Close Reading

I was born in Seattle and left to Canada (married) when I was in early 20's!  This then was a good change for me as Vancouver was a great city compared to Seattle, moved right downtown and had a blast so for a young person (then) was great.  Met some great people from all over the world and had health care, medical/Dental etc.... I worked in the greater Vancouver area for 8 years and it was tough, very strict, and did not help that I was from the states, white bread Canadian seemed a bit jealous that I was there, sometimes not very friendly.  The Europeans I met were actually better to deal with and I got along quite well with them.  The cost of living was about the same as in Seattle.  After about 8 years being in Canada and working hard I saw America booming and the Canadian dollar was as low as $.62 cents (in late 90's) so I took my craft from Vancouver and brought it to the US just across the border, I became much happier working in the States, I took a little bit of bs but not bad from some that I had a Canadian accent (go figure when I moved up there I had a twang) I really never left the united states I will always be American and I have been still working in the US for over 20 years and deal with mainly Americans on a daily basis from all over the State of Washington.  Depending on where you grow up or end up you should never see a border Seattle and Vancouver have more in common than Vancouver / Calgary in fact most Canadians don't care much for the other provinces.  After 30 years of being part of both countries, I can say that people are people both have great offerings and if you took the best of Canada and America to combine then we would all prosper, there is so much both can learn from each other.  Bottom line:I take the best of both worlds and what they have to offer, yes, I have found less expensive goods in Canada than what they cost in the states.  I have seen it from both eyes, and if you cant be open culturally then stay away.

I went and viewed 3 vacant apartment in a building. Available immediately. I was ready to take one. I noticed, as we went to each apartment that they were all inhabited by Polish people. The Superintendent and the Property Manager, also Polish. I am guessing the owner was too.\nI am a single, middle aged, clean and healthy, responsible white woman. NOT polish though. After submitting my application and deposit I waited. 5 days later called and left a message, 2 days after, called again. No answer. Then, called from a Private number and they answered right away. I asked them the status of my application. We are sorry ... all three apartments taken. \nI believe I was discriminated against because I am not Polish. Oh well ... I've moved on. Found a great apartment up the street for less rent, free parking and a very welcoming atmosphere.\nLife goes on.

As a young child I remember viewing the Amish women as being in a chronic 'state of funeral' based solely on their signature dark garb. It created in my own (childlike) logistics that this was a type of society which I needed to keep at a distance from myself. I disliked their choices, finding them muted in a world layered thick in rich and vibrant fields of color. The color black in ancient cultures (apparel) indicates the refusal to acknowledge or be unresponsive, to be closed off. I can understand how many real (natural) Canadiens can view Muslim women in their communities in a strange light. An interview with a very rich Saudi woman (living in Saudi Arabia), in how she spoke of her own frustration by not being allowed to own a drivers license, instead being driven in her husbands pricey Mercedes by a hired driver. She forced this issue on her local, home town government when she attempted to embarrass the officials of this primitive law, which in her view, had outlived its purpose and no longer applied to modern women in her culture. This interview went viral being shown on multi media networks and the town became embarrassed by the exposure. We should all applaud these women for their natural right to be free from outdated ritual and constraints continue to impose these indignities upon women. Muslim women living in Canada who wear the typical dark cloth across the features of the face and over the body are putting forth a message that they are 'second class citizens', are 'less than equal', are 'one mans property' - not unlike a common barn yard animal but possibly owning less importance than an animal since an animal can be traded for goods or services for profit. One can understand how real (natural) Canadien women can view this type of apparel as a slap in the face of their gender, a violent slap to go to the 'back of the line', 'take it lying down and like it'. So much is fear based and these Muslim women should shed their fear as layers of dark folds are sent falling to the floor - once and for all...

I find that with each generation, the issue with racism becomes slightly less and less, which is great considering slavery was abolished only for about 100 years. I find that living in Canada as a black millenial is much better then say living in the 70s. I never faced racism the entire time i grew up here. but then again I haven't been everywhere in Canada. I think the most you'll experience here right now is indirect racism in the small towns. but you just have to show them who you really are and most will be OK. I don't think a lot of the people still have the mindset left in the 1900s. especially not in the major cities where its so diverse. but there's racism everywhere no matter what you look like. I hope everyone can look past appearance and stereotypes some day.