b'FACES OF THE TRADEItwasTransbreaktimewhenheTwo years later,Transwife,anAmericancitizen steppedawaytocheckhisresults.Heliving in Vancouver, was not covered may have been thinking about the senseby Canadas health care system. When of relief he could give his wife and twoshe became pregnant with their first children, or the pride of his parents whoTrans own personalchild,Trancoveredthebillforthe brought him to this province from theirmedicalexpensesofherpregnancy native Vietnam when he was just fourand her delivery, at a cost of nearly years old. But he says he certainly keptray of sunshine$20,000. one mantra in mind. Itwasahugeamountof Never give up. I knew I would nevermedical debt.give up. walked through theBut Tran knew that, like building Tran wasnt always a roofer, but, likeanything, building a family comes with most roofers, he was always resilient.gas station door ina cost. He was already working seven Before his days of lugging bundlesdaysaweek.Hehadthreeevening and working out roofing systems, Transhifts and four graveyard shifts, but he picked up a day job delivering cabinets struggled to find his calling. Between histhe form of an oldto provide for his family.lack of interest in academic subjects and his issues with the one-size-fits-all educa- WhenIhadagraveyardshiftI tion system, he quickly found that he justwould work from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. at couldnt get engaged in public school.friend. This friendthe gas station, then drive to a ware-Imavisuallearner.Youexplainhouse and load up my truck with cabi-nets, then deliver them all day before somethingcomplicatedtomeandIsaid five words thatcoming home, then get maybe an hour might have trouble understanding, but you show me and let me do it; I got it. or two of sleep before driving back to the gas station for my next graveyard He began washing dishes at 16 yearswould change Transshift, says Tran.old and, after a year, decided hed get his hands dirty in something more produc- Hekeptupthisback-breaking tive. He started labouring in constructionschedule for almost three years to pay and went on to build and finish houseslife forever:off the medical expenses.before taking a position as a cashier at aTwo years later, Trans own personal local gas station.Thats when he met his wife. Why dont yourayofsunshinewalkedthroughthe gas station door in the form of an old When I met her, I fell in love withfriend. This friend said five words that would change Trans life forever: her. Then I thought, I have to get me acome roofing? Why dont you come roofing?second job! laughs Tran.www.rcabc.org l11'