Riya's Ramblings

I am learning about important figures in American history at school from the late 1700s, and the person talked about was my favorite!

Lots of great men and women but one name stood out – James Otis. I loved his story, and you will to!

Back in the mid-1700s, many US merchants were trading illegally to get around some trade laws.

There was a lot of tension between the colonists and the British. The British introduced the writs of assistance – which allowed the British to search someone’s house with a warrant.

James Otis and others were enraged because it violated people’s rights.

Otis wanted to become Chief of Justice, but someone else was appointed and he resigned. He decided to go help Boston merchants instead.

He gave a 5 hour long speech against the Writs of Assistance.

Sadly he lost the case. But he did become well known among colonists.

In 1764, he represented the colonies in a “no taxation without representation” case.

With his speeches and work, he became popular but also annoyed the British.

In 1769, at his peak, a British official pulled him out of a speech and beat him on the head with a cane. That made him mentally ill, and he is said to have roamed the Boston streets, aimlessly drifting.

The saddest part was that we was quickly forgotten by the colonists.

He dedicated his life to fighting for the folks of the colonies and then he gets struck in the head, ends up homeless and then he was struck by lightning. And he died.

What?!?

I am so mad!

But we are learning about him – so he is not totally forgotten.

I hope to visit his memorial when we visit Boston.

Shoutout to Mr. Matuska – my history teacher.

And shoutout to Disha and Mr. John B for writing to me about previous episodes.

Have you heard of James Otis? What do you think of his story. Let me know.

Email me: [email protected] with your questions and comments.

As always, listen, rate, and share1

I love soccer. I love playing it. I love watching it (go US

I have been playing soccer for many years now. I have played

But this time was different.

The team I was on for the past 5+ years disbanded over the

This episode is my experience of how I thought I had found a

Before we go into the details, a quick detour in the different

The top leagues are called “Elite” leagues followed by the

I played in the premier league on my last team and was really

I started researching teams while on vacation in Europe – thanks to our AirBNB hosts and their wifi 😊

I was really happy to see that the coaches were very responsive to my emails.

The soccer season starts in Aug/Sep so the tryouts are typically

I shortlisted about 6 teams to try out for – all well-known,

I was SOOO nervous in my first tryout – the team I was trying out was for was so good.

After practicing with the team that day, I was anxious to see what the coach said.

But he basically asked me to come back for another session.

I then realized that all teams typically have several practice/tryout sessions before they will make an offer.

So I had to re-think my plan of trying out for many different

I reached out to FC Dallas for trying out and surprisingly I

But when my dad talked to the coach we found out that the team plays in regional games which means many out-of-town games. My parents thought that it would be too much with my other activities. I wasn’t happy about it. I was mad that I couldn’t join an

I then heard about a brand-new team that played in the premier league. I wasn’t keen to try out because I thought it didn’t make sense because I had already been picked for two teams in a more elite league.

I tried out anyway and realized that I really liked the drills and the coaching.

I was still really keen to join the more elite team.

But my parents were clear that joining this team would be

I went to a couple more practices and liked the overall vibe.

So I joined this brand-new team.

I enjoyed our first tournament.

After the tournament, to my surprise, this team got invited to play in the elite league. WHAAAT! That was so cool!

That was totally unexpected and I am so glad I get to play

I am excited to play this season – new team, new position,

Let’s go!

Shoutouts to Sanjay kaka and Vinti fai.

And also Sunil kaka from Mumbai!

And also to Tejal masi

I love all their feedback and love that they listen to this podcast. Email me at [email protected] about anything for a shoutout!

As always, listen, rate, and share!

For this episode, I interviewed my brother who had an amazing semester abroad at ETH in Zurich, Switzerland.

You remember my episode about my visit to Switzerland this summer? We went there because my brother was there for a semester abroad!

(That episode is at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/riyasramblings/episodes/Riyas-Ramblings-Ep-69---Switzerland---The-Country-of-Infinite-Wallpapers-e26oa4u)

Study abroad is where a college student spends a semester at

(I can agree 100% to both! :)

Of the 4 months he was abroad, he spent significant time traveling across Europe. Travel is much more affordable in Europe  and he managed to visit 15 countries! That's crazy!

His favorite trips: Amsterdam and Nice in Southern France.

He has a travel blog: www.rohanchhaya.com/travel-blog

Are you thinking of a semester abroad?

