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What does it mean to truly travel? In this heartfelt conversation, Dhara opens up about her immigration journey to Canada and how her definition of exploration has evolved in unexpected ways.
The most poignant moment comes when Dhara reflects on what being an immigrant has taught her. "We understand so many different perceptions because we understand two different societies, east and West polar apart," she explains. "I feel very fortunate to be the immigrant because now I know and understand both parts of the world." Like her spirit animal—the duck—Dhara presents a calm exterior while working tirelessly beneath the surface. Her journey reminds us that sometimes our most meaningful travels aren't marked on any map but measured in perspective gained and boundaries crossed within ourselves.
Listen now and discover how immigration becomes its own form of extraordinary exploration.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Gurasis (00:00):
I have included this another segment in my season two
, which is called Know your Host, where I give my guests an
opportunity to ask me anyquestions they might have.
Dhara (00:11):
Oh my gosh, I like to know how much have you traveled
across Canada, outside Canada?
Gurasis (00:23):
That's a very interesting question.
Actually, I'll tell you, Ihaven't really traveled enough
up until my 22-23 years.
You know, when I came to Canada, that was my first time ever
coming, you know, literally likeoutside of my city.
And after coming to Canada, Iwould say I have lived in
(00:44):
various cities, like I've livedin Montreal, I've lived in
Halifax as well, and after thatI think I was so much, or I
would say like during my initialthree, four years, that I was
so much consumed by the wholeimmigration process and just
trying to make a living, youknow, and just living like
(01:05):
paycheck to paycheck and justsomehow being able to pay my
dues and being also able to feedmyself and trying to bring in
this fun, whatever I can, whatwas in my capacity back then.
So first three, four yearsliterally went by like that, and
after that I would say it waslast year when, for the first
time, I was actually able totravel.
(01:27):
You can call it like a vacation.
I was actually able to travelthe cities which I always wanted
to visit, like I went to newyork for the first time last
year.
It was my first time and it wasmagical.
It was so overwhelming also,but but so beautiful also to
stand in that time square, whichyou have seen all your life in
(01:49):
movies, you know.
And then I also went to Torontoand you'll say that Toronto is
not that far.
You haven't been there,everything.
But literally I haven't.
I came in 2018.
I remember I had my cousin andhis wife, whom I, whom I visited
back in 2018, and I lived withthem for like four years.
But I kid you not, I have norecollection of those four days.
(02:11):
I literally don't, because Ifeel like I was still trying to
process that have I really movedabroad?
Have I really come to Canada?
Am I not living in my houseanymore?
I was still trying to processand I think it was my second
week in Canada when I visited my, my cousin there.
(02:31):
So, yeah, I would say I haven'ttraveled a lot, but I aim to do
that a lot in the coming years.
But I'll tell you one more thingthat because since I've started
this podcast, which was in 2022, september was my first episode
and I've started this podcast,which was in 2022, september was
my first episode and I've beenrecording like an year before
that I would say, through thispodcast and through these
conversations, I have traveled alot Because the people I have
(02:56):
spoken to, they are from aroundthe world.
They have told me about variouscities and various countries I
never even knew about.
For example, I spoke tosomebody from Bulgaria.
You know somebody from CzechRepublic, somebody from Costa
Rica, somebody who is currentlyin Egypt.
You know somebody I'm going tospeak to somebody who is
currently living in Brussels Ibelieve that's what the city is
(03:20):
called, and I can't recall.
But yeah, being able to havethese conversations and learn
about those cities is incredible.
So, not physically, but I wouldsay through these conversations
, I have traveled a lot.
Dhara (03:32):
Yeah, amazing, amazing yeah yeah, no great question.
Gurasis (03:37):
Thank you for asking that.
So now that we are in the finalsegment of the podcast I call
it beneath the accent I'm goingto ask a couple of questions.
You can answer them in one wordor a sentence, or however you
feel like.
The idea is just to know moreabout you.
So ready, yes, so first is whatadvice would you give to dhara
(03:57):
at a younger age, and at whatage?
Dhara (03:59):
I would advise myself when I was 18 years old that do
not be afraid of toxic peopleokay, describe a moment when you
experienced a significantcultural difference that
surprised you in canada therewere many but one that when
everybody used to ask me in thebeginning, are you good?
(04:21):
I used to feel of course I'mgood.
