Riya's Ramblings

Shout out to Ms. Daisy – I love how she tells everyone about my podcast. Thank you, Ms.Daisy!!And shoutout to Emma from Ohio – who listened to the podcast episode of my mom discussing her composting and emailed me!!In today's episode, I talked about my experience in speech and debate. My older brother did debate in HS and loved talking to me about his experiences.When I was in middle school, I wasn't planning to do debate – I thought it was for nerds. But, I joined it in 8th grade to pick an easy class.Then, I took debate in 9th grade mostly because I was expected to by my parents and brother. I was planning to do the bare minimum in the class!Then came my first debate tournament.I chose to participate in extemporaneous speaking – where you have to prepare a 7-min speech within a 30-min of being given a topic. I also participated in “original oratory” – where I had to prepare a 10 min speech on a topic of my choice. I chose “Overthinking” as my topic.I met an amazing group of sophomores at the tournament and I met other people from other schools and started to have a good time. I also ended up watching one of my friend's rounds and loved it! I ended up getting placed 3rd in the tournament for the extemporaneous speaking!!!I then found out there was another tournament my birthday weekend in Amarillo and I asked my parents if I could go. I was so excited when they said ‘yes'It was a really fun weekend and I had a great time with my friends. I did really well in my events and became super close with my team. This is when I truly understood debate culture – it is such a welcoming group of students and everyone's watching out for each other.I realized that I could be actually good at this debate thing, and that I really enjoyed it!I made qualifying for the state tournament my goal. So I decided to go to every tournament in my 2nd semester and I worked REALLY hard before all the competitions.But I didn't do as well as I had hoped for. It hurt so much – I was so bummed after every tournament. I have to give a heartfelt thank you top my coach- Mr.White, and my friends who always encouraged me to keep trying! I could not have enjoyed debate this year without them.Unfortunately, I did not qualify for the state tournament which was frustrating.But I then decided to focus on the district competition because they was a qualifying event for the national competition.I then decided to switch topics in my original oratory – I switched from “Overthinking” to “emotional desensitization”I worked so hard on editing and my delivery. I qualified for semi finals at the district competition (yay!) but I didn't qualify for the national competition. It was hard and sad, but I'm so so proud of my friends who qualified. I am also so so proud of myself and all that I achieved this year! :) I am so happy I proved myself wrong and found debate as something I truly belonged in. So if there's anything that you are hesitant about – just try it. You may just end up enjoying it.I encourage you to try out for speech and debate. There are SO many events that I am sure you will find something that interests you.Email me: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com if you have questions about speech and debate or about anything else! You will get a shoutout!As always, listen rate and share!

I learned so much in this chat with Coach Calie – about managing stress, my diet, about giving myself grace, about focusing on the full picture. Let me know what you liked about this episode.   Here's some highlights from our discussion: - We have over complicated our lives. And focusing on habits has a huge impact on our lives        - Typically, when we think of health, we think "doctors". Doctors focus on specific areas and usually prescribe medicines. But health coaches focus on lifestyle and daily habits. They look beyond the symptoms and focus on root cause. They empower the patients to improve their own lives. - The way we think of ourselves is a very important part of staying healthy. - Teens are under a lot of pressure. Too much information from social media etc. Take time to think who you want to be. - Focus on yourself and stop comparing yourself to other people. - Stress can be different types – some of which can be reduced by looking at your routine. Important actions: - Never skip meals - Eat well-rounded meals - Pick plants on your plate at every meal. And make sure to eat fiber.  The occasional bag of chips or Starbucks is OK – but as long as your body has good nutrition first. - Calm down before eating using simple box breathing techniques  Instagram: @CoachCalie Website: CoachCalie.com One course is free – for all girls and women Other course is more detailed – geared for women over 35  Interview with Nic (my soccer coach and Calie's fiance) was episode #75: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0LEv0yEPTXnmfADSGw0s2V Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/riyas-ramblings-ep-75-a-chat-with-my-soccer-coach/id1503527022?i=1000644959750 Shoutout to Ms. Daisy (my mom's friend) and to Darshana, my friend. Email me at Riyaramblings@gmail.com for a shouout! Remember, listen, rate, and share!

I got to see Lebron LIVE! O M G! So much awesomeness!   We went to a Dallas Mavericks – LA Lakers basketball game last week and it was SO MUCH fun! Unfortunately, both Luka and Kyrie were injured. But we did get to see LeBron and Bronny play. It was pretty cool to see Lebron dunk. That clip that went viral? I saw that in person!   And then Bronny came in for a few minutes too. How cool is that! To see both Lebron and Bronny play in the game! :) I have been to NBA games, baseball games, MLS soccer games and have watched the US Women's Soccer team play. I am hoping to go see the FIFA World Cup games in Dallas!! Do you like watching sports? Who is your fav player? Have you seen them live? Email me: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com to tell what you think of this episode for a shoutout!! Listen, Rate, and Share!  

In this episode, I talk about my fun trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. I “ramble” a lot about food options, overall activities, and give my honest, non-biased opinion about the city. For food, I think there are a lot of options, but make sure to make reservations beforehand to limit wait times. I personally loved Alexis, a yummy breakfast place! For day-to-day activities, the main thing is visiting other resorts on the strip. We lived in the Bellagio, home of the best fountain show in the world! Would definitely recommend living on the strip as it is very convenient. We visited the Hoover Dam, pretty nice but a little overrated (a recurring pattern

In this episode, I talk to my mom's aunt - my grand aunt about her amazing experiences and life journey. She is 83 years young and has been in the US for 53 years. Woah!! She learned conversational American English by watching TV shows like "The Price is Right" (super cool), started work as a sales clerk in the department store and went to college in her 50s. She is also a world traveler! Her favorite places are Western Canada and the southern island of New Zealand, both sound so pretty and I need to go soon! I loved listening to her experiences. And I am sure you will too! Email me: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com to tell me what you think or about anything at all to get a shout out! A shoutout to Bri, Taylor and Anya who told me that they like listening to me ramble. You guys made my day so thank you so much!

