I AM CANADIAN

**** DISCLAIMER****

I’m not saying that Canada is perfect, far from it. Just like any other country, we have issues to work on like having better healthcare, employment and education. This post exists merely to illustrate my gratefulness to being born in Canada, and by no means is intended to degrade any other country.

After reading about shootings, attacks, and wars all over the place, there is no question that the world we live in at the moment is in great turmoil. May you be a developing country or leading the world economy, there is no escaping the atrocities that lurk the corners of the Earth.

I’ve always been told to never take for granted, to be so lucky to be born in Canada, especially in this era. I knew my parents fled their home country during a war that divided their nation- Vietnam. They left everything they knew behind: their riches, their family, everything. Slowly, they saw the government take possession of everything they owned. They were stripped of everything but their dignity and their pride. They have witnessed first-hand the filthiest sides of human nature.

Then, fast-forward a few years and a miracle was born: me. Little Dalena was always constantly reminded of the vast opportunities that awaited her, purely by being born in one of the safest countries in the world- especially when she behaved terribly. She always more or less knew her luck, but mainly from hearing her parents’ stories from the past. Like any child, she found things unfair: why did she have to perpetually listen to these depressing stories? Surely, her classmates had it good. They probably didn’t have to be reminded of their luck.

But now, after all the recent events as well as gaining insight from people around me, news, and videos, I have understood my incredible fortune. It hit me like a truck, like a punch in the face. It was as if I just woke up from a long, everlasting slumber. I have just realized how incredibly blessed I am and am just so grateful about it.

I am grateful that I was born in a family and a nation where education was the priority. I am able to seek the education that I want and therefore able to not only have the opportunity to choose a profession, but also realize my potential.

I am grateful to live in a society where laws ensure my well-being and are abided by. I feel perfectly comfortable walking down the streets alone, with my headphones on, even at night. I don’t have to constantly watch my back and be suspicious of everyone around me. I can actually assume- for the most part anyway- that people around me have good intentions.

I am grateful that Canada is a peaceful country. Hearing the number of casualties from attacks/shootings/bombings are not part of my morning routine. I don’t have to pray, every single day, for my family and friends. It’s a given that they are not in danger and will live to see another day.

Finally, I am grateful for my health. I live in a place where the air does not hinder my body. I come from a place where I can seek medical advice and be treated.  I live in a place where the food quality is regulated and take for granted that I am not ingesting pure garbage.

One of my high school teachers once said: “No one attacks Canada not because we’re likable, but because we’re harmless”. It was a joke, of course. But in times like these, I wouldn’t mind hearing a joke about our English accents nor how ridiculously polite we are. I’d rather be a harmless laughing stock than witness the daily horror in war-torn countries.

On that note, travel safely.

Santé, Cheers

PS: Ironically, I really like Jim Jefferies’ latest standup-Freedumb. Widely inappropriate, but somewhat relevant to this post. Check it out peeps.

PPS: This is a rather dark and very personal post… I’ll try to go easy on this type in the future and keep it light. Also, do you like this kind of stuff? Comments, suggestions and any type of feedback are welcome!

PPPS: I really want to end on a positive note, so here's a classic Canadian ad.