Here's my story, a bit of a long one but I hope you will read. I will start out by saying that the couple's kids call me Auntie Lee and that says a lot. At first only a term of respect but as time went on we became closer and Auntie meant a lot more. Names changed of course for this story.
Sal moved across the street from us in our old home and was never there except maybe once a month. OH my, the neighbors tongues wagged. The guy just had to be up to something, his clothing was expensive, and he was always dropped off by cab.
One SOB started the rumour that this guy was running a grow house. He had seen fans blowing through a chink in the window. When I heard that from the lady next door I invited her to come with me so we could check the hydro meter.....funny it was turning ever so slow, not what you would expect from a grow house.
Eventually Sal did move in all by himself. Hubby and we introduced ourselves and he exlained that he was from Toronto, originally from Pakistan and he was a Canadian citizen but his wife and kids were still in Pakistan which is where they met. and not citizens. Both were professional people, he a university director and she a doctor.
For two years we all waited, I can tell you that it was so very hard on Sal, he would go to Pakistan once every few months but it was not the same as having his family here with him.
Have to tell you about the washing machine story. Sal came over to ask me how to wash clothes. He had not a clue as to how to even start the machine. I joked and told him with a straight face that now that he was in this country he had to learn because it was the men that did the wash. He said no, he was not going to do that, he never had before and he was not going to start now. So I said that I supposed in Pakistan that Azza had to always do the wash. No, he said, Azza no wash clothes either. The kids....another no. Who then I asked washed the clothes......the maid he said, I should have known.
Finally Azza arrived with the kids, I can't tell you who was more excited, me or Sal. Such a tiny little lady, I was scared when I hugged her she would break.
Both now jobless and relying on their savings she was dependent on me to show her around for shopping. I took her to the mall, too expensive for most things, we went to Value Village, she went crazy there shopping for the kids. I watched that she was not taken advantage of as she was not up on the currency.
One thing, people looked at us oddly.....you do not often see a white woman with a Muslim woman shopping, you could see the stares.
One day the men were out of the back porch and Azza started to cry. Seems like Sal was pressuring her to "dress like Lee" and said it would be easier on them as a family if she did not look like she just stepped off the plane.....his words, not mine.
I told her that I agreed with Sal in a way but she should dress as she felt comfortable and when she felt that she might want to change her dress code it would and should be her choice.
Finally after six months of living here Azza called me and said for us to come over, she had something important to show us.
We walked across the street, Sal was all smiles and down the staircase comes Azza, it was a darn hot day of almost 90 degrees but she was dressed like Lee.....in long jeans and a long sleeved sweater. She was not going to show toooo much skin in spite of the weather.
The couple had to work, savings do not last forever, they planned to operate a gas station. Hard to imagine going from what they had and what they were used to but it was the plan.
They had to get licensed first to be able to do the propane end in addition to the gas and variety. We went with them and the jerk who was to teach them about propane showed in his demeanor that he had no respect for Azza. I said to him that he should show a little more respect and I planned to say something to his boss. I then told him that I called my friend Azza but he should address her as Doctor Jahil as she is a qualified doctor.
Today we live in separate towns but we do keep in touch via phone and the occasional visit. They lead a busy life, the kids are all heading to professional careers. they did good in this country.
I am glad we all took the initiative to step outside race boundaries and became friends.
that I’ve had many conversations with Muslims but I’m pretty sure that Muslim people contributed much to my life.
