Lending a helping hand
Fellow immigrants empathize with and often lend a helping hand to newcomers trying to settle into the community.
Adil and Hina found this out through experience. Moving to a new country is stressful enough. Add a family of four and trying to work out the logistics knowing you will be exhausted after a 15-hour flight, increases the anxiety. Adil describes his feelings, “ Before travelling to Canada I was anxious as to how things would work out. There were four of us with 12 pieces of luggage. We would arrive at Pearson airport and would have to get to London, find our apartment, get beds, pillows, sheets, duvets, and food to get by for the first day. I was randomly asking people I knew and then remembered that a friend of mine from Pakistan who had moved to Canada many years ago was living in Mississauga. I contacted him to find out how I could get a rental vehicle, a local phone with internet, whether my international license would be accepted or not, etc. Instead, he told me that he would take care of everything.”
“When we landed at Pearson Airport, he was waiting to meet us with a big pick-up truck. He helped us load everything and drove us to London. We got to our apartment, offloaded the bags and he took us shopping for everything that we needed. He made sure we had everything by the time he left. If it wasn't for him we would have struggled. I can never forget his act of kindness to this day and feel extremely grateful to him.
The kindness continued, as Hina explains, “Moving to a new country was an intimidating yet exciting prospect, especially at a stage in our lives when my husband and I were well established in our respective careers. We arrived in London in August 2015 and the first locals we met were our lovely Canadian-Indian neighbours who soon became close friends. Not only did they open their home to us, but also insisted on driving us for grocery shopping and appointments since we did not own a car. Their generosity and kindness made us feel welcome in a new country and city where we did not have any friends or family. Our neighbours moved to another city two years ago, but to this day they call and check on us. Our adjustment to a new country and culture became less stressful due the reassuring presence of our wonderful friends and we are truly indebted to them for their support.”