When novelist, video game writer, and Gates Cambridge Scholar Jakub Kuba Szamalek (Clare 2009) and his wife Maria Pawlowska (Clare 2007), also a Gates Cambridge scholar, began “work from home” careers, the two Polish immigrants went looking for somewhere beautiful to live and raise their family. They landed in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, in 2021 and found something more profound than a scenic, peaceful environment; they found their community.
“The Canadians are very kind; all the stereotypes are true,” said Szamalek.
The family had a unique introduction to their neighbors during their first Christmas in Wolfville. Although they moved to the town during the summer, they had yet to put down roots and were still living in temporary housing.
“We were waiting for our house to be finished, and it was our first Christmas. We didn't know anyone really, and it was just the three of us in a small space with a kitchenette of a holiday rental eating microwaved pierogis. It was a difficult moment for us because usually our Christmas is a big affair, and here we were, on foreign soil and with a Canadian winter looming upon us,” recalls Szamalek.
"It was a COVID Christmas," said Pawlowska. "Hence why we were all alone."
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and then another and another, as neighbors stopped by. Unexpected. Unannounced.
“They just kept coming throughout the evening to say hello, to say Merry Christmas. Some we’d never even met," said Szamalek.
"All the interactions had to happen outside the door due to COVID restrictions," added Pawlowska.
"They brought toys for our kids and homemade chocolates. It was like a Hallmark movie, but it was real life,” said Szamalek.
“We really like Wolfville. We came here to live because it’s beautiful. But the reason we stayed is the people we met here.”