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Kishwer Vikaas

What I Do

Kishwer Vikaas has been living in and around Philadelphia her entire life. When she's not people-watching in Center City, she blogs for <a href="http://theaerogram.com/">The Aerogram</a> and podcasts at Talkadelphia. In her spare time, she attends Temple Law School. Kishwer will share her South Asian perspective on topics ranging from film to food and politics.

My Background

Kishwer Vikaas has been living in and around Philadelphia her entire life. When she's not people-watching in Center City, she blogs for <a href="http://theaerogram.com/">The Aerogram</a> and podcasts at Talkadelphia. In her spare time, she attends Temple Law School. Kishwer will share her South Asian perspective on topics ranging from film to food and politics. Learn more about Kishwer below. <b>Most people describe you as:</b> A bacon-loving social butterfly. <b>People would be surprised to know that:</b> I used to live on an eight-acre gentleman's farm in South Jersey with a goat, a puppy, three cats and 20 chickens. <b>What is your drink of choice?</b> Dirty martini. <b>Where is your happy place? </b>The Free Library of Philadelphia on 1901 Vine Street. I used to wish I could live there. It presents endless possibilities for escaping the hustle-bustle of the here and now. <b>What is your biggest regret? </b>Self-doubt held me back from attempting many things when I was younger. But now that I'm older, I realize you miss every shot you don't take. So now I try to take all the shots. <b>If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? </b>Impatience is both my best and worst quality. <b>What do you consider your greatest achievement?</b> The opportunity to work closely with young people and teach them resilience. <b>Which trait do you most value in another person?</b> I value passion. Passion is contagious. If you're a person who has a passion for something, anything, you're a person I want to know. Otherwise you're just a bore. And I don't talk to bores. <b>If you could interview anyone, past or present, who would it be?</b> I've always wished I could talk with Cecil B. Moore, a Philadelphia lawyer and passionate civil rights activist who led the charge to integrate Girard College. I feel like he would be a fascinating subject to interview. <b>Favorite Movie? </b>The Philadelphia Story with the three best American actors of all time, Katherine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant. Swoon. <b>What TV show is currently your DVR/On Demand obsession?</b> <i>The Mindy Project.</i> <b>What is your guilty pleasure?</b> When I want to celebrate a personal achievement, I visit the Eyes Gallery on South Street, where they sell gorgeous jewelry from around the world and get a signature piece. My last purchase was a set of smoky quartz drop earrings. Shhh, don't tell anyone! <b>The worst thing anyone said or did to you is: "</b>Your name is too hard for me to pronounce. Can I just call you __________?" Answer: "No." <b>I believe in:</b> The kindness of strangers, especially fellow Philadelphians. We're a warmer bunch than we like to pretend. <b>What is your motto or inspiration?</b> A line from a poem by Andrew Marvell that my younger brother often quoted. "But at my back I always hear Time's wingèd chariot hurrying near." It's a reminder to carpe diem. <b>If you could go back in time where would you go?  </b>If I could go back in time, I would go back to the early 1940s India and meet my grandmother at the age of 16. She died this past year and I miss her warmth and humor. She worked harder than anyone I know - raising six children in Pakistan, teaching school full-time and cooking and cleaning without the benefit of the technologies we have today. She had to leave school at 16 to marry my grandfather. I would love to sit with her in a sunny courtyard in Pakistan with a cup of chai and just gossip.