THEAVERAGE
OUR TIME IS NOW
OUR TIME IS NOW
The industry's rising stars
The industry's rising stars speak up speak up
FROM THE EDITOR
The idea for such a book first popped up in Mr Russell's classes, freshman year. He had the class write creative pieces throughout the year, all reflecting ourselves, and combine them together at the end. As a tribute to this beautiful tradition, I have continued this practice, even after freshman year. Therefore, here I present my creative writing throughout sophomore year. And in proper Mr Russell fashion, this magazine explores experimental design. God willing, I am able to continue making mini Book of Me‘ s for all years of highschool. Hope you enjoy!
Joanna Sam
Editor-in-Chief
By Joanna Sam
THE STORIES OF HISTORY
A BIOGRAPHY OF MRS HISTORY
A dream girl in all meaning. She walks into every class with a warm coffee in one hand, and books in the other. With every step she takes, all eyes in the room follow her. Unaware of the attention, she quietly sits down at her desk, and lays out her accouterments.
History is quite an interesting girl; I’ve never seen someone so pretty, so popular, so awe-striking, yet so oblivious to it all. She’s part of the seniors, and might be the oldest among them; but there’s no impact of her ageeveryone wants her either way. Her deep dark brown eyes will make anyone fall in love, but she need not even make eye contact for lovers. Her hair, her fashion, her perfume, everything has its own fandom of girls and boys alike
Yet her personality overshines all these traits; every struggling student is sure to find help in her. Both teachers and students find delight in her words, words that cover you in honey and drown you in it at the same time. Her words have attracted many admirers, but like queens of ancient times, she rejects them all. Like the moon, she is all this in solitude. Not a single friend does she hold close to her, though many have wished to claim such a position. But like the iridescent shine of the moon, she does all alone. From her walks home with the breeze in her hair, to the study sessions she spends in the 3rd floor of the library, slowly sipping away at a coffee. Perhaps that only adds to her mystery.
Albeit, the thought of her confuses me; History is truly like a museum, the most perfect museum in the world One could just drown in thoughts of her, like I have many a times, sitting by the shores of Lake Yertyi. But her immaculate self makes me question her existence, like a matrix that will suddenly start glitching, and reveal the truth behind it. For can such a divinely perfect girl even exist in this world of ours? Can someone who can only truly be described as ethereal exist?
“Oh Wyther, if only your pondering was nothing more than figurative imagination. But for the question you ask yourself, I have an answer: she doesn’t exist. She is nothing more than your dreams, your dream girl ”
LOST
By Margarita Perez
Photography by Francois Mercer
Oh but life is like the blink of an eye It's a clock ticking away.
I slowly creak the iron gate open.
Everything around me is quiet, except for the sound of my feet on the gravel Wincing as I walk into the house,
“Come give Ammachi a hug!”
“Come give Appachan a hug!”
The sight of my cousins brings joy. The smell of fish fry, and flavourful food fill the air.
IN TRANS LATION
Hearing about my aunt’s cancer and grandma makes the room sober. The sight of packing suitcases indicates time’s already up.
“Take these chips as you go back.”
“Take these sweets as you go back.”
Crying as I leave the house, Everything around me is vibrant and colorful, except for nuances of my sad heart. I slowly open my eyes back to reality; I can’t stay with my family forever.
THE AVERAGE
A MID-TEEN CRISIS
"IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN?"
By Joanna Sam
Every 3 months, we have an argument about this And everytime I’m left feeling more lost. What is my name? Is it historical? Is it authentic?
At first sight everyone’s confused How does an Indian have a white name? But I would rather them think I’m whitewashed Than explain the origin behind it.
For many, their name is their culture, Their tongue, their family, their blood. But for me my name is my culture stripped Stripped of everything but beliefs.
And even this remnant of ‘culture’ (remnant being belief) Isn’t our customs, or our ways of it.
No it’s not like Christmas Fatta or Byzantine architecture But a peculiar model of ‘British’ Christianity.
But then, is that my history?
Is the influence of the British now part of my ‘culture’? After all, aren’t we all influenced by others? Or so I wish to convince myself.
For many were influenced by the British But none replaced everything like we did. But is that incident, that we changed our fashion, our cuisine, Our habits, our festivals, our names, Is that my communal history?
But despite all these arguments and reasons, What hurts the most, when standing in a crowd Of sparkly lehengas and stained hands, Is the isolation I feel when I look at my ‘culture’ as a whole.
