【字幕】坦尚尼亞國際生分享加拿大的成功路程！

Hello everyone, welcome back. This is James. Today I'm very happy to hang out with this buddy. I call him buddy. Well, he used to be student and now we actually worked together before and then today he's wearing very fancy because he just Well, okay, I let you to introduce yourself first. Okay. >> My name is Marcel. Uh I'm a student at the U of M. I used to be a student under James at the ICM. also worked for ICM alongside James. And today I'm dressed so fancy because I'm attending a graduation >> for for my sister Mercy. She's graduating from mechanical engineering. Very proud of her. >> Yeah. >> Today I when I was there I was talking with Bakar Bakar and then we both there right I was talking no racism no discrimination but for engineer faculty there way less African students. Oh, >> I don't know if you noticed that. Like the other day we were there in in arts in other faculty, >> they're very mixed. You hardly even see white people in teams. I'm not joking. But but today like >> majority are white, >> very few Asian and then even fewer African. >> Notice they're more whites today. >> But there I usually notice there are less females in engineering >> also. Yes. Yes. Yeah. I I guess different faculty just have different dynamic in that way, right? >> Yeah. Well, I was not I was not I was not surprised when I saw the white guy win the gold >> gold award for the mechanical engineering. Then there was a lady who won the education. So, yeah, that kind of like explains it. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, today we're not talking about discrimination. >> But yeah, talking about the gold medal >> when Angela missed. Okay. when she was graduating from education, she won back the gold medal too. She's phenomenal. She's that good. Yeah. She's a >> very Yeah, she's very hard worker. Yeah. In in academic way, she's very good. And then she she was and then she finished master also in education. She's also number one in her in her class. Yeah. >> How did she fall for you though? >> Yeah, I know, right? She just so smart. Find this perfect guy. >> Oh, no. You're far from that guy. >> Marcel and I. Okay. I met Marcel a long time ago and I really like this guy. Hey, where are you from? You didn't see where you from. >> Oh, I am from Tanzania. I moved in Canada in October 2022 and I've been here ever since. Never went back. >> Oh, yeah. >> It's been 3 years. >> Yeah. And probably should mention I'll probably go back home when I'm about to marry cuz I come from a part of a continent where you got to marry back home. Oh, >> so your plan is not going back until you get married. >> Yeah, until I get married. Until I get a partner to have my wedding in Tanzania. >> Okay. Okay. Tanzania. There are some Tanzania students. I I >> Do you have a group of people from Tanzania? >> Yeah, we do actually in all Manitoba like probably 100 students. Yeah. >> Okay, great. And then Okay, I'm going to have lots of questions for you. Make it short. >> Why Canada? >> Cuz my sister went here. >> Okay. Because Yeah. very obvious. And then do you like it? >> I love Canada. Uh people are very nice and uh it is far from home. So for the first time I felt like an adult. I had to plan my whole schedule and everything. And I love North America in general. I feel like it's uh it's the best part of the world in many things. But I love Canada compared to the states because uh I don't like the politics there and just >> I'm glad. >> Yeah. I don't like the politics there and I think safety is a big issue there. So yeah, that's why I prefer Canada. >> Yeah. How about Europe? >> Uh Europe um >> I don't know. I just feel like Well, I know it's not generally more expensive than North America, but >> Oh, yeah. >> most big cities are more expensive than Winnipeg. >> Yeah. So before you moved here, did you hear a lot of Canadian things from your sister? >> Oh, yeah, I do. I mean, I I did hear some some things like how Canadians are nice, but how she was so lonely? That was >> uh kind of weird concept to me because everyone was so nice. How can you be so lonely? >> Yeah. But I guess white people thing or I think in North America everybody minds their own business and but yeah when you meet when when you meet or when you interact someone holds the door for you or someone says good morning how are you doing and all that someone lets you go through the stop sign and pauses for a bit. So yeah I think people are nice but not but at the same time people mind their own business. So when you hear stuff like people are nice, don't expect them to like uh bring you food when it's Eid or uh >> Mhm. >> or invite you over in Christmas. So there's that. >> Yeah. >> So interesting. That's why I like to interview different students. I talked with a Singaporean student or who is from Singapore. >> He thinks in Singapore people are too cold but people here are very friendly. >> Yeah. >> So like your sister feel like she's lonely sometimes. You know, different people from different background will have different perspective about the overseas life. >> Yeah. And I remember you mentioned once that you'll never lock eyes with someone in a stranger like in China and they they'd smile at you. That would never happen. >> Yeah. But here it's very common like someone would smile at you if you look at them for too long. >> Yeah. So you you here you're here for over two three years already. >> If it's this question