The Lost Global Citizen : Part 1

For years, thanks to my dad's job I have been around the world and witnessed in true sense what people call the cultural diversity. I was born in Yemen, and of course I don't remember much about Yemen, but yep! That is where I was born.

I started my schooling in Russia. I went to nursery, and I used to speak fluent Russian! I don't recall that either, but yep! That is what I used to do! I remember the beautiful Russian house-help we had, Natasha. Tall and beautiful. She would smoke while she and I traveled back from school to home. I was amazed. My mother had never smoked or had a drink in front of me. I stole one of my dad's cigarette's and hid it with my toys. I would try smoking one as well! I was six. Fortunately, I forgot about the cigarette and my mother found it before I could. I was questioned, for obvious reasons. I told my mother how I saw Natasha smoke. To that my mother answered, "We are Indian women beta. We do not smoke or drink alcohol." And those lines are now etched in my mind. Even when there are times I do try to smoke, I remember what my mother had said, almost 20 years ago.

So for then, being an Indian woman meant to me "NO SMOKING. NO DRINKING". I came back to delhi, and was there for two years. All I can remember from those two years is that I learnt to skate, and I learnt to accept my mistakes and be ready to face the consequences. I had not done my homework, and the teacher was punishing children who forgot to do their homework. I was young and naive. When she came to me, I got up and put my hand forward. I said, "Mam, I have not done my homework. It is my own fault." She asked me to sit down. I was spared from the beating.

Then came the USA. What did I learn from three years there? I learnt not judge. I was only 9 years old, but I could see the cultural difference. I realized by then, somethings were welcomed in a certain culture which might not be liked in another culture. I was sitting next to children from all over the world. And sitting there all I realized was that we might eat different cuisines, might go to different places for worship, may dress differently. But all we really wanted was a holiday and less homework. There was something common. So, I stopped judging the 9 year olds who were dating or cursing. I accepted the fact that they are brought up in their own certain way. And as long as no one was getting hurt, I accepted them as they were with no judgment. And with the virtue of not being judgmental came one more notion to my head : " It really doesn't matter what other's think of you, as long as you know what you are doing is right" .

Boy! Did that get me into trouble or what! I was back in India, in school. I had turned into a tomboy then. I had been introduced to basketball in my Gym classes in New York. I was damn crazy about basketball. But apparently everyone in my class would play volleyball. I started playing basketball on my own. And what followed was a storm of boys. Puberty had just kicked in. Of course I had crushes! But never on the guys who I played with. Big damage to my image! But didn't stop me from playing basketball nonetheless. Eventually I interacted with the girls in class, managed to top among the girls and attained third position in class. The wonders that did! There I learnt one more lesson : " In the end, if you are successful, people will accept you no matter who you are! " .