Embarking on a research study is often akin to preparing for an intricate voyage. It involves meticulous planning, tireless effort, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring all elements fall into place. My endeavour to recruit schools for observation was no different. It was a journey of learning, perseverance, and a deeper understanding of the delicate art of collaboration. One institution I contacted stood out: the FSU Childcare & Early Learning Program.
FSU Childcare & Early Learning Program: The Beginning of the Journey
Nestled in the heart of Florida State University, the FSU Childcare & Early Learning Program serves as a nurturing space for the children of the university’s faculty and students. As an essential arm of the university’s broader educational ecosystem, the preschool embodies FSU’s commitment to its community. The school’s emphasis on internships, volunteerism, and research makes it an ideal partner for studies like mine. Little did I know how profoundly this journey would unfold when I reached out to initiate the recruitment process.
The first step was to submit my research protocol through the university’s online platform. This formal process required a detailed outline of my study and approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Once this was completed, I received a prompt reply from Tiffany Karnisky, the Director of Operations at the preschool. Her email was warm and welcoming, and she expressed her interest in discussing the possibility of my study at the centre.
The Initial Exchange: A Virtual Meeting and Connection
Our first meeting was set for November 30, 2022, at 11 AM. It was a virtual meeting that would define my research journey and my understanding of how gracious and efficient leadership could transform a bureaucratic process into something genuinely seamless.
The moment the Zoom call began, I was greeted with the kindest of introductions. Tiffany’s warm smile and calm demeanour immediately put me at ease. She had prepared meticulously for our meeting, and her professionalism was evident. As I explained the purpose of my study, she listened intently, asking thoughtful questions that revealed not just an interest in my research but a genuine desire to understand how she could facilitate my work.
Tiffany’s clarity and precision were striking. She ensured I understood every detail about the data I needed, the exact number of visits I would make, and the hours I would spend in the classroom. This kind of person had already anticipated potential hurdles and preemptively cleared them out of my path.
Navigating the Paperwork: A Seamless Process
One of the most crucial aspects of this study was the background screening process, a federal requirement for anyone interacting with children in an educational setting. Tiffany did not just hand me a list of tasks; she walked me through each step as though she were guiding me through a well-rehearsed choreography.
With impeccable precision, she highlighted the mandatory sections of the forms, explaining each one clearly and ensuring that I felt confident in my ability to complete them. I could sense the care she took in preparing me, not just for the paperwork but for the journey ahead.
Her attention to detail was extraordinary. Every instruction, from submitting my Social Security Number to scheduling a fingerprinting session, was clear and transparent. She even sent me the address and office hours for the Human Resources department, ensuring every step of the process was as easy as possible. When I was unsure or had a question, she promptly replied with answers that were thorough and delivered with a sense of calm reassurance.
The Heartfelt Support: A True Leader
Tiffany’s generosity in guiding me through the logistical maze didn’t stop at the paperwork. She understood that research is not just about the data; it’s about the people involved. Her leadership was not just administrative — it was personal. She showed me how powerful it can be to make someone’s experience as simple as possible.
On more than one occasion, Tiffany took it upon herself to ensure I had everything I needed. She even scheduled a personal call to collect my Social Security Number, ensuring confidentiality by never asking for it through email. She prepared me for every step with such grace that I never once felt anxious or uncertain about what I had to do next.
Her leadership taught me something invaluable: how to make others’ lives easier by anticipating their needs and providing support in a way that feels effortless. Tiffany’s communication was so thorough and timely that I knew exactly what to do, when, and how to do it — all while feeling entirely supported.
The Final Touch: Reflection and Gratitude
As I reflect on the entire recruitment process, what stands out the most is how efficiently everything was handled and the kindness, transparency, and leadership Tiffany exhibited throughout. It wasn’t just a process; it was a partnership. Her ability to break down complex tasks into manageable steps taught me that research, at its heart, is about collaboration.
Ultimately, this recruitment process was more than just a logistical necessity — it was a profound lesson in leadership and communication. Tiffany made a potentially overwhelming experience feel not only manageable but pleasant. I carry the lessons learned from our interactions with me, cherishing the opportunity to work with someone who truly exemplifies leadership in its finest form.
A Lesson for the Future
I walked away from this experience with a successful school recruitment and a deeper understanding of what it means to work with others in a way that leaves them feeling empowered and valued. Tiffany’s meticulous attention to detail, grace in communication, and unwavering support have left an indelible mark on me.
It’s not just about the research; it’s about the relationships we build along the way. And I will forever be grateful to Tiffany for showing me the power of simplicity and kindness in making even the most complicated processes feel like a breeze.

