“Because I can find [food from home] in Red Deer, then it means I’m welcomed.”
Fzeini came to Canada to study, and he earned a Master’s degree in Education Administration. Immediately after graduating, he moved to Red Deer for economic opportunities and social comfort (he had close friends who lived in the city). Upon his arrival, Fzeini located an understated welcoming tool that impacts us all: food.
Fzeini says that the grocery store is his comfortable place within the city “because food is the basic need that everyone need around.” Not only is it a vital resource, but the store serves as a connective space and an even playing field, as everyone must use it to purchase groceries. Further, he shares that he can get almost all of his desired food items, a circumstance that surpasses convenience and encourages his comfortability in Red Deer: “Because I can find [food from home] in Red Deer, then it means I’m welcomed. It’s like I’m home because it’s the same thing I got here is the same thing back home.” Beyond preserving his ties with Ghana, he also views this access as an opportunity for others to interact with his home: “Even there is some items that is imported from my country that I’ve seen them here in some stores. So I was happy to see ‘oh these things come from my home country.’”
Fzeini’s uncomfortable place also revolves around an essential service: transportation. When he first moved to Red Deer, he utilized the public transit system and realized that fellow passengers would not sit beside him or stand next to him, showcasing that isolation can happen in public. Although he identifies these circumstances as racially motivated since the same was not the case for other passengers, Fzeini still attributes this painful situation as a type of motivator. When reflecting on this, Fzeini says, “In life you have to experience certain things so I didn’t take it personally. I just observe and see what [is] happening and then I know what to do and make another decision. So I just encouraged myself and then move on with my life.” With that, he decided to work toward his driver’s license and purchase a vehicle. This experience also proved enlightening, as he would encourage other newcomers to do the same. Driving has allotted him independence and the ability to explore the province: “I love driving. […] I don’t want to just be in Red Deer, and I am living in Alberta, but I don’t know anywhere in Alberta except Red Deer. So sometimes I say, ‘Okay today we are just driving to this area to see what is in that part of Alberta too.’”
Fzeini says living in Red Deer has been a positive experience because whenever he asks his friends or colleagues for help, “they assist [him]. So it’s easy for [him] to find whatever [he] needed to.” He would like to return such sentiments, and although he finds his current job as a youth counsellor fulfilling, he hopes to work for himself one day while also helping other Ghanaians access education and reach their dreams.
Fzeini
“Because I can find [food from home] in Red Deer, then it means I’m welcomed.”
Fzeini came to Canada to study, and he earned a Master’s degree in Education Administration. Immediately after graduating, he moved to Red Deer for economic opportunities and social comfort (he had close friends who lived in the city). Upon his arrival, Fzeini located an understated welcoming tool that impacts us all: food.
Fzeini says that the grocery store is his comfortable place within the city “because food is the basic need that everyone need around.” Not only is it a vital resource, but the store serves as a connective space and an even playing field, as everyone must use it to purchase groceries. Further, he shares that he can get almost all of his desired food items, a circumstance that surpasses convenience and encourages his comfortability in Red Deer: “Because I can find [food from home] in Red Deer, then it means I’m welcomed. It’s like I’m home because it’s the same thing I got here is the same thing back home.” Beyond preserving his ties with Ghana, he also views this access as an opportunity for others to interact with his home: “Even there is some items that is imported from my country that I’ve seen them here in some stores. So I was happy to see ‘oh these things come from my home country.’”
Fzeini’s uncomfortable place also revolves around an essential service: transportation. When he first moved to Red Deer, he utilized the public transit system and realized that fellow passengers would not sit beside him or stand next to him, showcasing that isolation can happen in public. Although he identifies these circumstances as racially motivated since the same was not the case for other passengers, Fzeini still attributes this painful situation as a type of motivator. When reflecting on this, Fzeini says, “In life you have to experience certain things so I didn’t take it personally. I just observe and see what [is] happening and then I know what to do and make another decision. So I just encouraged myself and then move on with my life.” With that, he decided to work toward his driver’s license and purchase a vehicle. This experience also proved enlightening, as he would encourage other newcomers to do the same. Driving has allotted him independence and the ability to explore the province: “I love driving. […] I don’t want to just be in Red Deer, and I am living in Alberta, but I don’t know anywhere in Alberta except Red Deer. So sometimes I say, ‘Okay today we are just driving to this area to see what is in that part of Alberta too.’”
Fzeini says living in Red Deer has been a positive experience because whenever he asks his friends or colleagues for help, “they assist [him]. So it’s easy for [him] to find whatever [he] needed to.” He would like to return such sentiments, and although he finds his current job as a youth counsellor fulfilling, he hopes to work for himself one day while also helping other Ghanaians access education and reach their dreams.
“Because I can find [food from home] in Red Deer, then it means I’m welcomed.”
Fzeini came to Canada to study, and he earned a Master’s degree in Education Administration. Immediately after graduating, he moved to Red Deer for economic opportunities and social comfort (he had close friends who lived in the city). Upon his arrival, Fzeini located an understated welcoming tool that impacts us all: food.
Fzeini says that the grocery store is his comfortable place within the city “because food is the basic need that everyone need around.” Not only is it a vital resource, but the store serves as a connective space and an even playing field, as everyone must use it to purchase groceries. Further, he shares that he can get almost all of his desired food items, a circumstance that surpasses convenience and encourages his comfortability in Red Deer: “Because I can find [food from home] in Red Deer, then it means I’m welcomed. It’s like I’m home because it’s the same thing I got here is the same thing back home.” Beyond preserving his ties with Ghana, he also views this access as an opportunity for others to interact with his home: “Even there is some items that is imported from my country that I’ve seen them here in some stores. So I was happy to see ‘oh these things come from my home country.’”
Fzeini’s uncomfortable place also revolves around an essential service: transportation. When he first moved to Red Deer, he utilized the public transit system and realized that fellow passengers would not sit beside him or stand next to him, showcasing that isolation can happen in public. Although he identifies these circumstances as racially motivated since the same was not the case for other passengers, Fzeini still attributes this painful situation as a type of motivator. When reflecting on this, Fzeini says, “In life you have to experience certain things so I didn’t take it personally. I just observe and see what [is] happening and then I know what to do and make another decision. So I just encouraged myself and then move on with my life.” With that, he decided to work toward his driver’s license and purchase a vehicle. This experience also proved enlightening, as he would encourage other newcomers to do the same. Driving has allotted him independence and the ability to explore the province: “I love driving. […] I don’t want to just be in Red Deer, and I am living in Alberta, but I don’t know anywhere in Alberta except Red Deer. So sometimes I say, ‘Okay today we are just driving to this area to see what is in that part of Alberta too.’”
Fzeini says living in Red Deer has been a positive experience because whenever he asks his friends or colleagues for help, “they assist [him]. So it’s easy for [him] to find whatever [he] needed to.” He would like to return such sentiments, and although he finds his current job as a youth counsellor fulfilling, he hopes to work for himself one day while also helping other Ghanaians access education and reach their dreams.