[Bonus]"My Thick Accent Became an Immigrant's Companion" Says The Listener | Ft. Urja Khosla

Gurasis: 0:00

Hi, this is Gurasis Singh and you're listening to My Thick Accent podcast. So since the inception of , my overarching goal has been to provide a supportive and understanding space for immigrants navigating the intricate journey of establishing themselves in a new country. It's a journey I intimately understand, having experienced it firsthand. If I could be a guiding light for even one person in their immigrant journey, that to me would signify a significant victory. Over the course of this podcast, we have had the privilege of hosting a diverse array of guests, each contributing a unique and inspiring chapter to the grand narrative that the immigrant experience is. These are stories of resilience, triumph over adversity and individuals making indelible marks in their respective fields, from those who have overcome tremendous hardships to those achieving remarkable success. These conversations aim to connect, resonate and, most importantly, empower, and today I'm thrilled to welcome a cherished listener, someone whose journey intertwines seamlessly with the very essence of . Her experiences, deeply influenced by the insights shared by a diverse range of guests, mirror the transformative power embedded in community and shared narratives. In joining us today, she not only brings a unique perspective, but also illuminates how this podcast has been a catalyst for meaningful connections, unforeseen opportunities and, perhaps most importantly, a profound sense of belonging throughout her immigrant and international student journey. Take, for instance, the story of a guest who shared invaluable advice about navigating the failures he witnessed in his life.

Gurasis: 2:05

Our listener, inspired by this episode, found herself better equipped to navigate her own professional landscape, leading to increased confidence and success in her own journey. Another instance unfolded when a discussion on being a woman in an Indian household resonated deeply with her own struggles. This connection she shared made her feel seen and understood in a way that few other platforms had. These are just a couple of examples that underscore the impact of , not merely as a podcast, but as a community fostering shared experiences. It's a testament to the profound influence and ripple effects of these conversations that extend beyond the airwaves and into the lives of our listeners. As we delve into our today's conversation, let's explore not just the power of narratives but also the incredible journey of our devoid listener, a journey enriched by the collective wisdom, diverse stories and unwavering support cultivated within the community. Please welcome Urja Khosla.

Urja: 3:15

Hi Gurasis, Thank you so much for such a lovely introduction.

Gurasis: 3:20

Absolutely, urja, very, very excited to have you on the podcast and I think you were definitely like one of the initial listeners of mine who reached out to me, and so thank you for reaching out and thank you for doing this and welcome once again.

Urja: 3:33

Thank you so much. I don't know how should I thank you for this episode and, yeah, I just feel so honored that I am a guest today on MyThickAxon. It really fills my heart with a lot of gratitude, yeah, so thank you.

Gurasis: 3:51

Thank you. Thank you for saying that. So let's give a little bit of background to our listeners that how I connected with you and what all that you have been doing. But before that, tell me a little bit about yourself and what you were doing before you moved to Canada To begin with.

Urja: 4:08

so my name is Urja and I am from Punjab, which nobody you know. It is very hard for people to believe. And before moving to Canada, so I did my bachelor's in arts and then I moved to masters, so I am a master's in English literature. Post that, I worked like multiple jobs in India in my home city, north Hiana. So yeah, so like I worked like a few jobs and then I started planning for Canada, and now here I am as an international student.

Gurasis: 4:42

Okay, and I believe you are currently starting at Humber College and you are doing this professional communication literature program, but what is it all about? Tell us about that.

Urja: 4:51

Yeah, so it's a one year program and I am studying in Humber College, the Lakeshore campus, and it's a post graduate diploma in professional writing and communications.

Gurasis: 5:01

Okay, and you also mentioned that people think that you are not a Punjabi. What do you mean by that?

Urja: 5:07

It's just, I don't know, since the time I've landed here, like it's like this is something that you know most, mostly asked question and because I guess I don't speak Punjabi a lot and I'm mostly communicating in either in English or Hindi, so it's hard for people to believe. But guys, people from Punjab, also speak Hindi, so please stop giving me that.

Gurasis: 5:31

Yeah, but I can also resonate to this, this response that you get from people, sort of like a reaction that you get from people that you're not from Punjab. But I feel like people used to tell me that maybe I'm from Delhi because just because of the course I'm doing, or just because the way I'm talking, or just because of the things I'm pursuing in general. And that takes me to the point where this question regarding doing this particular program that you are doing and I remember somebody asking you in a certain interview that I saw of yours there they said that people from Punjab usually don't do these kinds of programs, right, and that kind of hit me and I was like why are we again stereotyping Punjabis or people from Northern India that they will do a certain type of courses when they come to Canada? But you tell me why did you choose this course? And I'll tell you briefly that I chose this because this is something which I wanted to do.

Gurasis: 6:24

This is something that resonated with me. The contents of the program resonated with me. Montreal resonated with me. The college I started in La Salle resonated with me and I was like this is something that I can do and this is something which can help me. You know, pursue a career in Montreal somewhere. So yeah, tell me about you.

Urja: 6:42

Yeah, so thank you for letting me know that, because I guess I can totally resonate to what you said and that's the most important part. Like it doesn't matter which part of country you're coming from, like with city, with state, it the you know, whatever you want to study, it has to be in somewhere you know like it should be connecting to you.

