The Hidden Coconuts

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The Hidden Coconuts We dive into the effects of having been born and/or raised in North America, while our roots trace back to South Asia.

We tackle stereotypes and outdated notions to show how much our stories vary from one another, yet how much they are the same.

15/10/2022

When asked what she wants to see differently in society, Katie answers with her hopes that people will challenge themselves more and step outside their comfort zones.
It’s easy to feel as if we need to fit in a box to be “accepted” but we are much more fluid than that, be it cultural expectations or gender norms. Taking a risk can be one step closer to being your most authentic self :)

15/10/2022

Another Katie Quote for you!

In our newest guest feature, we are joined by Katie Leung (she/they), a Chinese-Canadian student who recounts her past e...
15/10/2022

In our newest guest feature, we are joined by Katie Leung (she/they), a Chinese-Canadian student who recounts her past experiences surrounding gender norms, culture and the effects of nostalgia on her present-day life.

15/10/2022

Having immigrated to Canada at the age of 6, I was a sponge. Back then, I thought I had to be just like my peers to be accepted into this foreign country, which included being ok with people mispronouncing my relatively uncommon (even in Bangla) name. Early on, my family would laugh at how my name was being pronounced at school, but in retrospect, this could’ve been avoided with just a simple correction early on.

The English way of pronouncing my name stuck to me, and I even have a nickname because I’ve heard teachers say my name was “a mouthful” to say. Nonetheless, although I still hesitate to pronounce my name correctly when introducing myself (sometimes even giving a heads up to the other that it is an uncommon name), I’m finally at a spot where I love my name and embrace it, as my Grandfather must have when he chose it for me - the way it’s meant to be pronounced. Although I’m ok with being called Aggie by moots, I prefer if they know my full name first, and the correct way to pronounce it.

18/09/2022

When we start school, many of us are given new identities by our teachers as they pronounce our names wrong. And being the clueless little humans we are at that time, we just go along with it. I remember being completely submissive to my teachers’ point of view to the point where I changed the way I said my brother’s name in public. If I had people in my class whose names were being butchered, I’d do the same just to fit in. I was convinced that the ignorant way of society was the right way.

As I got older, I started to understand how this was problematic. After all, names have meanings, and are something we carry with us our entire lives! Don’t we deserve to have them said properly? I also learned that teachers WANT to say our names correctly…they might just need us to tell them.

So to all the coconuts out there, I hope you feel confident in correcting people’s pronunciations.

-Maira

18/09/2022

It’s important to remember that what we envision life to be like will not always be the reality. We can plan our lives down to the minute, but all that will ever be is a plan. Things change. Circumstances evolve. The goals we set a year ago will be affected by time. In Episode 4, Mehrin shares her goals that have come with discovering her identity, but that conflict with the expectations set by her family and community. Click on the link in our bio to give it a listen!

18/09/2022

thehiddencoconuts
Good luck to everyone going back to school this week! Here’s an important reminder/advice from Mehrin.

Growing up, us coconuts were taught to value and prioritize academic success. So much so that sometimes we forget to celebrate the little things that can also be considered huge successes, like making your bed or curling your hair! Take a moment to remember that taking a break/resting is NOT bad, nor is it a sign of slacking. Resting is productivity, letting yourself recharge to appreciate how far your body has come is necessary. Stay safe and healthy, peeps ✌🏼 - Agnibarna

When Juliet says "What's in a name?", does that apply to us coconuts whose names are not only unique among our surroundi...
13/09/2022

When Juliet says "What's in a name?", does that apply to us coconuts whose names are not only unique among our surroundings but exposed to mispronunciation repeatedly, stripping them of the meanings they are meant to convey? Agnibarna & Maira discuss their experiences with their South Asian names and how they've just accepted over the years that there is the white way and the right way to pronounce them. For Agnibarna, this meant dealing with people changing up the phonetics of her name to make people "comfy" (FYI don't do that) and even accepting a nickname, which has stuck with her to this day. For Maira, though an easy pronunciation, she has heard many editions, from Maria to Mara. How does the name debacle tie in with these two coconuts' ambitions of becoming exchange students, and what are some ways a coconut's fears and anxiety over travelling to a foreign place, alone, differ from that of someone from a superior race?

When’s the right time to tell our parents that we don’t want to follow in their footsteps? IS there a right time, or rig...
04/09/2022

When’s the right time to tell our parents that we don’t want to follow in their footsteps? IS there a right time, or right age to reveal yourself - the version of you that feels most authentic and true, yet doesn’t match your parents’ and environment’s expectations? And not to mention, is it worth facing the “what will people say?” notion? Agnibarna & Maira are joined by software engineering student, Mehrin Rahman, who although is enjoying her degree, envisions herself as a tattoo artist more than anything else. The catch: tattoos are a big taboo in her Bangladeshi community, opposing both their religious and cultural values. After years of keeping her passion hidden, Mehrin finally feels like she is in a good place with herself to express her goals publicly.

04/09/2022

The knowledge of every subject is useful in its own way, but not being in an environment where you can readily apply it can feel isolating. I am fascinated by the French arts and culture, and its many chefs-d’œuvres (« Demain, dès l’aube » de Victor Hugo, « Candide ou l’optimisme » de Voltaire and « l’Étranger » d’Albert Camus to name a few) but man do I wish I could converse about them with people!

I feel like languages are so underrated; not only are there trillions of possible combinations of letters and words, but we all interpret them in our own ways. And every language has unique words that cannot even be accurately translated to, for example, English. How cool!

It’s clear that I’m very passionate about this topic, and I want to share it! I’m sure there are many people who do not value it the way I do, which is fine, but that will not stop me from going on my tangents.

As humans, we have a natural desire to connect. I believe there are like-minded people out there, it’s just the matter of finding them.

Thanks again for reading 🙂 - Maira

04/09/2022

Different ≠ easy

Listen to Episode 2 to learn more about Aggie and Maira's respective journeys in their fields of study!

As back-to-school season approaches, Agnibarna and Maira share a conversation they had earlier this year, in the middle ...
04/09/2022

As back-to-school season approaches, Agnibarna and Maira share a conversation they had earlier this year, in the middle of midterms. They acknowledge that they are not in the conventional/stereotypical university programs their cultures expect of them and as a result, they've definitely gotten their share of side glances! But what actually makes a good degree, and what makes someone “intelligent”? Coconuts are often caught between a rock and a hard place; on one end they want to please their families, and on the other end, a part of society is telling them to chase their own dreams, sans background noise. Can there be a way to please both?

04/09/2022

The communication system has three main parts: a transmitter, a message AND a receiver. The absence of any one of these parts results in a failure to communicate. It’s one thing to speak up about something (and man, does that take courage!), but in order to have an effect, someone has to be listening, watching or attending. Someone has to be willing to acknowledge and accept what you have to say.

That is why change can be so hard sometimes.

Does that mean one should stop talking? Or not stand up in situations? My opinion: no. We have to be respectful with whatever we say, and hope that the message sinks in. Because the only way to know if it made an impact is by doing exactly that: saying it.

Thanks for taking the time for listening to me, your openness is thoroughly appreciated!

-Maira

03/09/2022

Have you ever picked up on subtle ways in which we've been taught to believe in white supremacy?

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