAZY‚ SAY “EH”‚ AND EAT MAPLE SYRUP AND POUTINE. SOME NEWCOMERS‚ HOWEVER‚ SHARE SOME STEREOTYPES AND PRECONCEPTIONS ABOUT CANADA THAT YOU MAY HAVE NEVER HEARD BEFORE. THESE CAMOSUN COLLEGE STUDENTS FINISH THE SENTENCE: BEFORE I C AME TO C ANADA ...
BEFORE I CAME TO CANADA ‚ I thought all Canadians were tall and strong. However‚ after I arrived‚ I found that Canada is a multi-
cultural country with people from all over the world. I also thought that Victoria was a modern city and had big malls and wide streets‚ but the highways here really surprised me; they are not like the highways in China! —Ling Wang
BEFORE I CAME TO CANADA ‚ I thought Canada was a modern country—that there were many metropolises full of skyscrapers. I thought
people went to clubs after work and had a colourful nightlife. Now I find out that Canada is a big village; everyone goes home after work with their families. There is even a family day holiday! This means that Canadians value family bonds. —Shuying Sun
LATINO WOMEN ARE HARD TO DEAL WITH (according to me, we just add a little spice to everyday life!) —Ximena (Colombia)
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I DON ’ T THINK STEREOTYPES ARE “ SAFE ” PER SE; THEY MAY BE POSITIVE. I JUST DON ’ T THINK THAT THERE ARE ANY POSITIVE STEREOTYPES ABOUT AFRICAN PEOPLE.
BRAZILIANS ARE HAPPY PEOPLE AND THEY LIKE TO MAKE NEW FRiENDS; THEY LIKE DANCING‚ TALKING‚ AND SHARING FOOD. BUT WE DON’T ALL WALK AROUND NAKED AT CARNIVAL!
— Silvia (Equatorial Guinea)
— Alexa (Brazil)
I THINK STEREOTYPING OF ANY KIND IS NOT “ SAFE”. PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE AND THE SKY IS BLUE EVERYWHERE.
— Naji (Iran)
“
WHEN I WENT TO MY MOTHER’S CANADIAN FRIEND’S HOUSE, EVERYBODY HUGGED EACH OTHER AND THEY HUGGED US TOO, AND WE WERE SO SHOCKED THAT WE TALKED ALL THE WAY BACK HOME ABOUT HUGGING EACH OTHER! — Surakshya Sapkota
BEFORE I CAME TO CANADA ‚ I had heard that western culture had many foods made with butter‚ so I thought it would be hard to breathe normally
because of the oily smell. I found out I was wrong as soon as I arrived in the airport in Canada; there was no special or strong smell. I had also worried about my smell. Many Korean foods contain garlic‚ so I worried Canadians wouldn’t like it. That was also totally wrong. At least‚ I haven’t heard
about it from Canadians! In Korea‚ we have the general thinking that elderly people shouldn’t eat sweeties‚ so I was surprised to see many older people enjoy sweeties‚ like chocolate and candy. It is not weird in Canada‚ but if an old person orders sweeties in Korea‚ most people would think that
WE SPEAK SPANISH —Alexa (Brazil) IRAN IS A DRY PLACE WE ALL LIVE IN IGLOOS —Peter (Canada)
person was strange. Koreans also think elderly people should wear more “gentle” clothes than young people do. For example‚ it is unusual to see old people wear shorts in the summer‚ but in Canada‚ it is different. Old Canadians wear shorts and eat sweeties! —Wonja Lee
—Naji (Iran)
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DE-MYSTIFYING
MY TH # 1: THERE IS A PARTICULAR “SYRIAN PROFILE” THAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE IN THE SYRIAN NEWCOMERS.
