In the 43rd episode of the column “America-Illusions and Realities” guest is the music teacher Elitsa Yordanovawho has been living in Mississauga, one of Toronto’s satellites, for more than 30 years, but has not stopped returning to Bulgaria and creating new cultural bridges between the two countries.
The US is the only country with which it borders Canada. All other Canadian borders are coastlines. And although Americans love to be the best at everything, Canadians have to step back and admit that at roughly 9.98 million square kilometers, Canada remains the largest country in the Western Hemisphere. and on a global scale, I remind you that the championship is second only to Russia.
Canada as well as the US are attractive to emigrants from all over the world, but each of them has its own policy, its own minuses and pluses. Legend has it that there is a lot of money to be made in the US, and statistics show that despite it all, life expectancy for Americans has dropped to 76 years, while Canadians live an average of about 83. Americans have one of the most expensive and not the best health care systems in the world, and many people have no health insurance at all, and in Canada health insurance is free.
32 million adult US citizens cannot read. This is as much as 14% of the country’s population. In Canada, the literacy rate is 99, i.e. almost all Canadians know how to read and write. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, over 56% of Canadians aged 25 to 64 have completed some post-secondary education.
For the education of many Canadians over the past 30 years, the Bulgarian woman also has credit Elitsa Yordanova, who decided to go to a symposium in Vancouver some time agobut an unexpected encounter changes the direction of her life.
“In the summer of 1993, we were invited by the Toronto Women’s Chamber Choir from the Academy of Music with the Krikor Chikiryan family to sing in Vancouver at a music symposium in Vancouver, and I was traveling with that choir at the time. We had a week’s stay and there I met a very close friend of mine. ex-boyfriend. He had emigrated. He was waiting for me at the airport with a rose… Somehow the relationship resumed and we decided to start a family and on this occasion I am in Canada.”
How long did it take you to make that decision?
“I remember we had 7 days and on the 5th I told him – OK. We will get married and I will stay because some old feelings came back and somehow I was given a second chance in life to be with this person and create family this time.”
Was the solution successful?
“Yes. We have two wonderful children who are now 26 and 28. Born in Toronto, a boy and a girl.”
Don’t you miss Bulgaria?
“I am very connected to Bulgaria, because I continue to go and do various projects, art projects every summer. I am always there with one foot, with our choir, I did an exhibition – “Canada – known and unknown”, t .in some way, I want this bridge that I have created to introduce Bulgarian musicians, jazz musicians, authors, theater productions and films to Canada, I want to bring back our people, our friends in Bulgaria to learn something more about Canada”.
Have you ever thought that you will be an emigrant?
“In a way it was interesting to me, curious I would say. We went to Germany very often with our choir and I had experience. For years, 4-5 times I spent time in Germany and saw what it was like to be in another country and I can say , that I felt good observing the reality around me. Of course it was difficult because I remember as a student I had to earn some money, but I did not plan to be an emigrant.
I set foot in Canada and we got married and then I knew my next step was my profession. I had a chance to complete such a course that prepares you, expatriate specialists prepare us so that we can then be appointed. I was a teacher.”
What do you like about Canada?
“Orderliness, stability. Of course there is a lot of work, sometimes everyday life is very busy, but it seems that there are also things that help you in everyday life. Somehow things are more orderly. More organized”.
And what don’t you like?
“The distances. They are huge. And the fact that I have to drive a car very often. I have to travel about 30 km to get to my school. That’s why when I go to Bulgaria, I like to walk.”
What did you bring from Bulgaria to Canada?
“Bulgarian dogwood, which my mother really wanted to bring as a gift with a small bush, and we planted it and it took off, it became a huge tree. And here I have a real Bulgarian dogwood in my yard, giving dogwood on top of everything.
Canada is very different now than it was 30 years ago. I see the difference. People, everything is changing. Toronto is becoming a bigger and bigger city, many people from different parts of the world.
Health care is free, but for specialists, sometimes you have to wait a month or two for a test, but when there are any emergencies, this takes priority. We have health cards and we don’t pay. The tests are free”.
What else gives you real pleasure besides music?
“I really like conducting, conducting a choir, singing with children, I like to cook. I’m not a slave to cooking, I can’t cook complex dishes, cakes, but I like to cook at home. Maybe that’s it something I brought from Bulgaria”.
You deal with music and organizing festivals. Are Canadians interested in Bulgarian music?
“I think so. They call the Bulgarian consulate and ask for someone to help them. I also went. Just recently, last year I did two songs with a choir – they sang “Dilmano, Dilbero” and I really helped them. So that, our songs are known. In addition, when I did the Bulgarian – Art Festival, I invited many jazz artists. Ildaz Ibrahimova, Teodosi Spasov, acoustic version Hristo Yotov.
We did the events in a very famous jazz club in Toronto and they always opened doors for our artists and said that we have unique musicians. “The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices” have come to Toronto 2-3 times for concerts. The people, the dances are very famous too. God forgive him Monroe, who lived in Montreal, a great teacher and dancer, he trained many, many Canadians.”
Do you connect your life with Bulgaria again or not?
“Every year I go to Bulgaria because I have a big vacation and every year I work on some projects, such as the exhibition – “Canada – known and unknown”, projects with our former choir from the Music Academy… So, for me, Bulgaria continues to be a part from my active life as a creator and I remain very connected!”
More on the topic in the sound file.