Urja: 7:01

And, like you said, I know you've studied something that's related to advertising and that's something that you're always interested in, and for me because, as I mentioned, I have my you know, you know masters in English literature and somewhere I was always reading literature, doing writing communications, and so I felt, why not? You know, I pursue something that I have passion in and I enjoy writing and joy reading and I enjoy talking. I am like a big time talker. You can just, you know, get me started and I can have conversations. Yeah, so I'm like let's just, you know, dive into something that's of more interest and I just read the like, the outlines and the courses. It was like, if you enjoy listening to podcasts I'm not making it, I'm telling you, it was part of the structure If you enjoy, you know, watching interviews, if you enjoy writing, so so this course is for you. To be honest, I guess it somewhere comes with that freedom that my parents have always given me and I feel so lucky Because I was never told that you have to do the specific thing.

Urja: 8:04

They told they always, they always, like my father's always been this like hard believer of this. One thing is like, whatever you're studying, you know, you should enjoy it first and then just try to make the best of most out of it. And I try to do that, like, whatever I do, it's not you know specifically I, because I'm enrolled in this program. For that sake, whatever I'm doing, even if I'm listening to your podcast, for example, like it's also kind of you know way I educate myself, even if I'm watching a YouTube video, even if I'm reading an article, if I feel like this is you know something that is helping me gain something, I'll make a note of it and for me it's like education, it doesn't matter.

Urja: 8:44

It's not like I have to go to an institute to study, I can study wherever I want to study. So for me it has always been like that, and I study and I learn from people around me, from these sources. So, yeah, that's how I just chose this program and it has been an amazing experience.

Gurasis: 9:01

Yeah, I love that. You said you can learn at anywhere. You don't have to go, like, to a certain institute to study, and that's amazing, you know, and I think again, you also mentioned about your family and I think family does play a major, major role in in how you are obviously like brought up and obviously the things that you pursue in your life. So definitely you know, and it's telling me something that but you did it like doing sort of like a preparation before landing, before coming to Canada. What did you do before that? Obviously you listen to the podcast. I know we'll get into that, but tell me what else did you do apart from that?

Urja: 9:35

Oh yeah, so years and years of, I'll say research. So, when I said years and years of preparation, so while I was doing my masters, I started, you know, researching and I started consuming a lot of content that was related to Canada, which I resonated with, which I felt like, okay, this is something. You know, that you know these are the creators that are making sense to me, because I've always been a very, very practical person. I don't want to see the rosy things, I just don't want to see all the rosy things, and I know life is not all rosy. So I really connect with people who, you know, who are talking sense like, who are talking both positive and negative. That's how the life is and that's how you know one should.

Urja: 10:14

you know they should be open to this, like. So I started consuming content, like I started understanding, you know how important a program is, how important getting into a good college or a university is. What is a one year program? How, in Canada, like their programs that they have co-op components in it, like you know, here and there, getting a lot of information from the people who you know have themselves, you know, gone through these, like, gone through this experience. So that's how I started learning and then, luckily, I'm so grateful.

Urja: 10:44

You know I was following these amazing creators and one of the creators you call them on your podcast and that's how you know I'm like, okay, this is, you know, so unique, like I've never knew. You know something like this. You know somebody in Canada is creating a podcast where they're calling all these immigrants and you know people like you were calling people from all over the world and they are. They are actually sharing the stories of struggles and you know how their journeys has been so inspiring and, yeah, so I know like somewhere I started feeling that, yeah, this is a kind of experience that I want for myself and, yeah, that's how the journey began.

Gurasis: 11:23

But that's, that's talk like a timeline. I am all about going chronologically. So tell me when did you apply for your this program at Humber, when did we get the visa? And then tell me when did you start listening to the podcast, and also tell us, like, what was that? Who was that person? Whom, whom you listened to for the first time, and that's how you found the podcast.

Urja: 11:44

Yeah, so okay, you are super specific with the date, dates and the time limits. I am super bad with it, but I got a rough idea.

Gurasis: 11:52

Give us like a rough idea.

Urja: 11:54

So for me it was like I remember I completed my as far as I remember I hope I'm saying it right so postgrad got completed in 2021 by the by May, june I was done with my exam and by December I have applied in Humber, I remember, and there was one Fanshawe College again. So again a communication program. So it took easily two, three months for me to receive an offer letter and I had good grades and everything and the course was matching to, you know, my previous education. So they gave me the offer letter but then because of COVID, the processing time was taking quite a lot of time.

Gurasis: 12:30

Of course yeah.

Urja: 12:32

Well, I remember, like I was waiting, waiting, waiting, and it took me like I actually want, I came to Canada in December, december 22. Exactly an year later, yeah, so but yeah, it takes time, yeah, so anybody who's you know who's planning. It takes time, guys, so you have to be very patient. I received my offer letter for September, but my visa was delayed. Luckily I got my offer letter for Jan, again from Humber, because they understood that my visa is not coming, and then we came in December 22.

Gurasis: 13:06

And during your preparation process, when was the time you got exposed to my thick accent and which was that first episode you heard?

Urja: 13:15

Oh, I remember this very vividly. Why I'll say vividly is because I remember I came from work one day and I'll reveal the creator. I don't know if she knows it so Barney Singh. Yeah, I've been following I used I was following her from quite a lot of time because she makes this amazing, you know, content, both Instagram and that time. I remember I was consuming a lot of her YouTube videos because she was really, you know, making these informational videos around co-op housing, job opportunities. You know good stuff Like, and also guys. This one is also from Punjab.

Gurasis: 13:52

She's actually from my city. She's from Humber as well, yeah.

Urja: 13:56

So and I'm like this one again, even I had a little bit of that thinking that you know only people from. You know metropolitan cities. They are the one you know who are with this amazing kind of talent. No guys, people everywhere are super talented without a doubt, yeah. So Barney was making amazing content and you called her on the podcast. I don't exactly remember which episode number.

