Geography Reflection

War is a really horrible thing that affects everyone not just the people in those war-torn countries. One thing I didn’t realize is how much people will have to move around. My Grandfather was apart of the war training troops over here in Canada, he had his wife and children with him and he might be in Moosejaw, SA for a month and then Kingston, ON for a year and then another town for 6 months. Having to pick up your family and move them around a lot can really put a toll on your family. It actually is amazing to think that even though families managed to stay together while never having a permanent home.

Post- Secondary Education was also something I didn't realize was so difficult to complete. It is hard to stick to your studies when there are so many factors stopping you from completing your degree and graduating. My Dad first attended a college in Boston but he got sick so he had to return home, he then went to three other Universities and Colleges to try and complete his degrees and he eventually did so but it was a long and tiring process. It can take a very long time to complete your degree a lot longer than I realized.

Seeing my families journey on the map showed me how much distance, work and money they had to put in just so they could get to where they are today. Even though my families journey may not be as difficult and drastic as other families, such as Syrian refugees. My family still had to work hard to come to Canada and learn a new language, find work, and establish something for their families and later generations.

There are many reasons why people would settle in Canada. It has a big ecosystem and vast landscapes. But it also provides a new start for people coming over from other countries. Canada being the world's 2nd largest country can accommodate for all the people coming over and has a surplus of job opportunities. Its economy is also one of the best in the world and has a stable government compared to third world countries where the economy and government are suffering. Canada also has a huge diversity of people from different ethnic backgrounds, which attracts other people from those backgrounds.

Although there are plenty of reasons to come to Canada there are obstacles for the immigrants coming. Language barriers are often a big obstacle that immigrants have to deal with. Altho English is a common language it can be difficult to pick up. Education is another obstacle. In different countries, the education in general, may not be up to par with places like Canada. Work can also be difficult to deal with because if you already have your degree in something but then immigrate to Canada you have to re-educate yourself based on the standards there. In some cases, such as with refugees, it can be hard to get to Canada and then when you get here you have nothing, and you could be seriously injured along the way and then you also have to go out and find work, food and a place to stay.