Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:01 Good morning, Fort McMurry, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You've tuned in to the Mac city morning show. I am your host, Elliot Pierre, and we're going to start the show off the same way we start every episode off with a moment of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you're spending with us truly does mean the world to me on that note, Tanner hit him with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:00:21 Oh, she caught me, loves near listen to the next any morning show.
Speaker 0 00:00:25 <inaudible> all right. And we're back. I'm excited about this guest. She came in already. You didn't see it because the sound was off. So this is round two Tanner. We're going to knock it out of the park for this one. Yes we are. Yes we are. As you guys know, I don't introduce my guests. I let them do that themselves because they can do a better job. So on that note, can you please re-introduce yourself to the people at home. Okay.
Speaker 2 00:00:52 Hello everyone. My name is <inaudible>. I teach at <inaudible> high school. I teach science and chemistry to the high school students. Um, most of my colleagues like to call me Vandana and I'm cool with that. So in Hindi, when the means to pray, okay, my parents gave me a name after this particular word and I'm loving my job. And I've been here for last 14 years now. And if I choose to work this year, which I'm planning, this will be my 15th year. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:01:31 Yeah. I love it. Yeah. So there was something that I was kicking myself in the pants for. Cause I didn't ask last time was through the years of me knowing you and you working with EK. Um, I've got some really good dishes that you've sent home with her. And I was just like, man, we never even talked about how good of a cook you are because you said like some great Curry dishes home with EK. So let's, let's dive into that. So when it comes to cooking, some of the dishes that you've sent have been meat based, some of them vegetarian based, I explain the background with your cooking for,
Speaker 2 00:02:05 Uh, basically, you know, I saw my mom cooking when I was growing up and I did not do much cooking before my marriage. And when I used to do and I would just help her out. I'm being the eldest. So Amal was also working and she gave me some responsibility, but I was not in charge of the kitchen in our, at that time. So after marriage kind of, and I met, became in charge of my own kitchen and I started, you know, cooking the way my mom used to cook. And eventually over the years now there are so many years of frost now that I've been cooking. And uh, so I think my dishes turned out to be good.
Speaker 0 00:02:47 Oh, that's an understatement. So your dishes are delicious. I would love every time ethno would come home and be like, Hey, I have some type of work for you because it's one of those things where my mom cooks Curry dishes as well, but I never, I don't know how to cook very well. Period. Nonetheless, something as extravagant is Curry and roti and doll and all this stuff. So when I would get this Tupperware, I'd be like, oh, this is awesome. And um, I never was, um, introduced to eating vegetarian dishes. So sometimes you would send a vegetarian to show him and it would be delicious. And I wouldn't even know that there was no meat in it. So, but now do your sons cook have, have they?
Speaker 2 00:03:27 Yes. Yes. My board does some cooking and then they do ask me and mama like how to do it. Good. And uh, what, like, you know, measurements who add, they find mice food, little spicy. Right. So when I cook for them, you know, and I keep my room, um, that actually brought a little bit low. Okay. So y'all have learned most of the extent, you know, they do great cooking and uh, there are things they are nearby, they are Alberta and one of them is in Fort McMurray. So I often send them cook dishes or two. And, uh, we are lucky that in Fort McMurray, in all stores, we do get our good veggies. Also don't have to go to Edmonton or Calgary for that. So, you know, we get good veggies. So I, I prefer vegetating food or, you know, meat dishes. It's just my, uh, friends, you know, like as you grow older, I think. And, but I do make, you know, um, meat dishes too. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:04:26 How are your grandkids liking the food?
Speaker 2 00:04:31 Yeah. They say grandma make roti for us. Yeah. Okay. So they like it, especially my grandson likes a lot, you know, he even asked for it to make stuff, drew teas, and we can stuff with potatoes, like SDRs. Yeah. So yeah, basically like that, you know? And uh, yeah, they enjoy it, you know,
Speaker 0 00:04:52 And they're okay with the spices and
Speaker 2 00:04:54 Soft course for them. I, I don't add at all, nothing, you know, I'll just put a little bit of flavoring things and all like cinema and I'll add Globes, um, which are older of course. Right. And cumin seeds, um, stuff like that, which is powdered and coriander seeds, all these things, you know, give flavor and you put a little bit of salt in that. Right. So I think that becomes delicious.
