Karen George addresses the group. | Photo by Simon Yee
What is the proper etiquette when one is invited to go to a party in Canada? What kinds of parties are held? How early to the party should one arrive? How late is acceptable? And how do people from other cultures host parties?
These are some of the questions that can be asked and discussed at Culture Smart, a weekly workshop set in a friendly atmosphere that provides a forum for newcomers to learn about different facets about Canadian culture, as well as share their stories about how their own cultures approach similar situations.
A place to learn
Culture Smart discusses different cultures in Vancouver. It helps new immigrants to improve their English writing and listening skills, and also gives them a sense of Canadian humour.
“When new immigrants come to Canada, they may have a lot of questions and not know who to ask. So we set up this program to help answer them and help them learn more about the cultural context, and how it is to live in Canada,” says Karen George, program facilitator with MOSAIC, the non-profit organization that hosts Culture Smart.
Sue, a volunteer facilitator who has previously worked on other MOSAIC cultural programs, leads this year’s Culture Smart. Sue determines the topics for discussions, but she also asks the participants what they are interested in and what questions they have about living and getting around in Canada.
“We’ve talked about the Canadian handshake, what do you talk about with strangers, what are safe and appropriate topics, how to get in and out of a conversation, personal space and Canadian food,” Sue says.
But it’s not just Canada the participants learn about. Sue also connects what she talks about with the various cultural backgrounds represented at the workshop and tries to find cultural similarities and note differences as well.
“Learning is not a one way street. I like to try to make links with their cultures as best we can,” explains Sue.
A place to converse
All of the Culture Smart participants agree with the sentiment the program is a valuable forum to learn more about Canadian culture. It also provides an opportunity to make new friends, who are also new to the country as well as share their own life experiences and humorous cultural misunderstandings.
“I didn’t know a Nanaimo bar was a sweet! I only knew it was a street!” exclaims Girlly, 38, from the Philippines.
Adris, 28, who arrived from Afghanistan three months ago, celebrated his birthday on March 31. He brought a cheesecake to the meeting to share and enjoy with the group. Birthday celebrations and parties in general provided the main theme for that day’s group discussion.
Girlly explains that in the Philippines, certain milestone birthdays, such as ages 1, 7, 12, 18 and 21, are grandly celebrated. In addition, symbolic foods must be prepared on those birthdays.
“Rice noodles or spaghetti should be served. It’s a symbol which indicates long life,” says Girlly. But the noodles or spaghetti cannot be cut short or else it ruins the symbolism.
“For the first birthday, it’s a big party,” adds Yinga, 50, who arrived in Canada from Taiwan five months ago with her husband and son. “We go to a restaurant and usually the guests will give money in a red envelope or they will give presents like a golden necklace or ring for the baby.”
Yinga further remarks that when the children are older, it is the children who treat their elderly parents to the restaurant.
A place to feel welcome
Culture Smart is more than just a workshop to swap stories, learn about cultures and improve one’s English skills. It also fosters a sense of place and belonging, which is very important for newcomers who sometimes find themselves lost or disoriented in a new country.
“I enjoy the topics that we talked about, like how everyone has different hobbies. Having conversations, to talk with others and make friends. It makes me feel very relaxed and happy,” says Wenjie, 45, from China.
Although some participants found out about the program through advertisements at apublic library or community centre, others heard it through a glowing recommendation from a work colleague who previouslyattended the program.
Adris thinks programs like Culture Smart should be better advertised at Canadian immigration offices for newcomers to learn about it quickly and register if they wish.
“When you come to a new country like Canada, very multicultural, you need some place to go because you can’t keep asking everyone every day, ‘How do you greet here’, ‘How do you talk there’. So you want a platform where you go to share these questions. It’s best for newcomers to learn these things as early as you can. I’m so happy now to have a place where I can go to get an answer for sure,” says Adris.
