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for Youth With the constant information overload our generation experiences on a daily basis, we feel many kinds of pressures to conform in a variety of ways. Scrolling through Instagram can seem like a complete dissonance of an occurrence. Partying, followed by news of the pandemic, followed by fashion week, followed by war and refugees, followed by cute videos of pets, followed by forest fires, and partying again. The cycle of experiencing a secondary life, whether characterized by fun and joy or trauma and suffering, through the screen feels endless. Pressure to not waste our years of youth and use this time to be carefree contradicts the simultaneous pressure to always be aware, to help, to spread information in times of crises, despite feeling utterly helpless.
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Our generation experiences youth quite differently compared to the previous ones, but perhaps, there is a common ground that can help us ground ourselves? I recently talked with my mom about what youth was like for her in the 80s and 90s, to escape into the nostalgia of the past and disassociate from the present for at least a few minutes. Perhaps this collection of quotes from our conversation can help you escape a bit too. “It felt like we had so much more time in the day. We managed to get so much done: study, work, meet with friends and colleagues, visit the library, buy groceries, catch an evening movie in the cinema, and most importantly read - newspapers, books, magazines, anything - there was always time to read.”
Written by Dameli Mukasheva | Illustrated by Isabella Restrepo | Photographed by Lam Ngoc Do | Designed by Gabi Olenicz
Searching
“Whenever going out to meet friends or even going to work, there was always an anticipation for something grand, something new and unknown to happen. And almost always, something would indeed happen, because we experienced all those moments for the first time…” “I feel nostalgic for that time in the sense that everything seemed purer. The air, the ecology, and the people too. There were less cars, we walked more, and people seemed sincere, perhaps even naive. I miss that. Everything felt transparent.” “My friends and I loved getting together at the park. We sat there and talked: shared life updates, discussed the books we read and the movies we watched. Talked about who had a crush on who. Student years really are the best: you are not little kids, yet you’re not really adults either. Your only responsibility is just yourself.” I believe there’s value in accepting perspectives from somebody older and wiser, so after sharing her memories, my mom offered some advice for young people nowadays. “Enjoy your health. It’s simple, but true. Treasure your health.”
“You have to try to live in such a way so that the people around you smile when they see you. It’s the most simple thing, but it means that what you do and how you live is not in vain.” “Everyday, you should do one small good thing. Over time, these small, kind actions will lead to a snowball effect. You will become stronger on the inside and you will continue to believe in humanity. All these kind small things will return in a boomerang. It is a cliche, but again, it is the truth. Today you smile at someone, and tomorrow someone will offer you a helping hand.” “Always thank each other, and never forget to thank yourself.” Seemingly oversimplified at first, her words remind us that to ground ourselves, we need to take a step back and look at everything from a greater point of view. Our problems start to look small and we remember to take things slow. We can breathe and enjoy these simple times, without feeling guilty or pressured to do more. We can continue being kind to others, learn, and be grateful for one another, and ourselves.
“Always anticipate for wonders to happen, and they will. And when they do, allow yourself to react emotionally, to the best of your ability! When you’re older, perhaps wonders do still happen, but the difference is that you might not be able to react the same.” “Each person who enters your life does so for a reason. Each person you meet is a teacher. Learn what you can from them, whether it’s good skills or characteristics. Be attentive to people, observe, and see the best in them. And if you can’t, remember there’s still always a reason you met them.”
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Design and modeling by Gabi Olenicz
Edited vy Mara Forster
Photographed by Alisa Mahaletska
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Serenity
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designed by Ira Lizenko
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Rekindling with your childhood hobby
There is something fascinating about your childhood self.
Written by Vu Bao Thu Nguyen Illustrated by Isabella Restrepo Photographed by Lam Ngoc Do Designed by Gabi Olenicz
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here you were with little hands and little feet, pigtails and your gummy smiles, easy laughters and even easier tears. Supposedly as a kid, there were things that charmed you to no end. You liked looking at your mom braiding your sister’s hair before class while fighting back the urge to fall asleep again; you liked playing tag with your friends during recess, both your knees and elbows still vividly remember those days; you liked going to the nearby supermarket with mom, and clinging on to her while standing on those scary escalators; and you also liked to read, those books with mom’s signature, date and place written at the front page, mom said it was for memories.
You always look back to your childhood and just admire how you liked things in the past and compare yourself to the person you are now. It’s funny how you could play tag, run around the schoolyard and be genuinely happy, now you flat out refuse to engage in any activities that can accelerate your heartbeats; or how you could spend hours and hours reading, too short to even reach the top of the book shelf, and be completely content, now one book is even hard to read, and 45 minutes of reading is already the biggest achievement. There have been many attempts to regain that part of yourself, because reading seems like too good of a dream to let it go forever. You feel like a tiny little leaf falling from a tree, into a river that flows and carries you on a journey of exploring how to feel, how to love, how to sympathize, how to hate, how to be angry, to stay afloat and to drown, to live in someone’s journey that you turn into your own.
