August 2010 – Chai Cafe Magazine

Dear Komal
Dear Komal (birth name), When I think about my own history of abuse and my path to healing, I realize that grief comes up. I grieve for the lost innocent child who was astonished and shocked to be slapped out of the blue, for no logical reason. With each unfair transgression to the child I […]
Triggers and handling them
Psych Central describes triggers as: “A trigger is something that sets off a memory tape or flashback transporting the person back to the event of her/his original trauma.” Wikipedia defines a trauma trigger as: “A trauma trigger is an experience that causes someone to recall a previous traumatic memory, although the trigger itself need not […]
Amazing Turmeric
The common Indian spice turmeric has been coming up a lot in various news stories and studies Awareness of its benefits seem to be growing everyday. I am being prompted to cook more and more Indian food which normally includes turmeric. http://wakeup-world.com/2014/11/01/turmeric-extract-improves-brain-function-in-one-dose/
Asian American doll?
I recently saw a commercial parody on SNL that highlighted some of my issues with the term and label “Asian.” It’s such a catch-all term that just seems to indicate how lazy the Western world can be in learning the actual country someone is from, so they choose a big continent as label instead. Take […]
Book Review: Threading the Needle by Marie Bostwick
In Threading the Needle, Marie Bostwick discusses friendship lost and then found. She explores the ways we create the experiences of our past and future, along with the impact of relationships with family and friends. Bostwick uses as the background of her story the recent economic downturn in the US. One character becomes the wife […]
Share your story
Share your story of reconciling your bi-cultural heritage and seeking authenticity, anonymously. Email it to priamba6@gmail.com. You may find that sharing is cathartic and healing. You may also find support and connection. I will make certain that there is nothing to identify you (unless you state otherwise).
Mothering and Motherhood
We all grow up with a certain sense of how we perceive the mothering we receive and the role of motherhood in our lives- whether as mothers ourselves or as children in need of mothering. This role evolves throughout our lives – whether it is about our changing how we parent while keeping in mind […]
Summer Vacation to India?
For many South Asians, summers have meant a trip back home, especially while growing up in the states. Our parents wanted to make sure we were getting a good dose of our heritage to balance out all the Western exposure and values we were subject to the rest of our time. For most of us, […]
Being “ABCD” and Authenticity
When we are “American Born Confused Desis” or even become “American Born Confident Desis,” how do we reconcile past cultural expectations of us with our quest to be our own empowered authentic women? Do expectations of our upbringing fit with our quest to be true to ourselves or do we have to make adjustments? If so, what are they?
Individualism
One of the key differences I’ve observed and experienced as differences between the culture of my heritage and that which I’ve grown up in is the level of focus on individualism. Much in the Western and particularly American culture is based on the value and importance of the individual.

Aid Pakistan

Pakistan, Social Causes Comments Off

Aug 272010

Pakistan is in need of our assistance – financial and non-financial. Having financially donated to the UN, I am now trying to help non-financially through projects to raise awareness and prompt more aid. These include:

1. A national level PR campaign involving celebrities to promote this cause
2. Fund Raising both at the corporate and individual level
3. Informational Portal (website and content)
4. One Day summit organization

If you are interested in donating your time towards these projects or in any capacity, contact me.

“Going by the numbers of people affected, the disaster is worse than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake combined, the U.N. says. But international aid for those disasters came at a more rapid pace, aid experts say.”

Let’s do our part to make a difference.

Source: Associated Press

More information:

UN Chief’s heart wrenching appeal for Pakistan flood victims

Pakistan floods fail to spark strong global aid
Death toll rises from Pakistan flooding

Pictures : Severe Flooding in Pakistan

CNN : Pakistan Flooding

Rebuilding after Pakistan floods could reach $15 billion

Please contact the following relief organizations, for information on how you can help:

American Red Cross
800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767)

Care
800-422-7385

Department of State’s Pakistan Relief Fund
Text the word FLOOD to 27722 to donate $10

Doctors Without Borders
(Médecins Sans Frontiéres)
888-392-0392

Global Fund for Women
415.248.4800

Islamic Relief USA
888-479-4968

Mercy Corps
888-256-1900

Oxfam America
800-77-OXFAM (800-776-9326)
617-482-1211

Save the Children
800-728-3843

UNICEF
1.800.FOR.KIDS (1.800.367.5437)

UNHRC- The UN Refugee Agency
Text “SWAT” to 50555 to donate $10

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