can be big but you you don't have to give me exactly the answer. Tanzania your hometown home country compared to Canada which one is better if you have to say >> okay I'd say Canada is better in many things >> except the food >> we all fall for >> except the food but everything else Tanzania is better I mean I mean Canada is better sorry I mean >> Canada is better >> except except the food >> everything else Canada is better >> okay why why why you think like that way like people People from Tanzania see you say that but think you betray your country. So why? >> Well, I did say I'm a student at the U of M. Before I moved to ICM, uh I was I studied for 3 months at a university back home. >> Like the smallest class was probably filled with 200 students. >> Wow. >> And the instructor had no microphones or whatsoever. >> And even the assessment was very poor. And that's the university level. when you go down to high school, secondary, primary, it's even worse. >> Oh, >> yeah. So, the education sucks over there. And I was I was telling someone the other day who studied high school here in Canada. And the first question he asked me, "Did you study in North Korea?" >> Cuz I told him that we used to wake up at 4. We used to uh we used to get punished, do push-ups, get hit. But I mean, all these are very absurd concepts. If you >> Oh, king. is also in in Tanzania. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Is Tanzania a Muslim country? >> No, it's not. It's it's kind of mixed. There's Muslims and Christians. >> Okay. >> Yeah. It's kind of 50/50. >> Okay. Wow. I didn't know that before. >> Yeah. But also even health-wise. I know here health is like very expensive. Also, sometimes I've had complaints people have to wait too long to get a surgery and all that. M >> it's the same in my country except it's a bit cheaper >> and few doctors, not enough facilities, not enough beds and all that. >> So yeah, we have our downsides to but you know home is home, you know. >> Yeah, of course. Of course. >> The best part about Tanzania, I'd say is my family. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And uh yeah, the friends. >> Do you from a very Are you from a big family? >> I'm from a family of six. Uh like your siblings? No, I have three siblings. Okay. >> But I I should say this, most African households, we live as an extended family. So it's very common to live with your cousins and with your aunts and you their uncles. >> At one point, like I remember in one Christmas there were 31 people in a four bedroomedroom house. >> Oh wow. 31 people. >> 31 people. >> So yeah, that's very common in Africa. >> Wow. That's very cool. Extended family. >> Okay. So another question about your community. So you live in a community that with lots of families, uh, siblings or cousins, but do you like consider each other very tight as like like in Chinese culture, we call your brothers? Like my cousin, it's my brother too. >> Do you think that way or you still think he's your cousin, not your brother, not your sibling? >> He like most of my cousins have grown up at my household. Like we've grown up together. Like I don't even call them cousins. I call them my brothers or Yeah, same thing. So >> that's that's the way it is for us. So we just grew up together and we grew up as siblings. Now we know that this is my blood brother, this is my cousin and all that. >> That's why your sister feel lonely because she's away from a big family. she's away from a big family and then you come here and the interaction is a bit different and uh you try to cling more to the people that look like you or eat like you >> and when you're exposed to this kind of environment it's kind of hard but you realize most people are lonely >> so most people are also craving this connections. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So when you start when you start making friends you start you know like getting used to the environment surrounding you. >> Okay. So so far you are in engineer right? So you're very smart student. I really >> you are. And then >> I try. >> You try. Okay. Good. Nice job. Good try. Yeah. So do you think you had some very hard time academically? >> I remember in my first year >> Yeah. >> Um in ICM I did a programming course before I even came to Canada. I was still taking the course online. >> It was so hard. It was the first time I did programming. Mhm. >> So I remember that instructor was also very very tough on us. >> It's okay. Don't worry. >> You mean you can join the company if you want? >> Okay. >> Yeah. So uh it was very hard. I remember I wanted to withdraw from the course but somehow I was only taking three courses. So I could not withdraw from the course. >> So I remember that was probably the last time I cried. I remember my father told me you know something. >> You cried? Yeah. >> Yeah. That was the last time I cried. It was so so hard. I used to stay up for hours trying to figure out what is the mistake in this chord. If you if you've programmed, you probably know about this. It's very hard to find a mistake. It's very hard to make a code work if there's already something wrong in it. >> So, yeah, my dad told me some things don't have a reverse gear. So, you just got to keep driving and whatever whatever happens happens. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, I got a good grade out of it at the end. But, yeah, it was very very tough. So I can understand that the only time you cried is because of academic reasons, >> not >> not because you are homesick or anything else. >> No, not really. Not really. No. >> Well, that's interesting because a lot of students they they cry because they miss home. They they like they are far away from family and you're from a big family. But you you didn't feel like that. >> Well, I feel only two at times. Well, I miss my friends at times. M >> I miss, you know, >> sometimes you feel like, oh, these people are just my class friends, and you move out of class, somebody will walk past you and be like, oh, my friends back home will never do that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, sometimes I feel like that, but no, I I've never gotten to the point of crying. No. Okay. >> Yeah. I'm a tough cookie. >> Cookie, sweet or or salty. >> Okay. Great. Great. So, okay. >> Do you think you learned Canadian culture pretty much? Do you do like are you do you feel comfortable living here and not ac not not in classroom not on campus off campus do you think your life right now you are pretty >> I would say yes and no uh the null part is I still don't drink coffee >> coffee is not the winter yeah no >> what what do you guys drink >> probably tea >> tea okay >> yeah most of the times we just don't drink anything probably just bread and juice or something >> so Yeah, I don't drink coffee. Winters are still very tough for me. I I've never gotten used of the winters and uh yeah, >> I think most of the African students will feel winter. >> Yeah, I struggle with winter. It's very it's very hard on >> You didn't see snow before you came to Canada, right? >> No, I've never seen snow in my life. >> So, it's been 3 years. Do you like snow? >> H Well, the first day it snows a bit, then after that I hate this. I love the first snowfall, but after that it gets cold. My my my my my toes goes numb. My ears goes numb. I can feel my fingers. Yeah, I hate that. >> I interviewed another student from Cameroon. He told me he he worked outdoor for 8 hours. >> Okay. >> When it was minus 20 something, he got a fro frost bite very badly. He went to see the doctor even. >> Wow. Okay. Yeah. So, that's another thing about Canada. You got to, you know, school work, go back home. School work, go back home. You got to do what you got to do to survive. M. >> So yeah, we've done some very weird jobs as well before we got to this point. >> Yeah. So yeah. >> Okay. >> That's one thing. >> So you were talking about Canada is all good but not the food. >> What is your favorite food back home? >> Chapati. >> Chapati. What is chapati? >> Chapati is like Indian roti but with modifications. >> Sorry. Indian roti. >> Roti. >> Roti. Like the the the pancake thing like >> Yeah. Indian pancake but with some modifications. >> Okay. >> But it's very close. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Okay. You don't have that here. >> We don't. No. >> Can you make yourself? >> Well, I can't make it as good as my mom did. >> Of course. >> But I mean, I try. I try. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Was it hard for you to get a visa here? >> It was very hard. I was actually rejected the first time I applied and that's why I had to start my classes online. But then I applied the second time and I got it. >> Yeah. So, I came. >> Okay. So, do you think your parents or other siblings will come here to visit you? >> Oh, yeah. Hopefully my mom and my dad uh probably will come for my graduation. Fingers crossed. >> Yeah, we got to get that money to buy the tickets. It's almost 2K. >> It's very expensive. >> Very expensive. >> Yeah. Okay. What does your What do your parents do back home? >> Uh my mom is a computer technician and my dad is a civil servant. >> Oh, okay. >> He works for the >> Okay. >> He works for the CRA equivalent of in Tanzania. Like it's called a TRA. >> Okay. Okay. Good. Good. Good. So, here you feel okay. Except drinking coffee, do you do you feel comfortable living in a Canadian culture environment? >> Oh, yeah. I I love I mean I love how everyone is nice and >> uh someone will not pull a gun on you just because just because you you're having a road rage or something like that or something silly like it's it's very it's very it's very good. I feel like the environment is very safe and it's very easy to make friends and I love the old folks here. They're very very nice. I love that people. >> Yeah, I love those folks here. They're very very very nice. >> I don't know. I don't know. Probably because I'm black, but sometimes uh when I when I'm working, they always want to, you know, want to say something or uh I don't see many of you around here. This is the first time. They always notice me. They always notice when when I >> What do you work right now? >> I I work at a Concord. It's a construction company. >> Okay. There are not many African people working there. Okay. So you are the superstar there. >> I wouldn't say that but I'm easily noticeable. It's a good thing. >> And then Marcel is very taught. >> Oh yeah. >> Yeah. Can Can you dunk? >> Uh no. I don't play basketball unfortunately. Yeah. I'm a I'm I'm a boring guy. >> Okay. You're boring guy. You you're engineer. You should be stabilized. Yeah. >> Okay. So you feel comfortable living here. >> Yeah. >> What is the best part of the culture? you think except you said friendly, you said those. But what's the best part? >> Well, I don't know if I