Do you know someone who has done this?

Email me: [email protected] with your comments/questions and feedback.

Have an idea for an episode? Email me!

Shoutout to Minal masi and to Disha for their great feedback about my episode about our Switzerland trip!

I recently went to a Major League Cricket match and had an absolutely great time!

I went with my dad and my grandfather and we enjoyed the whole experience.

My grandfather is a HUGE cricket fan. He watched a live match in a stadium after about 60 years. Woah!

And he loved it! He really enjoyed the ambience, the excitement and enthusiasm.

He noted that not having a commentator and instant reply meant that he couldn't watch the technical intricacies but he still enjoyed the experience.

I loved seeing and hearing the crowd reactions to 6s and when

I also enjoyed the variety of snacks - from stadium standards like nachos to cricket-relevant samosas :)

Have you watched a sports game in a stadium? How does it compare to seeing it at home?

Email me: [email protected] and let me know! You will get a shoutout!!

And as always, Listen, Rate, and Share!

In this episode, I interviewed my grandmother! I had an awesome time recording this very special episode!

My dad's mom - my daadi - was visiting us and I asked her some questions and learned so much.

I am sure you too will be inspired by her wonderful story!

Her name is Dr. Nishtha Chhaya and she is from Mumbai, India.

Her family moved to India after the partition in 1947 and she is a practicing Occupational Therapist in Mumbai.

She explained that occupational therapy is rehabilitation through exercise to make people get back to their normal lives. They may need this treatment after an accident or a stroke or other ailments. I didn't realize how important it really is!

Can you imagine that she's been practicing for 55 years! Wow, that is so crazy to me!

She has her own clinic in Mumbai with a dedicated staff but also likes to work in hospitals because she can interact with more patients in a larger hospital.

Her favorite part of her work is seeing patients become independent and get back to their personal and professional lives.

Being a woman professional in the 1960s and 1970s was tough. She faced many challenges and I am very proud that she persevered and is continuing to make a difference. She has helped thousands of people over the years. What an impact!

Her three dinner guests that she would invite were: Indira Gandhi, Ms. Vijayalakshmi Pandit, and her father-in-law Mr. Dilsukhrai Chhaya

Indira Gandhi was very influential Prime Minister of India and Ms. Pandit was a freedom fighter who participated in India's freedom struggle

And she would like re-connect with her father-in-law who was very supportive of her personal and professional goals.

She loves to read - she can read 4 languages - and watch TV- smart programs that make her think.

Her advice: Follow your path.

Every woman should have an opinion - and go for her dreams!

What an inspirational woman!

If you have any comments or questions, email me: [email protected], and you'll get a shoutout!

Also, please listen, rate, and share!

After the great city of Paris, we headed to Zurich, Switzerland. We got there by train, and it was really nice. The views were awesome, so don’t sleep too much! The main train station is called Zurich HB (Haupt Banhof), which has so manyyyy different restaurants and different foods. AWESOME.  

Trains: Paris and London had good trains, but Switzerland was incomparable. They had an app (SBB) just for the trains and trams that's very useful. Most reliable train network in world, and has over 9000 trains a day

Chocolate: Be sure to visit the Lindt Chocolate Museum, in Kilchberg  where they explain the making of the chocolate. Plus free samples!                                     

Swiss chocolate is on another level!!

That same day, we also hung out near Lake Zurich enjoying the vibes, and of course, eating ice cream. My brother did a semester abroad at ETH, so we took another funicular up to his campus and took in the swiss views. Also, Albert Einstien did his PHd at ETH, so his locker is available for viewing and it is really cool!!

Lucerne: We also took a day trip to Lucerne from Zurich. It is known for its medieval architecture and sits on Lake Lucerne surrounded by mountains. Truly beautiful! It is famous for its chapel bridge and is considered Europes oldest covered bridge.

Rhine Falls: Another fun day trip we did was the Rhine falls. It is considered to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe. We rode a boat that took us closer to the falls and across the river. It is about 15,000 years old and was created during the tectonic switch during the ice age. Nice, quick, day trip. It is about 45 minutes to an hour away from Zurich. 

Interlaken: Home to the best views. Interlaken means, between two lakes. Lake Brienze and Thun. You can always stay in Interlaken, but we stayed in a small suburb 30 minutes away by bus called Beatenburg. You see the main three peaks, Eiger, Monch, and Jungfau. The best views in the world!

