Cultural Discrepancies (8): Cursing

There's no doubt that cursing exists in every language but the question here, for me, is who curses the most?! I don't know! What I know is some Canadians curse a lot and telling dirty jokes is not off-limit! Funny thing is they say Canadians are very polite! I think they are but perhaps when compared with Americans! It's hard to say unless you have interaction with many nationalities but when I say many nationalities I'm talking about the major ones, of course. Not any shitty, tiny piece of land who calls himself a country! Here, in Canada, you could be at work, in a party, listening to the radio show or watching something on television and people curse like it's a normal activity of the day and tell dirty jokes in front of women, children, elderly, everyone! That's the culture!

What's interesting in Western culture is they use the things that they like the most to offend others! One of the most popular(!) ones is the word co*ksucker! Fellatio is a normal act between two people who have sexual relationship, in many cultures but Westerners used that as a curse although they, even some men(!), are in favour of it, madly! I never understood this! Pig is the animal which is not consumed in many countries, particularly the countries with Muslim majority as it is forbidden to eat. Though I've never heard in any Muslim, Arab or generally Eastern culture using the work pig as an insult! Americans, mostly and Canadians and British, as well, use that word very frequently as insult despite the fact that they love pig! Pork Chop, Bacon, Pulled Pork, Sweet and Sour Pork, are all meals that people consume in the West, and then the poor pig is used as an insult! 

In Asia a few other animals are used as an offensive word: Cow, Donkey, Mule and Sheep, are mainly used to insult someone! Another animal which is frequently used as an insult is dog! I know it will drive Westerners wild as a dog is a member of the family but that is the fact although some countries have changed in the past couple of  decades. Koreans and Filipinos are dog-lovers but when it comes to eating them! They have been changed recently in the past few years as now they think having a dog as a pet is a sign of affluence and being Westernized! In Western Asia Dog-father and Dog-Mother!(!) are both an insult which indicates that the person's parents are dogs or at least one of then is a dog! While dogs are considered loyal and helpful animals to human beings for decades, it is not know why this poor animal is used as a curse word in those cultures. It could be the fact that dogs are considered filthy and dirty in Muslim faith! It makes no sense to Westerners but they use that although having a dog as a pet, these days, as I said about the other side of Asia, is considered a sign of being modern and Westernized! I think debate over the subject could be longer than this. I just wanted to have a hint.

(Photo: Dogs are members of the family in many Western cultures. They even sleep with them in their beds, have their food while the family is sitting for a meal, etc.)

A Purchase of a Vehicle, Finally

I finally purchased a vehicle after nearly 6 years of postponing it for different reasons. This, however, hasn't been without a loss which I still have the opportunity to compensate for it. I had two deposits at two different dealers, stupid(!), and one has refused to refund me! Not entirely. I haven't gone in to discuss it with them, and there's a chance they're reading it now but the worst case scenario is I will use the deposit as a credit to buy something. The problem with this purchase, mainly was insurance and although I've picked it up, it neither has insurance, nor registration(!) but I have time for those. 
This vehicle looks good and from what I've read about it, is reliable. This is my fourth car in the past 24 years or so and my third brand new vehicle that I've ever purchased. All from the same brand. My goal, first was to purchase a Tesla 3 but I cancelled that due to the high cost. Haters could start their business although I cannot understand why someone would despise another individual who has just purchased a new vehicle, without any history of hostility and resentment! ! It will be a little bit expensive to maintain and repair this vehicle but I have some good maintenance deals, not great, as part of my purchase which should help. Rather than that there's nothing special about this purchase or the vehicle but the fact that someone helped me to get it ready who was a very nice person and then no pressure for getting extra features or services. I, however, cannot disclose the name of the dealership or the model of the car as it would be advertisement. All I can say is the car is from the same brand that is seen in the picture. I'm not going to review the vehicle, unlike the previous one which I had a few posts for it, and I will not have any advise as how to have a smooth purchase like I did, as people normally don't listen (Or perhaps I shall say read!) or if they do they will do whatever they want. What I can say is I just gave the dealership a cheque (I imply didn't want to pay any interest!) and will not have to worry about anything but the insurance and maintenance, partially, for the next whatever years which I will drive this vehicle. I have kept my old vehicle because it still runs and I have two pairs of almost new winter tires on it and have no plan for selling it yet. Not until the next insurance renewal day, at least. 

