Cynthia Lam
Where have I been in the last 40 years? If it wasn’t for doing a biog for
our class reunion, it would have been a good time to think back and take
a look!
Just a little recap of my 2 years of MSW at McGill first.
I think it’s fair to say that I was kept quite busy trying to adapt to this
very new environment at school. Every single day seemed to present
itself in multiple challenges to me, a student of Chinese origin, with
inadequate language skill, feeling totally outside of my cultural comfort
zone, while taking on this field of training that required constant
expression of inner emotions, and direct observations, to share, to learn,
and even to help people with! But by God, I survived! And to this day, I
am grateful for this training, which I felt has given me the tools for life.
They are enriching, empowering, and always keeping an eye to look out
for chance to change things for the better!
Armed with my MSW, I left after graduation to go to England for my first
job, as my husband Harry would spend his first sabbatical there as a
physics professor from McGill. Adventures abound! Suffice to say that I
gained a healthy respect of the multidisciplinary approach, with me as
the social work component, in their care for the community; and I had a
chance to appreciate their value and way of life. I also picked up a bit of
their English accent too, sprinkled in my Chinese English, that became
something quite comical at times!
Returning to Montreal, I worked at Children Service Centre, gaining a
taste of working in a variety of areas, like foster care, adoption etc.,
under the Ville Marie Social Service centre, designated for the
anglophones and allophones in Montreal. Then an opportunity came up to
volunteer in local Chinese community, I got involved in setting up its first
social service agency. Little did I know that I would spend my most
memorable social work career there, which served as a spring board,
provided me with a tremendous array of new learning and
experiences. Deeply sensitized with many issues, I didn't hesitate but
plunged into them, hoping to be part of the solutions( sounds familiar?)!
The issues were related to diversity, bridging between mainstream and
minority communities, East and West, community capacity building and
resource development, intercultural and inter-ethnic relations in
different organizations and governments, women status, racial equality,
employment equity etc., and of course fund raising! My valuable training
in community organization, case and family work, group work etc. always
accompanied me, as guiding light, and applicable parts of the skill set. I
had the great fortune of meeting and working with such a spectrum of
good people, with whom we forged work groups and committees, worked
on research and publications, organized conferences locally, nationally
and internationally. I indeed had the most to benefit for my own personal
growth throughout those years. It was tough going and strenuous many a
time which also resulted in me getting a full head of grey hair!
In 2002, most unexpectedly, I had my highest honor and reward, of being
a recipient of the Order of Canada. Standing among all the giants of
towering achievements, I felt so humbled, and "young". As my daughter
Phoebe reflected, I may well have helped lower a bit of the average age
of the recipients.
At my retirement, a "Cynthia Lam Intercultural Fund" was set
up by the community to encourage related projects. And I served on
the Boards of a few organizations, now sitting on the opposite side of the
table, and continued my advocacy work.
With more freedom afforded to us by our retirement, Harry and
I decided to make a move in 2004, from the colorful Montreal to
Vancouver to start a new chapter in the west coast, while Phoebe was
studying at UC Berkeley in California. We feel most rewarded by this
lovely city where we can try new ventures, enjoy more of the outdoors.
And most importantly, I am a lot closer to my own family in San Francisco
where I go often, looking in on my elderly mother especially ( my dear
Dad passed away last January at 105!), and seeing my brother and other
relatives and friends, as well as keeping tab of the special energy of this
unique city.
A simple but lovely June wedding this year for Phoebe and Carl, was
followed by a week long stay in an old farm house in Cape Cod for the
families. Both are oceanographers, teaching, research, voyages at sea.
Phoebe's last trip to Antarctica last January has covered for her all 7
continents for her traveling record!
In this health conscious community here in Vancouver, I’ve taken up
hiking and dragon boating. They not only help me raise my fitness level,
(or to slow the decline..), exploring the mountains and lakes/creeks, but
also making connection for me with a variety of living things. Spotting a
banana slut on our hiking trail would make a delightful encounter, as it
does help drive home the notion that we do lead such interdependent life
on this earth.
I try not to forget to practice French which I had struggled long to learn
and to use in Montreal. It’s indeed part of my heritage now, fully aware
of a different language being such a door opener to new experiences.
Traveling is another pursuit. I just returned from a month long visit in
China, where I spoke at ease in my mother tongue and other dialects
there, making me feel right at home. The past decades of hugely
different life experiences that separated me from my friends and family
there, we however wasted little time during our reunions, before we
opened up and freely shared our perspectives. I realized with gratitude
that the basic human aspirations really remain so similar, whatever our
personal journeys may have been.
Yes, now 40 years on, this is roughly where I am. It’s a good time to look
back, and also try to see what may lie ahead. Hopefully I may continue
my explorations, and find stuff that I'll feel good and fun for my next
biog, sharing with you all again, in the coming years.
Very unfortunately I will miss out on this reunion. I have absolutely no
doubt that you will have a ball! I'm happy to say that I can match just
about all the names on the list with faces from my memory! Kudos to the
reunion organizers, and thanks for having the chance to write this biog,
and hope we'll be able to stay in touch one way or another!