Gurasis: 14:18

Oh, I remember it was my fourth episode with her and she was also one of my first guests, I would say, whom I ever met in my life. Like it was like that, because she happened to visit Montreal like the summer of that year. We recorded it Because he was also the first person I met in person out of all my guests.

Urja: 14:39

So I remember she posted and when she posted I'm like let me just listen to this podcast. And I remember actually I'm telling you I can, I don't know, I'm not lying guys I literally, you know, I was consuming the podcast, and side by side, while you were asking her amazing questions and she was giving amazingly brilliant answers, I was literally, you know, making voice notes of all the details he was giving while the podcast oh, wow.

Urja: 15:11

And I don't know I've lost my phone, but I remember I literally making you know Barney and recording all of that because she shared like. I'll tell you briefly, like she was talking, you know how she struggled with finding a room for herself. That episode is super, super like it's clear in my memory. So she's talking how she worked and she's she's actually suggesting guys don't work at them because it's going to be so hard.

Gurasis: 15:38

Yeah, I remember that.

Urja: 15:39

So she, narrating her, you know, her experience at York University, how she came her master's experience and how she you know she was able to land a job, how she strategically started looking for jobs before she graduated. I'm like this one is literally making sense. That's how it should be. Yeah, I'm like in one episode I've learned so much. I am not getting, I'm not going back. This podcast is just made for me and I was hooked. And then, like episodes after episodes, I started, you know, consuming whatever you posted and then and eventually, I became like this, every, every listener. I'm like, I used to. I literally I'm like okay, when is the another episode coming? When is the other? I have to consume who is coming next? I used to literally wait and the best part is, to be honest, you are not calling specific a people from a specific age group. It's like people from various age groups, which makes me feel like, okay, you know it's so. It's so much diversity. So it's not just panicing, it's not just somebody you know from Punjab, who's a YouTuber.

Urja: 16:45

We have people from Columbia, we have amazing people from different parts of the world, so that you know, that's what actually fascinated me the most about your podcast and also like amazing content coming from you.

Gurasis: 16:57

So yeah, I'm actually quite touched to just hear that that it resonated with you a lot, but I want to know more about it, like, how did you feel about the flow of the podcast, or what was something that made you come back each time, each Thursday? What was that thing? Or what was your initial impressions about me as a host? Tell me about that as well.

Urja: 17:17

Yeah, first of all, I'll start with you know the impression of like how I felt, like coming back again and again to the podcast. To be honest, I have never, like I don't think so. Like, obviously, as I mentioned, I was consuming a lot of content creators, instagram Reels, youtube, everything but I don't think so Everybody's doing a podcast, podcast, especially from my own country, and I guess, like it's not just Punjab, it's like I don't think so from anybody from India is doing this. So that's, first thing, made me feel like, oh, this is something different, and for me, it's always like I get attracted to something that's unique and my thick accent is very unique. In that way, what I love the most is that you are I guess I've told you this so many times you are not just interested to know the achievements. You want to know the nitty gritty details and what exactly you know the guest or immigrant went through back in all those years to reach where they reached. And that's why I connect. That's where you know I connect. I just don't want to know.

Urja: 18:22

For example, okay, karina Kapoor is doing this now, but what was she doing? As when, you know, when she entered, just giving too much information, but she was just joining her sister, you know, and watching her dancing, watching her going through those long shoots, that's how I get inspired. And when I see my thick accent, it all the episodes are like that. I'm getting to know the person, how that person was in childhood, what shaped them to this person and what made them feel like, okay, canada is for them. And then they're starting from scratch, no matter. You know who they are from, where they're coming, what kind of profession, and some people are coming with their kids. Some people are coming all alone. Some people they have been, they have gone through different experiences and it's too much of human touch, so I just love that.

Gurasis: 19:11

I think that's that's one example I have given to explain what I want to do with my each episode is everybody talks about you know, their first car, their first house, their first job, or you know whatever the PR, for example, people share with everybody you know but nobody talks about how did you end up being able to afford this car or this house? I wanted to know that and that is something I always wanted to unfold on this podcast. So I'm so glad that you said this, because that's exactly what my mission was to know the in depth, the behind the scenes of things, and not just what is just in front of people. But my just coming back to my original, going back to my original question, which was tell me about the initial impressions that you had about me as a host.

Urja: 20:00

So, like you know, before actually connecting with you in Canada, for me it was like I felt like, to be honest, I felt like this one is very serious and he's very, yeah, like very serious, and I felt like I really felt like, with podcasting, you must be a professor or something To be honest, you are so seriously having these serious conversations because it's very hard if anybody you know everybody, who's obviously who's gonna tune into my tech accent, for sure they're gonna get this vibe. You know, if they don't know you personally, they're gonna get this vibe that this person is very serious, like because you don't show your fun part, fun side, your podcast, which you should start doing you know, telling you now as a friend but yeah, I'm like this one and plus, the most important thing, you really really respect people's journey.

Urja: 20:54

I guess that's the kind of comfort you give to your guests, like me sitting and, you know, talking to you. I don't think so. I'm in any way feeling like, oh, I don't want to, you know, talk about this.

