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Nishadi Liyanage
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Colombo, Sri Lanka - Vancouver
Art by Emily Honderich
Nishadi Liyanage story
Nishadi Liyanage was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She lived in Sydney, Australia, while pursuing her postgraduate studies and later moved to Vancouver in 2019. Nishadi currently works as a specialist in sustainability reporting and strives to inspire people to live more sustainably.
COVID-19: A Silver Lining
On July 7, 2019, I migrated to Canada as a skilled migrant. I am aware of my privilege because I arrived as a permanent resident, had extended family that I could live with, and landed a permanent job in my field of work, corporate sustainability, in just over a month.
While I am grateful for the opportunities I have received, I seldom feel entirely happy. The reason is that when I left Sri Lanka, I left behind not only the beautiful tropical island I call home but also my family, friends, and the career I had built for myself.
Once in Canada, I became a visible minority and had to tame my ego to start from scratch while dealing with imposter syndrome.
During Covid-19, I started working from home. I allocated my commute time to learn more about the latest developments in sustainability and connect with colleagues from across the organization thanks to virtual meetings, which helped me feel less of an imposter at work. I have also been staying healthier through clean eating, exercise, and taking time to self-reflect and focus on the present moment.
I have not seen my Sri Lankan family in eight months, but I am grateful that I can connect with them online and support them from afar. I now have not one but two countries that I can call home.
"Once in Canada, I became a visible minority and had to tame my ego to start from scratch while dealing with imposter syndrome."