Not British ‘ cause we don’t follow those traditions
Not Indian ‘ cause we don’t follow their traditions either Not either. Not none; is that crisis my history? Or is it that I don’t have a history?
Nisha
By Joanna Sam
A HALLOWEEN PIECE ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR MS PENNINGTON’S CLASS
[A LETTER]
To Essie
The aubades of Eurasian wrens welcomed the majestic morning sun, as it shone down on the fairy kingdom of Polemia. Many wrote about this legendary kingdom for centuries, but only a few were able to visit the trouvaille. Water rushed through the narrow rivers that winded through Polemia’s many therapeutic gardens, rejuvenating the orphic flowers and the unicorns that stood at its banks. One was instantly sure to be filled with euphoria upon the sight of these magical unicorns, the popularity of which spread far and wide. Butterflies covered the flowers just like the light rain had the previous night They flew up the hills to the top of the kingdom, until anyone watching the butterflies would find themselves looking at the palace of the King of Polemia, Sven.
King Sven had ruled the kingdom for many years but in recent years, a mysterious illness afflicted him. When the enemy kingdom, Luna, attacked and marauded the place,
it especially took a toll on his health, and he requested to have his daughter, Nisha, take over the throne. As queen, she would have to rebuild the kingdom, support its still reeling citizens, restore the economy, and repair the nation’s broken soul. As someone who had grown up surrounded by the exquisite and illecebrous flora and fauna of Polemia, it was disconcerting to have to rebuild the kingdom in a utilitarian manner Nevertheless, now was not the time to prioritize beauty over practicality
But before she could ascend authority, Sven had to reveal to her a secret he had kept hidden all his life. While she was still a baby, he had gotten into an argument with an elderly evil witch, who, in turn for his hostility, had cursed Nisha. This curse meant she wouldn’t be able to use any of her powers as a royal fairy, and thus, she wouldn’t be able to rule the kingdom. Guilt burdening him, Sven had tried to use his opulence, his character, his role as a patrician, everything, to get rid of the curse and it aggrieved him that nothing worked. He worried for his daughter, because he knew that the task would be arduous.
The task was to find 4 boys from the entire kingdom who were willing to give up everything for the princess, and use all their wealth and time to mold a gold key for her, with which she would be able to open one of two selcouth boxes. The first one offered anything you wished, but the other one offered you the powers to rule a kingdom. Of course, the selfless princess chose the second one, but the journey to find the boys proved painstaking.
Fortunately, before Nisha had even known of the curse, a royal ghost interposed herself in between the witch and the princess, and had taken it upon herself to find the boys. And for years as Nisha grew up, the ghost would roam the lands in search of the boys, and when it finally found all 4, it treasured the list until the time was right. And when it heard of the King’s request, it immediately brought the list to Nisha, and from here, she began her journey to meet the boys. Traversing through forests and gardens with travel accouterments, to reach the boys, when she at last found them, she was marcid and exhausted.
Her alamort condition fueled her desire to convince the boys to create the key, but to her surprise the boys seemed indifferent. They were, interestingly, phlegmatic, and her tristful emotions moved none to pity, yet they agreed. After all she was their princess and queen-to-be. And like so, for the next few months, she became close friends with the boys, as they worked tirelessly day and night to mold the perfect key. But it soon became clear that it was more than 4 boys on a quest to accomplish the desires of a princess, and that there were invisible yet powerful forces that sought to hinder their work. Thunderstorms roared through many nights, and the boys grew increasingly worried about the true spiritual significance of the work they were doing
Perhaps it was the constant struggle around her that reflected in the princess’ changing personality. She grew increasingly choleric and comported herself differently. No longer did she have the propensity to run through the grass with the warmth of the sunlight flowing down her wide spread arms. But the boys bore with her; for if they
as merely the creators could feel the burden of such a curse, surely the princess herself felt much worse. Their modicum of strength had been exhausted as they traveled back to the palace with the finished key, and they were more than ready for the princess to finally open the box and be crowned queen.
As she cracked the safe open, she revealed for the first time the box that held her powers. Its ornate edges shimmered in a glistening gold color, and its walls, painted in a rich blue, held intricate paintings of ancient legends As she dusted off the box, she took out the key from the pockets of her long flowy blue dress. Inserting it into the rusted lock, she clicked the box open. Suddenly, purple flames rose up from the box and wrapped the princess in it. Her dress swirled around her just like flames, and bats appeared from the hems of her dress. The flames climbed up her hands, still firmly holding the key in the lock, revealing her true self.
