UAAO Zine Ed. 6 — Food Sovereignty

INTRODUCTION

Withthiszine,wehopetoshowcasehowfood—integraltobiology andculture unitesanddiversifiesourcommunities.Apartfrombeing agustatoryexperience,thedishesweconsumeholdcultural,religious, andemotionalmemories.Asanorganization,UAAOfocusesonboth communitybuildingandradicalorganizing.Weespeciallywantto recognizethepoweroffoodintheseareasandmore.Foodsovereignty canbedefinedasthegrassrootsmovementthatadvocatesfortheright toaffordable,culturallyappropriateandnutritiousfood;weplanto featurehistoriesoffoodjusticeandsovereigntyinourown communitiesandbeyondinanyform.Smalljoys,restandcelebration (allofwhichcanbefoundinfood)arenon-negotiabletothevitalityof bothindividualsandcommunities,especiallyinthefaceofoppression. So,too,isexpression,bothjoyfulandsolemn:weinviteyoutojoinour spacestoorganizewithus,andespeciallytoengagewithourzine.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHAT IS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY?

Insimplewords,foodsovereigntyisyourfreedomtochooseyourfood.AsUSFood SovereigntyAllianceexpresses,itis"yourrighttohealthyandculturallyappropriatefood producedthroughecologicallysoundandsustainablemethods-yourrighttodefineyourfood andyouragriculturesystems"(FoodSovereignty|USFSA).Foodsovereigntyvoicesyou-asa consumer,aproducer,oradistributor-whenyourneedsareimpactlessagainstprofitchartsand competitivemarkets.

Italsobuildsontheconceptoffoodsecurity.Beyondtherighttohealthyandnutritiousfood, Foodsovereigntyisfindingyourplaceinthefoodsystem.Itistakingagencyoverthebroader narrativeoffood'sjourneyfromfarmstoyourplate.Inafoodsovereignworld,ourfood producersandconsumerscometogethertoworklocallyandreclaimtheirpowerinthefood industry.Itdoesthatthroughemphasizingconnectioninthesixpillarsoffoodsovereignty:

Foodsovereigntyoffersyoutherighttodesignanindustrythatincorporatesallthesevalues.An industrythatfocusesonyourfamily'shealth,respectslocallandrights,andreducesthe agriculturalimpactonecosystems.

HISTORICAL ROLE

ThehistoricroleofAsianAmericansinfoodsystemsbeganintheearly20thcenturywhenthe UnitedStateswashitwithaninfluxofimmigrants.Anumberoftheseimmigrantswerefrom AsiaandbroughttheiragriculturaltraditionsandpracticeswiththemtotheUnitedStates.

AmajorityofearlyChineseimmigrantsfromthePearlRiverDeltaRegioncontributedadepth ofagriculturalknowledgeincroprotation,irrigation,andfertilization.Japanese-Americans contributedtoPacificCoastagriculture,andby1940,over50%ofJapaneseworkerscontributed to40%ofCalifornia’sspecialtyproduce.Closeto5,000menfromPunjab,Indiaimmigratedto AmericainsearchofbetterandcontributedgenerationsoffarmingexperienceinIndiatothe UnitedStates.

Unfortunately,theagentsofthesecontributionstofoodsystemsdidnotgounnoticedbythe sharpwaveofimmigrationlegislationpassedshortlyaftertheseimmigrants’arrival.Afterthe ChineseExclusionActof1882,theinvolvementofChineseimmigrantsinfoodsystemsseverely declinedbecausetheactexcludedChinesepeopleintheindustry,limitingemployment opportunities.Anotherlawprohibitedimmigrantsfromowningorleasingland,deeming immigrantsas“aliens”until1952,whenthislawwasdeclaredunconstitutional.

ThesedisruptionsbringtheworldtothecurrentimpactofAsianAmericansinfoodsystemsand betteryet,theimpactofAsianAmericansinfoodsystems.Thecommunitystillfacesxenophobia anddiscriminationwithinfoodsystems.Forone,theproductMSGisconsidereda“dangerous” foodadditivewheninreality,thatpresumptionisarace-basedclassificationoftheadditive.The “modelminority”mythhasbroughtthegeneralpublictobelievethatAsianAmericanscannot beaffectedbyfoodinsecuritiesandissuesinfoodsystems,leadingtounderrepresentationin foodsystemresearchstudies.Asof2018,noresearchonfoodsystemsontheburdenoffood insecurityamongAsianAmericancommunitiesexists.

