Jun 30, 2009

This issue we introduce you to Verushka Shetty. Verushka is eleven years old and studies in year six at the Monte Cecilia School in Auckland, New Zealand. Verushka's dad Dev is originally from Moodbidri, Mangalore and mum Louella is from Mumbai...
 
Verushka recounts the two trips she made to Mangalore when she was younger - the first when she stayed on the country-side, and the other in Mangalore city. And concludes she can't decide which trip she enjoyed more than the other because they were equally fun.
 
Well done Verushka! Your Mangalore trips reminded me of my own such trips though I wasn't lucky enough to experience them when I was much younger. My first trip was only at the age of 15.

Sophia Rodrigues 
Editor - Kids ARENA 

My Mangalore Trips

 
By Verushka Shetty
 
Hi, my name is Verushka. I’m 11 years old and for first three years of my life I lived in Dubai and India, and in New Zealand ever since. Every second year I visit India for a month to see my grandparents and other relatives.
 
A few years ago, I visited my dad’s parents in Mangalore in a little village in Moodbidri. They lived in a bungalow which was like a palace, and my cousins, uncles and aunties were there too. My grandparents owned beautiful coconut trees and animals, and a big backyard.
 
We lived opposite a pineapple farm and every day we would go for a long walk at the farm and even take some pineapples.  I loved the time I spent with my family at the pineapple farm.
 
My two favorite parts of the trip were my grandma’s traditional food and when we were getting ready for my uncle’s wedding. All the women looked stunning in their colorful saris and the jewelry on the bride looked amazing. My uncle married Kavya, and they now have a baby named Janugh. The wedding was great, especially the food at the reception and I will always treasure that day

My grandma is a great cook. I always waited for my meals and that would surprise my parents who would otherwise complain that I don’t eat enough. My favorite food was kori roti. Grandma would always ask me what I wanted for lunch, which was a great task since I was little at the time. My grandpa used to tell me and my cousin stories before our afternoon nap, which was fun and relaxing.
 
All of this happened when I was about four, which is a long time ago but I can still remember my first trip to Mangalore and the enjoyable time I had.

Last year I went to India and we again made a trip to Mangalore, but this time it was a little different. My grandparents have now moved to Mangalore city, and live in Bejai in a three-bedroom flat. I visited my grandparents with my cousin, aunty and uncle. My aunty and uncle from Dubai also came to Mangalore at the same time.
 
I was excited about the trip because I hadn’t seen my grandpa and grandma for a few years and this would be the first time I was meeting my baby cousin Janugh.
 
Mangalore city was awesome and my favorite thing to do there was go shopping at the BIG BAZAAR! Every single day, my dad and uncle, would take me there for shopping and have a snack,
which would be the yummy gadbad ice cream or the chaat .
 
I did a lot of different things there like going to the beach and watching movies at the cinema halls. I would also visit my aunty’s family in Mangalore, and my cousin and I would play at their house.

I will never forget my grandma’s cooking which is probably the best food in the world and since I was older, choosing what to eat was a lot easier. My grandparents took good care of me there and I loved the flat they had and I think it was like a city-palace!
 
I compare my first trip to the second one and note the differences but I can’t decide which was the better of the two.  To me, both the country-side and the city are the best places to be in.
 
I enjoyed the country-side life in Moodbidri, getting water from the well, running around the coconut trees and seeing animals pass by our house and I also enjoyed the noises and excitement of the city.

Note to the readers:

 Kids Arena column open for below 18-year-old. You can send your articles, stories, poems, or any creatives along with your brief introduction and picture to below email:

kids@daijiworld.com

Earlier issues:

• One of the Hardest of 'Em all..- by Eric D'Souza
• Kids Arena : Share Your Thoughts with Our Readers...