Lesson is not always be found in a class room, especially lesson of life. The more you interact with people from different background, the more you learn about the bitter sweet of life, the more you ap preciate of you have gained…
One afternoon in a subway I was talking to a friend from a neighbour country in south east asia. She arrived in this country one year ago with a working permit as a baby sitter. To be honest she doesn’t like the job at all. Backhome she got a bachelor degree in physiotherapy before she delivered her son, four years ago.
"Eva, do you think physiotherapist is a good profession here? I mean, is there a high demand of physiotherapist in Canada?
"Well, I think so… All health care professionals are highly needed and appreciated here, especially young people like you. Why?"
"I’m applying for a permanent residency, and I hope I’ll have bigger chance with my background as physiotherapist. If I got my permit, I’ll sponsor my husband and son to come over…"
"Sounds great, but I think there are some procedures that we have to go through before we could practice as a health care professional here. We have to pass the local exams and in Montreal we have to speak fluent french as well."
"I’ll do it! I really wanna continue my study here… You know, my mother always compare me to my brothers. Maybe you won’t believe, but my youngest brother is a medical doctor, and my eldest brother is a lawyer… And look at me, I am nothing compare to them… I don’t like my work, taking care of other’s child while I have my own son and family backhome… But here, the government can give you loan to do your study and they will deduct the loan from your future salary. In my country once you get married you have to stand by your own, financially. That’s why I grabbed this opportunity, so I can continue my study by my own and prove to my family that I can be something that they can be proud of…"
I could hear sadness and rage in her voice and her tears started falling down… I couldn’t be of any help except saying, "Hey, you’re not nothing… Look at you, you’re young, you’re a health care professional already, have a family, a 4 years old son. I say that’s a great achievement!"
"Yeah, my brothers all are still single…"
"Exactly as I expected!" For a second I laughed at myself, and continued… "You know that’s why in our religion married people will be rewarded more because starting a family and rising kids are not easy, you have to have a lot of patience and put a lot of energy in it…"
"Really?" she looked at me with a smile on her face, and I nodded…
"And you are very brave to take this very difficult choice: leave your country, your family to pursue something and start from zero in this strange country. There’re not a lot of people who will do the same thing!"
Then we sat in silence, busy with our own thinking… Suddenly I feel gratefull that my parents always treat me and my sisters fairly; they support us in everyway… Everyone has their own choice; every choice has its positive and negative side and we have to live -and suppose to be happy- with the choice we made. Indeed, a little appreciation is all what everyone needs, to boost one’s self confidence in every step
of the way…
Friend is a gift from heaven, I fully agree with that. Our friendship was started with a simple email asking for help, and I’m happy that we still keep in touch, even not regularly. This morning, when I opened my mailbox, I found his email, and to my surprise he follows my blogs 
I think a little bit different about these two items or at least I can not generalize these statements to all situations. They are true for many situations but not all of them. Be aware of exceptions!