Once upon a time, there was a girl that loved going on long walks in nature. She would bask in its bountiful flora and fauna and jump amongst the lush undergrowth while marveling at nature’s abundance. One day, she stumbles upon a large pond with an even larger lotus flower in it. She sits on the edge and tips her toes into the water.  ~ — Hi lotus flower. I’ve been watching you for a loooong time! I like the way you float on water. It’s so serene and calming. Don’t you ever get bored? I get bored just watching you. Are your eyes underwater? That would make a lot of sense. What gross or s ..read more

The Met launched its Lunar New Year exhibition in early February to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, and this is exactly how you need to start off the new year.  By: Pritheva Zakaria  The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most famous museums in the world, with stunning collections hailing from every continent. Bustling with almost 4,500 visitors daily, people come to see the various arts and cultural objects that the museum has in store.  On February 3rd, the museum introduced its latest exhibit for the Lunar New Year, titled The Year of The Dragon.  Lunar New Year ..read more

Growing up as a South Asian girl in America was never easy; I was always burdened with stereotypes about my academics, food, and family life. Queries about my origins often left me uneasy, as responses like “Boston” or a mention of my parents’ Asian heritage prompted perplexed expressions. The seemingly innocent question, “Where are you from?” stirred a mix of emotions, raising uncertainties about its intent — was it a curiosity about my residence, a suggestion of foreignness based on ethnicity or a genuine interest in my cultural background?  A picture of the sunrise at the Ganga River I ..read more

Zain Javadd Malik, better known as Zayn Malik, is one of the most notable South Asian artists in the 21st century. He is known for being in One Direction, the pop boy band that took over the world in the 2010s. Most members of Gen Z have grown up with One Direction–watching Harry, Niall, Louis, Liam, and Zayn steal the hearts of most preteens. But what we didn’t know when we were 10 and jamming out to “What Makes You Beautiful,” is the dark world of the music industry, one that consists of eating disorders, abnormal sleeping schedules, and physical altercations. One Direction split into multip ..read more

Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Avatar: The Last Airbender is a television show that aired on Nickelodeon between February 2005 and July 2008. The engaging storyline and stellar animation ensured that A:TLA quickly built up a dedicated following, and Netflix’s featuring of the show brought it a new wave of attention.  Apart from setting a high standard for children’s television, A:TLA was unique for the heavy Asian influences on its fantasy world; particularly through the cultural uniquities displayed as the characters journey through the four nations.  Part One: Fire Nation The Fire Nation ..read more

Every year, on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Lunar Calendar is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Celebrated in China and other parts of Asia, the Mid-Autumn Festival–also known as the Mooncake Festival–is celebrated to commemorate the moon at its fullest, and its corresponding harvest time. As a newcomer to New York, and an American born Chinese, I hoped to experience some of the culture of the Asian diaspora here first-hand. The event, called the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival, took place in Manhattan’s Chinatown and was hosted by the Asian American Arts Alliance (AAAA), a group “dedicated to s ..read more

The vampire of the potsticker house has a strange little craving for humans that are built like potstickers. They are full of ridges and bumps and are juicy here but chewy there. However, she very rarely finds a human of this kind. The last time the vampire ate one was 17 years ago. Normally she could keep a human alive for several nights, but potsticker humans tend to be quite delicate. For example, the potsticker human’s blood type does not allow for vinegar or soy sauce to be placed upon its person. The vampire doesn’t mind, though. She likes the natural flavor of the potsticker-human. This ..read more

Adorned in an apron with pink flowers, a short elderly woman was selling pork buns from a cart. She wore a cap on her head, her hair tied into a messy ponytail, and swiftly moved her hands around her cart as she prepared a tin of pork buns for a customer. Her humble cart was tucked away on the street’s edge, attracting locals, tourists, and the occasional passersby—enough to form a line that stretched around the block—, though the distinction did not matter when it came to the lady. From where I stood, I could tell she wasn’t proficient in English. What she lacked in language, she made up for ..read more

Of all the different genres within the wide spectrum of journalism, none are quite as salacious and juicy as the world of celebrity and entertainment. Recently, I got to experience both, by attending the red carpet for Woody Harrelson’s movie premiere Champions. The Champions premiere was my first movie premiere, red carpet, and overall journalistic experience (though, as of writing this piece, I’ve since gone to the Endometriosis Foundation of America’s 11th Annual Blossom Ball and New York City Ballet’s Spring Gala). I spent the week before the premiere frantically researching and writing do ..read more

In Hindu culture there exists a superstition that breaking a mirror brings negative energy followed by the curse of misfortune. I beg to differ. I was raised with certain values. Taught to speak well to my elders, holding kind conversations with every auntie and uncle I passed. I attended Kumon after school, went to violin lessons, took fencing classes, and enrolled in inane clubs and activities to “beef up” my resume at the ripe age of 11. No social media until the age of 14, no inappropriate clothing, no boys, no magazines, no makeup, no phone after 9:00, and the list goes on. But when I tur ..read more