TTSOML #206: Going To Holding Center In Canada

The officer said I had to go to a holding center and would be met by an immigration officer. She said she'd drive back to the shelter and that I had to get my papers and ID documentation out of my car and then she was taking me to the holding center for an interview.

As she drove me and my son back, this was when I noted the guy in the white van, coming around the corner from the women's shelter, driving by slowly and looking in at me directly and laughing. This guy knew who I was. I didn't know him, but it was not normal, the way he almost stopped to stare in at us. I wondered if it had been his van outside of the house when the shock happened, or what the deal was. He was alone, no one next to him and wore a black fitted snowcap and had a very broad and angular face. He appeared to be of Russian or Eastern European descent, but anything European I think.

I got my papers and we were driven to the holding cell where I tried to play with my son and make things as normal as possible for him. As long as he was next to me, he was happy, and we played games and sang songs and took a nap together.

The immigration guy got there. His name was Russ Radi. He brought in two social workers who were women with him, and I liked them well enough. They were pleasant and complimented the bond I had with my son and how we interacted. Then Russ sat at a table and after initial interview, and I told him I wanted to live in Canada, he asked how much money I had. I said about $350. He said this wasn't sufficient but I said I had thought if I didn't like it after 3 days, we'd go back, and it was sufficient for that time period, and I didn't expect to have a migraine and need their ER services (not only that, I thought it was free to anyone in Canada so I didn't know). I apologized for being a burden to the ER. I told him mainly about the medical problems my son and I had had and how we couldn't get help in the U.S. and some other things. The social workers really appeared to like both me and my son, and I liked them. At least from first impression.

Russ Radi said he wanted to do something "special" for us.