Used happiness | Press

Lobna wondered how we celebrate Christmas here.

She arrived in the country after having fled a mutilated Syria. The war had robbed him of his brother and the hope of raising his family safely. She had taken refuge in Africa for a year, with her four children and her husband, before joining her sister, already settled in Quebec. It was 2017 and she was having her first snowy holiday season.

“I was curious about what was going on behind the doors. How did Quebecers celebrate? I didn’t want to be a foreigner, I wanted to be part of society, ”she told me.

Lobna Najar felt she had everything to learn.

At the time, she did not speak a word of French. So she quickly signed up for French courses, which she adored. They were ” [sa] first period of communication with Quebec society ”.

However, learning the language – which the 39-year-old woman now handles beautifully – was not enough to sustain her curiosity. “I had a lot of questions in my head,” she recalls. I did not understand the Canadian political system or the details of history! ”

In 2019, Lobna went to the Cinémathèque to see a documentary about three Syrian women. She met Rafaëlle Sinave there, then president of the board of directors of Singa Quebec, an organization that promotes meetings between refugees and citizens.

“I was brave! I asked him where I could find someone to speak French with and learn about Quebec history. Immediately, she told me: “It’s Jocelyne Lavoie for you.” ”

* * *

Jocelyne Lavoie has long taught social integration at CEGEP. However, she never experienced the reality of immigrants. “I wondered what it meant, in concrete terms, to arrive in a new country,” she told me.

Jocelyne also wanted to pass on her passion for the arts and Quebec heritage. She therefore registered with the Singa Quebec matchmaking bank.

When she met Lobna, she immediately knew she had found her dream candidate.

“We conversed very naturally around dinner,” she recalls. In his interests, his liveliness and his enthusiasm, we felt a real desire to be part of Quebec society. ”

Perfect match. Realized… March 10, 2020.

No choice, the women have entered into a virtual relationship.

Twice a week, they met by videoconference. The first three sessions focused on the skills of the different levels of government – with tables created by Jocelyne to back it up! Then followed the British Conquest, the struggle to save French (from the revolt of the patriots to the election of the Parti Québécois), referendums, the legacy of the Quiet Revolution and… Gabrielle Roy.

“We read Used happiness together, Jocelyne explains to me. It allowed us to discuss the war, Saint-Henri, Westmount, life at the time and conscription. Lobna adored Gabrielle Roy. ”

She also adored Jocelyne, whom she now calls her “twin”.

“She is a wonderful woman, intelligent and full of knowledge! Plus, she was a social work teacher and that’s the program I’ve been dreaming of ever since I arrived. I am in the process of finishing my certificate in preparatory year to follow this program. I hope to be accepted and I am working very hard on it! Lobna asks me, his gaze determined.

* * *

Although a twinning formally lasts six months, it has been almost two years that the women meet.

“Now we love each other,” Jocelyne simply sums up.

“Having Jocelyne in my life gives me strength”, slips Lobna for her part.

Thanks to Singa Quebec, Lobna found a colleague. Support that made all the difference for her. To the point where the mother of the family now works for the organization! She is assigned to mobilization for the twinning program.

“It’s fascinating, because we create twinnings on the basis of common interests, which is a bit superficial… However, they often turn into a very deep relationship, into a friendship that we could not do without. ”

If Lobna has no difficulty recruiting newcomers, she admits that it is more difficult to rally Quebec citizens ready to get involved in the adventure. It’s not for lack of interest, in his opinion. Rather, it is because we do not know enough about this program. She therefore intends to make it shine …

And did you finally find an answer to your original question, Lobna?

She laughs.

“Finally, in Quebec, we celebrate like everywhere else! We meet as a family. At home, we mixed Christmas and our Muslim holidays! It’s made my favorite celebration… We talk with our loved ones in Syria, we do activities with the children and I invite friends from all backgrounds to eat at home. I cook a turkey and the rest is Syrian cuisine! ”

Then, she obviously takes advantage of the holidays to find her precious twin.

On the menu this year: a visit to the Museum of the Augustines Monastery in Quebec City, where Jocelyne has recently become a guide.

Because Lobna still has plenty of questions about our story.

And, above all, an overflowing passion for his adopted culture.