I continue to Seek to Understand and not fear being changed..........My Time with the Immigrants

A friend of mine asked me to write about how my life has changed being involved with the Immigrants/Refugees that have come to my community.  I decided to post what I wrote to her ......especially in light of the fact the US and Canada have been encouraged to increase their acceptance of Immigrants and Refugees from Syria and Iran.  Here is what I wrote :

 

 

A local United Church of Canada has been the home for our local Multicultural Center for roughly 10 years.  I have been involved with assisting a teacher for a about 14 months.  She  has a classroom of between 10-18 Level One students. All adults with families ..... some family members still in their home country or refugee camp; some waiting to arrive here; some will never see one another again. 

 

Some have been in class 2 years, some only 3-4 months.  Very few that come to the school here have had any experience with structured classroom from holding a pencil to knowing even how to write their name. They just desire a better life for themselves and for their family.   

As someone whose calling has been to sit with those at end of life within a long term care setting and palliative, I knew I had patience but I didn't realize the difference in patience where I really am called to just BE PRESENT vs. called to help someone as an adult learn English  and yet "being present' for these immigrants is what I am also seeing I am called to do. 

I wanted to stretch my soul, perhaps a way to keep myself "warm" in our very cold, long winters.....I have the outer clothing for such coldness....I am wanting to keep growing the inner warmth for all people......and seek to undertand......to  remove my limiting beliefs around those with different religious beliefs and cultural beliefs and I felt this was a wonderful way to give back but also to receive. As ST. Francis of Assisi said: Seek first to understand and then to be understood (I paraphrase).

I now see the women with their Hijib /men and women,  some still in their traditional dress and I feel so comfortable. I see their eyes....which for me are windows to the soul .  It is just a willingness to SEE that we all need. and not be afraid to trust we will walk through all that we see.....together .

 

I become more and more aware of how much we have in common vs how differently our worlds are.  I have found smiles are the universal language....just as tears and hugs are.  I help about 5 students 1 on 1. One is a couple who have lived in a refugee camp for 22 years!  with 3 children.   Neither knew how to hold a pencil.  What I see is there desire to please. They copy things very well and as a way to 'survive' memorize the alphabet/words as best they can but if you ask them to "point to the letter B".....they can't do it at this time (they have lived here 5 months).  What I learned was saying "point' had NO meaning for them. They didn't know what "point" meant.  They didn't know what "turn the page" meant. SO there is so much work to do to get to a place where one can begin to teach words and meaning of those words . Ahhh Retention.....difficult to attain. 

Patience is taking on a whole new meaning for me as well as my EGO is dissolving little by little to.. This is a good thing. This is not about how quickly I can get them to say a word or a letter........it is meeting them where they are and gently encouraging them and providing a safe place to learn to trust (also a word they don't know.....but I see in their eyes 'trust' for them is defined in the same way it is defined in the English language).  Sometimes they just need to share what is going on in their head/heart/their country.  This couple from Burma now greets me as soon as I arrive and they extend their hand to shake my hand which is huge considering in the beginning they stood away from me.  I'm also learning the government still has a long long way to go in understanding the emotions and feelings and fears these people have in starting life in a foreign country.......on top of seeing the horrific experiences they have seen in their country of origin/refugee camps.  Lots of red tape keeps  me from becoming more involved and I understand the need for boundaries.  I just stay focused on the basics of the tutoring along with building a connection they can trust.   I remind myself I can be a ripple in the water but I can't move the ocean by thinking I can move the entire ocean at once.

I am learning the Immigrants often have not had a letter or a sound ("th" "v") in their native tongue.  Getting this couple from Burma to pronounce "v" is quite something.  Yesterday was the first time I felt totally calm working with this couple and the letter "v". Usually I get frustrated internally...not at them.  yet I have no doubt even with the language barrier they feel my frustration.  It is teaching me to 'walk alongside" vs. the "follow me.....this will make your life better" attitude. I realize a light bulb moment can occur at any time.....but it takes a lot  of patience and repetition . They rarely tire of the repetition and I must remind myself my uncomfortableness in being repetitious  is MINE! 

I'm learning these students have had no experience in a strategy to learn.  No concept of even how to put a puzzle together.

I have another woman who is originally from Liberia who had 6 family members die from Ebola this past July. She kept coming to class, working hard and the class/instructor took time to let her share and we all hugged her and then began the day's studies.  Beyond amazing their  resilience . Yes some days she falls asleep in class, but I can only imagine the restlessness in her heart and soul having lived in her country and it's turmoil , knowing it was best to leave and yet having to leave loved ones and friends she will never see again.  Her favorite days of the week are Monday-Friday because she gets to come to school!

I help two women  from Afghanistan. One is doing very well and shares the pros and cons of her country. I am learning so much about a world I have only watched through the news media.  Another woman who has been here less than a year and her body /face is covered in scars from burns from terrorist attacks in her country.  Her face has been reconstructed but very poorly yet her SMILE is beyond beautiful.....It is truly all I see when we have our time together.  She has many issues that probably will hinder her ability to transition to English but her children are learning as is her husband.  I was honored that one day she told me in very broken English about her scars and how she got them and  showed me her arms, legs, torso area. My heart hurt.   Honestly, I feared she would say they were from the U. S. attacks. EGO again.....  I had not told her I was from the US at this point and I was relieved when she said it was her own 'bad people".  I don't see her often as she has so many emotional issues, as you can imagine, that it makes it difficult for her to focus and even desire to come to school.  When I told the instructor she had shared all this with me she was amazed as this student had not opened up to her at all about her scars etc. etc.  The instructor was so pleased she had opened up to anyone. 

