最近，进出公寓时，常遇到我们的公寓管理员夫妇。丈夫的样子壮实忠厚，太太则漂亮高挑。Ed说见过他们的孩子，我则没见过。
在多伦多，公寓代管公司通常会聘请一对夫妇来管理公寓内大小杂事。他们的薪水不高，不过则可免费住在公寓内的一个单位。这对夫妇看和听起来像是从中国移民来的。他们很害臊，也很忙。所以，我从来没机会和他们聊过天。回想一下，他们搬进这栋公寓工作有两年了吧。想着想着，让我想起他们之前那一对也是从中国移民过来的夫妇….
把我两年前写的有关帖子拿出来看看。原来，后来我也写了一篇后记，不知为什么却没贴出来。明天才贴那篇吧。今天，想起两年前那个笑容．．．
(写于 22.02.2007 )
刚搬进这栋公寓时，我们对这公寓的管理员没什么好感。
在加拿大（澳洲也是），租屋者未搬进房子前，有权将房子清楚检查一遍，填好一份有关的报告 （condition report） 交给公寓的代管公司以做存档。
可是，当我们做这份报告时，公寓管理员的态度非常差。不停催促我们， 也不让我们好好检查。
他大声地说：“不用检查啦！都没问题。签名吧！ 我要放工了！” 那天是星期五，才中午三点钟。
Ed一向谨慎。不好好检查，怕有什么状况，到头来要我们陪钱。
Ed说:”不如, 你先回你的办公室。给我们多十分钟, 就可以了。我们会把报告亲自拿去你的办公室交给你。”
他不肯， 要盯着我们， 继续大小声地催。
Ed被催得火了，与他吵了起来。
两个大男人吵起来，我夹在中间， 什么也做不了。
争执了一轮， 勉强检查好房子。公寓管理员气冲冲地拿了报告走了。
Ed也气冲冲地打电话给他的老板投诉他那不专业的态度。
那公寓管理员是亚洲人，像是刚移民过来的。英语说得不太灵光。
Ed气消了后，知道 如果关系不修好，对我们不利。虽然， 不是我们的错。
因为，如果房子内有什么要修理的， 就很难找他帮忙。虽然，这也是他份内的工作。
这个修好关系的责任Ed 交给我做。
他说：“你可以跟他说华语。这个地区少华人，听到华语，他一定会感到亲切。”
终于，有一天， 我们的厕所漏水， 他来修理。
他也不多说两句， 脸总是黑黑的。
修好后， 就要走了。
我用华语说：“谢谢你！”….” 你是从中国来的吗？”
他马上用英语说：“对不起！我听不懂广东话。” 说时,头只是望着地上。
我再用比较标准的华语说：“抱歉， 我说着国语（中国人称华语为国语）。”
他突然听懂了，头抬起来，脸上闪过一丝在异乡遇同乡的开心笑容， 用华语说：“对啊！我是从中国来的。你呢？”
我微微一笑，说：“我是马来西亚华侨。”
他称赞：“你的国语说得很好啊！”
临踏出门前， 他问：“小姐，如何称呼？”
我说：“叫我雪芬可以了。下雪的雪， 芬芳的芬。”
他说：“雪芬， 很好听的名字。 有什么问题再找我。 下次见！”
关门前， 我再见到那一个笑容….
待续．．．． (那一个愁容)
yeah, when you throw a smile, you will most probably gain back another..
haha….true true….maybe I don’t smile enough to the current superintendent (即公寓管理员), hence never able to create an opportunity to chat with them. Next time when I see them, I should just ‘很甜美’地笑， see if they respond
yes, that is good.
Simle is the universe language to make friend.
By the way, I found the people from china is very friendly, if you can speak their lanuage.
Even my 国语 is very very bad, but when I speak, they will laugh and be very very friendly with me
Yeah, I really like people from China too. A smile and the same language really help to breakdown the barriers.
I find the Chinese immigrants in Australia are more skilled and have more exposure to western cultures, so can adapt more to the local lifestyle. Or maybe just people I happened to meet in Australia.
Interestingly, not too sure if it is the immigration policy in Canada, or whatever the reasons, I met some Chinese immigrants who are still really struggling with the new life here. It breaks my hearts when I see that….
Canada should be hard to migrante. Even I can’t migrate Canada.
Umm….I guess with immigration it is all about 天时地利人和。So, you have tried to migrate to Canada? What factors attract you to want to come here? Just curious.
Maybe I should wrtte a post comparing between immigrating to Australia and Canada
I hear different stories about migrating to Canada – some people get it within 3 months with no hassle, some people have been waiting for 6 years !!! I simply don’t get it !!
They only recently introduced the ‘highly demanded professions’ category, so people with skills the country needed most will be processed faster. I heard in the past, all categories (like family, spouse, skilled, business, refugees etc) are processed as ‘first comes first serves’. So, it is all depend when you lodge the application, how long the queue is.
The smile or laughter is a chemistry helping people to relax and feel comfortable with 1 another, unknown distance is shorten.
Definitely, I always believe that too.
As with this Chinese couple, I find it is also the power of the same language shorten the distance. He completely loosen up himself when heard me speak in Mandarin. No more anger and unhappiness, has become extremely friendly and helpful. I think, he must miss his home country, his language, and his life so much in China, hence harbour so much anger in Canada because it was not what he expected or simply could not adapt to here….
[...] 这篇帖子是在写了那一个笑容两个月后写的 ( 2007年4月）。忘了当时为什么没贴上部落，或许是希望有一天会再见到他们，或许希望到时会听到一个好的结局吧。可是，我从此没再遇到他们…希望他们已习惯加拿大的生活… [...]
[...] 自写了那一个笑容后，我曾见过他们几次。 [...]