Canada Day & the past 10 years

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This past Sunday was Canada Day aka Canadian independence day, I wanted to blog about it then, but as you may know I was in the middle of some ‘blog renovations’! (We went strawberry picking)

When I moved to Canada about 11 years ago, I was devastated, to say the least. At 18, my life was consumed with friends and rebelling against my parents, and there was nothing that I wanted more than to be left alone in Trinidad with my friends, so I spent my first summer here being completely depressed.

Crunchy tagged me a while ago and just like her, 10 years ago I was about to be married. When I started university, I never thought that I would be married at 20, I always thought that I would graduate and then head back ‘home to Trinidad’, never did I suspect that I could ever call Canada home.

My last 10 years have been filled with the biggest decisions and responsibilities that I’ve ever had to face, becoming a wife, becoming a mother, becoming an adult. Having experienced all these things here in Canada have contributed to making this country my home, my real home, and maybe it’s because my family is here and home is always with them, but I think it’s more than just that. You see, during my first week at university, I discovered religions I had never heard about before, I learnt that India had more than just one language (yeah, I know!), I found friends from all over the world, it was awesome! Diversity, the likes of which I had never seen before.

Today, I walk out with my headscarf and I, of course, still face racism but I also face the kindness and warmth of a people that truly appreciate people, and I’m always proud to call Canada my home.

Thoughts from Surviving

I love the pictures!!!  Strawberries- yummy!!!

Thoughts from shaz

Thanks Surviving! I loved the pics too - the 1 year old was soooo cute and funny, he kept wanting to lift up the bucket and take it with him everywhere he went!

Thoughts from Farhana

As-salaamu’alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu my dear sister,

Ooooh.. sounds like we spent the weekend doing the same thing except, my strawberries DID NOT look as good as those :( I took my nephews with, they used their ‘sand buckets’... it works out better..since it’s child size. Although they spent most of their time eating them!

I’m happy to hear Canada feels like home now. I just listened to a lecture few weeks ago, where the lecturer mentioned if we can’t completely accept this country as home and also feel like we have one foot in this country and another in the country we came from, we can never make the most of what the country has to offer and what we have to offer the country. Which is totally true!

Okay..I think I’ve rambled enough

Ma’salaama
Love Farhana

Thoughts from shaz

Farhana! walaikum salaam wrb, lovely to see you here

Well, some of the strawberries were not too nice where we went as well, but we had some really dedicated pickers! lol

Sounds like it was an interesting lecture - I tend to agree with it, I used to absolutely detest winters and I noticed that since I embraced Canada as my home, I don’t mind them too much, and I can actually have some fun too!

Thoughts from sf

We went strawberry picking last year,my youngest was about 4 months old! It was so hot and the strawberries got all mushy but it was so fun for my oldest(5 then). I read your story about how you and mousehunter met/married. It is such a beautiful story and may Allah s.w.t bless you, give you more love and sabr! I know how you feel when you talk about Canada being your home now, that is exactly how I feel. This is where I started my new chapter of life being a wife and a mother, this is where I feel is my new home now. :D

Thoughts from amna

Hi Shaz,

I am from Pakistan.  Just saw your portfolio it is amazing.  I am planning to move to toronto or Missisauga inshallah next year.  What are your advice for new comers professionally or otherwise.

take care Amna

Thoughts from amna

Hi Shaz I forgot to mention I am a graphic designer.