Landing

The hall filled with the sound of sobbing of the girl. She was in her late teens, perhaps early twenties, and not in control of her emotions. A little boy, most likely her younger brother went up to her at the immigration desk. They hugged. The girl sobbed even more as she buried her face in the boy's shoulder.

The border agent directly opposite me (who later would be the first official to welcome to Canada) watched with a sweet smile and quite bemusement. The parents sat on the bench next to me. It was a family of south Asian origin. Next to them, laden on three carts that look like they were about to tip over from the weight, were old fashioned leather suitcases and an assortment of bags of all shapes and sizes. How do you pack u a life, or indeed a lives of ap family members, and replant your roots in a foreign country? The girl's little sister was dressed in a colourful

I watched the scene and was deeply moved to tears.