Speaker 0 00:05:19 Good. Yeah. I know my little guy, um, he's the spices for him? He's he's six. He's not loving spices. Everything is hot for him. Yeah. But he's adventurous enough that he will try some of the traditional dishes that are from south America, that my mom would cook and he likes it. Um, which is good to see, because I have to say like a lot of the time traditional dishes don't look visually appealing. Yes. So for a kid, like it's somewhat like, I like when he tries it out because like, I'm like, I know it doesn't look good, but it tastes good. So at least just give it a try. I based my
Speaker 2 00:05:55 Foreign food, like rating,
Speaker 3 00:05:57 If, if I'm going to try it or not based on how gross it looks like if it, if it's plated like nicely and has like, like things on it, I'm not going to try it. Cause it's going to be some like weird fish. But like, if it just looks gross, you know, that's going to be a good meal.
Speaker 0 00:06:11 I I've, I've found the exact same things in my travels around the world. Like more often than not, when I kind of like, oh, I don't know about that. Like you try it. And it tastes like, wow.
Speaker 2 00:06:23 As kids like to experiment, you know, um, we should not give them to do more spices also to begin with because their tongue is where their taste spots are very sensitive and all the time they come out of it, you know? And, uh, yeah, they like the turmeric color, you know, which also people may not be liking that, but it does give flavor and it is also very good antioxidant. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:06:49 Yeah. So, yeah. Okay. So yeah, last time when you left, I'm like, how did I not talk about food and say, she's a great cook, cause it's a thing. So, um, when you hear last time, something that was fascinating to me was the job that you first held when you came to Canada. So can you, uh, talk about that? Cause that, to me, I didn't know. I thought you were a teacher from the jump and
Speaker 2 00:07:10 Not at all. Not at all. So though I taught, so like, you know, when we came in 2004, we did all the homework. Um, we thought, okay, like, first of all, we reached at, uh, Vancouver, British Columbia. And just on the third day I went to a BC college of teachers and because they had already received my credentials from India, as I said, we had done a homework and I went there. They, they said we are going to take some time to evaluate it. We had the papers and all, and they talked to me also like kind of little interview. And uh, they said, we'll get back to you. Yeah. So about, I think in may we reshare in March. So within three months, you know, I got a letter that I will not be able to teach in Canada because I had to do certain courses, certain, you know, programs I had to do, even if I had taught there for about 20 years in the best school of India, which is a new Delhi. And I was like, you know, teaching at a high level, high school kids and all that stuff, you know? And when I was told that I will not be able to teach that was like shattering. I was really disturbed, you know? And, uh, I did not know what to do. So it took me a long time. I went back home, uh, two times, you know, back my bag and I said, I'm not going to come back.
Speaker 0 00:08:41 So
Speaker 2 00:08:42 My previous school principal had given me one year off, she said, go and try if it doesn't happen, then you come back. Your position is still there. Right. So I said, okay, I'm going to go back. I'm not going to come back here. You know, like let my son and my husband's dead. But I was like, you know, really heartbroken at that time. But when I went home, I stayed with my mom, my mother, her mother also retired as a principal of a school. And she said, no, I, first of all, yeah, she kind of consoled me. She said, you can always think that you are in one year off, you know, after teaching for so many years, think it's an off time, you know? And so let's be together. We home can always be made in a new home because we kind of disposed of everything when we came.
Speaker 2 00:09:31 Right. And um, she said, yucky, if your chin up. So if you have taken a step forward, you give your best now, or whenever you are ready, you can go back and give your best to be, remember, your son is there, who was a teenager? And he went along with you because you decided for him now you can't leave him, you know, alone. That's right. So go ahead and try. So when I came back, you know, I came with a determination and that I have to get back to teaching. I will do whatever is required. My husband was off a very big sport to me. You said, if you think that, uh, you are scared of TOEFL exam, which is an English exam, um, like, and if you know that, you know, your English, you know, you know, your stuff, which you learned, you know, as a kid, um, because we learned English and British colony and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 00:10:26 Right. So then prove it and try because they don't know you. So I said, okay. So I just went to Vancouver library, I'm thankful to them, you know, all the support was there, Viva, given books, you know, too. So I had to just review my grandma or my English and stuff, you know? So I did TOEFL exam and, uh, I luckily got a score more than what was expected for teachers because they wanted a higher school for teachers, if you want to get back to teach it. Yeah. That makes sense. So I got a good score. And then, you know, I had to do six credits of English university level. I did debate. I said, uh, you guys are asking me to reinvent the wheel because I have authored some books in English. So I had my books, you know, which I've written back home and they are still published in India. They are circulating. So there's all my books and all, but they were still determined, you know, maybe they had to follow a protocol. Right. Which again, I said, okay, I will do whatever is required. So I joined Langara college, uh, online, um, learning for those English credits. But for that also I had to take in a language proficiency test. Oh, I had to clear that test. Then I could only join, you know, like college, I can assure you, I would not pass our test.
