Afghan interpreter Mohammad 'Froggy' Rahman, family earn Canadian citizenship

When former Afghan interpreter Mohammad Rahman accepted his certificate of Canadian citizenship at a ceremony in Ottawa this spring, a Canadian colonel was there to celebrate with him, while other high-ranking officers saluted his achievement from afar.

"This is a very, very good day for us," Rahman smiled during a recent interview at his home, as he scrolled through Facebook photos of the ceremony. "I'm very proud. Me, my kids, we're Canadian."

It's been a long and arduous journey.

Rahman — fondly nicknamed "Froggy" by soldiers and officers alike on account of his throaty voice — was head interpreter for the Canadian Operational Mentor and Liaison Team in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2010, a battlefield translator for a succession of nine Canadian officers in Kandahar Province.

Saved officer's life

Those who worked with him say he also performed the roles cultural attaché, body guard, medic — and life saver.

In June 2008 Rahman was working alongside major Mark Campbell when the officer stepped on an improvised explosive device. Campbell, who lost both legs and has since medically retired from the military, credits Rahman with saving his life that day by rushing to his side to tie tourniquets around his legs.

"I can't think of anyone who's more deserving of his Canadian citizenship than Mohammad Rahman," said Campbell from his home in Edmonton, where he stays in touch with Rahman by phone and Skype.

The decision to come to Canada came when the Taliban began threatening Rahman's family. The immigration process took years.

'7 kids, 14 bags and 190 bucks'

When the family finally arrived in Ottawa in October 2011, Rahman's first call was to Col. Steve Nolan, the officer who attended the citizenship ceremony, and who has been part of Rahman's life since they met eight years ago.

"You showed up with seven kids, 14 bags and 190 bucks in your pocket," laughed Nolan during the interview at Rahman's home.

I think it's one of the success stories of the entire Afghanistan experience. If the point was to make the lives of some people better, I think this particular story goes in the win column.- Col. Steve Nolan

Back in Afghanistan, Nolan had warned Rahman that life would be difficult in Canada. The family would have to learn a new language, adapt to a new culture and become acclimatized to very different weather. They likely wouldn't enjoy the middle-class lifestyle they led in Afghanistan, Nolan cautioned his friend.

The Rahman family initially moved into a tiny apartment. Rahman, who spoke passable English but didn't read or write the language, struggled to find work.  

"There was a point there where Mohammad was pretty down in the dumps," Campbell said. "He was starting to question was it all worth it? I had to remind him, it's not about him, it's about the kids, about giving the family an opportunity they wouldn't otherwise have had."

Rahman said he got the same advice from Nolan. "For you, very hard in Canada, but good for your kids," he remembers his friend telling him. "Now I understand."

Children fitting in

Now, almost five years after arriving in Canada, Rahman's children are fitting in and thriving. His adult kids have graduated from high school and one daughter is a supervisor at Tim Hortons and has been accepted to Algonquin College. Another daughter will graduate from high school this spring and wants to become a police officer.

"Because my dad, he was my role model when I was a kid, I looked up to him, so that's why," said Sabrina Rahman, now 18.

The family has moved to a more spacious townhouse with a small garden and bought a used car.

Rahman and six of his children became Canadian citizens on March 14 at a ceremony in Ottawa, along with dozens of other new Canadians. (His eldest son has gone back to Afghanistan, while his wife Zia Gul Rahman has yet to meet the language requirements for Canadian citizenship.)

'A real success story'

"It's a real success story. It's something the government did right," said Campbell.

"I think it's a fantastic success story," echoed Nolan. "I think it's one of the success stories of the entire Afghanistan experience. If the point was to make the lives of some people better, I think this particular story goes in the win column."

Rahman continues to attend English classes where he's met recent refugees from Syria. As a former interpreter who speaks five languages, including Arabic, Rahman said he's helping the Syrians communicate at school, get to the food bank and understand Canadian culture.

Now he's the one giving advice on how to create a new life in Canada.

"So now I want to give back," said Rahman. "I want to push my children to help Syrian refugees who come here."