HUMBLE BEGINNINGS:
A Star is Born, A Mosaic is Created

I was born in Middlesex, England into an South Asian family. When I was three, my dad heard the sounds of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada. The echoing sounds of creating a "Just Society" where different colors, cultures, values, traditions and religions merged living in harmony. His pluralist society included promoting immigration, religious freedom, changed divorce laws, liberalized laws regarding abortion and homosexuality, everything my liberal dad believed in. "The state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation", Trudeaumania was born and Canada was redefined.

And after some personal turbulent racial events in London England, my father uprooted us to Toronto, Canada. Today, Toronto it is a metropolis where people coexist. I coexist!

I grew up in a Greek immigrant neighbourhood known as "The Danforth". I quickly learned to speak Greek as my friend's parents struggled to speak English to me. Even though I am of South Asian heritage, I cannot deny that my values have been influenced by a multitude of cultures. With my father's open mindedness, I was able to explore and question from a very young age. I attended Arabic School, Greek School and Christian Sunday School. I spent most of my time in Sunday School coloring in the New Testament as it was full of images of Jesus and Mary. Eventually I denied my parents heritage and opted for french fries, spaghetti and pizza. My parents were very accommodating and never questioned my relentless energy to explore other cultures. I am a cultural mosaic.

When I was 10 years old, my father said to me "When you grow up, travel the world, explore other cultures and taste unique foods, but never criticize or pass judgement. Instead be a visitor and be appreciative. Leave this place better than you found it- so pick up garbage and put it in its rightful place." Oh yeah he also said, "memorize your multiplication tables."

So now I am grown up and have extensively traveled the world to unusual and unique places. I have gained a worldly perspective and expanded my horizon.

I invite you into my world of friends, family and travels. Come read my adventures and meet my friends clustered like bright stars all around this globe.

THE NEOPHYTE BLOGGER

It is almost midnight here in Toronto Canada and I am creating a blog with the aid of my friend Dada who lives in the Philippines. We communicate as she embarks a new day and I chase sleep into the night. I thought Dada was an experienced Blogger but for the past hour, I have been teaching her how to add a photo to her profile. We are definitely telecommunicating. As she struggles with this basic need, she asks me if she should take a rough 4 hours bus ride to a beach resort as she may possibly meet her future soul mate. I tell her to forget the soul mate crap and instead help me upload a picture. I look outside my window and all see is darkness but with a crisp silence. So who am I.......... here is my story