By Sabrina Almeida
As volunteer for over 13 years, I can say that it has been one of the most fulfilling and satisfying experiences of my life. One that I hope to continue for as long as I can. I started out in my son’s elementary school in Connecticut with the intention of being an involved parent. Little did I realize, at that time, that it helped me integrate into a new lifestyle and 
community in the blink of an eye.
Moving to North America, or any other country should include a preparation course (or finishing school). Watching Hollywood movies and rubbing shoulders with the few “foreigners” who come to India (and who are more interested in learning about you and your land), does in no way prepare you for life here. The little booklet of dos and don’ts provided by my husband’s employer could hardly school us for what we had to deal with on a daily basis, though it was better than having nothing at all. Now I understand why I’ve seen so many people pouring over travel books at the community library in preparation for a trip abroad.
Spending time with the school children, their parents and neighbours gave me the opportunity to break the ice, get over my apprehensions (however small) and feel comfortable in my new home. More importantly it encouraged my children to go out and make friends, enjoy playdates and feel included.
No doubt there were a few Americans I met whose knowledge of India was stuck in the Dark Ages, but we laughed and learned together. And I realized that they knew as little of me as I did of them.
Our five years in the United States were spent in the suburbs with few South Asians around. Yes, I did miss the memorable sights and sounds of my country of origin but I compensated by developing a strong familiarity with things in my new homeland.
I learned that if I wanted to feel welcome and included, I had to make the effort, even if it meant stepping out of my comfort zone.
So in my next move to Massachusetts I upped my level of involvement. And the transition was smoother than the first time. In fact, there was no transition, except learning to navigate the new geography. From sports to after school programs and community festivals, we got involved as a family. My husband helped out to build a new kids playground while I spent my time organising and running school activities that would have been non-existent for a lack of funds. The kids loved it and they walked taller when they saw us around.
When we moved to Canada, volunteering was no longer something we had to think about, it was part and parcel of our lives. Whether it was coaching soccer, supervising the lunch hour in school, helping kids boost their reading skills, becoming part of the neighbourhood action committee or helping out in our local church we got into the scheme of things right away. It paid off big time. Everywhere we went, we had people to talk to and share a laugh with.
Yes, there were frustrations, but they were no different than what I experienced as a volunteer in India. Differences of thought and expression will occur, because no two individuals are alike, and that is not necessarily based on your ethnicity.
When I look back my 15 years in North America I have no regrets. The people I met along the way contributed to this positive experience and helped me create these great memories.
I know people who have been in this country for longer than me and there is a marked difference between those who got involved and the ones that didn’t. I have observed that immigrants who only socialize within their ethnic communities are stuck in a time warp and have missed out on a great experience.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Start by figuring out where your interests lie. If you like working with children for instance, go to a school in your neighbourhood and determine whether they need volunteers (almost every school does). You will need to do a police check in order to work with kids.
If you prefer to work with seniors, you could look up a senior facility. Your local library or community centre is another good source of volunteer opportunities. Local food banks and shelter are always in need of volunteers, you could always stop by or call to check if they need any help. Try the YMCA as well.
If you have access to computer simply google ‘volunteer’ with your city name e.g. volunteer Mississauga or volunteer Brampton and hundreds of suggestions are bound to come up. Start small. Do what’s comfortable. Find a friend to go with if necessary. You’ll be glad you did.
As Robert McKenna said, “You can study government and politics in school, but the best way to really understand the process is to volunteer your time.”
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