10 years in Canada: more Canadians every day
 |
| 10 years of our arrival! |
Behold, we have reached a milestone in our immigrant career, a decade of new country, a fresh start and readaptation. With 10 years in Canada, we no longer feel "newcomers" obviously we feel safe and adapted. In fact, it's not a decade, it's been a few years since we felt that way.
We get used to the rules, the customs and the way people are around here. Of course, being a country with a large number of immigrants and many things here are different from those we learned in our 25 years in Brazil, learning never ceases entirely. There's always something new to learn, some new culture to get to know a little more, some place we haven't been yet, new friendships and everything.
I'm going to name a few things that I think we've adapted to our way of being and personality in those 10 years around here. People change over the years and certainly the fact that we are here has greatly influenced the people we are today, as citizens, parents and people in general.
 |
| On the flight, 10 years ago – towards Canada definitively |
 |
| First view of the Ottawa region – arriving! |
1. BE MORE PATIENT
I mean things that go beyond our ability to change. Overall, at home, I'm in need of more patience, I admit.
But I mean things in our day-to-day life include exercising patience and we will combine, in everyone's life, in any corner of the planet. I refer more specifically to the things we learn to get used to here, for example, the health system (which often requires patience yes, because it can take) and traffic (Ottawa or rather in the suburbs of Ottawa traffic is quiet, but always has those people who are driving but shouldn't!) and in general, day-to-day.
Of course, I was much calmer
But I mean things in our day-to-day life include exercising patience and we will combine, in everyone's life, in any corner of the planet. I refer more specifically to the things we learn to get used to here, for example, the health system (which often requires patience yes, because it can take) and traffic (Ottawa or rather in the suburbs of Ottawa traffic is quiet, but always has those people who are driving but shouldn't!) and in general, day-to-day.
Of course, I was much calmer
2. TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN NOSE
As we would say here "mind your own business" and refers to that we learn that people are much more introspective and use their time to worry about their life, organize their things, use their money for whatever you want and make choices that make sense for your vid a.
Of course, there are people who snoop and who take a lot of time worrying about knowing about other people's lives, for no apparent reason everywhere.
Of course, there are people who snoop and who take a lot of time worrying about knowing about other people's lives, for no apparent reason everywhere.
But the fact, don't care too much about what others will think, about things that don't really concern other people or affect anyone but ourselves.
I think one of the things that comes to my mind is the question of comparison with someone else's life. This has it everywhere, literally, but I see that here people care less about it.
3. Consumerism
I try every day to become more minimalist, in practice even, thinking very well before buying something and wondering, do I really need this or is it just an impulse?
In our early years here, I was more moved by shops, brands, outlets and couldn't wait to go shopping. I don't know if this is just a thing of having changed my point of view or it's just the years passing and us becoming more experienced (adults, concerned about the future = spending and more forward, retirement), that today we prefer to collect more experiences than things.
In our early years here, I was more moved by shops, brands, outlets and couldn't wait to go shopping. I don't know if this is just a thing of having changed my point of view or it's just the years passing and us becoming more experienced (adults, concerned about the future = spending and more forward, retirement), that today we prefer to collect more experiences than things.
For years, we prefer to plan and make trips, to have a newer car, for example. We prefer to go on a tour to invest in a video game and spend hours indoors. They're totally personal choices, I know.
4. CANADIAN "FRIEZA"
Some people ask me if Canadians are cold, unfriendly and such and that was yes, another learning we had over the years.
The Canadian way of making friends and relating to people quite differently from the Brazilian way of being. Friendship relationships (at least in our circle of friendships) are generally less intense and happen more slowly. For example, you can work for years with someone and have never been to the person's home or meet their family (and still consider themselves close!). You can say you're going to have a birthday party for some neighbor or co-worker and not invite the person in question, it's normal. Canadians speak opinions more clearly, or I would say, more honestly – like we've heard, both me and Diego, from men and women in our work, that we were looking tired/finished that day – a compliment to the reverse.
People are a little more closed at first, but after they create an affinity, Canadians are great friends yes, just get used to the slightest attachment and, let's say.
5. CANADIAN WAY OF BEING POLITE
Really sorry got into my daily vocabulary and I leave dropping sorry and thank you for all that is side. Keep the door open for people, let someone pass first at an intersection, wait for another pedestrian to cross the street. I think these are things I've gotten a lot more deeply used to since I've been here.
