Homes
I have been fortunate enough to call three different countries my home. Living in these countries has prepared me to appreciate diverse cultures and adapt to my surroundings. This has also enabled me to connect with people across various nationalities and ethnicities, develop a love for food, and make everlasting memories.
California, USA | 2012 - Present
Now I am a California resident. I attended Stanley Middle School and Campolindo High School. I have many fond memories from my high school days, be it getting caught up in the insatiable sense of competition that existed between different rafts during Orinda Aquatics’ annual rafting trip, spending countless hours learning how to do backflips on the trampoline and playing spike ball with my friends during the summer before college, or walking from booth to booth at the State Fair with my parents while breathing in the aroma of all the fried foods.
New York, USA | 2010 - 2012
I attended Hauppauge Middle School while living in Long Island, NY. I had my first experience with snow there during the 2010 Christmas. I remember staring awestruck at my street, watching the snow build up inch by inch, and later playing in it, making snowballs, and sledding through it with my dad. I also remember being mesmerized by the vibrant colors and sounds in the Broadway production of The Lion King. The sense of adventure that came from waking up at 5 in the morning, trekking to Manhattan in the freezing cold New York morning air, and watching the gigantic floats slowly pass by me in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, is etched in my memory.
Frankfurt, Germany | 2006 - 2008
Living in Germany, I learned and developed my love for the German language. I attended the International School Frankfurt Rhein-Main and represented them at swim meets. I still remember the cold brisk nights spent eating hot pommes in the bustling Zeil area of Frankfurt with my parents, eating the most delicious sugar donuts from Le Crobag on train journeys to different cities, going rollerblading with my mom every day in the summer, and spending hours with my parents at the annual Frankfurt Weihnachtsmarkt where the aroma of warm, fresh-baked apfelstrudels wafted through the air and I salivated over the decadent chocolate-covered fruit skewers. Living in Germany also gave me the opportunity to visit neighboring countries like France, Italy, Spain, and Greece among others.
Kolkata, India | Birth - 2006, 2008 - 2010
I was born in Kolkata, India, and spent most of my early childhood there. I attended Delhi Public School, Ruby Park and Delhi Public School, Newtown. I was introduced to Indian culture, traditions, and festivals. I vividly remember getting completely drenched in colors & water while celebrating Holi with my cousins, lighting 101 diyas and firecrackers on Diwali, touring Durga Puja Pandals through the night, and eating a variety of street food with my parents. While in Kolkata, I started to learn how to swim and roller skate.