Halloween, celebrated on October 31st, has a rich history rooted in ancient traditions and cultural evolution. Originally, Halloween, or “All Hallows’ Eve,” was observed the night before All Saints’ Day on November 1st, a time for honoring saints and remembering the dead. The festival’s origins trace back over 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain, a time when the Celts believed that the boundary between the living and the dead was at its thinnest, allowing spirits to roam the earth. Bonfires were lit, and costumes were worn to ward off these spirits, marking the beginning of many of today’s Halloween customs. Over the centuries, Halloween has transformed into a secular celebration filled with vibrant traditions that resonate globally, uniting people in a spirit of festivity and fun. From pumpkin carving to “trick-or-treating,” Halloween is now a beloved time for children and adults alike to immerse in a blend of history, community, and creativity.
The Pumpkin Affair
Halloween preparation often begins with the quintessential pumpkin hunt. In the last week of October, open yards and supermarkets overflow with pumpkins of every size and shape. Choosing the perfect pumpkin becomes a family affair, teaching children valuable skills in estimation, comparison, and judgment. They select pumpkins based on size, color, and symmetry, all displayed prominently with price tags. It’s a lesson in honesty, too, as buyers drop their payment into an unattended box, embodying a tradition of trust. Once the pumpkin is home, the real fun begins. Children draw faces on the pumpkin, often intricate designs motivated by neighborhood carvings they admire. The top is carefully cut as a lid, and the insides are scooped out, leaving a hollow canvas. Each cut of the scalpel is precise, as children etch eyes, a nose, and a mouth to give their pumpkin personality. After the carving is complete, a candle is placed inside, its warm glow illuminating the carved designs in the dark. This simple act transforms the pumpkin into a symbol of Halloween magic, with light flickering through its carefully carved features.
Costumes: An Exploration of History, Imagination, and Culture
Choosing a Halloween costume is another enriching experience. This tradition isn’t just about dressing up; it’s an opportunity for children to learn history, engage with culture, and celebrate creativity. Kids may dress as mythological figures like mermaids or superheroes like Superman, while others opt for characters from favorite TV shows. Each costume choice is often researched and discussed, bringing historical or fictional figures alive on Halloween night. Families help with costumes, but children invest time in understanding their chosen character’s story, discussing it with friends, and adding personal touches that make their costumes unique.
On Halloween night, children take to the streets, calling “trick or treat!” as they visit neighborhood homes. The saying, “If you don’t treat, be ready to be tricked,” is a playful reminder of Halloween’s mischievous side. Households offer candies and treats, with some leaving bowls outside for visitors to take while they join the celebration themselves. Halloween night is filled with “Happy Halloween!” and “Thank you!” as children fill their candy bags, often overcoming fears to approach even the scariest, most elaborately decorated houses in their quest for treats.
Building Social Skills and Creating Memories
Halloween provides a wonderful platform for children to learn social skills. They practice knocking on doors, greeting others, and expressing gratitude—all essential life skills. The experience teaches them how to engage in polite conversation and to enjoy interactions with neighbors and friends. From “thank you” exchanges to laughter and storytelling, Halloween fosters a sense of community and social bonding.
Costumed adults join in the celebration, and even older residents participate by welcoming young trick-or-treaters with treats. For children, it’s a night of adventure, where the joy of collecting candies is matched only by the thrill of exploring the neighborhood. Halloween fosters an environment where they can practice independence, strengthen friendships, and revel in the excitement of shared experiences. They learn to balance ambition—filling their candy bags—with bravery, facing their fears of eerie decorations and ghostly music.
Parallels with Festivals in India
Reflecting on Halloween brings to mind similar traditions celebrated in India, where various festivals honor ancestors and celebrate community bonds. Indian festivals often involve gathering with loved ones, decorating homes, and sharing food—practices mirrored in Halloween’s essence. Many Indian festivals also include rituals to remember those who have passed, drawing a connection between the living and the dead. Halloween, like these festivals, conveys that death is not something to fear but rather a reminder to cherish life and remember those who came before us.
This underlying philosophy of humility and respect for life is a profound message embedded in Halloween and other cultural traditions worldwide. Each festival reminds us to honor our past and embrace our community with grace, compassion, and open-heartedness.
My First Haloween
My first Halloween was like stepping into a storybook come to life. I celebrated it with John, Deepti, and Geetanjali, and every moment brought a thrill that made me feel like a six-year-old child again. The streets were alive with laughter, eerie decorations, and the soft glow of pumpkin lanterns flickering in the evening. As we walked through neighborhoods filled with ghoulish scenes and cheerful trick-or-treaters, I found myself enchanted by the traditions and magic surrounding me.
Yet, even in this excitement, I couldn’t help but miss Dhriti Kaveri, my granddaughter. Every little detail, from the carved pumpkins to the fun costumes, made me think of her. I imagined sharing each of these experiences with her, describing the way people greeted us with bowls of candy or how the jack-o’-lanterns glowed in the night. Halloween was a night of wonder, and all I wanted was to recount every moment to Dhriti, making her feel as if she’d been there, too.

