The Rural Voice, 2005-12, Page 32Thanks to the farmers who have supplied us
with excellent wool
and to all our customers
who purchased yam for
their knitting projects
Merry Christmas.
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at www.philosopherswool.com
The Philosopher's Wool Co.
Inverhuron, 519-368-5354
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28 THE RURAL VOICE
homeland. "Sometimes I feel
separated," says Yvonne Vergeer, a
mother of four who lives on a dairy
farm and has been in Canada for
eight years. "I want to say something
very much and can't find the words. I
want to say it in my own language
but no one could understand."
Tineke Groenewegen, who also
lives on a farm, agrees it is
frustrating to not be able to "tell your
feelings".
"It's important to integrate in
society," adds Ellen Vinckx, "but it's
still hard."
The mother of one said she feels
that for Canadians the order of
priority is "church and family.
Friends are number three. They are
very polite people but they live for
self. Here's it's hardto integrate. In
Holland the door is open."
Groenewegen explains, "In
Holland you go to the
neighbour's for coffee, here
it's the restaurant."
When you do make contact with a
neighbour, however, Vergeer alludes
to the much -heralded Canadian
politeness. "They don't make you
feel uncomfortable when you talk to
them. They want to understand you.
It helps."
"Sometimes," says Vinckx, "it's
still difficult to meet people and be
trusting. It's coming though after
eight years here. But for a long time
it looks like always you must prove
yourself."
As Weber knows from her time in
Switzerland, communication
difficulties even in a small country
can be troublesome. In one as
geographically formidable as Canada
it's positively daunting. Few would
argue it takes a level of bravery to
make the change.
Vinckx met her husband, who had
been living in Canada, when he
returned to Holland for a holiday. "It
took five years to make the big step,"
said Vinckx, who had lived in the
city. "I was scared. I left family and
friends, but I got the feeling it was
okay."
Married in Canada, Vinckx says it
took three years before she could say,
"I'm home".
Michiyo Gillan met her husband
when he was teaching in Japan. "We
got to know each other, then carried
on a long distance relationship for
two years. I almost forgot his face."
Reflecting on the reality that many
of the women in the class would not
be in Canada if it hadn't been for
their husbands, Vinckx states matter-
of-factly, "It's a man's world
sometimes."
Vergeer and her husband came to
Canada to visit her husband's brother
and his wife in their new home. She
now attends the ESL class with her
sister-in-law Connie.
"My husband loved Canada. I said
it wasn't for me, but we got home
and talked about it and I thought
maybe it would be good, good for the
children, more space."
Definitely more space. Ontario
alone is 28 times bigger than
Holland. "No car here is no life,"
said Vinckx.
"In Holland I could do my
shopping by bike," adds Groenwegen
The quiet and the dark is also
difficult to get used to.
"In Holland every street has a light
on it," said Connie Vergeer.
"In Holland I could do
mg shopping bg bike."
Vinckx laughs recalling her first
power outage. "We had rented a big
beautiful house in the country. One
night I am there alone and the hydro
goes out. I ran outside and took the
car to my husband to say, 'What is
this?'."
His response was "Welcome to
Canada." Power outages in Holland
don't occur because the hydro runs
underground.
Canada's winters as well were a
less than pleasant surprise. "Winter
is scary. The driving. You have to
stay at home," said Groenwegen.
"I once taught a whole series on
weather just before winter," said
Weber. "It's important for folks in
the country to know the difference
between ,a snow shower and a snow
squall."
Adding to the isolation is a fear
of speaking with people.
Connie Vergeer said she was
initially afraid to answer the phone
knowing that she might not
understand what the person was
saying, or be able to respond. "There