Canada 150 & Me – Reflections of an Absentee Canadian

Kathmandu. Source: landofthesnow.com

Having spent two-thirds of my life outside of Canada, I’ve wondered what to write about, perhaps some reflections of what has been like to periodically return to my homeland.Mount St. Michael's, Spokane. Source: prabook.com

Philosophy studies at Spokane and teacher preparation at Seattle, taught me that people can me different than the Canadians I grew up with.  The “enemy” for the U.S. was Russia, but Canadian farmers rejoiced in our wheat exports from the prairies!  The chance to explore mountains, and especially my contacts with welcoming American Jesuits, instilled hope for future visits.

Canada did welcome me back to two years of regency at Regina, and theology studies at Regis.  The Regina community provided a wonderful mix of temperaments, men united in care for one another.  At Toronto, the mysterious life in the first class of the Toronto School of Theology made the mysteries of theology insignificant.  Again, new friends from around the world supported me. 

My prayers to be a missionary answered, I was off to the Himalayas.  Now almost everything was different:  driving rules (left side, more or less, and no other rules to worry about), languages (different in each valley), clothing (mercifully adapted to local climates), customs (as many as languages), religions (providing me with new ways to worship God), and food (spices and grease)! 

Source: Bhutan. Source:thousandwonders.orgThe Darjeeling Region took me in, and sent me off to eastern Bhutan – isolated, so an introvert’s paradise!  One could not have a better experience!  The Indian army had built a practical school.  I had my own laboratory, good books, and excellent students. 

Again, the community was my support:  Bill Mackey, Jack Coffey, Nick Johanessma, Mike Quinn, John Perry, Cherian Nampeli, Joseph Paikeday.  Each could be the subject of a blog!  Tertianship at Hazaribag under Maurice Dullard provided more good Jesuit companionship.  Poor rural communication and Indira Gandhi’s Emergency got me home again.Bill Robins, SJ. Source: saltandlighttv.org

Christmas in Ottawa renewed family ties, and a semester of math teaching at St. Paul’s strengthened Jesuit ties.  That was a valuable experience, but was on the prairies.  I managed to find more conducive geography in Nepal, and here I am!  Technology here has changed with that of the rest of the world, but usual one or two steps behind Canada!

Nepal has changed politically over this period, from a dictatorial monarchy to attempts at democracy.  A decade long, Maoist Party led, civil war slowed the process, but the people have not given up.  As I write this on Mother’s Day my neighbours are voting in Nepal’s first local election in two decades. 

Source: pushclicktouch.comBack to visits to Canada:  By the time I visited next, I’d become the local superior of the Nepal Jesuits. (A senior Jesuit here is quoted as saying, “Make him superior before us old guys corrupt him!”)  I enjoyed visiting family, the Canadian Mission Office, and the Chicago Jesuit offices.  Nepal was a mission of Chicago.  Challenges:  How do I use push-button telephones? 

My elderly father’s illness called for a return in 1986 – a cold few weeks in Winnipeg again!  He perked up quickly and I soon could return to the hills.  He passed away three years later so I returned for consoling mourning with my mother and sisters.  By then I was using an Osborne computer, a great step above manual typewriters, but nothing more. Osborne computer. Source: classiccomp.org

Further visits followed a pattern.  All were in the warm summer months.  All had two foci.  The first included visits with new and old Jesuit friends, with some spiritual input:  the Exercises, the Shrine pilgrimage, and some ministry.  The second focus was family visits.  The advantage of having five sisters is that I have five welcomes to work through. 

Each visit provided new technological challenges and chances for patient people to help.  How can a computer printout replace a real airplane ticket?  Why can’t I just carry cash instead of learning to use an ATM, whatever that is?  Why does the metal detector keep beeping at me?  How do I make that machine accept my customs declaration form?  How does one use the electronic check-in system?  The train is coming and I can’t buy a ticket for the train to the airport!  I’m a refugee in my own country! 

Bill Robins at Mass. SourceL ignation.caI am happy with my life in Nepal.  That won’t go on forever, but I look happily back at Nepal’s changes.  Our ministries here are in good hands.  When I came to Nepal, there were 21 Jesuits here, all foreigners except for three young men from South Asia.  Now we are 58, all from South Asia except for three foreigners well over retirement age!  I’m thankful that the Canadian Jesuits have supported me in this mission.

Therefore what is special about being a Canadian?  We are not perfect.  Do visit the new Winnipeg museum to see how our First Nations have suffered.  We struggle with cultural differences yet carefully welcome newcomers.  The poor are with us, but do get help through our social welfare system.  I value my OHIP card!  I hope I can continue to be as welcoming and broad minded as the people who welcomed me on these visits. 

Bill Robins, SJ, is a Canadian Jesuit who lived at Godavari, our original school at the south-east edge of the Kathmandu Valley. He lived in a community of six Jesuits and taught 11 and 12 English until his return to Canada in 2021.

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1Comment
  • Peter Bisson, SJ
    Posted at 12:03h, 31 August Reply

    Thank you, Bill!

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