The Kremlin as its seen from the Patriarcal Bridge | Photo by Mariano Mantel

Vancouver is a home for people with different cultural backgrounds, and this fact affects the way its citizens identify themselves. Coming from Russia originally, I consider Vancouver to be the most favourable place, as it allows people with big cultural differences to live and work together in peace. My home country embraces more than 100 nationalities and unfortunately, it gives rise to various conflicts that poison the existence of both native people and those who come to Russia looking for a job or better life.

Observing peoples’ relationships in Russia, I see mistrust and tension. Local people view newcomers as potential rivals who are here to take away their benefits. Due to an unstable economic situation, people are trying to defend themselves and many consider aggression the best way to do so. Local people blame newcomers for occupying potential jobs and simply conquering their territory. In turn, newcomers have to stick together in order to protect themselves from these attacks. Thus, two opposing communities appear. They do not hear each other, and there is no way for any cultural exchange. Such a situation is present not only in big and developed cities like Moscow or St Petersburg, but I also see these patterns in my home city, which has a population of 150,000 people. It is sad to be a witness to such abusive relationships, especially for people who have had a chance to visit other countries and see how this problem can actually be solved – if not completely, at least partially. It is possible for people with various cultural backgrounds to live side by side and develop sustainable relationships. In my opinion, Vancouver can be an example of such a place.

I do not assume that there are no conflicts or misunderstandings in Vancouver’s multicultural communities, but here people definitely have more chances for self-expression than anywhere else. People with different cultural backgrounds are not seen as aliens or those whose traditions are beyond one’s understanding. As for me, I see openness towards and sincere interest in the culture I grew up in. This is probably because I spend most of my time in the international college where people from more than 50 nationalities are brought together. This environment broadens minds and builds tolerance towards differences, but one college is a drop in the sea that is the whole of Vancouver. For people who spend most of their time in the company of those who share their culture, it might be frustrating and even scary to leave their zone of comfort. During the three years I’ve lived in Vancouver I have faced situations where different cultural backgrounds have collided and led to conflict. This becomes especially clear when people have to share the same territory. An unwillingness to even try to see a situation from a different point of view creates an abyss between people and makes negotiations almost impossible.

Nonetheless, I find it much easier living in multicultural Vancouver when compared to life in my home country. I suppose here people do not have to spend a lot of energy trying to defend themselves, their identity and their cultural preferences, so the surroundings provide perfect grounds for self-development and for building the life they want. Someone might not agree with me saying that certain cultures are oppressed, and there is still much work needed to be done to build a fair community. I am sure that these people have not seen what real oppression looks like. After visiting places with harsher living conditions, they can be grateful for the chance to live in Vancouver.