I grew up in a household full of books — my Mum encouraged all five of us to be prolific readers. One of her biggest gifts to us was the whole collection of Encyclopedia Brittanica. I learned so much from them — I devoured each page insatiable in my lust for knowledge and more knowledge. While most of my schoolmates thought that Asia and Africa were poor decrepit places, I knew they were rich in culture and history, budding economic tigers and lions. For hours, I would travel to those countries in my mind. I would conjure up stories of these faraway lands and places. I loved these stories, but my Englis…