The Happy Immigrant Journal
This is an Immigrant Journal, written by the Happy Immigrant. I have been in Canada more than 35 years, and these are my reflections on life in Canada.
I live in Ontario, not too far from Niagara Falls. On this page I will make regular "immigrant journal" entries about everyday living in Canada the way I see it. No heavy discussions, just my reflexions on life brought to you with a bit of humor.
Entry Date: March 31, 2009
The Customer is King?
Whatever happened to "The Customer is King". We've had a business for years and in our business it has always been the customer who is king. After all, without the customer, there would be no business.
However, it seems that every time I listen to the news, some CEO will say "I made my decisions because they were best for the Company and the Shareholders".
Maybe that is where some of the problems lie. If the large Corporations would have more considerations for the customer, and kept in mind that what is good for the customer, is good for the Company and the Share holders, maybe we would not have this financial mess on our hands.
Entry Date: February 5, 2009
A Celebration of Life
I went to a "funeral" today. However, it was not a funeral in the familiar sense, it was a memorial ceremony.
Sam, an immigrant from Holland came over to Canada in the early fifties. When I first met him, a few months after I came to Canada, He and his wife welcomed me into their home.
Sam invited me to watch the hockey games, after all, his team The Toronto Maple Leafs were doing very good.
I had never seen a game of hockey, but Sam was so passionate about hockey, that he made me fall in love with it. He took me to games and explained all the rules of the game.
I lived in Toronto, a single girl, no family, the only way of communicating with my family was occasionally by phone, and a weekly letter. I am sure my parents were worried sick at times.
But they did not need to be, because Sam cared enough to keep an eye on me. He'd come and cut the grass, he'd come to parties and would not leave untill he was sure all the non-trustworthy guys had left.
Sam and Dorothy's home was my home away from home.
Sam was the perfect immigrant, he loved his home country and his adopted country, and "he had a ball".
Sam: Thank you for all the things you did for me and my kids, we love you and we will miss you.
