A taste of winter for Syrian couple new to P.E.I.

The newest Syrian coupleto arrive on P.E.I. this week got a taste of what winter in the Maritimes has to offer.

Suliman Al Ali Alelayan, 27, a carpenter, and Sabah Al Jarabaa, 22, flew from Lebanon to Cairo then to Toronto. They finally landed in Charlottetown at around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Bonnie Stewart, part of the Interfaith Refugee Sponsorship Group, met the couple at the airport with an interpreter.

'You know, we're sorry about the snow'

"We tried pretty hard to convey 'You know, we're sorry about the snow' and they smiled and they said 'Well, we're cold but we're happy to be here,'" Stewart said.

"And then, when we went out to the cars, I know there was a little bit of a look of shock on their faces. By the time that we got their bags and stepped outside, it was a complete whiteout. It was the worst drive that I've probably made myself in 25 years."

The couple will be staying at a B&B for the next couple of weeks with the hope of finding an apartment by Jan. 1.

Stewart said they were given some warm clothing in Toronto, but they are hoping to get some winter clothes through the PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada.

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