Welcome to Houston 2019

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e t o h o o u s t n w e l c o m e t o h o o u s t n w e l c o m e t o h o o u s t n

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Starting a new year

Welcome to our first edition of the year! I’m Ambarina, and I am the new editor of Cooglife this year and I am so excited to be here. This is our Welcome to Houston edition, a theme that has been the opening for the start of every year in Cooglife publications.

I am not a native Houstonian- I was born and raised in Dallas and I transferred down here just last semester to UH. I had always been on the fence about moving down here, but now as I sit writing this letter, I have to say it was one of the best choices I’ve made in my life. It didn’t take too long for me to start calling Houston home and appreciating all that this city has to offer. Not limited to just the great diversity, lively art and culture, and the best spots for food, Houston has so many wonderful things that makes it a great city. With this edition, I aimed to highlight these

As a new editor, I wanted to diversify and incorporate new content into our editions, and I hope that you enjoy what you see. In all honesty, taking up this position was a little intimidating. But at the same time, I am looking forward to a wonderful year ahead and doing everything I can to give you our best content and the things you as the readers and audience would like to see. You can always reach out to me at cooglife@thedailycougar.com for

any comments, feedback, suggestions, or even just to say hi. I’d love to hear from you and do my best to incorporate your ideas. So if you’re new here or returning, welcome to Houston and welcome back to school! I hope that with this edition you get a peek into some of the little gems of Houston, and learn a new perspective or two about the world. Love,

A M bA rin A H As TA Executive Editor

Ambarina Hasta Fabian Brims Ally Cendana Haaniya Dawoodally, Batool Kazimi, Sajedeh Ahmadi, Zainub Abdullah Ian Everett McKenzie Misiaszek

Bring this Ad & your Student ID for $350 off your first months rent!

Bring this Ad & your Student ID for $350 off your first months rent!

Metro 5514 allows you to live near it all. We feature 1 and 2 bedroom apartment homes conveniently located near the Medical Center, University of Houston and Downtown with easy access to I-45 and the 610 loop. All accessible by Metro rail, which is located directly across the street from our community.

Metro 5514 allows you to live near it all. We feature 1 and 2 bedroom apartment homes conveniently located near the Medical Center, University of Houston and Downtown with easy access to I-45 and the 610 loop. All accessible by Metro rail, which is located directly across the street from our community.

Bring this Ad & your Student ID for $350 off your first months rent!

Bring this Ad & your Student ID for $350 off your first months rent!

For your comfort our features include 9 foot ceilings, bay window dining areas and spacious kitchens. We are also pet friendly however, breed restrictions apply. Please call to schedule a tour today!

Bring this Ad & your Student ID for $350 off your first months rent!

Metro 5514 allows you to live near it all. We feature 1 and 2 bedroom apartment homes conveniently located near the Medical Center, University of Houston and Downtown with easy access to I-45 and the 610 loop. All accessible by Metro rail, which is located directly across the street from our community.

For your comfort our features include 9 foot ceilings, bay window dining areas and spacious kitchens. We are also pet friendly however, breed restrictions apply. Please call to schedule a tour today!

For your comfort our features include 9 foot ceilings, bay window dining areas and spacious kitchens. We are also pet friendly however, breed restrictions apply. Please call to schedule a tour today!

******Come check out our BRAND NEW Business Center!!!******

Metro 5514 allows you to live near it all. We feature 1 and 2 bedroom apartment homes conveniently located near the Medical Center, University of Houston and Downtown with easy access to I-45 and the 610 loop. All accessible by Metro rail, which is located directly across the street from our community.

of all time “Houston, we have a problem!” You all know it; I’m talking about “Apollo 13” from 1995. Right now we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, when Neil Armstrong put a human footprint on the moon. Two missions later, a catastrophe happens and three astronauts are stuck in space; the rest is (film-) history. Houston is Space City, and the newly renovated mission control is definitely something worth seeing with your own eyes, not just in this multi-award-winning masterpiece from Ron Howard, starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Ed Harris. This film has the most Oscars in this list - just saying!

Houston, TX 77201

******Come check out our BRAND NEW Business Center!!!******

Metro 5514 allows you to live near it all! We feature 1 and 2 bedroom apartment homes conveniently located near the Medical Center, University of Houston and Downtown with easy access to I-45 and the 610 loop. All accessible by Metro rail, which is located directly across the street from our community.

OFFICE HOURS

For your comfort our features include 9 foot ceilings, bay window dining areas and spacious kitchens. We are also pet friendly however, breed restrictions apply. Please call to schedule a tour today!

Monday - Friday Saturday Sunday

9 a.m.-6 p.m. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. CLOSED

Monday - Friday Saturday Sunday

metro5514.com 713.497.1232 metro5514@m.knck.io 5514 Griggs Road, Houston, TX 77201

For your comfort our features include 9 foot ceilings, bay window dining areas and spacious kitchens. We are also pet friendly however, breed restrictions apply. Please call to schedule a tour today!

******Come check out our BRAND NEW Business Center!!!******

OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Friday Saturday Sunday

**Come check out our BRAND NEW Business Center!!!**

******Come check out our BRAND NEW Business Center!!!****** OFFICE HOURS metro5514.com

Monday

9 a.m.-6 p.m. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. CLOSED

OFFICE HOURS

Meet Houston... through the movies

Writing by Fabian Brims

Have you just moved to Houston and would like to see more of this city? Did you grow up here and want to indulge in some memories, or find some unknown perspectives? Well, look no further, because here are some of the ultimate films connected to Clutch City–in one way or another.

