Gurasis: 0:03

so, ruth, I have included this new segment in the second season of the podcast. It's called know your host, where I give my guests an opportunity to ask me any question they might have yeah, oh, I love this, I love this.

Ruth: 0:18

yes, of course, I've been listening to several of your podcasts and I say I I was listening to the transition out to this to the second season, and my question for you is when you go into interview someone and you and you want to learn about their story, what is the first thing you do before interviewing that that person?

Gurasis: 0:46

before I sit on a call and talk to them.

Gurasis: 0:49

But yeah, before this yeah I think it's exactly what I did with you and all my other guests.

Gurasis: 0:56

Like, I make sure that I have the introductory call, like an intro call, just to get on the same page and also to see whether our vibes match. And also I want people that who are coming on the show they have some sort of a willingness to lend a helping hand to any of our listeners. You know I would like to do that as well. So I think that's pretty much the very first thing I do, and making sure that I know what are the things that they are comfortable sharing on the podcast and the things they don't want to touch upon, because I want to respect their personal boundaries as well, because why not? And I want them to share the podcast with more and more people, with their community and anything that they would like to share. So that's why, all in all, the short answer is I make sure I sit with them and get on the same page before we hit that record button yes, thank you for sharing, and I love to hear that and and I went through that and I.

Ruth: 1:51

The reason why I wanted to hear it out loud is because it's for others to hear how careful you are in your approach and how you get to connect with other people behind the scenes. So there is so much that happens behind the scenes.

Gurasis: 2:06

Absolutely.

Ruth: 2:07

From writing, getting to know the person in a personal level, a little bit more about themselves. So thank you so much for that. May I ask you one more question?

Gurasis: 2:15

Absolutely. Please go ahead.

Ruth: 2:17

How does the stories that you have heard impacted you as the podcast host?

Gurasis: 2:28

That's a beautiful question, because I do get that question a lot offline also, and some of my previous guests in the second season have asked me this also, but maybe in different words. I think these conversations have really made me realize one thing for sure throughout my immigrant journey that I am not alone in this. If, if I am questioning myself, I'm questioning my abilities, I'm I'm questioning my decision of coming to Canada, I'm not alone. And everything that I have gone through or even currently I'm going through within my the corporate career journey, you know it's it's not something that it's unique to me.

Gurasis: 3:07

People have gone through that and all these conversations help me really navigate those situations and also a sense of surety. It gives me that things do get better. This is just for time being. All this is really helping you build your character and eventually you'll look back and you'll say that I'm so glad that certain thing happened because that helped me and that shaped me or more I will use a better word that all carved me into the person I became today. So these conversations have really been a source of inspiration for me, because the people I'm speaking to are professionals in their career, people who have been in Canada longer than me, they have a little bit of additional ears under their belt and all that experiences, all that mistakes even they have done and I can learn from them. So I am so glad, I would say, that Universe took me, or chose me as an agent to have these conversations and put the stories out, and I hope I stick to that and I continue to do this to put out more and more stories out.

Ruth: 4:16

Beautiful. I love that line it does get better. It does get better. That's a very hopeful phrase and thank you so much for sharing good assist and I think you are, uh, doing an amazing work in the podcast and I, when I every time I listen to it, it gives me like a boost of more confidence to keep moving forward because, as you said, I am not alone in this.

Gurasis: 4:39

Thank you so much no, thank you for these questions. You know again, there are some parts of your mind you never tap on, but because of these questions it forces me to reflect upon. You know, some things that you do in your life. So thank you, thank you for this question, perfect. So now, ruth, we are in the final segment of the podcast. I call it beneath the accent because we are knowing each other beneath the accent. I'm going to ask you a couple of questions. You can answer them in one word or a sentence, or however you feel like. The idea is just to know more about Ruth. So ready, yes. So first is, what advice would you give to your younger self and at what age?

Ruth: 5:20

Any age below 15.

Gurasis: 5:22

Okay.