Urja: 21:05

I don't want to talk about this because I feel like if I can seek inspiration from people, why not? You know, maybe somebody's gonna seek inspiration from my story and my journey and they're gonna do better. So you get that comfort. That's what fascinated me the most. And there were the questions, like the introduction, like this introduction, it just made my day. And you know, you're crafting these beautiful converse, beautiful introductions, which not tells us about again the achievements, but the roller coaster ride that and every that you know different immigrants and different guests of yours have gone through and then still they're sailing through so happily. So that's that's what you look at, actually. And the music, of course. I just love the music. I just I just love it. That's the beautiful part. I just love that. And, like I know you made a lot of efforts and you would do all your related everything, music and, yeah, beautiful, and you have a beautiful voice. I have to give it to you Beautiful, it's made for podcasts, thank you, thank you.

Gurasis: 22:10

Thank you for your kind words and you know, regarding the sewing the serious side the funny thing is, when I started the podcast, you know, back in 2020, september, I launched it and my friends heard me. They sort of said be the same thing that. Why are you being so serious on the show? You are not that person. Where is the fun? Good to see is, why is not not coming out? You know, you know you do that with friends all those PJs and funds and those jokes and everything you know they say where is that? But then I told them the same thing that it's. It is supposed to be serious because we're having a serious conversations. But I think also, initially, I was nervous, obviously, just like, just like starting anything new, I was nervous. I was trying to find my own voice. In this past one year, I was still trying to see what kind of flow I need to go to, or making sure, also because sometimes, you know, for example, you have this tendency to think that somebody who is already out there let's just take example of Bani, since we know her. So, bani, you know I was hesitant to be that frank and open just because I thought, oh my God, like she's a YouTuber, you know, she has a certain following and she has a certain demeanour. I have to be very professional, so maybe I had that thing in my mind that, okay, everything has to be very nice and sophisticated and smooth, which is fair enough. I mean, that's how. That's the best I could do at that moment. And I think, obviously, like with my second two, season two of the podcast, obviously I'm trying to turn up the fun factor a little bit and people should stay tuned for that, for sure. But, yeah, I think now I would like to get into the part where we connected for the first time and I'll be able to do the background from my side, which I never shared with you also, which is so I came back from India in January 2023, end of 2023, january I came back from India and that month and a half that I spent in India I went in middle of December.

Gurasis: 24:07

That one and a half was such a fun time. I was attending weddings, I was attending parties, I was attending the Lodi functions. I had like other wedding functions. You know how weddings are in India. They are like multiple days and a lot of like fun I was having. And when I came back in the beginning of February I'm getting up, I'm doing my work, I'm getting up, I'm working from home, I'm working after nine to five, I'm just going down to my bed, the bathroom is just next to me, I'm hardly going to the kitchen. I even, like, didn't unpack for like three weeks because I was so occupied with my work and I felt like it took me a bit of time to come come out of that whole trip to India.

Gurasis: 24:48

And at that time, obviously, when I went to India, I had my episodes banked. You know, I had a couple of episodes and so I can put them every Thursday, but when I came back I didn't have enough episodes, you know. And then I just had like one more which I posted and the other one was just like right there, like the Thursday was coming and I was just had the weekend to record. So this, some somebody reached out to me. I recorded that episode and I remember it was my 20th episode. I recorded that and when I recorded that, somehow I could not put that episode out. I think I will do another episode about that also. That why I did not put that episode is the only episode which I never put out.

Gurasis: 25:25

I could not put that episode out and I end up skipping that Thursday and that made me really, really sad, because that was the first time ever in six, seven months I was skipping posting an episode and that made me really sad and I was also sort of like questioning anyways, like where have I come back, what am I doing, and everything. And at that moment I remember sometime in the late afternoon, a message popped up on my LinkedIn and that was a message from you which said that I go to see something. I visited your profile like five times and I think your podcast has changed the way I see Canada and I was like Whoa, this is huge, like this is exactly which I envisioned to do with my thick accent, and I would love to know that, why she's saying that and what has connected with her, what has resonated with her and what I can continue to do. That will let more and more people reach out to me and say that and you were the first person ever who reached out to me and getting that statement that your podcast has changed the way I see Canada really hit me and I think that really motivated me a lot.

Gurasis: 26:36

I think, after that downfall of not posting an episode, skipping a week, not being able to, you know, really put anything on Thursday, and that really made me sad. And then coming with this message was really like you actually made my day. Clearly, I would say that you made my day by just sending me that message. But tell me before you, tell me, like, what happened after that and how we connected. I want you to unfold that part. But tell me why did you visit my profile five times, why you waited five times Like you felt like you know, with Bani you have to be super professional.

Urja: 27:07

I guess I was in the same dilemma. I'm like he's a content for me. It was like he's an amazing podcaster. You know, he's talking to these amazing immigrants. He's in Canada and I went to your profile and this one is doing crazy stuff in advertising and I'm like why will he reply to me Like yeah, but to be honest, good issues for me. Like I've always learned this one thing that in life it doesn't matter, you just have to give your best rest. You know you can decide everything, like I. What I can do is I am a doer, I do my part and then I leave it to universe, to be honest, and I feel like it's meant for me, it's gonna happen.

Urja: 27:56

If it's not meant for me, it's okay. You know life is not gonna like stop there, so I'll give you a small like like why I felt like you know, today is the time that I should connect. It was nothing like networking, but I remember like again coming back to my program, has I have to give this to my program a big part, you know, of me connecting with you in that way. Obviously, I was enjoying the podcast, I was loving it. Every, each and every word that I wrote. It came straight from my heart. But I remember like we were given this one assignment beautiful program and beautiful assignments, amazing kind of. You know, the the period that the time that I've spent I would I'm gonna should cherish this forever. So one of my assignments was that you know, I have to interview a creator who really inspires me, and I can interview anybody from whichever part of the world they are.