Why do you think?
Gurasis (04:25):
okay, that's like the very uh initial instinct that
comes up.
You know, hey, how are you?
Are you good?
You're good like, like that.
I'd see that.
Okay, what's that one dishdhara from your home country
that always brings you comfortand nostalgia?
Dhara (04:42):
oh, khich, that's my most favorite.
Gurasis (04:48):
Are there any funny stories related to your
misunderstanding around theaccent or the English that you
had?
Dhara (04:52):
Oh, yes, of course.
So on my first day at job, hrwas walking me through all the
rules and regulations and aftera while she take a pause for a
while and she said so are we onthe same page?
I said, yes, of course we areon the same page, page number
three.
Okay, she said that, oh, you'refunny.
(05:14):
I couldn't understand what wasso funny about it.
We were on page number three.
That is so funny.
Okay, I love that.
(05:35):
So what's your favoritecultural?
I think you know they exchangecookies usually homemade cookies
in my office and I love thosecookies A they're free, b
they're delicious, and C I feellike I'm very special that
they're cooking something andthen, you know, they're gifting
it to me.
So I love Christmas, I loveexchanging gifts.
I even like to give gifts aswell, but I think Christmas
(05:58):
cookies are my best favorite.
Gurasis (06:01):
Okay, amazing and share like a quick tip for fellow
immigrants who are trying toadjust into a new country.
Dhara (06:09):
I would say explore and be ready to push your envelope
and don't be afraid of beinguncomfortable.
Don't seek comfort all the time.
Try to do things that you havenot tried earlier.
That's the only way you canactually adjust and progress.
Gurasis (06:27):
Okay, that's amazing.
Tell us about the first friendthat you made in Canada.
Dhara (06:33):
She's also my best friend in Canada.
She's Chinese.
Gurasis (06:52):
And when I was studying I was crying in the corner of a
library and she came to me andshe started talking to me and
ever since she became my friend.
So she meet often.
Mm-hmm, Love that and share amoment where being an immigrant
made you feel exceptionallyproud or accomplished.
Dhara (07:06):
Yeah, I think we understand so many different
perceptions because weunderstand two different
societies, east and West polarapart, and we have those
understandings and insights.
And I feel very fortunate to bethe immigrant because now I
know and understand both thepart of the world, whereas the
(07:26):
people who have never been toother part, either only been in
North America or been in East, Ithink they're missing out on so
many things just to understandthe life, the vastness of it.
So I feel really proud andprivileged to be able to have
that understanding.
Gurasis (07:46):
That's a great answer.
Yeah, absolutely, I can relateto that Love, that If you had to
describe yourself, dara, as anycreature, what would it be and
why?
Dhara (07:56):
I think my spirit animal is a duck.
Okay, the way you see the duckbeing very calm and composed on
the outside, but it's actuallyworking hard from the inside.
Gurasis (08:07):
Underneath yeah, so I think I resemble myself with
that and what's something youate for the first time in canada
I think I had muffins okay yeahif you could have one
superpower, what would it be?
Dhara (08:26):
it's my childhood dream.
I like to be a fairy, I like tohave a magical wand, and I want
to fulfill everybody's wish.
Whatever anybody wants to do, Ijust do some magic and they get
it.
So that's the power I want.
Gurasis (08:42):
Okay, if you had to create this one law that
everybody has to follow, whatwould it be?
Dhara (08:49):
You cannot lie.
You have to speak the truth.
Gurasis (08:54):
And finally, how would you describe Canada in a word or
a sentence?
Dhara (08:59):
It's multicultural.
Gurasis (09:01):
Okay and Nadhara, if you had to leave one advice for
me, what would it be?
Dhara (09:08):
Reach out to more people.
I think more people need toknow who you are and what you do
, and what kind of person youare, I don't know.
Expand your reach, because Ithink people needs to know you
even more.
More people needs to know you.
So do whatever you need to doto reach out to larger audience
(09:29):
absolutely that's.
Gurasis (09:30):
That's the aim, for sure.
And finally, dhara, how wouldyou describe your experience of
being on this podcast?
Dhara (09:37):
it's, it's very, um, it's very motivational and
fulfilling experience, because Italked about certain parts of
my life and the journey that Inever talked to anybody before.
So, I don't know, there wassomething you know about it that
made me talk about it and againthink about it.
