Anita’s Journey

Posted by Michelle Moquin on August 2nd, 2013

Good morning!

Speaking again of journeys, I came across this. A journey of a young girl, Anita Sharma, born in a Nepalese refugee camp, whose family then moved to India so that she and her siblings could have better schooling, and then landed in Manhattan where she continued her education and thrived.

This is a write about Anita’s journey and the inspiration of her short movie “Krishna’s Voyage.”

Anita’s journey

July 17, 2013
By Jordan Helton

NEW YORK – Anita Sharma remembers well her first days at Manhattan International High School. Like other freshmen, she experienced the usual nerves and anxieties. But for Anita, newly arrived in the United States after living years in India and a Nepalese refugee camp, those adjustments were only the beginning.

“I hadn’t met anyone who spoke my native language and I couldn’t speak English very well,” she recalls. “I was scared and unsure of how I fit into the big city. In school I was afraid to speak to other students, and wouldn’t raise my hand in class.”

Four years later, Anita not only has gotten over her shyness, but has graduated second in her class with a full scholarship to the University of Buffalo–SUNY. She also just finished editing a short documentary, the first of what she hopes will be many as a filmmaker.

“Even I can’t believe my journey,” she says. “I look back on my life and think, ‘Oh my God, is that where I was?’”

Born in the refugee camp where her family fled to escape political turmoil in Bhutan, Anita knows first-hand the importance of outside help for people living in that environment. Conditions were extremely poor and there was no formal education available to her and her siblings.

“I couldn’t differentiate between a good environment and a bad environment because the camp was all I knew,” she says.

But she describes her journey from Nepal to India and then to the U.S. as part of her parents’ dream of providing a better education for their children.

“Education has always been an important part of my life,” she says, and credits her father with inspiring her to work hard, no matter the country or conditions.

“My dad loved school, loved talking to teachers, loved studying, but he had to take care of us. He gave it all up and put all his efforts into us.”

With assistance from an uncle living in the U.S., Anita and her family moved to India. The International Rescue Committee resettled the Sharmas in New York City in 2009.

But it was in India, Anita says, that she first identified with her surroundings and was able to enjoy the new opportunities that came her way. It was also the inspiration for her short movie, “Krishna’s Voyage.”

“It’s about how I identify myself,” she says. “My documents say I’m a Bhutanese refugee, but since I lived in India from age nine to 14, that’s the culture I relate to.”

Her family, especially her grandmother, think of themselves as Bhutanese, and she felt they would return to their home if they could, despite Bhutan’s recent history.

“But after I interviewed my family for the documentary, I realized that, actually, they all see themselves differently,” she explains. “My sister and I identify ourselves as Indian, my dad says he’s Bhutanese American, and my brother says he’s Nepali.”

Like her family, Anita has adapted to new ways of living. That ability is sure to help her when she starts college this fall.

“I want to continue studying film and making documentaries, but maybe I’ll also work for the U.N. one day,” she says. “I lived in a refugee camp, and I’ve seen international relief organizations work. I know how important help is.”

*******

Quu: I can only imagine. Perhaps you can share and get more visual with me and my readers?

Zen Lill: Yes, Tom’s comment lead me to think he is the thick headed one with some early childhood indoctrinations that need to be purged.

That’s it for me. Thoughts on this or anything else you want to chat about – Your turn. Blog me.

Happy Friday – Ohh…I am so ready for this day.

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

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This entry was posted on Friday, August 2nd, 2013 at 10:05 am and is filed under Journeys within, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

7 Responses to “Anita’s Journey”

LeTa0 Says:
August 2nd, 2013 at 8:04 pm
grover2hb
I am the sand that creates the pearl.
475 Fans Become a fan
1 minute ago (10:55 PM)
Who wouldn’t hire this guy.

Anybody that could get Obama re-elected is certainly a real genius.

Look! He’s already holding his hand the same way.
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LeTa0 Says:
August 2nd, 2013 at 8:05 pm
this is the ending to that.

