January 2024

In the vast Idaho desert, children go to school beside rattlesnakes and sagebrush lizards. Their school buildings, like their homes, are bare, makeshift buildings made with pine wood and covered with tar paper. Dry, relentless winds blow stifling dust through cracks in wooden walls. Even with the vastness of this barren desert environment, barbed wire …

Confronting History: Building Wind Turbines Near Minidoka Internment Camp Read More »

The fashion industry has been long criticized for its lack of diversity and narrow representation of beauty. Yet, in recent years, prominent changes have been observed, especially with the emergence of Asian designers and models. This variation is reshaping beauty standards and has led the industry to be more inclusive.  It is argued that the …

Redefining Beauty Standards: Asians in the Industry Read More »

On October 18, 2023, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham USA, officially named the largest Hindu temple in the United States and the second-largest Hindu temple in the world, opened to the public. The extensive temple located in Robbinsville, NJ spans over 185 acres and took over 12 years and 12,500 volunteers to build. It consists of 7 …

Akshardham: A Journey Through the History of Hinduism Read More »

A walk in the woods Makes my heart glide Seeing nature One step at a time I have nothing to do And it’s a clear sunny day I let my thoughts wander And I let myself stray The birds chirp their lovely tune The butterflies resting on the leaves The flowers are blooming And buzzing …

A Walk in the Woods Read More »

Growing up, I felt uncomfortable with how little I connected to my racial identity. I cannot speak Mandarin or Burmese; I do not have first-generation immigrant parents. I am thoroughly Westernized.  This was particularly concerning to me when I first began writing for a literary magazine that dedicated itself to the “Asian American experience.” I …

Rolling My Eyes in H Mart Read More »