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Do you own a Saavarani?
#WhyDoWe Tell me you are Desi without telling me you are Desi... If you own a "Saavarani" "zaadu" or "peenchhi" raise your hand ✋🏾...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 17, 20211 min read


Raising Daughters Like Sons
#WhyDoWe "I have raised my daughter like a son” (Maari dikari ne dikaraa ni jem moti kari chhe) hmmm... How about “I have raised my son...
Vaishali A. Patel
Aug 17, 20212 min read


SO WHY DO I HAVE TO LEARN GUJARATI?
Do you… Unconsciously take your shoes of when you enter a home? Bow down your head when you meet older family members? Greet them with...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 16, 20192 min read


ARE ALL THESE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES NECESSARY? WHICH ONES TO PICK?
“Why do parents in america have their kids do so many after school activities?” My nephew who is here in the states from India asked me...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 16, 20192 min read


DAILY PRAYERS IN SCHOOL?
Does prayer have a place in schools? Many private religiously affiliated schools in the US have this routine. Prayer does not have to be...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 16, 20191 min read


LIVING WITH EXTENDED FAMILY TOTALLY ROCKS!
I know what you are thinking, “are you out of your mind?” How can living with other adults in the same house be good? let alone fun. You...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 16, 20192 min read


3 THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN ASSIMILATING IN A NEW CULTURE
When I was 16 years old, I came to America. We moved here for good. Many years since, there are distinct memories I carry with me about...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 16, 20193 min read


TULSI — THE WONDER HERB
If you happen to see a house or a business with a Tulsi plant in the front yard, chances are that place belongs to an Indian family. Holy...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 16, 20193 min read


GUJARATI POSTNATAL CARE
If you are one of the lucky ones who was fortunate enough to have a mom or mother-in-law around after you delivered your baby and if you...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 16, 20192 min read


INDIAN (GUJARATI) – SUMMERS
In the afternoon, sitting with your friends on “otla”(front porch), playing games, singing songs, laughing your hearts out, eating...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 14, 20193 min read


THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT IS IN YOUR DIYA LAMPS.
The lamp has its own special place in Gujarati traditions as it represents leading us from darkness into the light. While the oil lamp is...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 14, 20193 min read


SUPPORT CREATIVITY WITHIN YOUR FAMILY AND CHILDREN
Don’t bother if you are not going to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer! Have you heard your parents or other Indian parents say that? If...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 14, 20194 min read


WHEN THE TEACHER PAUSES WHILE TAKING ROLL CALL…
Oh, whats in a name? If you are an immigrant child, you know this happens often. Your teacher taking attendance… Jennifer, Jack,...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 14, 20192 min read


THERE IS NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT… AND NO PRESENT LIKE TIME
You want something done, do it now! I grew up hearing this in my family. During summer vacations when I stayed with my grand parents in...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 14, 20192 min read


SUMMER IS HERE… WHAT DOES VACATION MEAN TO YOU?
Is it going away to an exotic location? Binge watching Netflix? Sleeping in? Having sleepovers with your friends? Visiting family? eating...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 14, 20191 min read


RAKSHABANDHAN / BADEV: FESTIVAL CELEBRATING BROTHERS AND SISTERS
I love our Indian culture where we get to celebrate different bonds and relationships in festivals. Did you know Rakshabandhan is also...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 14, 20191 min read


GIVE BACK – SHARE WHAT YOU ARE BLESSED WITH…
We live in a world of inequality and that is the reality. Some of us are blessed to have it all while others struggle to even find food...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 14, 20192 min read


DETACHED COMPASSION
Five ways I have learned detached compassion this past year: Oh boy! as a parent this is a tough one for many of us to grasp. There are...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 14, 20192 min read


BE HERE, BE YOU!
I was driving yesterday and listening to the “Magic Lessons” podcast by Elizabeth Gilbert ( Author of Eat, Pray, Love) and she said...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 14, 20192 min read


LEARN NEW THINGS BUT DON’T FORGET THE VALUE OF WHAT YOU KNOW!
There is a parable of a villager who goes to the city and learns english. Now he thinks he is superior and uses only english to describe...
Vaishali A. Patel
Apr 13, 20191 min read
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