Starting with one of the best-known film quotes

Hey Millennials! If y’all are interested in the generation that’s between yours and your parents’, check out “Reality Bites” from Ben Stiller. Way before going “full retard” and mesmerizing us with “Blue Steel,” he directed this Generation-X-cultmovie in 1994 starring himself, Wynona Ryder, and Ethan Hawke, who also wrote music for the soundtrack. This movie has a couple of “Hey, that’s Houston!”-scenes, and is also a window into a time that is not that far away, yet feels so distant already. If you’re interested how the world looked like before smart phones, go take a look!

9 a.m.-6 p.m. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. CLOSED

Ethan Hawke also acted in another movie that is linked to Houston; Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood,” one of the best movies from 2014. Filmed from 2001 to 2013 in intervals, the film portrays a young boy growing up into a young adult going off to college, portrayed entirely by Ellar Coltrane. Hawke portrays his father, with Patricia Arquette as the mother. Never ever did someone attempt such a crazy endeavor in film history and also manage to keep it a secret. A lot could have gone wrong shooting a film over the period of 12 years. Just the logistics alone must have been overwhelmingly difficult, let alone creating a story that touches and is coherent too. All together they pulled it off, and that’s the spirit I always felt here in H-Town, which of course also plays a little role here. If you haven’t seen it yet, go check out the ultimate coming-of-age-movie made in Houston!

Staying with independent movies, the early Wes Anderson flick “Rushmore” from 1998 introduced the world to Jason Schwartzman and his co-star, Bill Murray, was since then in every single one of Anderson’s movies. Co-written by Owen Wilson, this was Anderson’s first commercial and critical success and laid the ground stone for a fruitful

The 2017 film “Battle of the Sexes” depicted a legendary tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs that took place in 1973 at the Astrodome

Fabian Brims/Cooglife

career of fantastic movies, both animated and live action. It’s also one of his most personal films, as it features several schools he attended himself. He even shares his protagonist’s fate of being expelled from one of them. Wes Anderson’s style is truly something special, and if you like it, this early work will show you the deeply rooted talent of this Houston-born writer and director.

Have you been to the Minute Maid Park yet to watch the Astros play? Did you know it used to be the Enron Field? Enron?! Well, no worries if you don’t know what I’m talking about. It’s been a few years since this infamous case of massive fraud made the headlines. “Enron – The Smartest Guys in the Room” tells an unbelievable yet sadly true story of a scandal based in corporate greed, criminal energy, and how easy it was. This film made many hit lists in 2005 and put director Alex Gibney on the list of the world’s best documentary filmmakers, and if you watch it, you’ll know why.

Another icon of Houston that’s connected to sports is the legendary Astrodome which some call the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Today its future remains unclear, but back in the days it used

to be a very modern arena and the world’s first multi-purpose domed sports stadium. I picked two movies to represent it, the first one being “Friday Night Lights” from Peter Berg from 2004. Billy Bob Thornton gives an enigmatic performance as the head coach of a Texas high school football team, who overcomes losing his star quarterback in the beginning of the season and deals with the blowback and the high expectations of a small town full of die-hard football fans that expect nothing but the title from the young players. And guess where the final game takes place? Loosely based on real events, this masterpiece of a sports drama also spawned a popular TV show of the same name two years later, without the Astrodome, but with some of the same actors from the movie. Checking out both is mandatory for real Texans and those who want to be, as well as fans of football. The second one is the 2017 film “Battle of the Sexes” with Emma Stone and Steve Carell. It depicts the legendary tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs that took place in 1973 at the Astrodome. In a fight for equal pay and to stand up against gender discrimination, King takes on Riggs’

dare to show once and for all that men and women are equal. Unfortunately, this issue wasn’t settled that night, mostly because she won (it’s not a spoiler if it’s history), but the film gives a good insight under how much pressure an athlete must be under when forced to standup for their beliefs and be bullied for it. Something that is very topical in the light of Colin Kaepernick’s activism today.

Another classic with a tie to Houston is “Independence Day” from Roland Emmerich. This science fiction movie from 1996 cemented former Fresh Prince Will Smith’s status as leading man in Hollywood and started a long series of disaster movies from the director. Who else than the later “Man in Black” would be suited to fight an alien invasion on Mother Earth? What put this movie on the list is the scene where Houston is nuked by the US government with nuclear missiles in a desperate attempt to stand up against the massive suncovering space ships which obliterated our beloved city into dust, but left the ships unscathed. Luckily this is only a movie; let’s hope that if aliens come to visit some day, they’ll join us peacefully for some BBQ and a Shiner!

I’ll end this list of films with two honorable mentions. “Sidekicks” was released in 1992 and features the Bob Ross of Karate and true Texas Ranger Chuck Norris. There are also some great training montages with prime view on the Pennzoil Place and the Bank of America Center, two of Houston’s most iconic skyscrapers. “Robocop”

One of Wes Anderson’s earliest films “Rushmore” was filmed in Houston at his alma mater St. John’s School and other locations throughout the city. Anderson was born in Houston. | Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

from 1987 is one of the most iconic science-fiction movies and is notorious for its violence and gore, but also for brilliantly hand-made special effects. Even though it plays in future-Detroit, a good portion of the film was shot in Houston. Even today you can still book tours to visit the shooting sites. I hope this list helps you to get a little closer to Houston and find a side of it you previously didn’t know about. If anything, it’s a nice walk through over 30 years of film history.

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

“Reality Bites”

takes place in Houston and had a scened filmed on top of the Two Shell Plaza building

College on a Budget How to get through four years of school without always being broke

Writing by Ally Cendana

Let’s admit that living life on a college budget isn’t easy. From filling up your gas tank to book and club fees, the expenses for college life are unlimited but the budget isn’t. We know that just being in college drains your bank account, barely leaving you any money for food and your wants. We wish we could live a healthy lifestyle eating ramen and ordering off the dollar menu at McDonalds, but sadly that’s not the case. In order for us to keep the study grind we need to keep ourselves healthy physically, so here are a couple of places where you

can get healthy food for cheap. Yes, I said healthy foods for cheap!