Shhhh!! just turn around ………….there may be a ghost

Designing data collection tools for research is both intricate and challenging. It demands a deep understanding of the research objectives, as well as the context in which the research is being conducted. My journey with this began during the proposal phase of my Fulbright application, where the groundwork for these tools was laid. That preparation proved invaluable when finalizing the tools for submission alongside my Institutional Review Board (IRB) application (more on the IRB in series 5). The submission process, while daunting, was a blessing in disguise as it forced me to refine the tools meticulously, ensuring they were ready for approval.
Creating tools that could gather data accurately without bias or error required not only a clear grasp of the research questions but also an awareness of the essential data points that needed capturing. My experience as faculty at NCERT, where I frequently designed or adapted research tools, provided me with a strong foundation. However, preparing these tools posed a unique challenge: they needed to be user-friendly for participants I had never met, individuals whose backgrounds and work conditions were entirely unfamiliar to me.
The process of crafting the tools was iterative, often requiring refinement through multiple rounds of testing. It was crucial that these tools didn’t unintentionally influence participants’ responses or behavior. The support I received from Srimani John and Upasana during this phase was invaluable, as they helped validate the tools at various stages. Reflecting on those days, I realize how deeply I immersed myself in studying the local society, school culture, and community in Tallahassee. My dear friends June and Asia were constant sources of insight into the family dynamics and cultural nuances of the region. And no, June isn’t the month, and Asia isn’t the continent—they are my wonderful friends who made life in a distant land joyful.
Now, let’s delve into the specific tools I developed:
School Profile: This tool sought to capture and visually depict the schools I visited. It had to document everything from physical facilities to student enrolment, teacher details, and the general rhythm of school life—assemblies, classroom engagement, outdoor activities, meal breaks, and more.
Classroom Observation Schedule: This tool was designed to observe and record the subtleties of classroom practices. It aimed to document rituals, stories, songs, food customs, paintings, classroom displays, languages spoken, games, curricular content, pedagogical approaches, student-teacher interactions, and reinforcement techniques. The classroom environment, materials, and cultural variations were all given due attention in the observations.
Teacher Interview Schedule: This tool became central to understanding teachers’ perspectives on incorporating children’s socio-cultural backgrounds into the curriculum. A series of questions focused on curriculum, pedagogy, and inclusion practices.
Community Member Interview Schedule: Designing this tool was a delightful experience as it allowed me to explore my new city through the eyes of its long-term residents. My goal was to understand how deeply the locals appreciated the city’s rich history, its architecture, festivals, cuisine, literature, arts, and the traditions that shaped their upbringing.
Adapting these tools to fit the context and environment of my research added another layer of complexity. However, regular discussions with my mentors and friends at FCRR, as well as members of the local community, made the process smoother. My real challenge lay in integrating these tools with existing systems to ensure seamless data collection, storage, and analysis without errors or loss. Moreover, managing ethical considerations throughout the tool development was vital. Ensuring compliance with data protection laws and respecting participants’ privacy and consent was a delicate balancing act that often required legal consultation—a lesson I learned from my HRP course for IRB submission.
Beyond technical and ethical hurdles, maintaining these tools throughout the research project demanded constant attention. As new data was collected, the tools sometimes needed updates to address unforeseen challenges. This required ongoing technical support, which could be resource-intensive. Finally, I needed to ensure that the tools were validated and that the data collected was both reliable and accurate. Pilot testing, calibration, and establishing quality control procedures were essential in achieving this.
In short, creating data collection tools is a highly specialized task that calls for a multidisciplinary approach, combining expertise in research methodology, data management, and ethics. The process is time-consuming and resource-intensive, requiring precision and attention to detail to develop tools that are fit for purpose and capable of supporting high-quality research.
The structured approach at the university made the process systematic, allowing me to complete the work on time. There was no room for procrastination, as each cognitive task had to be finalized before moving forward. The next phase—recruiting schools—presented its own set of challenges. I couldn’t just walk into a school and start collecting data. But more on that in the next series.

As I settled in my Seminole Trails apartment, the first Sunday Hugh Catts, one of my mentors in FCRR offered an outing to me, a long drive to the farms of Florida that keep open during weekends for tourists. As planned Hugh and Susan came at 2 pm, picked me and on the way made sure I bought some green chilies (serrano chilly that is close to our green chilly) and similar stuff that I was missing from the day I started cooking in the US.
Nestled in the serene countryside, the farmhouse offered a secluded yet comforting retreat. Life was slowly turning back to normal, after COVID and it was evident as friends gathered once again, sharing laughter and stories that had been stifled by distance for too long. The air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers, and the gentle rustle of leaves added a soothing soundtrack to people once again meeting. It was a time to reconnect, not just with each other, but with the simpler joys of life that we had almost forgotten.
Florida combines two of its largest industries as agritourism. It allows farmers to open their farms to tourists for education and entertainment. While doing so it targets agricultural production and marketing. Opening of farmhouse is a business idea where the agriculturists let the general public walk through the farm land, buy farm products, expose to the country side cuisine. Families in huge numbers get attracted to these tourist places as children get to run around and play and learn about the living in villages, growing of food crops, get first-hand experience on poultry, dairy and similar stuff. Agriculture is getting tougher as cost of production is raising and it is hard for the farmers to maintain the farm. Agritourism is a source of income for them by selling farm fresh products which the visitors are ready to pay because of its freshness and taste. We can walk through the farm, pluck fruits and vegetables, pay for it and walk out. Orange orchard sells fresh orange juice in plenty of variety that is priced as per the goodness in it. With sugar, without sugar, with pulp, without pulp, in large and small cups are sold. Lots of variety of dry fruits and fruit jelly, jam, sauce are also sold in the counters. Traditional art forms are exhibited with its detailed history. All are organised in such a way that it is attractive and easy to shop. Workers of the orchard stay in the counter and explain the food processing with technology support. We treated ourselves with the richness of fresh orange juice from the counters in the orange orchard visit. In the series of farm visits, we stopped over by the vegetable garden with poultry where the German origin couple bake fresh bread and make delicious sandwiches with fresh tomatoes and eggs that was a treat! We landed in their farm as Susan was their regular customer buying the delicious bread they sell in the Tallahassee farmers market every Saturday.
Exploring the farmhouse and its surroundings introduced me to the rich flora of the land and also to the culture of the area. I saw from close angle the Spanish moss hanging off from huge trees, the commonly found epiphytic herb in Florida. I tried to learn about the regional cuisine and tried my hand at traditional crafts. The experience was immersive and enlightening, allowing me to appreciate a different way of life that had been quietly enduring the pandemic’s storm. It was a reminder of the resilience of communities and the beauty of human connections, even in the most isolated of places.
On our way back stopped at Hugh’s beautiful mansion that is decorated with care in every corner. Showed with enthusiasm the decorative art pieces that he had picked from Delhi and Bhubaneswar. The garden and the lawn display the classy taste that Susan and Hugh have. Be it Indian cuisine or American life style knowing the best of it, they relish each bit of it.
It was a pleasure to be with Hugh as I had seen the enthusiasm in him in wherever he goes. He makes me embark on my learning journey with similar eagerness to learn and to give back. It was a privilege as well as prestige to be able to be in the guidance of scholars of that potential not just in the academic front but in simpler acts of daily life. It is a rare opportunity to spend long hours with Hugh the language scientist of global repute. We talk of schools in India, the distinct cultural milieu of our countries and its impact on child language development, method of teaching reading in the early school years, teacher education and availability of language assessment tools. Indian food and easy recipe will always be part of our conversation only next to the topic of learning to read and write!!