The reality is that there is huge diversity among the Syrian population. “Syrian profiles” that have been published by various organizations and also by the Canadian Government can serve as a helpful guideline in preparing for the newcomers’ arrival; however‚ sponsors may find that the persons they are sponsoring have only few or hardly any of the characteristics described in such profiles. For example‚ even though it is true that many Syrians who have arrived are Muslim‚ there are also persons of
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REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT THROUGH PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP
other faith traditions. And within any given faith tradition‚ there are varying levels of observance. The same holds true for the newcomers’ professional backgrounds. A recent “Syrian profile” describes the work experience among Syrian refugees resettling to Canada as largely low- skilled and almost entirely limited to males. This indication is based on reports from visa officers abroad who interviewed large numbers of Syrians over the past months. We have welcomed families that fit this profile‚ and we have welcomed others—families where one or both parents have a university education or a vocational/trade certificate and have had professional careers in Syria.
BY SABI N E LE HR
In early September 2 01 5, the pictu re of drowned A la n Ku rdi on a Tu rkis h beach rattled ou r nation a nd mobilized thou sa nds of Ca nadia n s into action. The Private S pon sors hip of Refu gees ( PS R) progra m that had been born du ring the Indochina refu gee crisis in the late 1 970’s experienced a n u n precedented su rge in interest. Across the cou ntr y, grou ps with a long histor y of spon sors hip a nd ma ny first-time spon sors su bmitted record nu mbers of spon sors hip a pp lication s. The G overn ment facilitated this process throu gh relaxed a pp lication procedu res for Syria n refu gees. In the mea ntime, things are retu rning to a “new norma l” in regard to a pp lication s. There is still significa nt interest from new spon sors while the first grou ps have a lready welcomed the newcomers they have helped bring to Ca nada. S pon sors are working a longside settlement agencies to facilitate the newcomers’ tra n sition into their new environ ment. Based on my experience as the Private S pon sors hip of Refu gees M a nager at the Inter- Cu ltu ra l Association of G reater Victoria (ICA), here are some com mon “my th s” that I have come across in my daily work.
MY TH #2: IF W E DIDN’T S P ON SOR BY FEBRUARY 29‚ 2016‚ W E WILL NOT HAV E AN OPP ORT U NIT Y TO DO SO. Between November 4‚ 2015‚ and February 29‚ 2016‚ the Canadian Government resettled a record number of Syrian refugees—25‚000 —in this incredibly short period of time. Canadians participated in large numbers in this effort— either as private sponsors to complement the Government-Assisted Refugees who came to Canada‚ or in other capacities: Canadians made their homes available for temporary accommodation; they collected and distributed furniture; and they organized welcome dinners‚ among other things.
Af ter Februar y 29‚ 2016‚ the Government made some changes to its reset tlement procedures that have resulted in a slowing down of the reset tlement process. The realit y is that‚ unfor tunately‚ there are and still will be‚ for the foreseeable future‚ record numbers of refugees in the world. Towards the end of 2015‚ the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned that 2015 was likely to exceed all previous records for global forced displacement. We will continue to rely on Canadians to come for ward as sponsors of refugees who have family members in our communities and are anxious to bring their loved ones to safet y. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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MY TH #3: BECAUSE OF THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT’S FOCUS ON REFUGEE SETTLEMENT‚ SPONSORED REFUGEES ARE NOW ARRIVING VERY QUICKLY IN CANADA. During the four months when Canada resettled 25‚000 Syrians‚ private sponsors got used to extremely short processing times. In some cases‚ refugees arrived in Canada in less than two months from the time the application was submitted. Because many people were firsttime sponsors‚ they (understandably) thought that such processing times were the norm or at least close to the norm. Unfortunately‚ this is not the case. The mechanism that had allowed for fast processing from November last year to the end of February 2016 was additional staff in the visa offices in Amman (Jordan)‚ Beirut (Lebanon)‚ and Ankara (Turkey)‚ where the majority of Syrian refugees are located.
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Staffing in these offices was reduced back to normal levels on March 1‚ 2016‚ and as a result‚ processing times are now a lot longer than two months. For example‚ the average processing time provided by the Government for refugees residing in Turkey is now 8 months‚ and for Lebanon it is 9 months. Note that these times may be distorted by the fast-track processing during the previous four months‚ and may in fact be several months longer. Refugees in Africa still face exceptionally long processing times: 52 months for Egypt‚ 45 months for Rwanda‚ and Ethiopia with 71 months topping the list. Pakistan is also posting 71 months (all processing times current to March‚ 22‚ 2016). In his mandate letter‚ the Prime Minister asked John McCallum‚ Minister of Immigration‚ Refugees and Citizenship‚ to develop a plan to reduce application processing times for sponsorship‚ citizenship and other visas. We are hopeful that we will soon
see a reduction in these processing times.
