Read with caution. Contains sarcasm.
In 2013, I spent three weeks in India. I went there with a group of people to do volunteer work with the now shamed Me to We organization.
Upon completing our three weeks I felt great to have been able to take part in this trip and a fantastic experience. Now keep in mind, that India was not a shock to me. I have lived in Indonesia and I have seen some pretty incredible, disturbing, and amazing things. I have traveled extensively. However, to some, this was a mind-blowing experience. India is by far one of my favorite places because of the people and its history. I have also managed to pick up a few words from the hundreds of employees we had working for us at the time.
Upon leaving India, I knew I could spend months exploring this country if I had a chance to do it, maybe one day. But months after my return, I noticed a Me to We store in the Toronto Eton's Centre. They are the same as any other NGO. Profit off the less fortunate.
This let all the air out of my bubble because I felt cheated. I went to India and I felt good about it. Yet at that moment I felt terrible. It all sank in and I felt like I had been kicked in the nuts.
All we did was help them assimilate to our way of life. Changing the goats that they have raised for "better ones". Giving out micro-loans to the women of the household to empower them. This I agree with in part, but the loans?
The Western way.
I felt terrible, we were there to "help" yet all we were doing is forcing change and spoon feeding the locals in a tiny village that barely has electricity.
We were slowly assimilating them into us. A stressed-out 9-5 society with loans, cars, oversized houses, and pissing away money on things we do not need. Mental health issues are driven into our brains with social media, the news, the 24-hour cycle of text messages emails, and the chaos we call life.
Their way.
Get up work the land, the kids go to school and yet in the afternoon the kids are leading the cow down the road and we wave hello to the little boy we were building a school for.
Sure, these people have nothing. But do they have nothing? They also do not have to deal with the shit we deal with. High cell phone bills, insurance payments, house, and car payments, and so forth.
Their food is not filled with all the chemicals we stuff ourselves with and is allowed by governments.
Their life is relatively simple, yet we were here to help. Reeling them into our Western ways. We looked at them as "the poor Indian" people that need help.
They need help.
I am not saying they don't need help. But not the type of help we were giving. They need help from the local corrupt government which does not give a shit about them.
They need help but we do not need to change their way of life. The land they have worked for hundreds of years. We do not need to add stress and loan payments to their lives. Stress is a killer, is it worse than not having enough food or water?
Now the main story.
So Tim Horton's, the Canadian icon is now entering the Indian market. Will they be the failure that Target was in Canada, or the failed Domino's attempt to conquer the pizza world of Italy?
Will we have Diwali cups instead of Christmas cups in India?
Will we have paneer bits instead of Timbits?
I assume they should have great Chai tea... But this cross contamination of corporate cultural appropriation... Do we need this? Do we need every corner of the world to look the same? Starbucks, McDonald's, Domino's pizza, Burgerking, and the list goes on.
From Toronto to London, Germany to Italy, and all the way to Australia and Ireland oh my God! Will the Taj Mahal be sponsored by Tim Horton's to create awareness?
Please stop.
India is an incredible country. History that makes Europe look like a baby and a culture that is much deeper than nearly anywhere on the planet. Do we need this corporate approp
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