20 years ago, this Bright eyed Indian girl stepped out of a plane from India all excited to start her Masters program in Counseling Psychology in San Francisco. It is sweet to think how naive she was.
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It is strange that I never felt or saw myself as an Immigrant. America has always felt like home to me. But I
often wonder why I got the this opportunity to call this country home and why others are denied of possibly the only thing that might give them hope.
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Was it because I had resources, that I was educated, I had safety of another country to call my home. What if I didn’t? Would I be one of those mothers hoping that her child is safe somewhere.
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Answers I don’t have. My heart continues to ache for the world that we live in.
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However, I am immensely grateful to call this country my home, grateful to all the people who treated me well and never made me feel less than because I had a different skin color or because I spoke with an accent, grateful that my children will have opportunities that can’t be imagined. Beyond anything, I am grateful to never take freedom for granted. Happy 4th.
Photo taken – Sep 1998 – Yup, I met Asad in Aug of that year and we have been together ever since… Love this man so much. And I used to eat cake back then. Sigh…..