Lauterbrunnen: It is about 20 min from Interlaken. Lauterbrunnen offers really nice views of the Alps and roaring falls. 

The Trummelbach falls is a series of 10 glacier waterfalls inside Mount Ieger. You can hike the falls or take a cable car. Really pretty and very rough waterfalls. 

We also visited Staubach falls!!

That same day, we had a classic Swiss dish. FONDUE! It is melted cheese in a pot in which you dip small pieces of bread or meat. 

BTW, the cows are very loud.

Next day, JUNGFRAU. It is a must see, and is called the Top of Europe. It is the highest accessible point in Europe.

You take cable car and trains to get there.

It will be cold up there, so dress warm. It is 4158 meteres (13642 ft) high. 

We went into the Sphinx Observation deck, which has amazing views. WE saw the Aletsch glacier, the largest glacier in Europe.

It can be a little tiring - esp. at that altitude so stay hydrated and eat well. 

Can you believe that they have an Indian restaurant up in the mountains? True story!

The next day, we walked from around the lakes of Interlaken, and found ourselves at Lake Brienze. You cannot miss this heaven, it was not crowded and just so peaceful. We took a ferry to get back into Interlaken. 

Glacier Express: A slow 8-hour train ride across Switzerland. With panoramic views, and takes you through the mountains!

Have you visited Switzerland? Plans to visit it? Any questions or feedback, email me - [email protected]!

And as always, Listen, Rate, and Share!

In the last episode, I talked about our visit to London - all the things we saw and did there.

This episode is about our second leg and in my opinion, the best part of our trip - Paris!!!

This city has been on my list to visit for so long, and to me, it was everything. That first view of the Eiffel tower, that breathtaking, incredible, marvelous, building. 

First, the way we got there, a train. This train is special though. It took us from London to Paris below the English Channel between The United Kingdom and France. The train goes through an underwater tunnel called the Chunnel.

When we arrived, we dropped our bags to our hotel, and headed to Montemartre. It is a hilltop village in Paris. It is really fun to walk around and hang out in. We took a funicular up to the Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre, simply known as Sacré-Cœur. It is a Roman Catholic church in Paris dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Around the chapel, you can get pretty awesome views of Paris.  It is famous for it’s sunset views, but we only had a couple of days and we didn't stay for the sunset. Next time!

Then, we walked back down into Montmartre, and got some delicious ice cream from a place called Bachir. Also, we got 2 really nice sandwiches on baguettes, REALLYYYY GOOD! The service was awesome, and ice cream was better. They cover your ice cream in pistachios to give it a nice pistachio flavor. Also, the ice cream itself was perfect. 

I got some delicious macaroons from McDonalds as well! Can you believe it? Macaroons from McD?

We hung around our hotel taking the views of the tower in, and then at 10 PM watched the light show. It was sooo pretty, but it only lasted for a  couple of minutes.

The next day, we went to the Arc de Triomph. It is a very famous monument commemorating French soldiers in many wars. We then walked through Champs-Elysees - a very impressive road that has many expensive stores and brands. 

We then took a tour up the Eiffel tower. Definitely recommend having an hourish to spend at the gardens near the tower. The tour helped us gain some fun facts. We learned that there are 72  names of scientists listed on the borders of the tower.  Also, the tower was never meant to be permanent. It was only built by Gustave Eiffel for the 100 year anniversary of the French revolution at the 1889 world fair. When they decided to add equipment at the top to transmit wireless signals, it increased its life span. Today, it is also used for broadcasting and radio and TV shows.  Also, Gustave built a secret room at the top for him to go up when he wanted to be alone.

The views of Paris were breathtaking. Amazing. We went up to the top, which is 1665 steps from the ground. Then, once again, we had some amazing ice cream. Instead of taking the elevators, we used the stairs. Be aware, there are a lot, 674.  

Then river boat cruise on the river Seine. It was a perfect way to see a lot of things in Paris that we wouldn’t get around to. We saw Notre Dame, the Louvre, and so much more beautiful architecture. We didn’t go inside the Louvre because it requires lots of time, but there is always a next time!

We ended that wonderful day with dinner by the tower and the light show again, at 10 PM.

Let me just say the food there is delicious!! 

