For all my life, I’ve been the kind of person to figure it out myself. I don’t understand fractions? I’ll ask the teacher questions or learn it from my parents. I don’t know what to write about in English? I’ll ask my parents for ideas, or sit in my room, noting down my thoughts until I can get a clear picture in my head. I like having that sense of control, the sort that gives me the self confidence that I can do it on my own. Though that’s just me.

This Wednesday was a day a lot of people look forward to each year, a day where you get to express your love for your loved ones and be able to tell them how much they mean to you. Everyone has their own way of expressing it, whether it’s through cards, candy, or other gifts. Not everyone has dates though, and so my friends and I celebrate it in an even more special way. Galantine’s Day!

January means a lot of things to a lot of different people. For some, it’s the start of a great new year! Though for high schoolers, it’s also crucial for one more thing. Semester Finals! These two words pretty much characterize the state of being about everyone at school. First of all, the semester’s also going to end on January 26th, so everyone is worried about doing good on the last few unit tests, to be able to maintain or increase their GPA. With this, we hope to start an academically strong year.

What would your reaction be if your school suddenly decided not to have any uniforms and the students can wear whatever they want (with some exceptions of course). Well, that is exactly what happens here in USA. We can wear whatever we want, as long as it doesn’t violate the dress code. I believe that people here get a lot of choices ever since they’re children. This country strives to give people freedom, and the ability to choose the outfits to wear is just another step in the plan.

Thanksgiving. What does it mean to me? Truthfully, I never even knew that this holiday existed when I was living in India for 10 years. Though when I came here, I realized it was a thing, at first just enjoying the holiday we had during this time. Over time, as I got more exposure to the tradition, I got the importance and value it had on Americans, or anyone that celebrates it.

Cricket! Hmm, what can I say about this sport? Actually, for me, it’s not just a sport. It’s a community, an opportunity for loved ones to come together and be on the same team. Cricket’s one of the sports that I’ve been watching ever since I was a kid. One of my most fondest memories with my family came because of cricket.

As a kid, I always knew when there was a cricket tournament going on, even if I didn’t understand how the sport worked exactly. My neighborhood was always a big fan, celebrating after every match India won. One of my most fond memories are when I used to come home after playing downstairs with my friends, T-shirt sticking to my back because of the Mumbai heat, the humidity and hot summer sun casting a blaze on my face. As I stepped into my house, the blast of wind from the air conditioning greeting me was one of the greatest reliefs. Looking up, I would always see my parents in the same position, the memory a clear image in my mind. My dad would be on the back couch, leaning on one arm, cheering on Team India. My mom on the couch on the side, eyes glistening with rapt attention, she too would shout and high five my dad every time that one of her favorite players hit a boundary or a sixer. This was my first inclination towards loving cricket, and I have grown even fonder of it since.

Hi everyone, I go by my virtual name Navaka. I am a girl from two worlds. My idea behind starting this blog is comprised of a lot of factors. In my life, I have attended 6 schools (both in India and USA), lived in two countries, visited 14 states in India and 13 countries in the world which includes three continents. I have always liked travelling and have written about my experiences ever since I was 6 years old. The reason I’m starting this blog is because I want to put my experiences on the table and create memories.