TRADER JOE’S

One of my favorite grocery stores is Trader Joe’s. It’s like a knock off Whole Foods with organic foods with unbeatable prices. They have lots of healthy options for people who want to stay healthy on a budget such as their delicious organic riced cauliflower ($1.99) and frozen brown rice all ($4.00 for three 10 oz. bags). They are infamous for their frozen mandarin chicken and their ‘Everything

Bagel Seasoning’, which honestly is an amazing seasoning for not only your bagels but proteins as well.

ALDI

Have you seen one of these stores? Its small looks shouldn’t fool you because it is packed with low price off brand items that taste exactly like store brand items but better. They have fresh bread and croissants for about a $1.89 a pack, as well as other items that I’m sure you love.

For all the fashionistas out there, just know that there are places that you can get trendy and unique clothes without breaking the bank. You don’t need to go to the mall and buy clothes at full price when you can go to thrift stores and get the same item and multiple items for less than you expect! You can easily find the brands you love at these stores as well as some cute vintage fashion. Just give it a wash and it will look like it was never used.

GOODWILL

Goodwill can be a hit or miss but the one near UH on Westheimer is the absolute best! At Goodwill it takes a bit of digging but I promise you that another man’s trash is another one’s treasure, and you will find some cute clothes or even household items here. For $5.99 a shirt and $6.99 for jeans, now that’s a steal.

PLATO’S CLOSET

If you want definite named brands, this is the place to go! Plato’s Closet is very selective when it comes to their clothing items since they all look brand new. The prices range depending on the brand, but I would say the range can go from $5-$20. You can find brands like from Forever 21, Zara, and Topshop! They even sell used brand named purses if you feel like treating yourself. Plus, you can resell your clothes there to make a little side cash!

BUFFALO EXCHANGE

Now this is a thrifting gem in Montrose (right across Trader Joe’s by the way)! This place has one of a kind unique items for good prices, it would be any fashionistas heaven! Their items range from well known brands to eccentric vintage items that will catch anyone’s eye. The place is very charitable as well because when you shop there you receive a token rather than a bag, where you can choose to put the token in your selected charity. Each token you put in they give 5 cents to the selected charity, how nice!

Courtesy of Psicopatria via Wikimedia Commons

Houston’s Best: Visiting 13 boba tea places and one day

By Haaniya Dawoodally, Batool Kazimi, Sajedeh Ahmadi and Zainub Abdullah

There’s no such thing as too much bubble tea, am I right? Haaniya Dawoodally and her friends would agree with me. This summer, the group of four went on a boba run to 15 places in a single day! Their goal started out with figuring out which location had the best milk tea, and by the end of it, they had compiled a list with their ratings. The friends gave each rating based on Continues on page 21

CERTIFICATION COURSE

FITNESS

Beyond Houston: A Journey through Lebanon

Writing and photos by Ambarina Hasta

This may be the Welcome to Houston edition, but a huge part of being a Houstonian is our connection to diversity and cultures from around the world. Here at UH, Learning Abroad is always there to promote cross cultural interaction

and studying abroad all over the globe. This summer, I attended an intensive Arabic program at the American University of Beirut, in Lebanon. AUB is one of the top tier accredited universities in the whole region, and the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies summer Arabic

program is the top program recommended even by the Middle Eastern Studies department here at UH. A lot of people had a lot things to say when I chose Lebanon over other programs for Arabic. According to the US government, Lebanon is labeled as a Level 3 country, with areas within the country that were labeled as Level 4. I even had to fill out a proposal and safety checklist to Learning Abroad, and if it wasn’t approved for any reason, I would have not been able to attend this program for credit if I had still chosen to go on my own accord.

In the news and media, all we hear about in regards to the Middle East is the warfare, the underdevelopment, the problems, etc. More often than not, the way these aspects are even covered in media are often negative and misrepresentative. As a Middle Eastern Studies major here at UH, it has really opened my eyes to the socio-politics of the region, which are so much deeper than the surface level portrayal that it has through mainstream media. Furthermore, traveling to these places really shows you that hands on. A goal through my career path is to provide accurate representation for current affairs and misrepresented populations and minorities through the pursual of photojournalism in the Middle East. Beyond all the existing conflict, there is a lot of deep rooted history, culture, religion, and beauty that tends to be forgotten. Alongside better coverage of these conflict related issues, I want to be able to shed light on this cultural component as well.

Misconceptions, Concerns, and Now You Know: An Explanation

1. Th e notion that Lebanon is a conservative country is entirely false. There are night clubs and bars all over Beirut, let alone the rest of the country as well. Women don’t have to wear hijab, and in fact they can dress however they’d like. While of course there are more conservative and religious regions that exist in the nation especially in terms of locations home to mosques and shrines, perhaps there is more modesty, but again it’s not to the same extent that we tend to associate conservatism with.

2. You can get around the country for the most part without having a solid base in Arabic. Enough people speak English well enough to communicate, and if that’s not an option, French works too. I came to Lebanon to learn Arabic and it’s a great

place to learn it, but in most areas and regions, if you don’t know the language, you will still be able to get by. I in fact struggled with practicing and speaking Arabic because of Lebanese were so inclined to speak with us in English and to show that they knew it well and fluently.