I watch the students help one another and console each other when troubles surface.  I see the immigrants are no different than we are in that some bond as friends and some don't...Just because there are 10 from Eritrea doesn't mean they are all buddies but it does mean they come together to help when a serious need arises. 

There is an International Supper coming up where the Immigrants will be cooking their dishes from their various countries and tickets will be sold to raise money for bus trips here and there and supplies for those new to Canada.  I cannot wait to be in the mix with the women cooking the various dishes and seeing the love that goes into preparing each dish.  Cooking for them is their way of showing deep love for people because in many cases it is all the women are allowed to do and they know without food their family will die.  To we Westerners it appears they go SO slowly really in all things but very much in food preparation.  To them it is a labor of love.....there really is no rushing around that I have noticed except when cleaning up or working outside in gardens etc. I think in our effort to get things done faster, we truly have lost some important opportunities to bond with others.

I have lived in Canada 25 years and 15 of those years I have lived in Saskatchewan.    Except for my accent no one would know I wasn't from Canada. Yet at times I feel FAR away from my homeland.    At the end of the day, for me, the gift of helping the Immigrants gives me is to remind me to look beyond myself.  When I enter the classroom each Monday and Wednesday, I am greeted with smiles and "how are you?" and as my time ends I hear "thank you teacher Ginny" and we hug. Never do I enter or leave that place w/out many hugs!  They ask about my 3 yr old granddaughter who has had some health issues but is doing well right now and it brought me to tears when this happened the first time because I had not been involved in the tutoring very long but had to be away for 2 weeks then again this past May for an entire month to help care for my granddaughter.  I have friends here that  I have known for 15 years who some never asked about granddaughter even when she was in the hospital.  The Immigrants understand on a deeper level than most.

As Iyanla VanZant says in a book title "One Day My Soul Opened Up!"......My soul continues to open up as I am sure the souls of these Immigrants opens up a tiny bit at a time as we meet them where they are.  I continue to learn how difficult it is to teach English and to learn English as adults but I continue to learn how special it is to see our souls open up slowly but surely to embrace one another in community in a community where we will always be foreigners until the world can learn to see us all as ONE. 

I also continue to understand I cannot get someone to understand something they have not experienced but I know this much, our stories are vastly different but our feelings of the heart ....fear, sadness, anger, loneliness, joy, excitement, anticipation are just the same!  That's where I try and begin my day with them. With anyone really.   They don't need anyone to fix their past, they just need someone to care that they had that life but now want to create a better life for themselves and their family. 

They have seen such horror that even our severe Canadian winters don't get them down!  Sure they speak of 'how cold it is" but do so with a joyful spirit versus the negative spin the locals express, myself included.  I am becoming more and more aware of MY comments and attitudes and seeing the blessings in my day and I too thank the immigrants for teaching ME lessons beyond ABCS's to communicate with words, but lessons in the ABC's of LIFE in ONEness just trying to be the best we can be!

I wonder what these two women are thinking as they look out onto the lake in the Provincial Park where the students had a day of outdoor class time.  I know they feel safer in Canada but they have left much to gain that safety too.

NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN ICE FISHING FOR THE FIRST TIME..........WITH FISH EYES!

YAY..........Joe and I finally experienced ice fishing in the north, together with the kids and it was GREAT! About 4 hours on the lake.....just "too cool" but not freezing! ha!   We were on Bittern Lake that is near Montreal Lake Cree Nation..  Great walleye, jack and perch there.  This lake is a bit more strict with how many fish you can keep...works for me!  They have made one entrance to the lake to make it easier to monitor the coming and goings of those fishing on the lake.  We had just enough to take home after Alan fileted them.   Joe fried us some awesome fresh coldwater fish! at the house.......Ahhhhhh didn't need anything else!  

HERE we go ONTO the Frozen Lake!  The drill is: Undo seatbelts, roll down windows , take baby/children out of their car seats   IN CASE something  happens you can surface! YIKES!       BRRRRRRRRR for about 10 minutes........ I just kept thinking ALAN we trust you.....and I know you would not put your little Pepper in danger SO I am SO SO SO glad we got the chance to experience this driving onto the ice to ice fish in the far north of Saskatchewan! 

AUGER IN ACTION!!!  We had holes everywhere......and other fishermen around......and you DON"T fish in someone else's holes.........I tried not to think about there being too many holes in the ice and eventually breaking off onto my own island...I sometimes would LOVE to have my own island....but it must have palm trees NOT SNOW!

FUN Sledding! Dads and moms entertained the kids while GG and DadDad ice fished for the first time!

Very COOL/but WARM pop up fishing hut.....pouches inside to hold things and they had a small propane heater inside to keep it toasty warm.  I think Alan knows what he's getting for his birthday this year!