Speaker 2 00:11:50 Uh, so you also, I, you know, cleared my six periods of English. And so all these things were happening because of, you know, I had to get admission for some teaching program for SFU, which was one year program, uh, which is called professional qualification program. So there were 18 seats and I could get one seat out of that. And these seats were for only immigrant teachers who came with the experience and wanted to teach in Canada. So I showed my determination. I made my portfolio, I went for an interview. Luckily I can say with God's grace, I got the admission. I had the teaching certificate in my hand. In two years, I completed this process. And in the beginning of third year, I got a call for my first job
Speaker 0 00:12:40 Determination.
Speaker 2 00:12:41 Yes, it does IDs. And God's grace to,
Speaker 0 00:12:46 While we're at the part of the show, which you're familiar with, uh, where it's called the Mac city minute 10 is going to ask you some questions. I can assure you. He didn't write down the questions he asked you last time. So these are all brand new. So a good luck Tanner hit her with the max city minute.
Speaker 3 00:13:00 I don't even know where those questions are. Honestly. I know
Speaker 0 00:13:02 I knew it.
Speaker 3 00:13:04 Question number one. What is your favorite story from your 15 years teaching?
Speaker 2 00:13:10 Ah, yes. In Canada. So that's a interesting one. I think my teaching is like, you know, I'm, you're teaching a subject. Um, what I enjoyed here is doing volunteer work for centers anonymous. That was something new. That was something amazing. When I, in my first year, I did not know what all was happening. I would ask everyone, what is this? What is that? You know? So that was so new to me because teaching is yes, like, you know, kids are there, they are ready for learning. And you know, so my interesting, this is, this was interesting. And you know, like very amazing thing, which I experienced doing, you know, whatever work I could do as a volunteer or, you know, centers anonymous, you go
Speaker 3 00:14:00 Question number two. What is your favorite dish to make?
Speaker 2 00:14:05 Oh, that's right. Actually my food addition stood to make, you know, chicken Curry. I, I find know every time I make it turns out to be good. I will just taste the salt because my kids have, you know, basic standards of, they will not take it very salty. So I will just taste and may not even eat at times. And I'll just bring it over and still favorite. Also my colleagues like it, and that is another motivational.
Speaker 0 00:14:37 So it's like to cook when people enjoy what you're making. Of course,
Speaker 3 00:14:43 Question number three. What is one Canadian dish that you were surprised you enjoyed
Speaker 2 00:14:51 Think, uh, that's called Calamarine
Speaker 0 00:14:53 Calamarine
Speaker 2 00:14:55 That actually, it's nine introduced to me. If you've been to a place in one of our PDs, you know, is it traveling? What is that? Basically? It's on Franklin. Okay. There's one place, you know, we went to during our PD lunches and we were sitting so long time ago and it's now was also there with me and she said, why don't you try this dish? This, you will like it. And so I think those cameras rings.
Speaker 0 00:15:25 I don't know. I, listen. I think it kind of is like, maybe it's like, it's octopus.
Speaker 3 00:15:32 Maybe it's like a fortune cookie where they like, try to pitch it as something it's not.
Speaker 0 00:15:38 Yeah. But yeah. So that's something you had here that, yeah. We'll, we'll, we'll call it Canadian. Cause you tried it in Canada. Yes. There we go. Okay. California,
Speaker 3 00:15:47 Question number four. What were some of your thoughts on the first day you got to Canada?
Speaker 2 00:15:53 Oh, I was very excited. It was really like a honeymoon period because he reached Vancouver and it was March. We saw daffodils on the roadsides. We saw all kinds of flowers, you know, Narcisse was there, you know? And uh, so, so many good. Like it was flowering, you know, I said, it's like a heaven, you know, plus, you know, we were already booked for one month at a YWC in downtown. So it was another like kind of a dream suite was there. You could go up yourself, you could like, so the first month was, you know, amazing. We could do window shopping and stuff. And even if you don't buy it, but I could go around, you know? And uh, yeah. So the first month really was great.
Speaker 3 00:16:40 Well, and your final question, what is one way that Canadian schools in Indian schools are similar?
Speaker 2 00:16:48 Oh, similarity is, well, first of all, most of the curriculum at high level it's high, um, high school level is same. The curriculum for subjects is same. They are doing the same learning and it's do strive for good marks too. Right? It's not, uh, it would be not right to say that all kids don't care, they do care. So whether in India or in Canada, kids do care because they are concerned about their careers later on more field, they choose to
Speaker 0 00:17:21 Go. That's right. That's right. There
Speaker 3 00:17:23 You go. And those have been your five questions.
Speaker 0 00:17:26 Yeah. I don't know if those are the same or not, but like a Saturday they're not the same. So I, I didn't think they would be.
