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New Home Canada : Blessing or Disaster? - Interview: Nandu Bastola & Naraprti Prashain
In May 2007, the Government of Canada announced it would resettle up to 5,000 Bhutanese refugees over the next three to five
years.
A number of families have already made homes in different Quebec cities and in an exclusive interview with Nepalese Canadian Network, Nandu Bastola (NB) and Narapati Prashain (NP) spoke of their experiences settling into their new St. Jerome community and their first impressions
of a distinctly Canadian multicultural society.
When did you come to Canada?
We came to Canada on December 8, 2008. We all came together. We are 6 families in St. Jerome.
How do you like Canada?
At the beginning it was little bit difficult in terms of language and the weather. After that everything is going well. We spent almost 16-17 years in Nepal as refugees. We had no idea what our future looked like. We were so worried. But when we had a chance to come to Canada we hoped to have a better future for our family and our children.
What are you doing now? Do you go to school to learn the French language?
NB – Yes, we are going to school to learn the language. I am not working for the time being. We are taking language courses full-time. I am taking medication therefore I have dropped off, but my family is learning French. I will restart in a month.
NP – We are not working for the time being. We have a language problem. All our family is learning French. One of my daughters was studying in grade 10 in Nepal and the other one was in grade 7. Now we all are in the same welcome class learning French.
If you are not working how do you manage to survive? Does the government help you?
Yes, the government is helping us financially. We receive money every month. It is enough to survive.
How are you learning the new culture in Canada?
NB – When we first came to Canada we stayed in the Best Western Hotel and we were introduced to the new Canadian culture. We now have our own apartment; an organization called COFFRET is helping us integrate into and adopt the new culture and society. They visit us every now and then and no matter what problem we have they try their best to assist us. They are very friendly. Each family has a caretaker and they help us for everything. We have also found the Nepalese Association; they are very friendly and helpful. Since we met them we are even happier now – feels like home!
NP – We feel we are lucky having been able to receive all this support. My brother is sick now and that is the only problem we have.
What happened to your brother?
NP – After a month in Canada he got sick. Maybe he is thinking a lot. He was badly tortured in Bhutanese jail and that could be the reason he got sick. Sometime he speaks a lot and he doesn’t even know what he is talking. He keeps forgetting. He is mentally sick. Our caregiver is so nice and helps us a lot. She gives lots of hopes. She even managed to bring the statue of God Bishnu, Krishna which we worship back home. We pray together for him. He is being treated in a hospital in Montreal. COFFRET is helping us for everything. This is the only tension we have.
Do you regret coming to Canada, thinking that it wouldn’t have happen if you were still in Nepal?
(NP) - No, not at all. We were suffering a lot in Bhutan. We did not have any hope while staying in Bhutan and we try not to remember our past life. We don’t love Bhutan anymore although it is our motherland. We have been getting help for my brother’s treatment. In Bhutan it was impossible. We are hoping he will be okay in a few months.
The Association of Nepalese in Quebec and École Saint-Barthélemy recently organized a Nepali New Year Celebration program. Did you participate?
Yes, we all participated with the help of COFFRET. We were so happy we all had a chance to participate in the celebration. The program was really successful. We never thought there is a Nepali community here in Montreal. We also speak Nepali and when we met Nepali-speaking people and observed the cultural program in the party we felt like we were at home. Both Nepalese and Canadian people treated us as family and we had lots of fun. I can’t express how happy we were when we met all the people. We are ready to join the community and participate actively in the Association’s activities in the future.
Did you bring your brother too?
(NP) - Yes, my brother was also with us. He also enjoyed the party. He even talked to few people whereas he was not talking to anyone at home. The party changed his behaviour a bit. I never thought Nepali speaking people are also living in Canada. When we met lots of Nepalese, I have hope and thought I am not alone. I have people to share both happiness and sadness.
Can you tell us what happened when you were in Bhutan and why you had to leave Bhutan?
NB – I was only 15 years old when I left Bhutan. I can’t remember everything. Nepali-speaking Bhutanese were living in the southern part of Bhutan. We were discriminated a lot. Therefore, there was a movement against it. The government ignored its demands. Although we were real Bhutanese citizens, we were kept in jail without any reason. We were innocent and lots of innocent people like us were kept in jail. Our life was in danger and we were forced to leave the country. We still love our country but not the Bhutanese regime. Still we have relatives in Bhutan. We were also not allowed to stay in India. But the Nepalese government allowed us to stay in Nepal. After 17 years staying in Nepal as refugees, an International Organization for Migration (IOM) helped us resettle. Canada was accepting Bhutanese refugees from Nepal and with the help of these governments, we are able to come here.
NP – My father was a government employ and my brother was working in a telecommunication office. My brother was caught by the police and in police custody for a month. Then they put him in a jail for 18 months. Later the Bhutanese government gave us three days to leave the country. My father told them that we wouldn’t leave without my brother. Then they told us they would bring our brother to Damphu Bazar. We met our brother in a critical situation. He was weak and unconscious lying on the floor. We took him to another bazaar where my brother’s friends were living. They helped us a lot. They bought clothes for my brother. We went to Nepal by vehicle. We did not have that much of a problem in Nepal. I went to several different districts to find a job and was working as general worker. Then we got a chance to go abroad. When we arrived in Canada we had no idea what to do but we were getting lots of help from the Canadian government as well as the Association of Nepalese in Quebec. I met many people in the New Year’s party; I am so happy and now I feel like home.
How was the life in Nepal? Was it difficult to live there?
No, it was not difficult to live since there were a lot of agencies helping us. When there was a Maoist movement, we suffered a bit. We had mental pressure while we were in Nepal. I was a school teacher in Nepal for Bhutanese people. The school was in the refugee camp. I was also giving other new teachers training as resource teachers. Refugee life was not bad in Nepal.
Was there an option to select the Country?
NB – No, there was no option but I have requested them as my preference. I had a chance to read some books about Canada and wanted to come to Canada. That could be the reason it took a little bit longer to process my file.
Do you have anything to say to your relatives in Bhutan and/or Nepal?
NB – I do not have any close relatives in Bhutan but my father and brother are in a refugee camp in Nepal and they are in the process of coming to Canada. Hope they are coming soon. I wish the best for my relatives, friends and all Bhutanese refugees.
NP – My family is in the process of either coming to Canada or the USA. One of my sisters is still in Bhutan. We miss them a lot and wish to meet them as soon as possible. I would like to convey my remembrance to all friends and family.
Thank you for sharing your story.