I started my work on 6th October. I was introduced to the staff and structure of the Reading Research Centre. Meetings are held online, and I met my mentor, Prof Petscher, online on 11th October. He talked more to make me comfortable and get settled. I started talking about my work in my usual anxiety, and he gave his views. He asked me to visit the university website and learn about procedures like the IRB!!
It was something very new to me. I met with a research support staff member, Sarah, virtually on the 14th, and she explained IRB elaborately. All these meetings are planned, scheduled, and conducted with the administrative support of Greg Hutchins. I was introduced to the Institute Review Board (IRB), where I had to submit my proposal and get approval to conduct the study. I can’t submit it in my style; I had to do it in their fixed format. The format itself was 17 pages!!
I almost fainted when I saw the format for the first time. It is a very rigorous process. I filled in the format and prepared all the required enclosures to fulfil the formality. An online human subject protection (HSP) course is compulsory to get through the IRB. The HSP certificate has to be uploaded to the IRB portal as a mandatory step. I enrolled on the online course and started reading the modules.
It was interesting, though bulky. One must get 80% to get through the online course and apply to IRB. I had no option but to make it happen. Out of the 15 compulsory modules, I started taking one per day, which is hectic, but I rose to the challenge of completing it as soon as possible to start grounded research.
The content in the HSP course is very well organized into modules. It is in text and video format. We can choose the style we prefer. I did both to get the best of both. After completing each module, there was an assessment before going to the next. The questions are so well prepared that they assess the outcomes precisely. Once we complete the quiz, we will be taken to the automatic grading procedure. The right/wrong answers are discussed. If you get less than 80%, there is a chance to review it. You can go through the modules once again and retake the assessment. The questions will be different next time!! I wonder how they prepare these modules. Reading, taking assessments, re-reading, and improving your score at your own pace is self-motivating. I also noted this as a way to be introduced to the MOOCs and online assessment I will prepare once back In India.

I understood one hard-core truth. You should be very good with language, reading and comprehension. When we identify children with specific language impairments in schools, we should guide them into professions that don’t require reading prints and oral and written comprehension. Reading the modules, listening to the modules, and taking the assessment all require excellent control over language. As we are not native English speakers, I had to read and re-read to understand the depth of knowledge embedded in the content. Many examples, case illustrations, and videos are included to make the modules exciting and help comprehension. Still, I think the language load is overwhelming to those who are not linguistically intelligent, as per Harvard Gardner, and as a teacher of Inclusive Education, I made notes to deliver these points to my students before they go for internship. I have collected the modules in text form in Word files by copying and pasting. I am unable to download the videos, though. I also copied one or two assessment examples out of the fifteen modules I completed, to share with my collegues and students to appreciate the standard of the modules and the assessment. I scored 100% in seven modules and 80% in seven. In one module, I scored 60%, and overall, as ot is above 80%, I am eligible for the certificate. Now, I am relieved that I am eligible to apply to IRB. It was a tedious process and a demanding journey.
Along with the IRB format, all the tools proposed to be used in the study, the letter to the schools for permission, and the informed consent form for the participants must be enclosed for the review committee. I worked on them, too, with the help of my mentors and friends. The language, the content, the clarity and the adequacy of the information will all be reviewed by the board before giving approval to carry out the study.
Ultimately, the University intention is to make research highly ethical no where no research participant would be harmed physically, socially, economically, or psychologically. Privacy and confidentiality were highly regarded. The participants’ autonomy is respected. I learned through this procedure that I shall always preserve that “Nothing is and nobody can be taken for granted”. The HSP report certificate gets automatically generated upon course completion. The report certificate must be uploaded to the IRB portal to complete the procedure. IRB review report is very elaborate running to three pages that we have to keep safe during the time of conducting the study.
I started understanding the socio-cultural and academic environment here and adapting to it. Every time I got adjusted to a new situation there was a feeling of empowerment from within. That is such a enjoyable journey!! The happiness is beyond measure and beyond expression. It is a learning opportunity to expand the horizon of knowledge beyond the boundary.
I troubled Hugh, Yaacov, John and Srimani at different stages of filling up the IRB format, preparing the required letters and tools that had to get uploaded with the format. Sarah and Greg were of great help too.