Chelsea getting the kiddos building tiny snowmen. True to boy form he was knocking the heads off as soon as the snowman was constructed.....Seems Pepper understood that need! ha! Must be the Jackson in her! 

Fish N Hole.......about 4 feet deep.......took me a bit to realize you must keep your hook just barely off the bottom of the lake because to raise it higher it is inside the frozen tubular hole of ice!  Duh!

Wooden fish sticks that replicate what was used in the early years......Alan and his buddy have made PVC pipe with a lid to store theirs in......Who knew

One drilling the holes inside the hut and Joe shoveling the snow out of the hut that collects after the auguring of the hole.

while fishing a squall appeared. I worked hard to stay quiet (not because of scaring the fish but to keep from freaking out that we might get stranded) because as you see...........we can't SEE!  I kept fishing repeating "these guys would never stay here with a 6 month old and 2- 2 year olds IF they thought we'd be stranded."  then I rethought that......GUYS WOULD stay....but moms would NOT.........and they were in the hut with the 2 yr olds fishing away and laughing SO I succeeded in staying quiet...

Squall had just passed through and the sun was appearing just in time to set. Love seeing Joe and Alan together enjoying the outdoors!

Fishing Date!  HOW Romantic!  The boys made fun of my coat saying it was a HORSE Blanket....I admit there is a lot of coat there.....but as I've said before.....Rarely a fashion statement in our serious winters......it's about surviving and not losing limbs!.......... It was VERY windy. and I look like something of a Neanderthal Woman....but I was toasty except my feet!  .  My feet got a bit chillier than I expected and I figured it was because the wool socks I had on were too thick so no air circulation keeping them warm.  We got to sit and fish because Alan was Mr. Hospitality.......making sure everyone was happy and having fun! 

Two Year Old Fishing Derby about to begin......Not one complaint from these two in the 3 plus hours we were out braving the elements! And when Pepper saw the fish laying on the snow after being caught she'd say "OH, the fishy is awake!" didn't seem at all bothered by the experience.

Joe 'calling the walleye"....here fishy fishy fishy....and Alan stoking the fire ON the lake..........really????? It won't melt the ice! ha!   and he cooked us up some great hot dogs! and made sure everyone had a liquid beverage......Hot Chocolate next time! ha!  The girls had little bottles of 'something'.......I think it was a special type of KOOL AIDE...... The squall is beginning to get closer and closer........but fishing never stopped!

Chelsea doing baby duty for friend's 6 month old. REALLY I'd have NEVER gone out on a frozen lake with a 2 yr old and a 6 month old...NOT out of fear......but just worried I might need something I wouldn't have out there.....so different now....and these two young families were just the most relaxed parents ever and so were the kids! Even saw them lay a rubber floor mat on the lake/ice and a fleecy blanket to create a diaper changing station.......and no one is worse for wear!  Amazing!  and I suppose this is HOW it was done in the old days! LOL.

Pepper is explaining the hut.....and the board at her feet is what is placed over the fishing holes so the kids don't fall into them.  Some have notches cut in them so the fishing line can go down the hole but the child will not!  OR a cell phone,,,,or hot dog!



Yippee! Ginny's First Ice fishing catch! a good sized perch that was taken home for consumption!  Yum!!!!  Used the eye.....yes the eye of this fish to place on the hook to catch the next fish which was a nice sized WALLEYE.....and YES I removed the fish eye with MY OWN finger!!!....

AND.........are you ready for this............Chelsea's g/friend told me the real deal is using the FISH EYE as bait for the next fish.  I had minnows.....thought "why would I touch the eye if I have minnows?"  THEN it hit me........Saron is from TEXAS......she's gotten the eyes for bait before.........and so I said to self "Self..........you can't let a TEXAS GAL show up an OKIE GAL".......So I hopped up and went and got the perch eye MYSELF (Joe I think was frozen in shock....).......and baited my hook and within five minutes I'd caught a good sized walleye! YAY!!!! Joe says "now be careful that walleye will hurt if you get a fin in your hand.  Do you want me to help you?."  I said "I'm good" and I proceeded to get THAT eye........bait the hook and start the system again!  NOW I may NOT ever do that again...........BUT I SURE had to do it then!  and I just chalk it up as another GG Adventure in the North!

Pepper getting down to business after sledding and building little snowmen....She must be VERY hungry as I see 2 and a 1/4 hotdogs here !  I don't think the beverage was hers though! ha ha

Alan was such a great host......making sure all of us were well cared for and had all we needed to have fun and catch fish. He finally towards the end goes to a hole and fishes a bit and caught a really good sized walleye...I heard him holler and what had happened is the fish was hooked but bit off the line and Alan saw it in the hole and reached down in the hole and grabbed the fish and pulled it out of the 4 foot hole......before it could get away at the very bottom opening. COOL! RUGGED!  He says it is very difficult to get fish 3-4 feet long up into the hole and out...but it can be done! 

SUCH A GREAT SASKATCHEWAN FAMILY/FRIEND MEMORY FOR GG AND DAD DAD
THANK YOU KIDDOS!

