Moving to a new place makes me think a lot about the old places, the ones I left behind, and about how these environments led me to where I am today. I came to New Delhi one month ago, having left my family, friends, school and western lifestyle for something new. Let me tell you a little bit about my other American life and how things have changed!
I grew up in southeastern Wisconsin with my parents, big brother and little sister. We spent a lot of time together as a family, so I am missing them, right now! When I was a kid, I never traveled outside of the U.S., so I read about new places instead. These stories made me ask questions: what do people from the North Pole wear to stay warm? Is there someone else in the world named “Kalady”? What is it like to live in the jungle or mountains or desert?
Besides reading about these places, I loved to draw them, too. I used to make maps – like treasure-hunt maps with big Xs! – and these maps would take me on my own adventures. I tried to imagine living in a skyscraper in China or wearing an Indian sari (silk dress) and bindi (a special sticker worn on the forehead). I also liked the art people from other cultures made such as woven baskets, marble boxes and clay pots.