Speaker 2 00:17:33 That's interesting. You know, otherwise it becomes boring.
Speaker 0 00:17:37 Yeah. That's the one thing about this show, which I think people are getting to know more and more about, cause we talk about it myself in town or don't prepare for these, like it's as organic as it can get. Um, yeah. Like there's no preparation prior to, or discussion topics.
Speaker 3 00:17:52 Sometimes we don't even know that the other one has booked a guest.
Speaker 0 00:17:56 Oh yeah. That happened today. Somebody walked in and Tanner was just like, oh Hey. And they turned out, they were friends. And they're like, what are you doing here? And I'm like, oh, I booked this guy. And then Tana looked at me. I'm like, I forgot to put in the calendar or
Speaker 3 00:18:08 The other day when you booked the guy and it wasn't in your calendar.
Speaker 0 00:18:13 Yeah. So we make mistakes from time to time here.
Speaker 2 00:18:15 But a hundred bucks, he got a hundred percent in, you know, questions. Not only answers get a hundred percent. Even the question paper was
Speaker 0 00:18:23 Good. A hundred percent. That
Speaker 3 00:18:26 Was probably the first one I've ever gotten.
Speaker 2 00:18:30 You should be proud of.
Speaker 0 00:18:32 So you're going to teach again this semester. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:18:38 Okay. That's my plan. See what's God's plan. Why is this, that, all those things, you know,
Speaker 0 00:18:44 And it's looking like you guys will be able to return back to school with kids
Speaker 2 00:18:48 And this is what we are hearing. Be really get, you know, rules and regulations.
Speaker 0 00:18:56 Well, I saw that Edmonton public has decided to like move forward with the exact same plan as last you can do last year, virtual as far as well as in schooling. So
Speaker 2 00:19:07 Yeah, we will still wait. You know, I, um, I don't want to say anything because it depends. We have a survey which has gone out to the parents, so I'm sure the admin will look at that. And then whatever is given to us and they always take care of us, you know? So I'll be happy to do that.
Speaker 0 00:19:25 No doubts. And so you have a, you have grandchildren now. Yes. Yes.
Speaker 2 00:19:30 I have two grandkids,
Speaker 0 00:19:31 Two grandchildren. So you being a teacher, must've been a tremendous help in regards to helping out during
Speaker 2 00:19:37 Yeah. Whatever, you know, when they are ready to listen to me because grandma's home is more like a party home, you know?
Speaker 3 00:19:46 Ah, it's the house your kids always dreamed of. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:19:51 Do you feel your cause my parents are definitely a lot more like laid back with my son Keegan than they ever were with us. Do you find like you're late more,
Speaker 2 00:20:03 You know, I can say strong with Daniels, you know, whatever her name is Danielle and she is seven year old. So I will make her sit down, you know, whenever she's there let's make an agenda and with her help, you know, whatever she wants includes TV time also play time also. But yes, I would like her to do something constructive.
Speaker 0 00:20:25 Yeah. And something constructive. Yeah. No, my parents are like way less strict with Keegan than they were with me. He gets away with murder at my parent's house. I can't get over how, like sometimes he'll do something and I'll be like, oh, you're about to get in trouble. And then my mom and dad like, oh, Keegan, you're so cute. I'm like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. That would have been capital punishment for me. Uh, yeah. They have a short-term memory on how strict they used to be.
Speaker 2 00:20:51 Yeah. It's just that, you know, like otherwise they'll watch TV, which, uh, I won't like to like do some exchanges. Okay. So something other than TV watching needs to be done. Something do do good. The cooking with me, just watching, talking. And that's what I aimed at. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:21:10 And I liked that. I found with my little guy and friends and they just want to be treated like normal human beings. And so if you incorporate them in your day to day yes. Then they're like, oh, okay.
Speaker 2 00:21:21 Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:21:22 Cool. Well, I'm down to, that's the end of the show. Thank you. Thank you for coming back again. Really do appreciate it. Sorry about Mike mess up from last time and that's okay. Just like last time though, it's the end of the show. Um, you get your shameless shout out so you can say whatever you want to everyone plug anything. So Mike is all yours.
Speaker 2 00:21:42 So first of all, I would like to thank my, you know, school board because they gave me opportunity. I was accepted. So I will give a shout out. You know, I am accepted with open hands and uh, it's, it's amazing the way they have, you know, welcomed me and to my students. I love you guys. I'm sure you are going to do well in your life and Danielle and Micah, who are my grandkids. So I'm sure they are going to do great in life.
Speaker 0 00:22:14 There you go. Great. Shout out. Great shout out. Well Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. That's been another episode of the Mac city morning show from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for tuning in. I really do appreciate it. I hope you're having a nice day and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
