⭐️五月是美國亞太裔傳統月！美國亞太裔外交官在美國國務院扮演重要的角色，在AIT的運作上更是如此！在整個五月份，我們將為各位介紹AIT亞太裔官員的重要貢獻。今天要和大家介紹的是AIT經濟組副組長邵靄帝(Arati Shroff)的故事。
✨印度裔美國人是美國第二大亞裔族群，長久以來為美國開闢新的傳統和發展途徑。我父母是在印度獨立運動時期出生於印度，隨後於1970年代移民美國，攻讀更高的學位並尋找嶄新的機會。父母在美國拉拔我們長大時，就常常灌輸我們seva的觀念 (梵語中的無私的服務)，提醒我們時時幫助需要幫助的人，並為我們周遭的社群做出貢獻。
除了在美國慶祝印度新年排燈節 (Diwali) 及荷麗節 (Holi) 之外，我們也懷著seva的精神，在美國傳統節慶感恩節及聖誕節時，在當地遊民收容所、糧食補助庇護所及養老院擔任志工，希望能為沒有家人朋友在身邊的人們帶來溫暖。這份seva及服務他人的精神深深影響著我，這也是我隨後加入美國國務院並派駐海外擔任外交官的原因之一。
這幀照片攝於華府美國國務院的班傑明富蘭克林外交禮賓室，13年前我的家人一起來參加我的外交官宣誓就職典禮。我很高興有愈來愈多亞裔美國人加入公共服務的行列，代表並維護美國的民主理想和價值。現任美國副總統賀錦麗即是一位開路先鋒，讓其他亞裔美國人能跟隨她的腳步向前邁進。— AIT經濟組副組長邵靄帝(照片右二)
⭐️It’s Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! AAPI diplomats are a vital part of the State Department, and especially our AIT operation! All month, we look forward to featuring the important contributions of our AAPI colleagues. Today we are sharing AIT Economic Deputy Chief Arati Shroff’s story with you.
✨Indian Americans are the second largest group of Asian Americans in the United States and have a rich history of forging new paths and traditions in America. My parents were born in India during the time of India’s independence movement and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s to pursue higher education and new opportunities. As they raised my siblings and me in America, my parents also instilled in us a sense of “seva,” (or “selfless service” in Sanskrit) to remind us to always help others in need and build and contribute to communities around us.
Alongside celebrating Indian holidays of Diwali and Holi in America, we also embraced the spirit of “seva” and volunteerism during traditional American celebrations of Thanksgiving and Christmas by volunteering at local homeless and food shelters and retirement homes to cheer up those missing their own families and loved ones. This sense of “seva” and service to others left a deep impression on me and is one of the reasons why I joined the U.S. Foreign Service to become a diplomat overseas.
This photo of my family is from my official swearing-in ceremony at the State Department’s Benjamin Franklin reception room in Washington, DC thirteen years ago. I am excited that Asian Americans are increasingly joining careers in public service to represent and preserve American democratic ideals and values. Current U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has certainly blazed a trail for others Asian Americans to follow. — AIT Economic Deputy Chief Arati Shroff (the second one from the right-hand side)
