I have been in a lull lately with everything writing, painting and other things that interest me. I was browsing mindlessly on Pinterest and stumbled upon writing ideas/prompts. So, I decided to give it try. It would make more sense for me to have m grandma’s and parents take this challenge and answers these questions as they have lived more decades than I have.

 

Personal History

• Write about your name. Where did it come from? What does it mean?

My name is Sneha. “Sneh(a)” means love/affection in Hindi and t is derived from Sanskrit word. It is a very popular name in India.

• When and where were you born?

I was born in the 80’s in Kolhapur, Maharashtra

• Write about your mom. What would you want people to know?

My mom is the best mom in the whole world. She loves me dearly and is someone who can and will do anything for her kids. Growing up she was always there for me whenever I needed her and she still continues to be by my side. She taught me to be loving, affectionate, honest and confident. My passion for art, music and cooking was also inherited from her. She did not go to graduate school, never worked but her thoughts are very liberalized and modernized. She gave me confidence from wearing what I like to speaking what I want. She is more of a friend than a mom, always on my speed-dial and I have to talk to her everyday.

• Write about your dad. What would you want people to know?

My dad is a actual superhero. He has done everything for me from feeding me to helping me get ready, drop off and pick up from school, dancing with me when I did not have a dance partner, encouraging me to participate in every extracurricular activity to help me go to the city of dreams to help me chase my dreams. Even now that I married, dad helps me with household chores to building furniture and DIY projects. He is multitalented knows how to draw, sketch, play any musical instrument. He is always calm and never loses his cool and I owe a lot to him.

• Do you have any siblings? Write about them.

I do have a younger brother, year apart, engineer by profession, more of a friend than sibling. We have many childhood memories together and I would not have had it any other way.

• Where did you grow up? What do you remember from that place?

I grew up in Ratnagiri which is a jem of place in Konkan areas, Maharashtra. I remember everything from the greenery to the beautiful coast to the simple people, yummy food, mangoes and so much more. I am short of words to describe this place, a place every one should visit once in their lifetime.

• Think about your house growing up. What was it like?

I lived in a big house and joint a family with my parents, sibling, grandparents, uncles aunts and cousins. I don’t remember having a separate room for myself but my parents room and my grandparents room was where I hung out the most. I remember moving into a small one bedroom apartment with  my parents and younger brother where I lived from 8th standard to highschool about 4 yrs. During these 4 yrs, my dad built us a big 4 bedroom house next to my grandparents house, i did not live there much as I ended up moving to Bombay to study nutrition. My memories of living in one bedroom apartment are limited to taking art classes with my mom, studying for boards, eating yummy food that my mom made especially when she took cooking classes one summer! But I have many childhood memories from my grandparents house where we lived together as a joint family.

• What was your childhood bedroom like?

Never had one

• What was your favorite activity as a child?

Studying and making art in my free time

• What was your favorite place as a child?

Kolhapur where I visited my Nana Nani (maternal grandparents) for summer vacation. Until, I moved to bombay for studying nutrition in the year 2003, I never really travelled anywhere else except Kolhapur.

• Who were your friends as a child?

I had many friends but one’s I was close to was Shweta( family friends who always went to the same school as me) and Anagha (met in school)

• Did you travel as a child? What were your favorite places to visit?

Nope, not much. But I do have fond memories of going to our farmhouse in Mazgaon and Nivali during summer weekends. Other places I remember going to are Marleshwar, Panhala, jodhpur, solapur to my bhuas place, TajMahal Agra for a wedding

• What did a typical day look like as a child?

Wake-up, get ready, go to school, come home , eat lunch, take a nap, go to tutions, come back and play with friends, finish homework and go to bed

• What did a typical day look like as a teen?

I remember hostel days, living away from parents, struggling a bit in Bombay in my early days as I wasn’t used to city life and had never been to Bombay.

1. What was high school like for you?
2. What world events were significant to you as a child?
3. Write about your grandparents
4. Write about your aunts
5. Write about your uncles
6. Write about your cousins
7. Write about your early school memories
8. What was your favorite subject in school?
9. Who was your favorite teacher as a child?
10. Did you move as a child? Write about it.
11. Who taught you to drive?
12. What was your favorite food as a child?
13. Write about your most memorable birthday
14. How did you typically celebrate your birthday?
15. Write about your favorite holiday memory.
16. What was the hardest part about growing up?
17. What was the best part about growing up?
18. When did you first leave home? Write about that experience.
19. What did your parents do for work?
20. What was your first job?
21. What is your favorite family story?
22. Are there any funny stories that have been passed down through the generations? Write one of them.
23. What were you most proud of as a child?
24. What did you want to be/do when you grew up? Did you become or do it?
25. Who inspired you as you matured?
26. What job has been your favorite?
27. What was the best part of your 20s?
28. What was the best part of your 30s?
29. Are you in a relationship? How did you meet your significant other?
30. Did you have any boyfriends/girlfriends as a youth? Write about them.
31. Do you have kids? Write about them
32. What are you most proud of as an adult?
33. Where is the most fascinating place you’ve visited?
34. What is one thing about today that you never want to forget?
35. What item will you cross of your bucket list next?
36. What advice would you give your younger self?