Multi Celebrations, Multiply Joy with the Multicultural Students

10 of the 18 students in the beginning English Class

It has been 6 months since I started tutoring Adult Immigrants coming to Moose Jaw from their homeland.  Ten are shown here but a few didn't want their picture taken and a few were away for various reasons.  There can be up to 20 in this class. This is the Entry Level class so their English is very  limited but their desire to learn isn't! (sure sometimes they are tired or mind is on family elsewhere OR several are type 2 diabetic due to OUR western food they didn't come as Type 2 diabetic...so sugar levels are off and focusing is hard) and I continue to see just how challenging it is to learn and teach English!  I remind myself WE Westerners have good and bad days and days we focus well and days we don't! They are no different!

I do one on one with about 4 students along with sitting in the classroom several times a week for half a day to experience the process as a whole and getting to know the students.  I am in awe of their ability to work hard to learn how to integrate into the western culture while learning family members are ill back in their homeland or they have died.  Quite a number of family members from babies to adults were lost during the summer and fall Ebola crisis, which still continues.  The students even though they don't know one another except for meeting in school (which runs 9-3 5 days a week all year except around Christmastime).  The empathy is amazing....and yet w/out the drama ...very mater of fact at times that they have lost a family member and cannot be there with them or to mourn them in their homeland as we are so used to doing in our culture.  They look forward more than backward.

This day was January 5 and we were celebrating Canada's New Year and including the Chinese New Year which begins Feb 19th......AND the biggest celebration for many of these students was THEIR BIRTHDAY!  Many do not know the exact date they were born. Very common from my understanding......SO they have January 1st of whatever year they were born as their birthday. SO we had treats and singing and party hats, streamers etc. and sang and celebrated for a bit during class and then went to the other 3 classes and the office staff to sing and wish everyone Happy New Year and Birthday.

The women usually wear something on their head and a few do wear the traditional Muslim Dress. Some are Catholic as well.  The school and daycare for 35 children is housed in a United Church building.  It is a lovely union.

We tried wrapping my head with a colorful scarf  one day and they laughed as did I!  It is helpful for me to have a safe place to explore new religious beliefs and customs....asking questions and having the person in front of me know I'm genuine....not making fun of them etc. and vice versa.  I believe for me anyway, this will allow me to go OUT into the bigger world and NOT have the limiting beliefs I carry and some I'm not even aware I carry and some the NEWS would insist I carry............it is an exciting time!


I have been helping a couple, mainly the woman, who has 6 children and is about to have her 7th. Her smile is infectious and her joy for learning and her caring for others continues to touch me.  I decided to stop by their home last Friday evening.  All their children were there (15 yrs to 2 yrs old, 4 boys and 2 girls) Small older home, so clean, warm with few material things displayed and yet the warmth of their souls filled the living room!  I was asked to come in and sit down on the sofa.  I had brought applies and bananas and OF COURSE, flowers for the expectant mamma!  I am still feeling the hugs a week later!  They speak Arabic and so far all I know in Arabic is hugs and smiles and laughter.

"J" got up and went into the kitchen. She made freshly squeezed Orange Juice, put it into a wine goblet and served it to me on a small silver tray. SO SWEET!  I started chatting with the children who were ALL so full of joy and so well behaved. they all stayed in the living room with the older ones helping translate my English to their parents and vice versa.  It was so comfortable.....I wanted to know the names of the children. I had one of the girls write the names on a paper for me with their ages! All the boys are Abdul -____________.  I can't imagine being upset with one Abdul and trying to remember the second name in a fit of anxiety!  Ha!  The girl's names begin with R. 

They have a computer and a T.V..  The oldest boy connected to YouTube and brought up current music from his country Eritrea and it was just the neatest to watch them all enjoy that and want me to watch and take it in.....SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND.........THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD!!! no matter WHO is in front of us!

Right????

Then they found an Arabic comedy show. Well of course I couldn't understand the words but watched the show and figured a bit of it out on my own and the kids were helping me and we were all laughing...mostly at ME not understanding! ha! They never got frustrated with me asking several times saying I didn't understand what they said.  Reminding me NOT to get frustrated at them either!

I stayed about an hour and they were going to be doing evening prayers so I left before that began.  I got hugs from all the children and the adults and I can tell you a hug in any language is warm and life-giving!

I continue to learn how to help in a healthy way and must remember I cannot save the world whether it is the world I am accustomed to or new worlds I am being introduced to.  I continue to learn and to believe in all our differences we have much we all desire.....to belong.....to help......to laugh.....and to feel connection in our spirits.

Right now they are learning about applying for jobs and the first job we are focusing on is Housekeeping in hotels.  Lots of laughter when some of them try to read and pronounce "flat sheet" or "fitted sheet".........some languages don't even have the sounds we have in English....."P" is difficult for them "th" and "EE"..........so  we were working on NOT saying "fitted "sh_t"  or "flat sh_t"...but to "show your teeth" and when you say "th" stick out your tongue to the person you are speaking to but with a smile!  When they hear themselves say the word correctly  you would think they had won the lottery.............

As I spend time with my 2 year old granddaughter also learning to speak English in a very elementary way,  in her home and everywhere she finds herself,  I'm reminded of the fact SHE hears it daily.........so when she hears herself say it correctly she doesn't seem to show the thrill these adult immigrants show.

