Most of you know that I volunteer as a classroom assistant in an
English Class at the local Immigrant Centre. The few hours I spend each
week with people from other corners of the earth open my eyes to see
the world in a different way. These students broaden my horizons and I
love to hear stories about where they came from and what their dreams
are. One night a few weeks ago was no exception. The teacher announced
that we would be spending the evening watching short video clips about
human rights issues around the world and then discussing them. I was a
bit surprised because the usual topics of discussion tend to revolve
around subjects that help the students survive life in Canada. How to
talk to the doctor, or shop for groceries, or make an appointment. All
things that someone new to Canada needs and wants to be able to do, but
is a big big struggle if having a good command of English is not within
grasp.
So I was surprised when I saw enthusiastic nods around the room as the teacher announced the exercise. Before the exercise even started, one student told the entire class "this is a very important topic." And I realized that particular student came from a country where human rights might not be viewed as important. Some might say he comes from a country that has even been known to violate human rights in the past. And in that moment I realized I have led a very sheltered existence. I haven't known what it means to be treated as less than human. I hope I never will. But some of these people that I smile at and speak with every Tuesday evening have lived in places where life is cheap and expendable. Being alive does not equate with having worth. I don't know what it means to live in a country run under iron rule. But some of these students, they do. I was reminded of this after the Canadian election when one student who grew up in a country that was at the time of his childhood under Soviet Rule found out that our new prime minister was the son of a previous prime minister. He looked at me and in very loud and accented English exlaimed "Zis is because it is ze Mafia." The thought had never even crossed my mind, but having grown up in a political climate far different than the one I grew up in, it was the most obvious conclusion for him.
And I realized I live in a place where society encourages and promotes the equal treatment of every individual. A few hours and a few video clips one evening, made me realize I should not take this for granted.
As I speak with these students, I realize they are in-between one culture and another. And that is a hard place to be. They have come a long way from their homeland to the land of opportunity, only to realize that in these lands living life is expensive and finding those opportunities are filled with obstacles and sometimes impossibilities they didn't count on. For some, the success they had hoped for and the independence they had imagined never becomes a realization. But in some of them I see determination and perseverance. They work hard for sometimes many years on end to find mastery of a new language, they beat statistics and find success. And being there on the sidelines to watch the small steps of their journey is but pure joy.
So I was surprised when I saw enthusiastic nods around the room as the teacher announced the exercise. Before the exercise even started, one student told the entire class "this is a very important topic." And I realized that particular student came from a country where human rights might not be viewed as important. Some might say he comes from a country that has even been known to violate human rights in the past. And in that moment I realized I have led a very sheltered existence. I haven't known what it means to be treated as less than human. I hope I never will. But some of these people that I smile at and speak with every Tuesday evening have lived in places where life is cheap and expendable. Being alive does not equate with having worth. I don't know what it means to live in a country run under iron rule. But some of these students, they do. I was reminded of this after the Canadian election when one student who grew up in a country that was at the time of his childhood under Soviet Rule found out that our new prime minister was the son of a previous prime minister. He looked at me and in very loud and accented English exlaimed "Zis is because it is ze Mafia." The thought had never even crossed my mind, but having grown up in a political climate far different than the one I grew up in, it was the most obvious conclusion for him.
And I realized I live in a place where society encourages and promotes the equal treatment of every individual. A few hours and a few video clips one evening, made me realize I should not take this for granted.
As I speak with these students, I realize they are in-between one culture and another. And that is a hard place to be. They have come a long way from their homeland to the land of opportunity, only to realize that in these lands living life is expensive and finding those opportunities are filled with obstacles and sometimes impossibilities they didn't count on. For some, the success they had hoped for and the independence they had imagined never becomes a realization. But in some of them I see determination and perseverance. They work hard for sometimes many years on end to find mastery of a new language, they beat statistics and find success. And being there on the sidelines to watch the small steps of their journey is but pure joy.
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