In this episode I talk about my trip to Chicago! This time, I went with my cousins, whom I interviewed in episode 49 about their dog treat business. Here's the highlights of my visit to Chicago:Chicago's trains are amazing, they are so convenient and easy to use. Overall, a really good fun trip with my cousins! Have you been to Chicago? What did I miss?Email me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com Emmaline and Whitney

We spent two really fun days in Busan during our week-long trip to South Korea. Listen to the previous episode about our stay in Seoul! Busan is on the southern coast of South Korea and is the country's 2nd largest city. To get there, we took a high-speed KTX train from Seoul to Busan (No, I did not watch the movie). The train was super nice with free wifi as well! Our hotel in Busan was also amazing! It was on the 15th floor overlooking the beach, which provided an awesome view. First, we went to the Gamcheon Culture Village, which is on top of a mountain. We drove to the top (using taxi) and walked our way around, This was a super fun place to walk around because there were many shops set up selling different things, but also there was a beautiful mountain view. One of my favorite things from the trip for sure. We then went to the beach near our hotel. It was the Sea of Japan, and and was super cold, but I LOVE THE WATER so I enjoyed splashing around it in. It was super pretty with the bridge and mountains and buildings in the background. The sunset was stunning! The backdrop of the city lights, the ocean and the mountains created one of the best sunsets I have seen. The next day before our train, we headed back to the beach, dipped our feet again, and then headed to Hwangnyeongsan mountain. We drove up to the observation area, and hiked a little farther up. The view was soooo pretty and our cameras did not do it justice. It was really quiet and peaceful. It was a quick trip but I am really glad we visited Busan. The train ride, the beach, the people, the markets - all memories I will remember forever! Email me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com for a shoutout, just like Elizabeth and Amina this week! Thank you for listening and remember, listen, rate, and share!

This episode is about my recent vacation to... South Korea!We spent 4 days in Seoul and 2 in the city of Busan. The first couple of days we stayed in the Myeongdong area and visited a few very different places. We visited the Myeongdong palace, Bukchon Hanok village (a traditional Korean village) and the Namsam Tower.We then went to the Jogyesa Buddhist temple which has 3 very large Buddha statues. I loved watching the prayer service. They have a great set of activities for visitors and we enjoyed making paper lanterns that looked like the lotus flower.In the evening we went to the Namsam tower – hint: take the cable car up near sunset. Stunning views!(But watch out for the bugs)Fun fact: The light on the tower changes based on the air quality in the area. The next day, me and my mom went shopping. The most popular chain is Olive Young – a great place to buy cosmetics.We had an absolutely fantastic time walking through the market.We also walked a bit of the Cheonggyecheon stream that's an amazing part of the city. It was so surprising to experience this in the middle of the city.We went back at night and walked around watching the dozens of food stalls selling some delicious food.We had the local dessert – Bingsu which is shaved ice covered with fruit and other toppingsThe next day we went to another Buddhist temple – Bongeunsa – and the Coex mall. That mall was impressive!Lots of people, lots of stores and lots of places to sit and just people watch!That evening we went to the Hangang River park and saw another pretty sunset.It was lovely to see so many people just hanging out and enjoying the evening. 7-11 is more than just a convenience store. It has sit-down tables where you can sit and have a quick snack.There's one at almost every corner and it's full of great snacks. Language can be a challenge – it really helps to know a few phrases for “thank you” and “hello”And you can use Google Translate to help. The subway system in Seoul is really good and as a bonus – has an underground mall! Shout-out to Ms. Deborah who wrote to me about the recent episode where I talked to Mr. Andre about his extreme marathon! And also to Taylor who told me how she loves listening to this podcast while working out! Anyone can get a shout-out if you email me at Riyaramblings@gmail.com about anything and everything for a shout-out! And remember, listen, rate, and share!

I really enjoyed talking to him about the the 24-hr race called “Death by 5K”. (It started on 8 AM Sat and he ran till 8 AM Sunday)You are supposed to complete a 5K race every 2.5 hrs for 24 hours!! If you finished sooner than 2.5hrs, you can rest, eat etc. till the next start.As if this wasn't tough enough, the entire race is on asphalt, so it got really hot during the day.Even though I did track in middle school and like to run outside of school, this is beyond what I can imagine! His goal is to qualify for the Boston marathon and he has promised me a follow-up interview when he qualifies.I wish him all the best and would love to learn about his Boston experience.His dream-team dinner guest list is:- Ariana Grande (big fan!)- President JFK (wants to ask questions about things only he knows)- Elon Musk/Jeff Bezos (wants to know what it feels like to run such an impressive company)What did you think? Would you run a race like this?Email me: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com

Recently, my brother graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and I graduated from 8th grade. While the events were similar, they had their differences. The UPenn ceremonies were bigger and fancier but we had a really good ceremony in our school gym too. :) Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee spoke at my brother's commencement and my principal spoke at mine! Both speeches were awesome and very engaging. Here's to high school! (for me) And to a job (for my brother) Listen to the full episode for full details, and email me at Riyaramblings@gmail.com for a shout-out. (shout-out to Isabella and Kaitlyn). Remember, listen, rate, and share!

This is Teacher's Appreciation Week and I am really thankful to all my teachers! I have enjoyed learning about US history this year and this is an episode about one of my favorite topics - the Lewis & Clark expedition to explore the western parts of the US in the early 1800s. A big thanks to my history teacher - Mr. Matuska - for making history so interesting. Email me - RiyaRamblings@gmail.com - with your comments, feedback and ideas, for a shout out! Remember to listen, rate, and share!

This is part 3 of my 3-part series about my family's visit to India! The finale!! (The first 2 parts were about Mumbai and Pune) This one is about Vadodara in Gujarat, where my mom grew up.   We took the train from Mumbai and had a great time on the train. I loved the long distance train travel in India, so comfy!   Our Vadodara trip was bitter-sweet because my grandfather (my mom's father) had passed away 3 weeks before we got there. We stayed in their house – the house where my mom grew up. I felt privileged to be able to be a part of a religious ceremony where we immersed my grandfather's ashes in a river, it was very peaceful. But we also spent some time at Surya Hotel – and the hotel breakfast there was epic! I mean, EPICC!   We also visited some local landmarks like the Lakshmi Vilas Palace – where the royal family of Vadodara lives. The royal family is symbolic now but the palace very cool. It's 4 times the size of Buckingham Palace in London :O!!   We also visited Pavagadh – it's a temple on top of a mountain about an hour from Vadodara. It was CRAZY crowded – super packed with so many people! What an experience! And we saw so many monkeys, who were just chilling. But we did look like TOTAL tourists at our excitement at seeing the monkeys.   We also went to Sayaji Baug – a beautiful park in the city. It's a bit like NYC's Central Park with lovely fountains, play areas and even a zoo! :)   We also visited my mom's college – and her engineering buildings. It was fun to see that after visiting my dad's college (my Mumbai episode has more details)!   And I loved going to D-Mart – a local grocery store. You might think, why? But it was so much fun to see the local products and walking to and back from the store. It honestly was one of my favorite parts!   We walked to a lot of places and took the auto-rickshaw for longer distances.   We had some great food including some street food which was absolutely delicious! Once again, the food was one of the best parts! :) :)   Vadodara is a super chill city compared to Mumbai and Pune, but it has an undeniable charm!   Shout out to Priyanka fai – for emailing me about my Mumbai episode – and to Natalie and Aimery for telling me how much they liked my travel episodes. Email me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com with your comments and feedback, and you will get a shoutout. Remember, listen, rate, share!