Destiny took me to another land to establish yet another home, far away from home!! Greg and Deepti helped to buy all the requirements to begin life in the US. I am sure I wouldn’t have bought half the stuff Deepti listed for me! The bathroom and kitchen shelves will be packed for almost eight months. Greg helped with basic furniture and Deepti with other home requirements. The bedroom has a queen-size frame and bed, and the living room has a table with two chairs and a work chair.
I was getting started in my new apartment, opening the door several times to unload the things sometimes with Greg and sometimes with Deepti on different occasions. Several cars could be seen filling the parking lot. But not even a single human structure was peeping out the window or the door. I couldn’t help but smile and think of moving to a new house in our locality. Inquisitive, innocent faces will peep, come out and begin a conversation. From where have you come? Who are they with you? Are you married? How many children/grandchildren do you have? What are they doing? Come for a cup of coffee. Shall I prepare some lunch for you? I missed those. I was so disappointed that none were seen to smile around.
During the evenings, I went for a walk to get to know the neighbourhood, if not the people in the neighbourhood. The Seminole Trails apartment complex is for Florida State University (FSU) students. Single, double and four-room apartments are built in large spaces with a well-maintained garden, office, standard reading room, gym and swimming pool. The residents can use all the facilities 24X7.
The kitchen in my single-bedroom apartment has four electric burners connected to the cooking range to bake, grill, steam, and boil. There was a dishwasher and a refrigerator of the huge size I had not used earlier, laundry, microwave with grill and bake facility that can wash and bake for a big party. These were the basics that I had in my apartment. Most other vibrant kitchens have much more than this. The cutlery is overflowing with gadgets and accessories everywhere. At home or institute, sets of knives, spoons, forks, mugs, plates and bowls are easily accessible and in excess. Various sizes of cutting boards, peelers and graters adorn the kitchen cabinet. Despite all this, cooking is a chore that people avoid. They don’t even understand that someone can enjoy cooking. It is just the culture here. It seems to be a huge, laborious process where people end up eating packed food. Even salads are packed and ready to eat. Cutting vegetables to make salad is a time-consuming task! They probably use that time for more productive work. But, I thought nothing could replace the beauty of an Indian kitchen, where the cuisine recognizes every household, and people can hardly think of something more productive than cooking five different items per meal.
It is astonishing to find people eating packed, pre-cooked, and restaurant food despite having the best gadgets and accessories in the kitchen. Our ancestors will marvel at the kitchen facilities with 24X7 hot water in the tap to the kitchen sink, a switch to open the clog, and a switch to cut the food waste into bits. My hostel students may stare at me when I educate them not to throw food in the wash basin if they see these facilities. Different types of detergents, soaps, papers for the bathroom and vessels, groceries, vegetables, fruits, milk, and curd for the kitchen look smartly loaded.

Each step I take here expose me to a strange sight; each expression is a new language. There is no end if I start. I have to be careful to throw (I am sorry you can’t throw!!) waste. It should be put in a particular bag. You can’t use a waste plastic bag. It has a colour; it has a shape and size. You should put in that ONLY. No one will come to pick it up if you hang it on your doorstep or gate. You should go to the nearby dump truck and place your bag precariously inside. Early in the morning, the truck will come and pull it along and vanish somewhere. I am tempted to put the organic waste in the garden under a plant. I have not been able to do it till now. But it is for sure that before returning to India, I will teach these people how to use bio-degradable waste for the garden. Somehow, I will find a way to hide the kitchen waste under the trees in front and around my apartment.
Dogs are never found around moving at their will. They are cared for much more than humans. They are dressed well, fed well, and taken for walks. Group walking is like ours; talking loudly and laughing cannot be seen anywhere. I smile thinking of how Negi and Dhanya would frown while Elizabeth, and I plucked Jasmines and collected wild fruits and edible leaves around the RIE campus during our evening walks
You see some people walk with their dogs. There are dustbins with a pickup brush every ten steps to remove dog waste and drop it in the bin. Dogs are trained more than training children to behave well. If there is no caretaker for the dog, it is open for adoption, and they are taken quicker than taking kids. Dogs are trained before they are given for adoption. John and Deepti adopted two dogs, and they were lovable. Usually, I don’t admire dogs, and I could never find a reason why Upasana had to feed per pet Max with her hands and sing to him, but after coming here, these dogs have made me feel that it is acceptable to keep dogs as pets.
I may be missing my family and friends, but what I miss more is green chillies. My God!! How these people live without the pungent bite of the green marvels on Earth!! I pity them for missing such a taste. Anyway, they do not know what they miss!

The Florida State University has its bus service throughout the city of Tallahassee. They run on all weekdays. Monday morning, I took a bus (OS bus. All buses have names of the destination from FSU circle. Two letters are the short form of calling the bus. OS is Osceola) to the University centre with the help of the driver and from there, another (IN – Innovation) to my institute, Florida Centre for Reading Research (FCRR). The drivers were so helpful in letting me know where to get down and where to look for the next bus. After getting down from the second bus at Ivey Avenue, the street where FCRR is located in Innovation Park, I couldn’t understand where I was. I was lost!
Greg had taken me earlier on Thursday and Friday, but finding the exact location was hard. I asked a lady walking with a bag (a rare sight) where FCRR was. She was helpful but did not know the exact location of the building. Greg was texting me where I was, but I did not know what to say. Finally, he sent me the address, 2010 Levy Avenue, which I searched on Google Maps and started walking in that direction. It was showing one mile!! It has been an hour since I left home. I was walking fast in that direction, and an FSU IN bus stopped and looked at me, gesturing to get in. I couldn’t help thanking all the Gods enough for the courtesy of the driver. I identified the FCRR building as he drove, got down and entered the building. It was a feeling of great relief and achievement.
Whenever they see people standing or walking, they stop and ask if they need to be picked up. It is such a privilege. We don’t have to run for the bus; the bus will stop and wait for us!! Interesting. Though there are designated bus stops, buses will stop when a button is pressed as requested to stop and when they see someone standing on the road to pick them up. Charging points are available at some bus stops. Everything is automatic and quick. They stop appropriately for charging, something comes out and gets hooked to the bus, and within 10 minutes, the bus moves. All bus drivers I have seen are Africans. Lady drivers outnumber men. Most of them are very courteous. They greet when students enter the bus and wish when they get out. It is mutually done. Don’t imagine the bus to be packed. I am talking about university buses called Seminole Express. Seminoles are a tribe of Florida. There is an interesting history of Seminoles, and you may read about it to learn more details about them in the series that is following…….

