An Ocean of Difference Distance is such a simple concept and yet it can bring about the greatest change in a people. This idea is powerfully reflected in the stories “Dealing with Grief” and “The Interpreter of Illnesses” written by Bharati Mukherjee and Jhumpa Lahiri respectively. Their stories illustrate two different cultures populated by the same people, the Indians. Although they are all Indian, the people are separated by a cultural barrier between the countries. In “The Management of Grief,” a Canadian widow discovers that her life is radically different from that of her family in India (Mukherjee, 434). In “Interpreter of Diseases,” an Indian meets an Indian-American family on vacation (Lahiri, 448). These stories compare two people. In India, culture, tradition and religion influence every aspect of life, from the food they eat, the way they greet each other and even the way they marry. For native Indians, there is little more important to them than their family and culture, as shown by Mr. Kapasi's surprise at the distant attitude of the Das parents (Lahiri, 450). The Das come from America, where there is much less emphasis on family values ​​and togetherness. The mother, Mrs. Das, blatantly ignores her children and instead focuses on painting her nails (Lahiri, 451). The father is more concerned with telling their driver, Mr. Kapasi, about the tour before his wife takes up the conversation, clearly taking an interest in Kapasi and her work as a translator and interpreter (Lahiri, 452). Children are boisterous and respond to their parents while letting their attention wander. In India, this kind of behavior, from both parents and children, would be desperately frowned upon and the entire family could be excommunicated from the community. Indian parents are taught to be strict, but attentive to their children. If a child speaks to his parent, the latter is obliged to respond, even if it is to scold him. Additionally, children learn to be respectful to their parents at all times, even after they themselves become parents. Born in the country, she and her husband lived in an area with a community of other Indian-Canadians. This story chronicles Shaila's experiences from the moment she learns of the plane crash to the moment she decides to take up the cause of the Indian voter and start a foundation/charity. Upon learning of the incident, she does not burst into tears or become hysterical. Unlike other Indian women, she appears stoic and calm in the face of such tragedy. Others see her as a “pillar” of the community in this time of need. (Mukherjee, 437) However, inside she worries that there is something abnormal and terrible about her calmness and that it is not caused by the pills that the doctors are prescribing her. for his stress and trauma from experiencing the loss of his family. His reaction may be a cause of his adaptation to Western culture where the expression of grief is often looked down upon and considered a sign of weakness, which would explain why his calmness is perceived as a strength. Shaila and some other family members of the deceased plane passengers return to India, and yet, despite being Indian by nature, some still return to the Western world and resume their lives there as Canadians and Americans. Shaila returns to Toronto after living with her. parents in India for several months for example. Another “relative”, Dr Ranganathan, returns to the West