Ruth: 5:24

I would say to myself your now is not your forever you will do amazing work. Your now is not your forever.

Gurasis: 5:35

I love that. Yeah, perfect. So describe a moment when you experienced a significant cultural difference that surprised you a lot in Canada.

Ruth: 5:46

One of the cultures is the coffee drinking culture. But going to Tim Horton and asking for a double-double, I didn't understand.

Gurasis: 5:57

And I was afraid to ask.

Ruth: 5:58

I didn't want to appear dumb.

Gurasis: 6:04

And I'm on the same page. You know, I was like that as well. I was like, okay, double-double. I don't know, what is that I?

Ruth: 6:11

went there and like, give me a double double. So I went there to buy some tea and other things and now someone asking double double. Until I had to ask someone what is a double double? And then they are oh, double cough, double shot of milk, double shot of sugar. So that was my one of the culture shock and I was afraid to ask because I didn't appear uh dumb. But when I eventually asked, I'm like, huh, that makes life easy. You don't have to give all the details, just say a double double.

Gurasis: 6:40

So great, okay, what's this one dish from your home home country that always brings you comfort and nostalgia? A dish called moto Okay.

Ruth: 6:56

I grew up with that. Moto is a dish rice and beans cooked together, and the rice is very grainy and the bean is there as well, and it's very flavorful. So when I eat it I think back on my childhood and how my mom used to cook it for us. But also, if you go to any restaurant, you will find it as well.

Gurasis: 7:16

so moto is my dish that brings beautiful memories what's your favorite cultural festival or celebration in Canada that you have now adopted, and how do you celebrate it?

Ruth: 7:42

Oh, I celebrate well, canada Day. So first July I celebrate Canada Day because there are so many events happening around and I can say that's pretty much it, because I learned so many other holidays in Canada. But I love Canada Day because it makes me look more into the Canadian history but also reminds me of how I became a Canadian and all the process I went through and I make myself celebrate like a Canadian. I go for a poutine or I make it up purposefully, go and ask for a double double. I make it up purposefully, go and ask for a double-double. So Canada Day is definitely one of the holidays I have been adopting since the last, I'd say, six years in Canada. Okay, five years, yeah.

Gurasis: 8:21

So what's something that you ate for the first time in Canada, and did you like it?

Ruth: 8:28

Ha Pizza Pineapple pizza.

Gurasis: 8:34

And that's not a.

Ruth: 8:34

Canadian thing, but that was the first time I ate it. Okay, it was from pizza. No, sorry if I not. So I have to mention that I ordered pizza and I wanted a pizza, pizza with, and by mistake they delivered a pizza with pineapple. And I was wondering what is this? Because back home we do pizza with cheese and you know many countries are being westernized, but I never tried it with pineapple. So when I tried it and I asked my husband, what is this? And we started with pizza and pineapple. And then that's when I realized, huh, okay, this is really good. And the second dish.

Gurasis: 9:13

I'm sorry you said one dish, but it was poutine.

Ruth: 9:14

Okay did you like it. Delicious, extra calories for energy, delicious. So every time I go for a poutine I always ask okay, give me poutine. I always ask to not put bacon, but they add all this beautiful sauce there and cheese. I love poutine.

Gurasis: 9:35

So that's another dish I love from Canada. Okay, perfect. So tell us about your first friend that you made in Canada, and are you still in touch.

Ruth: 9:44

Yes, so the first friend I made in Canada was from church. So I go to church and that person speaks Spanish and that person I remember when I was going to church I couldn't travel. It was in the middle of March, it was around my fourth week here and I just wanted online, went online and contacted that person and that person sent someone to pick me up because I wasn't sure how to navigate you know, taxi and everything they had no worries, I will find you a driver, and they sent someone here to drive me and took me to church and we're still in touch and that's something I really appreciate and talking about feeling belonging here, appreciate and talking about feeling uh belonging uh here.