3. L ebanon is not entirely a Muslim country even though it’s in the Middle East. There are 18 sects within Lebanon making it a very diverse nation in terms of population. There is quite a bit of Maronite Christian and Druze influence just to name a few. Even within the Muslim population there are multiple sects such as the Shia and Sunnis, and in regions of South Lebanon and the Beqaa, there is quite a bit of heavy Shia influence. In terms of diversity, my time in Lebanon taught me that people here coexist to an extent, yet at the same time, identity plays a major role in political affiliation. Lebanese politics themselves post-Civil War and the assassination of Hariri were founded on pillars of sectarianism due to this identity and

concept of alliances, and since I’m not here writing a dissertation and am just giving an outlook of my trip and some things that I have learned here, I will leave it at that. My point is, while religious and culturally diversity is present in Lebanon, there is a lot of regional and political divide that can be argued is a large hinderance to national unity.

4. Hezbollah is not out to get you, and going to places like South Lebanon and regions of the Beqaa Valley that are pro-Hezbollah are not

necessarily unsafe. I’m not saying to take risks you’re not comfortable with, but I am saying that apart from the US Travel Advisory recommending avoiding borders with Israel and Syria, a lot of other places are just fine. Some of the best spots in the South and East in terms of ruins and nature happen to have populations that are in support of the organization. Hezbollah is labeled as a terrorist organization by the American government, but a lot of that has to do more with their political agenda that involves heavy Iranian influence, anti-Israeli sentiments, and pro-Assad and anti-rebel motives. Essentially, anything and everything America isn’t for. They aren’t wandering around Lebanon and holding terrorist bases and planning attacks. Yes, there happen to be several regions that support Hezbollah and the Amal party (another Shia based political group in Lebanon), as you can see the flags and political iconography all over highways, roads, and billboards and signs. Yet beyond that, there isn’t really a confrontational stance or interaction with the parties. As mentioned before, identity plays a big role in political support, and a lot of these regions hold this affiliation due to their religious population and alliances.

5. C ensorship is not a part of Lebanese media and society. Literally throughout the entire country are walls covered in graffiti and statements and political influences scattered everywhere. It is highly recommended that you don’t speak politics with people you don’t know very well though, for common sense reasons and alongside being a foreigner, it would not be in your benefit to get in awkward situations you could easily have avoided. Lebanese taxi drivers do love to give their hot take on their country’s government, but you’re not obliged to give your own.

6. L ebanon is not at war, and while the nation went through the Civil War from from 19751990, it is no longer in that phase. Any country that goes through a long period of war will take years of recovery and growth, and the country has developed so much since then. There are remnants from the war that exist in terms of reconstruction and society, and quite a bit of political divide that is also still present, but that is still the case for a lot of recovering nations as well.

After spending nearly two months in Lebanon and actually learning about the country myself while being there, I would like to say that there is

so much more beyond the mainstream portrayal of the country. I felt so safe outside of the AUB campus and even outside of Beirut to some of the more underrated and further out cities in the country. While my main goal of being in the country was to learn the Arabic language, I feel like I gained so much more than that. Apart from gaining a very solid foundation into formal Arabic and a good base into spoken dialect for confidence in communicating, I learned so much more about identity, history, and politics from Lebanon. This has really influenced a lot of themes I would like to pursue as research in the future, and I am very grateful I had this opportunity.

Through this photo series, I hope that you can get an insight into my time in Lebanon, and learn something new.

I spent a big majority of my time in Beirut- the big city of Lebanon. Beirut has a mix of everything, but it’s very urban and populated.

AUB was in the region of Hamra, which was historically known as the city of coffee shops and intellectual gatherings and discussions on the world and philosophy pre-Civil War. It was also a center of theatre and film. Today, Hamra is more or less an urban hub. There are a few art museums and cultural centers here to check out, and I did enjoy them quite a bit.

Also in Beirut is the ocean walkway known as the “cornishe” in Arabic. It’s a beautiful view to watch the sunset, and after dark it’s still a lively spot for families and friends to walk around and spend time at.

A major spot in Beirut is Bourj Hammoud, which is the Armenian quarter of the city. Here, there is a lot of heavy Armenian influence in terms of religion, culture, architecture, and living. When Armenians immigrated due to the genocide, they brought pieces of their identity here and this region has become known as little Armenia. Some of the best sweets, spices, and gift shops are here.

Dowtown Beirut has mixed opinions amongst the Lebanese. There is a mix between modernity and Lebanese heritage.Post-civil war rebuilding involved a private company known as Solidere. Yet in terms of this process, they removed a lot of Lebanese and ancient heritage for modernization, and it can be argued that the buildings and housing they created was not created in mind for the average Lebanese; instead for outside investment

and influence. This is a hot topic in Lebanon and it continues to be. Some main sites in downtown are the Mohammad al Amin Mosque, the Martyr’s Square Statue. There are a few remaining preserved ruins and buildings from the civil war era, but a lot of the region has been shifted to a modern scene.

Up in the north is the city of Jounieh. The statue of Mary, known as Our Lady of Lebanon is here and is a major landmark. This is an example of the influence of Maronite Christians.

Also up north is the city of Byblos. The ruins of a castle lie here, and there is a port for boats by the sea. There is a traditional shopping center known as a souk that goes throughout the city.

Further north is the city of Batroun. It’s a smaller area next to the ocean as well. The Phoenician Wall lies here, and there is quite a bit of Christian influence as well. Near the water and the wall is a small church that overlooks the sea, and it’s believed that there were miracles that had taken place here.

Tripoli is one of the northernmost cities of Lebanon. It’s well known for it’s souks and it’s cultural hub and sweets. This was one of the cities with more heavy Sunni influence, and was rather more conservative than a lot of other places we went and visited. Coming to Tripoli felt like a whole other world from Beirut with all the traditional and cultural environments and architecture.