The administrative officer of FCRR Greg Hutchins drove me to the institute and oriented me to the location, physical structure and people working. Many weren’t there as they have the option to work from home after Covid-19. They do all meetings and most classes online. Their student strength is very much manageable for blended learning. My mentor Prof Yaacov Petscher is a wonderful person and is highly sensitive to my need. A man of few words, he understands without saying things and responds in action. As he was recovering from Cancer, he offered me the full support of the Admin to take me out to introduce to FCRR and the city of Tallahassee. As Greg drove me through the quiet yet beautiful city of Tallahassee, I could see the big buildings of Florida State University (FSU), smart cars parked in large numbers in all the academic areas and the lazy daisy lanes. Houses are made so well with gardens around. Mostly independent houses, but for few student apartments adorned the area. Cars parked inside and on the roads. With the silence and scarce population as compared to India, one would surely wonder who lives there and who drives the cars!!! It is a rare sight to spot human beings or even dogs and cows and our beloved buffaloes on the road. Without any application, requests to people behind the computers, my FSU identity card was made and handed over to me instantly. Bank account was opened so easily and the documents reached in couple of days to my residential address. Knowing the importance of local telephone number, got one sim card into my existing smart phone. Everything was done so efficiently not only because of Greg, but also because of the smooth system that is in place.

The FCRR building is huge, corridors are wide, well carpeted and decorated with pots, paintings and quotations but silent, unlike our corridors where students and staff keep bumping into each other smiling, wishing, whispering and cracking jokes to each other. You have no option than to google to find a place or a person!! There is no one to ask for Gowramma’s room, not even a security guard. In RIE Bhubaneswar a Cheeku Bhai or Gopal Bhai is always around to direct a visitor to my room.

Anyway, the comforts outdo the emotions. I have not had a single day to wait outside the rest room with emergencies. A stark contrast where we often bang doors. I wonder how they remain so clean, well equipped with soaps, wipes, well-functioning flush tanks. Never have I seen a leak of a drop of water in my eight months stay, not just in FCRR rest rooms but in every rest room I used across the country. Rest rooms are made in such a way that you don’t need to open the latch to enter. You can just walk in and latch from inside. The doors never remain open. The automatic door closers are so well functioning. There is no confusion to use the rest room in the country. Wherever you go, the same design, the same location for rest rooms. There are no variations in basic requirements.
The lounge in every corridor of FCRR is with vending machine, microwave oven, refrigerator, coffee maker, tea bags, creamer and sugar. You can walk in anytime to make your choice of food and drink. The items never dry up, staked up well in time.
The office room is with stationary well organized with labels. No Biswa and Seema are there to assist. It is so well maintained you don’t need any one to assist. You pick up what you want and do your work. Every kind of stationary is kept in reachable range to save waste in time in looking around for paper, file, pen, stick pad, cello tape, pins, clips of different size, scissors, printer, colour papers, thick papers, rulers, markers. Take as per your need and use it without the fear of note sheets, stock registers and files.
There is a dining hall you may heat your lunch and eat peacefully all alone. The social construct is different. Not easy here to find a company for sharing food. After lunch usually all take a walk around the beautiful location with large gardens with well-maintained lawn, ponds with water birds. After first two months I found an Indian friend Subrat Mallick from the adjacent research building doing post-doctoral work in Oceanography with whom I could have lunch and walk around.

I was given a spacious well-lit room with all the comforts to work. Double desk top on movable table is a regular feature in every room. It is a pleasure to work on two desktops connected to the same keyboard. We can refer to reading materials in one and do our work in the other without wasting fraction of seconds every time to minimize and maximize windows in the same desk top.
There is no entry time exit time that is recorded. The inner consciousness is the only judge. Work completion is the only requirement. If one is not completing it is their problem they will not get salary and not be recruited for the next term. Everything is clear. There is no mid way or there is never a favour to any. The system is well oiled and functions by itself. Weekly online meetings of the research groups are held to take stock of the work in progress. The director of FCRR has her time to come as routine and conducts brief meetings to know the status of work on each project. To get the feel of the magnitude of research work at FCRR my mentors had given chance to be in meetings of research group that was being carried out as part of a multi institutional project “Reach Every Reader” (RER). It was immense learning just being a listener in the meetings. My mentors – the magnificent Prof Hugh Catts (I fondly call him Bheeshma Pitamaha of reading research) and the kind hearted Prof Yaacov Petscher had given me the freedom to message, call and plan online meetings with them at the time of my need.