(09:58):
So very grateful, very happyand fulfilled.
Gurasis (10:04):
Wow, great, great words .
You know I'm overwhelmed tojust listen to what you just
said and thank you.
Thank you so much, Dara, foryour kind words, for being on
the podcast and adding value tome and to my listeners, so thank
you so much.
Dhara (10:18):
My pleasure.
I have included this another segment in my season two
, which is called Know your Host, where I give my guests an
opportunity to ask me anyquestions they might have.
Dhara (00:11):
Oh my gosh, I like to know how much have you traveled
across Canada, outside Canada?
Gurasis (00:23):
That's a very interesting question.
Actually, I'll tell you, Ihaven't really traveled enough
up until my 22-23 years.
You know, when I came to Canada, that was my first time ever
coming, you know, literally likeoutside of my city.
And after coming to Canada, Iwould say I have lived in
(00:44):
various cities, like I've livedin Montreal, I've lived in
Halifax as well, and after thatI think I was so much, or I
would say like during my initialthree, four years, that I was
so much consumed by the wholeimmigration process and just
trying to make a living, youknow, and just living like
(01:05):
paycheck to paycheck and justsomehow being able to pay my
dues and being also able to feedmyself and trying to bring in
this fun, whatever I can, whatwas in my capacity back then.
So first three, four yearsliterally went by like that, and
after that I would say it waslast year when, for the first
time, I was actually able totravel.
(01:27):
You can call it like a vacation.
I was actually able to travelthe cities which I always wanted
to visit, like I went to newyork for the first time last
year.
It was my first time and it wasmagical.
It was so overwhelming also,but but so beautiful also to
stand in that time square, whichyou have seen all your life in
(01:49):
movies, you know.
And then I also went to Torontoand you'll say that Toronto is
not that far.
You haven't been there,everything.
But literally I haven't.
I came in 2018.
I remember I had my cousin andhis wife, whom I, whom I visited
back in 2018, and I lived withthem for like four years.
But I kid you not, I have norecollection of those four days.
(02:11):
I literally don't, because Ifeel like I was still trying to
process that have I really movedabroad?
Have I really come to Canada?
Am I not living in my houseanymore?
I was still trying to processand I think it was my second
week in Canada when I visited my, my cousin there.
(02:31):
So, yeah, I would say I haven'ttraveled a lot, but I aim to do
that a lot in the coming years.
But I'll tell you one more thingthat because since I've started
this podcast, which was in 2022, september was my first episode
and I've started this podcast,which was in 2022, september was
my first episode and I've beenrecording like an year before
that I would say, through thispodcast and through these
conversations, I have traveled alot Because the people I have
(02:56):
spoken to, they are from aroundthe world.
They have told me about variouscities and various countries I
never even knew about.
For example, I spoke tosomebody from Bulgaria.
You know somebody from CzechRepublic, somebody from Costa
Rica, somebody who is currentlyin Egypt.
You know somebody I'm going tospeak to somebody who is
currently living in Brussels Ibelieve that's what the city is
(03:20):
called, and I can't recall.
But yeah, being able to havethese conversations and learn
about those cities is incredible.
So, not physically, but I wouldsay through these conversations
, I have traveled a lot.
Dhara (03:32):
Yeah, amazing, amazing yeah yeah, no great question.
Gurasis (03:37):
Thank you for asking that.
So now that we are in the finalsegment of the podcast I call
it beneath the accent I'm goingto ask a couple of questions.
You can answer them in one wordor a sentence, or however you
feel like.
The idea is just to know moreabout you.
So ready, yes, so first is whatadvice would you give to dhara
(03:57):
at a younger age, and at whatage?
Dhara (03:59):
I would advise myself when I was 18 years old that do
not be afraid of toxic peopleokay, describe a moment when you
experienced a significantcultural difference that
surprised you in canada therewere many but one that when
everybody used to ask me in thebeginning, are you good?
(04:21):
I used to feel of course I'mgood.
Why do you think?
Gurasis (04:25):
okay, that's like the very uh initial instinct that
comes up.
You know, hey, how are you?
Are you good?
You're good like, like that.
I'd see that.
Okay, what's that one dishdhara from your home country
that always brings you comfortand nostalgia?
Dhara (04:42):
oh, khich, that's my most favorite.