I continue to see what watching the robins and bluebirds building their nests and tending to their babies till they flew away taught me this past summer..................PATIENCE! and being present..........or you miss something very special.

This isn't for everyone..............for sure................but there is something out there FOR EVERYONE.  My wish is that everyone tries to find what that is for themselves...........nothing more lifegiving than sharing yourself in a lifegiving way to someone else ourside ourself.

Happy New Year !!

THE DUMP CARD......Hi Ho Hi Ho................Where did it Go!

It has been awhile since I have blogged. Have you noticed? I couldn't find my 'DUMP CARD"!!!  (Finding mine will have to wait for another blog as I have a different definition for my 'dump card")..BUT must share a funny Joe/Ginny exchange  that occurred this past  Sunday morning.  It was the day Joe decided to begin taking a look the 'things' he and I, but mostly HE has collected for the next trip to the DUMP!  A few years ago the Landfill gave everyone in the country a laminated YELLOW  card that shows information that we live outside the city limits and therefore receive a discounted fee for the 'stuff' we drop off at the DUMP.  As we ALL know, we ALL have our strengths and weaknesss...Joe has MANY strengths physically and mentally....but one of  Joe's weaknesses  .or perhaps just a tendency to not put items of more importance in their proper place or where it might show up more readily than 'in a pile of papers that he may just decide one day to grab and toss in the garbage never to be seen again in his brief moment of 'let's clean up here"! Joe is usually on to MORE important things when he is dropping things no longer important to him in 'their random spots"............Honestly though, Joe is usually LOOKING for keys, wallet, keys, wallet, keys wallet ..........sunglasses................phone............did I say Keys and Wallet several times a day most days........and this Sunday morning entered a NEW item to look for............THE DUMP CARD! 

Before I continue..............I must add that Joe seems to enjoy 'the hunt" any hunt!..........I'm seeing it is not just hunting for wild game but just the hunt in general.  I am slowly learning this can be helpful and a diversion around thinking badly of yourself because you are forever misplacing things vs finding a familiar spot to place them so you forego all the time spent HUNTING. (could this kind of hunting be considered exercise!! hmmmm) 

He will ask me if I know where something is............NOW this used to send me into orbit..I felt this meant I had to stop what I was doing and help him look for something that if he had just taken MY suggestion about putting it in a basket (I've tried all shapes and sizes for his selection pleasure ....he doesn't use them much but I do) and if they were in the basket we'd not be going 'on the hunt".  I grew up being told to help look for other's things...even those I had not lost and someone would get mad at me if I didn't find what THEY lost??????

 Joe said "this is a yes or no question.....I ask if you know where something is........you say "Yes" or "No"...then I can say "Will you help me look? and you can say "Yes" or "No"..............NOW this shift in my belief system was introduced back in 1997 when we lived in Kansas (I know bear with me here)........it was a time when.................YES he couldn't find his KEYS!  He has keys to garages, to trucks, to locks on things SO when he loses /misplaces his keys.....it is seriously serious!

To continue...........on this lovely Sunday morning exchange, Joe asks if I remember which truck we took to the dump the last time we went. Let me see...............months ago..........I felt it had been in Big Red......the diesel.  He smiled and went out to look in Big Red............assuring me he had thoroughly gone through all areas of the Black Truck and found no DUMP CARD...........I remain comfortably in Joe's recliner  (years ago no months ago i would have gone to the Black Truck and started really looking......but I stopped that behavior whew!)  I'm in the recliner with my morning coffee probably reading emails or News online..........in a bit, Joe returns NO card............I am remembering to stay relaxed, and NOT make this my problem...yet anyway.........I said gently (which wasn't always the case years ago or even weeks ago) that I was sorry I couldn't help him help himself with keeping track of lost items ............I then took a risk................which I am learning to do more these days.............and asked this question:

COULD YOU HAVE PUT IT IN YOUR WALLET? He calmly replies "NO". I then (very much out of character during these types of exchanges said gently ) "OK, but have you LOOKED IN your wallet just in case?"   At this moment Joe is behind me......I cannot see him...he does NOT reply......YET..............I can sort of hear him but I work hard to stay OUT of the nagging mode or sarcastic mode of "do you need me to help you find your wallet so you can see if you have the Dump Card inside it?"............oh it was tempting but only makes things get edgy........I even refrained from turning around to SEE what in the world he was doing.........Truly a miracle!

In a few seconds I hear laughter............then Joe appears right in front of me laughing out loud (at himself........HE continues to teach me the value in this practice) .........HE HAS THE YELLOW DUMP CARD!!!  I was so happy for him.................I did say "YaY, here's one for Ginny!" and I think I got a 'thank you' or I now take his excitement in finding things or MY helping him find things as his 'atta girl' thanks for helping him...........I seem to be the one who knows where most things are............and if I don't Joe says "OK if you don't know where it is,  where would you put it if you had put it somewhere" and voila...oftentimes that is right where SOMEONE put it!  Hmmmm.  I think there have been times he puts up with me because I can find things for him.............I'm glad he found me..........because he continues to keep trying to teach me how to laugh at myself more..........and see most of life is just enjoying the "adventure of the hunt"..............mostly ones not requiring bullets! 

THE END...........

Oklahoma meets Africa, Iraq and Asia in Moose Jaw!

