Meet Hema: One of My First Friends in India

Sometimes I take the bus or other public transportation. For short distances, I use autos or walk.”

What types of clothing do you like to wear?:

“Mainly I wear jeans and a t-shirt. On special occasions I prefer to wear salwar kameez”

A salwar kameez is a traditional Indian outfit made of a long shirt and baggy pants. The pants, called the “salwar”, are wide at the top and narrow at the ankle. The top, the “kameez”, is a long shirt that often reaches the knees. There are many styles of kameez. Some are like a dress and others have slits up the sides to the hips.

What do you like to do in your free time?:

“I like to go to the gym and do Pilates. I also like dancing, especially ballet. I watch a lot of YouTube videos.”

What language(s) do you speak? How do you say "Hello" in your language?:

"My mother tongue is Tamil and in Tamil hello is “vanakkam” (pronounced va-na-kum). Apart from Tamil, I speak English and Kannada. In Kannada hello is “namaskara” (pronounced na-ma-ska-ra). I do not know many languages. Many people here know five or six languages." 

Do you have pets?:

"Yes, my family has a dog. It lives with my parents."

Have you traveled? Where have you traveled to?:

"I have travelled the southern part of India, but I want to do an international trip. I am interested in visiting Europe."

What do you do for work?:

"I am a researcher. I like social insects (insects that live in large groups). I did my research on Asian honey bees as a part of graduation. Now I am trying to understand the social communication of honey bees."

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