MY TH #4: GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF REFUGEES GLOBALLY‚ THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE IN AS MANY REFUGEES AS THERE ARE SPONSORS. Immigration to Canada proceeds according to annual immigration levels plans that set targets for dif ferent immigration pro grams‚ including the Refu ge e s and Prote c te d Per sons pro gram. The numb er s repre sent immigrant s arriving in C anada in the re sp e c tive ye ar‚ rather than applications. The 2016 levels plan allo cate s 17‚8 0 0 sp ace s for P S Rs‚ more than thre e time s the previou s ye ar s’ target s. This is goo d new s. D uring the fir s t t wo months of 2016‚ private sp onsor s s ubmit te d a re cord numb er of applications for approximately 4‚0 0 0 refu ge e s. J udging from
this figure‚ intere s t in sp onsor ship likely exce e ds the G overnment’s pro ce s sing cap acit y. The G overnment re gulate s this imb alance throu gh the numb er of s taf f in visa of fice s over se as and limit s on the numb er of applications that can b e s ubmit te d by private sp onsor s. Unfor tunately‚ this means that sponsors cannot s ubmit an unlimite d numb er of applications. F or example‚ by late M arch 2016‚ IC A had re ceive d sp onsor ship re que s ts from Vic toria - b ase d family memb er s and friends of refu ge e s that account for over 10 0 individuals who are
displace d ou tside their countr y of origin. We exp e c t this figure to rise‚ b u t it is unlikely that we will re ceive a s uf ficient quota allo cation from the G overnment to facilitate all sp onsor ship s.
MY TH # 5: IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND HOUSING FOR NEWCOMERS IN THE TIGHT VICTORIA HOUSING MARKET. In D e cemb er 2015‚ the C anada Mor tgage and Hou sing Corp oration rep or te d that Vic toria had the lowe s t ap ar tment vacanc y rate (0.6%)
of any major cit y in Canada. The repor t created considerable anxiet y among sponsor s who were afraid that they would not be able to find af fordable housing for the sponsored newcomer s. So far‚ mos t sponsor s have managed to find housing for the newcomer s; however‚ some of them had to accept higher rents than originally budgeted. Af fordable housing will become more of an is sue as newcomer s transition from the sponsor ship year into their second year‚ s tar ting in late 2016. CO N TAC T S A B I N E L E H R AT:
slehr@icavictoria.org
DID YOU KNOW THAT UNTIL 2012, C ANADA WA S THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WITH A PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM? S O U R C E : M I G R AT I O N P O L I C Y I N S T I T U T E E U R O P E
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TEAM SOOKE/ JUAN DE FUCA
THE SPONSORS Not to be confused with government-assisted refugees, privatelysponsored refugees rely on their sponsors for care, accommodation, and settlement support for at least their first year in Canada. Victoria is expecting to receive between 400 and 500 refugees in 2016, approximately 200 of whom have been privately sponsored. It is believed that the Greater Victoria area is home to approximately 70 sponsorship groups, also called Constituent Groups (CGs) or Groups of Five. These groups have tirelessly championed refugee support in our community— sometimes in the face of negativity and resentment— and successfully raised funds, secured accommodation, and created a vital network of support for Greater Victoria’s newest families. We introduce two of these CGs here and thank them for their hard work and commitment to building community.
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SPONSORSHIP GROUP
CO NTAC T: Sid Jorna 250.6 4 2. 2 767 Teamsookejuandefuca.ca Teamsookejuandefuca @ gmail.com STATUS: We have completed all our Constituent Group requirements and are waiting to be matched with a family. We are open to a family from any country. WO R DS TO TH E CO M MUN I T Y: The biggest lesson we have learned is that sponsorship takes patience and determination. Yes‚ the public has many different opinions on the “refugee situation” but will also readily open their hearts to a family in need. We take our “Welcome Book” everywhere we go‚ and people in Sooke have been writing their personal messages of welcome to the family in it. Kids often draw pictures.