Urja: 28:51

And I'm like I don't know, but at the moment, because obviously I now I'm in Canada and I'm relating more to your episode, every episode, I am going back to the episode, listening to some pet episode two times, three times, you know, going back and listening to, okay, what was the answer to this question, you know, of your guest do it going to this extent and and I felt like I have to interview him. I can't, you know, miss this chance. Only if he allows and if he, you know, replies back. And I remember I guess I wrote that message in the college itself. Yeah, I did it. So when she's, my professor mentioned that you have to interview and make sure you know, you write, you can connect with them on LinkedIn, on Gmail, like, whatever you know floats your board. However you want to connect and I'm like, but I don't think so by that time I have ever gone on LinkedIn and searched. It was just, you know, listening to my attack, said just you know, going on Google and listening to the podcast. So I'm like, let me see if is there.

Urja: 29:53

You know, we have that perception, like I guess everybody has that perception, like we start thinking of creators, like you know, different personalities altogether. But everybody is, at the end of the day, an individual. Even if it's a metabh person, he also does the same regular stuff with which everybody does. So I went on LinkedIn and I'm like, okay, it's popping Guru, see saying, and it's popping my thick accent, it's popping everything.

Urja: 30:21

Still, you know, it took me a while. I'm seeing your profile. I'm like, okay, should I write? Should I write when he will he reply back? So I wrote that message to you and you replied for me that was like my day made. And you replied and I remember, like somewhere we were not able to, timings were not matching because I had to go for my morning shift and you're very polite to you and very you know. You were so humble and you even change the timings to you know. But we're suiting to my schedule because I had to go to part time and I'm like, what am I going to connect with the podcast of my thick accent? We're going to sit and have a chat and get the rest of history.

Gurasis: 31:09

Well, you know, I think, like I told you, I was very overwhelmed when you reached out to me. I was very happy about that and I know about all these assignments that one is given to, because my program had the similar thing and unfortunately I could not connect with anybody, and I know how important those assignments are sometimes when you're, when you are like studying in a new world, and I knew that people have done. A lot of people in a lot of people have reached out to me and they have lend a helping hand to me and that's what I'm trying to do through this podcast. And if podcasts have led you to reach out to me, I could not stop myself to reply you back.

Gurasis: 31:44

You know I had to because why not? And if any way I could contribute in your journey, and why not? I would love to do that. And if any of our listeners today is hesitant to reach out to me or drop a message to me or draw a comment or a suggestion, anything you have, please reach out, don't hesitate, I will reply you back. I can assure you that for sure. I will reply you back.

Urja: 32:08

I can let you go to another question before you know, adding this this is actually for the first time, guys, that I am listening to what you were going through as a creator yourself, you know. Before I pop that message to you.

Urja: 32:20

So here I would really like to say one thing that even I've learned today Guys, to appreciate, if you feel somebody is doing good, it's a duty to appreciate. It doesn't matter which you know position that creator is. If you connect, just let them know, because you don't know what the other person is going through, and maybe your one message could be an amazing, could give you an amazing amount of motivation I would have never, I can't even imagine, you know, that one message of mine could, you know, motivate you to this extent.

Urja: 32:52

And I'm not saying I'm gonna take any credit for that, because it's your skills, like everything is you. You know you doing your hard work, but sometimes you need that push and I'm glad I could do that and I'm grateful to my program person. You know gave me that assignment and I Couldn't think of anybody else other than you. I could have wrote it too. I don't think so. I wrote to 10 creators and you were one of them. No, it was just you and I don't know like I was. I Remember in even in the class, before even we connected, I wrote that message Me telling other immigrant students I was literally marketing for my attack action without even knowing you. There's a lady still like she was with me in this program, jennifer, if you are listening this. So a 50 years old doing this program with me, my classmate and she. She actually asking me. Can you please tell me the name of the podcast that you are talking about?

Gurasis: 33:54

Oh my god.

Urja: 33:54

And I would really want to tune in because, the way you were telling about the podcast, I want to listen to this podcast and yeah, jennifer you know it right now. You know it.

Gurasis: 34:04

Wow, but thank you, Thank you for doing that and thank you for saying that. You know and mentioning that, highlighting that on the podcast, and I do need more and more Ujja kind of followers. I do need those marketers. Okay, so now I want to pivot towards how this podcast has definitely grown, helped you grow personally, but how it has also helped you to land certain opportunities and Connect with certain people. But before that, tell us, like, about this part-time job that you are doing right now, and there was a day, obviously, where you listen to a certain podcast and that's how you connected with somebody. You got to know about a networking event and you took an off from your part-time job and then you went to that event and that led to a lot of other opportunities, a lot of other things which you are doing right now as well, which are nice. Very, very briefly about that.

Urja: 34:56

Yes, so I remember you called Urvish Patel.

Urja: 35:01

He's somebody you know who's running a career coaching company here in Canada.

Urja: 35:05

What actually, you know, made me Connect with his story was how this individual fought for himself, not after coming or landing here in Canada, yeah, or he could even come here to Canada during his bachelor's, you know, he had like a lot of his courses, like he won't clear it and he was finding it hard to, you know, get into the college and get into Canadian education system.

Urja: 35:27

The way he took everything on himself, that he's not gonna rely on any Agent or anybody else, he's gonna do it everything. And from back in India, he connected here, like with the program coordinator of George Brown, one of the most reputed colleges, and telling him that, okay, maybe I have not like academically proven myself to you know, to that part, but I know that I deserve to study this program here in Canada and I actually have a lot of interest in what I want to study. He in a way made me realize that everything is possible. If you really want to do it, you're gonna make your way. Yeah, and then, listening to that, this person who came as an international student after like one who was not, you know, even sure, even if he'll be able to study here in Canada and now being a professor here in one of the Canadian colleges, and I'm like yeah and.

