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| Subject: "Some emigres feel tug of home" |
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Wondering if any comments on following recent article on immigration experience to Canada in local newspaper (Chicago Tribune). I found it an eye opener.
"Some emigres feel tug of home"
Those who went abroad to live and work are finding the grass may be greener in S. Africa
[Chicagoland Final , CN Edition]
Chicago Tribune - Chicago, Ill.
Author: Laurie Goering, Tribune foreign correspondent
Date: Apr 19, 2004
Section: News
Document Types: News
Text Word Count: 1170
Marcelle Vorster knew it was time to leave South Africa when the employment agencies she visited no longer sent her on job interviews.
"They told me it was because I was white," said Vorster, a receptionist. One woman told her, "I´m just doing my job. I´ve been told by the companies they don´t want anyone white."
So Vorster and her husband, Andre, both unemployed, moved to Canada with their two teenage daughters three years ago. Andre had an offer of temporary work at a Nissan garage in Calgary. After being carjacked three times in South Africa, he was ready to take a chance overseas.
"We thought we´d make a better, safer life than we had here," said Marcelle Vorster, 42.
But Canada wasn´t what they hoped. Marcelle couldn´t work because of immigration rules. Rent on their two-bedroom duplex ate up nearly half of Andre´s salary. Winters were icy, and shopkeepers couldn´t understand their accent. Soon Andre was laid off, and the family had to turn to a local food bank to survive.
"It was totally humiliating," Marcelle remembers. "And I missed Africa so much."
So in January, Marcelle and her daughters flew home, part of a growing stream of departed South Africans bucking the emigration trend and giving their homeland another chance.
Many still leaving
A decade after the end of apartheid, the number of South Africans abandoning their country still dwarfs the number of those coming back. Last year, 11,671 South Africans, most of them white, formally immigrated to Britain, Australia, the United States and other nations, according to government statistics. Analysts believe twice that many left without filling out emigration papers. Most said they were fleeing violent crime or affirmative action policies that made it difficult for them or their children to find work.
But a steady trickle of the 400,000 South Africans thought to be living abroad is returning, encouraged by developments at home or fed up with life abroad.
While the returnees are not formally tracked, two private organizations created last year to assist them report that they have had hundreds of thousands of hits on their Web sites and have helped more than 500 families in the past year.
"We handle any kind of question, from how to bring a horse to South Africa to how to get a driver´s license again," said Alana Bailey, executive manager of Come Home. The group mails a newsletter to 480 people, she said, and "when the e-mails start bouncing back, we have a fair idea they returned to South Africa."
Emigrants often are drawn home by family ties, homesickness for their culture, the warm weather and the low cost of living. Many predicted South Africa would descend into a race war or economic collapse after the end of apartheid in 1994 and are pleased they were wrong.
Others find that life abroad isn´t as appealing as they had imagined. South Africa, they learn, isn´t the only country with complicated race relations, and the higher salaries abroad are more than matched by higher prices.
"People always think the grass is greener on the other side. They look at the salary they´ll earn and it looks like quite a lot with the exchange rate. But the cost of living is higher, and their standard of living drops," said Kallie Kriel of Solidarity, an organization working to improve life in South Africa and stem emigration.
Coming home often isn´t easy. South Africans who fled abroad find themselves dismissed at home as "chicken runners" and are not always welcomed back. Moving is costly, and some find that in South Africa´s booming housing market, they can´t buy a new home for the same price their old one fetched. Others find living behind high walls and razor wire troubling after years in safer cities abroad.
"Life is still great here. It´s the land of milk and honey--but with barbed-wire fences around it," said Roewald Marais, 29, a pharmacist who worked in England for two years before returning to South Africa after his father died in 2001. With most of his friends still in London, "it´s tougher to come back to your country than leave it," he said.
Many of those returning harbor concerns about finding jobs, particularly for their children, and about the country´s still- awful crime rate. Others worry about an eventual Zimbabwe-style meltdown in South Africa.
"It was an immensely difficult decision for us, to have to weigh up what your heart is saying about being home and what your head is saying about what could go wrong here," said Doug Jones, an accountant who moved his family back to Johannesburg in September after five years in Toronto. In a country rife with carjackings and rapes, "it will only take 30 seconds to prove this decision a bad one," he said.
Torn between countries
Jones, like many returning emigrants, has a foot in two countries. His two young children are Canadian citizens, and he and his wife have dual citizenship. When the family arrived at Johannesburg´s airport, an immigration official advised him that his children could enter only on a tourist visa until they applied for permanent status.
"You´re so full of anticipation when you arrive back that you kind of expect there´ll be a ticker tape parade for you," he said. "Then reality sets in."
