Chips and Tea

A Poem by intime

The experience of an individual transitioning from one country to another.

'Where am i from?' Clearly not here.
I come from tea and samosas, not chips and beer.

To be honest, the question 'Where are you from?'
I don't understand, I am a Canadian citizen from Pakistan?

I left Pakistan at the age of six.
To avoid being caught in the violent mix.
Shootings and brutality every night.
Canada offered a better life.

Landing in Toronto on an August afternoon.
I would be calling Brampton my home pretty soon.
Adapting to life was difficult for me.
All the changes in my life had my head swirling.
I went from watching exciting games of cricket to dull games of curling.

Only spoke Urdu; didn't know a word of English
When i ordered food no meat in my dish"
Learned how to behave, talk and spell.
I felt i was Canadian the day they took me out of ESL.

Yes, i am still from white rice and curry fumes.
Still from Indian songs played at a high volume.
Still from ' you don't have to go out to play'
Still hear " you should study six hours a day."

You can tell i am not from this hockey loving nation.
But I love this, so i need no explanation.

So the question 'Where are you from?'
i do understand.
I am a citizen in Canada from Pakistan.