In this episode, I ramble on and on about the solar eclipse!  I was in kindergarten in 2017 when we had a partial solar eclipse in our area. Today's was a total eclipse!   Since I was in the path of totality, it was a breathtaking, once in a lifetime experience. It was so pretty, and I just wanted to share my experience with it!   Remember, you can email me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com about anything, and you will get a shoutout!    Thanks for listening and remember, listen, rate, and share! (Stay tuned for part 3 of 3 of my India travel series)

This is part 2 of my travel series about my recent trip to India with my family. (Part 1 was Mumbai).   My father's younger brother (my “kaka” in Gujarati) lives in Pune, so that was our main reason to visit. Pune is about 4 hours by road from Mumbai. It's higher in elevation and has a cooler climate than Mumbai. This was my first time visiting Pune and it was so fun! I loved the vibes of the city a lot! Throughout our visit, we enjoyed the food, the local attractions, and, more food! Pune is a very historical city so we did a heritage walk of many old sites in the center of Pune. It was tiring but very educational. We had an amazing guide from an organization called INTACH. Listen for more details about the tour! We also visited Aga Khan Palace – where Mahatma Gandhi was kept under house arrest during India's war of independence. Super fun and educational!   Pune is also known for it's ancient temples, so we visited a ton! My favorite was Pataleshwar, an ancient temple, which is more than 1200 years old! That absolutely blew my mind!! Another fun activity we did was taking the stairs up a mountain called “Parvati”. There were so many super cute puppies on the way! There was a museum about the Peshawas on top. And also a temple, so that was fun. : It wasn't a hard hike for me but I could see the adults in our group get tired. :)   The food was so good – different from Mumbai but still so so good! Puna missal – spicy bean curry + local bread (pav) Vada paav – fried potatoes + chutnies + local break (pav) Marathi thaali – multiple curries/subzis, daals and sweets. So filling! And super yummy! Listen for more things we did!   Overall the city felt a little more laid back than Mumbai, but there some similarities, like the street dogs. People were so mean to them! Shout outs to my fais (my dad's cousin sisters) - Kinjal fai and Priyanka fai for emailing me about my Mumbai episode. And to Harper and Emerson from my soccer team! If you live in Pune or have visited Pune, email me and tell me what you thought of my experiences at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com! You will get a shout-out!

This episode is the first part of a series about my recent trip to India! This episode is about my experiences in Mumbai – the city that never sleeps

  In this episode, I interviewed my soccer coach – Nic Heffernan. He started a soccer club in 2023 after moving to Texas and I joined in 2023 summer, after my previous team disbanded. He grew up in Brighton, UK (hence the name of our club – Brighton Soccer Club) and he was soccer-crazy as a kid, just like I am! He moved to the US as a D1 college player, and went to Montana. He was the captain, and he also learned a lot about coaching there. Did you know that Texas is the heart of youth soccer? Nic's goal is to make a difference in how players play and improve in the game, as he elaborates on in the episode. You will also learn a lot about the behind-the-scenes in creating a soccer club! I loved hearing about his ultimate vision about the club, both on and off the field. His 3 dinner guests: Sir Alex Ferguson (I know who he is thanks to the Beckham Netflix documentary) Reese Witherspoon (because his fiancé really likes her – and not just because she would bring her own spoon

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. 5 hours! 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: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com with your questions and comments. As always, listen, rate, and share1

I love soccer. I love playing it. I love watching it (go US Women's Team!) and I love talking about it! I have been playing soccer for many years now. I have played on 3-4 different teams and finding the next team has always been simple. But this time was different. The team I was on for the past 5+ years disbanded over the summer. So, I started searching for s new team! This episode is my experience of how I thought I had found a great fit, but then how I found something even better.   Before we go into the details, a quick detour in the different leagues in youth soccer. The top leagues are called “Elite” leagues followed by the classic league and then the premier leagues. I played in the premier league on my last team and was really hoping to join one of the elite league teams.   I started researching teams while on vacation in Europe – thanks to our AirBNB hosts and their wifi

