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March 16, 2007
I'm Sorry for Stepping On Your Mihrab
Cultural competency was always one of the biggest things they stressed to you in Social Work school; we had courses on it, papers written about it, final exams to cram for over it. The idea being that working with so many diverse populations in diverse settings it’s hard to cram everyone into the White, Anglo-Saxon, Christian, Western, Male, Heterosexual, Abled box. Living in Colorado was easy as a social worker since the choices were between Hispanic, African-American, and barely represented Native-American and Asian-American with a few immigrants here and there.
Toronto, however, is like learning to drive your big 1971 Buick in a city of small streets and pedestrians – you’re bound to hit something or someone as you’re making turns or backing up, all while learning how to drive. In the past few weeks I’ve had clients who were Sri Lankan, Vietnamese, Lithuanian, Nigerian, Somali, Chinese, Greek, Jamaican, Ukrainian, Polish, Ghanaian, Eritrean, Indian, Italian, Inuit, Portuguese, Turkish, and of course…Canadian. They have been Catholic, Orthodox, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Atheist and even a Pagan family thrown into the mix. They have been gay and straight, black and white and every colour in between. All with various cultural and religious differences, norms and morals that I seem to have to learn how to interpret before even setting foot in their homes; a mistake or two is bound to happen.
I had my first one yesterday entering a Muslim home and forgetting (still an American thing) to take my shoes off – I learned the hard way when I mistakenly stepped on a prayer rug…D’oh! Sometimes I think being an American from the western US gives me a disadvantage as I try to learn all of this. In all honesty, American culture (for the most part) paints Muslims as extremists and fanaticals and rarely tries to educate the public about differences and similarities in culture – it’s all about assimilation as soon as possible.
I guess that’s one of the things I enjoy about living here; things are still separate yet linked at the same time. There is a reverence for culture and what we each bring to the table rather then a forced assimilation into a larger Super-Canadian. Needless to say I have some reading and research to do….
Posted by Nikolas at 11:13 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBackMarch 13, 2007
Warming Up
So another post in one day, I slowly feel as though I'm getting back on the Blogging Wagon :-) I've been thinking a great deal about my move in the last few days and I think I moved at the wrong time of year. Had it not been for the immigration paperwork I think I would have chosen to move in March or April. Something about moving into a Canadian Winter on top of having to find a job, make connections, and establish roots was a little too much to take. The days are shorter and greyer and the bills were adding up and I felt as though I really couldn't enjoy the city as much as I wanted. I think that's what bothered me the most, that I had planned and wanted this move so badly only to end up being stuck in my own depression for so long.
Things are getting better, and I think the hint of the warm weather coming has given me the push to move on. I know how alive this city is in the summer and I can't wait to see that. Thanks for sticking by me and listening to me whine all winter.
Posted by Nikolas at 09:23 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBackOn The Balcony
One of the reasons I chose to rent this house was because of the two balconies on it. One overlooks the street in front of our house and is exposed and bare, while the one off the back of the house is covered and secluded with a view of the killer tree and the back yard. We didn't quite get to use them once we moved here as winter moved in pretty quickly in October and shut us out from enjoying either of the views.
Today however, it's different; it's a balmy 15C/59F and I'm out on the balcony in the back of the house typing this entry, smelling the fresh air and hearing the seagulls and squirells chatter away. The sirens are muffled in the distance and every now and again I can here the thawping of the ghettobird's blades. Occasionaly Cian or Athena will come out to survey the perch and make sure the neighborhood critters are kept at bay. The chill in the air is vastly different then the one I felt in October. Whereas that one was crisp and chilly the one I feel today is smooth and cool, as if it knows the warmer weather is ahead and it's trying to ease us into it.
I might as well enjoy it while I can, it's suppose to be -4C/25F on Saturday
March 12, 2007
Jointly
I did our Canadian taxes tonight - pretty simple since we were only residents for three short months, but we are still getting a nice sized refund. What shocked me the most was the fact that we were able to file jointly as a couple; as silly as it sounds it almost made me cry. I mentioned this fact to some of my co-workers today and they kind of looked at me with a strange look as to why I would take pleasure in filing taxes. The other American that sits on the other side of my cube (she moved here during the Vietnam War) simply poked her head up and smiled at me.
Something as simple as filing taxes as a couple, making you a legal twinning in the eyes of the government and society brings me a small feeling of acceptance. It's weird I know.
Sorry for the lack of updates, I think I've just been laying low because of the busy schedule of work and the opprotunity of the sunny days recently have gotten Mason and I out of the house and out into the world. We both spent part of our Sunday down at the beach looking out onto Lake Ontario. It was a beautiful day and the weather was almost warm at 5C/40F with a clear sky and we decided to take a walk on the beach - it was nice to commune with the lake spirits and to feel the coming of Spring in the air.
I said it before, but it bares repeating, I can really feel the change of the seasons here, much more then I could in Colorado. Spring is really all around me and Ostara looming on the horizon in the next few weeks can definitely be felt. I bought some colouring packets for Ostara eggs and plan on making a Quiche for the equinox that night. I'm looking forward to the warm, sunny days and getting to explore the city some more.
There have been moments in the past few months where I have gotten sad and depressed about our move and I'll be honest in saying that I felt twinges of saddness about the move, but I don't regret a minute of it. These past six months have shown me who really and truly loves and cares about us, who I thought was instrumental in my life and who isn't. It's shown me the paths I have to choose ahead of me and the expectations I have placed upon myself. I find the warming days and the longer brightness to be a harbinger of the things to come. A chance to light up the corners of my life and make them bright again.
Have a good night everyone.
Posted by Nikolas at 10:10 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBackFreezing
---MASON ENTRY---
I think I've finally turned into a true Canadian.
I walked out the door this morning - it was 0*C/32*F (that'd be freezing kids) and I thought to myself -
Wow - it's really warm!
Posted by Mason at 09:56 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBackMarch 09, 2007
Our First Denver Visitors!
---MASON ENTRY---
I am so excited!!! I found out this week that my bestest friend has booked his trip to Toronto - for Pride!!!!! I'd better save up my money and liver cells now!! It's going to be a crazy, fun, out-of-control Pride this year!
The Mason is doing some serious happy dancing now!
Of course, my liver and brain cells are going to have to deal with my other best buddy Mikey coming into town on April 13th!
I can't wait to show them all around my new home and for all my Toronto buddies and buddets to meet them! It's shaping up to be a great Spring and Summer!
Posted by Mason at 12:58 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
