ALWAYS A FOREIGNER (PB)

Ashwini’s book is a revelation. And not just of her family’s journey across 6 countries.Rich in detail, Always a Foreigner is written in delicate prose. It provides a flavour not just of the family life of an Indian diplomat but also historical and political global events that occurred at the time. It encapsulates the various struggles and wins of living in an alien culture, about moving beyond your comfort zone, about finding happiness and ultimately finding yourself.It is authentic and inspiring. A must- read !

I love it when I go to a bookstore and pick up a book unheard of by an unknown author and then find myself absorbed by the book!⁣⁣First released as Lost at 15, Found at 50, this memoir by Devare takes us from her birth in Soviet Russia to her current living in Singapore via a dozen of countries in which she grew up and lived an enthralling life, thanks to her father's work in the Indian Foreign Service. I could relate to her *where next* uncertainty of changing cities every 2-3 years, part and parcel of the living for civil/foreign service families. Her family tales (especially with her sister Aparna) with the background of significant geopolitical moments captivated me. She is a witness to the contemporary history of the world.⁣⁣Later in the book, she talks about college and career and love and relationships with honest observations and entertaining insights. Devare has lived a wonderful life, and I'm glad she decided to share her journey with the readers.⁣

What an extraordinary memoir!!!This is a beautiful written and vividly described story of a young girl who had lived in six continents by the time she was 15.A fascinating, absorbing read, this is a sincere portrayal of the authors childhood, and family life storyinterwoven with major historical events.The writing style is uniquely descriptive and personal .I loved this book.A must read!!

Ashwini Devare’s memoir is a page-turner which takes you across a canvas of multiple countries. It’s like turning the pages of history. It’s a journey with universal themes of identity, family and a search for home that anyone can identify with in today’s uncertain times.Highly recommend this book!

Ashwini Devare’s memoir is a chronicle of her extraordinary life that involved growing up in multiple countries, languages and cultures as she tagged along on her father’s postings across the globe as a member of the Indian Foreign Service. During a time when only extremely wealthy Indians could afford a trip abroad, Ashwini’s story, beginning with her birth in Moscow seems like a fairytale. Yet the difficulties of this peripatetic lifestyle keep mounting as she changes schools, learns new ways of coping and grapples with issues of identity and belonging in exotic places during times of great significance in Indian and world history.Long before the term ‘third culture kids’ was coined, Ashwini learnt to speak languages as diverse as Nepali and French while traversing the globe from pre-Cold War Russia to pre-Olympic South Korea, via USA, Burma, Switzerland and Sikkim.The family anticipates every move with a combination of excitement and dread not knowing if they will spend the next couple of years in a land of plenty or in a land of scarcity. Ashwini dispels the myth of their presumed glamorous jet-setting lifestyle conjured up by the names of all the exotic places that she has lived in by describing the practical difficulties that her family has to encounter. From lack of basic amenities like heating during winter (in Sikkim) to good quality schooling (in Burma), from finding fresh Indian groceries (in Moscow) to hiring a French tutor (in Switzerland).Each new posting brings with it unique experiences, both joyful and miserable. Yet the experiences shape Ashwini and push her towards finding her place in the world while being true to herself. Ashwini’s coming of age adventures play out against exotic backdrops but honestly showcase the universal experience of fitting in, finding yourself and defining your identity in a changing world. Her story is a gentle reminder that while our journeys are unique, we are all heading towards the same goal of understanding ourselves in a world that doesn’t always make sense.Always a Foreigner is an interesting personal chronicle that is also a lesson in history and geography, not just the ones described in books and maps, but the experiences that define the contours of our heart and help define the meaning home.