The next day we were all tired from traveling so we decided to take a more relaxed day, and just slept in and walked around the park near our hotel. Near our hotel, was a replica of the Statue Of Liberty on the Seine river, so we took pictures around there as well. 

Fun fact is that the next Olympic games are going to happen in Paris, and different sports are at different famous monuments. And the opening ceremony will be held on the Seine river. So, there was a lot of construction! 

Have you been to Paris? What was your favorite part? Email me: [email protected], and you'll get a shoutout!

Recently, we went on a trip to Europe.

Firstly, we visited London. My mom has a lot of family there so we had a couple of really nice and awesome people to stay with. 

We spent about a week in London and had a great time seeing historical sites, modern architecture, meeting family members and enjoying great food.

Here's the highlights of my visit to London:

The next day we went to Greenwich. This is where the prime meridian crosses through, so they have a line there that you can take pics on. It is cool because you are in the middle of the world, and standing on two sides of the world. It is at 0 degrees longitude, and has a red aluminum ball that drops everyday at 1 to help the sailors make sure their watches are accurate. It also has a great view of London. Also, don’t take food, the Greenwich market is right there and offers delicious food. 

Then, we visited the Cotswolds region, about 2 hours by car away from London. We went to Sezincote, which includes a beautiful garden, and at the heart sits a 200 year old Mogul Indian Palace.  We also visited a pub for lunch, and then went to Burton on the Water, and walked around the pretty river. We explored that small town, and just enjoyed all the cute little shops.

I met cousins, uncles and aunts and had an amazing time learning about how them and their lives. My cousins were very surprised that we don't have uniforms at school and I was surprised that they did.

London is a great place to visit, and has many fun things to do!

There's still a lot more that we didn't get around to - it's on the list for our next trip. :)

Have you been to London? What's your favorite thing to do?

Email me: [email protected] with your London tips, or anything else! You will also get a shoutout!

Here's a special episode in multiple ways - it's an interview with my mom and it's related to Earth Day!

My mom loves gardening and grows many different flowers and vegetables.

She also loves composting - and has inspired her friends to also collect vegetable scraps, coffee grounds etc. to use in their gardens. Super fascinating.

Here's some highlights from the interview.

Do you have a garden at home? Or any questions about composting?

If so - email me at [email protected] and I will pass on your questions to my mom. You'll also get a shout out!!

In the interview, we talk about what composting is, all the types of composting (Anaerobic, Aerobic, and Vermi), her highlights of it all, and of course some questions to get to know her. We also mention the three Rs, Reduce Reuse and Recycle!

Also, stop using plastic bags!! They stay on Earth forever, and contribute greatly to global warming. Instead, use reusable bags and containers.

For more advice/fun information (and a couple fun jokes), listen to the full episode!

Do you have a garden at home? Or any questions about composting?

If so - email me at [email protected] and I will pass on your questions to my mom. Also, please listen, rate, and share!

Happy Earth Day!

Equal pay!

I just saw a movie on Netflix (True Spirit) about Jessica Watson and wanted to recommend you see it too.

She is the youngest solo sailor to circumnavigate the world - unassisted and non-stop.

That means no one can help her and she can't pull into port.

She sailed for 200 days from Oct 18 2009 (before I was born!) to May 15 2010!

But what really annoyed me was that she was told that she was under 18 and so it wouldn't count as an official record.

Can you believe it? Too young!

That makes me so mad for her!

I didn't realize that if there's no wind - she's stuck! The sailboat is stuck! No movement. All day, every day, till the winds start blowing again.

No phone! No friends! Can you imagine?

She was inspired by Jesse Martin's book - "Lionheart, the journey of the human spirit"

I haven't read the book but I do plan to read it. Have you read it?

Also, her family lived on a boat! Can you imagine that? Crazy!

She got some criticism for her adventure - she was young and in a trial run she had an accident with a freight ship.

But she proved all her critics wrong. Good for her! By the end of the movie, we were all rooting for her

She is such an inspiration!,

I really want to interview her.

Ms. Watson - if you are listening/reading, please email me - [email protected]

If you know her or have a way to contact her, please let me know.

I would love to talk to her directly for this podcast.

You can learn more about her on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Watson - and on her own website - https://www.jessicawatson.com.au/

As always, email me with your questions and comments. And, Listen, Rate, and Share!

My email is: [email protected]