Immigration (5)
In my research for successful famous ‘genuine’ immigrants in Canada, I have disappointingly discovered only a few names. But perhaps I should not be too surprised. After all, even to first-rate ‘regular’ Canadians, if you gotta make it big, you gotta move to the U.S.
My definition of ‘genuine’ are those who landed just like an independent skilled worker class immigrant and then achieved something worthy enough to be famous or notable with primarily their existing education and qualifications.
Oh, and by the way, Canada is also going to elections. What this essentially means to me — a new immigrant in Toronto, Ontario — is probably what an election in Norway means to a Kangaroo farmer in Australia… not that Kangaroos are farmed in Australia, but who knows these things, eh? Besides, I’m not even a citizen to be able to cast a vote. Ha!
It’s not what you know… it’s who you know.
If you’ve followed this blog even a little, then you really don’t need an IQ over 160 to conclude that professionally I haven’t been a very successful (an understatement to the depths of hell) newcomer to this country — so far (okay I should be an optimist at least.) I ascribe this unfortunate turn of my life to the professional field I belong to.
The questions often pile high on your mind as you prepare to retire for the day, then lie in your bed staring into nothingness.
You reflect upon what you have accomplished – which is little, and what made you begin this journey in the first place. You reminisce the time when you could conquer the world, when you had the world in the palm of your hand. When you were the stuff stars are made of.
I guess the term ‘twist of fate’ holds some meaning afterall. In this case, had a series of twists a few weeks ago which resulted in the mornings looking brighter and more beautiful; evenings something to cherish and a smile returning to a face devoid of it for some time.
It’s been a while since I last posted.
Had to quit the hard-found job early last year (2007) because of some ridiculously exploitative conditions and additional duties (details too dark-humoured to share on the blog). Kept my hopes alive for the better, but it’s been almost a year since then and have not been able to get something that does a tiny bit of justice to my education, experience or qualification. Or am I being really naive?
A gutsy admission and attempt by Canadian mainstream media and a subject that is gladly no longer a taboo: this television documentary about “some disillusioned immigrants, and their struggle with poverty, rejection and shame.” Do watch:
