Foreign Encounters @foreignencounters - Tumblr Blog

"I was having a bad hijab day..."

I was at a spa, putting on my hijab after my treatment, complaining to my friend about having a bad hijab day. The woman getting ready next to me, thought it was so funny that I thought I was having a bad hijab day, because she thought she was having a bad hair day. She then proceeded to tell me the hijab looked beautiful, while I told her that her hair did. She then shared that she wished she could go to Quebec and wear a hijab in protest of the ban. She not only made me feel good about my hijab, but with left me with a little more faith in humanity as well.

- Farwa F., Faculty of Community Services

#fe2014

"I was asked if I make my own maple syrup..."

When I moved to Riverside, California, many people were not accustomed to being around a Canadian. I was asked if I make my own maple syrup, lived in an igloo, or knew Drake!

-Alex F.

#fe2014

"...everyone looked at me like I was an outsider."

I am Indo-Caribbean, my boyfriend is Gujarati. When we first started dating, we decided to go to this South Asian formal. I had never worn a saree in my life and I wasn't about to try and be someone I'm not. Needless to say, I showed up to the formal in a dress. I was the only girl wearing a dress that night and everyone looked at me like I was an outsider.

-Michelle D.

#fe2014

"I didn't know that chicken had to be halal too!"

So i invited children and youth of the KGO (Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park) community to a community kitchen for dinner and games. Not too many people came, but it turned out to be fortunate because I didn't get halal chicken. I didn't know that chicken had to be halal too!

-Pradheepa S.

#fe2014

"When we walked around together we were stared at a lot."

I dated a mixed girl who was black and Asian. I'm a typical looking white guy. When we walked around together we were stared at a lot. New friends I made were surprised that I was with a mixed-race girl. We also got stared at a lot because I'm 6'7'' and she was 5'3''.

-Kyle T., Engineering

#fe2014

"... it was the same dish, with different spices."

In my freshman year in high school I overheard a Russian arguing with a guy from India over what's better plov from India or plov from Russia. At the end of the day, they came to a conclusion that it was the same dish, with different spices.

-Pavel P.

#fe2014

"It was very shocking and surprising for me to have people from other countries..."

It was very shocking and surprising for me to have people from other countries at school. It was difficult to interact since language was an issue.

-Behzad T.

#fe2014

"I made poutine!"

The moment that I have in mind did not involve a misunderstanding and it was not awkward, but it was an effort to understand diversity. I used to model in Italy where I lived in a model apartment with girls from all over the world, such as Germany, Australia, and Holland. One night, I thought it would be interesting for us to make a dish from our countries. I made poutine!

-Lindsay D.

#fe2014

"... friends often assumed I was from Brampton or Scarborough just because I am brown/Indian."

When I first came to Ryerson, friends often assumed I was from Brampton or Scarborough just because I am brown/Indian. However, they look puzzled when I say I am from Richmond Hill. It has always been funny to see their reactions!

Mansi P., TRSM

#fe2014

"...I made friends with a lot of people from different cultures..."

Coming from an international school, I made friends with a lot of people from different cultures, never really paying attention to them. For example, I had learned a few phrases in Tagalog from a Filipino friend (mostly swear words). Now at Ryerson, I met a friend from the Philippines who actually taught me how to speak a few real phrases.

-Omar S., Engineering

#fe2014

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