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.

As an explorer, I always like to try new things, including places. Though there was this one place my parents and I found in 2020 that we kept going back to. That was Whidbey Island. Travelling to islands here is a completely unique experience, and not something we had tried before. I hadn’t been to many islands before, especially one at such a short distance. I had always been curious about islands as a kid, wondering what their mode of connection with the city was, how their way of life was different, and what an island looked like in general.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.