Sour grapes fits you well. Of course it would have been more accurate if you had said, Anybody that could get Obama re-elected by a LANDSLIDE is certainly a real genius.

Don’t let your pride keep out the fact it was a Landslide victory. You are already parroting the same old s**t your fellow republicans do.
Yw Says:
August 3rd, 2013 at 12:07 am
Ym

I keep missing you. Clear your messages please so that I can leave you one. I miss you. My day is never as wonderful as it could be unless I hear from you…unless I feel you between my sweet hot thighs.I am wet wanting you so badly. Can I see you tomorrow? Will you give me some time? I need you.
Debbie Says:
August 3rd, 2013 at 6:44 am
Zen Lill my cousin Gretta from Spain is here and I have introduced her to your exercise routines. We have been trying to get on for two days. When we did, no news from you. Are you okay?

Debbie and Gretta
Adeeia Says:
August 3rd, 2013 at 6:56 am
I love your story Anita. It inspires me to continue through the hard times before me. I was married to a 53 year old man with I was 12. He dragged me to his tent and raped me. Then he displayed the white under sheet he put under me before he did it to all the village to show that I was a virgin.

I ran away when I was 14. Now I am 17 and have been help by a international help group I am afraid to name. It is wonderful to be able to read and express myself. I read every book I can find and I love America.

I have been keeping with this blog for two years. I love you all.
Zen Lill Says:
August 3rd, 2013 at 8:31 am
HI Debbie, and buenas dias, Gretta!

I wrote this just yesterday: MM Babes, eat at least one meal with no animal protein in it, last night I baked tofu till just barely browned on top, put pesto sauce on top and heated that a tiny bit, try it. Also, quinoa with sauteed baby portabellos and chopped tomatoes and avocados is a great meal also. Commit to a 20 minute walk/some kind of body movement (climbing stairs, yoga stretches, etc…) today and everyday, add in exercises we’ve gone over so far and I’ll add in some butt busters asap.

I thought of some butt busters which is an elaboration on the ‘plank’ so you’ll all hit your core and butt & legs hard, get ready, I’m going to write ideal amount of reps, do what you can, and build amount of sets first, length of time of holding and movement secondarily…I’ll give example later.

For plank, lie facedown on a mat, feet just about 5-6 inches apart, elbows directly under shoulders and hands clasped out in front of you, lift in a plank position, meaning your core, belly held tight and if someone were looking at you from the side, your body is one straight line, not butt up or sagging down, straight, so squeeze that buttocks, too. Hold here for 30 seconds, then squeeze butt/legs even harder while you lift right leg to the right as far as possible, touch toe down on ground and bring back to center, then left side, repeat 10xs on either side, then back to center and hold for another 30 seconds. Do 5 sets of this. (modify as needed, less time on front and back end holding but still do the right/left leg movement, if this is easy for you, make it 60 seconds of holding at front of exercise, do 15 each side of left/right leg and hold for 60 seconds on back part of exercise. If you can do that easily, then add more sets, 6-8 sets of this. Hold in that core tightly throughout, do not substitute reps and sets for great form!).and that’s it, do all the other exercises to date and enjoy the weekend!

…in fact – I’m going ‘disconnect’ ala Mischa style till mid-August, will pop in if I can get a connect, if not, enjoy and I will return…

Luv, Zen Lill
Zen Lill Says:
August 3rd, 2013 at 8:35 am
oops, made a mistake in second para up there, meant build length and intensity of each set first then length but now, do it either way, if you’d like to do set the original way and add a set or two, do that, if you want to make EACH set more intense as stated in 3rd para above, then do that. One will build endurance easier while keeping form (add a set) the other is more challenging, so your call, you know your personal fitness status better than I do! Just do what you can always and always while holding form, would rather you do less of anything but do it effectively, not sloppy and more more more…
And look in the mirror and do the ILY(your name) exercise 5x’s today!

- ZL

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Anita’s Journey

Anita’s journey

7 Responses to “Anita’s Journey”