April 05, 2016
I met my new neighbors across the street are from Syria. They met at the University an hour away from her home. The university was in the capital of Syria, Damascus These are well educated people, she is an architect, he a journalist. 4 children, they fled their country to Jordan for three years. She has lost both parents, and 8 months ago her sister. There they were not allowed to work, as that country was a poor one, then immigrated here. The father asked me if I knew of any work.
I asked if the youngest, boy age 4 had been born in Jordan. He was a year old when they fled their country. She then went onto speak about women having to be driven to the hospital in army tanks to deliver their children. The women prayed not to deliver at night. At night there was no electricity or doctors, they were sent home and asked to return. There was no food, electricity or water either. Her son because of the war was a month premature.
The oldest boy had a birthday recently here in Canada, he turned 16. Boys his age usually want to get their drivers license. He told me, that he wanted and thought it better to open a bank account. He has a younger brother 8 and sister 13. Within a month of landing in this country and with the help of an translation app they have their children in school.
I was asked if I could drive them to “Boutique Encore“, for those of you in Moncton that is 61 Churchill Street. A huge shout out to the staff there. It was absolute chaos and they managed with it all with a smile and grace, beyond their young years. I learned the families are given coupons for the Boutique or the Salvation Army. (NOTE not Value Village or French‘s) They are given recycling bags to fill, and there is furniture in the back.
This family lost out on lamps and dining room table because they did not have a truck or understand when the boutique was open. They put aside another table, that frankly had seen way better days, and now need approach anyone who could transport it. They do not have a car, of course. The youngest played in the “toy section” of the store, the toys all second hand, while his parents hunted for just about anything you could think of. Towels, toys, and ironing board covers. They had not measured the windows to find curtains, and back we will go.
At the international section of the grocery store, while we scrolled thru pictures to find the matching product looking for the correct yogurt, and beans, recommended by the others who have fled their country and speak the same language. The boy got a candy bar, and saved it for home.
A big shout out to the staff at the Bulk Barn, for looking up a recipe, writing it out, then it was translated it into Arabic. Then the spices needed for the meal, back into English.
We came home, loaded with food, and bags of stuff, and we are very safe and secure.
If you can find it in your hearts, please donate to the Salvation Army or Boutique Encore if you have furniture, dressers, mattresses, lamps, heavy items they will be used. This will be a great investment in our future, these are our new citizens‘. They will make us proud, they already do.