Moving to Canada from India is a huge step – both literally and figuratively. You’ll want to do your best to establish strong connections with your home country, as well as express your heritage in your new local community with others of the same culture and those native to Canada.
Of course, that’s easier said than done, and it’s very common to feel the effects of culture shock early on. Canada is a wonderful country with a ton of opportunities, but that doesn’t necessarily make the transition any easier. In this article, you’ll learn about 10 ways to stay connected to India as you build a life for yourself.
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Using Reliable Travel Networks
One of the most important things to figure out is your route home. If there’s a major family event or you simply want to visit home, you’ll need to make sure you have a viable way of doing so as seamlessly as possible.
Choosing an agency that specializes in supporting Indian communities abroad, such as Mann Travel, can be an invaluable aid. These sorts of organizations will be able to offer you the most affordable deals on flights as well as reliable support during the trip.
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Embrace the Art of Cooking
Everyone loves Indian food, and as part of that culture, you’re in a great position to provide newcomers and others from your country the true, authentic experience.
Food is one of the best equalizers. It’s a way of bringing people together and making new friends, and can be one of your most valuable assets when trying to network in a new country. Canada is also a very culturally diverse place, so you’ll be able to find all the ingredients you need – especially if you’re living in one of the big cities.
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Stay Up to Date With Indian News, Sports, and Shows
While you certainly want to get yourself out and embrace the new place you’re living in, the TV can provide a lot of comfort; it’s a portal into life back home, and can offer both updates on what’s going on in your country as well as the warm familiarity of your favourite shows.
If you’ve made some new friends, putting on a Bollywood film or series back at your place is also a great way to bond.
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Use Technology to Your Advantage
Today’s world is much more connected than in the past. The smartphone revolution has meant that you’re able to stay in touch with your friends and loved ones at any time and in any place, and you should use this modern infrastructure to your advantage as much as possible.
Video conferencing software like Zoom is great for doing family video calls, and WhatsApp is perfect for group chats (many large families create a group that contains everyone, allowing them to chat simultaneously).
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Support Indian Businesses
It’s important to do your best to support the wider Indian community that lives around you. There will be plenty of Indian stores, restaurants, and bars around, so pay them a visit and connect with the people who work there.
You’ll meet plenty of new friends this way; casually bumping into people is one of the best ways to do so, and you already have a talking point, considering others of the same culture as you will congregate in these places.
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Stay Connected Through Religion
If you’re religious, your faith is one of the best ways to stay connected to your heritage, and with Canada being such a huge cultural hub, you’ll have no problem doing so.
No matter your religion, you’ll find several places of worship. There should also be ample opportunity to celebrate religious festivals, and if not in your immediate town, then certainly in a nearby city.
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Invest Time in Local Indian Arts
Where there’s a strong Indian community in a foreign culture, you’ll also find exciting opportunities to explore your culture’s art. This will come in many different forms, from Bollywood dance performances to Hindi or Punjabi music festivals and street performances.
Have a look for leads on Facebook, Reddit, and information within your local groups to find out more.
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Explore Canada’s ‘Little Indias’
The larger cities in Canada have entire neighbourhoods set up by the Indian communities there, where you’ll find an array of Indian restaurants, bars, stores, clubs, and markets.
Known as ‘little Indias’, these spaces offer a taste of home unlike anything else in the country. They’re also a great way to connect with others, whether that’s meeting new friends or visiting with ones you’ve already made.
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Consider Volunteering in the Wider Indo-Canadian Community
Especially if you live in a city, there should be ample opportunity to volunteer within Indo-Canadian communities.
You could volunteer across a broad spectrum of activities, from those involving schools and colleges to local food markets. This can provide a sense of fulfilment that few other activities do, and help you feel connected to your home country in a special way.
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Join Community Associations
There also exist dedicated community associations in Canada that function to bring people of the same culture together and help those new to the country assimilate and feel at home.
They’re often a great place to start, as they can signpost you to many of the options listed above that can be investigated in your immediate area and beyond. You can usually find these organizations by searching for ‘Indian community associations’ and then your current town or city.
Wrapping Up
Leaving your old life behind for Canada is a big deal, but providing you put the necessary steps in place, you’ll make a new life there without a problem.
While you’ve physically left India behind for now, that doesn’t mean you have to do the same with your culture. Hopefully, this article has proven to you that no matter where you are in the world, there are many ways to establish a strong link back to your heritage.
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