I was born in New Zealand, however I came to the States when I was two. I don’t remember much from those early years, but I grew up hearing stories from my parents about life back home, surrounded by South Indian traditions that always stayed close no matter where we lived. I even went back to New Zealand as a solo trip and visited the hospital I was born in and all the places we lived in when I was just a baby.
My childhood here in the States felt like a blend of two worlds. At school, I was learning to sound American, and at home, I was surrounded by Telugu, and old songs playing in the kitchen. Learning how to do puja’s twice a day pretty early on, and watching endless telugu movies with mom. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but looking back, I can see how much of who I am came from learning to move between cultures without realizing it.
There were moments when I felt out of place, not quite fitting into one side or the other, but with time, that in-between space became something I value. It taught me how to listen, how to adapt, and how to see things from more than one perspective.
Now, I see my identity as a mix that doesn’t need to be neatly defined. It’s South Indian roots and an American upbringing, blended together in a way that feels natural to me. It shows up in how I communicate, create, and connect with people. It’s not two separate worlds anymore. It’s just mine.