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.