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

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.

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.