Newcomer Gives Winter the Cold Shoulder
Image: Genessa Panaint on Unsplash
By Raghu Balasubramaniam
We’ve lucked out with the weather this year, though it may not seem like that to newcomers, seeing how cold it got in September.
But after that, though we again had a few cold spells in October, much of November was pleasant and mild enough on most days to go out for a walk in just a hoody or a sweatshirt.
As I pulled on my heavy winter jacket before heading out this morning, I was reminded of a conversation I had many years ago with a neighbour we were just becoming friends with.
One afternoon he saw me heading to the street corner to wait for the school bus to pick up my son. He was out walking his dog and was all bundled up, while I was wearing just a thick hoody.
It was cold, I won’t deny it, but I was trying my homespun way of trying to acclimatize. If I pulled out a jacket in the beginning of winter, what would I do later, when it got colder, as it was bound to?
Gary looked at me and said, “You should wear something warmer. Have you got a winter coat yet?”
He was being kind to a newcomer.
It’s a silly and old habit of mine to say, “it’s against my religion” when I’m explaining why I’ve not done something, though it has nothing to do with any religion.
“I do, but it’s against my religion to wear one until it’s below 10!” I responded brightly.
He looked taken aback, the mention of religion confounding him. “I am so sorry, I meant no offence...”
I assured him that no offence was taken, thanked him for his concern, and explained my peculiar logic for not wearing a jacket.
He looked relieved and laughed. “Never heard that before!”
As he walked away, he looked back and added, “Jokes apart, the temperature’s going to dip tonight, better give that jacket an outing tomorrow morning!”
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.