Carnivals! That simple word brings me so much joy. I’ve grown up listening to childhood stories of all the fairs and carnivals at my parents’ and grandparents’ hometown and have longed to visit one someday. I’ve always lived in a big city, which is why the carnivals there were a lot different than the typical traditional setting. I had even grown fond of them through movies based in USA, including Mary Poppins. I’ve always been an energetic person, seeking thrill rides and fun with friends.

Suddenly, I wake up one day to the birds’ chirping, the sun streaming in through my windows instead of the usual Seattle rainy gloom. The air feels lighter and a smile creeps up on my face. This can only mean one thing. Spring is here! I look forward for this day since the beginning of the new year, January and February being the most depressing months for me.

The weather during those two months is constantly switching its choice on raining or snowing, especially because we live in Seattle. While the only good things during those months are the snow days we get off from school, spring is a much brighter time. Since I’ve grown up in India, I’ve been used to looking out and seeing the sun every day, the sun peeking out for a bit even during the rainy season, and so, I’ve always felt happier and warmer when it’s out. Which is why spring is even more special for me.

The very first year I moved here, I was surprised when one day, suddenly, the sunset had gone an hour earlier! I was confused on what had happened and how come I saved an hour (happily, I might add), when I finally came to know about Daylight Savings Time. There are a lot of things I learned when I first came to the United States, one of them being Daylight Savings Time. That is when all the time zones in the United States move forward by one hour to extend the amount of sunlight we get during the evening. This steals one hour from the morning sunlight and adds it back to the evening sunset time, stretching it out by one hour.

I never realized the power of my mother tongue until I was 10. I grew up listening to the Marathi and Hindi languages, as they were the only things I ever heard until I went to school. Marathi was the language I said my first word in, the language in which I learned to communicate with my parents, the way they interacted with me when I was a small girl. It’s the only language I speak to my relatives in. It gave me a sort of connection to other people who spoke the same language because we started on the same wavelength.

Hiking is something that takes you miles away while still being in your city, just another weekend getaway. At least that’s what it is for me. Though it turned out to be so much more than that, walking through the dense forests, breathing in the alpine scent, I felt like there was so much of the world left to explore and this was the path for that journey to begin.

One of the first things that connected me to USA just after I had moved, was the library. When I was little, my parents would read to me every night, and so, I always had a love for stories. Ever since 1st grade, I would never leave the house without a book and was always in the middle of some drama or mystery. I would usually associate what I read to real life, and even implement some of the things I learned. For example, after I read a spy novel, I would carry a flashlight and a rope everywhere with me. Books were always a huge part of me growing up, and I think some of them definitely contributed to my personality. I started using words that my favorite characters used and got to know more about different cultures and lifestyles. Which later made it easier for me to adapt here, in the USA. Books life Spy School (Stuart Gibbs), Judy Moody (Megan McDonald) and A to Z Mysteries (Ron Roy) were a pathway for me to know more about life and trends in USA, and Disney series helped too.

Winter is finally here! With it, it brings friends, family, and most of all, Christmas joy! Being a resident in Redmond, Washington for the past 4 years, I’ve gotten used to some dreary and rainy winters, but the lights that I see around my area always ignites a warmth within me. I live in an area that is called the temperate zone. This is where the weather is cold during the winter but not freezing, and hot during the summer, but not sweltering. The sunrise is also really late, the day not starting before 8:00 in the morning. Plus the sunset is super early, the shortest day of the year ending at like 4:00pm. It used to seem a little bleak at first, but the way that everybody starts all the activities is truly magical and

My mind was racing, a 1000 thoughts spiraling through my mind. I have to finish this assignment, that project and study for so many tests. Though the thought that cut the long line of thoughts and displayed prominently in my mind was this. Winter Ball was in a week! This being my first dance in my new school, I was excited. I was simply bursting with joy at the thought of me wearing my dress, doing my hair and makeup, and taking pictures with my friends.

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.

My love for Bollywood movies started when I was just 6 or 7 years old. Though, surprisingly, it didn’t really kick off until the lockdown in 2020 due to Covid. When I was little, the most important things to me were the Bollywood songs. I would sing them in the shower and try to remember them when my friends and I were playing Antakshari. Antakshari is a very popular game in India, where you take the last syllable of a specific song and try to think of a song that starts with the same syllable. Though most of all, I used to love Bollywood songs because of dance.

Today, I want to take the time to talk about my grandma (Nani, my mom’s mother). Growing up in an Indian household, I was used to being around a lot of my relatives and family friends. I’ve always loved being part of a large community, a large family, especially during Wedding Season. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve known to dress up in Indian attire and go for poojas (prayers), and celebrations of various kinds. I know a lot of my extended family by name and grew up having small talk. Though I think my favorite family member besides my parents, is my grandma.

Waking up with clammy hands, butterflies in my stomach, and a haze in my mind, I was sure I was sick. But no! I was just excited for my perfectly planned homecoming weekend. I had studied extra hard the entire week, just so that I could have a little breather for the weekend. Oh, finally it was Friday! Feet bouncing, hair waving, I got out of the bus after school on Friday afternoon, just a day before the special day and started running to my best friend. We had planned for this for so long, and our dream was finally coming true.

Something that I really love about this country is the various types of U-picking there is. U-pick is when you go into a farm and get to pick your own vegetables and fruits. We started exploring new options during Covid times as we were always searching for things to do. We started with apples. It was highly recommended by a lot of our community, since the talk of the best u pick farms was going on in all the shared community platforms. It was the perfect season as the fall leaves had just started drifting to the ground. We searched the place on Google maps and were glad to find it only a half hour away from our house. Getting ready, I wore my apple print top, signifying the occasion. The car ride had an energetic and exciting buzz around it, and finally, we arrived.

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.