By Angelina Ricker
For Freshman Doree Khanhadia, there are many things that have changed since she moved from India to America. One not-so-big-example: her favorite sport is called “soccer,” not “football.” As for American football? They call it rugby in India.
Doree and her sister, Prisha, came to America from India around twenty days ago. Doree, who happens to be in my advisory, and I quickly got along. I was curious to learn about her journey to the U.S, any struggles she’s faced, and the hopes she has for this new life.
It took Doree months to pack everything, including silverware, for the journey. The plane ride was twenty-two hours long. She interrupted her travel story to tell me I had to try Maggi. “It’s amazing. You’ll fall in love,” she said. Maggi is an Indian noodle brand, and according to Doree, everyone eats Maggi in India (now I have to order some on Amazon).
Now that she’s here at Lovett, she’s seen some differences in the educational system. For example, she told me that in India, “The teacher just reads from the textbook.” Then she just shows us slides, we write the notes, and that’s it. She doesn’t explain anything.” On the other hand, she said that her math classes in India were ahead of where she is here in the States.
Outside of the classroom, she hopes to make the Lovett soccer team in the spring. “I really want to make the team,” she said, “but I don’t want to do the photo thing.” The “thing” she is referring to is media day.
As a freshman, Doree not only has to deal with a new country, but she also has to enter high school for the first time in her life, which means engaging with new types of learning and people.
Doree had to leave many friends behind in India. “We said goodbyes and had a farewell party for me and my sister,” she told me.
One of her biggest concerns coming here was whether she would make new friends and have someone to sit with at lunch. “I actually thought I wasn’t going to make any friends when I came to school on the first day,” she said.
She was happily surprised to be proven wrong. “People thought I was cool meeting them for the first time,” she explained. From what I can tell, there was no need to worry.
She’s still getting used to living in her new home, and her new home away from home on the riverbank. But Doree has managed to make many friends and do well in her academics. She looks forward to meeting new people, trying out new electives, and most importantly, playing football…I mean soccer.
