November 11, 2014
Mesa, Arizona (United States of America)
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| Santa Monica, California |
Read the first installment of DIARY OF AN INQUISITIVE TEEN here>>> http://www.jeevanmag.com/2014/10/diary-of-inquisitive-teen-delhi-to-dc.html
3 Months in the United States! Life is beautiful, and busy! My experience so far has given me memories to cherish and lessons to remember. When I return to India, next June, I’ll be a changed individual; changed for better and changed to confront each and every situation life has to offer.
3 Months in the United States! Life is beautiful, and busy! My experience so far has given me memories to cherish and lessons to remember. When I return to India, next June, I’ll be a changed individual; changed for better and changed to confront each and every situation life has to offer.
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| Indian Food with host mom |
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| Bruin MUN at UCLA |
So, I had got the
passport to the Toro Nation (Toro-or bull is my school’s mascot) and was ready
to be a skinny Toro (I admit I am skinny). I started at Mountain View High
School on August 18. On the very first day, I learned the fact that American
High Schools are way different from their Indian counterparts. In India,
students sit in the classroom and teachers walk in and out while here it’s just
the opposite. Schools in India require the students to be dressed up in school
uniforms- from tie to shoes. Students aren’t permitted to carry electronic
devices like cellphones and yes, we don’t use calculators in our Math class
(Maths in British English but Math in American English…a small but significant
difference). The public display of affection between opposite sexes is nearly
forbidden.
My first days at the
school were difficult! I had to adapt to a range of situations. Socializing was
tough as every hour here has different classmates. Some of the classes were way
too easy. So, I changed my schedule in a week. American History easily became
my favorite core class. Among the other classes I have are AP Chemistry,
Pre-Calculus, American Literature, Yearbook and Model United Nations. Model UN
is super fun! Oh…I forgot to mention that I am just coming from Bruin MUN at
UCLA (November 8-9) where I won Honorable mention award representing the Singaporean
delegation.
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| Fun with friends |
So, now was the time for
clubs. I joined Mosaic writing club given my passion for writing. You won’t
believe it but I was elected the president of my school’s European culture club
despite of not knowing any European language (Don’t be silly by considering
English one).
Let me tell you about
some ridiculous questions I was asked.
A random guy at school: Do you guys travel
on horses and elephants in India?
Me: Hmm…yes, and our traffic police moves
on camels!
Guy: Really?
Me (laughing): Get yourself out of the
bubble, dude! US is not the only place in the worlds with cars.
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| Kurta with Swastika |
I was also asked why I
was a vegetarian and if “Facebook” was there in India or not. Some people also
misunderstood Swastika (A Hindu religious symbol meaning peace) on my shirt for
the Nazi sign which looks similar. I am having a great time capturing these
awesome reactions in the hard drive of my memories.
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| Halloween Jail breaker "Elvis Presley" |
I felt homesick at just
one occasion- India was celebrating Diwali- the festival of lights and I had to
content myself by skyping with my family. But, Halloween was fantastic! Dressed
as a jail breaker with a mouthful of candies, I enjoyed carving pumpkin and
creating an artificial graveyard.
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| At Phoenix Zoo |
Everything is awesome! In
the words of Thoreau, I am sucking out all the marrow of life.
Feel free to ask me anything about India or make a
suggestion. Waiting for your mail, akashmanofsky@gmail.com
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| (Akash Kumar is the Editor-in-chief of JeevanMag.com A Senior grader at Mountain View High School in Mesa, Arizona (USA), he is India's youth ambassador to US on a Department of State program. He hails from Motihari, Bihar, India.) |
Fascinating!
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