Four years in Canada. It doesn’t feel like that long ago when I landed in Toronto, a newbie immigrant with two heavy suitcases and big hopes of a better life than what I left behind in the Middle East and the Philippines.
The four readers of this blog probably know by now that I only write when I’m incredibly bored, and there’s nothing better to do. Perhaps I had an epiphany while on my morning hike in -20C temperature and kept myself preoccupied in thoughts to convince myself that hiking for an hour was not a bad idea. OR maybe I have something important to finish, and I do what I do best, procrastinating.
The realization sinks in slowly that you’re an adult and have to figure out things for yourself, and there’s no one else to blame because you put yourself in that situation lol. Your goals seem to be harder and harder to reach, nothing seems to be going the way you would have preferred them to, and the comfortable life you left behind didn’t seem that bad at all. But when you finally start achieving your goals little by little, knowing you went through those struggles makes it all sweeter. Reminiscing through those years still feels like a rollercoaster ride and I’m not saying the ride is over, because I’m most likely still on the same one, only I’ve passed through the big loops in the middle (and who knows though if there’s bigger loops coming soon).
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Be patient, but persistent.
It took a month before I found an entry level job, not related to my profession of 7 years, in a city an hour north of Toronto. A year and a half before I got my Canadian RN license, and back to working in the hospital. Two years before I got my driver’s license and first car. Considering the experiences of others who’ve decided to make Canada their new home, I am extremely fortunate with my timeline. But I didn’t get to where I am purely because of luck; it was a lot of hard work, and prayers. Be patient, but not complacent. Things may not look good right now, but change takes time. Be persistent, because no one else is going to do it for you but yourself. The moment I got my nursing license, I submitted applications everywhere and went to all the job fairs no matter if it took me 2 hours to get there. Don’t compare your timeline with that of others; we’re all gonna get there, whatever it is, wherever it is, in our own perfect timing. Be patient, and persistent.
Be yourself, but (try to) push yourself.
It’s hard work for an introvert to make new and meaningful connections. And I know some will not agree with this self-proclamation, but I am, so deal with it lol. Connections are important when you move to a new country or community, more so when you’re by yourself. Again, I’m fortunate that I got to make new friends, who are accepting (presumably) of whatever I bring, wherever I’ve decided to call home. It takes effort (for some), but it’s worth it. It’s nice to be yourself, in your own comfortable bubble, and sometimes it’s also worthwhile to get out, push yourself and see what else the world has to offer.
Be in your element, but don’t be afraid to try something different.
I’ve been a nurse in a specialty field for 7 years before coming to Canada, and that was a place I was comfortable in, or in my element. It’s in my blood, and having to work in a different field after a month of moving to a new country was a huge adjustment, professionally, emotionally and financially. In some ways, I was still able to use some of my skills in my new role in customer service. After a year, I got a job offer to work back in the hospital as a nurse, but in an entirely new discipline. It felt like starting all over again in a novice role, but also presented an opportunity to expand my experience. 6 months later, I got a new offer to work back in my specialty area of nursing. Some things were mostly the same, but a lot were different, which again meant more learning opportunities and experiences. 2 years later, I jumped on my car, drove 5000km northwest to immerse myself in a totally new environment. Was it reckless? Debatable. Do I like it here? Yes. It’s different.
Be good to yourself, and others, and good things will come your way.
If you work hard, reward yourself. Whatever your definition of ‘good’ is, do it to others, and more often than not, they’ll be good to you too, and pay it forward. And if they aren’t, that shouldn’t stop you from doing it to others.
So…
I need to get back to doing important stuff, lol. But I wanted to say it’s been a badass four years. And I’m not expecting the next four to be anything less. In this era of Covid, no one really knows what to expect. But there’s nowhere else to move but forward.
Written Echoes 