Meet Yusraa Tadj: the 22-year-old new Canadian with friends from 22 nationalities
This story is part of Becoming Canadian, a year-long project sharing stories of struggle and triumph from new Canadian citizens.
"In Saudi Arabia, I didn't really integrate much with the local people. I went to an American school. I was at a sports club after school and I had my bubble of friends, but a lot of them were Algerian. I'm 22. I was born in Florida and I grew up in Saudi Arabia and I came to Canada when I was 15. When I came to Canada is when I really met people from all over the world.
When I came to Canada is when I really met people from all over the world.
I have friends from Pakistan, India, Mexico, Algeria, France, from the States, China, Japan, Korea, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Jamaica, Kenya, Wales, from Iran and Iraq, from Palestine, from the UAE, Yemen … Oh, and from Germany. There are so many! All here in Vancouver."
—Yusraa Tadj, born in Florida. Lives in Vancouver, became a Canadian citizen on July 26, 2016 in Vancouver.
To find more stories about the struggles and triumphs of new Canadian citizens, follow Canada 2017 on Facebook and @BecomingCDN on Instagram and Twitter.