Gurasis 0:00

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 any questions they might have .

Dhara 0:11

Oh my gosh , I like to know how much have you traveled

Know Your Host Q&A Begins

Dhara 0:19

across Canada , outside Canada ?

Gurasis 0:23

That's a very interesting question . Actually , I'll tell you , I haven'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 like outside of my city . And after coming to Canada , I would say I have

Dhara's Travel Experiences

Gurasis 0:44

lived in various cities , like I've lived in Montreal , I've lived in Halifax as well , and after that I think I was so much , or I would say like during my initial three , four years , that I was so much consumed by the whole immigration process and just trying to make a living , you know , and just living like paycheck to paycheck and just somehow being able to pay my dues and being also able to feed myself and trying to bring in this fun , whatever I can , what was in my capacity back then . So first three , four years literally went by like that , and after that I would say it was last year when , for the first time , I was actually able to travel . You can call it like a vacation . I was actually able to travel the cities which I always wanted to visit , like I went to new york for the first time last year . It was my first time and it was magical . It was so overwhelming also , but but so beautiful also to stand in that time square , which you have seen all your life in movies , you know . And then I also went to Toronto and you'll say that Toronto is not that far . You haven't been there , everything . But literally I haven't .

Gurasis 1:57

I came in 2018 . I remember I had my cousin and his wife , whom I , whom I visited back in 2018 , and I lived with them for like four years . But I kid you not , I have no recollection of those four days . I literally don't , because I feel like I was still trying to process that have I really moved abroad ? Have I really come to Canada ? Am I not living in my house anymore ? I was still trying to process and I think it was my second week in Canada when I visited my , my cousin there . So , yeah , I would say I haven't traveled a lot , but I aim to do that a lot in the coming years .

Gurasis 2:38

But I'll tell you one more thing that 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 been recording like an year before that I would say , through this podcast and through these conversations , I have traveled a lot Because the people I have spoken to , they are from around the world . They have told me about various cities and various countries I never even knew about . For example , I spoke to somebody from Bulgaria . You know somebody from Czech Republic , somebody from Costa Rica , somebody who is currently in Egypt . You know somebody I'm going to speak to somebody who is currently living

Virtual Travel Through Podcast Conversations

Gurasis 3:17

in Brussels I believe that's what the city is called , and I can't recall . But yeah , being able to have these conversations and learn about those cities is incredible . So , not physically , but I would say through these conversations , I have traveled a lot .

Dhara 3:32

Yeah , amazing , amazing yeah yeah , no great question .

Gurasis 3:37

Thank you for asking that . So now that we are in the final segment of the podcast I call it beneath the accent I'm going to ask 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 you . So ready , yes , so first is what advice would you give to dhara at a younger age , and at what age ?

Dhara 3:59

I would advise myself when I was 18 years old that do not be afraid of toxic people okay

Beneath the Accent: Quick-fire Questions

Dhara 4:09

, describe a moment when you experienced a significant cultural difference that surprised you in canada there were many but one that when everybody used to ask me in the beginning , are you good ? I used to feel of course I'm good . Why do you think ?

Gurasis 4:25

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 dish dhara from your home country that always brings you comfort and nostalgia ?

Dhara 4:42

oh , khich , that's my most favorite .

Gurasis 4:48

Are there any funny stories related to your misunderstanding around the accent or the English that you had ?

Dhara 4:52

Oh , yes , of course . So on my first day at job , hr was walking me through all the rules and regulations and after a while she take a pause for a while and she said so are we on the same page ? I said , yes , of course we are on the same page , page number three . Okay , she said that , oh , you're funny . I couldn't understand what was so funny about it . We were on page number three . That is so funny . Okay , I love that . So what's your favorite cultural ? I think you know they exchange cookies usually homemade cookies in my office and I love those cookies A they're free , b they're delicious , and C I feel like I'm very special that they're cooking something and then , you know , they're gifting it to me . So I love Christmas , I love exchanging gifts . I even like to give gifts as well , but I think Christmas cookies are my best favorite .

Gurasis 6:01

Okay , amazing and share like a quick tip for fellow immigrants who are trying to adjust into a new country .

Dhara 6:09

I would say explore and be ready to push your envelope and don't be afraid of being uncomfortable . Don't seek comfort all the time . Try to do things that you have not tried earlier . That's the only way you can actually adjust and progress .

Gurasis 6:27

Okay , that's amazing . Tell us about the first friend that you made in Canada .

Dhara 6:33

She's also my best friend in Canada . She's Chinese .

Gurasis 6:52

And when I was studying I was crying in the corner of a library and she came to me and she started talking to me and ever since she became my friend . So she meet often . Mm-hmm , Love that and share a moment where being an immigrant made you feel exceptionally proud or accomplished .

Dhara 7:06

Yeah , I think we understand so many different perceptions because we understand two different societies , east and West polar apart , and we have those understandings and insights . And I feel very fortunate to be the immigrant because now I know and understand both the part

Final Reflections and Gratitude

Dhara 7:24

of the world , whereas the people who have never been to other part , either only been in North America or been in East , I think they're missing out on so many things just to understand the life , the vastness of it . So I feel really proud and privileged to be able to have that understanding .

Gurasis 7:46

That's a great answer . Yeah , absolutely , I can relate to that Love , that If you had to describe yourself , dara , as any creature , what would it be and why ?

Dhara 7:56

I think my spirit animal is a duck . Okay , the way you see the duck being very calm and composed on the outside , but it's actually working hard from the inside .

Gurasis 8:07

Underneath yeah , so I think I resemble myself with that and what's something you ate for the first time in canada I think I had muffins okay yeah if you could have one superpower , what would it be ?

Dhara 8:26

it's my childhood dream . I like to be a fairy , I like to have a magical wand , and I want to fulfill everybody's wish . Whatever anybody wants to do , I just do some magic and they get it . So that's the power I want .

Gurasis 8:42

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

Dhara 8:49

You cannot lie . You have to speak the truth .

Gurasis 8:54

And finally , how would you describe Canada in a word or a sentence ?

Dhara 8:59

It's multicultural .

Gurasis 9:01

Okay and Nadhara , if you had to leave one advice for me , what would it be ?

Dhara 9:08

Reach out to more people . I think more people need to know who you are and what you do , and what kind of person you are , I don't know . Expand your reach , because I think people needs to know you even more . More people needs to know you . So do whatever you need to do to reach out to larger audience absolutely that's .

Gurasis 9:30

That's the aim , for sure . And finally , dhara , how would you describe your experience of being on this podcast ?

Dhara 9:37

it's , it's very , um , it's very motivational and fulfilling experience , because I talked about certain parts of my life and the journey that I never talked to anybody before . So , I don't know , there was something you know about it that made me talk about it and again think about it . So very grateful , very happy and fulfilled .

Gurasis 10:04

Wow , great , great words . You know I'm overwhelmed to just listen to what you just said and thank you . Thank you so much , Dara , for your kind words , for being on the podcast and adding value to me and to my listeners , so thank you so much .

Dhara 10:18

My pleasure .