You liked to read, mom also likes to read, you want to like to read again.
“Mom, I want that book for my birthday!” and she will write “For my dear daughter,” on the first page. “Mom, can you buy me a souvenir when you fly home?” and she will bring home a book that clearly can be purchased at the local bookstore, but she gets to write a different city name - “Nha Trang”. “Mom, this book is super cool” and she will tell you that’s her favorite as well.
You wish things could be just as easy as before, but with your current limited attention span that refuses to stay focused for more than 15 minutes, you don’t even stand a chance floating and getting carried away, the leaf can’t even touch the water anymore. But when it can, in an exception that happens once in a blue moon, there it is again, that exhilarating feeling of excitement that charms your heart, that flow of words and sentences that drown you until you can’t breath, that tingling sensation of leftover emotions that follow hours and hours after closing the pages, they are all coming back, just like when you were a child. You signed up for the book club, on a book that you had always been afraid to read. You can also argue that hobbies are supposed to be fun, which you find myself wholeheartedly agreeing with, but who doesn’t like a challenge anyway? Instead of frantically searching for an internal reason, an external motivation is all you need, so pack your stuff, read the book! And it was great, everything, except for your wrong choice of tea that was too bitter during the meetup.
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on have to be done al t n’ es do g in ad re “Oh, so ver been alone.” For you, it has ne
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Goodbye winter, hello spring! Introducing spring traditions around the world
Written by Gwendolyne Cheung Designed by Erkaiym Saparalieva
et it go, let it go, let all the frost and snowstorms go (*cue Idina Menzel’s high note*)! The chilly and gloomy winter months are finally over, which means it is time to welcome the warmer spring days! The arrival of the new season is celebrated in many different ways around the world, and in this events column, we would like to bring you closer to some of these traditions. Let’s explore!
01. Easter The number 1 celebration that comes to mind for most people when they think of spring. This Christian festivity celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Nowadays, Easter is characterised mostly with colourful painted eggs, chocolate in all forms and shapes and bunny-inspired decorations. This spring celebration is celebrated in various ways, but did you know that the White House has been doing an ‘Easter egg roll’ on Easter Monday annually since 1878?
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The egg-rolling competitions are full of garden parties, completed with cookie and egg decorating and strolls along gardens. For the Dutch easter, the ‘paasontbijt’ or ‘paasbrunch’, an extended breakfast or brunch with families and friends is very typical!
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Holi
Another colour-drenched celebration is Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours. Taking place in most of northern India, Holi celebrates the arrival of Spring by applying loads of colours and festive cheer. Both dry colored powder and water colours in the form of water guns and buckets are used, bringing communities together for a vibrant giant party. A truly colourful explosion of joy and happiness!
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Songkran
Speaking of water-inspired festivals, you can’t miss out on Songkran day in Thailand. Part of a three-days long spring celebration, Songkran marks the first day and starts the celebration of the traditional Thai new year off. On this day, Thai people would clean their homes and anticipate the beginning of the water festivities. Moreover, people also go to a Buffhist monastery, as well as visiting the elderly. Children, adults, and basically any age group will take part in the tradition, drenching everyone with water while dancing in the streets.
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Cimburijada
A very remarkable spring celebration would be ‘the festival of scrambled eggs’, better known as Cimburijada. At the crack of dawn on the first day of spring, the citizens of Zenica, Bosnia, gather together in parks and along the river. Then, giant pots of scrambled eggs would be prepared, enough for the entire town to enjoy their breakfast eggs with family and friends.
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Holland's Tulip Festivals
Finishing the list with a great spot to admire fully bloomed flowers and gardens. You don’t have to look far, because the Netherlands is known for its flower events, specifically the remarkable tulip festivals! The options are endless in welcoming the new spring season: you can visit the Keukenhof Gardens, attend the Flower Parade, or go to the famous Dutch tulip fields! These spring celebrations cover only a small portion from all the traditions and customs of cultures all around the globe. When and how the annual spring breeze is welcomed upon, expect excitement, warmth, growth, bonding, and just immense appreciation of the blossoming of life once again.
Nowruz
Though the festival has its roots in Iranian and Zoroastrian traditions, nowruz, derived from no (new) and rouz (day) in Persian, is widely celebrated by many Central Asian communities. Coinciding with the spring equinox, this ‘new day’ stands for new life, beginnings, and the rebirth of nature. This celebration lasts multiple days and often starts with a big clean-up, and ends with people celebrating together with music, dancing, and food.
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