But like many former emigrants, Jones--who came back to a job promotion--is excited about playing a role in the new South Africa, which no longer seems so threatening. His sister, Angel Jones, another returnee from London, runs Homecoming Revolution, a clearinghouse providing information for returning South Africans.
"I think the country will fail if my generation doesn´t come back," Doug Jones said. "The value that somebody like me, with my privileged upbringing, can add is immense. I tell friends, ´Just come home and pay taxes. That´s contribution enough. You don´t need to adopt an AIDS baby, though that´s even better.´"
Since returning home, Marcelle Vorster has struggled to find work, landing only short-term jobs as a phone saleswoman. Her husband, still in Calgary, will return at the end of the year at the earliest, if he or Marcelle can find work. For now, Marcelle and her daughters are living on mattresses thrown on the living room floor of her mother´s small townhouse. But they say they are happy.
For Jones, the homecoming has been sweeter. The day his family finished moving into their new home in Johannesburg, they invited both sets of the children´s grandparents over, lit a fire in the backyard grill, threw on some dinner and sat on the patio talking and watching the African sunset as the kids played in the yard.
"I looked at my wife and said, ´This is why we came home,´" he said.
[29-08-2007,19:34]
[**.53.229.17]
Richard |
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(in reply to: "Some emigres feel tug of home")
Good article Richard. You see, a lot of immigrants apply for Permanent Residence to Canada and they have never visited Canada, little do they know that they are better off in their own country. Many of them are being fooled that Canada or the USA is a land of milk and honey and when they arrive they see their standard of living drop and there are no milk and honey but workng two jobs for slave wages. Many immigrants to Canada returned to ther homeland very quickly after landing, the Canadian Govt. should published the statistics for those abandonng Canada and that includes born Canadians. Since Sharon and Jim B. seems to everything under the sun about Canada, they mght have the statistics. Have you ever checked in Toronto who are the taxi drivers, pizza delivery guys, the factory workers, and what are their qualifications, you will be shocked and want to know what these guys are doing in Canada? Maybe someone in this foum can explain why? When you arrived in Canada, the motto is : NO CANADIAN EXPERIENCE, NO WORK. So how would you get the experience, if you cannot get the job? I must state the Canadian Govt. is doing a good job to admit immigrants but the culprits are the employers. These workers were assessed as skilled persons who will contribute significantly to the economy of Canada, that is why immigration admtted them as PR.
Can someone in this forum say why these skilled, qualified and experenced workers cannot get a job in their chosen profession? I know the answer but I am afraid that Jim Bunting might report me again with the Backing of Sharon (not proud to use her real name like me).
Balwant Persaud & Associates
www.canadaimmigrationbpa.com
[29-08-2007,20:39]
[***.80.24.5]
Balwant Persaud |
(in reply to: "Some emigres feel tug of home")
Sharon is the name on my birth certificate.
I agree, Canada needs to move to the Australian system for immigrations applicants - if Canada doesn´t need your skill, you can´t come... period. Who cares if you want to try a different job. That would leave a lot of IT specialists and engineers looking for somewhere else to live. Is that an acceptable alternative?
Nobody is forcing the taxi driver or the pizza guy to come in the first place and nobody is insisting that he stay.
Do your homework - I have been saying that for 3 years on this forum. The advice still stands.
[29-08-2007,21:06]
[***.20.127.20]
Sharon |
(in reply to: "Some emigres feel tug of home")
Interesting posting Richard. I´m surprized though it seems new to you. I´m from a most poor country of the world, Bangladesh. Would you believe that now a days professionals back there use to laugh with Canadian Immigration? It is becoming a symbol of harrasment. That doesn´t mean that Bangladesh is better than Canada, only means professionals back there are happy. Canadian Immigration is getting the name like this. From China (the biggest client)no. of applicants now dropped to half. There are good reasons for that. Did you know that more officially 675,000 Canadians had to move to Asia over the last decade (without even counting the PRs)? Not even USA, to Asia, which is inferior to all Canadians, isn´t it? Read here:
http://www.thestar.com/article/238305
Little Extraction:
(Canada is gaining a reputation overseas as a place that´s not as friendly to immigrants as people like to think. Myer Siemiatycki, Ryerson University)
Nobody is forcing anybody to immigrate into Canada. Right. But nobody also should lure anyone with false hope either. Watch this VDO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0GUolkhHRo
I have no problems with the nice words about Canada, except:
"Canada´s labor market is quite steady and provides excelent and plentiful oppurtunities for all immigrants". This is not true, rather very decieving.
Another example: From http://www.canadaimmigrants.com/forum.asp
"Today, July 31, 2007 on the Noon News broadcasting, a spokesperson from the Canadian embassy said that this country needed millions of workers to fill out vacancies. I´m interested in traveling and working there along with my wife.
