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I'm here! Now what?
By: Nadya Reis| Sotaque Brasileiro – Number 3, Summer 2003
Dry throat, heart racing, passport in hand. Where do I go? What questions will they ask me? Will they open my bags? What if I do not understand what they say?
Here you are in a new country, where everything and everyone are strangers and each day those same feelings will return with various shades and intensities. For those who like a challenge, the action is just beginning. For those who prefer the comfort of their known world, they are faced with a long and sometimes difficult path to follow.
Emigrate means to always cut and rebuild connections - two processes that require much energy, generate instability and harbor mixed feelings. The notion of the process is the key here, as the adaptation to new life will always come gradually. There is a limit to the amount of new information that can be absorbed by each one. And in a situation where everything is new, the reality may be perceived as hostile or incoherent.
This series of articles will address some of the stones in the path that presents itself to the new Canadian immigrant, but these stones will appear smaller over time.
Once through the automatic door of the airport, you surely will remember something you heard one day: "Human beings basically need shelter, food and activity to survive." These three items will be in the centre of your concerns in those early days.
Transport
For starters, there is nothing like a good city map with the list of names and locations of streets, subways and bus lines to help you on your way. In Toronto you can get a free map in subway stations, showing all of the city's transport network.
It will probably be more economical to buy a metropass, which allows you to use almost all means of transport for a single price and is valid for a month, a week or a day. Make sure the pass you are buying is suitable for your needs. If your choice is to take individual trips, buy a token. In most cities you will have to get used to "transfer" - a ticket that allows you to use more than one line or means of transport to get to your final destination, always in one direction. This means you cannot use the same "transfer" to go to a certain place and back in most areas.
Accommodation
Many types of "shelter" are available in cities: apartments, houses, hostels, hotels and homestays, which are private homes that welcome newcomers to the country, especially students.
At first, to rent an apartment or house can be difficult because you have no credit history or employment. The choice between the other options will depend on your budget.
Homestays have been a good choice for newcomers because in addition to including meals they offer accommodation and an atmosphere more similar to those you left somewhere in the tropical country. Living with other people in situations similar to yours is undoubtedly a positive factor in this option. It would also be an opportunity to observe closely a key feature of Canadian society: the cultural and ethnic diversity. Living with people from different countries can, at first, a make you little frightened, but soon you realize how it can be interesting to get new views of the world and the various ways of doing the same things. Renting a room or sharing someone's home is also an option and offers can be found in local and community newspapers.
Whatever your choice, remember that it is something temporary and therefore need not be perfect nor replace your old home. Enjoy, learn and have fun with everything - after all this is part of the adventure that is part of being an immigrant.
An empty sack cannot stand
Now that you have a roof over your head and a transport network at your feet, it's time to take care of the stomach. Food in Canada is quite different from Brazil - processed, frozen, canned and fast foods are the basis of most meals. But do not despair. Soon you will be able to find food with which you are accustomed. There are in all major cities, areas in which Brazilian products are sold - try to get information guides or consult websites such as Sotaque Brasileiro. In these areas you will also find restaurants and bars offering the famous national dishes. Portuguese restaurants can be an option because some dishes are very similar in the two countries.
You will find some of our exotic delicacies in ethnic supermarkets like Chinese and Vietnamese. Believe it or not, they like coconut water, star fruit, cassava and quail eggs, among other things. Many supermarkets also have items that may interest you, such as rice, beans and others. But how about the packaging? And what is the name? Hardly in an English course you will learn that “azeite de dendê” is translated as "palm oil", or that “couve” can be "kale" or "collard" depending on the type.
What to wear: Tips for first winter
*Keep the ends of your body always heated, hat, gloves and socks, preferably those that have the label Thinsulate ™ because they are comfortable and warm. A good scarf is also indispensable.
*Always Dress in layers, as there is much variation in temperature between indoors and outdoors.
*Boots are essential and should be slightly larger than your usual size because you will wear them with thick socks. Evaluate the appropriate thickness for the sole according to their specific needs. Choose the boots that are waterproof.
*Different coats will be needed for the months of autumn and winter. Try to find models that match and allow variations, and that can be used together or separately. It is essential that the jacket is waterproof and light, with a hood and a good quality zipper. The best choices are the coats of Gore-tex ®, or coats made from goose feathers (down).
*Try to stay well hydrated:
- Drink lots of water because you are constantly in dry and warm places;
- Use lip balm, especially when exposed to the cold and wind for longer periods;
- Do not forget the moisturizer for hands, face and entire body. You'll need them, even if you never used one before.
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