By Camila Ottoy
Do White Americans Have Culture?
Sitting in the terminals of SFO, I am reminded of my love for airports. People of all walks of life, backgrounds, and experiences in one building. Some are on their way to start an adventure. Others are on their way back from one.
The majority of the time I am sitting in the airport, it is to go on a trip to visit friends and family in India. Time and time again, my mom says the same phrase: “I can’t wait to go and eat actual Indian food again.” As grateful as I am for the bustling Indian culture in the Bay Area, and the handful of seemingly authentic Indian restaurants that follow, I can’t help but agree. Nothing beats the chaat on the streets of Mumbai, or even the fish fry in Kerala.
It then got me thinking, do people come to the United States for “real” American food?
The Issue Surrounding Teen Nutrition
Surrounded by fast food restaurants, highly processed meals, and deceptive information, all while balancing their turbulent teenage years, high school students can easily deprioritize maintaining a healthy diet.
When college applications and entering the adult world loom on the horizon, does one visit to In N Out really matter in the long run? And for that matter, should teenagers even attempt to adjust their eating habits if they feel content with where they are? Many high school students who do take steps towards improving their diet easily fall into even more unhealthy habits, or run into a cost barrier. The question then stands: Is eating healthy really that practical to achieve, especially for teenagers, in our current society? And if it is, should we even try?
The Silent Epidemic: Child Marriage in the Developing World
Child marriage, a practice that has persisted for centuries, continues to cast a dark shadow over the lives of millions of girls in developing countries. While progress has been made in recent years, this deeply entrenched social issue still plagues our world, with devastating consequences for countless young lives.
Child marriage is a grim reality for too many girls in the developing world. Defined as the marriage of individuals under the age of 18, child marriage robs girls of their childhood, education, and fundamental human rights. While the practice affects both genders, the overwhelming majority of child brides are girls. Poverty, cultural norms, and gender inequality are often cited as drivers behind this disturbing trend.
One of the primary reasons behind child marriage is economic hardship. Families in impoverished regions may see marrying off their daughters at a young age as a means of reducing their financial burden.