We are neighbours – meet Geetha Manumari.
I arrived in Canada with my family in 2016. My husband found work and my son began attending elementary school.
I felt isolated - navigating a new country and a language with only a small circle of contacts in my neighbourhood. My English skills were at an entry level, so I found it difficult to meet friends. The connections I made were mostly parents from my son’s school. I began to spend more time there and am so happy I did.
In October 2017, the school was planning to celebrate Diwali. In my country, Diwali is observed everywhere. We as parents always cook traditional meals and throw a celebration in the schools to honour our children’s teachers and show appreciation for the work they do.
I wanted to be involved in the celebration at the school. One parent was the main organizer and she was the perfect candidate for this celebration. She knew everyone and was able to set up a team of enthusiastic volunteers - she brought the spirit of Diwali to the school. She asked each team member to cook a meal and because I love art, I offered to decorate.
The celebration was amazing and everyone, both parents and teachers, enjoyed the event. I am happy to say that the parent who organized the event became my friend. Sadly, the next year she moved away. We thought that would be the end of Diwali celebrations at our school.
Then, some parents approached me to take it over. I still spoke poor English and wasn't prepared for this kind of commitment. I am a shy person and full of doubts. How could I suddenly become a leader without any contacts and friends - not to mention my basic English vocabulary? How could I ask for help of people I didn’t know?
However, the parents didn't give up and convinced me to accept. Even my husband encouraged me. "You were amazing last year, this is your chance to meet new people and make new friends - just go for it."
So I collected phone numbers of parents and texted them. I asked them to help and tell their friends we needed volunteers. I prepared all the recipes and asked people to cook. I tried to connect with every single person - the people who made the posters, the artists, the singers and dancers and the storytellers of our culture.
Most of them were newcomers just like me and they enjoyed the chance to meet other people. After all our work, Diwali began and I saw how proud and happy everyone was. We did a great job. I managed to organize all the people without perfect English language skills and without a network.
It made me feel more confident. I'm not so shy anymore and I now have a lot of new friends. We are all looking forward to Diwali 2019 preparations – we will do it together.
Geetha works as a volunteer at the Burnaby Neighbourhood House front reception desk.
The Burnaby Neighbourhood House is a charitable, non-profit organization with a unique focus on neighbours supporting neighbours. Check us out at www.burnabynh.ca
