The Great Canadian Blog Bash was started as a way for Canadians involved in social media to find other Canadians to connect with online, celebrate Canadian talent and promote Canadian companies. I stumbled upon The Great Canadian Blog Bash through Mommy Outside the Box, a Canadian Mommy blogger based in Saskatchewan, needless to say the appeal of sharing things Canadian for no intrinsic value other than paying homage to the country that I’ve come to call home longer than any other, lured me.
Between being born in Sri Lanka, growing up in Dubai for a majority of my schooling years with stints in Bahrain and Karachi, to undergrad studies in the U.S, Australia and England, I’ve had my fair share of places I’ve called “home”. As luck would have it I came to Toronto in 2005 for my MBA and the plan was that I’d probably stay here for 2 or 3 years before moving on to newer adventures in another country. As fate would have it I met my husband and I’ve now called Toronto home for 8 years in a row.That’s quite an achievement Canada, keeping me grounded in one place for so long!
Many shudder at the thought of moving so much as a young child but I reveled in it and absolutely loved making long lasting friendships everywhere my family went. The newbie syndrome was exciting, the first day of school without knowing a soul was daunting but I knew I’d be able to find a fellow friend… or ten to hang with. As a result my bridal party consisted of girl friends that hailed from Dubai, Karachi, Maine, Toronto and Sri Lanka. A multicultural soul is who I am and I find Toronto to be a comfortable second skin because of the lovely multi cultural mosaic that forms the population and culinary delights that are found here.
It’s fitting that two years ago to date, on the 26th of July of 2011 (7 months pregnant!) I became a CANADIAN. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a true Sri Lankan to the core but I’m also Canadian. I don’t think much of what it means to be Canadian but then I witness things like sporting games, communities rallying together during times of crisis and random acts of kindness on street corners and I’m reminded of what it means to be Canadian; National pride that is more friendly than fanatic, a neighbourly gesture without an air of pretense and a passionate sense of being. Canadians are by the friendliest bunch I’ve met! Sure not all Canadians encapsulate these values but I’ve met more who do than don’t. Which isn’t something I can say about other countries I call home.
I’ve traveled a bit in Canada but there’s so much more to explore… Alberta and the Northern Lights are on the top of my list. Taking in winter activities and festivals are also on my immigrant bucket list. This is a challenge I’m giving myself as part of embracing Canadian culture. Since it is Travel Thursday on Baby and Life, I suppose it’s fitting that today I’m not at home, in Canada, but travelling in Ireland with the family! We’ll be back home soon!
Kelly @ JAX does design
June 27, 2013 at 10:46 amSo happy to hear that you love living in Canada 🙂 I may be just a little bit biased, but we have pretty awesome country 🙂
Enjoy your trip, and Happy Canada Day wherever you may be on July 1st!
Yashy
June 27, 2013 at 4:59 pmThanks!! Ireland is lovely so far… Already collected stories twelve hours in!
Inspire Me Heather
June 28, 2013 at 10:28 amHappy Canada Day!!
Yashy
July 2, 2013 at 3:54 amHappy Canada Day Heather!! Thanks for stopping by!
Leila
June 29, 2013 at 12:56 amWow you have been all over the place and now in Ireland? Have fun, I hear it’s beautiful over there. No matter where I am and how beautiful the scenery may be I’m always happy to be back home in Canada 🙂 #TGCBB
Yashy
July 2, 2013 at 3:53 amIt is absolutely gorgeous here Leila! It wasn’t on my bucket list, but I’m glad we made it out to Ireland!
Leila
July 2, 2013 at 8:03 amI’m curious, how is the culture there? Don’t think we’ll visit anytime soon but we are going to England this summer so that will be the closest we’ll get! 🙂
Yashy
July 3, 2013 at 3:58 amDepends what you mean by culture Leila. People are super friendly, you stop for quick directions and leave 20 mins later full of knowledge. Most people come by and ask ‘how do you do’ and when my aunt was in the ER room she says everyone stopped by to check in on her since word got around that she was only 2 hours in the country! If there’s other aspects you’d like to know about just send me a note 🙂 I’ll be posting our stories along the way in the travel section too!
Ann
June 29, 2013 at 9:22 amAw, I get all sentimental seeing you at your citizenship ceremony! I taught ESL for a few years and I know the extra pride new Canadians have in our country. Love it. Have fun in Ireland! I was there too, just 3 weeks ago! (www.cookingdangerously.com #tgcbb)
Yashy
July 2, 2013 at 3:52 amThat’s so sweet! I’ll check out your blog for some tips on the travels then! Can’t believe how clean and baby friendly Ireland is!
Jennifer
June 29, 2013 at 9:04 pmwow! that is an amazing line up of places to call home! Glad we were able to keep you around for a bit! Love the red and white dress for the ceremony, so fitting! Thanks so much for linking up with us this year!
Yashy
July 2, 2013 at 3:51 amThanks for having me along for the ride… can’t go wrong with a Red and White combo right?
Stacie
June 30, 2013 at 7:32 pmI love this “National pride that is more friendly than fanatic, a neighbourly gesture without an air of pretense and a passionate sense of being”. You hit the nail right on the head!
The Northern Lights are something! I lived in Alberta for 4 years and it was always awe inspiring when I saw them.
Yashy
July 2, 2013 at 3:51 amI can’t wait to see them Stacie! I hear 2013 is supposed to be a great year in terms of brightness! Thanks for stopping by
Nancy @ Whispered Inspirations
July 9, 2013 at 4:53 pmI’m Salvadorian to the core but, I am SOOOO Canadian. I am proud to be both. Thanks for participating in The Great Canadian Blog Bash and we are very happy to have you! #TGCBB
Yashy
July 9, 2013 at 6:46 pmThanks for swinging by!
Lou's lake views
July 10, 2013 at 9:29 pmHey! great to connect with a fellow immigrant (thanks for stopping by my blog) I love the pictures of the citizenship ceremony with your gorgeous baby bump, I wonder how you handled the emotions of it being pregnant, we can’t apply for another year yet the thought of the ceremony gets me all emotional now, maybe I’m just too soft! The northern lights is on my ‘to do’ list too but I have been to Alberta a few times and it truly the most beautiful place in the world!
Yashy
July 10, 2013 at 10:12 pmluckily I’m not the emotional type so it wasn’t much of a scene.. but the ceremony is definitely quite heartfelt and a very personal experience.
Little Miss Kate
July 11, 2013 at 10:34 pmThat is one of the awesome things about being Canadian. You don’t have to leave anything behind, you just gain more.
Thanks for taking part in #TGCBB
http://littlemisskate.ca/2013/06/the-count-down-to-canada-day-fun-canada-facts-tgcbb/
Yashy
July 12, 2013 at 10:38 amso true Kate!
Clifford
August 13, 2013 at 2:34 pmYou have certainly lived around the world so I think it’s great that you picked Canada to call your home. It really is an awesome country and Canadians are welcomed around the globe.
Yashy
August 13, 2013 at 3:56 pmThanks! It’s definitely been a fun journey so far!