Living in Canada
In October 1979, after spending nearly 7 months in a refugee camp in Malaysia, Lien along with her three sisters and several aunts and uncles arrived in Barrie, Ontario. They were eager, anxious and ready to start a new life in Canada. With little in the way of personal belongings or money, Lien was prepared to work hard and do whatever it would take to provide a better life for her, her young daughter and her family members.
On her first day in Barrie, Ontario, Lien saw fluffy white cold flakes fall from the sky. She experienced a true Canadian winter snowstorm. She recalled how magical and wonderful it was to see white snow covering everything- the streets, the trees, the houses, the cars and the people. It was cold but it was beautiful!
Sponsored by a local church and its congregation, Lien and her family spent their first months living in a church-rented house. Lien and her three sisters studied English to learn as much of this new language as they could and be able to communicate with Canadians. They immediately set out to look for work. Within a few months Lien found work as a kitchen helper in a local restaurant and later took on a second job helping to iron and sew clothes. Learning English was the most difficult part of learning to live in Canada, but the people were friendly and nice.
Soon Lien and her three sisters earned enough money to move out of the church-rented house and found a place of their own. Living independently was important as a first step to starting a new life in Canada.
In 1981, Lien and one of her sisters, Anh, decided to move to Edmonton. They had heard there were more opportunities for work in Alberta and felt it would allow them to better provide for their families. They eventually were joined by Lien’s daughter, her parents and other members of the extended family.
Once in Edmonton, Lien found work as a kitchen helper in a pizza restaurant. A year later, Lien found work with a large vending machine company driving a truck and stocking the vending machines at the University of Alberta- a position she would have for the next 25 years. Working on the University of Alberta campus, Lien found the environment stimulating and welcoming. She would often meet and chat with university students from all walks of life. Lien practiced her English with the students, who in turn, helped her with her grammar.
In 1982, Lien had met and married her second husband. The following year she gave birth to her second daughter, Laura. Ironically, over time, Lien’s two daughters would attend the same University of Alberta-the same place where their mother worked. It gave her great pride to see her daughter getting the education she was never able to achieve and not have to work the long hours and do the heavy work she had to do.
In 2005, after working for nearly 25 years in Edmonton, Lien retired from her position with the vending machine company. In 2007, Lien decided to move to Victoria, British Columbia to live with her eldest daughter, Lynne. Upon arriving in Victoria, Lien immediately joined a local immigrant senior’s group as well as the Chinese Senior’s Association. In a short period of time she made new friends and became a part of the community. When Lien is not spending time with her family, she enjoys walking, swimming, cooking or watching her favourite television programs.
She also enjoys traveling. In 2001, Lien returned to Vietnam for the first time in more than 20 years. She visited her former neighbourhood and saw old friends and neighbours. She has seen many changes in Vietnam as the country experienced an economic boom that has translated into new buildings and highways and greater prosperity for large numbers of Vietnamese.