Urja: 36:20

I've been a teacher in India, home tutoring and Taking my own tuition classes. So I've been all the ways around surrounded by students and I'm like, if he can be a teacher, one day, I'm gonna be a professor here in one of the Canadian colleges or maybe University and I'm gonna make it possible for myself, of course. And then he telling that you know what he's doing with his career coaching company called orbit 5, talking about the events they are doing for international students. You know how they are guiding them with their resumes, their interviews, networking, and I'm like this is a place that I really want to be.

Urja: 36:54

Like, right after listening to your episode, because I was so inspired, I wrote like on his Instagram because you, I guess, where you put his Instagram link link and I wrote to Urvish mentioning that if you know your story, I listen to the podcast and I really resonated with with it and I loved your story and and if you can be a teacher, I can be a teacher's. And Urvish again replied he's like. I Remember he telling me like how you know he had such a bad fever I don't know even if I mentioned this to you. He's telling me that he was.

Urja: 37:26

He had such a bad fever, but still he did it. And he said I'm thankful to you. You know, you listen to my Podcast and this episode and he said there's a networking event happening and it's in Toronto and you should come. And I am in this Dilemma that this event I really want to go, I really want to be there, I will really want to learn. But it's on Saturday and I work like in a restaurant as a server and If anybody who works in restaurant, guys, you can get anything, but you can't get an off on a weekend.

Urja: 37:58

Yeah, so they'll give you anything you want, but getting an off on weekend is like what are you even asking? Yeah but I have to give this one to my manager. It was so sweet. I Very politely I requested him that I really want to. I have something very important for this Saturday and I need an off. And he said, okay, I'm gonna manage and you can take a day off. And I went to Toronto and that event changed my from Brampton you travel from Brampton.

Urja: 38:26

Yeah, so I live in Brampton, so from Brampton it took me good three hours of travel because obviously was my first time Going to Toronto. Myself had no idea how you know I can, actually I'm gonna go, but I'll be able to reach to the event or not. What kind of transit. I had no idea. It was the very first time I took a train and no idea we have trains in Brampton, guys, sorry, I was so, so that bad. I thought I'm gonna take a few buses. But then there I realized, okay, I have to take a train. For me it was like I was living my dream, like sitting in the beautiful train for the first time, because we don't have any metros and stuff in Punjab and I'm just enjoying my time. So I went there and they went, started and event was, you know, it was already half an hour and they went and I sat on the very last row, nobody could see me and I am.

Urja: 39:19

I am having fun Listening to these amazing people, the workshops. I felt like I have not enjoyed Like this ever in Canada, like why am I having so much fun listening to these people? And Something clicked, I don't know. And yeah, that's how, with the journey began.

Gurasis: 39:41

I think I'll give you the reference of the Varun's episode, the very last episode I did, 50th episode where he also did the same thing. He went to a certain event and the one thing that we talked about was Having the will to do that. And I think you are definitely a testament, a live example of Somebody who had the will to do it. Because, yes, these networking events were happening. This podcast exists you know I'm gonna post episode every week for sure, but you had the will. You know you instill that will in you to recharg to me, reach out to Urvish and, on top of that, take that off and had that will to go to that networking event. And that's where it proves that it's all about instilling that will in you. All these things are right there.

Gurasis: 40:29

But after that you didn't stop, which are you continue to connect, remained connected with these people. You Were engaging with all their content on LinkedIn, on other platforms, and you continue to stay in connection with them and the work that they were doing and following that. Now you are really working with orbit 5 as a career coach Right, correct me if I'm wrong here. You're working within that. Along with that, you're also working with another organization where you are doing this empowering Series. Where you are and you are also sort of doing the exactly the same mission. You're joining the mission which I have. You're inviting people, unfolding their journeys, bringing for the stories of immigrants who have made it big here. Do you have your own series on YouTube, which is a powering series, and along with that, you are also studying in Humber College and on top of that, you're also doing your part-time job on the weekend. So all these things you are managing. So I would say just more power to you. Kudos to you for doing everything that you are doing and remain being a glistener of the podcast.

Urja: 41:34

Love the ending. Yeah, so of course you mentioned like things and sources. Stuff is available outside, but at the end of the day, it's you know. You need to understand what you're passionate about and if I am dreaming and the dreamer, I have to work hard for that dream. So I truly, truly believe in that. Nobody's gonna work hard for me in my place. I have a dream of doing amazing professionally here in Canada. I'll have to take those you know steps, small steps. I'm not saying, you know, take these big jumps, leave your job, and that I would never do that unless I know, you know I am making this much money that will help me survive at that event.

Urja: 42:12

I remember how, or wish and David, both they're amazing, both of them, you know they. They were majorly talking in this event about personal, having a personal brand, and how having, you know, actually having a presence on LinkedIn is so important and that's where you know. If anybody would follow me on LinkedIn, they'll see that I started putting my own content. I started putting my own journey, my Career-wise, professionally, how the life has been here as an international student thinks that I'm learning which I feel like would be of value to Somebody else. You know who's gonna start this journey. I got that inspiration from her wish. I have to give that, give this to him. Thank you so much for being you know, for helping me understand that, how important it is. You know, not just for other people that you're putting that content, but for your own self. You don't have to be perfect, you know, while you're starting with, you have to just start putting content out.

