CC4C英文演讲花絮

My Canada, My Home

作者： Elsa Chen

When I was six, I immigrated to Canada with my family. It was a new life in a new country, and everything seemed so different, so strange. I was curious about the things that today seem to be a part of my daily life. My time in Canada made me feel accepted and loved from all those around me.

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Everything was so dark and quiet when I opened my eyes. The sun was still hiding and the birds were still sleeping. I jumped off my bed, excited but also nervous for this special day. As my parents drove me to my new school, I looked at the big yellow bus coming from afar curiously, 

“This is a school bus, you’re going to ride it to school every day.” My mother said to me, as though she knew exactly what I was thinking.

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I got out of the car, holding tightly onto my parents as we walked into the crowd. The teachers listened patiently and politely as my parents tried to communicate in English, while I was put in a line with other children my age. As we were led to our classroom, my mind was racing like a rollercoaster “What should I do if I don’t understand? Would I be able to make any friends? Will I fail my classes?”

Before I could realize, I was already inside the classroom. Everyone sat down beside their friends, the loud chatters ringing around my ears as I sat in the corner, quietly. The teacher clapped her hands and the room became soundless. I tried to understand the loud, but blurry voices of this foreign tongue, projected around the classroom, but nothing seemed to make sense. Notebooks were soon handed out, and everyone raised their pencils to start writing. I sat there, helplessly, not knowing what to do. “Do you need help?” A girl sitting beside me asked, 

“I..don’t understand.” I muttered with the few English words I knew.

She had long, dark hair and giant, sparkling eyes like grapes. I had that sense of… similarity between us, so I gathered courage and asked “Do you speak Chinese?”

She nodded, I remember looking at her with respect and admiration as she helped me translate my work. From that day on, she was like the sun that lit up my life, we would always be seen together during and after school and became as close as family. We would teach each other the language we were best at and make new friends along the way that would last till today. Their company and support gave me a belonging in this new world. 

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Everywhere in Canada is filled with amazing memories. The moment I moved into our new house, the tiny tree sprout in my front yard grabbed my attention. It was the smallest tree around the neighbourhood, so I watched the tree sprout everyday, waiting for the moment it would be as big and beautiful as the other trees. After experiencing the laughter and screams in Canada’s Winter Wonderland, the leisure in the cottage, the scary stories and roasted marshmallows near the campfire, the views of the great Mont Tremblant, my tree started growing tender, green leaves along with the other living creature crawling out of the earth after winter. 

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The yearly Terry fox runs, the melody of the national anthem, the drops of sweat during sports, the joyfulness during volleyball and tennis tournaments, the cheers during track and field nurtured the tree into growing its tall trunk. 

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Remembering the snow angels and snowball fights in the back backyard, the movie nights with cosy blankets and hot chocolate, the excitement of finding gifts below the Christmas tree, blowing out the candles on my birthday cake, the messy house during Easter, the singing of the piano every night and the family dinner during thanksgiving. I looked at my tree again, faster than ever, the baby tree had already grown into a sturdy, beautiful maple tree, leaves of all colours bloomed on the tree and covered all those around it.

“It’s so beautiful, seeing the old leaves fall and the new leaves grow.” My mother said while admiring the tree.

“Indeed.” I said proudly

“Everything changed, didn't it?” My mom signed

“Well… nothing really changes. The fallen leaves never disappeared because they give nutrients to help the tree grow more beautiful leaves.”

Mom smiles, she knows what I mean.

It’s true, nothing really changed, I have always belonged here, and nothing really changes as long as I am home.

 

My Canada, my home. The fall maple leaves falling on the sides of Parliament hill, the pure maple syrup on a stack of pancakes and the red maple leaf on the Canadian flag.  

From this unfamiliar, distant country to a place filled with every bite of my life that I would call “home”. The people, the things and all the memories in Canada gave me confidence to become who I am today. This is why I’m standing here proudly, on this stage speaking fluent English in front of this crowd, and I will forever be grateful for all that brings me to where I am today.