Gurasis (04:48):
Are there any funny stories related to your
misunderstanding around theaccent or the English that you
had?
Dhara (04:52):
Oh, yes, of course.
So on my first day at job, hrwas walking me through all the
rules and regulations and aftera while she take a pause for a
while and she said so are we onthe same page?
I said, yes, of course we areon the same page, page number
three.
Okay, she said that, oh, you'refunny.
(05:14):
I couldn't understand what wasso funny about it.
We were on page number three.
That is so funny.
Okay, I love that.
(05:35):
So what's your favoritecultural?
I think you know they exchangecookies usually homemade cookies
in my office and I love thosecookies A they're free, b
they're delicious, and C I feellike I'm very special that
they're cooking something andthen, you know, they're gifting
it to me.
So I love Christmas, I loveexchanging gifts.
I even like to give gifts aswell, but I think Christmas
(05:58):
cookies are my best favorite.
Gurasis (06:01):
Okay, amazing and share like a quick tip for fellow
immigrants who are trying toadjust into a new country.
Dhara (06:09):
I would say explore and be ready to push your envelope
and don't be afraid of beinguncomfortable.
Don't seek comfort all the time.
Try to do things that you havenot tried earlier.
That's the only way you canactually adjust and progress.
Gurasis (06:27):
Okay, that's amazing.
Tell us about the first friendthat you made in Canada.
Dhara (06:33):
She's also my best friend in Canada.
She's Chinese.
Gurasis (06:52):
And when I was studying I was crying in the corner of a
library and she came to me andshe started talking to me and
ever since she became my friend.
So she meet often.
Mm-hmm, Love that and share amoment where being an immigrant
made you feel exceptionallyproud or accomplished.
Dhara (07:06):
Yeah, I think we understand so many different
perceptions because weunderstand two different
societies, east and West polarapart, and we have those
understandings and insights.
And I feel very fortunate to bethe immigrant because now I
know and understand both thepart of the world, whereas the
(07:26):
people who have never been toother part, either only been in
North America or been in East, Ithink they're missing out on so
many things just to understandthe life, the vastness of it.
So I feel really proud andprivileged to be able to have
that understanding.
Gurasis (07:46):
That's a great answer.
Yeah, absolutely, I can relateto that Love, that If you had to
describe yourself, dara, as anycreature, what would it be and
why?
Dhara (07:56):
I think my spirit animal is a duck.
Okay, the way you see the duckbeing very calm and composed on
the outside, but it's actuallyworking hard from the inside.
Gurasis (08:07):
Underneath yeah, so I think I resemble myself with
that and what's something youate for the first time in canada
I think I had muffins okay yeahif you could have one
superpower, what would it be?
Dhara (08:26):
it's my childhood dream.
I like to be a fairy, I like tohave a magical wand, and I want
to fulfill everybody's wish.
Whatever anybody wants to do, Ijust do some magic and they get
it.
So that's the power I want.
Gurasis (08:42):
Okay, if you had to create this one law that
everybody has to follow, whatwould it be?
Dhara (08:49):
You cannot lie.
You have to speak the truth.
Gurasis (08:54):
And finally, how would you describe Canada in a word or
a sentence?
Dhara (08:59):
It's multicultural.
Gurasis (09:01):
Okay and Nadhara, if you had to leave one advice for
me, what would it be?
Dhara (09:08):
Reach out to more people.
I think more people need toknow who you are and what you do
, and what kind of person youare, I don't know.
Expand your reach, because Ithink people needs to know you
even more.
More people needs to know you.
So do whatever you need to doto reach out to larger audience
(09:29):
absolutely that's.
Gurasis (09:30):
That's the aim, for sure.
And finally, dhara, how wouldyou describe your experience of
being on this podcast?
Dhara (09:37):
it's, it's very, um, it's very motivational and
fulfilling experience, because Italked about certain parts of
my life and the journey that Inever talked to anybody before.
So, I don't know, there wassomething you know about it that
made me talk about it and againthink about it.
(09:58):
So very grateful, very happyand fulfilled.
Gurasis (10:04):
Wow, great, great words .
You know I'm overwhelmed tojust listen to what you just
said and thank you.
Thank you so much, Dara, foryour kind words, for being on
the podcast and adding value tome and to my listeners, so thank
you so much.
Dhara (10:18):
My pleasure.
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