From Africa to Canada, by way of Singapore

B5

By Brigitte Marsden

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Our rural river valley is home to people from a surprising variety of backgrounds and cultures.

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PHOTO BY BRIGITTE MARSDEN

Tamara Fisher is glad to be here in Woodstock.

Just take Tamara Fisher who came to Woodstock back in August. Born in Zimbabwe and brought up in South Africa and Singapore, Tamara came to Canada to study, fell in love with a Canadian and decided to make her home here.

"We met in Toronto while I was studying there," she explains, "then he moved back to Woodstock. We went through a long-distance relationship and, when I was finally given permission to immigrate, I moved here."

Born a British citizen, due to her grandparents' nationality, Tamara's rich cultural background spans four different continents.

Having grown up in small towns in Africa where many people knew each other, she says Woodstock has the same relaxing, homey feel and friendly atmosphere to her.

"Anyone who has lived in big cities would appreciate the countryside in New Brunswick, it's a beautiful place," Tamara adds.

"The rules and regulations in Singapore are very strict. Woodstock is a nice change of pace from that. Although Osaka (Japan) is an extremely exciting place that never sleeps, it lacks nature and countryside. Toronto is a great, young city, but at the same time it's a bit stressful to travel around and get things done. When I was at university there, students were treated like numbers, there wasn't much personal service there."

By contrast, Tamara says UNB, where she is currently studying for her bachelor of education, provides friendly, personal service, even though it's in a city.

The program is a natural progression from her bachelor of arts in psychology and master of arts in developmental psychology.

While she hopes to teach at the elementary level, Tamara is already applying what she has learned in a specially designed children's yoga class, which she teaches on Saturday mornings at the Heal Thy Self studio in downtown Woodstock, as well as an adult yoga class.

Having practiced and taught yoga for many years – an energizing combination of Vinyasa (flow) and Ashtanga (power) yoga – Tamara is delighted to have the opportunity to teach something that is such an important part of her life, following in the footsteps of her mother who is also a qualified yoga instructor.

She explains yoga is a special bond between them.

"It is indescribable to have my mother come to my classes or for me to go to my mothers'. Maybe it sounds cheesy, but when you only see your mother once a year it is extra special to experience yoga together."

Tamara is also close to her sister Katie, who just happens to be studying the same program as her in Melbourne, Australia, and she wishes the two of them could have spent more time together.

"I moved overseas when she was 15," Tamara says, "and we've only lived in the same country after that for less than a year."

Nevertheless, the well-travelled young lady is glad she made the move to New Brunswick and says she is happy to be staying here.

Looking to the future, Tamara says she plans to grow in yoga instruction and would one day love to teach prenatal yoga, mother and baby yoga, family yoga and yoga for children with special needs.