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Shoba Sreenivasan

Goodreads author profile

url

http://www.goodreads.com/ShobaSreenivasan

born

The United States

gender

female

genre

Health, Mind & Body, Philosophy, Self-Improvement

member since

September 2010

About this author

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My American experience begins this way: from my parents' memories of mid-western American decency and kindness towards two young people in the 1950s- a world away from their home, Bombay, India. I was born in Columbus, Ohio where my father was a scientist on a post-doctoral research fellowship at Ohio State. We then moved to Peoria, Illinois and back to India when I was three.
School started early in India. At four I revealed the core of who I was: proud to have that school bag, enthusiastic about learning, but always, serious and determined towards achieving the goal. My father's heart, however, was captivated by the United States and he yearned to return and so we did, in 1966, to Fargo, North Dakota. I remember my first day in the third g...more My American experience begins this way: from my parents' memories of mid-western American decency and kindness towards two young people in the 1950s- a world away from their home, Bombay, India. I was born in Columbus, Ohio where my father was a scientist on a post-doctoral research fellowship at Ohio State. We then moved to Peoria, Illinois and back to India when I was three.
School started early in India. At four I revealed the core of who I was: proud to have that school bag, enthusiastic about learning, but always, serious and determined towards achieving the goal. My father's heart, however, was captivated by the United States and he yearned to return and so we did, in 1966, to Fargo, North Dakota. I remember my first day in the third grade at McKinley Grammar School. The teacher asked the class to name the national fruit. While everyone else said "apple," I said "mango." I was not in Bombay anymore. But this was a fabulous place. I discovered the wondrous holiday of Halloween (what a great country this was- free candy!!). We then moved to northern New Jersey, when I was nine, and this is where I grew up. I was embarrassed by my long name that no one could pronounce, and wanting desperately just to be "American." I hated the question, "where are you from?" I hated it because I wanted to say, "Right here, the U. S. of A., just like you." But here again, I would be struck by the great and wonderful evolution of this country. "Roots," the TV series became a hit, and the hyphenation of American identity came into popularity. Suddenly, the "Where are you from?" question wasn't something to make me feel less American. It was an acknowledgement that we were all from somewhere else; this was a country composed of a tapestry of people.
I grew up in the seventies, but the adventurous spirit that had me hitch-hiking with abandon would be quickly nipped. I rubber-banded back to the personality of that little girl proudly clutching her school bag, and reason and rationality would once again reign supreme. I went to college, graduate school, obtained a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from U.C.L.A., and received specialized post-doctoral training in forensic psychology from U.S.C., I hold an academic position, publish papers, and work as a forensic psychologist and at the V.A. But it is my work with countless veterans that has touched me the most. I am awed by their valor, their pride, their optimism and their loud proclamations in support of our country. This country of reflection, of change, of hope, where the white, black, brown, yellow, and red skin tones are overridden by pride in Red, White, and Blue. And so I am able to co-write this book. A book about the type of fulfillment that only a country founded on the pursuit of happiness, and one that celebrates adventure and individualism can uniquely allow. It's one that's Totally American.
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Books by Shoba Sreenivasan

Average rating: 4.12 · 8 ratings · 3 reviews · 1 distinct work

Totally American
by Dan Smee (Goodreads Author), Shoba Sreenivasan (Goodreads Author)

4.12 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2009 — 2 editions

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Shoba's Recent Updates

Shoba Sreenivasan is now following Kenny Lee's reviews
Apr 12, 2012 01:44pm
Shoba Sreenivasan joined the Goodreads Tea Party group.
Apr 07, 2011 12:43pm · see group
Shoba Sreenivasan liked John's review of Totally American: " Both authors give personal testimonies, recounting their separate lives, experiences of growing up, maturing into adults, lessons they’ve learned through life, their work, loss, achievements, and those they’ve come to know along with way. They off... " Read more of this review »
Apr 07, 2011 12:43pm · see review
Shoba Sreenivasan voted on the list Best Non-Fiction (non biography)
Nov 21, 2010 12:02am · like · Shoba's votes · everyone's votes · vote
Shoba Sreenivasan gave to: Totally American by Dan Smee (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
Sep 16, 2010 06:32am