FAIRFIELD
REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP
STATUS: Our first family is expected any day now (parents and 3 kids). This is the uncle‚ wife‚ and cousins of a member of our CG‚ who says she “last saw [her] family in Syria in 2008‚ so [is] very excited to be able to soon see them in Canada again.” The first member of our second family is expected in 2-4 weeks. No E.T.A. for the other 4 family members. WORDS TO THE COMMUNITY: Thank you Victoria. We are proud to live in such a supportive and caring community.
MONEY RAISED: As of April 7‚ 2016‚ we have $ 31‚0 0 0 in the b ank and $6‚0 0 0 in ple dge s that will come in once we are matched with a family. We s till ne e d to raise over $10‚0 0 0 — so all donations‚ big or small‚ are ver y welcome. 10 0 % go e s to the family — none is u se d for overhe ad.
fair f i e ldr e fu ge e spon sor sh i p@gmai l . c om
MONEY RAISED: We’ve raise d $110,0 0 0, which include s the value of a 3 - b e droom s uite donate d for at le as t a ye ar. The communit y was so generou s that we ende d up b eing able to sp onsor t wo familie s.
Part of the conversation during a date night with my husband was about my next article for Here! Magazine‚ following the “mythbusters” theme. I told him that one of the myths that came to my mind about Thailand was the misconception that Thai women who are married to “Farang” (Thai term for Caucasian) were bar girls, or prostitutes. My husband’s argument was that this particular myth is not valid for many people here in Victoria. According to him‚ most Canadians think about Thai food when thinking about Thailand. My husband felt that me writing about stereotypes concerning women and prostitution in Thailand would not be relevant to many local readers and would also create a negative perception. I took his point. If you ask someone here who does not know much about Thailand‚ they might respond with: “Taiwan? Oh‚ yes! They eat everything with chopsticks!” Not only are Taiwan and Thailand two separate countries‚ Thai people eat with a fork and spoon. Once, my boss excitedly introduced me to a new international student from China: “Here is our counsellor Ms. Broome. She’s Taiwanese!” I corrected him. He felt really bad but we had a good laugh after. “Taiwan‚ Thailand they are the same!” he exclaimed, with a big grin on his face. My boss likes Phad Thai and he probably thinks Phad Thai is a Thai’s signature dish. In fact‚ it is less popular among Thais. I eat Phad Thai in Thai restaurants here more than in the 30 years I spent in Thailand. However, these myths around food and physical appearance can’t push away my thoughts about the Thai “bar girl”
Home
t h i s sec t i o n : L A N G U A G E, L EA R N I N G, A N D L I V I N G
about those Thai bar girls
stereotype. Perhaps my thoughts stem from a comment a local Canadian man made. He shouted‚ “Now‚ everyone take your shirts off!” when he was taking a group photo of me and some other Thai women during the birthday party of an acquaintance. I was shocked by his words. I quickly asked him what he meant. He changed the subject and pretended that he hadn’t said anything. His comment stuck in my mind. He could be one of a few who view Thai women differently based on his particular experience in Thailand, but his view is significant enough for me to speak for the Thai women who have immigrated here. Since more than half of the Thai immigrants in Victoria are women married to Canadians‚ including myself‚ I had the urge to find out more about this particular myth. When I started searching‚ sure enough, the stereotype that Thai women are all prostitutes is one of the top 5 search returns from popular sites such as CNN and the Bangkok Post. The Internet wants us to believe that “all single guys are in Thailand for one thing only.” This statement drove me to search for more facts about Thai prostitution, and I discovered a great deal of research on this topic. Prostitution in Thailand started in the 1600’s during trade between Thailand and China. There is also documented history of prostitution as “rest and recreation” for soldiers during W WII and the Vietnam War. Wikipedia states that prostitution in Thailand “has gained international notoriety among travellers from many countries as a sex tourism destination since the Vietnam War.” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Counsellors, specializing in cultural diversity.
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SCAN THE QR CODE with your phone or tablet to hear Monia Mazigh’s exclusive reading from Mirrors and Mirages and to discover Ali’s dreams for his daughter‚ Sally.
THINKING ABOUT THE EXCERPT 1. How would you describe Ali and Fawzia? 2. What does “Canadian experience” mean?
read
Because men going to Throughout Thai history‚ a brothel is as socially concubines were often accepted as going to a portrayed in Thai literature karaoke bar in Thailand‚ and folklore. Many stories prostitution has grown depict women’s roles as over the years. This type less important than men’s of business has inevitably roles. There is a Thai become popular expression: GROWING UP IN among Thai men “Men are the THAILAND‚ MY and travellers. front and women MOTHER TAUGHT ME are the back TO HONOUR AND Despite the legs of the RESPECT MEN. I WAS expanding business elephant.” TOLD TO WASH MY of prostitution‚ FATHER’S CLOTHES it is only one of In the “old” SEPARATELY FROM several types of days‚ only OUR CLOTHES AS growing businesses men received HIS WERE REGARDED typically found in an education. HIGHER THAN OURS. tourist destinations With minimal in Thailand. The education‚ country is famous for exotic women from poor families experiences in nature‚ worked as labourers to its beaches‚ cuisine‚ art‚ support their aging parents. and culture. Only a small Many young women with percentage of tourism in limited options became Thailand caters to sex prostitutes so that they tourists. I have talked to could support and pay many people I know about gratitude to their parents. their trips to Thailand; they expressed their love for Although women’s rights Thai food‚ the people‚ and have changed over time‚ culture. Most of them weren’t there is still a different Thai even aware of sex tourism. social standard among women and men. Growing Thai women are strong‚ up in Thailand‚ my mother hardworking‚ caring‚ and taught me to honour and thankful. Some may indeed respect men. I was strictly be prostitutes‚ but they are told to wash my father’s the ones keeping the family clothes separately from together. our clothes as his were regarded as higher than ours. My mother didn’t mind Kedsanee (Aoy) Broome if my father spent a few immigrated to Canada from Thailand in 2004 and hours at night in a brothel. is a Registered Clinical “That’s what most men do‚” Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical she would say.
3. What is the “Night of Power”? 4. What stereotypes are explored in this excerpt? ABOUT THE AUTHOR Monia Mazigh was born and raised in Tunisia and immigrated to Canada in 1991. Mazigh was catapulted onto the public stage in 2002 when her husband‚ Maher Arar‚ was deported to Syria where he was tortured and held without charge. She campaigned tirelessly for his release. Mazigh holds a Ph.D. in finance from McGill University. She has published a memoir‚ Hope and Despair‚ and her novel Miroirs et mirages was published in the original French in 2011 and was a finalist for the Trillium Book Award.
SALLY was the only child of parents born in Pakistan. Her father had a degree in electrical engineering but had never been able to find work in his field. For years after arriving in Canada, he tried repeatedly to get a job with a Canadian company in the Ottawa area. But his applications were rarely acknowledged and a handful of interviews led nowhere. It was always the same old refrain: “We’re looking for someone with Canadian experience.” But how was he supposed to get that experience if no one would give him a chance to show what he could do, to display his abilities? Ali Hussein had begun to despair. Fawzia, his young wife, had just come to Ottawa to be with him. He could feel the pressure building day by day, pressure to find a decent job and start a family. He couldn’t afford to start his studies over again to earn a Canadian degree, and besides, there was no guarantee that he would find work in his field even then. A friend from his hometown who had also immigrated to Ottawa had an idea: they would pool their efforts and become taxi drivers, sharing the car and the profits.