In the USA, from day one, I used to wake up very early just like I was in India. I intended to settle into my new apartment searched by my host John and my friend Srimani. I wanted to buy things online instantly and settle in and in the wee hours of the morning, I thought of doing some adventure and wanted to increase the limits I had set to my borderless Thomas Cook card. To advocate my cause, I may state that, this was a felt need (!!) as I had to pay the house rent, in shops to buy furniture and some basic requirements like mattress and frame. The card limit was 500 dollars and I had to do more than one transaction. As each transaction is chargeable, I thought of increasing the limit to 1000 dollars. I was unaware that increasing the limit is not allowed online. With several attempts with OTPs somewhere I clicked save details and my OTP got saved as my login password. Next time I wanted to login and the password was wrong two times. The third time without caution my card got blocked. Tried all possible ways to contact Thomas Cook between 4 am and 6 am of local time as it is 2 pm and 4 pm IST. I might have tried some 20 to 25 times, none picked, most numbers did not work, one worked but could not solve the problem. I sent an email with my details. Got an automatic reply that it will be looked into in 2 working days. Oh that was a Friday!!! I had to wait till Monday to hear them and know more about it.
Here I had come on Thursday night…and it was peeping into wee hours of Friday. I had planned to settle in by weekend to be in my research zone by Monday. But as you can understand things did not tick by my timeliness. Out of frustration I informed Nruthya (My younger daughter-in-law). She gave me step by step instructions to enable my SBI debit card for international payments. In the process I did something that the card got disabled. Nruthya sent her card details to make payments for the day. Buying a mattress and frame was a priority and while making payment through her card it was asking for a US address, I gave mine but it was not matching with her card so payment got denied. Srimani had already paid my apartment rent a day before as my card could not pay that amount due to the limit set. Though she insisted on calling her any time, I didn’t want to bother her often as she had already taken several steps to see that my apartment lease was signed. She and John had taken much of their time to search for a place to rent for my comfortable living for 8/9 months. Nruthya informed Vivek (My elder son) and he called his friend Vinay staying in Chicago and he contacted me to make any payment anytime. But I went on trying my ways to make payment. Definitely giving up is not an option anytime.
I sent a payment link to Nruthya and she too tried but without a US address the payment was not complete. All of her Friday night she was figuring out how to make me feel rich by sending some money to my account here, that was not possible as my phone was not activated for messages. My India number was active to call and WhatsApp.
In the meantime, Friday evening, I went out for dinner with my host John’s wife Deepthi, and tried my SBI credit card and it worked. Deepti said to think of Deepti at any time of crisis. I lovingly said that she is my final straw. The space they shared, the freedom they gave to use their kitchen, the warmth they shower is a lifetime experience to me.
Saturday morning Vivek called and told me not to worry at all and to use my credit card to make all payments and took the details of my Thomas Cook card to resolve it.
Nruthya’s unending efforts worked and she paid through her US card and mattress issue was solved. She had activated her US card loading some money and told not to panic in any situation and use the card for all payments. Vivek called Thomas Cook and could solve the temporary password issue.
By Monday morning, I felt a lot richer. I could use Nruthya s card, Thomas Cook borderless and also my credit card. My debit card enabling task I entrusted to Vivek not to mess further with cards and online dealings!!! And not to block any more cards on the way and stay.

It was 5.30 am, Monday morning, I went into the kitchen, made a hot cup of coffee, with a slice of healthy nutty crunchy bread devoured the warmth of my American host and American bread. I was grateful to my host country for all that is happening smoothly. Imagining the situation if my lifelines were missing.
America is not my home. They treat an American or an Asian or anyone the same way. You can’t use the card, that’s it! Whoever you are the same rule applies. Very interesting, no bias absolutely. But for me as an Indian by heart and soul, culturally deep rooted in Indianness, I felt they complicate living in simple ways!! You may be a Professor of NCERT, daughter of a well-known family, daughter in law of an acclaimed person, wife of so and so who has the reputation of buying the shop if not just the mattress, here the system is simply refusing you. I wondered! I grumbled as I am stomach rumbled.
In Coorg, in Mysore, in Bhubaneswar without a penny I can survive for weeks and months. I have people to drive me at any time, feed me more than I can eat, sort out issues with a wink, and take me around where they go. If I don’t have cash, even an autorickshaw will drive me home in Coorg, Mysore and Bhubaneswar if I take some names. I took pride in all that I had in India, missed the near and dear people of Coorg, Mysore and Bhubaneswar and even fondly remembered some autorickshaw supports of Bhubaneswar and vendors.
Greg the admin support from the institute came to pick me up and drop me to the apartment along with the mattress and frame. Some more basic things I bought as I move to stay independently.
Deepti drove me to show the shops near my apartment, some Indian stores to sooth my palate. She helped me shop the necessary grocery and helped me set up my new home in Tallahassee. The apartment kitchen is well equipped, there is a large spacious refrigerator, washing machine, dish washer, OTG, four burner hotplates. Storage space is plenty. Bathroom is cozy, of course without a bucket and mug!!! I said to myself ‘welcome to the pail less culture’
But, I am still wondering what happened to the bucket mid way…did it sink with the titanic??
How come did the Britishers forget it after all they ensured that no one forgot it with… Jack and Jill go up the hill to fetch a pail of water.

After five decades of seeing life in my own culture, destiny pulled me to a new land. I entered Bhubaneswar, Odisha far from my Kodava land and culture where I have been living for the past decade. As I arrived into Bhubaneswar to join in the Regional Institute of Education, NCERT I was in for a total culture shock. Let me just say about the culinary differences as one of the major differences apart from the rest ranging from people, dress, language and weather. But now let me talk of the shock I encountered on my plate and palate. The place introduced me to the flavour and taste of mustard that is so frequently used in East Indian cooking. Initially I had no option than to eat the local food as I was staying in the guest house. The taste and smell was so aversive I didn’t know what to do. I had no chance of getting accommodation immediately and adjusting into the workplace culture of the new place left me with no time to go out searching for restaurants and food of my taste. The boiled potato in mustard sauce, fish curry with mustard paste, brinjal in curd seasoned generously with mustard oil, everything had a touch of the tiny black seed that was insignificant in my plate till then! The pungent taste and strong aroma made me struggle to eat but I had to eat to survive.
Generally I am not a fussy eater and more over my hunger made me consume the food that I got in the plate full of colours and flavours of the small yet gigantic mustard. Unknowingly, today when I look down that decadal lane, I realize that, I had started enjoying the very mustard. That very mustard whose colours and flavours that after shifting to my own accommodation, found a place in my kitchen cabinet. My grocery list invariably include mustard oil and de-husked mustard to grind to make gravy!! After a decade though I still enjoy my coconut gravy and groundnut oil for my Kodava and Karnataka taste of curry, the tiny mustard also has easily occupied a pride position in my kitchen. This is what is called cultural homogenisation where your life gets expanded by accepting the nuances of other culture into your own. There is nothing to lose rather everything is a gain. I have transferred the taste of my liking back home, where my typical Kodava family gets to eat potato and fish cooked in mustard gravy!! I bet the best of “Hilisa maach” is when it is in the company of its best friend mustard.
After a decade, I again set off to make a home away from home with my Fulbright fellowship to Florida. I travelled from Bhubaneswar to Delhi. The airport immigration line was too long and slow, and it was hectic. Just got in time to the flight at the right time. After some sleep, they served a basket of cakes, salads, and pastry with “so called” tea. Imagine our twisted and curled Darjeeling leaves being brewd and leakers vanishing within the right proportion of milk and sugar that suit every palate! Reached Paris at sunrise with that onboard breakfast. . Changeover was easy, I had a lot of time to look around the airport. The flight got delayed by an hour. The Air France aircrafts are huge with 3 + 4 + 3 seats in one row and 40 such rows. The next flight of Paris to Atlanta had lunch that was served as soon as the flight took off. No rice, no roti somethings soft and soggy, some bits that are hard and dry. Absolutely no taste and no flavour. They call it lunch!! Our lunch even in flights must have Biriyanis and Rotis ending with Gulab Jamums and Kheers. We in India cant imagine a lunch where you will skip the whole food pyramid and still call it lunch. Anyway these people do not know cooking at all, I realised.

