Family:
My father retired as a Supreme Court Justice (for our state) and mother has always been a house wife. I have one sister who I consider to be my best friend. We are small middle class family of 4
Growing Up:
My father used to get transferred a lot every 2-3 years, I always used to find myself as the new kid. I used to be very quite and introverted. There are times and places where I did very well with good friends and there are times where I was bullied and lagged in my studies. I always used to consider my sister and my mother as my best friends and for me fun is just talking and playing with them (as long as I remember). Growing up in close proximity to strong women helped me to understand woman’s perspective more. Our favorite time is hanging
I grew up in a privileged household.. my father used to have servants everywhere. One for laundry, one for dishes, couple of them for security, coule of them for running errands/chores. If I walk to school I never had to carry my own back pack. If we go to a movie and the theater is full, furniture will be rearranged to accomodate us, if we go to a temple with my father, they will drive everyone away from the inner sanctum so that we could be alone.. at the same time my parents taught me and my sister how to be humble, a strong sense of righteaousness and justice
I have always been a very simple person… I never used to ask for more, probably something I learnt from my sister. We grew up learning to live a simple life and find happiness in simple things.
Heat and Humidity:
In our extended family our grandfather is the only one who had a car. When we used to visit his place every summer to gether with my cousins we used to fit in 9-10 people at a time in one car with no A/C. Sometimes the electricity will be turned off in the night, the heat becomes so unbearable that only options are to stay awake or pack up all mattresses and sleep on the terrace while star gazing and telling stories. When we had company like cousins or friends we used to welcome this so that we could all hang out on the terrace.. no need to do homework either..
Anyway it is in one of those car trips when it was around 110 degrees mid – day in peak summer trvaleing with 8 other people in a small car with no A/C, I decided if I ever settle in a place it has to be something sorruounded by mountains and cold
Hobbies and Interests:
It is very highly competitive for middle class families in India. Not much encouragement for hobbies and interests.. What every free time I used to have I sometimes play cricket with friends, play with my sister or I used to cut down trees and branches to make weapons while role playing mythological heroes. I had a general idea of what I want to do in life .. and I had to wait until 24/25 years old after I moved to US and established a career that I had a chance to start exploring my own interests.. It has been a wonderful journey. I started with walking/hiking/cycling/running in Ridley Park and Valley Forge Parks near Philadelphia.. then I got into fitness, swimming, dancing etc.. My goal is to learn something new everyyear. 2019 provided me oppurtunities to learn to become a handyman which eventually became my second job. I have a guitar now to practice for 2020.. fingers crossed
Rain:
I always have a fascination with rain. I love the smell of the earth and the sound of the rain. I used to love to take a walk sometimes with an umbrella and play in the puddle making paper ships. It also has something to do with most of the my favorite songs from movies being shot in rain or drizzle or snow