On immigration & integration

 

Immigration is the easy part. Integration is the hard part:

 Brian’s “10 Commandments” of integration into Canadian society

        I:

    Never, ever isolate yourself in your own little community, even if it seems logical at first. It’s destructive to your own future, to Canadian society and to peoples’ perception of you.

 

   II.      

    Embrace change! That’s why you came here in the first place. Change can be the biggest blessing in your life. The only suffering will be if your mind is closed to change. If you change the way you think, and open your mind to change, your entire life will become enriched.

 

   III.      

    Never, ever…ever…ever accept any kind of violence or abuse, whether physical, mental or emotional. Whether ‘tradition’ or ‘culture’, there is absolutely no excuse for abuse. In Canada, abuse is a criminal offense and there is a social safety net in place to help you, should you ever be subjected to abuse by anybody, including your own family.

 

   IV.      

    Get out and socialize, as much as possible, with as many different cultures and people as possible. Socializing and interacting with other people and cultures is a crucial pillar in your capability to integrate into Canadian society. From improving your language, over finding a job, to building a better future for yourself and your family, socializing and integration are inevitably linked.

 

   V.      

    Be realistic! Walking right off the plane, directly into your dream job will likely never happen. Integration – like marriage – takes a LOT of hard work, compromise and sacrifice. Be prepared to start from scratch and work your way up.

 

 

   VI.      

    Remain optimistic!  Through pains and trials will you come out stronger, better prepared, in the end. As they say: “Pain is inevitable – suffering is optional”. Look at the bright sides and built on your good experiences and successes.  Discard all negative thoughts and train your mind to see the positive in everything.

 

   VII.      

    Believe in karma! Built a positive, kind and caring aura around you, and you will soon find good things will come to you. 

 

   VIII.      

    Take all the help you can get. Give it back when you’ve become self-sufficient.

 

   IX.      

    Listen to people’s advice – learn from their experiences. Other people’s experiences may not be a carbon copy of your road map to success, but there is always something you can learn and every little piece of advice can be a help on your path to success.

 

   X.      

    Never give up. Never lose hope. Never quit! Attitude is everything and once you lose hope and give up, you’ve dug yourself into a hole that you’ll never get out of, again.

Adjust your attitude, open your mind and remove the binoculars you used to see the World and your life though.