Urja: 43:04

And I felt like people started connecting. They started resonating to my post and I was. I was connected to them as well, because they are also putting amazing content on LinkedIn, which made me further realize that career coaching is an industry. Like you know, coaching is an industry that I want to be a part of Because I love inspiring people and I guess I am made for that company. I'm made for that industry and yeah, so that's how I started creating content. I was following up, I was talking to them and I was learning. I am still learning and I'm gonna keep on learning from them and they saw that energy and they couldn't resist and they made me a part of the team.

Gurasis: 43:45

Yeah, yeah, yeah, wow. This is actually pretty inspiring, though, because I think it again comes back to not limiting yourself to your part-time job, like in your case. You work at a restaurant as a server, but you were like that's fine, that is that perfect, that is giving me like a survival money. For sure I'll do that. But you did not stop yourself and you made sure that I should do something else as well, which is gonna help me land the job once you graduate, once you finish your studies, and something that again, once again, that you can get into your field, you can get your foot in the door. All those experiences are gonna help you for sure. So, ujjha, now I have few questions about my thick accent. I'd like to know from you, as a listener Ready, I'm ready. So which episode of my thick accent has resonated the most with you and why.

Urja: 44:41

For me. I'll say there are different elements that I can pick which I connected to from various episodes. If you allow me to share that, sure I really connected with. There's one episode with Taranum Khan People who don't know Taranum Khan, so you should listen to this episode.

Urja: 44:59

How she narrated her tale. You know, she came at the age maybe when she was in her 40s, she coming with her family, her kids, and starting from scratch there. Like I remember, I was listening to this episode of hers while I was in India doing my household chores. You know, listening to such small, small excerpts from people's journeys, like that's how you know everybody's journey start. It doesn't matter from where you come from. She has so much years in India, still she came here and she was feeling like this you know Her family, she came with a family, but still she was feeling like that, you know, and that made me realize that if there are few low days for me here in Canada and I I'm just reminded that everybody goes through that it doesn't matter at what age they come with, what achievement they're coming with. Everybody has to go through these dark days. And then that's how, you know, I was seeking inspiration, I seek inspiration from her story and then again the last episode. You know that you did with Varun. I deeply resonated with that, like you mentioned.

Urja: 46:04

he too, you know his journey began with that networking give-in, and I wrote back to him as well after that episode that the way you started your journey through networking give-in you know somebody has done the same without knowing that, look, it is already somebody who has done the same.

Urja: 46:20

Like there's so many episodes, david, you know the company that I'm working with he telling like how he came from Columbia. You know, as like he was going to be a teacher here. He was, he got into ESL and then how he started his job somewhere, and these small, small elements you know from different people's journey, like Bani Ritika. So many people, like everybody, so it's very hard I can't pick one.

Gurasis: 46:47

No, I can totally agree to that. All the people you have mentioned. Definitely, you know a few of my favorite episodes and I think I personally, I think I have become very good connection friends with these people and I think I always reach out to them as well. You know, in case of any questions I might have, you know about my immigrant journey or any harder lamb coming across for sure, yeah, so yeah, I definitely understand where you're coming from. Okay, looking ahead, are there any specific topics that you would like to see featured on the podcast?

Urja: 47:18

I guess you were already getting people from. I would say you were touching already on different topics. So when I say different topics, again, there's no, it's not limited by the custom, there's not limited to somebody who's an international student, even if you're coming with PR, that one can listen to this and can learn and, you know, take away so much, even if you are somebody who has already been here in Canada for 10 years and you still, you are, you know, trying to venture into something new.

Urja: 47:48

You'll get something here for yourself again. There's nothing, you know, that I feel like should be there, but maybe more of these success stories. You've started with me, but I want you to get more and more people, more and more. You know, like I know, my thick accent is growing at an amazing scale and there are a lot of people here who are connecting with you and they're telling you how this might, how this podcast of yours is shaping their life here in.

Urja: 48:15

Canada and it's not just in Canada like any immigrant, it's not a limited Canada. Guys, even if you are UK, you should listen. Even if you're moved to America, just listen to this. So get more and more people you know and let like you should know. You know how you are, how these interactions of yours are helping people. So get more people like these. That's what I would like to say.

Gurasis: 48:38

Yeah, I mean, I'll be happy to bring any other success story. If any podcast has helped you, please reach out to me. I've said it before, I would love to hear from you guys and even if you're just hesitant, drop me an email if you want you know, or just drop a comment in Papal Podcast or Spotify. Now there are options. You can even drop comments or just rate me. I'll appreciate that as well.

Urja: 49:00

Yeah, and in case you are still hesitant, guys just reach out to me and I'm gonna make that customized note for you and then maybe, if you want, I can pitch for you.

Gurasis: 49:10

Okay, perfect, that would be great. Okay, so, as someone who has connected with you, know various guests like you just mentioned have you also formed any connections with other listeners or members of Mathik Aksan community?

Urja: 49:22

Other listeners. Oh, yes, yes, yes. So recently there was a networking event which you were also a part of, and I met one of your listeners there, so his name is Gurkirath.

Urja: 49:34

And as you just mentioned, that I have also started, you know, doing a series of mine called Empowered Journey, so anybody who wants to listen to and see what I am doing I'm also trying to bring stories forward, seeking inspiration from Guru Srinivasan, for sure, and so he with him, like I, connected and I came across as this one is also. You know he is also enjoying Mathik Aksan the way I am enjoying and I have him on my episode, like second episode of my YouTube series. So, yeah, I am looking forward to connect more of the listeners of Mathik Aksan family. It's always amazing to talk to them, to learn from them. You know how Mathik Aksan is helping them. It like maybe it gives me also a chance to see it, mathik Aksan, at different angles.

