Swetha Banda

In August 2018, N and I moved to the US for about 9 months. We were to move in to our rented apartment by the end of August. But due to certain paperwork issues with the previous tenant, the apartment wasn't available to us till the first week of September. We had to find intermediate accommodation for about 10 days. N suggested that we book something on Airbnb as the hotel rooms seemed slightly expensive. Being the last minute and given that it was the beginning of a new academic year in the university town, most apartments on Airbnb seemed book or beyond our budget. We were also conscious about the neighbourhood that we rented in as we had heard about the high rate of crime in NH. However, we did find a room in someone's house which was available. The only concern was that the owner had clearly mentioned that she had several pets - two dogs and two cats at home, and one cat who lived in the backyard but wasn't allowed into the home. Never having had pets, N and I we...

In the summer of 1998, the construction of our house was just about complete and we had a house warming ceremony. Right behind our building, was a lake. People could rent a pedal boat and go boating on that lake at that time. Subsequently, water from the lake was drained out to a different lake and the boating stopped. I was about 14 at that time. Sravani and Sruthi, my friends whose houses were also in the same building were a couple of years younger than me. While the gruhapravesham was going on, the three of us felt particularly adventurous. We decided to go boat riding, but wouldn't be allowed to do it on our own if we asked for permission. Well, we decided to do it anyway. The three of us had a little bit of pocket money and we rented a boat. Our plan was to take the boat to the other side of the lake, closest to our house and surprise our parents and to show them, how capable we were to do it on our own. We would reach waters edge on our home-side, call out to our pare...

Every night, I would hear this particular sound. It was the one sound I was really terrified of. It was the sound of a really heavy, wooden log hitting the ground and then being dragged along on the road. It would happen around the same time every night. I would lie awake, imagining a terrible monster who had large, wooden logs for legs, walking along the street, looking for little children to carry away and eat. Then I would crawl up to my parents bed and sleep in between my mom and dad, hoping that I wouldn't be carried away. After all, which 8 year old would be strong enough to fight this monster and triumph. This carried on for a few months and my night terrors got worse. My parents were, at that time, trying to get me to sleep independently. But I would end up in their bed, almost inevitably. It was worse on days when the power went out. One day, I was home sick and missed school. It was just after lunch and I was reading a book in the balcony when the bell rang. I ran...

Standing at the limit of an endless ocean Stranded like a runaway, lost at sea City on a rainy day, down in the harbour, Watching as the gray clouds shadow the bay - Icehouse - Great Southern Land Aboriginal Australians are known to have lived on this continent between 40,000 and 70,000 years ago. In Jack Hills, Australia, rocks as old as 4.4 billion years were known to be found. This makes Australia one of the oldest piece of land on Earth. Whats interesting about this continent is that it is cut off from the rest of the land mass making it very unique in terms of its flora and fauna. The artistic, spiritual and musical traditions of this land are as earthy and primitive as can be. Travelling through Australia, I felt this primal connection to the land. There is this sense of vastness that is overwhelming. Although a modern country, travelling by road gave me the feeling that the rest of the world does not really exist the way it does. I caught my first glimpse of ...

When I tell people that I teach in an elementary school, people react either with shock or pity. It looks like I have chosen this path because I dont want to take up a serious career or that I couldn't get a better job. Most people don't believe when I say that I really enjoy it and want to be a teacher by choice. And what's worse is that it looks like I have wasted my qualifications by choosing to teach. All this, because teaching as a career does not seem as lucrative as the other professions, although the amount of work one puts in is by no means less. As the economy improves and job prospects increase and people turn their attention towards professions that pay more, seem high profile, and command more respect. Infact, there is such a shortage of good quality teachers in our country that we almost have no role models in the teaching profession to look up to. It is a sad stae of affairs and it proves that for all our lip service about improving and giving the b...

At lunch with a friend this afternoon, we were talking about how in hindsight all our experiences seemed perfect and worthwhile. While, during the said period, it seemed like everyone was miserable and unhappy. I recall a similar experience. In 2010, I lived for a year in Durham, UK doing my Masters. I remember my time there as we remember most of our travels – thrilling and happy, everything new and strange. This is funny, since, if I think back honestly, while I was actually there I did not feel “happy”. In fact, I cribbed incessantly about the loneliness, the cold weather and the long distance relationship with my husband. I was miserable through out the summer I spent in Durham. Although, arguably when I think back one it, it was one of my happiest summers. Some of the happiest memories of my life are of playing badminton at all odd hours of the day or night with my friends, eating a pizza and chatting with my friends about our lives. Even though this whole time I was mis...

Someone once asked me what I would want if I were granted a wish. I replied that I would ask for an elder sister. When my mother was expecting a second baby, I was 6 years old. I distinctly remember saying that I wanted a sister and that I had already decided a name for her. Well, my brother was born and I couldn't give him the name I had thought of. I do love having a brother and we have had really good times. But somewhere at the back of my mind, I still wish I had a sister too. While growing up, I saw friends who have sisters and they wanted to kill each other all the time. They fought over everything and they were as different as chalk and cheese. But as we all grew up, somehow the sisters got closer and their relationships matured. The same siblings who couldn't stand to be around each other, now talk to each other everyday, even if they are on different continents. I have grown up watching my mother and her sister talk to each other about everything in their lives an...