It was their love of travel that prompted Ruth Jackie Deboh N’Guessan and Christ Silvere N’Guessan to leave Côte d’Ivoire! Passionate about discovering new places, they were so captivated by the Canadian landscape that they decided to settle there with their young family, including their son Kabeti Prince Eli Shamma N’Guessan. This emotional decision was supported by several rational considerations that would enable them to enjoy a better quality of life for the entire family.
Two years of reflection
Ruth and Christ spent about two years thinking about the move. They consulted numerous online resources, primarily TikTok videos about Canada. The landscapes, peace, and tranquillity charmed the couple, who were looking for a place where they could settle down and reflect. Captivated, they expanded their search to discover the incredible opportunities that would be available to both them and their child. The decision was difficult to make, considering everything they would have to leave behind to start this new life. Although it seemed like a journey, the process was also a bit more complex, but it was well worth it! Ruth and Christ were looking for better living conditions, but above all, a learning and development environment that was better suited to their son Shamma, and they felt that they would find this in Canada.
First, you need a place to live and a job!
No sooner had they arrived in Montreal than they hit the road for Trois-Rivières! They had made up their minds a long time ago. Big cities with lots of people were not part of their vision for their new life! After researching possible cities and hearing Jacynthe, the regionalization project manager for the Mauricie region, paint a glowing picture of Trois-Rivières, they knew where they wanted to go. With Jacynthe’s help, Ruth and Christ rented an Airbnb for a week, which they thought would be enough time to find permanent housing. As the week progressed, they realized it was going to be more complicated than they had anticipated. They wandered from house to house throughout the Mauricie region, unable to unpack their bags and unsure where they would be staying for the next few days. This was the most challenging period of their journey, especially when they thought back to little Shamma, who was experiencing a lot of emotions with all the changes. This adventure led to a few moments of discouragement, with Ruth telling Christ that she wanted to go back home! Fortunately, this period didn’t last long and is now one of the anecdotes that make the couple smile when they look back on their adventure. Once they found a place to live, they had to find jobs. Ruth was a midwife and Christ was a nurse in their home country, so it took them two months to find work, two months of actively searching every day, both online and in person. They each found a job as a patient care attendant at the same place! Now well integrated and settled, they are currently in the process of having their qualifications recognized so they can become nurses.
French in common, different cultures
After the challenges of finding housing and employment, some invited themselves into the integration process! Family members faced a few challenges and cultural learning experiences, mainly related to the language barrier. It must be said that, although they shared the French language with their new surroundings, the Quebecois accent, expressions, and jokes took a while to become familiar with. This state of constant vigilance and attention was very demanding for all of them. A series of everyday tasks was also part of the learning process, including using maps, navigating bus routes, and operating various household appliances. Finally, travelling with nine suitcases was complicated, to say the least! However, the family was able to count on the invaluable help of Jacynthe. They also benefited from the support of the Trois-Rivières Evangelical Baptist Church community, which helped them furnish their home. It just goes to show that settling in a community is invaluable!
The essentials: Courage and patience
Looking back, Ruth and Christ believe that courage and patience are essential to get through this process. Leaving everything behind, rediscovering everything, and learning everything is, in their opinion, a decision that requires strength and willpower. They also believe that you have to be patient as you go through the different stages, which don’t always happen in the order or at the speed you would like. Waiting can be a major source of stress if you’re not sufficiently prepared for it. In their opinion, the key to a successful immigration process is good financial preparation, a clear plan, and well-defined goals. This is what makes the project concrete and different from tourism.
Ruth and Christ look back on this adventure with pride and happiness. It has highlighted Ruth’s strength of spirit in Christ’s eyes and the strength of their union for both of them. Between their career plans, they are pursuing various goals, such as buying a property and Ruth getting her driver’s license. The family celebrates each step of this journey as an achievement and gets a little closer each time to feeling at home.
Thank you for sharing this amazing story!
