Freshman from India adjusts to new culture

New freshman, Medha Nair, enjoys the transition to a new high school and a new country. She sees the difference between American and Indian culture as she makes new friends and attends new classes.

During the first few days of school, freshman Medha Nair was convinced she had a broken locker. After three days of attempting and failing to open her locker door, Nair even told the office about it.

As she tried opening her locker one last time, another student noticed her struggling and took pity. Without saying a word, the stranger lifted the handle and pulled the completely functional locker door open.

“I was so embarrassed; I couldn’t even go back to the office to apologize,” Nair said with a laugh.

Nair had never had a locker before while attending school in Bangalore, India.

After her father bought a company in the U.S., Nair’s family decided they needed to move to California so that they could spend more time together. And, locker mishaps aside, Nair has found much to love about her new country.

“People are so welcoming,” Nair said. “I was a little worried coming here, especially after seeing all these movies like ‘Mean Girls.’ I thought I’d be bullied because I’m a new student. But instead, people were so nice and it was easier to make friends here than in India.”

Nair also likes that SHS offers a multitude of classes, especially in music. Back in Bangalore, she did not have the option of taking a music class at school, so she sang and played the guitar on her own. But here, Nair is a soprano in the choir.

But music options are not the only difference she has encountered. Nair also finds American culture extremely different from the typical Bangalorean way of life.

“Here, neighbors wave at you every time you see them,” Nair said. “When you walk in public, people smile at you. I thought that was really nice. You don’t do that in India.”

Additionally, a small city like Saratoga has its perks. Compared to the usually crowded and very loud city of Bangalore, which has 8.4 million people, Saratoga offers a more peaceful environment.

At times, of course, Nair does miss her home in Bangalore, with its authentic Indian foods and familiar surroundings.

"I remember the day I was leaving,” Nair said. “I was sitting there in the empty house and thinking about all the times I've had with my friends. That day I did feel like I didn't want to go, but after actually coming here, I haven’t regretted it once."