A Take on Education, Migration, and Immigration...What Connects America to the World and Why

Issue 8: September 1, 2021: Afghanistan, Self-absorption & Events

When I hit "send" to dispatch the August 15 issue of this newsletter, it was early morning on the east coast and I had been up even earlier, stealing some quiet moments to write. And then I turned on the news and learned about Afghanistan. I felt a wave of shame, of being self-centered and overly absorbed by MY writings, MY work, and MY book. How could I have sent out that issue without at least acknowledging what was playing out thousands of miles away, and that too in a land that is a neighbor of my home country?

But, to my surprise, the newsletter issue seemed to have struck a chord. A few friends--also up early--read the newsletter and wrote to say that the issue could not have been more timely as the horrors of India and Pakistan's partition--the theme of my last newsletter--resonated with the latest ruptures and geopolitics of Afghanistan, and the humanitarian crisis and exodus that has followed. My good friend, Amita Gupta,a Professor of Education at the City University of New York (CUNY) and a former international student and Indian-American immigrant like me, wrote to say this: "The story of Partition hits home even harder with this current news cycle .... it is heart-wrenching. Thank you for this reminder and for giving voice to a narrative that was mostly inaudible while I was growing up in India."

So even as I approach this last stretch of marketing and promoting my book--which comes out in less than two weeks!--I am reassured that we all lend our voices to issues in different ways and at different moments. That is what I try and do through my writing and, coincidentally enough, I talk about both Afghanistan and Iran in my book and how international education can help us understand cultures and histories that are often misunderstood and misinterpreted.

I am thrilled to bring the book out into the world in just 13 days and hope that its wider message will help readers engage not just with international student and immigrant issues, but also with understanding how education opens our eyes and minds to the world especially during turbulent times. So with that, allow me share with you all that is planned for the virtual launch week of Sep. 13 - 16. For me it will be a week of celebrating but also remaining centered on things beyond myself.

Rajika

Invitation: Virtual Launch Week for America Calling! Sep. 13-16

I feel very lucky that there are several events planned for the week that the book comes out and that I will get to be in conversation with friends, colleagues, and authors I admire. I hope that you will be able to join at least one event. Each will be slightly different, drawing on the different themes of the book.

Monday, Sep. 13, 7:00-8:00 PM EST/4:00-5:00PM Pacific: Pre-launch event organized by the Irvington Public Library (my local library!) and the Village Bookstore where I will be in conversation with Reyna Grande, best-selling author of A Dream Called Home, and where we will discuss the themes of migration, immigration and education in our books. Our different immigrant journeys--hers as an undocumented student and mine through the pathway of skilled immigration--shed light on the different shades of immigrant America.

Sign-up Here: https://bit.ly/3iNqVii

Pub Day! Tuesday, Sep. 14, 12:00 noon - 1pm EST/9-10am Pacific/9:30 - 10:30 pm IST: Launch event hosted by the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. I will be in conversation with Chronicle of Higher Education reporter, Karin Fischer, followed by a panel discussion on the way forward for international students in the U.S. with: Jorge G. Gonzalez, President of Kalamazoo College; Fanta Aw, Vice President of Campus Life & Inclusive Excellence, American University; Stephanie Kim, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Georgetown University; and Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director of the Presidents' Alliance.

Sign-up Here: https://bit.ly/3j8B8WM

Pub Day! Tuesday, Sep. 14, 2021, 6:45 PM EST/3:45 PM Pacific: Evening launch event hosted by Engage Asia where I will be in conversation with David Janes, Chair of the Board of Engage Asia. We will be discussing my book, international educational exchange, and educational diplomacy especially between the U.S. and Asia. (There will also be a small in-person gathering and book-signing).

Sign-up Here: https://bit.ly/3B4UgLc

Thursday, Sep. 16, 4:00 - 5:00 PM EST/1:00 - 2:00 PM Pacific: Book event organized by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) where I will be in conversation with AAUW Executive Vice President, Gloria Blackwell. AAUW holds a special place in my heart as I was an AAUW International Fellow during my graduate school years and the fellowship made it possible for me to continue my studies in the U.S.

Sign-up Here: https://bit.ly/2XI3q1P