Expedito. Bucaramanga, Colombia".
What should I comment about this? Isn´t an upright lie? How will people do proper research when Govt. officials use to tell such lie?Foreign degress are bad. Right. BUT why they are given immigration on basis of that bad degrees at the first place? Isn´t it a dual standard? Or it is a some type of charity?
As per my understanding and little research, Canada has highest immigrant rate, ALSO highest exodus rate amoong the western developed countries which Canadians never want to even discuss. By now, I know I´m getting frown from some regular writers here. But what I´m saying has factual base corroborated by data from relibale Canadian sources.
In my same Bangladesh, where professionals use to mock with Canada, still many millions are ready to come to Canada at any cost. I never can understand if Canada needs only number why doesn´t it let those people to come? They woudn´t run away from Canada ever. I know this won´t happen ever as the entire purpose of the immigration is not that we know or believed to know. I don´t want to discuss that and open another gas can with that now.
[29-08-2007,21:41]
[**.152.218.192]
Departed_Canadian |
(in reply to: "Some emigres feel tug of home")
Richard and Departed Canadian, you guys are good researchers, can you please tell members of this forum especially Sweet and Wise Sharon and that Jim B. how much money the Canadian Govt. makes on immigration? to me this is big busness for the Canadian Govt. so they cannot scrap the immigration business. In my estimation, the Govt. is making in excess of 6 billion dollars per annum.This is my calculation based on Skilled Immigration and Busness Immigration. I did not include other applications such as Work Permits, Provincial Nominations, Visitor´s and Student Visas, Family Class Sponsorships etc. Plus another 20 Billion dollars per annum for the funds these immigrants bring annually to Canada. From the day they landed at the airport they began contributing to the economy of Canada by paying 14% taxes on everything. you see what I mean Immigration is big business for the Canadian Govt. My two friends, Richard and Departed Canadan might have more accurate figures than me, mine is just conservative. So, Sharon, Canada cannot afford to go the Australian method, immigrants keep the Canadian economy afloat. The Canadian Govt. is aware that there is an estimated 400,000 illegal workers in Canada, can you imagine what will happen to Canada if all these workers are deported? The govt. knows what wll happen. The Govt. tolerates these illegal workers for reasons known to them, yet when I tried to advise a guy on his best option, this woman Sharon is accusing me of fraud. Why don´t she accused the Canadian Govt. of fraud for tolerating the thousands of illegal workers?
Balwant
[29-08-2007,23:04]
[***.80.24.5]
Balwant Persaud |
(in reply to: "Some emigres feel tug of home")
Balwant,
Now you brought a very touchy matter which I tried to avoid in my last post. To me, the life long savings coming with the immigrants each year is a lucrative income for Canada, which it can afford to lose. In fact it is very hard to estimate, may be impossible. Canadian economy will have a huge jolt without it. To me, this is one of the underlying reasons behind agressive point system immigration. Professional class immigrants are financially well of and can bring a big amount, not the commoners. That´s why our dear Canadian Govt. inspite of facing harsh criticism never can justify it. Don´t believe me? Then watch this, listen what the former Federal Immigration Minister Volpe said when challenged by this issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lY_AP3uELI
ON immigration minister Mike Cole at least honestly acknowledged that the Canadian Immigration system is totally broekn. According to him it is nothing but inviting someone for dinner and then feeding them with waste. I can´t express anything better than this. We all know ON is the financial heart of Canada, and it is the statement from their top official. Needless to say about the rest.
Both US/Canada try to avoid the illegal resident issue for cheap interest. That is simply to get cheap labor, no doubt. I know both country can deport at least 90% of the illegals within few days.
Though I´m getting surprized that you, an immigration consultant bringing this issue. For your business interest shouldn´t you support the current CIC policy instead? More immigration = More Clients. Simple Equation.
[30-08-2007,00:26]
[**.152.218.192]
Departed_Canadian |
(in reply to: "Some emigres feel tug of home")
Departed Canadian,
I appreciate your views. In connection with your last paragraph where I should support CIC policy as an Immigration consultant. I do Immigration Consulting for the fun of it and I am the only Consultant who asked clients to pay whatever they want to pay, sometimes free. I am a Chartered Accountant and the owner of a computer school in Guyana and I depend on these two businesses for my income. As you can see from my website, I stated that I am a member of various UK Accountancy bodies. I am also a politician in my country, Guyana fighting for the poor and downtrodden souls. I am willing to assist anyone with their immigration problems and I like the academic side of it. When you are in this business, you should take a broader look at it, from both sides, the client side and the CIC side. But the academic discussion is good for all the readers of this forum. People must know what is going on, on both sides of the fence. Everyone has a contribution to make on this forum and we should respect everyone´s views and make sensible comments on those views instead of behaving like Gestapos.
