Long before droves of hard working Newfoundlander’s headed to the construction sites and factories of southern Ontario, or to the oil sands of northern Alberta, they headed to “the Boston States”. The Boston States is a term used by other Maritime Canadians to describe the frequent migrations of people to the New England area. At around the turn of the nineteenth century, as a result of a growing Newfoundland population and increasingly sparse and sporadic employment, Newfoundlander’s headed to the Boston States in search of work and a new beginning. Some would go seasonally to fish and work in the lobster industry or as dock workers in Boston, but others stayed and became scattered throughout the New England states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Others went on to big cities of New York and Philadelphia as brave ironworkers on the new high-rise skyscrapers that rose up during this period.

Nearly three years ago, I myself landed in the Boston States, and as far as I can tell, I’ll be here for a while. Like nearly everyone else who leaves Newfoundland, I did so not so much out of want, but out of necessity. Despite two college degrees and a few years of experience there was no work for me in my chosen field. With my education however, I had options. The reason I ended up in New England, as opposed to Alberta or elsewhere in Canada was two-fold. For one, my wife, who I met in graduate school, is from Massachusetts; and secondly, the first job offer I received was from a company in Albany, New York, not too far from where she grew up. The move made perfect sense, and we married there that same summer. While Albany is not technically in New England, being just 30 minutes west of Massachusetts, it certainly is within the Boston States.
I often think about home, and sometimes when I do, I wish that I was fortunate enough to have stayed in Newfoundland with my wife to raise our family. Without getting too upset however, I remind myself that’s it’s not that bad…it could be worse. After all, I have a decent job, an amazing wife and a healthy family. I enjoy a fun and active lifestyle and I even have a great dog. Sure I wouldn’t be able to write a country and western song if I tried. I also think about how worse off those who came to the Boston States more than a hundred years ago must have been. I don’t have to deal with any of the hardships, desperation or isolation that they must have endured. Nor did I have to uproot my entire family, or spend weeks and months at a time away from my loved ones, as so many Newfoundlander’s continue to have to do today. I’ve even got the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean within a two-hour drive if I ever get really homesick.

I really do love it here in New England, and if it can’t be Newfoundland, I couldn’t pick a better place. My in-laws have a boat, and every summer we go to beautiful, rustic Maine where the family has a pair on cabins hugging the rugged cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean. From here we pick blue berries, sea kayak, dig clams, catch cod, haddock and lobsters, and eat chowder. In fact I continue to do many of the things I’ve always done, such as trout fishing, snowshoeing, hiking, and playing hockey both on the pond and at the rink. I’ve even taught my new friends and family a few things along the way, namely the importance of a boil-up and the odd bit of “Newfinese”.

In this day and age it is easy to stay connected with friends and family, and with the granite rock stuck out in the North Atlantic I love and proudly call home. Between international telephone calling plans (aka “the package”), and Internet mediums like email, Skype and Facebook, sure I talk to some people more now than I ever did. That still doesn’t come close to replacing all the house parties, night’s out listening to Irish music, weddings and hockey tournaments I’ve missed, but it helps nonetheless. The Internet also lets me keep up on all the news and shenanigans of our fair province. I can even listen to VOCM’s Open Line, if I wanted too. And it goes without saying that my Downhome magazine and the “Life is better Downhome” website are well appreciated, especially for expatriates such as myself.

Another thing that keeps my heart and soul close to Newfoundland is music. I’m a huge fan and advocate of Newfoundland music, especially traditional Newfoundland-Irish music. I listen to Radio Newfoundland online at home and at work, and on the weekends I’m streaming the popular morning radio shows which play this genre. Hearing the familiar voices, strums and beats of my favorite artists puts me in good spirits, and the classic Newfoundland advertisements from the likes of Pipers or the Old Port Nan make me laugh out loud every time. When not listening to the music online I’m playing CDs at home and playing along with my bodran, with memories of singalongs on the beach, mini-folk festivals at my parent’s house, and too many nights to count at the pubs in downtown St. John’s fresh in my mind. I’ve got to say, the live music is one of the things I miss the most. There’s not much chance of a shed or cabin party with guitars, an accordion and an ugly stick breaking out here any time soon. With that being said however I have seen Great Big Sea down in this neck of the woods twice now, and I have been to a few excellent Irish music festivals. It’s not the same though as having the choice, no the luxury, of seeing incredible live Irish-Newfoundland music any time you want to is a privilege.
If there is one other thing that lets me stay connected to Newfoundland it is food. It’s not a secret to those who know me that I love food and I love to cook for both my appetite and other people. I have even started a blog dedicated to my cooking and the cuisine of both Newfoundland and New England, called A Wicked Scoff (http://awickedscoff.blogspot.com). I encourage you to check it out. With my shipments of Mt. Scio Farms savory, salt fish, gravy browning, Quidi Vidi beer, a pea’s pudding bag and Purity crackers, it almost like I never left Nan’s kitchen. The added bonus of being able to buy Newfoundland Screech dark rum in New Hampshire (at $11 a bottle no less) almost brings a tear to my eye. The cooking traditions of Newfoundland and New England are very similar, and through food, I am able to share my love of food, Newfoundland, and my new found home here in New England.
So while I find myself here in the Boston States, I know that like everyone else who have had to leave Newfoundland, it will always be home. I will return for vacations as often as I can, and like everyone, someday I plan to retire there, although that’s some time away. When we have kids, and they grow up and go to college, we will encourage them to go to Newfoundland. I have many miles of the East Coast Trail left to hike, festivals to attend, trout to catch, rocks to skip, and fish and chips to eat. There are so many things I still have to do there…I’ve just got to find the time.

Mark Penney

  Submitted By: Mark Penney