Urja: 50:23

So, looking forward to that guys. Do let me know, if you guys also. You know, just give me, drop me a text and I would love to have a chat. We guys can actually talk about Mathik Aksan without making Guru Srinivasan part of it. Let's just talk.

Gurasis: 50:36

Okay, that would be awesome. Okay, so what is your favorite part of the flow of the podcast, or just Mathik Aksan? If you have to define and don't say you cannot choose one you have to choose something which is your favorite part of Mathik Aksan.

Urja: 50:50

Oh, I can. I love the ending. I just love that. You know the fiery questions that you ask at the end. Yeah, and I don't know. I've always manifested that I'm gonna be on my thick accent and I feel like it's gonna be the hardest. I am hoping we have that element today as well in this episode, and if we have that, I guess I'm gonna struggle the most because I am this person who takes time to answer a question and your rapid fire rounds are something that I enjoy the most, so they are the best.

Gurasis: 51:19

So the reason I have asked you this question is because I knew you would say Beneath the Aksan is your favorite section. So, speaking of that, let's just get into the final section of the podcast, which is called Beneath the Aksan. I'm gonna ask a couple of questions. You can answer them in one word, or a sentence, or house, server. You feel like the idea is just to know more about Ujra. So ready, hi.

Urja: 51:41

I am ready. I am ready, I am ready.

Gurasis: 51:43

So what's this one habit that you have adopted that has changed your life?

Urja: 51:47

Trying to stay happy always.

Gurasis: 51:50

Is there something you recently bought and you now regret?

Urja: 51:52

To be honest, I haven't recently bought anything that I should be regretting, because I'm an international student and I'm trying to save a lot of money. So nothing for now.

Gurasis: 52:01

If you had to describe yourself as any creature, what would it be and why?

Urja: 52:05

Maybe a horse. Yeah, I'm gonna say horse because I guess they are very resilient, they're very hardworking and yeah, so I feel maybe a horse.

Gurasis: 52:17

Okay, so who's your go-to person when you feel stuck?

Urja: 52:21

Oh, my go-to person is always my mother and it's gonna be always my mother, yeah.

Gurasis: 52:26

If you could swap lives with somebody for a day, who would it be and why?

Urja: 52:29

I want to swap a life with my father, maybe because he's my true inspiration and I know fathers would never let you know that what they're going through, what they've gone through to give you the life, and I really want to live a life in his day and see you know what he goes through every day and how I can actually bring some relaxment in his life. So maybe I want to experience a day in his life.

Gurasis: 52:54

Okay, interesting. So what's the best piece of advice someone ever gave?

Urja: 52:58

you.

Gurasis: 52:59

Be a doer Any worst advice someone ever gave you.

Urja: 53:03

I don't think so. Any worst advice because, to be honest, I guess I've always been this person who listened to a lot of people, but at the end of the day, I do what makes me feel like it's something that I should be taking forward.

Gurasis: 53:17

Okay, what's next on your bucket list?

Urja: 53:20

I guess just enjoying the second program. So I'm going to start my second program, which is marketing management, and I'm hoping to have an amazing experience at Humber again. Yeah, I'm making a great career for myself. That's on my bucket list.

Gurasis: 53:36

If you could create this one law that everybody has to follow, what would it be?

Urja: 53:41

Guys, please be kind. Yeah, that would be my only law. Just be generous, be kind. And everybody is a human. Just don't see at what status they are, whether they are this top, top ranked minister or this person, because nothing, everybody is a human and everybody goes through all the kinds of emotions. So be kind to people, be kind to individuals.

Gurasis: 54:12

If you could eat just one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Urja: 54:16

I guess my go-to would be egg burji. Yeah, that's what I've been eating since the time I've landed here in Canada. So egg burji and that's my comfort vote. Yeah.

Gurasis: 54:29

Okay, so finally describe Canada in one word or a sentence.

Urja: 54:34

A place where you'll fulfill all your dreams. Just keep on going.

Gurasis: 54:37

All right, love that. Lastly, any last words that you have to say to me or to my Thick accent community.

Urja: 54:45

Yeah to you. I can't let this episode closed without saying thank you to you for giving me this opportunity. You don't know how much this means to me. I've always manifested, since the time we've started talking after that assignment, that when is Guru Seer going to call me on my Thick accent? And today is a very, very, very beautiful day. I feel so honored and so respected that I've been called as a guest here on my Thick accent. So thank you so much and please never, ever, stop doing what makes you feel happy. I'm not going to say, don't you know, you should continue my Thick accent for 20 years. I feel like everything has a season, and maybe you're going to do something else in two years or three years, but just keep doing what makes you feel complete. That would be the only thing that I would say.

Gurasis: 55:45

Perfect Sounds good, thank you. Thank you for being on the podcast. Thanks a lot for being here and continue to listen to and stay tuned for the upcoming episodes, for sure.

Urja: 55:55

I am totally Bring it on.

Gurasis: 55:58

Perfect. Thank you, hey listener. Thank you for making it to the end. I highly, highly appreciate you listening to the podcast. Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't as yet, and please share with your friends or anybody you think would like it. And, like I always say, we encourage you to follow your heart, but also ask on Instagram the handle is my Thick accent. You can also leave us a review or write to us at hello at mythickaccentcom. So stay tuned and let's continue knowing each other beneath the accent.