Newcomer learns to think outside the box

Image credit: Paula via Pexels

By Harish Kohli

One of the first things newcomers are advised to do upon arriving in Canada is to open a bank account. Congratulating ourselves on being proactive as we had already done so before the move at an Indian branch of the bank, we walked into the branch nearest our friends’ home in Toronto where we were staying for a few days before finding our own place.

The person at the bank was very friendly and gave our two children colouring books and markers to play with while we got started with filling out some forms.

She also mentioned something about our getting a safety deposit box free for a year but while the word free registered, I didn’t really follow up on that as I was so focused on getting the paperwork out of the way before our kids got restive.

The lady was also making small talk, asking us about where we were from and our first impressions of Canada... very normal questions as we were to learn later from our interactions with other Canadians, but that day at the bank, I found it not only distracting but also a little strange, not being used to chatting with bank officials!

Also in India, where we come from, we had what was known as a “locker” at our bank. My wife’s jewellery, any important documents, they were all kept there for safety.

As we were wrapping up, I asked her about the procedure for applying for a locker – we didn’t want the valuables we’d brought with us lying around. She looked at us blankly.

“A locker? Your children should get them at their school,” she said.

Kids got lockers at schools in Canada? Oh, wow, I thought. Wait until I tell our friends back home! But unusual as that was, I couldn’t imagine why she thought we’d place our valuables in a child’s locker, and that too, one at a school!

“I mean we need a locker to keep our valuables safe,” I said. “You know, like her jewellery,” pointing to my wife’s heavy gold bangles.

“Oh, you mean a safety deposit box?” she said with a wide smile as the penny dropped. “Of course. You got one free for a year when you opened you account with us – remember I told you that when we were signing you up?”

And so she had, I recalled. Only it hadn’t registered. And also, I hadn’t known what that was, though when I thought about it, a safety deposit box describes exactly what it does – keeps the valuables deposited in it safe!

We returned to our friends and over a much-needed cup of tea, regaled them with our experience at the back.

My friend added another dimension to the tale.

“You’re lucky she didn’t mention lockers that members at gyms get – then you’d have been even more confused!”

What’s your story? If you have a newcomer’s Canadian experience story to share about your early days in Canada e-mail it to us at canadaboundimmigrant@rogers.com