Personal Reflections: Coffee, Observations, and Idle Musings
A Walk to the Coffee Shop
Today, for the first time in a month, I decided to venture up the frozen street in my new city to the nearest coffee shop. A big, well-known Canadian chain – not Starbucks. I sat near the window, facing the street, writing in a language no one here understands. And if someone does, even better. They’ll know I’m speaking in Allah’s name.
Yes, if you’re looking at me now and understand what I’m writing, you know I’m not just an ordinary person. A messenger. A messenger drinking an extra-hot oat latte, watching people pass by on their day of rest. Their faces are hard, their movements purposeful. I wonder if they notice the Chinese woman behind the counter, taking their orders. She’s about my mother’s age, working tirelessly. What does she carry with her? What keeps her here, shift after shift?
A second woman cleans the floor nearby. Her movements are deliberate, almost demonstrative, as if she’d rather be anywhere else. A big Ford backs out of the parking lot. Fords are everywhere in Calgary. I, too, have joined the trend, a new stereotype in a new land.
Writing Soup, Not Cake
I’m writing this as it is, from beginning to end, because that’s what I’d want to read. Here and there, I scatter personal interpretations, ideas, or musings. But I know: extra care is needed in the seasoning. Writing, like cooking, mustn’t lose direction. You’re making soup, not cake. People need soup more than they need cake. In Calgary, you can live without cake. Without soup? Not so much.
Practical Tips: Adjusting to New Cultural Norms and Finding Meaning in Daily Life
- Find Your Routine in New Spaces
Exploring local coffee shops, libraries, or parks can help you feel connected to your new city. These small rituals create a sense of normalcy and offer opportunities for reflection and observation. - Observe and Engage with Local Life
Pay attention to the people around you – their habits, behaviors, and roles. Learning to appreciate these subtle cultural differences helps build understanding and connection, even when you don’t interact directly. - Take Note of Small Moments
Whether it’s sipping a latte or watching the interactions in a coffee shop, these everyday moments hold meaning. Journaling or reflecting on them can provide clarity and perspective as you adjust to a new environment. - Balance Reflection and Action
Dreaming and philosophizing are valuable, but so is action. Use your observations as a foundation to connect with your community or pursue practical goals that align with your passions. - Accept the Mundane as Part of the Journey
Life isn’t always cake – sometimes, it’s soup. Embrace the mundane tasks and routines as essential ingredients in the larger recipe of your immigration experience.
Immigration isn’t just about navigating the logistical changes; it’s about finding meaning in the ordinary. The hard faces, the long shifts, and the simple act of walking to a coffee shop – these moments shape your understanding of your new home and yourself. It’s not always about the sweetness of cake, but the sustenance of soup.
Written by Wa Alikum Salam, Immigrant.
