North American sports are all very confusing to me and I’m always lost when people talk about them. I sat down with sports connoisseur and friend, Damian Daniels, so he could help me a little.
Game on! (That’s what you say, right?)
Today I learned that I want to be Canadian. To be an actual Canadian citizen.
I was waiting for my bus when an international student asked me to explain the bus system. He didn’t know how much a ticket cost, nor where to buy a student bus pass. I started to explain how to walk to a store where he could get one, but I could see he was a little confused, so I decided to walk there with him. On the way, he told me he had just arrived the night before from China and that he was going to be taking English lessons this summer before studying engineering in the fall. He sounded tired, excited and a little overwhelmed. I remembered when I first arrived in the different countries I’ve lived in and how it was a lot to take in at first. When we got to the store I told him how to get the pass and showed him where he could get a sandwich. On an impulse, I also gave him my card, just in case he needed help with something else. He probably will never call me and will get all the help he needs from his university and fellow students, but I thought that at least for a few hours it might be reassuring for him to know there was someone he could contact. I wished him good luck and we parted ways.
Twenty minutes later, I got on a bus and he was there. He smiled and showed me his brand new bus pass. We looked at his map and figured out his next stop. He thanked me and got off the bus. I was probably imagining it but he looked like he was already feeling better. I was feeling good too and I thought, “Now he’ll know it’s true that Canadians are nice and welcoming” But then I thought, “Wait, I’m not from here, I’m not Canadian.”
But maybe now I feel like “here” is home, like I am a part of here, like I want to be Canadian.
Thank you Andy for helping me realize it’s time to look into getting Canadian citizenship.
Peer 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Today I celebrate the 2nd anniversary of my becoming a Permanent Resident
I’ve been living here for nearly 5 years and Canada almost feels like home. It is where I live and I love it. I want to stay here for a while, and as long as I don’t commit any crimes I am allowed to. Now that I have been a permanent resident for 2 years I can apply for citizenship, but I think I will wait to do so. To me citizenship is a very important matter. I think it is something that you should apply for because you feel you belong to a country that you consider yours, not for convenience. I have Tunisian citizenship, which I cherish because this is where half of my family comes from and I spent several happy years there. I have French citizenship, which I am proud of because this is where I was born and lived for most of my life and because France is a great country. I feel very strongly about these citizenships and before I apply for Canadian citizenship I want to feel the same about it. If one day I am given Canadian citizenship I want to be able to say “Canada is my country too” and for it to feel natural to me.
I am slowly becoming Canadian, but I’m not there yet.
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Aujourd’hui, je fête les deux ans de ma Résidence Permanente canadienne.
Ça fait pas loin de 5 ans que j’habite au Canada et je m’y sens presque comme à la maison maintenant. C’est le pays où j’habite et je l’adore. Je veux y rester encore quelque temps, et tant que je ne commets pas de crime grave, j’en ai le droit. Maintenant que j’ai 2 ans de Résidence Permanente je peux faire une demande de nationalisation canadienne, mais je pense que je vais encore attendre. Je pense qu’il faut faire une telle demande parce qu’on a vraiment l’impression d’appartenir à un pays qu’on considère comme le sien, pas pour des raisons pratiques. J’ai la nationalité tunisienne et elle me tient à cœur parce que c’est le pays d’origine de la moitié de ma famille et parce que j’ai passé plusieurs années heureuses là-bas. J’ai aussi la nationalité française dont je suis fier parce que c’est le pays où je suis né et oû j’ai passé la plus grande partie de ma vie et parce que la France est un grand pays. Ces deux nationalités sont très importantes pour moi et avant de demander la nationalité canadienne je veux qu’elle soit aussi importante à mes yeux. Si un jour j’obtiens la citoyenneté canadienne, je veux pouvoir dire “Le Canada, aussi, est mon pays.” et que ça me semble naturel.
Je deviens lentement canadien, mais il reste du chemin.