South Lebanon is home to various cities and historical sites. Saida, known as Sidon hold the famous sea castle and within the souks, a traditional shopping center built into the city is a historical palace. Saida has a lot of Sunni Muslim influence.

Near Saidon is the city of Maghdoucheh. There is heavy Maronite Christian influence here. At the top of the statue of Mary and her baby is the view below of the church on one end, and the ocean and city on the other. On the side of the sea are the Palestinian refugee camps.

Further south is the tiny village of Adloun which overlooks the major city of Sur, also known as Tyre. Adloun holds a shrine of a prophet known as Sari. This little shrine is above the ocean and farmlands, and the shrine holds common Shia influence and architecture. Shrines and mosques are a major part Shia influences as the preservation and respect to major religious figures is a big part of the religion.

Tyre is home to UNESCO World Heritage ruins as well as beautiful, clean beaches. There is quite a bit of Shia influence here, and there is also a wonderful Christian neighborhood within this city as well.

Zahle was a small town we passed on our way to Baalbek in the Beqaa valley. One of the major parts of Arab culture and cuisine is hospitality, and the owner of this shop treated all of us to traditional Arabic coffee. It was very strong and it is honestly one of my favorite things I’ve had during these two

months.

Towards the southwest is the palace of Beittedine. This palace was originally built during the Shihab empire, but also became a building important to the Ottomans, and later a French Mandate. Nearby is the city of Deir-al-Qamar. The Chouf region is home to the Lebanese cedar forest as well.

Towards the east is the Beqaa Valley, known for agricultural lands, hills, and old Roman ruins. The Rachaya Alwadi region is a small village-like city that overlooks the fields and the hills. This is close to the mountain range dividing the Syrian border, and it can be seen in the distance. Also in this city is the Rachaya Citadel, which is a castle and fortress. In terms of the Lebanese independence movement, the national leaders were arrested and imprisoned here by the French, and their release on November 22nd marks the Lebanese independence

day.

Also in the Beqaa is the city of Anjar. Here lie the old Ottoman empire ruins, and these happen to be some of the oldest and well preserved ones in the country. Tanayel Lake is a beautiful region with agricultural fields, a beautiful walkway, and Christian influence. By the lake is a statue of Mary, and in this little region is a monastery and church as well.

Baalbek is a major historical site for ruins in the Beqaa. It was known as Helipolis during the Greek and Roman era, and the ruins here are so large and intact, and are very well preserved. Some compare its splendor even to Petra in Jordan. There is also a beautiful underrated Shia shrine and mosque within walking distance in Baalbek as well. This is the resting place of Sayeda Khawla, the daughter of Imam Hussain (the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and a revered saint and leader for Shias), and this site has a lot of rich and beautiful Muslim heritage and history. From the architecture and the inside design, as well as the historical significance, this was truly one of my favorite spots. The tree in this shrine was planted by Imam Zainul Abideen, the son of Imam Hussain and the uncle of Sayeda Khawla to mark her grave spot over 1400 years ago when she died.

As a Shia myself and knowing how undermined my religion and culture is through both academia and media representation, coming a site like this was very refreshing and it made me so happy. There happens to be a trend with the domes and the structures of shrines in terms of Shiite architecture, which I noticed from traveling to places like this in Iraq and seeing other examples like Adloun. Lebanon is a beautiful country with rich cultural, religious, and historical heritage. Beyond the misconceptions and the concerns associated with travel to the region, there is so much to learn and see. I truly appreciated and valued my time abroad.

Continued from page 11

tea flavor, sweetness, the quality and taste of the tapioca, and ice/other. All of these locations are within Houston’s Chinatown- a wonderful cultural hub to visit for great food, culture, and dessert. If you’re a fan of boba and need an expert opinion or need a new place to try out, take a look at this list of recommendations from Haaniya and her friends’ boba run!

Top picks: Tied for 1st

1. Tea Top: Not a fan of ordering on the spot? Tea Top has a variety of flavored teas and they even let you sample!

2. Gong Cha: an international tea chain, so you already know it’s quality! The tapioca here is not too hard or squishy, and the tea flavors are always spot on.

3. Ding Tea: one of the newer bubble tea spots, and it has quite a lot of fans.

4. 7 Leaves

a. “I personally enjoyed 7 Leaves. The environment and customer service is amazing. There are a variety of choices so there’s a drink for everyone. Their menu is different and unique, compared to other places. Their Assam milk tea is my all time favorite. Their house coffee is amazing as well and my friends love their Japanese matcha soy too. I love that it’s open late in case I’m craving tea at night. Definitely recommend 7 Leaves to anyone who’s deciding where to go in Chinatown!” -Haaniya Dawoodally

b. It apparently also has the best tapioca! But the Oolong flavor is further down the list in terms of rating. Everything Else (that’s still pretty good!)

5. Sharetea: another popular tea chain! If milk teas

aren’t your thing, according to Haaniya and friends, the fruit teas from here are the way to go.

6. Boba and Cream: if you’re wanting double the sweets, they’ve got ice cream too!

7. Tea Bar and Organics: apart from tea, they have food too! If you’re looking for a study spot, this place is great.

8. Long Coffee: a pretty unique boba spot- it’s got a drive through!

9. T4- Tea For U: Apart from tea, this spot has Taiwanese street food as well! It’s got a cute ambiance and is a nice place to study or relax.

10. Kungfu Tea: if you’re picky, Kungfu Tea has a myriad of options for you! According to Haaniya, the coffee flavored milk tea is really good, so if you can’t decide on a flavor, we’ve got one for you.

11. ModernTea: the interior of this place is so cute, so if you’re all about the aesthetic and the Instagram feed, you can get some great pictures.

