Thaindian News

Mumbai, Nov 7 (IANS) The time she and her husband Barack Obama spend with young children is “very special”, US First Lady Michelle Obama said at Mumbai’s St Xavier’s College Sunday and added that she had never dreamt of travelling to countries such as this in her growing up years.

Addressing students gathered from six Mumbai colleges, Michelle Obama stressed on her humble beginnings and the fact that she grew up in Chicago, which is home to one of the largest Indian American communities in the country.

Emphasising the India connection, she added: “Last year, we were proud to host Prime Minister Singh and Mrs Kaur for our very first state dinner.”

“I danced there too,” she added with a smile, referring to her impromptu dances with children on Saturday and Sunday.

“I have been really looking forward to this trip for a long time. The time we spend with young people is very special for me and president…when I was your age I never dreamt of travelling to countries like this.”

“My family didn’t have a lot of money. My parents didn’t go to college,” she said, speaking about her growing up years.

“My parents worked hard… My parents couldn’t give us material things,” she said, adding that they gave them “something more precious”.

These included — strong values, push for excellence in everything we did, taught us to be humble, be grateful.

“They taught us that our circumstances didn’t define us,” the wife of the US’ first African American president said.