By Journal Frame | June 2025
“No one warned me about the silence…”
When I landed in Canada, I expected to miss my family.
What I didn’t expect was how much I’d miss the sound of street vendors yelling, the chaos of traffic, and the smell of freshly made chai from the corner shop.
Moving to Canada is a dream for many Indians — better jobs, clean streets, polite people. But there’s another side to it that hits you late at night or during festivals when the silence becomes too loud.
Here are the 7 most common things Indians truly miss after settling in Canada — straight from real stories and lived emotions.
1. Indian Food That Tastes Like Home
Yes, Canada has Indian restaurants.
But somehow, butter chicken in Toronto never tastes like the one at your local dhaba in Amritsar.
You’ll find yourself hunting for fresh curry leaves or bargaining for overpriced spices at Desi grocery stores.
Home-cooked meals by your mom? That’s a flavor you can’t replicate.
2. The Sound of Family Around You
In India, you’re surrounded by people — cousins dropping in unannounced, loud laughter from the kitchen, and Sunday lunches with 12 people at one table.
In Canada, even when you’re not alone, it can feel lonely.
The silence hits hardest during Diwali or Holi when the phone calls just don’t fill the void.
3. Festive Vibes (Not Just Decorations)
Diwali in Canada? Lights, check. Sweets, check.
But that full-blown neighborhood celebration, the noise, the dancing, the firecrackers? Missing.
Holi turns into a small indoor gathering, with no gulal in the air or kids running wild.
The spirit feels quieter, and that quiet can feel like a loss.
4. Street Life & Chaos (Yes, Really!)
Believe it or not, many Indians miss the organized chaos.
- The sound of temple bells in the morning
- The honking traffic
- Local vendors yelling “Aloo le lo!”
In Canada, streets are clean and quiet — almost too quiet. There’s no chai stall gossip or auto driver banter to lighten the mood.
5. Warmth in Strangers
In India, your neighbors know your name, your dog’s name, and what you had for breakfast.
In Canada, people are polite — but distant.
The unsaid “community feeling” is hard to find, especially when you’re new and building your circle from scratch.
6. Affordable Help & Home Comforts
Missing your maid already?
In Canada, you do your own dishes, mop your own floor, and shovel snow at 6 AM.
What you once took for granted in India suddenly becomes gold — from home-cooked food to help with errands.
7. That Feeling of Belonging — Effortlessly
In India, you just exist. You belong.
In Canada, you try.
You try to explain festivals, your food, your accent.
Even in multicultural cities like Toronto or Vancouver, you sometimes feel like you’re performing Indianness, not living it.
Final Thoughts
Canada is beautiful, safe, and full of opportunity.
But being an Indian immigrant comes with layers of emotion.
You grow. You adapt. But you never stop missing the little things — the ones you never realized you loved until they were gone.
