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Southeast Advocates will present a new story-telling series for children: ‘Here’s My Story’, at the Weyburn Public Library beginning on Wednesday, May 28th at 4 p.m. The first speaker is Monika Sharma, who moved with her family to Weyburn from northern India nearly two years ago.
Sharma will share about her cultural heritage, and while she practices the Hindu religion, the presentation will be cultural, focusing on festivals, food, clothes, and the celebrations she grew up enjoying in India.
“Fifty years ago we used to not eat any meat, and nowadays people are changing that, so what was the reason behind that and what kind of food we eat, how we prepare it, and how differently,” she noted.
“We have a lot, a lot, a lot of celebrations and festivals so how we celebrate these festivals differently, like Holi we celebrate that as a festival of colours, Diwali is just like Christmas so that is a festival of lights and many more. I’m going to represent India.”
Sharma said she’ll be happy to answer questions as well as show photos of Indian weddings.
“They are totally different from in Canada and they are very colourful, big events,” she said. “I’m going to show some pictures of the festivals we celebrate, I’m going to wear one of my authentic Indian clothes so that they can know what kind of clothes we wear in India, and I will give explanations of that, too, so maybe that will be fun to see. It’s it’s fun to see other cultures.”
A nurse in India, Sharma currently works for the Saskatchewan Health Authority and is in the process of becoming a licensed RN in Canada. Her husband had a sales background and is now driving a truck. Their two children will be going into Grade 12 and Grade 8 this year, and she shared that their education was a major reason they chose to come here.
“It was it because it was a good place to live. A major reason was for the better education for our kids. So many people are sending their kids after their graduation to Canada spending a lot of money and the kids are coming here alone and so we had that opportunity to come together.”
“It is a good place to live. It’s less populated, less polluted, more opportunities, more good people, and we are lucky that we came here to Weyburn because Weyburn is the most, most, most peaceful and quiet place and people around in Weyburn are amazing. Truly amazing. Even if they don’t know you they will say hi to you, how are you, how’s the day going, and kids are loving the school.”
While schooling here is different than back home, she said her kids have informed her they do not want to go back to India due to how much they are enjoying school here.
“They have new things to learn and it is not pressurizing they are enjoying it, and that is the most important part,” she shared. “I was scared of it because I was thinking in my mind that maybe my kids will not cooperate or they will be feeling like really lonely here because it’s a totally different from India but I’m happy that I was wrong.”
Anyone who would like to attend or would like their child to attend the program, which will take place in the Allie Griffin Auditorium, can register by calling 306-842-6397.
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