know the answer to that. >> Okay. So, for example, before I was talking with other student, they were saying and they care about human rights. They care about people being equal. Like there are lots of things Canadian people like what do you think? like anything you think this is the thing I think we we all need to fall for this value you know like like human rights like you know >> uh nothing really comes to mind except how nice everybody is and how >> uh how we're so like everybody comes together in times like this like I see how uh the the things that are happening right now especially with the wildfires >> wild how you know the community just comes together to help those in need. >> It's uh it's amazing to me >> if that happened in Africa, I wouldn't be surprised if >> people slept outside or in camps. >> Yeah. >> You know, that's M okay's hometown, right? >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. >> I didn't know. >> Yeah, we we just had a lot of friends like came to Winnipeg from because the fire. Yeah. >> Mhm. But yeah, people are helping, right? People are very I think Canada is very community- based. >> Yeah. >> Right. People really friendly helping each other. That's pretty good. >> Okay. So is English your first language? >> No, it is not. You probably can tell. Swahili is my first language. >> Your your your language English is very strong. What is your first language? >> Swahili is my first language. If you ever had Akuna Matata, that's Swahili. Simba. That's Swahili. >> What's Simba? >> Simba. Lion. >> Lion King. >> Yeah. Lion King. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. Simba is >> literally translates to lion. >> Oh, okay. That's your language. >> Yeah, that's my language. >> Sorry. What's the name of the language? >> Swahili. >> Swahili. Yeah, >> it's only from Tanzania or from one region. >> I guess it's from the region like people in Kenya speak Swahili, people in Uganda, some people in Uganda speak Swahili, some people in Congo. Like I know most countries are Tanzania has the most Swahili speakers, then Kenya, then Congo. >> Okay. >> But also some people in Rwanda and Uganda speak Swahili. >> Okay. So where did you learn English? Well, uh, some schools, I should mention this, some schools back home, like, uh, primary schools, they're taught in >> Swahili, but some schools are taught in English. So, I've studied in English, like from primary all the way to >> Do you have to choose that or you just automatically? >> No, you have to choose that because you have to pay for the schools. All public schools in primary are taught in Swahili. Oh, >> okay. Yeah. So, >> so you went to a p you went to a private school? >> Yeah, I went to a private school. >> Okay. Uh don't mean to throw a shed to any public schools in Tanzania, but uh they're not the best. They're not the best. >> Okay. Okay. Sure. Good to know about that. I don't know anything about Tanzania to be honest with you. >> I I know a lot of African countries because of football, soccer. >> Oh, okay. >> But but Tanzania is not very strong than that, right? >> No. No, it's not. >> So, what is the number one thing in Tanzania if what's the what's the landmark or say? I would say maybe tourism. >> Tourism. >> Kilimanjaro. Zanzibar. >> What's that? >> Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. >> Oh, Kim. Oh, yeah. >> Oh, that's Inia. >> Yeah. >> Oh, okay. So, yeah, that's one thing that gets all the tourists. >> Okay. Okay. In the country. >> But also, Zanzibar is like an island. >> Okay. >> It has the it's a city that the most tourists in East Africa. >> So, it's East Yeah. East Africa. East Africa. >> Okay. Now, I understand where where the country is. If you talk because in Chinese we call chili malo. So when you say chili Oh >> chili malaro. Okay. >> Yeah. We translate just close to the sound, right? >> Oh yeah. >> Okay. >> And I think it's the third tallest mountain in the world. >> Yeah. Yeah. One of the tallest and a lot of people go there just to climb to the >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's very cool. Okay. Okay. Now I have another thing on my bucket list. Go to your country to see the mountain at least. Yeah. Okay. So we talk about lot of things about Canada, the culture, everything. So if let's say I'm I'm your back home friend. I'm just asking, hey Marcel, how is your life in Canada? What's the do you have any like what's the fun story? Do you have any fun story so far or awkward story? Anything? >> Ah, let me >> like you got lost in the city or >> Oh yeah, it happened a lot. That happened a lot. So when I came to Canada, actually I stayed for over a year without having a Canadian number. >> Yes. Canadian. I don't know. I just felt like it wasn't important and I and cuz I didn't have a job and I felt like I did save some money. >> Yeah. I wanted to save some money. >> So I didn't have a Canadian number so I would get lost a lot of times cuz I didn't have internet when I went out. >> So that happened a lot of times. I had to Uber home and Yeah, that was tough. That was >> It cost you more money. >> Cost you more money. So that was very very very tough. >> Okay. >> But yeah uh another weird story. No >> no >> no I can't think of any >> any anything happened in winter like first day? >> Oh I'll tell you this. >> So one time I was in downtown and someone >> like uh one of the homeless people I don't know if that's appropriate name