Transition to retirement

February 15 is Canada Flag Day. The Canadians are proud of their flag with a red Maple leaf. The Canadian Maple leaf is a respected symbol throughout the world. It stands for the values which the world associates with Canada; respect for human rights, diversity, and peace.

Vancouver International Airport is already preparing for the arrival of the first Airbus A380 super jumbo passenger jet, which can carry up to 800 passengers. This means there will be a bigger gate area and larger holding rooms. The new gates will be ready for 2007, in time for the initial flights of A380 in spring 2006 with Los Angeles International Airport a likely inaugural destination.

Eleven airlines, including Singapore, Korean Air, Lufthansa and Air France ordered the $250 million US a piece. At this point, none of the companies that serve Vancouver have yet schedules to fly to Vancouver.

As I have said in my previous columns, retirement has a different meaning in Canada unlike in Asia. Retirement is a celebration of life! Canadians don’t stop living actively just because they are retired. In fact, many are even more active but doing what they really want to do in life. Here are some quotable quotes from some outspoken Canadians on the subject:

• My definition of retirement is not the day I stop working. It’s when I can stop working to produce an income."

• I don’t want to live for money. The dollar isn’t as important to me as my quality of life."

Baby boomers do not want their parents’ retirement. That’s the last thing they want. They want a totally different lifestyle."

There are even retirement workshops known as "Transition to Retirement – the Uncharted Course. In those workshops, attendees get to learn and then accept the four phases of retirement, namely:

• The first phase is euphoria. During the early months it is quite natural for the retiree to feel happy, excited and – best of all – free. It can be compared to an endless holiday.

• Phase 2 brings stormy weather. The initial excitement/enthusiasm has passed, leaving a sense of loss and of identity, work colleagues, routine and structure. One begins to question one’s identity.

• Third phase is the discovery of safe harbour, from which one may establish a sense of self and look to the future. It is a time for leaving behind the former work identity and accepting "that you are just an ordinary Joe now."

• Fourth phase is charting a new course. You take what you have learned during the storm and focus on where you are going for the future.

The Helping Hand, known today in British Columbia as the Multi-Cultural House Society, headed by Tom Avendano and Eleanor Guerrero Campbell has forged successfully despite initial financial setbacks. The Society was saved by the bayanihan spirit of the Philippine community.

Not too long ago, the MHSS started the Bamboo Network, a mentoring program to assist immigrants in professions and trade. The program provide an information resource and bridge the freshly arrived immigrants and the Canadian workplace. All mentors are from an Asian background.

Hand in hand with the Bamboo Network is the Project Empowerment for New Immigrant Youth (Progeny). This is a youth program designed to empower immigrant youth with the necessary skills and knowledge to lead safe, healthy, and quality productive lives. Through this program, youth aged 15-19, find support around integration and adjustment to Canadian life.

New reports on what Canadians consume on a regular basis:

• Canadians ate more fresh, canned, frozen and dried fruit per capita, compared to 1992.

• In the land of coffee drinkers, tea is catching up with coffee. Tea drinkers are increasing, and consumed 90.7 liters per capita in 2003, compared to 101.7 for coffee.

• Canadians are drinking a lot more soft drinks than they were in 1992. (1992-99 per capita in liters compared to 2003 – 111 per capita in liters.)