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 a university in a different country. The two universities typically have a reciprocal relationship but not always. He highly recommends doing a semester abroad if your college degree allows it. He had to plan it out and take extra classes in the semesters leading up to it but it was totally worth it. He enjoyed the differences in educational philosophy (more theoretical approach, course grade depends on a single final vs semester long quizzes, projects like in the US) and meeting folks from around the world. Best part: Meeting people from around the world! and learning about their customs, cultures, high school experiences Worst part: Not being able to stay back in the summer and high cost of living in Zurich. :( :( (I can agree 100% to both! :) One aspect that stood out was the public transportation in Zurich and in Switzerland – lots of trains, always on time and easy to use. Interesting observation: Everyone seemed a lot more laid back – even in Zurich which is one of the more fast paced cities, Very different vibe from the time spent in NYC and Boston for internships 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: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com 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 wickets fell.   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: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com 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: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com, 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 - RiyaRamblings@gmail.com! 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: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com, 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: Saw many sights using a double decker hop-on hop-off bus Visited Trafalgar Square Saw the Parliament house (majestic!) and Big Ben Visited Buckingham Palace, took lots of pictures, and then walked around St. James Park.  Spent a couple of hours at Westminster Abbey - Royal Church that has been the coronation church since 1066 and it is the final resting place for 17 monarchs. It has Sir Isaac Newton's burial site. I also saw Stephen Hawking and Charles darwins' graves.  We also rode in the London Eye - Europe's tallest ferris wheel with insane views of the city. Luckily, we had clear skies, making the view even better!! 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: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com 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 RiyaRamblings@gmail.com 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 RiyaRamblings@gmail.com 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 - RiyaRamblings@gmail.com 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: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. And wish you all the best for the new year! Let's get started with a 'knock-knock' joke: Knock-knock Who's there? Razor Razor who? Raise your glass to the new year! Woo hoo! Over Christmas break, we spent 6 days in an all-inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico. Honestly, the beach next to the resort was meh – but the resort itself was really good. Lots of food, many pools and unlimited drinks. I mean, come on! We also met my uncle - my dad's brother - and his family. We saw them after almost 5 years so it was fun to catch up and just hang out. The resort had many different options for food - from a buffet to a cafe bar and many restaurants. For dinner we went to a few restaurants in the resort. We had a variety of cuisines to choose from – Yucatan (the local area), Italian, Japanese etc. And they were all good. Interestingly, we didn't eat a lot of Mexican food :) We went to visit the Chichen Itza – an ancient Mayan city about 3 hours by road from Cancun. The complex had a sports arena where the ancients played challenging sports. And can you believe that the winner was sacrificed? That just sounds like a good reason not to be good at something. On the way back, we stopped by a cenote. A cenote is a natural sink-hole – a natural pool. It was beautiful! We also spent a couple of hours in a town called Villadolid. The town was very lively and we got to see some traditional dances there. One of the dances was impressive where the dancers put a glass bottle on their forehead during the dance. That was a long day but it was a lot of fun to visit one of the 7 wonders and learn about Mayan history. We also did yoga on the beach and biked around the resort. On the last day, we went on another excursion. To be honest, I was a little nervous about this but I am really glad I did it. We swam in a cenote – actually in an underground cave. That was a first for me! It was so pretty! We got to float through a cave where the water was more than 150 ft deep! And then it got even more fun – we went snorkeling! I got to see some cool fish up close, really close. I had a great time doing things I hadn't done before. Cancun is a fun place – with a lot of options. Of course, you can spend the entire day at the resort but there's a lot of things to do outside. What has branches but no fruits, trunk or leaves? Answer: The government – because it has 3 branches – executive, legislative and judicial. Here's some more jokes! Where can you find comedians on NYE? Waiting on the punch line! An iPhone and a firework were arrested on NYE. One was charged and the other was left off. As always, email me: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com with your questions, comments and feedback. What did you do on your Christmas break? And have you been to Cancun? What was the best part?

A Terrific Trip to Tyler, TX I had a 4-day weekend at school recently and we wanted to travel but we didn't want to fly. So, we went to – Tyler, Texas It's a couple of hours of driving for us and isn't your typical tourist destination, but it was a lot of fun! Here's what we did: 1. Hiked in the Tyler State Park – this is a wonderful state park with great trails and lovely tall trees. It was very beautiful!! We walked a bunch. Fair warning: the waterfall is cool but not a big one. I also saw a big spider that scared me! Learned more about the park: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/tyler 2. Went to the Caldwell zoo – this zoo is the perfect size. Not too big, not too small. A few things I really liked were: · Feeding the giraffes · African area – with lions, elephants · Bird feeding – it was so cool to feed them right out of my hand · Watching the turtles just hang out – they were so cool! A must-visit place if you are ever in the area! More details: https://caldwellzoo.org/ 3. Rose garden – we visited it the weekend before the famous Rose festival and had very high expectation. To be honest, It was a little underwhelming, but still beautiful. My mom loved the plants and my dad loved the fountains. Good gift shop for rose-scented soaps etc. I was a little unsure when my mom first suggested Tyler for our vacation but I loved it. I realized that it's not necessary to go to famous places. Find local spots to enjoy your vacation! Benefit - less crowds, great places, If you have been there or if you live in Tyler, what did we miss? Email me: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com Puzzle: I have branches but no fruits, trunk or leaves. What am I? Email me your answer at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com You get a shoutout when you email me too!

I recently visited Philadelphia with my family. Listen to Episode 59 to learn all about Philly! Philadelphia has many locations and museums about Ben Franklin and I learned a lot. A few amazing facts about this founding father (who wasn't a US president) - He didn't have a formal education but was always curious - He had a printing press in Philadelphia - He loved chess – because of the strategy and thinking involved - He was a prolific inventor He created the lightning rod in 1752 as part of his experiments related to electricity. This invention saved many lives by preventing fires caused during storms He proved his theory about lightning by doing the kite experiment He also invented bifocals Divided soup plate – this is a fun invention specifically designed for eating soup on ships. - His grave is visible from the sidewalk People throw coins on his grave. Can you guess why? He is on the $100 bill and I don't think many folks will throw those.

This episode is a fun chat with my cousins who are visiting from Baltimore. In this episode, we talk about the city of Dallas. We talk about some food places, some fun attractions, and so much more! Here is what we talked about: - What is our favorite restaurant to eat at? - Braums, and Which Wich – we love the ice-creams at Braums and the customizable sandwiches at Which Wich - We also love Honest, which is a restaurant for all kinds of Indian food - What do we love about the Dallas area? Doesn't rain all the time - sunny makes it easier to get stuff done but it's really hot this time It's easier to cool down and to warm up We can go to the rec center and swim - Favorite memory from previous visits to Dallas? Road trips - Houston – our visit to the NASA center, Waco – where we visited Dr. Pepper Museum and tasted different sodas - What attractions do we want to visit in Dallas every year? We all love to go to water parks, arcades, and play laser tag, and we go every couple visits. - What indoor activities do we do to keep entertained? We love playing the Wii, the Nintendo switch, watch TV, and play some super fun indoor games. - What outdoor activities do we enjoy? It's super hot, so the only time we can play is after dinner. After dinner sometimes, we would go play basketball in my nearby [ark, or maybe even play cricket, and it was really fun! What do we do to keep cool in the Texas heat? Since it was super hot outside, we loved getting cold treats like ice cream and froyo! Another thing we loved was going to the Plano Recreation Centers to workout or swim in their indoor pools, i=since it was a great way to get energy out and still stay cool! We used the same riddle as the last two episodes, since it will be the riddle for my three part series, I didn't want to change it up. The Riddle: I have many ears, but I can't hear? If you know the answer, email me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com, or email ways that you still cool in the heat! You will get a shoutout! Have a great day, and make sure to Listen, rate, and share.

