By Riffat Shahnawaz

To most people, diversity training is defined as gaining understanding and awareness of other cultures and values in the workplace. I agree with this definition—to a certain extent.

Digging Deeper Into Diversity
As a settlement practitioner, I think that there is a gap that is bigger than we realize and that diversity talks need to have more depth and perspective.

Who is most suitable of providing this depth and understanding? Certainly someone with a diverse background of their own, HR management knowledge and a passion for creating better workplaces for immigrants.

Journey Preceded by Tough Questions
Let’s talk about one person’s journey from another country to Canada, keeping in mind that this journey is not to visit but to permanently settle in Canada. It generally takes years of planning and brainstorming before a decision is made about whether to go to Canada or not; one day YES and another day NO; brainstorming pros and cons and what parents and other relatives are feeling about your decision. Then there is letting go of the job back home, selling everything, leaving parents or siblings, or even spouse and kids, in some cases. Is it worth it or not?

Ultimately, a decision of YES is reached in the name of a better financial future, and in many cases to provide support for parents or siblings as well. Supporting this decision is the belief that in moving you will become rich and win greater respect from the people back home—and the fact that such a decision has worked well for other people you know who have become richer as a result. Your colleagues are as fascinated as you are at the thought of your coming wealth and success.

Questions Followed By Tough Process
Now though, there is the greater challenge. Finding an opportunity that can bring you to Canada, and the immigration process itself.

You save up lots of money and stop looking for better opportunities at home—as you are about to get your immigration approval any day and you are going to a land where opportunities and money are waiting for you. Not only have you stopped looking for better offers, so too as your spouse as he or she will soon be joining you in Canada. It is a trying, yet hopeful time.

After a lengthy waiting time, submitting all of the required documents, you finally receive your invitation to immigrate status by Canada. A whole month goes by packing, preparing and saying goodbye to many loved ones; and then it’s time to leave.

You arrive in Canada and a new era of struggle has begun—and a whole new wave of tough questions and times follow.

Adjusting to a New Life in Canada
Finding someone to answer those questions continues to define the challenge of the immigrant journey. Many immigrants arrive with a contact number of someone who has already made the journey; many do not. You are asking people about everything like rent, transport, grocery, and some time being pushed away for asking too many questions.

The money counting and money conversion starts right away. Your mom, dad, siblings or spouse is calling you all the time; “Are you ok? Are you working? What? When? How?” You go to sleep at night missing friends and family.

Worst of all, you do not have the answers for those questions yet. Sometimes you just want to pack your bags and leave but the thought of being perceived as a failure of having to face the family and friends back home will not let it happen. Not only that, you feel that you will never get your previous job back, and all the money saved is being used in the transition. Plus, you will have to start from scratch again.

In case you are considered a temporary foreign worker, documentation processes and procedures haunt you day and night that you might be kicked out of the country any time.

Stressors Remain Even with Employment
Let’s just assume that you land that job. Now what happens? Usually, mistakes. You laugh at something that is not laughable in Canadian culture or your Canadian colleague comments with good intention, but says something that is considered rude or vulgar in your culture. Thoughts come to your mind day and night. Do you want to live and raise kids here? Are you doing the right thing?

You want to save money to visit back home, but taxes and expenses are not letting you to stay stress free. Basically, you have signed up for a contract of lifetime of adjustment by moving out of your country.

Let’s look at it from the HR point of view. Anyone going through this much stress in his or her life, will need more time to adjust and more training. At the end of this period of adjustment, that employee might become one of the best employee if given an opportunity. While recognizing that this is not entirely the employer’s headache, any insight gained can provided a better understanding of an employee’s mental stress.

Being a settlement practitioner, I see clients with these above mentioned stresses all the time. I usually suggest to my clients to take it easy and be flexible as it will take time to accomplish their dreams. It does not happen in months; it can takes years to find the right track. The patience and perseverance of the new immigrant is something which could serve us all well in our respect vocations and organizations.

Riffat Shahnawaz is a settlement practitioner/ coordinator with the Immigrant & Multicultural Services Society in Prince George, BC. Pursuing her CHRP designation, Riffat has a passion for bringing strategic change to the immigrant scenario in Canada, and plans to bring her work to underdeveloped countries in the future.