I'm SO excited! I felt it was finally time to get involved in some outreach again in Moose Jaw. Two years out of the loop was longer than I expected but........necessary. 

Moose Jaw seems to have been a place for refugees and immigrants to come and seek employment in a relatively small community within Canada.  I think the prairie, farming community lends itself better than  the other provinces. and  the Government assists them in finding locations and 'pods' now as they realize it is important for them to find other immigrants especially in the beginning of this new adventure.    The Center actually began back in 1974 and has grown now including those from China, Philippines, Africa,(Liberia, Eritrea, Congo )  Ukraine, Romania, Sudan, and Jamaica and Iraq. 

A United Church of Canada which has a large office section now houses the Multicultural Center and Daycare for the Immigrant children. It has been a very good fit as right across the street is a Travelodge Hotel that has agreed to work with the new arrivals giving them a big room discount for up to several weeks until they find a suitable dwelling.  The school/daycare is right across from the lovely park/library with walking paths in it and they love going over there for lunches and breaks 

The Daycare takes  35 children. It is helpful for the mothers to have the children so close being so new to Canada.   There are 5 levels of Language taught to adults who qualify and I have just started helping the instructor who teaches Level 1....when they first come to Canada.. Some know a bit of English, most do not.  There are about 15 in the class if everyone shows up! 

As I explored what I wanted to do to serve in the community of Moose Jaw that fit my gifts and passions,  the Multicultural Center possibility  kept surfacing for me.  I had to be sure I was ready to help others with a full cup and not needing to help others because my cup was empty.  Last winter I was helping a friend with 1st and 2nd graders who struggled with reading. I just listened to them read and helped them and sometimes just listened to their need to share a story about their life! It is amazing what comes from 6 and 7 year olds now that sounds so much more than they should have to deal with but it is life as they live it.  This experience  opened my eyes to a different direction than journeying with the elderly at end of life.  It was time to take a break yet knowing I will return to that down the road too.   

This spring I spent more time exploring the Multicultural Center and how I could help. I see so many of the immigrants in our community whether they run a food establishment/work in one or many I see stocking and working in our large Superstore Grocery store... they are NEVER without a smile on their face! (and to think of what they have endured until coming to Canada just amazes me and tugs at my heart).  I decided to take the leap and apply to volunteer to help teach English to the Immigrants who are mostly African.  I realized I knew two of the instructors at the center and the one I'm assisting I sat on committees with at the church we both used to attend. After all the paperwork, criminal record check  and various other little hiccups in the process, I started helping in her class the end of July!  I hope to blog more as things progress but have added a few photos to just give you a glimpse. Until I get permission I can't use photos already taken. 

This is a  Classroom where they are taught.  Here they are  learning words while making it a game.  The words here pertain  to their children's school supplies!  Can you imagine seeing an entire list in English for supplies for your child; needing to get to the store to purchase the items and really being unable to read much more than your name at this point?  WOW!   They laugh and smile even when they are struggling with words...........which is almost every word. 

The woman in the black is from Eriterea  She has been here 2 months. Has 6 children and a husband.  She has started taking off her face part of her Burka. Her eyes are filled with joy and her smile goes on forever!  Her oldest child is 14 and youngest 18 months.  Her husband as most husbands know much more English than the women and some of the women that come aren't even allowed to come learn English.  Also some choose not to if they have older children who can translate for them and translate for them when out and about doing their errands. 

This happy gal is showing us how to cook up a special dish that will be served at their first fundraising dinner next week.  The Center celebrates 40 years and the Immigrants wanted to cook and raise money for new computers that will help them study for their Canadian Citizenship and other English learning.  The instructor and I were talking about how SLOWLY they prepare and cook things. No rushing.  There is a rhythm to the chopping, cleaning the veggies and not dumping all the spices into things at once but taking time to bee sure they are all gently stirred into the foods.  We both decided this was a very important ritual for the women in Africa. It was communicating and connecting to the food as well as sending their emotions of love and care into the food and the cooking process to pass through to the people eating it! They are SO happy when they are cooking and so proud of their accomplishments.  It Appears to me this could be how they survive when things are so tough and food is low in their homeland...they have the memory and rituals of cooking and eating the cooking from someone special to them that reminds  them of their strength and ability to survive most anything.  I have a hard time understanding her yet as she speaks quickly but no doubt I will pick it up in time.  I get hugs from most of them already when I arrive! 

During the hour long lunch break as I was headed to my car I saw a this couple as he is teaching her to ride a bike. Most use bikes or walk or take cabs to get around town.  Of course bikes are put away in the winter!  Winters.....WOW I thought I had culture shock..........they all just giggle when you ask them about their first winter here....the word COAT is the first thing out of their mouth!  I will enjoy seeing the new immigrants adjust to this coming winter!  Lots of donations come in for the children and adults from the community and they are very appreciative and learn quickly the outerwear is needed to survive here in the winter!

There are a few Asians in the class as well. They usually don't get to remain in the language classes as long because they are sent over here primarily to work and learning English takes away from their working.  Every culture is different.  I'm learning the Chinese have sounds that are difficult for them to learn. I was trying to get two men to say "ruler" the other day.....tough and yet the African man had no problem.  Fascinating!  They all smiled and just kept trying!