This is part 2 of the 3 part series of my vacation. This episode will be about all the things I did in New York City, so enjoy!! We are gonna use the same riddle for this whole series so you have time! The riddle was: what has many ears but can't hear? Email me your answer at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com. We drove from Philly to New York. You can listen to my previous episode to learn about my adventures in Philadelphia. We used City Pass which is like a combo ticket for many places which helps to avoid long lines. I recommend it! We stayed in a hotel very close to Times Square. 19th floor! And we took the train to get around. That plus a LOT of walking. If you have visited NYC, send me email with place you saw and places you wished you had seen. Here's the places we visited: Times Square: - I agree with it's "cross roads of the world" title - a fun place to visit - The site of the annual new year's eve ball drop, which began in 1907! It's super fun to see on TV Broadway: - We got discounted, same-day tickets for "Dear Evan Hansen" at the booth in Times Square. - It was very good and emotional, and it was an experience I'll never forget Statue of Liberty: - We took a ferry to liberty island, and that same ferry also stops at ellis island - The museum had a really good mini movie about the process of making Lady Liberty - The statue of liberty was given to America by the French on June 17, 1885 by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi - The status has broken ankle shackles to represent freedom from slavery, a torch to light up the world, and a tablet with America's independence day Zucotti Park: - It had a ton of small mom and pop street food carts with various flavors and cuisines - If you go to NY city, be on the lookout for these beautiful areas, you'll really enjoy them! 9/11 memorial/museum: - We visited the memorial for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 - It taught me so much, and made me realize how hard it must have been - There was a panel surrounding the Twin Reflecting Pools with all the names of those who lost their lives Empire state building - It was the tallest building when it was built in March 1930 - it is now an observatory deck on the 86th floor and you can pay extra go to the 102nd floor - The view was breathtaking, but make sure to go on a clear day, or a sunset! Central Park: - 843 acres of trees and trails in the middle of a city!! Beautiful! - We entered the park from the Strawberry Fields, which is not an area where you pick strawberries! It's a memorial to a British rock musician, John Lennon, who was part of the Beatles. Food We had fantastic falafels from food trucks, great NY style pizza and also some over-priced, not-so-good meals. Make sure you eat the street food! Brooklyn One of my fav Bollywood stars - Shah Rukh Khan - shot a famous movie near the Brooklyn bridge. So I loved seeing that at night and take beautiful photos We are gonna use the same riddle for this whole series so you have time! The riddle was: what has many ears but can't hear? Email me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com

I recently went on vacation, and we went to Philadelphia and New York, and then dropped my brother off to his job. This will be a 3 part series with one about Philadelphia, one about New York, and one about Ben Franklin. I will talk about all the things we did relating to Ben Franklin in another episode. This episode will be about my experiences in Philly. Valley Forge is an important part of US history and is located outside Philly. We spent a couple of hours there and learned some really interested facts. · The place where the US “army” stayed in the winter during the American Revolution · Before Valley Forge, it was just some volunteer farmers, but during winter in Valley forge, they're trained and became a fierce enemy, · George Washington was the general, but they needed someone to help with more discipline · Friedrich Wilhelm Rudolf Gerhard August Freiherr von Steuben, a Prussian military officer, comes to Valley Forge on Feb 23, 1778. · There was a lack of food, and basic cleanliness Pennsylvania State House · Philly was the capital before DC · This is where George Washington and John Adams were elected into president · This is also where the constitution was discussed, and many people were curious about how it was gonna work · This is also where the senate was meeting then, this was almost like the white house Liberty Bell · Made to represent freedom and independence · Built in 1752, but cracked in February 1846 · It was used for announcements and had been with America before and after independence · John Pass, and John Stow's name are on the bell because they helped make recasts of the original bell · Pennsylvania was misspelled as Pensylvania (single “n”) because that was an accepted spelling then Reading terminal Market · It is a place with SO MANY OPTIONS of food · It is like the king of all food courts, and you basically have to visit · It is also great for small business to show off their food and culture · There were a ton of Amish stands and so many different cuisines and different flavors. · Opened in 1893, it is 78,000 sq ft, and more than 80 merchants · We got donuts, pickles, crepes, Greek food, sandwiches Rocky steps · We climbed the rocky steps just like Rocky Balboa did in the movie “Rocky”. · In the movie he climbs the stairs, and when he finishes he poses triumphantly. · The steps lead up to the Philadelphia museum of art. · There is also a statue of Rocky that you can pose with · The movie did so well that the steps of the museum get more tourists than the museum The road leading to the Rocky steps is a tree-lined Parkway with flags of countries from around the world. This international tribute began in 1976 as part of the US Bicentennial Celebration. It symbolizes Philadelphia as a global tourism destination. Stay tuned for the next two episodes when I talk about the rest of my trip!! Last episode riddle: This episode riddle: I am a bird, a person and a fruit. What am I? A KIWI!!! (A kiwi is a flightless bird, a fruit and also a nick name for a person from New Zealand) Shoutout to Emma who emailed me and got it right! This episode's riddle: What has many ears but can't hear? Email me: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com with your answer. Have you been to Philly? What was your favorite thing to do? Let me know and I will include it in a future episode. And as always, listen, rate, share

In this episode, I wanted to tell you all about a few fun and interesting things I have been doing. Below are some of the things I talked about, but listen to the full episode for more fun information. We had our middle school spring dance a few weeks back. It was held in person the first time since 2019 so the entire school was really excited. It was a fun event and it was cool to hang out with my friends while dancing to some awesome music. I applied to join the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) - https://www.njhs.us/ - and I was accepted! Yay! I plan on increasing my volunteer hours a ton this summer and next school year. If you are a member of NJHS, what projects have you done? I recently saw the movie "CODA" on Apple TV+. It's about a teenager whose parents and brothers are all deaf and how she manages to balance school and her dreams and her family's expectations. It was really interesting to see how she manages being the only one in her family who can hear. I REALLY recommend it. It has inspired me to learn ASL - American Sign Language. It won Best Picture at Oscars, and the actor who played the dad won an Oscar and made history! Soccer - my spring season is done and I am looking forward to the summer season. The summer season is all indoor. Braces - Got dental braces a few weeks back. The first few days were tough but I think I am used to them now. What color of brackets should I get for the summer? Do you have braces? Do you like them? What color do you have? Let me know - RiyaRamblings@gmail.com School year's coming to a close and STAAR testing (our state standard tests) is coming up. I am a little nervous but we have practiced enough and I am confident my friends and I will do well. I got a small electronic piano from a garage sale today! I can play "Twinkle, twinkle little star" already! I am currently learning some more songs but it's hard!! I hope to be able to play Fur Elise one day, but I have to practice for that!! Hope you enjoyed this episode! I also really wanna know what you are up to! Write to me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com And don't forget, Listen, Rate, Share!!

