Crazy Rich Asians and the burden of rascism

When I read Crazy Rich Asians I didn't know that it will turn into a movie and that too a famous one. Throughout the movie, I was fascinated and bewildered by the brash avatar of Asianness and the racial slur against 'starving kids in America' to ' macaroni and old age homes'. I am glad that this movie is the answer to all the racism subjected on non-white people in Hollywood till date. I want to be part of this reverse Ku klux clan even though I observe that the palace guard in the movie was a dark skinned Sardarji.

Canadian feminism vs Indian feminism

Even though I have been living for over four years in Canada, I still feel as an immigrant sometimes, though not in a bad way. This is a great country that accepts different cultures and thoughts and celebrates the diversity. However, I believe that you always tend to cling to concepts and beliefs from your culture because it gives you a sense of belonging.

Things I realized after moving to Toronto

In the last four years, almost everyday was a new learning. Even today, I realize some things I didn't know before. So here is the list I recollect.

1. Snow and sunlight mirage: I landed in Toronto in the month of February, amidst snow. The first few days was spent admiring snow before I started hating it.. :) It still baffles me on how it can be sunny outside like 30 Degree Celsius and that the sun will melt down the snow at any moment. But when you set foot out it suddenly feels like -30. It looks sunny but doesn't feel sunny at all.

2. Everything is costly: From milk to vegetables and beyond everything is soooo costly. And Canada is a place where vegetables are costlier than meat.... This was hard for me to wrap around my head first. But then I guessed that farming is done only in the 6 months of summer and rest of the year everything is imported.

No butter chicken please, we are Indians!

Now the reason I wanna blog about this is because whenever any Canadian friends of mine start talking about Indian food, the only term it starts with is Butter Chicken.... and you wonder how all of India cuisine can be defined in one dish. This doesn't settle well with me at different levels. Mainly, because Butter Chicken is not my favorite dish (even though I converted to being a meat eater after coming to Canada but thats for a different time and post :) Also its not that I don't like Punjabi food but when I think of Punjabi food, things that come to my mind are Aloo paratha, suji halwa, and of course chana masala.  However I do admire the way Indian food has become famous in the name of Butter Chicken. And I do get why it became so famous outside India - because the butter makes the dish a mild version of the Indian Chicken curry.

The other PDA syndrome

PDA or Public Display of Affection is something we all encounter no matter which part of the world we live in  (may be except Saudi Arabia). In Indian context it has almost become a matter of swag slash social standing. That is if you dont engage in PDA as a couple then you are deemed to be a loser couple. Its almost like comparing Facebook likes.

Nova Scotia trip

Colorful towns, iconic lighthouse, beautiful skies and most of all amazingly friendly people.  Thats Nova Scotia for me. There is something about this place that's enchanting.

We started at Prince Edward Island driving through the beautiful farms. We visited Anne of the Green Gables museum which was the author's cousin's house. That's where she spent most of her childhood and also got married. My childhood was mostly spent reading Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie. I never know much about Anne of the Green Gables. It seems the author is very famous in Japan and I could see a visible number of Japanese tourists in PEI. So I have decided to read this book when I get some free time.

Orange is the new Black review

So far this is the only thing in Netflix I am hooked on to after Good Wife. Yes I prefer series with female protagonists.  What I really like about this series is that it doesn't revolve around Piper Chapman although the season 1 is more about her.

Its a good story on how different individuals react and cope up with being locked up. It also resonates with the rest of us to look beyond the things that lock us up and try to change the things we can. In season 6 I like the way Piper starts to lobby kick ball just to enjoy some time under the sun. Also just being in love changes the whole equation of being locked up for Piper. In season 6 after Piper meets Alex, prison life doesn't seem to bother her because she has something to look forward to.

Another character I liked is Maria Ruiz. Her character transforms from a vulnerable mother to a hopeless inmate to a riot instigator. Season 6 shows her dabbling with becoming religious as a means to obtain salvation only to go back being bitter after realizing that she cannot forgive. I liked this part where they talked boldly about religion and spirituality as a means to escape from reality. Also that forgiving is never easy. This show boldly touches on a lot of subjects from racism to commercialization of prisons to lesbianism.