[30-08-2007,02:12]
[***.80.24.5]
Balwant Persaud |
(in reply to: "Some emigres feel tug of home")
Balwant, have you ever lived in Canada?
If any of you knew anything about the drop in Asian immigration to Canada you would know it is directly tied to the stability of Hong Kong. But no, you rather spout off about your intimate knowledge of the revenue side of immigration etc.
Balwant, there is nothing about Canadian immigration that interests you beyond how much money you can steal from your prospective clients.
[30-08-2007,03:25]
[***.121.220.199]
sharon |
(in reply to: "Some emigres feel tug of home")
The whole point of Canadian immigration system is to benefit Canada. The O-N-L-Y non-benefit part is refugees.
Other than that, immigration, as far as a nation is concerned, is about bringing in hardworking manpower and investments.
Canada does not owe anything to the rest of the planet. Canada is not there to be a land that will provide better life to whoever comes. If Canada was the perfect place for everyone, the population would be 6 billion.
Moving to Canada is expensive in terms of money, time and stress. Moving to any new country is. Nothing is free in this world. While travel is a lot easier now than it was centuries ago, it is not free.
Canada is not necessarialy suitable for every single profession. If one wants to immigrate, he should check what skills are needed where in Canada. If your PhD degree is not needed in Canada, do one of the following:
- Go somewhere where it is needed.
- Get skills in an area that is easier to succeed with in Canada.
- Be a taxi driver.
To those who complain "cannot find a job in my area" - then why the hell DID you come?
[30-08-2007,04:29]
[**.148.105.73]
Nikolai |
(in reply to: "Some emigres feel tug of home")
Guys, help me again as I do not want to make a statement on this idiotic woman´s comment as she is getting personal and abusive. " There is nothing about Canadian Immigration that interests you beyond how much money you can steal from your prospective clients." A woman scorned hath no fury. I will let the members comment on her words.
[30-08-2007,05:32]
[***.80.24.5]
Balwant Persaud |
(in reply to: "Some emigres feel tug of home")
Balwant,
Good to know your interesting career. My only request to you, warn your clients about the most possible reality of Canada. Advise them about both good and bad sides so that they can decide cautiously.
Nikolai,
Immigration is supposed to be a symbiosis. It shouldn´t be one way. You are right, nothing is free in this world. Immigrants have to be productive to contribute to the country in exachange. Succesful immigrant build countries have to work out in that way, the best example is USA. Canada was also successful till they opened their gate too much, specially inviting the wrong people who they internally do not need. In that way they are ruining many personal lives, draining & wasting brains from other countries, worse of all losing their own culture. Overall, the new comers may bring good amount in Canada, but in the long run they become just a liability on Canada. I can´t think wastage of so much wealth anywhere in the world.
In my last posting, specially from the Canadian minister´s comment some of your questions already answered (if you care to listen those). From both of them, it is crystal clear that Canada doesn´t need any foreign trained professionals. That should explain everything.
- Go elsewhere where it is neeeded:
It is happening. Not for the immigrants, even for the born Canadian citizens. I mentioned earlier that 675,000 Canadian Citizens (not including the PRs) had to move to Aisan countries over the last decades. And draining to the USA?
- Get skills in an area that is easier to succeed with in Canada.
First, may I know which skill is demanding? I had US MS with 2 years of experience their, no interview in Canada. Then I got their best school U of T degree, with the same result. I´m not alone, there are many many guys like me pumping gas cleaning snow in Canada with local degree.
We are also not living in the gold rush erra that people can do swicth or do whatever they want, like mining fishing..or hunting. Say, You can´t suggest a chemist with Masters and 15 years experience to go to school and strat studying social science. Should you? I even wouldn´t mind to do so if have job waranty.
- Be a Taxi Driver:
Incidentally I happen to cross with a person in another forum who has been driving cab in Toronto for the last 5 years with a MS degree from the University of Burnswick in Environmental Engineering. Do you think a country like Canada should be proud of that?
-To those who complain "cannot find a job in my area" - then why the hell DID you come
It is well replied in my earlier post. Becaue of false hope. Yes, partially they are responsible, because of lack of proper research. But, I can´t blaim them fully when Canadian Govt. itself plays dual role. May I ask "Why the Canadian Govt. is giving PR based on their degreess" where there are no demand at all? It is a total wrong message which confuses the guys. They don´t come here as refugee, they all have to qualify by the point system.
My points are all not to insult Canada, but to warn first the prospective immigrants, then to aware the Canadians about the wrong immigration policy which may turn this country into a disaster.
[30-08-2007,09:33]
[***.254.208.242]
Departed_Canadian |
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