Susan Abdula: "I like to help every newcomer to have a better understanding of their new life in Canada."
Susan Abdula, of Iraqi-Turkmen heritage, and her family arrived in Canada on December 31, 2006.
They moved from Iraq to Libya in 1997 with her husband’s job. Not wanting to return to a financially unstable situation in Iraq, they headed west to Canada, where her husband had an attractive job offer.
Settling in was hard, but the various settlement agencies and the London community rallied around Susan to help her integrate.
“Relocation to a different country is not easy,” Susan says. “Leaving family and friends is not easy at all.”
However, Susan believes that moving to Canada, one of the safest countries in the world, and having the opportunity to give her children a better education has made a huge difference in the quality of their lives.
There were many things that surprised Susan in her first year in Canada, but she says it was the shock of that first winter that she remembers the most.
“It was so cold,” she says, “not at all what we expected.”
Susan is a linguist who speaks English, Turkish and Arabic. She has a bachelor’s degree in science from Iraq and a post-graduate degree in the social/employment sector from Conestoga College.
But she says volunteering made her transition to the London community a lot smoother and encourages other newcomers to do so too.
They moved from Iraq to Libya in 1997 with her husband’s job. Not wanting to return to a financially unstable situation in Iraq, they headed west to Canada, where her husband had an attractive job offer.
Settling in was hard, but the various settlement agencies and the London community rallied around Susan to help her integrate.
“Relocation to a different country is not easy,” Susan says. “Leaving family and friends is not easy at all.”
However, Susan believes that moving to Canada, one of the safest countries in the world, and having the opportunity to give her children a better education has made a huge difference in the quality of their lives.
There were many things that surprised Susan in her first year in Canada, but she says it was the shock of that first winter that she remembers the most.
“It was so cold,” she says, “not at all what we expected.”
Susan is a linguist who speaks English, Turkish and Arabic. She has a bachelor’s degree in science from Iraq and a post-graduate degree in the social/employment sector from Conestoga College.
But she says volunteering made her transition to the London community a lot smoother and encourages other newcomers to do so too.
Among the agencies and organizations Susan donated her time to are the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre (CCLC), the Canadian Iraqi Turkmen organization, the International Women’s Community with South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre and the London Muslim Mosque.
“These organizations supported me, and I was able to get the Canadian work experience I needed,” she says.
Within a year of arriving in Canada, Susan was able to obtain a full-time job at the London Employment Help Centre.
She is currently pursuing a non-profit management certificate from Western University.
Susan is a firm believer in lifelong learning and intends to continue her education to improve her skills in supporting the community.
Using her job as an Employment Counsellor/Specialist, Susan says, “I like to help every newcomer to have a better understanding of their new life in Canada and have a smooth integration into society.”
Her children are well-settled, and Susan firmly believes that they made the right decision to move to Canada.
“My family is safe here,” she says, “and we know that we belong.”
“These organizations supported me, and I was able to get the Canadian work experience I needed,” she says.
Within a year of arriving in Canada, Susan was able to obtain a full-time job at the London Employment Help Centre.
She is currently pursuing a non-profit management certificate from Western University.
Susan is a firm believer in lifelong learning and intends to continue her education to improve her skills in supporting the community.
Using her job as an Employment Counsellor/Specialist, Susan says, “I like to help every newcomer to have a better understanding of their new life in Canada and have a smooth integration into society.”
Her children are well-settled, and Susan firmly believes that they made the right decision to move to Canada.
“My family is safe here,” she says, “and we know that we belong.”