CHRISTMAS

   Christmas is a holiday that I anxiously wait for.  When I came to Canada in 2007, I settled at the Campus Resident Co-operative Association - CRCA, a Housing Cooperative system in New Westminster, BC. I live there with my wife, my little boy, and eighteen more tenants. Every year we celebrate Christmas with a big and charming party; everybody can invite relatives and friends. In order to calculate how much food to cook, everyone must confirm how many guests will attend to the party.

   Organizing this celebration demands many tasks. Activities are assigned to two teams. The Pre-party team decorates and tidies up the dining room, living room, and cleans up washrooms; others take responsibility for cooking. The Post-party team washes up dishes, cleans up the dining room and living room, throws away garbage, and puts leftovers away.

   In 2009, thanks to my initiative, this party turned a little bit different. The Christmas party consisted only of having dinner and socializing each other. But now, people can hear live Christmas music, sing and dance, as well. I set up a band with some members of the house: Angela - keyboard, Andrew - electric guitar, Josh - drums, and Rachel - flute. I play the acoustic guitar. We rehearsed a lot with enthusiasm during two months before the party.

    Because Christmas is my favourite holiday, the spirit of this special season has inspired me to write some Christmas songs which the band has played in the last three years. Here you can hear two songs watching my videos: “Celebrate Christmas” and “Christmas Forever.”  I hope you enjoy them and sing them next Christmas with your family and friends.

//Celebrate, dancing and celebrate,
Christmas, time of love.//

CHORUS
Happy Christmas in our hearts,
Happy Christmas in our home.
Happy Christmas in our hearts
Happy Christmas around the world.

//Celebrate, singing and celebrate,
Christmas, the Lord came.//

CHORUS

Instrumental

Verse 1 repeating first line 3 times
Verse 2 repeating first line 3 times

 Verses 1 & 2
A boy was born on Christmas,
the God's greatest gift.
//Goodness and love is His name,//
for everyone around the world.

 

A king was born on Christmas.
Beginning and the end.
//Kindness and peace is His name,//
now all the people rejoice.

 

CHORUS
//Alleluia! Merry Christmas,
the earth and heaven sing together
Christmas is to us forever//.

 

Verse 3
The Lord was born on Christmas,
proclaim this greatest news.
Glorious Christmas! amazing love for us.
 Precious Christmas! is His mercy upon us.

 

//CHORUS// x 2

MY CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP

   If coming to Canada was an exciting experience, getting the Canadian citizenship was another one.

   Through this process I have learnt more about Canada’s history, geography, government system, law, my rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen. During the time I studied these topics, I felt more identified and committed with this beautiful and thriving country. I came to Canada looking for better opportunities and standard of life for my family, and I am getting it step by step. It was a positive decision. I’m very glad because I know I will conquer my “promised land”.

    If you want to apply to Canadian citizenship, you need to be:

1. A person aged 18 years of age or older.

2. A permanent resident (landed immigrant) of Canada.
3. A person having met the citizenship residence requirements. It means, to reside in Canada 3 years (1095 days) in the four (4) years immediately before the date of the application.

   You can calculate your residence in this website: https://eservicesak.cic.gc.ca/rescalc/resCalcStartNew.do?&lang=en

   Also, you must be able to speak English or French, and know about: Canada’s history, geography, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. After paying the fees, and presenting your application, you will receive a confirmation and a study guide called Discover Canada. Then, some months later, you will be notified about the date of your written and oral tests (persons 55 years of age and over are exempt from taking the written/oral test). The oral test is an interview about your life in Canada.

   Below, I give you some valuable websites which I use for my written test. I suggest to you to make these tests many times until you get 100% correct answers. Also, there is a lot of information about Canada in the library of your city: books and videos.

http://www.v-soul.com/onlinetest/

http://www.apnavancouver.com/canada-citizenship-test/
http://www.yourlibrary.ca/citizenship/
http://www.citizenshiptest-canada.com/
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/games/teachers-corner.asp

   You can find all information you need in order to become a citizen in the next website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/become-how.asp

   If you meet all of the requirements to become a Canadian citizen or to resume Canadian citizenship, you will receive a notice telling you to attend a ceremony to take the oath of citizenship. The notice wil tell you when and where the ceremony will take place. All the process takes around 19 months.

   Adults and children aged 14 or over must attend the citizenship ceremony and take the oath. Parents receive certificates of citizenship for their children under 14. These children do not have to attend, but they are welcome.

   Good luck!!