勋甲的美篇 In memory of my landlord

勋甲

In memory of my landlord(纪念我的房东)

Author Xunjia liu(作者 刘勋甲)

2024 10 11

I have been in Canada for 24 years. Recalling the first several years when I came here, a person, white old gentleman, immediately appear in my memory. I never forget he was my best friend and helped me to adapt my new life in a new environment.

Chapter one on first acquaintance, he seemed kind

That was a dark night at about 10 o’clock on October 25, 2000, I was picked up and taken directly to a building from airport by a Chinese friend whom I worked with later. He had rented a room for me in this building.

Weather in Saskatoon was chilly in October, especially during night.

When I arrived, a tall old man welcomed me at the door and asked me if I was hungry. I felt warmer suddenly. He briefly introduced him to me, brought me to second floor, unlocked a door and said this room was for you. This was a small room, in which, a single bed, a desk with a chair beside it, a refrigerator was enough for a person to live. On the desk there were some pens, notebooks and other study supplies. He said all tenants shared washroom, washing machine and kitchen. After I put my luggage, he brought me to kitchen downstairs. He took milks, breads, cheeses and some fruits out from his refrigerator, said to me, “Please eat, and have a good sleep.” He continued, “I will take you to do shopping tomorrow afternoon.” His words sounded like a amiable father.

For a while, several Chinese tenants came to kitchen, welcomed me to share the house with them. Some of them provided meal for me. I felt I had a new, big, warm family. This old man might be our father.

Chapter two I was his tenant paying cheapest rental and his accountant

Twelve people lived in this building. 8 of them were university students, new immigrants and their family visitors from China, 4 of them were from other ethnic groups. They went to university or to work and came back to their room at different times, cooking time was different as well.

When I settled down, I started to cook. I always made kitchen clean and put things tidy. This habit was formed from my young age. I did so each time.

He had found the change for several weeks, and asked some tenants how? They said yes, they had noticed the same change too. They guessed the new comer Xunjia might have done this.

One day evening, he came home and went to kitchen to eat, he saw I was wiping stove and sweeping kitchen floor, he said to me, “I am busy and do not have time to manage the kitchen, I charge you half of rental fee and you continue to manage the kitchen.” I replied, “No, No. This is my habit; I will do even you do not reduce my rental.” He insisted, “You spent your time and helped do my job, it is not fair if I will not low your rental.” He did not take advantage.

So, I was the tenant paying the cheapest rental in Saskatoon, $49 per month. Being aware, at least $300 per month in Saskatoon rental at that time.

My English was not good, especially in spoken and listening. I asked him how to improve them quickly. He said to me, “Practice, practice, practice to talk, to listen to people speaking English.” He always brought me to his friends’ house, to do shopping, to meet new people when I had time. He created chances for me to practice. I tried to talk with them introducing my self, Chinese culture and customs.

About one year passed, he said to me, “Your English had improved a lot. You can understand what people say and talk to them too. I need a helper to collect rental each month. I will let you do it. Of course, I pay you $7 per hour if you are available to use your spare time.”

I accepted. I thought this was a flexible part time job and good opportunity to train myself on working ability and to increase my working experiences.

At the beginning, I was only in charge of collecting fees from people living in this building. I listed everything clearly with excel spread sheets and summarized them, kept cheques and invoices in order. He was very satisfied with my ability. Gradually, he gave me all the collection jobs, including recording other incomes and expenses. I became his accountant and managed his money. Only then did I know he often owned more then 10 houses. The maximum was 18 properties distributed in Saskatoon and surrounding towns.

Chapter three He often organized outdoor activities and visits for his tenants

He knew the tenants living in this house studied and worked hard, they needed to relax for a while. He organized camping, visiting during the university vacation, or went to cinema and bar on some weekends. He paid all the expenses, including gas, door ticket, even drinks for everyone.