(Photo: A model of Toyota in a showroom in Nagasaki. These are common types in Japan due to low fuel consumption and ability to maneuver on the streets, which could at time be narrow. I haven't seen anything quite like this anywhere in North America unless it's imported as used and of course the steering wheel is on the right)

Cultural Discrepancies (7): Eating inside One's Own Vehicle

For many years and form time to time I have noticed one habit of Canadian people: Eating in their vehicle in a parking lot of a fast food joint or their workplace. In the beginning I didn't know why they were doing this and it was really odd to me. It still seems very odd but at least I know why people do that. 
People are embarrassed to be seen eating alone in a food establishment, even a fat food restaurant. They get their food and eat in their car while parked and idling the engine! Why don't they go back to their homes? The answer is clear: They feel lonely at home! By coming out and seeing people and interacting with the business workers, for at least half an hour, they feel better. That works like a medicine for them and can survive the rest of their days. 
I saw two people at two different workplaces who would eat in their vehicles! Absolutely stupid! One of them was an old fella in his early 60s and the other one a young racist motherfucker from Red Deer County! I wanted to write this because everyone in that room was a non-Canadian and he did not get along with them very well. The Chicken Shit, I would like to call him here, eventually quit only a few months after I joined. I hope he reads this and realizes that it's known that he is an asshole and disgusting loser! I don't care about sewer rats like him but I despise them forever. 
Nevertheless I saw something this past Fri. at work which was stranger than all the above: An old fella, almost at retirement age, was sitting in his vehicle eating, smoking cigarette and playing with his phone with all the windows rolled up! The odd thing about this guy is he has a big office where he sits all by himself! So unless there's something seriously wrong with him, he wouldn't do that! 

(Photo: For this post I decided to use a picture from years ago: A lovely Meat Pie made by my lovely wife at the time! Since this post is about food and eating I'd like to add that Whole Wheat Flour was used to make the pie shell and the tops. The texture can easily show it)

The (East) Indian Version of the American Dream

The Trump's administration started shipping border jumpers out months ago and the action continues today. Most of this individuals go to a country in South America and work their way up to Mexico and eventually the US border and people of different backgrounds are amongst them. From all the Latinos to Chinese, (East) Indian, Iranian, you name it. 

For all this is reaching reaching the American Dream and they pay a lot to obtain that. The same issue exists within Europe. Germany and England, as well of Scandinavian countries are mostly the target. Not to mention France, Belgium and Italy.

It's said that now many of those (East) Indians, have been sent back to their country of origin alongside many other foreigners. The American Dream is dead for now. I thought what I should do, to my (East) Indian friends, whom I like a lot, is to provide them with the (East) Indian Dream which if materializes, would be much better than the American Dream. In order to achieve that, my good (East) Indian buddies must follow the followings: 

1) You have a massive workforce. Pay them the minimum wage or have them volunteered to clean of the mess. All the garbage, dirt, grim, filth, etc. Get it done whether it takes 6 months or 6 years. 

2) Stop scamming tourists. I will never go to India but I know people who would. Many tourist have complained about being scammed and lost money. That's disgusting. The funny thing is that I had a buddy from Chennai who said once to me  and I quote here: " India has nothing to see ". So it's been always a question for me why would someone ever go to India and only one answer came to my mind: It's cheap as hell! 

3) Eating like a cow and having a big belly like a pig or an eight-month pregnant woman is not something to be proud of. Stop being a cow or a pig. 

4) Stop raping female tourists and your own girls and women. 

5) If you're poor, you still can be clean and nice. You don't have to spread garbage around. Try to understand the concept of Garbage Bin. 

6) Familiarize yourselves with condom or other pregnancy prevention methods. Giving birth to multiple children in a country which already has passed 1.4 billion, is not an achievement. 

7) Stop fraudulent businesses which targets foreign countries. You eventually are caught and may face charges. 

This is Indian Dream which could turn the reality. It might take generations but you'll get there. What bothers me the most is all these poor sols who have to put up with you around the world! 

(Photo: An [East] Indian family tried to cross into the US from Canada in pursue of their American Dream. All four, husband and wife and two kids, froze to death. American Dream for them turned to chilly dream. Now the kids are resting and have no challenges in their lives. Mom and Dad are also happy. They're no longer responsible for the kid's future. The dream came true)

I'm European!

Disclaimer: This post in no way has any intention to look down on people who had a hard life before coming to Canada, look down on them or ridicule of any way. It only is about a natural reaction of an individual during a casual conversation. Please stay calm and understanding.

Sometime I feel really bad for the people who made their ways all their way to Canada in pursue of their dream: Getting out of extreme poverty, have something to eat, being able to sleep at night without the dear of being bombed, etc. Canada, for sure, provides that, although not as pleasant as it used to be but still for a guy who comes from Afghanistan, Cuba, Sudan, Dominican, The Philippines and all sorts of devastated or drug-infested countries, going to Toilet Donald's for a Hamburger or buying a bag of rice for Nasty-Toilet-Mart is as pleasant and sweet as staying at a 5-star hotel in Manhattan! Lot's not forget that, as I've mentioned earlier in a separate post, this is what Canadians like: They like to see the foreigners struggling and be beneath them. That's hoe they feel good about themselves. 

