By Ann Marie Shambaugh
ashambaugh@neighborsgo.com

Homa Sabet Tavangar – author of Growing Up Global: Raising Children to be At Home in the World – spent a day at Boals encouraging students and parents to embrace other cultures as technological advances continue to ease communication between countries.

The Iranian-born speaker has lived in four continents and speaks six languages, but she told students that they can experience the world without leaving Frisco by visiting international restaurants, watching movies in other languages and buying new foods to try at the grocery store.

 “We live in a time where the world has come together, and we cannot turn back the clock,” Tavangar said. “We are a global society, so these kids are very excited about it, and I see that same reaction all over the country.”

More hands shot up with questions for Tavangar than the author had time to answer at the Boals assemblies, with inquisitive young minds wanting to know everything from what bugs the author has eaten to where she planned to travel next.

Tavangar said children are naturally more open to embracing other cultures because of their innate curiosity and familiarity with technology.

“I learned it’s really cool to go around the world and discover new things,” Addae said after the presentation. She has already visited Ghana and Dubai.

Fifth-grader Abhishek Dayal has traveled to Dubai, India and Egypt, but after hearing Tavangar’s presentation he said he was inspired to reach out to others in new ways.

“I learned that if you do stuff for other people, you can have a big impact on the world,” Dayal said.

Tavangar, who resides near Philadelphia, Penn., said she wrote Growing Up Global to serve as a tool for capturing the energy of children to learn about other cultures. She now travels the country sharing her message with people of all ages.

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Ann Marie Shambaugh is the Frisco/Little Elm neighborsgo editor and can be reached at 469-330-5689.