Representing Canada the right way.

Paul and Kerem at Derby Reach Park.

We as Canadians have a lot to be proud of.  We live in a great country, which boasts freedoms, spectacular vistas, and incredible people.  We get to share the wonders of Canada with foreign students, who come here to study, learn English, and broaden their worldview.  It would be great to say that their hosts present to them all that Canada is, but unfortunately, that is not always true.  To some, they present a much darker picture of this wonderful place we call home.

Kerem, the boy on the right, is from Turkey; he is an international student who has come to Canada to learn about our ways and to get a good education.  He is currently staying with a homestay family that treats him as one of their own.  They do everything for him they did with their own children, and he feels the love and care they share.  My friend, Paul (left) was looking after him for respite purposes as his host family was away for the weekend.

Kerem arrived in Canada last year for his grade 10 year.  He wound up in one of the maritime provinces.  He did not have a good experience at all there.  In spite of the majesty of where he found himself, his host family did not take him to places where he could revel in one of the many things that makes our country so great.  They would not provide rides for him into town unless he paid them for the privilege, and offered only meager rations for food.  In short, he was a cash ticket to them and nothing more.

Each of us has the opportunity to be an ambassador for Canada when we meet others from another country.  It doesn't matter whether they come here or we go there.  The things we do, what we say, and the way we act all describe what Canadians are all about.  I am glad he has come here to BC and has met homestay caregivers that can truly show him why our country is so great.  It is sad though that his experience has been tainted by the selfish actions of others, who couldn't see the gift they could impart because of their greed.  Canada, we are better than that.

Thanks for reading.   www.ericspix.com

How to make a living.

A woman in St. Kitts, making a living.

There are two essential questions which you need to answer when looking for an income.  The first is, "What can you do?" which basically addresses your skillset and the second is, "What are you willing to do?"  In good economic times, there are plenty of jobs.  Chances are there is something to match your abilities with your aspirations.  Times are not always good though, especially in third world countries where education is sparse and poverty dominates. 

Your skillset may not, in these situations, be what is in demand.  I have known people with Master's degrees and Doctorates who have taken jobs far under their level of expertise.  This tends to be especially true for educated legal immigrants that, in spite of their proficiency, have had to take on menial jobs to earn a living.  This is where the second question comes into play.  What are you willing to do?

Essentially, this comes down to work ethic.  Regardless of what you can do, it often comes down to what you are willing to do.  Our North American society has developed a philosophy of immediate gratification.  We want instant success with limited effort.  The truth is that success often means starting small and working your way up.  The great thing about having a good work ethic is that you rarely have to stay within whatever narrow confines you may find yourself in.  You will be noticed, and your ethic and attitude will help you improve your situation.  It takes time, but eventually, success will come your way.

Consider the woman hosting the refreshment bar in the photo I took in St. Kitts.  An impoverished nation with little work, yet she has a job and is earning an income to support herself and her family.  She has made a commitment to be there, to be reliable, and to assist others in the best way she can.  The reward is steady employment in a place where there are few jobs to be had.  The best part though is what is to come; continuing her efforts will certainly help her family, but they may lead onto bigger and better things that would not be available had she not done well here.

Education is important, but a good work ethic will do amazing things for you.  The best though involves both of these together, where abilities and attitude coalesce to maximize potential.  Work hard; learn all you can.  Time will do the rest.

Thanks for reading.   www.ericspix.com

The value of a daughter.

Leanne while we were visiting Neck Point, near Nanaimo.

How we view the world is so very dependent upon how we were raised, the culture we embrace, religion, and the way we put all this together through the years.  It amazes me that some would have you think that boys are more valuable than girls.  I guess that sentiment comes from things like the way family names get passed down, the traditional role of men in rural settings, and those that see male heirs as the caregivers later on in life.  None of those have affected the view I have on the value of my daughter.

Children are, of course, the very center of what we think of as the family.  "Family is important," as the saying goes, and it requires us to administer our time and resources in such a way as to reflect that.  But is one child really more important than another?  There is the boys versus girls comparison, the order of birth aspect, and the achievement record which one may use to judge extrinsic worth.  Yet at the heart of it all remains the real question, should the love you have for a child be based on such external factors?

I would submit that the only answer is, "No."  Love must be unconditional.  A simple sentence yet one that has the very basis for producing a better world.  All children, regardless of age, deserve to be loved equally.  To do otherwise devalues the worth of an individual and creates biases that do far more harm than good.  How we treat those around us reflect how we will be treated in the coming days.  To be loved, it is important to love first.

I would do anything for my daughter.  As a parent, I have been given the task of raising her properly, which means balancing discipline with reward.  It also means treating her well and supporting her goals.  There are many obstacles that present themselves over the year; things like money, position, physical and mental health all restrict what actions can be taken.  None of that really matters though.  Love is not based on physical parameters, wealth, or ability.  It is a decision, one that should never waver.  Love is what you do.

I love my daughter, and I try to show it.  I have my faults, numerous ones at that, but those do not prevent me from trying.  When I blow it, I say I am sorry and continue trying to be the best parent I can.  That's the other great thing about love; it forgives and forgets.  And it goes both ways.