Her luscious locks of black hair morphed into a dried gray, and her skin wrinkled. Her nails grew stale and her eyes old. Her hands now on the diamond-studded crown, a grin formed on her face as she turned around to the confused crowd watching her and introduced herself. “My name is Adrienne, and I was the queen of Luna. Forget about Nisha, now, you may call ME the Queen of Polemia and Luna.”
Deceitfully bowing down for one last time, she placed the crown on her head, and immediately rays of darkness shot out from her now completely red dress, and the once serene ludic kingdom of Polemia became a dystopian kalopsia.
From the real Nisha
PERSONAL PROJECT
Dear Diary,
Now that I’ve redone the blouse and belt section, I will begin doing my American+Emirati kali. The reason for this is that I had initially decided there would be 2 types of kali, an identity one (what I am/was) - Indian+Emirati and an immigrant one (where I moved to/am a ‘foreigner’)American. But having thought about it, I reconsidered this layout; yes, being Emirati FEELS like it’s a part of my ‘real’ identity, but at the end of the day, my parents were still immigrants to the UAE, and not Arab by blood when I was born. Thus, I’ve decided to include Emirati elements to both identity and immigrant sides. I’ve a feeling that rethinking stuff like this is going to be a common occurrence in this project.
~ Jo, Dec 18
MERLION’S BIG QUESTION MARK
A POSITION PAPER ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR MS PENNINGTON’S CLASS
By Joanna Sam
The Sovereign State of Merlion will conditionally support the legislative measure proposed by the United Federation of Penn. Fossil fuels have greatly contributed to destructive climate change, and as a low-lying island among rising seas, we are one of the many countries at risk because of climate change. However, this issue is not new to Merlion; past actions attempting to fully end fossil fuel usage demonstrate that such legislation is not easy to achieve. Today, the global dependence on fossil fuels for energy is 82%, and therefore, to outlaw fossil fuels in just 10 years is unrealistic in any manner Yet, the Sovereign State of Merlion recognizes the need for climate change, and so, we declare support for the legislation if it is altered to address its current challenges. Our proposed alteration is to extend the timeline of the legislation and change the goal from ending fuel usage to ending negative carbon emissions. Our proposed solutions include planting more trees, reducing energy consumption, researching domestic renewable energy production, importing renewable energy, and participating in global carbon neutrality.
Merlion became an independent country in 1963, having been colonized up to 1958. This history left the country with high unemployment rates, horrible working conditions, a weak economy and military, and a rapidly growing population. At a time when most countries had already been modernized, these issues forced the newly formed government to quickly develop the country, under any condition necessary. Fossil fuels were the best option for rapid industrialization, and excessive use of them sowed the seed for Merlion’s heavy current reliance on fossil fuels. This makes the undoing of fossil fuel dependence an extremely difficult goal to reach within the short span of 10 years. However, if altered to be more adapted to countries like Merlion, we will employ everything possible to fulfill it.
Past action to completely end fossil fuel usage in Merlion has proved fruitless. We lack natural resources of any sort, and have very limited land for easy construction of renewable energy production projects For instance, solar and wind power projects take up large portions of land, and in a 734 sq km island, installing these in mass scale, or in scale with the energy demand, is impossible. Hydropower and geothermal power plants are also very difficult to establish since we do not have the natural resources for it. Nevertheless, if these projects are given more time and combined with the import of green energy, reduction of energy demand throughout the country, and incorporation with the goal to reach neutral carbon emissions, it is more plausible. In order to do this, we propose two ways to alter the legislation, as well as the five major ways we will meet this new altered legislation if it is passed.
1. Switch from Fossil Fuels to Carbon Emissions: Changing the initial goal from getting rid of fossil fuels completely, to balancing carbon emissions, is not only more realistic, it is also better for the environment. Carbon emissions are the issue behind why fossil fuels are so destructive and is what directly fuels climate change. Fossil fuels are one of the many sources of carbon emissions, including deforestation and manufacturing processes; therefore, tackling the issue behind fossil fuels proves better, since it is not only easier to manage, it is also better for the environment. This also helps countries like Merlion that have high carbon emissions but also have natural resources that can help capture or offset these carbon emissions, making it a neutral impact on the environment.
