Jaya, who grew up an only child in India, recalls watching her mother prepare dishes in the kitchen. Though she wasn’t able to help with these tasks, a recollection of the smells of ginger and cumin and a favourite dish prepared by her mom come to mind as well as the understanding that her mother, whether she was or not, was the best cook ever. With an Eastern Indian heritage, Northern Indian upbringing, and Southern Indian husband, Jaya’s diverse background has influenced her in several ways, including her cooking styles and food preferences. Having watched her mother cook with a keen eye and later learning how to cook from her husband, Jaya’s cooking style, creative in nature, took both cuisines, combined them, and modified them to her family’s preferences. As Jaya stated: “I think every family comes up with their own dishes.”
After moving to Dubai from India to secure a better future for her family, Jaya remembers the lifestyle the new city brought with it and the acceptance of expatriates from South East Asia. Though she’s grateful for her time in Dubai and recalls how amazing it was, Jaya feels that: “somehow it was all about the outside”. This, coupled with the changing nature of the UAE, led herself and her family to make the move to Canada. Jaya and her son have since decided to fully embrace their new life in Canada. While she’s very happy about being here, Jaya did mention she misses the Lebanese food in Dubai. Jaya Dharan came to Canada from Dubai in search of permanency for herself and her family. While she now describes Canada using the word “peace”, she recalls the first 6 months leading to very “troubled nights” in which she states: “all the years of my work, all the experience that I had gained, were not considered as effective”. Jaya’s long days and hard work eventually landed her a position at the Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CREIC) where she helps newly landed immigrants reach the place of “peace” she was able to find. The purchase of her own house where she cooks creative culturally inspired dishes has instilled in her a sense of belonging. While she enjoys a burger now and then, more often than not Jaya can be found preparing meals at home with her family, including her favourite dish; dhokla. Interviewed by Hannah Mousek, Ugonna Ohakim, Rujuta Nayak, Obinna Ekezie
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