Читать книгу Succeeding From the Margins of Canadian Society: A Strategic Resource for New Immigrants, Refugees, and International Students - Francis Adu-Febiri - Страница 10

PART I CONNECTING TO THE MAINSTREAM CANADIAN SOCIETY

Culture is made up of values, beliefs, norms, symbols, expectations, arts and crafts, technology, and other ways of life. Most immigrants, refugees and international students would have no trouble adapting to the Canadian ideal values because these are values that most freedom loving people cherish. These include fairness, tolerance, respect, honesty, accountability, integrity, openness, diversity, cooperation, democracy, equal opportunity, and civil and environmental responsibility. Although Christianity is the main belief system of Canada, the country has several other religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, and Animism. Many other Canadians are not affiliated with any conventional form of religion. Because of the operation of diversity of religions in Canadian society, new entrants to society, whatever their religions would find a place or community of worshipers. In the areas of dressing and technology, because of globalization (westernization?), many immigrants, refugees and international students easily adjust to Canadian standards. Perhaps the most difficult aspects of Canadian culture for new entrants, particularly adults, to adapt to are English/French expressions and accent, body language, jokes, and foods.

Generally, then, the adaptation of new immigrants, refugees and international students to the Canadian ideal culture should not be too hard. It would be inaccurate and naïve, however, to assume that mainstream Canadians apply these cultural elements in their real everyday lives. Rather, if you approach these cultural values and beliefs as just ideals towards which Canadians are continually aspiring, you will be less shocked when you encounter the entrenched and widespread instances of intolerance, disrespect, and/or injustice from people or institutions that you expected would epitomize these fine values and beliefs.