to say it robbed a a lady right in front of me. >> Mhm. >> So I had to chest down that guy. Mhm. >> And I chested him down till he took me, he led me into like a corner of a building, then pulled a knife on me and I said, "Move any closer and I'm going to stab you." >> So that's one thing about Winnipeg. >> So you were trying to help that lady. You chased that guy. >> Yeah, I chased that guy and I got a knife pulled on me. So that's when I said, "Okay, you can have the phone. You can have the wallet." Yeah. So I went back and I told the lady, "Yeah, that's that." >> Yeah. >> So I called the cops and Yeah. I had to give statements >> and yeah for the >> at least you were trying to help. I'm very glad you didn't try to fight with him. That's that's smart. You know it doesn't worth it. You know your your safety your life is number one. >> I got to I got to build my mom a house. Got to buy my father a car. >> That's your goal. >> You got a lot to do. >> Okay. Okay. How about your sister? >> Ah yeah. Well, she'll make her own money. >> Okay. >> She'll make her own money. >> Okay. Any good friends in Canada now? Oh, I made a lot of good friends. Uh, >> are they African? >> Well, some of them are, but most of them are Indians and >> a few Canadian friends. >> Okay. Okay. So, you are happy with your circle. >> Yeah. I wish I make more uh I don't know if I can say female friends. >> Female friends. >> You didn't hear that. >> Okay. So, what do you do after class usually? Uh well right now I work and my work is very very intensive, very very uh demanding physically cuz I have to be outside. Uh so usually after I go home I usually just relax and Yeah. >> Mhm. >> and have my cup of tea and have my food and just go to sleep. Yeah. >> Okay. So other than what I should say that other than work and study any any other things you do to kill >> Oh, I occasionally go to roller skating. Roller skating. >> Yeah, I'm very good at roller skating. And >> very good. What do you mean very good? Like you were young, you were trained like that. >> No, I have been roller skating for uh maybe 5 and a half years. >> Oh wow. >> Yeah. >> Why? Like >> I just started doing it back home and I came here and I found one place Willies downtown. They are very cheap. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So I said, "Okay, I'm going to be going there." >> So who are you going with? Just by yourself? You go with your friends? >> I usually go with my sister. >> Okay. >> Yeah. She's not as good as me, just to put that across. But yeah, yeah, we go together sometimes. Sometimes I have to go alone. >> Okay. How tall is your sister? I'm curious. >> Oh, she's 5'7, I believe. >> She's she's tall in in in woman. >> Okay. She's >> 5'7 is tall in woman, I think. >> Well, but she's short compared to me. >> Yeah, of course. You you're just super tall. Yeah. Okay. So if you have to give some advice for the future international students, >> what are you gonna what's the best advice you want to give them? >> Go out there. Don't be reserved. Don't uh don't try to solve this thing by your own. Like try to find people, try to make friends, try to look for support. Trust me, there are people just like you. Uh there are people in who've been through stuff that you've been through that you're going through right now who are more than willing to hold your hand. So yeah and you can't do this international life together. I mean we you yourself you can't do it yourself. You have to do it together. So >> try to find friends in school. You got to you got to find friends to help you in academics. You won't know everything. You won't understand everything that the the professor >> teaches. You want even in work you need connections. The job I have now is because of a friend I knew in class. So I mean well I had to I had I still had to interview but I mean I got that opportunity. I learned about that opportunity because of a friend I had in class. So >> yeah you got a >> a lot of good things. I've worked in ICM cuz I was their peer educator. So yeah and I was the peer educator because I knew Hamza from one of the events. So yeah, >> one thing leads to another, but the first thing starts with getting yourself out there. When you get yourself out there, you you know, expose yourself to all these good situations and yeah, that's when the magic happens. >> Magic happens. Awesome. The magic happens. Awesome. Awesome. So >> see something in your native language because maybe your parents will watch this. Maybe your friends can see that speak your Sorry, what's the name of this? Swahili. Spe something. Yeah. Uh, I'm I'm losing my my native language now. Well, what I was saying was I mean, well, we all need to love more and we all need to live in a community. Yeah, thank you very much for today. Yeah, I've been wanting to interview him for a long time and he said, "Okay, let me think about this." Yeah, I'm very happy that I'm very glad that you are here today, you know. Okay. So, >> so I wish you the best. I think you are smart. You are educator. You you cannot deny that you are a smart person. I hope you have a great beautiful future in Canada. And one more thing I'm going to tell you, >> be a good student, be a good citizen, make this country better. That's all our goal. >> I'll try my best. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I'll try. >> Thank you very much. >> Shia. Okay. Okay. Bye everyone. [Music] [Music] [Music]