Masala Masala ThePerfectBlendofPunjabiSpicewithAmericanSeasoning

Masala

A blend of spices that are essential to add life and flavor to food. Masala is what allows unique aromas to dance and spin, cultivating the taste of life. Growing up, I always considered myself similar to the meaning of masala. My Punjabi culture cultivated my upbringing at home, but American society cultivated my education at school. I chose Punjabi spices and mixed it with American seasoning to create my metaphorical masala of culture and ethics. My morals, values, and understanding of the world were a combination of the two cultures I’ve been exposed to.

Every spice brings a new richness to the flavor and as I lived and learned among my surroundings, I added on new spices to enrich my knowledge of society and dynamics. From playing in the streets of a bustling diverse city in California to playing by myself in a small Floridian suburb, each new experience added a flavor.

Elaichi

(Cardamom-aspicethatremindsmeofawarm houseonacoldwindyday;safe,secureandfilledwith love.)

Warmth is what I felt in California. Apart from the sunshine of San Francisco I remember the tenderness and affection of the bustling city. Hugs from countless relatives, laughter floating from one room to another in the house we shared, and the feeling of contentment. Strangers at parks became best friends in seconds, playing mermaids and pretending to rule the playground. Gymnastics, ice skating, taekwondo, and barbies predominated my time.

I fondly recollect the warmth of coming home as a feeling of comfort and a sense of belonging. Every day was filled with warmth and sweetness reminding me of the aromatics in elaichi. Filled with diversity and acceptance, California allowed me to thrive in a shared space where I could be proud of my culture and share it with classmates, neighbors and friends. Friends awed at my homemade lunches and we shared a collective respect for everyone’s ethnic food. California sprinkled elaichi in my masala and became the base of my cultural roots.

MIX

Haldi (Tumeric- aspicethatremindsmeofanewadventure;somethingdifferent,ambiguous,andnerve wracking)

New eras and new beginnings. Suburban life was much quieter, much softer than the bustle of the city, and so I inadvertently began to reflect on my surroundings. Quietly and shyly I made friends with my new neighbors and schoolmates. I learned to be more self reliant and channeled my energy into new fortakings. Painting, writing, and music became my softer approaches to spending time. Moving to Florida brought a new self awareness. I went from living in a diverse community to feeling ostracized for being the only person of color in my class. Subconsciously I was always aware of how many other people of color were at my school.

It was in this time of critical growth that I adapted to American culture the most. I didn’t have any friends who shared similar home dynamics or cultures. I felt out of place, too different, too weird to be fully integrated into this society. Too Indian for one group, too American for another group. It was difficult to find happiness in between. Finding a balance and creating a dish in a kitchen that was not prepared for me proved to be more difficult than expected. I had to tailor my “seasonings” to fit the taste palette of the masses. It wasn’t until I was in college, when I fully began to embrace my roots and integrate the plethora of Punjabi spices in my own masala.

Nimrit’s masala

(AblendofexperiencesthathasmademethepersonIamtoday;strong,independent,andembracingallpartsofme)

by Nimrit Doad art and design/Nimrit Doad

MIX

Jeera (Cumin-aspicethatremindsmeofahome;aplace whereIcancomfortablegrow,learn,andthrive)

Exposing myself to the community that surrounds me, empowers me, and pushes me to embrace the beauty of both cultures. Immersing myself in the flavors of my heritage and embracing the lessons it has taught me. I no longer felt obligated to choose between my roots and the society I was brought up in. I felt worthy of my masala and took gratitude in its reappearance. I became proud of my culture, proud of my upbringing and proud of myself for undertaking the challenge to make a space in the kitchen we call society. My masala is inherently unique to my inner struggles of a societal sense of belonging, making it all the more precious to me. Through the years of careful crafting, I’ve blended each spice with grace and passion, weaving new lessons into every batch. Even if fate grants me a million lives, I would still dedicate each one to creating my masala.

Togetherness. A simple word whose meaning lies intertwined in layers. A mixture of who I was and who I am today. Meeting new people in college drastically altered my perspective. I now was in an environment that treated multiple cultures as not being two separate dishes, but now as a combined fusion cuisine. I met so many people who were just like me and I was able to create this space of conversation over our similar experiences. College created an environment where I was able to collaborate and gain confidence in myself to embrace all aspects of my upbringing. It was in this environment where I envied those that had a sense of pride in both their ethnic culture and the American culture. While I had always hid a part of me to “fit in”, my new environment taught me to break the mold. This new sense of belonging, a sense of “home” is where I thrive. Surrounded by like minded people exploring their own masalas and learning to craft a flavor to enrichen their lives, regardless of what anyone says.

written by Dzung Nguyen