CONCLUSION: COURSE REFLECTION and RECOMMENDATION

 It has been a memorable experience learning all of this stuff about migration.  I really learn a lot from this course that I don't think I ever knew.  I have learned the hardships that migrants face when they do cross a boarder, and the reasons why they leave, and what happens when they get there, and so much more. Also, as a migrant taking this class has taught me more than what I knew about my society, globalization, community, my ethnic root, etc. It has been an amazing experience and I loved all of the things that we did for the whole semester, such as the discussions and the blog posts, the migrant interview and the photo-documentary, all of this stuff has been fun. Moreover, the fact that migration is continuous for a very long time now. It was fascinating to see and now know where people go and/or why they leave. On top of that, it is important for us to be aware of what is going on in the world.

For my appreciation, I thank Nuzhat for her amazing teaching styles, motivating me to achieve my goals and her kindness that makes me feel so comfortable while sitting down for her three hours lecture in a room with no windows. I would highly recommend this class for students who are looking to take a GNED course due to the fact that it was fun, exiting and educational (the map quizzes, articles, etc.).

Best of Luck everyone,

HAPPY HOLIDAYS….        :) :) :) 

Lights, Camera, Action: Photo-Documentary

For this assignment, my class and I had an opportunity to photo-document and create a topic of our own choice regarding to migration or culture in Canada (Toronto to be specific). In this photo-documentary, I had a chance to view things from different angle about how diverse things are since migration became one of many topics that influence the society and the government. Also, the topic I focused on had to do with migrants and how they deal with school depression. Furthermore, I also took some pictures of my belongings I brought with me when I migrated to Canada. Likewise, I enjoyed doing this assignment and the fact that my topic was not that straightforward; it was still an amazing experience; as I learned things I never knew. I am happy with the responses and would love to hear more stories about the meaningful connections people hold in their lives. On the contrary, this project was by far the most interesting for me. Due to the fact that we had to write 250-350 words in each photo times 5. Which is one of my many challenges while putting this photo-documentary together due to the fact that I very much dislike writing and being around one’s personal space even specially when they said “go away” couple of times. But hey on the bright side I don’t have to do this again.      :) :) :)

A migrant's Journey: Arrested Movements 'El Contrato' (Farm Labour in Ontario, the SAWP, and the Response of Organized Labour )

In Ontario, the new century has seen a major upsurge of interest and activity surrounding the interrelated questions of farm labour unionization and the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP), a "guest worker program" which brings thousands of migrant farm labourers to the province each year. Recent scholarly studies and the documentary film El Contrato (2003) have offered vivid portraits of the sub-standard living and working conditions of the migrant workers, as well as critical commentaries on the SAWP. In 2001, several major unions backed the Canadian office of the United Farm Workers of America in launching the Global Justice Care Van Project, whose findings were the basis of a much-publicized report and a series of public policy recommendations. In the prime years, union officials have followed up with court actions, reports, and position papers, and a Toronto-based group, Justice for Migrant Workers [JMW], has campaigned for far-reaching reform of the Canadian state's policies toward SAWP-enrolled workers. Almost without exception, these programs have adopted, explicitly or at least tacitly, a liberal-legalistic frame of reference. From academics to social movement activists to union officials, the assumption appears widespread that "justice" for farm workers can be won through pressuring governments to enact new forms of protective legislation, extend trade union rights, and eliminate the more obviously discriminatory features of the SAWP. Court challenges, moral and public education constitute the tactical repertoire of this essentially legalistic and legislative strategy, which accepts as a given the durability of capitalist exploitation.

Furthermore, the case of farm labour is particularly revealing of the politico-ideological limits of "social unionism" - the most ostensibly progressive form of mainstream unionism in Canada over the past quarter-century. Often contrasted to a business unionism that is wholly thoughtful with narrowly defined collective-bargaining issues, social unionism claims to address wider questions of social justice and welfare, including gender and racial oppression, as well as international solidarity and, more rarely, environmental issues. On the contrary, a perspective will be require, sooner rather than later, the compass of a class-struggle and internationalist socialist program and one that is not only attentive to the new conditions, opportunities, and challenges confronting organized labour, but has also assimilated fully the political, strategic, and tactical lessons of labour's past.

Migrants Interview: Canadian Embassy Style

Interviewing a migrant(s) was an amazing experience for me.  I interviewed my family members and added a few of my own experiences, when I was creating my questions I asked them all the questions in regards to why we as a family migrate/move to a new country (Toronto, Ontario Canada). Likewise, being an immigrant myself and listening to their experiences I feel it’s really difficult to leave all your friends and relatives behind and living in a completely different society. However, there was a lot of interesting information that I learned from doing this assignment. There were a lot of things that I learn and understand why it was beneficial for my family to migrate to new country like Canada. Also, when doing the interview there were a couple problems that did arise, one problem was getting my mom to talk about leaving me when I was just 2-3 years of age.

Many people don't want to talk about their past especially if something has happened to them or something needs to be done by sacrificing one’s happiness or in this case time and love, but she still managed to tell me that there was not a lot for her to talk about, but what she did end up talking about was she has to leave us behind to work as a PSW in Hong Kong (the very first country she migrated to) to support my sister and I. In a view, not only I that learned a lot from doing this interview, but I am sure that everyone in my class (who actually completed the assignment) has learned a lot about the people that they interviewed, whether it was their mother, father, neighbor, or even a friend. By having a session or talking to them about their past and their journeys to Canada, which help one’s to understand some of the hardships and struggles that people do face to come to this country. Therefore, this interview not only was a good thing for the person that did the interview, but also by sharing the interviews with my classmates and helped all of us to gain valuable knowledge for this course and our lives.

