Recent Immigrants to Canada compared to the old days
Since [scroobal] suggested that we share our experiences, please allow me to post my experiences and my observations.
In 1981, prior to completing my final exams at SU, one of my classmates and I were selected by AIESEC (Association International du Etudiants en Science Economique et Commerce). He was supposed to come to Toronto, and I was supposed to go to Melbourne. He complained that Toronto would be too cold for him, and I volunteered to switch with him. His results were better than mine. One of my objectives at university was to learn as much as possible, pass all my exams at the first try in Feb and early March (to avoid the supplementary exams in May, so that I can earn some money during reservist and from relief teaching), not just getting A's (which I had very few) but learning about how to conduct and participate at meetings and EOGM, rules of parliamentary procedures, as well as participate at Inter-Varsity Games. Thank God and my sponsor who gave me a scholarship, notwithstanding there were numerous students who had better A level results than me, I enjoyed my experience at the hostel (a Singaporean term during my university days, whereas in Canada it is referred to as Residence). I managed a few medals at Inter Varsity Track and Field, my team mates and I from SU won the Inter Varsity Sepak Takraw Competition (whereas Nantah had Khoo Yak Seng, a tekong with the SG National team), and improved my tennis on clay court.
I did work several months in SG, starting work with a major firm, prior to the release of the results for the final exams. I even went on an assignment in Brunei. While working, I also completed the course for Reservist Officers at SAFTI School of Advanced Training for Armour and Infantry Officers. That year, I signed a waiver because I served more than 40 days as a reservist in less than 8 months (I was on the ball).
Prior to my arrival in Toronto, the AIESEC Committee at the University of Toronto had arranged for one of their members to meet me at the airport, and also rented a room for me at C$200 per month. I was supposed to work in Toronto from Sep 1981 to Apr 1982. However, I expressed my desire to continue working and studying in Toronto, and requested my manager and the firm to consider sponsoring me for a "work visa" which requires a renewal every year.
In the old days, even prior to my early years as an immigrant, I believe that a significant majority of the immigrants worked very hard, saved and try to ensure that their children will do better in terms of education, become a professional, acquiring a trade, starting a business or continuing with the family's business, etc. Those immigrants were patient to try to attain a desired standard or quality of life accomplished by their predecessors.
However, as reported in one or more major Canadian newspapers several months ago, recent immigrants (say the past 10 to 15 years) do not appear as patient, and try to attain the standard or quality of life which took older (or prior) immigrants about ten or more years to accomplish, in a few years. Many of the recent immigrants made use of credit, loans and other sources of financing to live a lifestyle which is beyond their means, which usually resulted in bankruptcy. Perhaps, it is easy to "fall into the trap resulting from the expectations gap", where credit card companies and financial institutions "marketed" pre-approved credit cards, pre-approved lines of credit, low interest rates for the first several months, 5% down payment to purchase residential real property, or no money down, etc. One other individual in my profession indicated that if money is the root of all problems, credit cards would be the fertilizer.
Although I started at the bottom twice, when I was articling as a CA student, and after qualifying as a CA, I articled again to be an insolvency practitioner. Prior to articling as a CA student, the Institute made me write the GMAT, pass an English test (which I believe was an insult, because my English is above average), and take three courses (Cdn income tax, Advanced Accounting [which I do not believe I need to do, as I have passed all my exams], and Business Law [which the prof said I do not have to attend class, but take the mid term and final exams, because I have completed several law courses, by that time). After I obtained my CA, I continued to work hard, and had to study and work on my assignments for bankruptcy and insolvency one weekend, and assignments for valuation the next weekend from autumn to spring for several years. I rented a room at $200 per month for several years, and then $500 per month for room and board at another family, to save time and money for a sizeable downpayment for my residential real property. Perhaps, I took a longer route, but I had a good foundation.