‘Price Fire Accounting Company’ has their office located on the 20th to 24th floor in an ultra modern, high-rise building. At 9:00 am office workers in business suits arrive one after another with ‘Starbucks’ and ‘Blends’ coffee in their hands.
Hiromi has been assigned to work for Sarah, who is an assistant to an accountant. Sarah, a brown-skinned female with an exotic face in her early 30s, speaks with an accent. She speaks a bit differently than other Canadians.
Hello, Hiromi. My name is Sarah. I am glad that you can help me. I want you to start by filing some documents. Could you please arrange the documents in this box in alphabetical order?
Sarah explains the assignment efficiently. She speaks with a smile but shows no desire to chit-chat. All the other workers in the office smile at Hiromi as well, but they also seem very busy.
Sarah leaves Hiromi to her work, but returns at lunchtime.
How are you doing? Do you have any questions? I am going out for lunch. Would you like to come with me?
Hiromi leaves the office with Sarah. Hiromi asks Sarah questions while they eat sandwiches in a food court.
How long have you been working at this company? Do you enjoy your work? I am happy I got the chance to work in a Canadian company.
Sarah, appearing more relaxed than when she was at the office, replies:
I am happy that I got a job in a Canadian company, too. I am a British born Pakistani and I immigrated to Canada 5 years ago. I got a job in this company 4 years ago. Obviously the work is not fun all the time but I feel it’s up to you whether you can succeed in this country. I think Canada is a better country than England for me in terms of the work place and life in general.
Hiromi knows Canada is a country made of immigrants, but she wasn’t expecting her own boss to be an immigrant.
England is Hiromi’s favourite country. She wonders why Sarah prefers Canada to England. She decides she’ll ask Sarah about this tomorrow over lunch.
(To be continued)