Dafina
We came to survive. Our children are here to build. That is the whole story in one sentence.
My husband and I arrived from Tetovo more than twenty years ago, part of an earlier wave. We worked long hours in jobs far below our education because that is what the moment demanded.
My daughter is now finishing her master’s degree at a Canadian university. She speaks Albanian at home and writes essays in English about identity and belonging. She takes for granted opportunities we could only dream of.
That is what this new generation is: educated, confident, professional, and unafraid to be visibly Albanian and fully Canadian at once. I am proud, and sometimes a little amazed at how far one generation can travel.
Stories reflect the personal experiences of community members and are shared with their consent. They are not immigration advice. For your own case, consult official Government of Canada resources or a licensed representative.