Notes from the newcomers

A couple of weeks back I wrote about the experience of meeting with a small group of new immigrants to Canada. I enjoyed the hour long exchange, which was held in a small MOSAIC office in east Vancouver. A few days later the organizer sent along some correspondence from the group, which I'm sharing below.

Reviewing some old blogs posts I noted that on a few occasions I've written about Canada's social diversity, including my admiration for the Aga Khan's work in promoting pluralism. The letters below mention a school-based program I'm helping to organize using the resources of Global Civic's Greeting Fluency initiative, of which I was a modest influence in getting it started.

Dear Mike,

I am writing to thank you for visiting our class on last Monday. Also I would like to thank you that you found a moment to tell us about our city.

I am still new in this city and I don't know a lot of thing about Vancouver. It was very exciting for me when you came and I think for the rest of class. The way you talked was so interesting and slow enough thats why I could understand everything. We asked you so many questions and you tried answers each of them. The idea I liked the most was about introducing the project in primary school that will teach children basic phrases in other languages mainly to respect other cultures.

I think I learned a lot about ''MY'' city, for example, what the budget looks, because it is very important.

Once again, thank you for spending time with us. I hope your next vote is succesful.

Sincerely,

Name Withheld

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I am writing to thank you for sharing your love of vancouver. It's difficult for us to meet officer.

You gave me a lot of information about the city which we can't know. You said that the proerty will go up more. It makes me sad. It means that the rich will be more rich. I shared a lot of ideas. You gave me a time to express my onion and gaved me a feeling of

contribution. It's the first time a year struggling period. You heard newcomer's voice.

You are kind and listening person. So I hope you win the next vote.

Once again, thank you for sending time with me.

Best regards

Name Withheld

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Dear Mike

I am writing to appreciate your visite to our ELSA class. First of all, I would like to summarize what we did in class on the day you visited our class.

The man named Mike, visited our ELSA class. My first impression of him was that he is very friendly and kind. He was interested in our life in Vancouver. He asked us some questions about ourselves. Although I have never met him before I felt comfortable after we shared the story about ourselves. Then we asked questions about the things that we were concerned about such as housing prices, rent fees, and the health care system.

The big thing I learned after his visit was that people like Mike are trying hard to make us feel that we are an important part of this community; also, I should try to make some efforts to make some contribution that could benefit our community.

Thank you for taking the time to meet with us and I hope your election is successful next time.

Sincerely,

Name Withheld