12. TEAholic: lots of options and flavors, and if you’re hungry they have Vietnamese street food.

13. Teawish: Teas are freshly made and the inside is very cute! The membership vs. non-member pricing for drinks is inconvenient though.

Products

CBD Products

- Vapor Liquid

- Tinctures

- Terpines

- Gummys

- Creames & Lotions

JUUL Devices & Pods

- Official JUUL distributor

- Selection of JUUL compatible flavors

Galleria

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Advice: Starting you new college life

What to do to get the mouse of your time in college

Writing by Ian Everett - Photo by Katrina Martinez

Incoming

freshmen often don’t know what to expect from college, despite the litany of advice they’ve received from parents, teachers and well-meaning adults.

Even armed with good intentions and support, the average rate of graduation for students six years after they began their college career is just 57.6 percent, and while that is a majority, it’s not nearly what everyone hopes for. The rate of graduation for the standard fouryear college experience is just 33.3 percent.

Freshmen face a host of issues that exacerbate their

dropout rate, from stress with a new lifestyle to physical health issues like the dreaded Freshman 15 and lack of sleep.

Freshmen can do many things to get ready for college. Being organized, involved and on time always looks and feels good. Exercise is always good for you, whether you’re a student or in the working world. With all that in mind, the Cougar has some tips about how to conquer the first year of college and stay in the game.

Go to class

This should be obvious, but freshmen may be blindsided by how tempting it is to not go to class. Unlike high school, you don’t have truancy officers, teachers or parents making you go to school.

Your fellow students might notice you missing more than a handful of times, but no one has the job of making sure you attend except yourself. Missing classes can hurt your grade, your understanding of the material and can even damage your mental health as stress piles up from the work you’re trying to make up.

The bottom line: attend your classes. Missing one or two in the case of emergency or illness won’t kill you in the long run, but any more than that and you’re risking too much. When you miss out, make sure you contact your professor and fellow students and let them know you’ll need to catch up.

Get some sleep

The Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep a night for young adults aged 18-25, which includes most college students. The Sleep Foundation also has tips for better sleep, like turning off electronics, having a consistent sleep schedule even on weekends and making sure you’ve reduced light and sound in your room.

Lack of good sleep, whether it’s poor quality or not enough hours in bed, can damage your grades. Make sure you’re hitting the hay as hard as you hit the books.

Eat healthy

Avoiding the Freshman 15 can be tough, especially when no one’s making you dinner and you can choose whatever you want on your unlimited meal plan. You might also use your extra cash to buy fast food on campus.

You might know most of the typical advice about not eating too many calories or avoiding trans fats completely and limiting saturated fats. But there are good foods that specifically boost your brain. Enjoying a spinach salad — or steamed spinach if you’re a monster — and getting Omega-3 fats — most commonly found in fish — will help keep you sharp for tests and assignments.

When you go to the dining halls, opt for fish and veggies instead of burgers and fries. Try not to get every meal at the Student Center fast food restaurants.

Balance work and play

“All work and no play,” stop us if you’ve heard that one. As tired as the reference is, it’s good advice. Stress can prevent you from studying well, and burnout is a very real phenomenon that can affect every student.

Don’t be afraid to take breaks. MIT recommends scheduling breaks between classes and throughout the evening. Don’t work at all through these breaks, and make sure you’re being social and involved on campus beyond classes. Despite it feeling overwhelming, dividing your attention among subjects and activities can be a good thing.

The Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, commonly called the Rec Center by students, is a great place to get exercise, play sports and participate in group activities. Working out has often been linked to reducing stress.

Be smart about partying

College is notorious as a time of wild freedom. Parties don’t need to be avoided or feared, but partying responsibly and smart can save you a lot of grief. Drink responsibly, if you’re of age, and practice safe sex. Make sure your wild weekends don’t impact your studies. Know when to say no to a party so you can focus on school work.

Use student resources

UH provides resources for students to support them in all aspects of wellness. Offices like the UH Wellness Center and Counseling and Psychological Services support students through difficulty and general well being.

Take advantage of these resources and you’ll go a long way.

The pressures of social media for artists

Writing by Ambarina Hasta, graphics by Fiona Legesse

The digital age has opened several platforms for artists to share, grow, and expand their content. There has been a major shift from traditional portfolio making and gallery settings to marketing ourselves on places like Instagram. Some can argue that this shift is more accessible and beneficial to artist exposure and sharing, but it creates new pressures and stresses as well. While social media is a very useful tool, as an artist myself, I have felt the hinderances of the digital feed as well.

Instagram is undoubtedly one of the biggest tools for

content creators. From creating a public feed and constantly uploading images and stories and engagement with followers, it’s an amazing way to be able share work and get it noticed into the world. Yet at the same time, comes the constant pressure of consistent posting, follower interactions, and unsaid rule following. For your work to get “out there”, you need hashtags to reach a broader audience and daily posting and popular responses to keep your place in an algorithm you aren’t even entirely in control of. Additionally, even if you don’t have content or are going through phases of artists block or self-

care, you will still need to have something uploaded within a reasonable time frame to make sure you don’t lose engagement from followers. Furthermore, your placement of your feed and the line of the “aesthetic” is an issue that exists as well. Sometimes you can have content that you’re ready to share, but it doesn’t line up with an existing “theme” or “color scheme” in your grid, so you hold off and you wait or you never end up sharing because you don’t want to upset whatever balance you have on this digital portfolio. Likewise, if you choose to break your aesthetic and change it up abruptly, you have a gallery that suddenly becomes less appealing to your audience, and in turn you lose followers and you potentially lose followers you could have gained when people do come across your profile. It’s almost as if you can’t just post when you please or as you like, because to even get noticed and essentially validated, you have to abide by social media standards to please a supporting audience.

