By Michael F. Paré, Toronto Ontario.
In my spare time out of kindness, I have hosted
adult refugees for past eight years, who stay one to three years, creating and
maintaining a safe nonjudgmental atmosphere of peace and mutual respect. I charge
no rent, but they share grocery costs and do a few household chores and have their own space. I currently have a young male 36,
who has been with me since 2014. Before
that, I had his friend same age, a hair stylist, who stayed from 2010 to 2012, he then went
back to Europe and we are still friends through Facebook.
Joe is a very quiet guy, not much
for starting conversation. His English was very bad when we first met. I could not
understand most of what he was saying but after four years with me, he speaks
almost perfect English. Sometimes a few word pronunciations elude him, but once
he learns them, they are no longer a problem. I have the satisfaction of
helping someone, as well as learning about the newcomer’s culture and language.
One of Joe’s Parkdale friends took
the above photo on July 9, 2016 on some rooftop near Queen and Roncesvalles, in
background is Lake Ontario's Humber Bay and Gardiner Expressway.
Has a
small low paying job as a drywaller sometimes working 12 hour shifts five or six days a
week with Sunday as his day off. I do not see him much, except in the evening
when he arrives home to make his supper. He has some relatives who live in
Parkdale and Uncle to two small children and loves to spoil them. It is nice to
have some companionship in my old age, and he is a fabulous cook. I
am not sure how long Joe will be with me, now in his fourth year, I do not
mind, friendship is not ownership and he can leave when he is ready. ~ MFP
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