Camping was our excited outdoor activity. He took us to Buffalo Lookout RV Campground close to Regina, the capital city of Saskatchewan province. He showed us how to set camping tents, make barbecue and he told story for us when we sat together under shiny moon and stars. We had a fantastic experience because this was the first time for most of our tenants.

Next day, he brought us to Saskatchewan Parliament Buildings, introduced how to form the province legislations from this majesty room.

He also took us to visit exhibition of Moose jar tunnels where earlier Chinese people lived in in Canada. He told us “Do not for get this history.”

Hutterite colonies and some other farms near Saskatoon were the visiting spots he often took us to because we could not only learn farm’s lifestyle, but also buy some cheap meat and eggs there by the way.

We visited horse racing as well with him in a small town.

Traveling in potash mine was another activity he applied for us. The mine was located in Corman Park No.34, 25 kilometres from Saskatoon. He took us there to a shaft which was one kilometer deep. An elevator brought us into the ground. Then we were taken by truck to potash ore. Ore pieces dug by tunnel boring machine were transported with long belts. How unthinkable it was! Imagine mining of coal and other ores likely uses the same technology. I am sure not many people see it in their whole life.

Chapter four He invoked for Chinese contributions in Canada history

My landlord was not only active in political participation and discussion, but also initiative in municipal construction. It was said he had been a Saskatoon city councillor. He always served for his neighborhood and provided positive suggestions to city government. He was against racial discrimination, he hated crime, he upheld justice. Especially he invoked for Chinese contributions in Canada history.

He once told me, “Canada is an immigration country. Immigrants from whole world contributed a lot to Canada, no exception for Chinese immigrants. Chinese immigrants even contributed more to Canada because they arrived here earlier than some other immigrants.”

He gave me some examples and said, “The most difficult sections of Canada railway were built by Chinese immigrants in eighties of nineteen century. Big China town in great Vancouver and other cities have witnessed Chinese immigrants were, are and will be important builder of Canada.” He added. He taught me a history lessen.

He continued saying, “Chinese immigrants work hard, obey the law, but they are not good at expressing their demands. They seldomly engage in political affairs.” I agreed what he said was true. We need to fill the vacancy in these aspects.

He helped us how to apply for immigration, he invited immigration officer to give us seminar about Canada immigration law. He also loved Chinese culture, participated in Chinese New Year celebrations for many times and appeared in the celebration parade. He supported the Saskatoon dragon boat competition in 2002, in which I joined Metis team.

Chapter five His whole life is worth learning and membrane for me

His name is Elmer. I inaccurately remember he was 72 years old in 2000 when I became his tenant. He immigrated to Canada with his parents from Italy in 1935. He got his PhD in biology in University of Arizona in USA and then employed as associate professor in university of Saskatchewan. He lived alone without family companying because his wife died earlier and his daughter lived far in another city. After he retired, he bought houses for cheap rental and acted as landlord.

Due to his rental fee lower than the ordinary price, he was criticized by other landlords to disrupt market house rental price. But he argued his business was for those lower income family who did not have enough money for living. He said his houses were very basic suitable to those low-class people.

He often did shopping for his tenants who were old or ill. In the house I lived, he took us with his van almost every weekend to grocery stores. We loved to live in his building and were reluctant to part, because it helped us to get through difficult time here.

After I found a job and my family arrived in Saskatoon, I moved into my own house. But I still visited him and my room in which I had lived. I invited him as guest to have supper with my family on each Thanksgiving Day.

It seemed that was Thanksgiving of 2012. As usual, I called him, but his phone number was disconnected. I was told later he had died. Suddenly tears filled with my eyes. I felt badly not to know when he died and not to send him in his funeral.

It was 12 years since he passed away, but his tall body, kind smile, friendly voice often came back to me. Thanksgiving in 2024(October 14) is just around the corner, I am especially post this memoirs to express my deepest condolences to him, my landlord.

Wish you happy in heaven.

If you know Elmer, if you have something to add or if you want to correct my mistakes, please write down in comment section.