I am going to reflect on one of my favourite assignments this year, the Immigration a story. We went through a long process of editing and revisions to come up with a non fiction story of an immigrant to Canada that we interviewed multiple times. We were also tasked with the job of making a box with artifacts displayed in it, the artifacts were items that told our immigrants story of there journey to Canada. I really enjoyed this project and found it fun and it was a new way of seeing how immigrants came to Canada. I thought I did a good job about focusing in on a area of her story, and writing about it, and telling it through her experiences but my words. But If there was something I would change it would be about the presentations. I think we should of had a 1 person present in front of all of the immigrants and us. I think that it would’ve been better because we all put so much work and effort into our projects, and in the end I didn’t get to present to my immigrant.

One place that I struggled in was the writing aspect of humanities. My sentence and paragraph structure and spelling were all lacking and could be improved on a lot. But one piece of writing I got right. Not on the first try though. It took me four of five attempts to get it all correct and presentation ready. It was apart of the immigrant project where we had to interview a immigrant then take there story and tell it again through our own words. It took me many many times just to get the spelling right. But after all of that work I got this.

Story of a Life Time

Could you imagine moving across the world? Well I definitely can’t but with determination and commitment Maggie and her family from Shanghai China, moved from their home city all the way to Canada! Maggie and her family lived in Shanghai China and in 2006 they decided they would like to move. They wanted to come to Canada so they put in a request for a visa and documents. This alone took 6 years! With all that time they decided to come over and take vacation to Canada and take a look around to find out where they wanted to live. One plane ride later they were in Vancouver. They stayed for two weeks scouting out areas they liked. A little while later after returning to China they wanted to go back. But to a different city this time. After the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean they arrived in Toronto and Montreal and stayed there another two weeks looking for a place to live.

When my family and I were back in China we made our decision, we were going to move to Kingston, it was not either of the places we had visited but it was an adventure. We were making all the necessary preparations and then there was a big speed bump. I worked for a fabric company stationed in China and I was going to have to quit my job. But I wanted to continue on in the fabric company but moving to Canada looked like I had no choice. But when the day I had feared finally came around…… The company and I settled on a agreement that I would continue to work for them in Canada. My family also had to learn English but it was very hard for my son. With all of those stressful parts of the move out of the way I felt as if a elephant had been lifted off my chest and we could now focus on the move.

With the ability for me to start a new fabric store in Canada I was feeling good. After finally getting the visas and the proper documents ready, we could begin packing up. It was time. We were all happy that day, but still a little scared of the move to Canada I thought as the seemingly long car ride to the airport came to an end. As we boarded the plane all the anxiety of the trip vanished and I was suddenly over joyed with the thought of moving to Canada! Arriving in Kingston we were greeted with crisp fresh Canadian air and the cool weather of the great white North. We lived in Kingston for a while but we really wanted to move to Vancouver. Kingston was a small town and we never really saw anyone but when we did we saw them multiple times a day. We became close with our neighbours and when it’s was time for us to move we said our sad good byes and continued on our adventure across Canada.

So after thinking and talking over the idea of moving again we packed up our stuff and went on a cross Canada drive! We went through Ontario and up through the prairies eventually getting to the boarded between Alberta and British Columbia. I thought to myself this is it. In a little while I’ll be in Vancouver and our long journey will be over. So as the last kilometres of the trip came to an end and we emerged from the Rockies there it was VANCOUVER BRITISH COLUMBIA!!!

We wanted to live in deep cove located in North Vancouver but we couldn’t find a suitable home for our family. So once we found a home that we liked in the right neighbourhood we would buy it. The search for a house actually began before we even got to Canada. Back in China we looked and searched every house that came on sale in the area we were looking for. But nothing came up that we liked. Eventually we had no choice but to switch to a different area. We finally decided on Edgemont. We found a house there and immediately bought it and moved in. I sent my son to Handsworth secondary school which was different from our original plan but great for where we lived.

Once we settled it was a lot different compared to China. Canada was more spaced out, there was different food that took time to adjust to. Learning English was hard, but easier for me because I learned some from my mother back in China. In school my son was doing a lot better compared to the strict discipline of the Chinese schools. He could explore his own interests without conflict. We came here mostly for his sake. We wanted him to be able to follow his own interests instead of having mound apon mound of information shoved down his throat. He is adjusting to speaking English better and now he learns even out of school through sports and other activities.

Everyone seems happy with the change. There are hard things to get used to and hard things to let go of but the change was for the best. We wouldn’t of moved if it was going to hurt us in anyway. We all seemed to like it here in Vancouver Canada. I am enjoying cooking some tasty Canadian food. I still works for the Chinese fabric company 1 1/2 years later. I would say everything is going according to plan!

A big thank you to Maggie for letting me share her epic adventure across the world and her final destination of VANCOUVER BRITISH COLUMBIA!!!

Story lived by: Maggie and her family

Story told by: Robert Hannah