At first Ali Hussein held back; he didn’t like the idea at all. He, an engineer, the pride of his family, the ambitious young man who’d come to Canada to build a new life, plunge into the modern world, and improve his economic situation, was going to end up driving a taxi? What would his family in Pakistan think? And his friends? How could he show his face back home? What would be left of his self-respect when people found out he was a taxi driver? He shared his doubts and fears with Fawzia. She was a simple, modest girl from the same small town, and she didn’t care what people said. In a loving voice she told him, “There’s nothing wrong with working as a taxi driver. This is Canada, not Pakistan. Nobody is going to judge you here. It’s honest work — why shouldn’t you do it?” It was the best advice Ali Hussein had ever received. It was as if the Night of Power stood revealed before him. From that day on he became a full-time professional taxi driver. In a few years’ time he bought his own automobile. He even bought Fawzia a sewing machine. With her nimble fingers she stitched together traditional Pakistani-style tunics and trousers, which she sold to friends and neighbours. Heaven had smiled on the couple, or so it seemed, except that no children had brightened their home. Finally, seven years after their marriage, Fawzia got pregnant. Sally became part of their lives, and changed those lives forever. Excerpt from: Mirrors and Mirages by Monia Mazigh ©2014 Published by House of Anansi Press. All Rights Reserved.
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rent
myths about landlord and tenant relations
#2
WHEN YOU MOVE OUT‚ YOU GET YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT BACK THE DAY YOU LEAVE.
#4
YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND ONCE YOU HAVE GIVEN NOTICE TO VACATE TO YOUR LANDLORD.
REALITY Visit www.heremagazine.ca for links to rental resources and to view or download previous Rent Here articles: Looking for a Place to Rent‚ Viewing Rental Units‚ Applying for a Rental Unit‚ Moving into Your New Home, When You Need Repairs, and Top 3 Problems for Landlords and Tenants.
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#1
ALL LANDLORDS ARE OUT TO KEEP THE TENANT’S SECURITY DEPOSIT WHEN THEY MOVE OUT.
REALITY The majority of landlords are honest and are not interested in keeping all or part of a security deposit unless money is truly owed. In fact‚ a written move-in inspection is required at the start of the tenancy‚ so at the end of the tenancy there is a record of how the suite looked when it began. Have a witness with you for the move-out inspection. Make sure you have your copy of the move-in inspection with you. You have to sign‚ agreeing to any charges from your deposit before the landlord can keep any or all of it. Possible charges could include rent owing‚ damage or cleaning. If you do not agree to the charges being proposed‚ do not sign the form and make sure you provide your forwarding address to the landlord and they will be required to file for arbitration if they want to retain money from your deposit. An arbitrator will then decide whether or not the landlord’s claim is valid. heremagazine.ca
Some landlords may do refunds this way. Under the Residential Tenancy Act though‚ a landlord has 15 days from the time you move out and provide them with your forwarding address to refund your deposit. If there was a disagreement about any charges against your deposit‚ and you did not sign the outgoing inspection agreeing to the deductions‚ your landlord must file for arbitration within 15 days.
#3
THE BUILDING’S INSURANCE WILL COVER ANY DAMAGES‚ INCLUDING DAMAGE TO YOUR POSSESSIONS.
REALITY The building’s insurance does not cover your possessions‚ nor does it cover damage you or your guests might cause to the property (even if it is an accident). In addition‚ if there is a major fire in the building or some other reason you cannot occupy your suite‚ the building’s insurance does not cover alternative (e.g. a hotel) accommodation for you. It is important to have contents and liability insurance.
REALITY Your notice to move is required to be given in writing in order to be a legal notice. If you moving‚ you have to get agreement from your landlord‚ again in writing‚ that they will not require you to move out. If you change your mind about moving you need to contact your landlord as soon as possible to see if they will allow change your mind about you to remain.
#5
THE MANAGER WILL SIGN YOU UP FOR HYDRO OR OTHER UTILITIES.
REALITY You have to do this yourself. BC Hydro‚ for example‚ will not allow someone else to set up an account for you. You need to make sure you set up whatever utility accounts you are responsible for to make sure you don’t end up disconnected!
