The first day of school can be daunting for any kid. But add in a trip of 10,000 kilometres, a new language, customs and clothes – and the first day of school really can be a challenge, the sort that eight Syrian children faced Tuesday at Webster’s Corners elementary.
“It will take a while for them,” said principal Ramin Mehrassa.
The school has already had an assembly to brief the rest of the kindergarten to Grade 7 kids on their new classmates.
“We’ve kind of prepared them to be ready to receive.”
The Syrian kids are scattered throughout the grades, which makes it easier for the school to handle, plus this year the school added a division, making the accommodation easier.
The future new Canadians, part of 25,000 refugees from the war-ravaged country that the new Liberal government has promised to accept, are living at Maple Ridge Coun. Gordy Robson’s home.
A family of six is living on the ground floor of the Robson family home, while a second family of 13 is in another five-bedroom house on the farm property, after being placed there by Immigrant Services Society of B.C.
The first day of school meant registering the kids, confirming names and birth dates, going over timetables and schedules and taking a tour of the school.
“New food, new smells, new clothes, new temperature,” said one of the teachers gathered in the hall welcoming the new arrivals.
“It’s culture shock,” added another.
Fitting into the education system will be a gradual process. Children will be enrolled in English language learner classes.
As their language skills improve, they will move into a regular classroom, said Mehrassa.
The time for that varies. If kids are outgoing and reach out, and don’t shy away from the new world in which they find themselves, they’ll make quick progress. Adults don’t always do that, he added.
“Make lots of mistakes. You learn most by making mistakes speaking, than trying to be perfect.”
Mehrassa knows a bit about the process. He immigrated from Iran to England, then from England to Canada, which meant giving up his English accent as soon as possible.
With children able to learn the language more quickly than the older folks, they’ll quickly find themselves filling the job that millions of arrivals have taken on – translating for their parents.
After being greeted with a welcome sign in Arabic, some of the Webster’s Corners students gave tours of the school to their new classmates, showing them the classrooms, washrooms, library and gym.
With the kids in school – two are at Garibaldi secondary, while the rest are at Webster’s Corners – the parents can think about their own challenges.
Husam Al Masalmeh, father of 11, wants to get back on the road, driving heavy trucks. He’s got 22 years of experience of doing that, driving throughout the Middle East, even getting experience driving in snow in the mountains in Lebanon.
Al Masalmeh is from Daraa, Syria, and was able to get work in Turkey when his family left Syria five years ago.
As little as two months ago, he was on long-haul trips stretching through Turkey, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria.
To drive in Canada, though, he needs his Class 1 licence, which requires taking a driver training course. But the cost to do that is $2,450.
Ahmed Yousef, with the Ridge Meadows Islamic Society, has started a Gofundme campaign to help raise the tuition.
If half is raised that way, Yousef will pay the other half himself, he added.
Yousef said he knows that Al Masalmeh wants to get back to work.
“I drive myself, so I can see he’s longing to get back behind the wheel.
“And, of course, once he gets behind the wheel and he’s making money and feeding his own children, that in itself, is priceless,” said Yousef, who’s from Egypt.
But the first task is to learn English, which the adults will do at Riverside College, taking classes twice a week.
“They’ve got to speak English first before they take the driving test,” Robson added.
Yousef said the only resettlement process of the total of 19 refugees is happening fairly easily thanks to the work of many. For instance, the Muslim Food Bank donated backpacks, while the Islamic Society of Ridge Meadows helped buy five laptops. The immigrant group SUCCESS, ISS of B.C., Skills Connect and the school board all helped.
“It’s people supporting all of us in various ways and various capacities,” Yousef said.
“And we’re here starting school and it’s amazing that these children are now enjoying as much of Maple Ridge as we do – the clean air, the mountains, the no bombs being dropped on their heads. It’s good to have that.”
Anas Al Faoury, father of four, has cooking experience and is hoping to get into the restaurant business. But first he must take a food safety course.
Some restaurants have indicated they could offer work.
He thanked the Canadian government for bringing them “to this safe shore,” and hopes other countries will follow Canada’s example.
“The world does not see what’s happening in Syria,” he said through Yousef.
Both fathers said Canada was one of the biggest supporters and sympathizers of refugees in the area.
Asked if there was any way of resolving the endless civil war, and Al Faoury remained silent, while Al Masalmeh offered his thoughts through Yousef.
“If the world was to put their efforts together and really help the children of Syria more than anyone else, there would definitely be a solution.”