We went to Oklahoma City for Spring Break - and had a really good time. We hiked around Lake Hefner and saw a lovely lighthouse. I learned about the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, went to a skeleton museum and fed a tigress at a wildlife sanctuary. Wow! It was fantastic! The Oklahoma City bombing memorial museum is a very educational and beautiful tribute to a terrible event in the city's history. I describe the different elements of the museum and what they mean. It's very moving. The skeleton museum was very different from other museums my parents have taken me to and I learned a lot. And feeding the different animals including the tigress was just awesome. I highly recommend visiting OKC if you get a chance. Lots of great places to eat, visit and learn. Here's some useful links: OKC Memorial Museum: https://memorialmuseum.com/ Tiger Safari Zoo: https://tigersafarizoo.com/ Skeleton Museum: https://www.skeletonmuseum.com/ Email me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com with your episode suggestions, favorite episodes, etc. I love hearing from you, and you'll get a shoutout! Previous episode riddle: You go to red, but stop at green. What am I? Answer: Watermelon! Shoutout: Disha for emailing with the correct answer!! This episode riddle: I am a bird, a person and a fruit. What am I? If you know the answer to this episode' riddle, email me your answer at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com! I love hearing from you, and you'll get a shoutout in the next episode.

In this episode I talk about my science fair project. If you don't know what a science fair is, listen to Episode 46 where I talk about my past projects along with background information on science fairs. My project this year investigated the difference between masked learning, and unmasked learning in three main categories; factual, emotional, social. Listen to the episode for more information on each of these categories. Along with many other things, I talk about the process of my project, and what I won! If you wanna learn about science fair, or just listen to a “report” about one, listen to this episode and have fun learning!! Email me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com with your episode suggestions, favorite episodes, etc. I love hearing from you, and you'll get a shoutout! Previous riddle: I am found in socks, scarves and mittens and often in the paws of playful kittens. What am I? Answer: Yarn Shoutouts: Zoe and Shreya for emailing with the correct answer!! This episode's riddle: You go to red, but stop at green. What am I? If you know the answer to this episode' riddle, email me your answer at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com! I love hearing from you, and you'll get a shoutout in the next episode.

I recently visited the Palo Duro Canyon State Park in West Texas. It was a 6-hour drive and one of the cool things on the drive was seeing hundreds of windmills. They were making good use of the flat land and windy conditions to generate clean electricity. And shout out to Guy Raz and his ‘How I built this' podcast series for making the car ride less boring. The state park has many beautiful trails - from easy to difficult. We did three trails and each one was scenic and fun! We also climbed up to a cave. We hiked the CCC trail – one of the more difficult ones. I was a little nervous at first but enjoyed the experience. Here's some fast facts about the canyon: The Canyon is 250 million years old and was carved by the Red River. Roads, trails and many parts of the park were created during the Great Depression. Palo Duro – means ‘hard wood' in Spanish 2nd largest canyon in the US – after the Grand Canyon 120 mi long, 20 mi wide 1874 – battle of Palo Duro between the American army and the Plains Indians. You can also do other activities – jeep tours, zip lining - near the park. We also stopped by the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo – a public art installation with 10 Cadillacs buried in the Texas prairie. You can spray paint the cars. That was a unique and memorable experience. I bet the cars are a bit thick than before with the years of paint layers. :) If you have been to the Palo Duro Canyon, let me know what you think. Previous Riddle: A man who was outside without an umbrella or a hat didn't get his hair wet. How? Answer: He was bald. Shoutout to Shreya for emailing me with the correct answer! This week's riddle: I am found in socks, scarves and mittens and often in the the paws of playful kittens. What am I? Email me at: RiyaRambings@gmail.comwith your answer or with literally anything else! As always, listen, rate, and share!

In the first episode of 2022, I talk to Ms. Prachi Mistry, member of the winning team of the second season of the "Big Family Cooking Showdown" on Netflix. If you haven't seen the series on Netflix yet (2 seasons), do so right now! It's a fun competition where families compete with each other to cook some really delicious food. We talked about many things including how the show boosted her self confidence. Her participation helped helped her with getting a job since the show showed leadership, fast thinking and problem solving skills. It was cool to know that it was so much more than a cooking competition! Her three ideal dinner guests: Oprah, Paulo Coelho (author "The Alchemist") and Shah Rukh Khan (the Bollywood superstar) And she would cook a typical Maharashtrian meal for them. Listen for more fun questions! :) I am so thankful to her for agreeing to this interview. I learned so much and even snagged an invitation to her house when I visit London! :) And listen to the episode for the answer to the last riddle and a brand new riddle. Email me: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com with your feedback, idea, resolutions, riddle answers and everything else. Follow, rate and review on your podcast app. And tell your friends and family!

What a year! So many good things (vaccines!) and some not-so-good things (the pandemic is still around. boo!) A few accomplishments that stood out to me are: - Zaila winning the national spelling bee. - Wally Funk's space flight on the Blue Origin rocket. - Gov Kathy Hochul as 1st woman gov of NY. GIRL POWER!! Yay! Also, I started middle school and my older brother went to college - both life-changing events. And I interviewed some really interesting people: Mr. Corey Smith, an athletic trainer Ms. Brenne Gregory, a scientist at a radio telescope observatory my cousins, about starting a business Shivani, an accomplished Girl Scout Noelle, my friend in Singapore Mr. Chase Mielke, my speech coach for the Kindness contest Ms. Elisa Klein, a candidate for city council I am excited for the new year and have some interesting plans for this podcast. Stay tuned and recommend this to your friends and family. And email me - RiyaRamblings@gmail.com - with your ideas and comments. Wishing you all a wonderful new year! Let's rock it! And remember, listen, rate, and share!

