The picture my daughter drew to welcome the family. Photo: Emma Waverman
We didn?t know what to expect as we drove to the airport hotel to greet the Syrian refugee family that we had pledged to sponsor for one year. Would they be as excited as we were to finally meet face to face" Would they be nervous, overwhelmed" Would they have regrets about moving to Canada"
For better or worse, we had committed to financial and social support of this family for a year. Our lives were going to be intertwined, and this was the first step. We had spoken to the family on the phone each week for months (with the help of a translator), and yet we had only 48 hours’ notice before we had to pick them up.
But I can hardly complain?Ahmed and Amena (not their real names) only had two days? notice before they had to pack up their belonging in a few suitcases and show up at the Amman airport in Jordan for the flight that brought them to their new home in Toronto. Our sponsorship group is made up of 20 friends and neighbours who chose to band together to help a refugee family come to Canada. We secured them an apartment and furniture, and raised $40,000 dollars. We had done everything we could think of to prepare for the family?s arrival.
But just like any major life event, you can?t fully prepare. It’s like getting ready for the arrival of your first baby?you decorate the nursery, you micromanage the details, but you have no idea what to expect once that new life ...