From The Peopling of New York City

About ME!

My name is Sudha Haran, but I like to be called Priya. I was born in Chennai, India and I came to NYC in 1996. Although I don’t have the beloved “Indian Accent”, I will admit that I did attend ESL and owe my flawless “American Accent” to Ms. Cimino, my kindergarten teacher. Ever since then I have lived in various places in Queens including Flushing and Bellerose. I went to high school in the Bronx, spent countless weekends in Manhattan, given performances in Staten Island, and currently attend college in Brooklyn. I have covered letter and number in the NYC Subway system including the shuttles. I’d like to say that I am quite NYC-savvy. NYC is one of the most amazing cities in the world and I take great pride in saying that it is my home. I have been able to experience the benefits of a prospering country like America and still have a strong foundation of my original culture. I am a Classical Indian (Carnatic) music vocalist. I have given performances throughout the city and the tri-state area. The best part of NYC is the willingness for the communities to accept the various cultures. Although NYC is not a melting pot, it is indeed the perfect salad bowl.

I live in Queens with my parents and my little sister, Ranjani.

This is an interview with my friend Mariam on how I became a New Yorker.