If you like sports, you will love this episode. If you don't, you'll still love it! This episode, I talked to Mr. Corey Smith, an athletic trainer, about sports medicine, staying healthy when playing and how the treatment of concussions has changed over the years. He has worked with pro teams as well as high school teams. He was part of the stretcher crew when Argentina played Mexico. He saw Messi play! In person! O M G! So cool! He loves sports because playing sports teaches valuable life lessons like how to handle failure. I know this first hand. We had a disastrous soccer tournament last weekend. :( But only 1.6% of college footballers make it to the NFL, so very few people can become pro sports players. Mr. Smith explains the many different opportunities in sports other than playing. Sports medicine is one such option. You can help pro sports players perform their best. How cool is that! I loved learning the details about sports medicine as a career. I am really thankful to Mr. Smith for his time. If you have questions about a career and want to learn more, let me know. I love learning about different jobs. Here's last week's riddle: What's common between a lion, a horse and New England? Answer: They all have Mane/Maine Shoutout to Disha for trying. Here's this week's riddle: I can fly but have no wings, I can cry but have no eyes, where ever I go, darkness follows me. What am I? If you know the answer, email me at: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com If you have questions about a career and want to learn more, email me! I love reading your emails!! And email me your questions/comments/ideas for future episodes. Listen, rate, and share with your friends and family!

I recently visited Austin with my parents had a great time. We saw the Texas Capitol building, saw millions of bats and ate some really good food. The best part? I planned it all. My parents had asked me decide what we saw, where we ate and what we did during our stay in Austin. I used travel blogs to look at all the many different things to do and see in Austin and then picked a few for our trip. I didn't want to over-plan - because part of the goal was also to just chill in the hotel. :) We visited the Texas Capitol and took a guided tour (no cost!). The dome of the building is breathtaking - more from the inside than the outside. Make sure you take the tour when you visit if you can. The tour guides have a lot of great stories and information about the Texas legislature. We also saw hundreds of thousands of bat streaming out from under the Congress Ave bridge at sundown. We had a funny moment when my dad couldn't see the bats while I was gushing about them. He wasn't losing his eyesight - but he did have a streetlight in his vision that was messing up his view of the bats. Once we moved to another location, he could see them too. These are Mexican free-tailed bats, which migrate each spring from central Mexico to various roosts all over the southwestern U.S. They also have cruises on the Colorado river to watch the bats fly out but we watched from above and from below the bridge. Tip: the view from above (standing on the bridge) is better. We hiked on Mount Bonnel - don't worry it's not a mountain and has steps and a trail. No rope climbing needed. ;) I also planned our meals but was also flexible depending on where we were. We went to the Cheesecake factory for the first time but also tried some local favorites like Gourdough's Big Fat Donuts. It was sooo yummy!!! Last episode's riddle: It has keys, but no locks. It has space, but no room. You can enter, but can't go inside. What is it? Answer: A keyboard. Get it? This episode's riddle: What is common between a lion, a horse, and New England? If you know the answer, email me: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com. You can also email me about literally anything else! Like always, listen, rate, and share!!

It's been a few weeks since my last episode - and that's because I got really busy with school, soccer and other activities. This one is episode 50 - the big 5 0. Wow! Thanks for all your support and encouragement! Here's the deets: * 9 weeks over in middle school! Yay! * I think I like it. Figure I will stay for a couple of years. :) Ha! * We visited Austin for a couple of days. First time in hotel after 18 months! I will share more details later but we saw bats! Thousands of bats! It was AWESOME! * I am playing flag football at school. I like watching it more than playing it but it's quite an experience. * I am part of the debate club at school. My older brother is really good and I'm hoping to learn from him! I am planning to participate in extemporaneous speaking and oratory. A friend and I are also going to do some lip sync. :) This should be a lot of fun. I will let you know how I do in my first competition. * We just did 'garba' - a traditional Indian dance that I didn't get a chance to do last year. It was SO MUCH FUN! * I love watching talent shows like 'America's Got Talent' with my Dad. And I binge "This is Us" with my mom. It's a serious family drama And we all love to see "Bob Hearts Abishola" - it's a fun, quirky show that shows us aspects of Nigerian culture in the US. Previous riddle: I am ahead of you but you can't see me. What am I? Shout out to Disha for getting this right. The answer is 'your future'. This week's riddle: It has keys, but no locks. It has space, but no room. You can enter, but can't go inside. What is it? As always, email me RiyaRamblings@gmail.com with your answer, questions and comments. And make sure to Listen, rate, and share! And follow the podcast in your podcast app.

This is Riya's Ramblings where I talk about what I am experiencing, my likes, and some advice. In this episode I interviewed my cousins who own a dog treat business in Maryland as do I in Texas. We talked about the benefits of owning a business, the challenges we faced, as well as some steps for owning a business at the end. All of us started our businesses in the pandemic and we talked about that as well. It was a lot of fun to learn about their thoughts about V&S Dog Treats, their business. If you are in the Baltimore area and love your dog, check out their business for delicious treats! Check out their website: https://www.vsdoggytreats.com/ Their TV interview is at: https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/two-parkville-kids-start-doggy-treat-business-to-help-pay-for-college And if you are in the Dallas-area, check out my Pupilicious Dog treats Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/415299576114982/ Or my website: https://riyaramblings.wixsite.com/pupilicious If you have a small business or are thinking of starting one, email me! I would love to hear more about it! Maybe you can also be on the podcast! Write to me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com Previous Riddle: I am in Mercury, Earth, Mars and Jupiter but not in Venus or Neptune. What am I? Answer: The letter "r" :) This week's riddle: I am ahead of you but you can't see me. What am I? Email me or drop me a voice message: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com Equal pay!

In this episode I speak with Ms. Brenne Gregory, a data analyst at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia. Here's some of the really cool facts she shared that stuck out to me! - Radio telescopes listen to radio waves from the universe - Unlike optical telescopes that work best in the dark, radio telescopes can be used 24 hrs a day - Since it snows a lot in West Virginia, the satellite dishes at the observatory have a special position called “snow dump” to minimize the amount of snow on the dishes. - The Green Bank Observatory is in a “radio quiet zone” – that means no WiFi, no cell service and no Bluetooth. Can you imagine?