Thus from Bhubaneswar to Delhi; Delhi to Paris and Paris to Atlanta I met variety of plates but nothing soothing to palate. Atlanta airport was huge. Had to wait again in a very long line for customs and immigration clearance. As this was my first port of entry, the luggage was also taken out for a customs check. I was getting delayed to take my next Delta airlines flight to Tallahassee. The staff were very helpful to carry my luggage and put it across to the Delta flight and helped me to reach the security check. Soon after the security check, I had to take a metro to reach the gate. By the time I reached the gate the final call was displayed. I could see the aircraft but could not get into it. The staff at the counter helped me to rebook my ticket for the next flight at 7 pm to my destination. I used the two hours to freshen up, to look better for my first look when I reach Tallahassee. Brushed, washed, combed my hair, applied lip gloss and felt good. I understood how important grooming is for internal health and felt nervous like a 16 year old trying to look prim and proper.
My kind hearted host had come to pick me from the airport and took me to his home. He showed me the kitchen and the food stuff in the fridge. The family gave me all freedom to take and make anything I wish. I was very formal and said I got food in the aircraft. Had a glass of water and went to bed. Had a good sleep as per their time 10 pm to 5 am in my style. All the family left for work. I made my coffee and sandwich with tomatoes and felt good. Food is not for the body, but for the mind. When you have your own comfort food, your stomach rumbles and tells you all is well. The stomach as much as the heart is often scared of the newness of the palate and the change in taste. The feeling that it will get to absorb what it knows comforts it as much as it does the heart and soul.

At this age and stage of my life I realised, reflected why I feel so light, happy, fresh when I eat “Otti – Pajji” or “Kadmbutt – Pandikari”. Because I am genetically carved to relish and digest that!! But I have the potential to adjust and adapt to the new taste if I am positive to its goodness and open to cultural amalgamation.

As I sit by the window trying to take the newness in of the place which I will call home for the next 8 months, I understand that my stomach has to take in as much new as I have to. The change in colour on my plate also brings a change in colour in my life, as I wonder what new recipes I will take home to Kodag and Karnataka and what stories, I will tell back in Bhubaneswar.

Ye wohi ladki hai jo deri se ake mujhe milne keliye bahana bana kart thi thi
Ab mujhe dekhke has has ke samne aa jaati hai!
Ye wohi hai baar baar ghar jaaneka permission na milne se jagda karne wali
Ab Kahi bhi milne se daud ke aati hai pair choo ke pyar dikhati hai!

Ek suneheri swati aayi barso baad,
Mere class ke darvaze par khadi thi apni pati ke saath
Apni pati ko garv se keheti hai hamari mam hai, bahut achi hai
Are wah!! Kyu maine nahi suna ye sab bathe jab tum hostel pe thi?
Mai bhi garv ke saath apni students ko class me batayi
Ye meri bitiya hai! GB me reheti ti barso pehele
Dekh dekh the hi pehechan gaye ham donone
Dononke anckho me tha ansoo…..pata nahi kyo

Chal rahi thi platform pe howra station me
Suitcase aur laptop ki bag bhaari to tha
Peeche se suna awaaz “Mam” “Ma..”
Aate hi suitcase, uta liya, laptop bag ko apni khando par
Samne chal rahi hai mujhe rah dikhake, meri bhoj utake
Meri ashchary ke Drishti ko pehechanke boli
Mai aapki hostel ki chaatra thi, aap hamari itni khayal rak thi thi!
Bahut bonewali bandana, Ye bath pehele kabhi batayi nahi!

Institute ki kamre me baiti thi laptop ke samne
Bahut tezi se ayi ladki, nazar utane tak gayab!
Table ke neeche pair choo rahi hai,
Kaun hai thu bitiya – mai hoo aap ki hostel ki student
Aap itna strict thi samaj na payi aapki jimmedari tab
Ab mai hoon school ke teacher aur wahan bachon ki warden
Wah meri bachi scohne wali sahana tum bahut badal gai hai

Maam se akhri ‘m’ choot jaata hai message par, pata nahi e spelling error hai?
Shikshika banke paya bahut pyar bachon ka
Har jagah milthe hai koi na koi “mai appke student”
Sunna bahut bhaari padti hai, meri jimmedari badti jaa rahi hai