2. Extension of Time: Currently, fossil fuels make up 95% of Merlion’s current energy consumption. With few renewable energy sources that can be domestically produced or fully meet the needs of the growing population of Merlion, it’s impossible to think of reaching 0 fossil fuels by 2035. Even a switch from fossil fuels to carbon emissions will still require more time than just 10 years to fully come into effect. However, if this time is provided, a combination of strategically using the few renewable resources we have, reducing carbon emissions in manufacturing processes throughout the country, balancing negative carbon emissions, and buying green energy from surrounding ASEAN countries will meet the goal of being carbon neutral, and later down the road, of giving up fossil fuels completely. This additional time can vary from country to country as each has its own requirements, but the Sovereign State of Merlion requests for an extension to 2050 to realistically carry out its goals.
If these two changes are passed, these are the tactics Merlion will use to end negative carbon emissions.
1. Planting More Trees: Merlion is not new to tree planting initiatives that aim to restore the country to its pre–industrialization forested state. The OneMillion Tree Initiative is among many that aims to plant trees throughout Merlion as part of the national goal to reach a more sustainable future by 2030. The initiative has already completed over half million trees, in just the first 3 years of its inception, meaning that more initiatives like this in the future are realistic and achievable, and will contribute to the goal of carbon neutrality.
2 Reducing Energy Consumption: A decrease in the consumption of energy in Merlion can be developed through 1) increasing the efficiency of reusing among the public by encouraging more people to reuse and recycle, 2) closing energy and resources loops such as water loops, making sure that nothing gets wasted and that everything gets reused, 3) expanding the public transport network and encouraging more to use it, which won’t be difficult considering 64% of all current transport is taken through public transport, 4) expanding other forms of transport that don’t release carbon emissions, like walking and cycling, which easily weaves with the small, modernized, city-like layout of Merlion, 5) popularizing the use of electric vehicles by introducing tax benefits, and making charging stations more common and accessible, 6) finding ways to reduce the energy used in many industrial processes, like desalination by tapping into solar energy along the coastline, and 7) campaigning for Merlion citizens to use more energy efficient devices, reduce energy demand per household, and adapt to a more sustainable lifestyle.
3. Researching Domestic Renewable Energy Production: Though, as previously stated, solar energy is extremely hard to produce because of its large size in nature, many researchers across the country and the world are innovating new ways to weave solar energy into the energy grid of Merlion These ways include setting up floating solar panel projects across the coastline, and setting up solar panels on the many apartment buildings in Merlion Research can also be prioritized to look into other forms of natural energy or ones that could produce as less carbon emissions as possible.
4. Importing Renewable Energy: Merlion has already made agreements with many countries throughout the ASEAN region and outside that can cooperate with us to provide renewable energy through existing connections. An example of this is the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project which brings in hydropower from Laos, letting us tap into the renewable energy sources in the region. We could continue to create alliances with other countries in the region like Vietnam for wind power, and Indonesia & the Philippines for geothermal power, as well as branch out to further away countries like Australia and Japan for solar power. Such agreements are already in the negotiations and passing this legislation will only further push for more agreements like these.
5. Participating in Global Carbon Neutrality: Lastly, an important part of carbon emissions is international participation, and because of this, we seek to approach carbon neutrality within a global context. Due to its limited space and resources, Merlion can create alliances with countries that can help offset the carbon emissions of Merlion, and in turn, we can provide economic stability and investment opportunities. An example of this is the One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative. First introduced by the UK and India, it takes advantage of the global resource of solar energy that aligns with time differences. Nighttime in Merlion would mean no solar energy production in the country, but this wouldn’t be the case for a country on the other side of the globe. Because of this, there is always constant solar energy, and when used with an international energy grid, countries are able to tap into this source of renewable energy. Though the exact details of this initiative are still being discussed, Merlion is more than willing to contribute to such a project through economic and financial assistance to countries that do supply solar power to this grid, considering Merlion isn’t able to provide as much solar energy.
In conclusion, the Sovereign State of Merlion is willing to accept the legislation if it is altered to be a bit more realistic. We will contribute to the global reduction in carbon emissions by introducing national changes, as well as use the renewable energy sources from the ASEAN region that make up for Merlion’s lack of green energy sources. We will also use our technological and financial resources to support countries that are able to take advantage of their natural resources to reduce global carbon emissions, benefiting them financially (or in other ways if needed) and us in our strive for sustainability. As a city-state with many gaps that have to be filled by other countries, we understand the need for global interdependence and cooperation, and we push for other countries in the Pennington World Council to also cooperate with us in our global push towards carbon neutrality.
