Differences

Since I came to Canada I have been often asked “What do you think are the differences between India and Canada?” Apart from the obvious difference in weather- both severe in there in their own way there are some other differences that I can talk about.

The first thing is food. Believe me, people in Canada cannot imagine how spicy Indian food can be. (Well, one teaspoon of this curry can kill two people, but that's not enough spice). And, the food must be full of oil and any other stuff which can kill you slow but for sure. On the other hand, Canadian food is moderately flavored to sweet, yes, maple syrup sweet.

The second thing is how people interact with each other. I feel weird being in a Bus or Train in Canada when no stranger starts chatting. In India, uncle and aunties (Oh yes! Everybody is related to you by blood) will start sharing their life problems. If you are lucky and not in a relationship, then they would want to know all your credentials – education, family background and job etc. I never understood why Indians are so obsessed with marriage.

The third thing is diversity. People in Canada have a hard time understanding a slightly different accent of the same language. Do not ask me how many  languages you have to deal with when you are in India. Any given guy will understand half a dozen languages without any training and it is not surprising. Also, the dressing is diverse. People wear all kinds of clothing and any kind of attire is not really completely unexpected; potentially, nothing is weird.

But, why am I talking about the differences? I think, this is human nature to point the differences not the similarities. The truth is, every person is different in some way irrespective of nationality or race, and all human beings are similar in some way irrespective of nationality or race. We want to differentiate ourselves to boost our sense of identity, but we are all equal in our pursuit of happiness.