 

One of the instructors has a huge apple tree in his backyard so we took a city bus to his house and all the students came and picked apples to take home and the rest will be used to make applesauce and apple crisp for the fundraising dinner next week.  Oh the laughter and chatter that ensued immediately upon reaching the back yard was priceless!  Apples falling from the sky like raindrops only NOT as softly.  It took some a minute or two to grasp under the tree was NOT a good place to stand and yet how to get the apples if you weren't under the tree!  These adults were like children on a playground and I've never seen so many apples bagged in such a short period of time in all my life!  It was interesting as well to watch the dynamics of the men and women.  the ones who were assertive, leaders and the ones timid and the ones just not wanting to participate because it was WORK!  They all wanted the shade once the picking was done! 

 

This is one of the women I help one on one with her English.  She is my age, 56.  Most have no clue when they were born so if you ask when their birthday is most say "January 1st! Cute...so the center has a big Birthday party on January 1 instead of a New Years Day Celebration.  She lives with her two older sons and has been here almost 2 years.

Ahh the shade!  bad photo since the sun was facing me. 

Raining Apples!

I always knew the  English language was difficult to learn,  but now I see  for those coming as adults w/out any experience of being around English being spoken and watching and learning by sight what words might mean, it is the most challenging thing imaginable! To teach it and to learn it!   

As I was trying to help the three women I work with  learn to fill out forms with "name" "address" "city"  "province" "postal code" "phone number"....I became aware these three women I work with have no idea yet the difference between the word "name" and their name!  (sigh).....and learning the sounds of the letters........explain "cat" and "city" and two of the women's first names start with the sound "S" but one's spelling is "Ts" and so they don't understand why "city" doesn't begin with an "S"...........Sheeshka.............

I think  this will be a wonderful experience for me. Challenging for sure, much patience is needed but when I see their smiles, when we just chat about our families with the little English they do know, and keep it simple it really is like being in a bubble where only good things are happening. 

 I KNOW generally speaking what they have endured in their homeland, yet they are still here with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts for being in Canada and learning even with very little material things. They have family dynamics just as we do but they are eager to assimilate w/out totally losing their heritage.  I'm as interested to learn their culture as they are to learn English.........I know in just this short time that  they have something I hope I can find MORE OF in myself! 

One woman in the class  spent about 10 minutes sharing that  she has lost 5 family members to Ebola in the last month and just that day lost a niece 2 yrs old.  (And she was in class! I think because she needs community and this is now her community). She is from Liberia. She calls at 3 a.m. to speak to family due to time change then prays then comes to class from 9-3 p.m.  She shared they just have to leave the villages and try to not get sick and go somewhere better and if someone dies along the walk they must be left because to touch them means you would get the virus and die too.  Sad so sad.  Yet she speaks very matter of fact about it but with great sorrow too.  She dresses in bright colors, has a broad smile and works hard in class.  I truly have NOTHING that warrants complaining about in my life next to hers.

In  the short time I have been involved with the class,  I see now the gift of watching the mother robin building her nest this summer brought to me.............the ability to sit still and watch patiently while something is transformed from many separate pieces into one solid object!  These Immigrants bring many diverse pieces of themselves to Moose Jaw and this Center helps them find community with one another as well as enter the larger community of Moose Jaw.
I can't help but be enriched by this experience.

My first Swahili word was "star"  Nyota (one of the characters on Star wars was called Nyota!  I was asking the women to think of words that begin with the letter "S".  One woman didn't know what Star was so another one spoke it to her in Swahili! 

and "Hello" is Hujambo!

Maybe in a year they will be speaking English with an Okie twang! ha! 

More to come as time goes on...................

"Kwa Heri" (Goodbye)

Trolley Day in Moose Jaw......Taking in a local tourist attraction!

THE TROLLEY 

Last Friday was a gorgeous August day in Moose Jaw. I learned it was the last day for the Trolley to run through the town showing some of the sites.  My family is not happy when I try and get them to go on these little excursions with me (we have underground tunnels too!) I not longer make it a bone of contention but lord knows I did for a few decades!  (Sorry Family).   I called a good friend and she joined me on this ride through Moose Jaw .  I was using this as a great opportunity to be outside in the open Trolley in the great weather (before our winter hits us) more than thinking I was going to see things I have not seen in the 14 years I have lived here. However, I was pleasantly surprised by some of the tidbits the tour guide shared with us as she would point out various buildings and murals around the town. and I'm strange...but I just LOVE being driven around an told about the history of places (I have no one in my family liking this style of touring...they all want to search and learn what they learn on their own....I think like a treasure hunt????)

 

 

 

Should have had the Trolley driver IN the photo but no one else was around and so HE took the photo of my friend Leanne and myself. 



Inside the small Tourist Office were various displays. Not being a smoker I was still thrilled to learn there was something with MY name on it! My given name!  I'm certain it was the best tobacco to be had in the day!  but not sure why "OLD" has to be involved here! 

