I just had coffee with this CD member originally from Andhra(living in France for past 5 yrs), he is looking for a job...I was surprised to know that though its only been a cpl of months since he landed, he was part of the Liberal party's effort during the elections(albeit part of the polling booth team). I was impressed!

He has a cpl of interviews and job offers under his belt.

I asked him why he did not avail of cdesi's pickup service when he landed. He said that he did not want to be spoon-fed. With his attitude I know he is going to do well here.

NOTE:This is not to say that the pickup service is a bad thing(I am on the list of volunteers) OR mixing with desis is not good(most of my friends here are desis). Also, all this has its positives...eg: this human behaviour is the reason we have a Gerrard Street/Little Italy/Chinatown etc.

I have seen many mails on cdesi implying that people want to make their accomodation decisions based on where other desi's live.
Though I know that being with people from the same culture gives one a sense of security(especially when we just land here) I really dont think we should make this a focus of our lives in Canada. My observation is that doing so hampers ones integration into Canadian society at times. Sometimes it just needs some initiative on our part to feel that Canada is home. I mean, if we wanted to live amongst desis ONLY then why come here? Isn't our desh the best place for that? IMHO living in ghettos isolates one from the real Canada.

Also this does not mean that desi immigrants should avoid other desis. They are part of your network.
e.g: Since this desi is an MBA, I introduced the him to some desi MBA academicians in Concordia Univ. He has already gone and met them and sought out their advice. He is steadily building up his network.

I think the above person is doing things right to making Canada his home. What do you think?

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Hello Jake:

Yes, I concur with you on his approach.Making the initial efforts to integrate and understand the local landscape(politics, neighbourhood, industry and the academe) all makes for a very broad mix of views and approaches.From what you say about him, he should do well in Canada with this kind of spirit and approach.

" There were two roads forking out-one was often travelled and the other least travelled.Taking the least travelled route makes you the pioneer and you become the winner in so many ways...." Adaptation from an old saying of Robert Frost.

Best of luck to him

Sathish

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Sathish Subramanian
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