The new school year has started! Lots of new experiences!! Middle school!! I have done a few back to school episodes, and this one is about my start of middle school. It's been different than elementary school in many ways. Here's what I talk about: I was really worried about getting lost going from class to class, but it wasn't that bad I have been kinda bored about all the first few days of school curriculum. I see a lot of new kids, and am trying to make friends I am doing choir, a bit nervous to sing, but also excited The bathroom lines are really long between passing periods The hallways are very crowded The backpack's really heavy Opening out gym lockers was really hard, because that was our first time I had a classmate recognize me from here - this podcast. That was very cool!! She was like "Riya? Like from the podcast?" If you are worried about middle school, here's some advice: Don't stress, and ask people where everything is on the first day Have fun Make new friends Be patient Don't Procrastinate Know where the bathrooms are Previous Riddle: I have a tail and a head but no body. What am I? Answer: A coin! Shoutouts: My Grandaunt Vandana, my classmate Brooke, and my cousin Disha again! Wow, she's on a streak!! This episode's riddle: What word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it? If you know the answer email me at riyaramblings@gmail.com! I hope you enjoyed this episode about my experiences back to school in middle school! Listen, rate and share! EQUAL PAY!!

I have been participating in the science fair at school since kindergarten and have enjoyed learning lots of different things. My older brother is my inspiration - he even qualified for the International Science Fair in 2020! Here's the projects that I worked on and what I learned over the years Kindergarten: What's the best way to clean pennies? I found that soap wasn't always the best. Can you guess what works best? Email me your guesses! 1st grade: Which ball sinks the fastest? I learned about density and how the larger ball may float but a smaller one may sink. 2nd grade: Which apps/games use most battery on a smartphone? This one was FUN! I played games and also learned about what factors use most battery. I won grand prize at school and 2nd prize at the regionals! All because I played games on my iPhone!

In this episode, I spoke with a very good friend - Shivani - who is a fantastic person and an accomplished Girl Scout! I was curious about Girl Scouts and her experience - so we chatted about what she learned and how being a Girl Scout has helped her. If you thought it was only about cookies, think again! She camped through a tornado warning and flooding! She is one tough cookie! And a true G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)! She also learned leadership and teamwork and is using that to run a summer camp for her neighborhood kids! Impressive! And her summer camp had goats! Goats, people! G O A T S! Are you a Girl Scout? If so, let me know what you are learning! Email: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com Previous riddle: What belongs to you but your friends use it more? My older brother thinks the answer is "Nintendo Switch" console but the real answer is your name! Get it?

My friend, Noelle, moved to Singapore a couple of years back. I have always wanted to know more about her life there. We talked about lots of different things - her school, her favorite foods, her life in Singapore and how the pandemic affected it. (She said she lives in a dot - because Singapore is just a tiny place on the map. :) I learned a lot! I am sure you will enjoy it too! Last episode's riddle: You have to break me to use me. What am I? Answer: Eggs! Shout out to my cousin Disha (from Virginia!) who got it it right! This episode's riddle: It belongs to you but your friends use it more. What is it? You can write to me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com with your guesses, thoughts, ideas and suggestions Equal pay!

On June 17 2021, US President Joe Biden signed a new law that declared Juneteenth as a US federal holiday. It is very important because we recognize the day enslaved people were freed in Texas. I had recorded an episode last year on this topic and I wanted to share that again. You can write to me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com with your thoughts, ideas and suggestions Equal pay!

I am in the final 10 of a national speech contest on kindness. You can view and vote for my speech at http://chhaya.org/vote (It's an alias to https://thinkkindness.org/vote/?entry_id=195613688) In my speech, I talk about how all of us can make a difference by doing simple things. That's the way to create a new pandemic - of kindness. Thank you in advance for your vote. Do you have ideas on making the world a kinder place? Email me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com with your ideas, suggestions, etc! I will include your idea in the next episode. Previous riddle: When you take out a hand, some still remains. Answer: "Handsome" Shout out to Mr. John Hanna who emailed me with an answer that I didn't expect - an analog clock! This week's riddle: You have to break me to use me. What am I? If you know the answer, email me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com Follow, share and vote for my speech at http://chhaya.org/vote

I recently entered a "Kindness Speech" competition organized by the Think Kindness Foundation. I am in the top 10! WooHoo! The best part is that they paired me up with a speech coach to polish my speech. Mr. Chase Mielke, a high school teacher, instructional coach and motivational speaker from Michigan, is helping me for the final round. I interviewed him for this podcast and we talked about his teaching and his coaching and how he helps teachers and students become better. Listen and you will learn how to get better at public speaking. Previous episode's riddle: I am an odd number but if you take one letter off, I become even. What am I? I was going with 'seven' as the answer - remove the 's' to get "even". But I got an interesting email from Mr. John Hanna who answered "fifteen". If you say it out loud and take off the 'n', you get "fifty" which is also even. Neat! Thanks for the email, Mr. Hanna! And thank you to Ms. Kathy Pettinger for your lovely email. It's very encouraging to hear from my listeners. This week's riddle: If you take away a hand, some still remains. What is it? Send me your answers by email: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com You can also email me your ideas, comments, feedback Listen, rate and share!

Previous riddle: I am tall when I am young and I am short when I am old. What am I? Answer: A candle! This episode's riddle: I am an odd number but if you take one letter off, I become even. What am I? Send me your answers by email: RiyaRamblings@gmail.com I have been doing school at home for the past year. I recently went back to school in person for the last nine weeks. In this episode, I describe my experience of going back to school after being at home for so long. I was nervous the previous night about the new procedures and rules. But my teachers and friends were very helpful in helping me adjust (some of my friends have been in school since August) It feels so good to have interaction! Here's some interesting things I noticed: Temperature check each morning Some of my friends look very different and I mean taller, bigger, just different You can write on the desk with dry erase markers! (not really Covid19 related) The teaching style is different now I have fewer headaches - no more Zoom calls for 7 hrs straight I can see my full teacher - no longer a body-less face I have to wear a mask all day, took some time to get used to. Laughing with friends feels great! I had forgotten how muh fun that is. Two-people desks have dividers. The couple of things I miss from 'school at home' are: Snacking/eating during class :) PE on the couch :) My friends and teacher from my online class. We had fun there too!! Share your experience with online or in-person school. I love hearing from you! Email me at RiyaRamblings@gmail.com with your ideas, comments, feedback, jokes etc. Listen, rate and share!