Newcomer finds the cure for heartburn

By Mahinder Dhingra

Image credit: Warren Wong on Unsplash

I was a newcomer myself once, and learnt to navigate new ways of doing things and new Canadian expressions with the help of kind neighhbours and colleagues. I have my own stories of being flummoxed by classic ones like “double-double”, even after I was told it meant two sugars, two milks. Because two sugars, as in two teaspoons made sense, but milk we poured from a jug, right? So how did one measure two milks?

Having made Canada my home for many years now, I have also helped newcomers, providing tips, sharing my experience.

Just recently, a young man who was a newcomer to Canada approached me for guidance on how to land a job. One of the things I noticed about him was that though he was pretty fluent in English, he quickly lapsed into Hindi when he met others who spoke the language. I suggested that he try and conduct all conversation outside his family in English to master conversational English and small talk.

He started doing that and said that though he stumbled a few times, he was getting more comfortable at it.

He also found employment as an office manager at a small accounting firm and came home with a box of sweets to thank me.

While we were chatting about his experience, he said, “You know, I used to see other newcomers who found jobs easily and wonder how they did that. I was happy for them, but to tell you the truth, I also got heartburn.”

It took me only a second to realize he meant he felt jealous. He was doing a literal translation of the Hindi expression, dil jalta hai, or my heart burns with jealousy!

I explained to him that heartburn was another way of saying acid reflux, something he was more likely to feel after a heavy meal.

He took it like a good sport. “This just means I will have to keep coming to you for lessons!” he said with a laugh.

I know someone with this attitude will go far.

What’s your story? Every newcomer, no matter how savvy or where he or she comes from, has a story to share about their early days in Canada. Do you want to share your story? E-mail it to us at canadaboundimmigrant@rogers.com.