N/A

N/A

Das, Your intent and your efforts are indeed commendable. Unfortunately, there are some limitations to providing advice to new Canadian immigrants from the sub-continent, some quick thoughts.

1. Adaptability - Most ‘desis’ seriously lack the ability to adapt. They are determined to re-create an India wherever they land, rather than understanding the culture of their new home and becoming a part of it. The attitude shows itself up in different forms. One example (just an example) is most immigrants would rather follow a cricket match in faraway India, rather than learn something about the Leafs and hockey in Canada. What could have been a good conversation starter or ice-breaker at the office or socially, is invariably lost. (of course now I’m going to have the next 20 posters asking me if knowledge of ice-hockey is needed to get a job in Canada, but that just shows their inability to ‘get-the-point’). Perhaps Canada’s view of itself as a ‘mosaic’ rather than a ‘melting pot’ is to blame for this lack of adaptability, if you know what I mean.

2. Language – You’ve highlighted the fact that ‘desis’ don’t proof read their Resumes. While I agree, you have to look beyond that to the use of words and pronounciation at an interview. However, when you tell ‘desis’ that they need to remove regional influences from their language, they interpret it as meaning that a phony accent is ‘required’. The result ends up sounding worse than the original. The bloke then comes back to a forum such as this one, frustrated and starts venting with all sorts of irrational comments. Some go back to wherever they came from (either India or the Middle East) and continue to post irrational negative comments, looking for assurance that they made the ‘right’ decision by leaving Canada. Another new immigrant picks up on the venting, starts to ‘assume’ that Canada has ‘NO’ work that is suitable for him, gets into a dead-end job and the cycle continues.

3. At the workplace – For those that do get hired: most stick to a desi crowd. I have 2 at my workplace and they hang around together, seemingly most comfortable when they talk to each other in Hindi. They make no attempt to hang out with the other folks. Toronto can be an amazing place, with a variety of cultures, but ‘desis’ have this cultural superiority complex, afraid that they’ll lose their own ‘culture’ if they associate with anyone else.

I hate to say that I’ve ‘been-there-done-that’, but good luck to you!

N/A

N/A

N/A

I liked reading this thread. Thanks to Das-FX and crenshaw. Excellent discussion and I agree with the points raised. Keep guiding us.

Regards.