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By Jennifer O. Senia

It is with so much pleasure and pain that I have come to Canada as an immigrant. Pleasure because I look forward to a brand new beginning, a new life; pain as I am leaving behind my beautiful country of sun and smiles, my beloved dog, family, friends, fond memories of my childhood and adulthood, and most especially the bittersweet journey of my professional life in the world’s number 1 bank before the financial crisis almost tumbled it down – the very reason why I am coming to Canada.

As my plane taxied down the Vancouver International Airport runway, I can still feel the exhilaration and jubilant mood of the people from the recently concluded 2010 Winter Olympics. The euphoria may have dwindled a little but the pride is still plastered on people’s faces as I go through immigration. So, “this is Canada,” I thought to myself. As I waited for my flight to Edmonton, I lapsed into my favourite pastime, people-watching (I tried to be as subtle as possible). Again, I told myself that the scene is just as typical as any other airport in the world – people bustling here and there, a sombre-faced man sitting alone, a baby crying, a cafe brimming with hungry travelers, a young man trying to be cute, an old man browsing through a book shop, a sleepy lady trying to stay wide awake through sips of coffee – to my weary mind, nothing great.

Am I proven wrong when from my window’s vantage point and as the plane touches down at the Edmonton International Airport, I see a snow-capped mountain (or is it just mounds of snow?) glistening in the morning sunshine! I feel like I’ve been transported to the Brokeback Mountain scenery. A beautiful sight to behold indeed! Edmonton, I am beginning to like you. My sister holds out a blanket for me on our way to the car but the cold hasn’t gotten into me yet as I feel the warmth of what Edmonton has to offer. Edmonton! Here I come!

Fast Forward. It has been 5 months now since I arrived in Edmonton. I’ve been through spring, seen (and bought) the flowers of summer, and now the city is in the throes of the forthcoming fall. (I think about my sister’s hushed corrections every now and then of how I should pronounce certain words, like grocery, the Canadian way). I have certainly acclimatized well to Edmonton’s culture – its sights and sounds, the diversity of the people, hockey, ETS, volunteerism, Tim Horton’s, the green environment, etc. Now, I feel so lucky to be living in Canada. Good government and good governance. If only I can fit the Philippines into the palm of my hand and bring it over here...well, that’s another story. I still have the daunting task of finding a job first (and maybe write another short story about working in Edmonton)...