本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Everything seems to happen just yesterday, yet, I have been in Canada for 10 years. I think I need to write something down lest I forget.

Ten years ago (1999.09.11), as a couple of newlyweds, we arrived at toronto Pearson International Airport. The mixed feeling of excitement, uneasiness, expectation, ambition, loss etc made me sleepless for quite a few days before and after the arrival. We only brought in limited funds, and so the first priority for me is to find a job ASAP.

I still remember how I went against the snow / wind in the early morning and waited in the empty bus station for half hour in November just so I can show up in the downtown library as a first reader so I could get the latest IT books (those are reference books and cannot be borrowed outside), and I also remember when I tried to order a can of Coco-cola, I said “I want to have a bottle of Coco-cola” and the guy kept on bringing me a different bottle where my finger pointed, but I kept on saying “No, I want that bottle” (where the bottles and cans are on the same shelf), I guess the sales guy was confused why I want to have a specific bottle instead the one in his hand. Finally a gentleman behind me mentioned to the sales guy, “He wants a can not a bottle.” I was embarrassed but I learned the word.

I also remember the first time I went to see an agent, she told me the address over the phone that her office was at “111 xxx street”, she said 111 as “one eleven”, but I only recognized / wrote down the last word, i.e. eleven. So no doubt, I was going up and down the whole street trying to figure out where number 11 was. After about two hours walking, I was almost crashed because of cold and thirst, I later went to a public phone (I had no cell phone) and called home and my wife (榕) told me the agent called back asking whether I left home for the interview, and I then got the correct address and finally got my first interview.
Those days were tough not because of any physical hardship, but because of the psychological one that we did not know whether we could survive gracefully before our bank balance dropped to zero and more importantly whether our pursued dreams could be realized especially after our countless job searches brought us nowhere and no matter how hard we tried.
The despair of hopelessness and helplessness can indeed drive a man crazy.

Fortunately, three months later, I got a job offer from a company in Nova Scotia in mid Dec, 1999, and there was another possible job offer from Rogers in Toronto as well but they could not make a decision until three weeks later when all decision-makers returned from vacations. After long discussion with榕, I finally decided to accept the first offer and go there alone because榕 had just started a paid three-month ESL program and we decided that once she finished her program, she would join me in Nova Scotia.
I never realized that this was the worst decision I had ever made because three months later榕 did not join me and four months later, we decided to divorce due to various reasons. I lost about 10 pounds within two weeks during which I finalized the divorce decision. The experience of those days was and still is beyond the description of any languages I can use.

Life was indeed never easy, however, we all survived.

I later changed my job from NS to ON, and finished my MBA and during which time I was laid off in 2003 because of my company being acquired by another company. From the laid-off experience, I realized that the workplace here was totally different from that of China, where I believe the best survive. While in Canada, even if you are better in terms of skills / experiences (assuming other conditions equal), you can still be laid off if your project/team was unfortunately cut / downsized, while the guy next to you can still work on his surviving project even though he asked you technical questions all the time (To lay off this less skilful person will trigger lots of consequences from a legal perspective and thus almost no company is willing to take such risks). From then on, I started my professional contractor career as I do not want to be in the pity of other peoples’ hands. I worked across Canada, from parliament library in Ottawa, to BC government in Victoria, from Alberta government in Edmonton to non-profit organization in Vancouver, and now works for an international giant in education field.

Ten years ago, I could never dream where I am today.

Ten years ago, I looked for any job available. Today, I am looked for to fill up a job vacancy by several agents when I am on market.

Ten years ago, I was willing to accept the minimum salary. Today, I decide my own rate with my client depending on the project.

Ten years ago, when my landlord said she would sell her house to me for $200K in Toronto, I simply returned her a bitter smile. But today with two houses in Vancouver, I feel I have prepared myself well for the better future.

Looking back, the 10 year journey in Canada has taught me one thing, “Patience, persistence and passion will grow the best fruit of life.”更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net