IT took me YEARS to convert "hoodie' to Bunny Hug. NOt sure why Bunny Hug is way cuter I think.  Emily is still trying to convert her Okie/Texas buddies and it shouldn't be difficult with ALL the Bunny Hugs she has hanging on I think 3 coat racks in her house!  One shouldn't be surprised by the numbers...bunnies DO multiply rapidly right? Lots of time to think these unique names up in these LONG winters!

WE have a Military Base here where training is done and our famous Snowbirds train and fly formations at fairs and exebitions in the US and Canada.  The base is just 5 minute out of town  This base is home to NATO Flying Training of Canada with a 431 Air Demonstration Squadron.  The Snowbirds started during the Second World War and were contracted to train pilots for wartime service.  Then it was replaced by the British Commonwealth Air Training program creating the 15 Wing Air Base today.  Moose Jaw is very proud of their Snowbirds.....NOT to be confused with the "snowbirds" who are retired and leave for the U.S usually after Christmas for up to 180 days to Arizona to see the same people they see up here most often....or Palm Springs....WARMER spots lets say!  The Government makes them return for a few days after 180 days and then they head back down again sometimes till all the snow is gone!

Our Trusty Trolley Driver and his Assistant Tour Guide did a great job keeping us entertained and informed.  Did you know Saskatchewan has more golf courses per capita than any other Province.. and the first while child was born in Moose Jaw in 1943. 
Moose Jaw gets it name they say from white men repairing the wooden wheel on their wagon with the jaw of a moose that was found laying along the river flowing through Moose Jaw, aptly named The Moose Jaw River! Moose Jaw is a Cree Word. Another legend says it got its name from the river that is shaped like a moose's Jaw.  I'm sure I could submit any other ideas you might have and they would add them to this list! 

The Canadian Pacific Railroad runs through the city still today.  With last year's record crops the farmers were in a tizzy because they couldn't get the railcars to transport their grain because the potash was making MORE money and so of course the Railway would go with where they could make the most money. 

 

As I looked over this poster in the Tourist Office I realized I can spot all these crops in the fields now shortly after they begin to grow.  Scary I know and nothing I can put on a resume to get me a job, but I still get a thrill seeing the farming community do their thing from spring to fall harvest!  If Joe is phoning anyone with cattle he hears from the wife, "Joe, he's ON THE LAND. I will get him to call you later." AND the wives STILL make the meals and take them to the husbands on their fancy enclosed air conditioned cabs of their combines and seeders!  They have GPS to drive them around the field and plenty of room for coolers (I still call them ice chests) but if the wife shows up the famer HAS to stop and take a break! 

The building behind the cool dudes on the motorcycles is the Armory Building.  Home to the Saskatchewan Dragoons, a unit of the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve.  All I hear is there were LOTS of dances here and Moose Jaw has many large buildings that were used by Military groups during the wars...and returned to their original purpose when the war ended. 

HUGE home that was built by a local Moose Jaw man in the 30's for his soon to be bride. She broke the engagement and he never sold the house nor did he live in it .  This has been

Central Collegiate High School (Moose Jaw has 5 High Schools ---too many in my opinion) Back in the day they had university courses as well to the tune of $63.00 tuition for the YEAR! 

St Andrew's United Church and home of the Moose Jaw Multicultural Center where new immigrants come to learn English and seek resources. There is a daycare for the Immigrant families housed in the church office area as well.  First woman minister ordained in the United Church of Canada served here from 1935-1938.   WOW!

Womens  Baseball team in the late 30's and 40's! 

This is the business of Fifth Avenue Jewlery that is now in the US and Australia as well as Canada.  Family owned/created business and this house was purchased by one of the sons (now deceased) who saw this house as a young boy on his paper route and said "one day I will own this house" and he did....he is the one who started the jewelry business.  They sell the product through home parties.  The summer sees the yard filled with glorious flowers and the winter sees it decorated top to bottom  with Christmas decorations and figurines.  A family that gives back to the community of Moose Jaw in many big ways.

WE have underground tunnels that were created to hide the Chinese families that worked on the railway.  They lived underground and worked in Moose Jaw in food industry, cloths cleaners and the railway.  Supposedly Al Capone came up to Moose Jaw often and ran booze in and out through the tunnels during prohibition! 
 This street was called River Street and it was the happening place in the early years....7 bars and a hotel!  There were still 4 bars on this street when we moved here in 2000! 

Winston Churchill Statute at another highschool. The claim to fame is it is the OLDEST statue in the world of Winston Churchill!  The statue was erected in 1943 as this high school focuses on Industrial Arts studies. 

\This was the Original Movie Theatre in downtown Moose Jaw.  It  Was completely renovated in 2001 which  created a gorgeous place for small concerts, plays and high school musical productions.  When we moved here in 2000 it was a scary run down movie theatre.  The renos took in the Army Navy Store on one side an the A and B Store on the other creating the now lovely Mae Wilson Cultural Centre  Most of the 1910 architecture is still visible after the renos.  There isn't a bad seat in the house as they say!  In its day it was the happening spot in Saskatchewan and largest theatre in Saskatchewan in the 20's and 30's.

Last but not Least........one of our two Tim Horton's Coffee locations! NOW owned by Burger King in the US. but with a Post Office Box in Canada.  Guess we will see how this merger goes. 

and as they say "THAT'S ALL FOLKS"!

Nothing fancy but it is home for us until it is not!