Rambles
Rambles
IM BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK.
As promised, the SECOND my personal project exhibition finished and I’m back home, I am BACK TO JOURNALLLININNNN. The way personal project drained me and litr finished me Also the way I’ve been waiting to talk to youuuuuuuuu Like I haven’t even talked to Myla; personal project was THAT bad. As you know, there was help involved in the process but whatever I’m 15 these are the things that come with the first time doing such a project. But oh my. For all the wack that Ms Boiser and Ms Ghosh gave me throughout the course of this project, their reaction was dayummmmmm. Like till today morning, they were MAD at all of us and litr only liked Siang and Lujain. Talking of which, Siang has TAUGHT me the truth of bias and how it works on school level. Like I see now how bad bias is and going from an obliviously once biased student, to a backbencher sorta vibe, I totally understand what bias is and I apologize to everyone else in my elementary classes who had to deal with teachers favoriting me. Also loveeeee the way Lujain admits to this bias like way to gooo Anyways back to what I was saying; my presentation skills were lowkey horrible and I was scared. Because of this reason too, Ms Boiser put me at the end of the order of presentations :((((( cos she wanted all the good ones to go first. But its fine because at the end, she litr pointed at my dress and went I’m so
proud that we have actual products to speak for and she told everyone to come check out my dress in the meantime too. Like okayyy we love the double standards cos yesterday you were mad at me but wtvrrrrr forgiveness I guess. Also thank God and Amma :D but SOOO many people complimented me on the dress and I was actually proud of myself for once. I really didn’t expect anyone to say anything but everyone came up and was like omg its so pretty; like do you know the confidence boost it gave me??? Like everything from the embroidery to the sewing :D to the designing and colors there were compliments. But I’m kinda scared that half of them were fake but wtvrrr Also coming from Eid, I was kinda scared that my dress would look like a candle next to the fancy outfits all the Muslims in the crowd had seen like two days ago.
SPEKAINNNGG of religion, ofc my dad and Siang’s dad started talking about church and being Baptist. We love men of God cmon now. It’s the way I passed by them and they litr went yuppp baptist churchhhh. Like dayum bro. But if you couldn’t tell by now, my product def shone over and made up for the lack of presentational skills I had. On the other hand, people like Mendel didn’t finish his product but his presentation was so TOP NOTCH like dayum bro he gave out samples made jokes talked about the positive side of not getting to finish his product like ltir professional. And ofc my dad had to RAVE about him. He was like omgmgggggg Mendel was soooo professional and that he handled not finishing his product so well.
But I agree, Mendel’s presentation, though probably kept last because he didn’t finish, was like the best and most relaxingly comedic way to end the entire exhibition. TALKING ABoUT THATTTT Ms Boiser switched up so fast but its fine cos if she hadn’t pushed me to the end, the topper’s (Kat, Luj, Siang) presentations would have MOGGED me like thank God I was next to Hatim (not being disrespectful sorry). But because of how much she liked it, Ms Boiser asked if they could keep it at the school but after so much of my nervous dwindling she said fine we’ll keep it just for a week next to the DP Art exhibition like WDYMMMMMMMMM OMG THANK GODDD. Aghhhh that was the cherry on top. All that work and the side eyes she gave me were gone suddenly (which is still double standards but wtvr). At least this shoot is DONEEE WOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Yes and Amen. Now I did promise God that once this exhibition is done, that I will REFOCUS on praying and reading the Bible everyday cos I’ve not been doing that. Soooo adios guys!!!!!! I promise I’ll come here more often now that this is done!
of the 12th of the 12t
From flowers to wings
Petals to butterflies
Fields of freedom
And beauty unknown
Lie waiting in her daydreaming mind
Flying around in freedom is the butterfly
Encaptured in the spring breeze
But its splendid wings and glorious moves
WISHES AND WINGS WISHES AND WINGS
How soon it must be petals at ease
Falling to the field of flowers
It once soared above
And so everything beautiful has a sour
For beauty isn’t beauty
If it could never be missed
Wings of grace
Like the butterfly’s
Flower wishes to have
Petals of beauty
Like the flower’s
Butterfly wishes to have
Yet wishes are just wishes
XPERIMEN REEDOM REEDOM
BEACHES
BEACHES
¿Tú recuerdas cuando nosotras jugábamos en la playa?
¿Cuando la brisa llevó las risitas del verano?