READ ABOUT MYTHS #6-11
@ heremagazine.ca
Alex Creighton has over 30 years experience in property management with Devon Properties and her family-run property management company.
moneY
personal financial myths
Leat Ahrony was raised in Taiwan and received a North American and international education. She has a Bachelor of Commerce in Sustainable Business and Community Engagement from UVic’s Business program.
MONEY FACTS FROM
THE MINT
Over the years as an international student and new employee in Canada‚ I have helped many of my peers debunk these three personal financial myths:
# 1 EARNING LOTS OF MONEY MAKES YOU RICH.
REALITY The first thing to check is if you are really earning lots of money. For example‚ a $40‚000 yearly salary is rather high in countries like China‚ the Philippines‚ and Taiwan. However‚ in Canada‚ this is in the lower income bracket. I was extremely excited when I began my first job in Canada and earned $12/hour‚ but then realized the cost of living here is also higher. Eating out costs anywhere from $8–$20 in Canada‚ whereas in Taiwan you can get a full meal for $3. If you are new to Canada‚ or any foreign country‚ make sure you check what the minimum wage and the living wage is. Now‚ let’s say you do get a high paying job. Does this make you rich? If you manage it wisely. I recommend that you set a savings goal every month. Your financial institution can set up an automatic transfer so that when you receive your paycheque‚ a percentage is automatically transferred to your savings account.
#2 BUYING A HOUSE IS A BETTER OPTION THAN RENTING.
REALITY It depends. It is true in some cases that your monthly mortgage payment is about the same as what you would be paying for rent‚ but you own the property. Great‚ right? Perhaps‚ but make sure you get the full financial picture which includes taxes‚ strata fees‚ and possible future maintenance/renovations. My recommendation is to review your finances with your advisor and find someone who is in the real estate industry that knows the market well. Buying a home may be a great option for some people‚ but not everyone.
#3 YOUR CREDIT SCORE DOESN’T MATTER THAT MUCH.
REALITY It matters a lot. When I opened a bank account and applied for a credit card‚ my credit score was considered. When you make major purchases‚ like a house or car‚ a good credit score can get you a better interest rate on your financing. A good score is important when renting an apartment or signing up for a cell phone plan.
DID YOU SAY
$100,000? VICTORIA B.C.-BORN HAIDA ARTIST BILL REID’S THE SPIRIT OF HAIDA GWAII IS THE SUBJECT OF THE CANADIAN MINT’S 10-KILO 99.999% PURE GOLD COIN. THE FIRST EVER IN THE WORLD‚ THE COIN HAS A FACE VALUE OF $100‚000!
SUPERSPY COIN!
THE FIRST-EVER COLOURED CIRCULATION COIN IN THE WORLD‚ THIS 2004 POPPY COIN WAS MISTAKEN FOR A spy coin. “AMERICAN DEFENCE CONTRACTORS EXAMINED THE COIN’S SECURITY FEATURES AND INCORRECTLY CONCLUDED THAT THE PROTECTIVE COATING WAS BEING USED TO HIDE A SURVEILLANCE DEVICE!” (Royal Canadian Mint)
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focus ICONIC STEREOTYPES Emoticons and emojis aren’t the only image-based symbols we see and use on a daily basis! You see them when you go to the bathroom‚ park your car‚ ride the bus‚ brew your coffee—you see them everywhere‚ all the time. Symbols and images can be a great tool in a global community; they can help bridge language and literacy barriers; they have the potential to help‚ guide‚ protect‚ and instruct. By their nature‚ symbols are stereotypes because their purpose is to instantly communicate a commonly-understood concept. These stock image “icon sets” represent different cultures and countries.
ACTIVITIES: 1. Label each icon set with the country or culture that you believe it represents. (see answers below)
2. Describe each icon or image. 3. Draw 3 stereotypical icons or images that you believe are “true” stereotypes of a country or culture represented on this page.
4. Draw 3 icons or images that you believe accurately represent your culture or country of origin.
ANSWERS FROM TOP LEFT AND CLOCKWISE: Italian‚ Russian‚ Indian‚ Chinese‚ Native American‚ Mexican‚ Japanese‚ French‚ Brazilian‚ African
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