Maintaining an online presence is also another struggle that can often be linked to the pressures of art and content creating. Let’s be real, social media isn’t always the healthiest place for us. We spend a lot of time looking at other people’s lives and more often than not we compare them to ours. We monitor our followers and following and get disheartened when our count decreases, and we tend to waste a lot of time endlessly scrolling down our feeds whenever we get a chance. A social media break once in a while is always healthy and I would argue is very necessary from time to time. But is that even an option for artists- where this platform is one of the most accessible and marketable tools for their work? By the working standards of Instagram mentioned above and the need to have a place to display and share content, many would say that a cleanse or removal from social media would be detrimental. Without an online presence, how else do we even share art in this day and age? Furthermore, without posting and constantly maintaining this presence with all the unsaid rules, how can we be successful and have people even notice and support our work? These are only some of the questions and pressures that artists and content creators face when they market

themselves on digital platforms.

I personally have been using Instagram as my main source of art posting, and I branched a bit out to Twitter and occasional Facebook posts. As a photographer and illustrator, Instagram has really fit my needs by having a grid feed to share my digital images and get exposure into the art community, but at the same time I always felt a struggle between balancing photography and digital art posts and maintaining an “aesthetic” feed. I also found it very stressful both when I had a lot of photos to edit and convert, and art ideas to draw out on iPad but absolutely no time in my personal life to work on any of it so I would leave my feed alone and lose engagement. Likewise the same thing happened whenever I was in a creative rut and having artists block. From personal anxieties to this constant pressure, I recently took a social media cleanse for myself and have deactivated my Instagram and Twitter accounts for the time being. A lot of people asked me why I did this and told me I should always have an active page open for my art portfolio, and I think that proves a point to show how dependent we are on the platform of Instagram. While being on social media really motivated and rather forced me to create and upload more content, taking the time away from it has given me the opportunity to catch up on my own personal life and work on my art for myself. I can even upload when I reactivate instead of being bound by these pressures of constantly needing things to post and rule following. By the time I decide

to reactivate, I’ll have enough content to be able to share for weeks on end just by taking this break for myself. I can make my own art at my own pace and I can get back to old photos and ideas that I haven’t touched due to my busy schedule, and by the end of it I will have a lot of things to upload and share. In the case that I decide to go clean and delete my accounts and start fresh, I will have to build myself back up from the beginning. At the end of the day, I believe that I should be making art for myself and for my personal goals and purposes, and not for the sake of a digital feed and online engagement.

Advice and suggestions beyond an Instagram presence:

In my own experience, taking a break from social media doesn’t necessarily mean your art is on pause or you don’t have a portfolio. Here is some advice and things to consider:

- B eyond your social media, you need a website. Instagram may be your social engagement page, but a website is your professional portfolio and should never be replaced.

- B ehance by Adobe is a site that allows for uploading different forms of content and creating an artists profile. Engagement is a factor, but unlike

other forms of media, it isn’t the end all be all, and it’s a very professional setting as well. Sharing your Behance link is very useful and can serve as a website for the time being as well.

- Sharing your art with your friends and family can go a long way. People know people, and personal connections can be of great benefit to you.

- Keep your resume and CV up to date. It’s always important to have your experiences and skills documented.

- Keep a file or folder of your artwork if it’s digital and keep it organized. It will be easy to sort through and find your work when you need it.

- Keep an open mind to opportunities and keep an eye out for competitions, artist submissions, galleries, etc. Networking and potentially getting out there through these means can go a long way in exposure and connections.

- Reach out to art agencies, galleries, companies, etc. They can be a useful resource in helping you get exposure and even showcasing your work. Just don’t sign on anything that can limit your art or makes it the property of a company because even if you’re getting paid a certain amount, your work can be reproduced by them for a lot more and you won’t benefit from that.

10 major student-run organizations help students get involved on campus

Writing by McKenzie Misiaszek, all photos file

When a new student first steps foot on a college campus they are bombarded with different clubs and organizations doing their best to recruit as many students as they can.

With over 500 groups, it is easy to become overwhelmed and may be difficult to find where you fit in. On campus there are 10 fee-funded or University affiliated clubs that are student run, extremely active around campus, and in some instances, paid.

The 10 organizations are housed in the Student Center North and always accepting applications for new members on their get involved pages. The Cougar talked to all 10 student organization leaders about how students can join, what they do and what their goals for the coming year are.

Student Program Board

Many fun events on campus come from the Student Program Board. SPB organizes game nights, karaoke, roller skating and more events and is a great way to get to know people around campus.

“The Student Program Board puts on numerous events throughout the year ranging from late-night cinema showings to our novelty events like Winter Wonder Land, where we bring around 60 tons of snow and put it all across campus,” said SPB Chair Ed Gonzales. “As weird as this sounds, it is one of my favorite events we do.”

For the upcoming year, SPB is hoping to increase attendance and add more events to their roster. If students would like to join and

help they can do so on SPB’s Get Involved page. Students who join SPB can create their own events for others to attend, Gonzales said.

Frontier Fiesta

Every spring semester the University is transformed into a western wonderland called Frontier Fiesta. The three-day event brings games, rides, food, picture opportunities and a headline artist. The entire operation is organized and run by the team of students at Frontier Fiesta. They work for months planning the popular weekend.

It is easy to get involved and those who are looking to join in the next year can contribute to their goal of increasing inclusivity, said Amie Vo, chair of Frontier Fiesta.

“Some of our goals we are working towards accomplishing this year for Fiesta 2020 is to become a more inclusive event by expanding our outreach, increasing cultural activities and partnerships, and engaging with more campus partners,” Vo said.

The event is free to attend for UH students

with their Cougar Cards and they hope to keep it that way, while also adding more events and activities for students to enjoy.