With that said, I used to go to Lina's Italian Market on Centre St., regularly. This is a small specialty supermarket with the majority Italian imported products. Merchandises such as Pasta, Tomato Sauce, Olives, Cured Meat, Vegetables, Candy Bar and similar. They also have a bakery and small cafe. You can get food, beverages and deserts. The quality is not bad but not top of the line either. I don't want to talk about the prices because with the price of everything going up, fuel, wages, etc., you can expect them to make a 12" Pizza for $8. I used to there for Olives, Eggs and occasionally other stuff. Now I barely go there and I only get Olives. Everything else is simply not worth paying by me anymore! 

Businesses like that usually have difficulty finding employees but this one has never seen any problem of that sort. The store is usually busy during the weekend but during the week the traffic is not that heavy. I was there once and I asked a fella about an Olive Oil bottle. I'm usually very hesitant when it comes to purchasing cooking oil and with all sort of fraud with Olive Oil (they mixed it with much cheaper oils such as Peanut Oil) I really don't want to be tricked. He was trying to be helpful with his broken English. When I asked him if he was Italian. He said he was European! He later clarified he was from Albania! 

The funny thing about these poor refugees who claim they're from Europe, is really sad. There're parts of Europe that there's nothing and honestly I don't know how people live. Countries such as Albania and Bulgaria are the worst, particularly the latter! It has been warned to avoid. The other countries of their vicinity are not much better off. They're basically toilets! No offence but that's what they really are! Moldova, claims to be a country! It's probably just a few farmlands and a number of cows and that is all. Romania, Hungry, you name it. They're just happy that they're called European! 

(Photo: Lina's Italian Market offers a variety of cheeses. I usually stay away from them, not that they are bad or anything. They just contain too much fat. I've tried their Ricotta a couple of times, though and it was good)

Swastika is not a Racism Symbol

When I moved to Canada after waiting 5 years for my visa, in contrast to all the fraud and liars who simply make up a story and pour into the country to benefit from the tax payers, I had a different mindset. I thought I was going to an understanding and civilized society. Although a good portion of Canadian people fall within that category, I believe, after living in this country for almost 24 years, there's a good portion of society who easily fall within the definition of d8ckhead. There're a lot of drunkards, child abusers, wife beaters, drug-addicts, Weed smokers, you name it. Basically having manner and being polite is considered a weakness in almost everywhere in this society. If you haven't tried any type of drugs, don't drink regularly or dislike fast food, you're not accepted in the society. 

The fact if you're not Caucasian and was not born here in Canada, generally, you're not accepted within the society. Sure they hire you and even give you a title and, at times, reasonable salary but you would never mingle with them even after more than 20 years because your looks always reveal you aren't one of them. This Inclusion and Multi-Culturalism that the stupid Government of Canada has been yelling for years will never materialize. They only say that to have people of all background in one work-place so they can work without conflicts so the Government can tax them! If multi-culturalism and inclusion worked, there would be no Chinatown! I've written about the stupidity and ridiculousness of Multi-Culturalism already. What I need to add here and educate the stupid Justice Minister is that if he believes in Multi-Culturalism, perhaps he should study other cultures a little more to, for example, that what is called Swastika, here in Canada and other Western countries is an old religious symbol in many Asian cultures, including India and Japan and in no way has nothing to do with Racism, something that many Westerners have great adherence to it!

 The fact that Germans used it as their symbol from 1930s to late 1940s has nothing to do with the origin of this sign. People who use that as a sign of hatred are nothing but stupid and ignorant individuals and no one is responsible for this shit but the stupid Government of Canada because they brought these people in despite the opposition from Canadian people. Did you see what happened in Toronto last week? There will be more and more of that across Canada. People are sick of overpopulation, unemployment, high cost of living and crime and the Government is responsible for this by dumping truckloads of foreigners, many uneducated and from war torn countries, on Canadian soil. There's no democracy because democracy means to do what the people want, not what the Government want's which is taxing more people! 

I still think Canada could get itself away from the hole that Europe is already in. Whether they do that or not is another question. 

(Photo: I took this picture near a park in Tokyo which shows the top of a Shinto temple. Signs like that could be seen all over eastern Asia and people are not offended by that. I once saw an Indian young girl in an Esso gas station in Skyview neighbourhood of Calgary wearing a necklace with a pendent of the same symbol. The stupid Canadian education system needs to provide knowledge to the public that this sign has nothing to do with racism, while, I insist, banning it to be misused for such purpose and get tough on the d8ckheads to draw it here and there. Put them behind the bars. Ban them from doing certain things which would affect their lives such as applying for certain jobs. Punish them harshly so they learn their lesson. Don't slap them on the wrist!)