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Canada taught me a lot… about France. Two western countries, two opposite perceptions of their inhabitants. On one hand, a long list of negative clichés, with people known to be rude, arrogant, grouchy, and unwelcoming. On the other hand, people who are praised for their politeness and kindness. I imagine you’ve already guessed which is…
I was four months old when I first came to Canada. As a baby I was curious and excited to be part of such a diverse community. By the time I was five years old, I experienced great difficulty with social interactions. My classmates did not understand my multiculturalism or the fact that I was…
To go and live in Canada was a teenage dream. A quest for vast distant spaces. For a simple life by a lake at the edge of the forest. A natural environment where I could take root once again. To be far away from my native lands: Languedoc and Sonora. I am as much from…
Growing up in Vancouver I heard the term “multiculturalism” a lot. I was taught that Canada, as a whole, is a multicultural country, a “mosaic” of peoples from many different places. As a kid, that seemed pretty obvious. People are all different – some were born here, some were born across the country and some…
The journey preceding my arrival in Vancouver almost five months ago was nothing out of the ordinary. Nonetheless, I think it is central to understanding how I have been feeling since arriving in the distant patch of land that is Vancouver. I come from Catalonia, a small European nation in search of independence. I have…
In the heart of Chittagong we walked into a market packed with hawkers selling miscellaneous merchandise. The awnings were sprinkled with dirt and grime, and the air smelled of dead fish. My family and I walked towards the end of the market where coats and jackets were piled up high in a large wooden box.…
What will you do in Vancouver? That’s the question I had to answer in the months preceding my departure from France. I initially chose to settle in Vancouver for the following reasons: the language spoken and the fact the city is a compact urban centre surrounded by nature and with solid environmental credentials. Vancouver has…
Recently, I was asked by a stranger where I was from. After stating what I thought was an obvious answer of “born here, in Vancouver,” I was met with a response I didn’t expect. “Really? Your accent, no, your style seems different! Like you’re from the south, or maybe European…were your parents from here?” Now,…
I arrived here dragging my feet, despite having had this expatriation project in mind for many long months before my arrival in Vancouver. I’m attached to my hometown, my culture and my gastronomic delights. On the eve of my departure, I indulged myself in a feast of cheeses and foie gras with fine wines to…
You always hear about how diverse and multicultural Vancouver is and that Canadians are polite and friendly. All of this is true, but even more so, I have always perceived people in Vancouver, whatever their roots are to be welcoming, accepting and unprejudiced. Once you have lived in Vancouver for a while you don’t notice…
As we know, xenophobia starts with first impressions: a simple glance allows you to see the Other’s difference. If we all come from similar racial backgrounds this difference doesn’t immediately show through our physical aspect, but it clearly shows up the very moment the foreigner begins to speak, revealing his accent. Surely we should marvel…
There are few cities in the world that have the ability to transport me to different places at different periods of my life. Walking the streets of Vancouver is like stepping into a time machine that launches me back to other cities – Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Amsterdam, New Delhi, Mexico City. Sometimes the trip…
Like a fish in water. That’s how I felt a few days after my arrival in Vancouver. The reason? The apparent lack of obstacles to my integration into this new environment. Language was not a barrier between Canada and myself, and the Canadian culture wasn’t so far removed from mine to make me feel instantly…