Ruth: 10:35

So feeling the feeling of belonging that person made me feel, uh, that I belong uh. When they brought me to the community and we started sharing food. We started sharing uh, you know thoughts and how to navigate canadian culture, so she helped me a lot and I still keep being friend with her for seven years now.

Gurasis: 10:50

Oh, wow.

Ruth: 10:51

Awesome.

Gurasis: 10:51

Perfect. So if you had to describe yourself as any creature, what would it be and why?

Ruth: 10:58

Any creature, I would say a lioness. I don't know if that's how you say it in English, a lion or lioness, and that could be a little scary. But I would say more in the kitten side, because what I would describe is bravery when I say lioness bravery to face challenges, bravery to take care of my family, bravery to take care of my professional career, bravery to take care of myself. So I think I would describe myself as a lion because I would still be that caring person who cares for everyone else and I would protect it. So definitely with a lioness.

Gurasis: 11:46

Okay, perfect. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

Ruth: 11:55

Teletransportation. Okay, teletransportation, if I think something or somewhere, a place, I'm there. That would give me the opportunity to visit many countries. I want to visit and enjoy and immerse myself in other cultures and learn from them, which can be hard if you have to take an airplane and go through all the process. So definitely teletransportation to help me get that experience.

Gurasis: 12:25

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

Ruth: 12:33

That would sound simple, but connect with others. If there's an immigrant coming, connect with them. Make them feel belonging, connect, and I know as human, make them feel belonging, connect, and I know as human beings we tend to connect. We are social beings, but I wanted to make it purposeful. I want to feel belongingness. I want the other person to feel belongingness as well. So connecting with the other person would be a lot. Oh, yes, oh, gurasis just made it to Canada. Okay, let me just contact Gurasis and tell him there's a community here for him and he's welcome. So definitely connect with others purposefully perfect, love that.

Gurasis: 13:20

So how would you describe Canada in one word or a sentence?

Ruth: 13:29

Multiculturally vibrant.

Gurasis: 13:31

Okay, I think that definitely defines it.

Ruth: 13:33

Yes, okay.

Gurasis: 13:37

So, ruth, now, if you could leave me with one piece of advice, what would it be?

Ruth: 13:42

Keep up the good work. You have no idea who's listening.

Gurasis: 13:48

Yeah.

Ruth: 13:48

You have no idea which heart is willing to listen to stories, and I think there is power in story sharing, and I said that word very purposefully story sharing we can tell stories, but sharing our stories from within has an impact in others. It's better than any masters out there when someone listens to what someone else went through and they can see themselves. Huh, I am not alone. I can do this differently, or I can join this club because maybe it could work for me as well. Or I can do this differently, or I can join this club because this person maybe it could work for me as well or I can do this to improve myself. So keep up the good work, because you never know what heart is in need to listen to those messages.

Gurasis: 14:38

Perfect, thank you. Thank you for saying that, thanks for your advice and, finally, how would you describe your experience of being on the podcast?

Ruth: 14:47

It's been fun, it's been relaxing and I consider myself a little bit too excited person. I can be very excited to share.

Ruth: 15:02

I am the same person I can be very excited to share. I am the same Too passionate, I would say, but I think what you did previous to this recording making me understand how it will work, or getting used to the platform I think that experience made me feel a little bit more relaxed as a speaker, to just focus on just sharing every time you ask me a question, and I love that, how you made it feel like a conversation. I love the dynamic of sharing and listening also to your point of view and how it relates to your culture and how it relates to you. So I feel like you finding that commonality made me feel very comfortable speaking about my story.

Gurasis: 15:48

Awesome, thank you. Thank you so much. I'm so glad to hear that and thank you for being on the podcast, ruth, and the next time I'm meeting any Dominican Republic person of Dominican Republic, I'm going to say Keloke for sure. So thank you for teaching that and thank you once again for being on the podcast and adding value to my listeners.

Ruth: 16:08

Thank you, yeah, thank you, corazes, and thank you so much for giving me that platform to share a little bit about myself and about my journey. It was a pleasure and again, thank you so much.