A migrant's Journey: Arrival

Arriving to a new country might seem problematic and difficult on the one hand, but on the other, I think, that life isn’t a real life, and it’s getting really boring when you don’t experience something new every single day. And also there are always some difficulties and dilemmas that faces a person during the first days or weeks since arriving. Furthermore, Arrival can be the hardest part of a trip. It's late, you're jet lagged or road-weary, and everything is new and strange. You need an affordable place to sleep, something to eat and drink, and probably a way to get around. Whether it's the first stop on a trip or the fifth city in as many days, every traveler feels a little overwhelmed stepping onto a new street in a new city. The sense of excitement and potential for discovery ends up in the shadow of practical matters. It's enough to make you wish you were back in your home town. Although a lot of feelings arise within a person, it can be successful decision for the fact of the arrival to a new country because it can provide greater and better opportunities for higher level employment and the opportunity for your family to have a better life.

                       

In the excerpt from Kim Thuy’s book “RU”, she mentioned many issues that portray her entire life bibliography. One of the many issues that caught my attention, while reading the article was her story about becoming a ‘Canadian’. For example, “My first glimpses of snow banks through the porthole at Mirable Airport made me feel bare and defenseless”. This reflects my own experience when I first arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport; I was experiencing culture shock. Furthermore, Kim Thuy mentioned that she was wearing: “The short-sleeved orange pullover from the refugee camp in Malaysia and the loose-knit brown woolen sweater made by Vietnamese women still left me completely exposed” upon her arrival at the airport. On the other hand, my story was similar to her when I arrived at Pearson International Airport. Even though I was fully covered, the clothes that I was wearing were made for the coldest temperature that a very dry country can possibly experience, it wasn’t fancy like what an average “Canadian” would wear. I was having “goose bumps” all over my body due to the -24 temperature. On the bright side, it was one of my many great experiences while living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.   

A migrant's Journey: Borderlands

          In Manto’s story “Toba Tek Singh”, The story is set two or three years after the 1947 Partition, when the governments of India and Pakistan decided to exchange their Muslim, Sikh and Hindu lunatics, and revolves around Bishan Singh, a Sikh inmate of an asylum in Lahore, who is from the town of Toba Tek Singh. As part of the exchange of lunatics Bishan Singh is sent under police escort to India, but upon being told that his hometown Toba Tek Singh is in Pakistan, he refuses to go. The story ends with Bishan lying down between barbed wire: "There, behind barbed wire, was Hindustan. Here, behind the same kind of barbed wire, was Pakistan. In between, on that piece of ground that had no name, lay Toba Tek Singh”. In my opinion, I think that Manto’s story “Toba Tek Singh” teach us about the significance or danger of national Borders by explaining readers how unauthorized immigration can create Wars and asylum. For example, unauthorized immigration may be prompted by the desire to escape civil war or repression in the country of origin. Also, non-economic push factors include persecution (religious and otherwise), frequent abuse, bullying, oppression, and genocide, and risks to civilians during war. Political motives traditionally motivate refugee flows - to escape dictatorship for instance.

On the other hand, I think that it is important to note that the status of "unauthorized immigrant" may overlap with or be replaced by the status of "asylum seeker" for immigrants who have escaped a war or oppression and have illegally crossed into another state. If they are recognized as "legitimate" asylums by the destination state, they will then gain status. However, there may be numerous potential asylums in a destination state who are unwilling to apply or have been denied asylum status, and hence are categorized as "unauthorized immigrants" and may be subject to punishment or deportation. However, unauthorized immigrants may expose themselves to dangers while engaged in illegal entry into another country. Aside from the possibility that they may be intercepted and deported, some considerably more dangerous outcomes have been known to result from their activity. As an example, unauthorized immigrants may be trafficked for exploitation including sexual exploitation.

            To conclude, while reading and understanding Manto’s story “Toba Tek Singh” I think this story is hilarious. I am actually surprised that the story did not get Manto in serious trouble with the government as some of the conversations of people in the mental hospital seem to mirror the views of leading politicians of the time. Also, in any language "Toba Tek Singh" is a wonderful story that way transcends its setting. If you can read this without laughing out loud you must be in a very bad mood!

A migrant's Journey: Leaving

              In Khalid Koser’s novel International Migration, he discussed that there are “many reasons why women comprise an increasing proportion of the world’s migrants. One is that the demand for foreign labour… second, an increasing number of countries have extended the right of family reunion to migrants – in other words allowing them to be joined by their spouses and children” (Pg 7). In a view, this quote struck me because I know that people always think the grass is greener on the other side, and they have dreams that maybe they can't achieve in their homeland. As a result, many immigrants left their homelands because they felt that a better life was waiting for them in another country like Canada and United States. Also, some had lost their homes to disasters such as floods and earthquakes. Others left because there was not enough food.

 I'm in favor of immigration. The more the merrier, I say. When there isn't work for immigrants, they will stop coming. Likewise, one of the things that tells me that our economy is not in as bad a shape as some would tell is that immigrants continue to pour into Canada or into the United States. They all want a job, and nearly all find one. Within a short few years, most immigrants are an economic benefit to the Canada and United States. However, the immigration problem isn't that we have them. It's that the Government can't seem to find a way to sort out the few that come here to commit crimes. From the very beginning, immigration quotas have been a way to maintain racial or ethnic purity, and they still are today. Illegal immigrants are illegal primarily because of their ethnic background. We should be welcoming all who want to work, and sorting out the criminals. Instead, our system sends home the job seekers, and gives the criminals chance after chance to remain because of their rights in a criminal proceeding.