“We hope to make Fiesta 2020 the best one yet,” Vo said. “We hope to see everyone there.”

Homecoming

The week of Homecoming at UH is nothing like your high school’s Homecoming. The entire week leading up to the November football game is filled with events, some of which you may not have heard of before.

Homecoming is especially popular with Greek life, but anyone can join and compete in events like Bed Races, building sculptures out of cans, and Homecoming Court.

Students who want to help create events can apply to become assistant directors for Homecoming by going to the forms tab on their Get Involved page.

“As an Assistant Director, freshmen can be directly involved with planning, marketing and running each of the events during Homecoming Week,” said Anthony Salcido, chair of Homecoming.

Assistant directors work under one of four different categories, including planning the weeks events, marketing, spirit and the Homecoming Court.

The events, including a tailgate and Homecoming concert, will be held from

November 11 through 16. UH will play Memphis that Saturday.

Council for Cultural Activities

UH is one of the most culturally diverse universities in the nation. If students want to dive in to the melting pot that is UH there is no better place to start than the Council for Cultural Activities.

The Council for Cultural Activities is a university sponsored organization that promotes cultural awareness, diversity, and inclusion at the University by hosting and supporting cultural and diversity-related events and registered student organizations on campus.

By joining on their Get Involved page, students can take part in helping organize events like Cultural Explosion, Cultural Taste of Houston, Cultural Marketplace and Carnival of Cultures. If it has the word “culture” in the name, CCA probably played a hand in planning it.

Director of CCA Eduardo Abrams said he hopes this year they can educate more students on what they do and collaborate with more organizations around campus.

“(We hope to) create recognition process for CCA member organizations to highlight positive contributions to cultural and diversityrelated events on campus,” Abrams said.

Metropolitan Volunteer Program

If you are interested in volunteering to help those around the Houston area, MVP is the student organization for you.

The organization is split into four committees: Health and Wellness, Hunger and Homelessness, Children and Education, and Environment and Sustainability. Students can choose different outreach and volunteer opportunities.

“We host events on average 15-16 events a month for all UH students, and it’s completely free to join,” said MVP Director Ruth Akorikin.

Akorikin said their goals this year are to partner with more nonprofit organization in Houston as well as additional student organizations.

The organization is completely free to join and students do not have to attend every event. To join, search for Metropolitan Volunteer Program on Get Involved and you’ll be approved in no more than 48 hours, Akorikin said.

Activities Funding Board

Sometimes student run clubs cannot fund everything they need to fund. That’s where the Activities Funding Board comes in.

The Activities Funding Board is a sub–committee of the Student Fee Advisory Committee, a committee that delegates money to any fee-funded organization on campus.

The organization allows all student run clubs on campus to apply for $3,000 a year.

“AFB is always looking for hearing committee members, who serve as the decision making board for AFB,” said Christopher Caldwell, chair of AFB. “Students who are interested can reach out to the AFB chair at afb@uh.edu or (832) 842-6238.”

Student Government Association

If you want to be a factor in change on campus, one of the best places to start is by becoming involved with our Student Government Association.

Senators write legislation that dictate how many aspects of campus are run. Students

do not have to be voted in as a senator to get involved. Instead, all SGA meetings are open to anyone wanting to attend or even address the senate.

SGA President Allison Lawrence said students can apply to their Emerging Leaders Internship program meant for students new to the organization. Available positions are also on the organization’s Get Involved page.

Dr. Alison Scott Cuillier

Lawrence said she hopes the new administration in the upcoming year can follow through on the promises she made while running.

“(The goals are to) support student workers by increasing the minimum wage, expand the Student Health Center to get third party insurance, and create a pool of funding for sustainability initiatives on campus called the Green Fund,” Lawrence said.

CoogTV

CoogTV allows students to see their faces on screen, learn how to work as part of a video production, or even direct and create shows.

As UH’s student run on-campus television station, CoogTV provides video coverage of news, sports and a creative platform for students interested in creating short films, sketch comedy and documentaries.

“This year our goal is to make content that is relevant to the students of UH while providing a creative space for our members to grow in their video production and leadership skills,” said

Students who are always asking for the aux cord should look at joining Coog Radio. The student-run radio station allows members a chance to share their music taste, or their thoughts, on the air.

“Students can host their own on-air shows, create their own podcasts, record their own music, and cover local happenings for the blog,” said Coog Radio’s Station Director Davis Darusman.

The radio station often has giveaways to local concerts and events, and is available to listen to online 24/7.

“Coog Radio will be hosting meetings and workshops every other week dedicated to developing skills such as DJing, hosting a radio show, and more,” Darusman said.

If interested in Coog Radio, Darusman said apply on their Get Involved page or email him at director@coogradio.com.

The Cougar

The campus newspaper is the oldest student run organization on campus. Whether you are a journalism major or a math major, The Cougar encourages anyone who has a desire to write, to apply.

There are multiple sections that allow students to find their niche. Students can write for sports, opinion and news. If students are interested in life and arts writing they can also apply for the sister publication Cooglife, a monthly magazine.

“Freshmen who want to get better at writing, editing, photography and graphic design will get all the help they need to better themselves at The Cougar,” said Michael Slaten, editor in chief of The Cougar.

CoogTV’s Executive Producer, Derek Dziedzic. Students do not need to have experience before they sign up for the organization on their Get Involved page.

“CoogTV is not a major specific organization, so anyone interested in being a part of video production is welcome to join.”

Coog Radio

Anyone interested in applying for the paper can go to The Cougar’s Get Involved page to fill out an application.

“Everyone here jokes about where their skills were when they joined compared to now,” Slaten said. “It’s a night and day difference when you are practicing and always getting advice to improve yourself.”