My Experience in Canada

by Mohamed Ali Al Shabaan

Canada.. WOW! A simple three lettered word to distinguish my absolutely breathtaking experience, but, at the same time, I find it quite unjust to limit such an embracing, soul enhancing event to the mere literature of this article. I might have not been the most qualified person to express one’s feelings when it comes to studying abroad, living away from your family, country, community, and culture several months back. But, now, and after Canada, I can assure you this experience will make you the new Einstein when it comes to these matters.

Although well-traveled, never before have I ridden a plane without my parents; it was the experience that overpowered my dependence and puerility. The way there, a total of more than eighteen hours in the air, was an adventure itself, not to mention the massive airports on our stopovers, the different people, various accents, and depressingly HUGE queues.

Setting foot in the airport in Winnipeg, voted the worst city in Canada, was the fulfillment of over a year’s long, distant dream. All the speculations about it being a rather dull place compared to the “exciting” rest of Canada, did not affect me one bit; I was glad to be there and more than ready to embark on my two-month journey. What struck me, from the very moment we landed, was the extremely amiable nature of the people there. Never have I been to a place where the terms, “please”, “thank you”, and “may I” were so overused!! I must’ve heard them over a thousand times on my first day there alone!

After I met my supervisor in the airport, he drove us to our accommodation. Now THAT was a big disappointment. My room, more of a cubicle, was a quarter the size of the room I have here in Bahrain. I actually found difficulty bringing my luggage in! The door was too small. Thankfully though, that cubicle had a bed, sequestered at one corner, but it was something to sleep on. Of course I also had the tiny dressing table, the little closet, the flickering light bulb, and not to forget my lovely sink. However, the room was the least of my worries; my floor had total of 15 rooms, with only one bathroom and one shower to share!! That just devastated me. But I kept my spirits up, and made my toilet visits strictly at nighttime when everyone else was asleep and there wasn’t much demand on the service.

Coming from a relatively lab-free environment, you can imagine my surprise when I walked into the fully equipped research lab at the university center. I couldn’t stop gazing for at least the first five minutes. Following my inexplicable shock, I was even further stormed upon whilst discussing my research proposal. Terms like “FBS”, “autoclave”, “hemocytometer”, “immunocytochemical staining” and many more were all French to me. I had never heard of, worked with, or experimented with any of these procedures before, and my supervisor was using them from day 1!! You can guess what my morale was like after that. Fortunately though, being a fresh graduate of the Cardiac and Respiratory unit, I had excellent theoretical knowledge concerning my proposal, so good, in fact, that it considerably impressed the lab staff, who were willing to help me every step on the way.

Days went by, and one procedure was tackled after the other, and in a period of two months I mastered more than 17 lab techniques, and received very pleasing results for my project proposal. The working environment I’ve experienced was just ‘different’. I could not distinguish between work and fun while I was in the lab. During my period there, I fell in love with research; it is extremely inspiring in many different ways. In my attempt to explain such passion, research is the only means by which you speculate, you dig up, you try, and then you evaluate; it all roams around you, your creativity, and your efforts. That feeling you get when a cell shows positive to a certain antibody sensitizing test, or to an immunocytochemical stain is just incomprehensibly indispensable.

Other than the ‘educational’ aspect of what I have gained out of this trip, I have considerably evolved on the personal level. Before I went to Canada, I could hardly make a cup of tea. I never made my bed, and never really knew how my clothes were being washed, dried, and ironed, and how my food was being cooked. I was waited on hand and foot. However, following two independent months in Canada, I can safely say, I can neatly tidy up my own bed now! Perhaps my cooking skills haven’t germinated that much, but, now, I can make delicious pot noodles, which is an improvement, considering my case! To top all that up, I also met a whole lot of people, from different places and different backgrounds. I met individuals that are so good-natured in a way that I cannot explain, persons that are extremely placid, and people who basically enjoy life.

Being home now, and among my family and friends, I have the urge to get up and shout that I recommend this program without reservation! Not only does it grant you the opportunity to experience professional researching at a young age, but it also helps in your mental and behavioral evolution. Canada was truly a ‘WOW’ experience. I can’t wait to go back this summer and do it all again