Como al presente nuestras memorias esconden en las conchas
Que nos dejamos en la costa olvidada
Nosotras dijimos que volveríamos
A recoger más conchas de mar bellas
Pero en un abro y cierro de los ojos
Nosotras crecimos…
Crecimos de la playa
Crecimos de la infancia
Dejamos la inocencia por detrás
Dejamos la diversión por detrás
Pero las arenas del tiempo son duras
Ellas nublan las memorias una vez vívida
Como el oleaje de mar
Los recuerdos se resecan
Después de todo, ¿cómo podemos madurar?
¿Sin dejar el pasado?
Dicen que seguir adelante nos transforma,
¿Todo no va y vino?
Pero ¿y si no quiero dejar la nostalgia?
¿Y si no quiero crecer?
¿Y si quiero volver el tiempo atrás?
Tal vez yo volveré, algún día … ¿Vendrás conmigo?
THEAVERAGE
AS IT IS
"IF I
A MOCK PERSONAL ESSAY
DON’T KNOW MYSELF, WHO CAN?"
Isolated islands have made me love city life. Both are lonely, I admit, but one highlights it while the other blurs it. And I've always felt like I'm living on an isolated island I come from a culture that tries to cut itself from the rest of the world, and in the process cuts itself. A strange blend of history, socioeconomic factors and religion brought forth this culture, a culture that felt more white than AngloIndians themselves. South Indian Christian culture. Born from the desire to attain the highest levels of Christian devotion, it dissolved into meaningless practices of abolishing anything and everything that seemed "unChristian." This meant throwing away traditions, customs, histories from the past, leaving me feeling like I threw away everything that mattered. In a flood of sparkly lehengas and the colors of Diwali in the air, I've felt outcast. Like a piece of fabric that just didn't fit into a patchwork tapestry. Like an outsider in the cultures of my own mother country. Like my Indian passport wasn't as authentic as the 2nd-gen Indian immigrants around me. Because we didn't have any of their customs. We didn't have the week-long weddings vibrant with color the world knows India for. We didn't drip ourselves in the intricate gold and sophisticated ornaments the world knows India for. We didn't wear our identity on our hands with the henna the world knows India for. We didn't have the tonguetangling names clothed in history the world knows India for. All these were forsaken because they were too “unChristian.”
And the lack of these stripped me of my one identity, being Indian. Me and my unpierced ears, my plain clothes, and my white Bible-plucked name lost the only identity I knew. And I tried my hardest to be less like myself and more like everyone else. And growing up in a city helped Dubai, the melting pot of peoples from all around the globe, helped me hide. Hide my "weird" Indian self. My inauthentic self. And the bright chaos of city lights did just that. Until I moved to the US.
Immigrating only made it worse- an identity that already felt invisible now was like sand. I was trying
to hold on to it, but the more I grasped, the more it slipped through my fingers. Especially in a country like America, where I as a first-generation immigrant was supposed to be the living walking representation of India, I felt inadequate Until American life brought me a girl from a culture like mine. Another Christian culture from the other side of the globe that also disconnected themselves from everything that seemed "ungodly." And yet she wasn't struggling like I was. She simply accepted the truth that her ancestors decided to see themselves in the light of religion and that it didn't make them any less "authentic." It was simply another page in the books of history.
Her plain clothes and white name gave me comfortwhere I sought to find a place among jingling bangles, I found it in the opposite. Almost like how snow is cold, yet it warms the heart. When I sought to find solace by blurring myself, I found it in embracing myself. Knowing that my kind of Indian, was simply a fun fact in the history books Not something weird and out of place, but something that made it unique.
Out of the life that undid all my efforts of hiding myself, like a blessing from a curse, from the escaping shadows that I used to hide myself with, came a sparkle that taught me to accept things as they are. Maybe the fact that we cut ourselves from everyone else was my history. Maybe our interpretations or misinterpretations of religion were my culture. Maybe this was my identity. And that was okay. It stood out from everyone else. It was different. It was odd-fitting. Like an out-of-place fabric in a patchwork tapestry. But after all, isn't that the point of a patchwork? To join together different artworks to create a masterpiece?
For what is culture if not something that we question daily? What is culture if not something we grapple with every single day, fighting to try and see what place it holds for ourselves? What is culture if it doesn't overtake us, forcing us to surrender, defeating all we perceived it to be? What is culture if it doesn't force us to embrace it as it is?
I M P R
Remember, you don’t have to try so har
Surviving itself is already impressive enough