CURRENT FOOD SYSTEMS

AnnArborhasmanysourcesoflocalproduceandfoodresourcesthatareutilizedtonourishitsresidents Overarchingamajorityofthecampus-runinitiativesistheU-MSustainableFoodProgram(UMSFP),a PlanetBlue-focusedorganizationworksalongsideseveralfoodandsocialjusticegroupstoensurethe longevityofaccessiblefoodsystems.SomeoftheinitiativesunderUMSFPincludetheCampusFarm,the FarmStand,theMaizeandBlueCupboard,andtheSustainableFoodSystemsInitiative.

LocatedonMatthaeis-BotanicalGardens,theCampusFarmisanUMSFPinitiativetogetstudents involvedintheproductionanddistributionoflocalproducetoUniversitycommunitythrough education,learningandengagement.TheCampusFarmprimarilysellstheirproducetoM-Diningtouse fordininghallfoodandpre-packagedstoremeals.In2020,theCampusFarmsoldtheirproduceto16 UniversityofMichigandininglocationsandmadeaprofitof$122,825fromtheirsalesin2019.Thefarm alsohostsplantsalestojumpstartproducegardensforstudents,staffandAnnArborresidents.

TheMaizeandBlueCupboardisafoodpantryaccessibleforstudentstoreceivefreefoodandother essentialitems.LocatedinthebasementofBetsyBarberResidenceHall,thecupboardcontainscanned food,frozenfoods,produce,kitchenware,householditemsandpersonalitemsIn2019,theCampusFarm starteddonatingtheirproducetothecupboardandhasgiventhemover1830poundsoffreshproducein 2020Recently,thecupboardhasexpandedtoincludeamobilelocationforNorthCampusresidents

TheFarmStandisanotherinitiativethatallowsstudents,facultyandanyoneonCentralCampusthe convenienceandaccessibilitytopurchasefreshproducefromtheCampusFarm.Runningduringthe farmingseasononThursdays,theFarmStandsetsupshoptoselllocallysourcedfor3-4hoursevery week.TheFarmStandalsoaimstoraiseawarenessofthecampusfarmstudentsbysellingspecially designedtotebagsandhostingfun,educationalactivitie.In2021,over80%oftheircustomerswereU-M studentsandover2000membersoftheUniversitycommunityengagedintheeducationalprogramming offeredatthestand.AllproceedsfromtheFarmStandgotowardsfoodjusticegrantsattheUniversityof Michigan.

TheSustainableFoodSystemsInitiativeisaUMSFPprogramthatworkstoincludesstudents,staffand facultytoeducateandcreatehealthy-foodsystemsfortheUniversitycommunity.Overseenbyaadvisory committee,thisinitiativeaimstochallengeexistingfoodsystemsusingacademicengagementasa foundationtoredefiningsustainablemethodsofgrowingfood

Attractingvendorsfromalloverthestate,theAnnArborFarmer’sMarketisastapleforbuyingand sellinglocallysourcedfoodAlthoughseparatefromtheUniversity,theFarmersMarketisanall-time favoritetostudents,staffandtheAnnArborcommunityalike.Openyear-round,theFarmer’sMarketis availabletoeveryoneandanyonewhocanmakeittothehistoricKerrytownlocation.EveryWednesday andSaturdayfrom7am-3pm,thereareanumberofvendorssellingfreshfruitsandvegetables,baked goods,jewelry,plantsandmuchmore.ItslocationnearSweetwatersandZingermann’smakethiseventa greatplacetospendyourSaturdaymorningwithfriendsandfamily.

You Are Invited to Nainai’s Death 8-Year Anniversary Celebration!

Date: 15/07/2015

Location: Burning Ground

Bring paper money and good food!

By Gina Liu

Growingup,Iquicklydevelopeda penchantforparty-planning.I’mnot exactlysurewheremyaspirationsof planningandorganizingeventscomefrom. Itmightbebecause,likemanyothers,Iseek validationfromothershavingfuninmy presence.OrgivenIgrewupasChinese AmericaninAnnArbor,MI.,blockparties withmypredominantlyimmigrant neighborsandChineseBiblestudieswere myrefugefromwhite-dominated formalities.Asayoungadultnow,oneof myfavoriteactivitiesistoplanoutdetailed itinerariesofanightoutorhostmyown function.Theabilitytohavesomethingyou createdbediscussedatanotherparty(thatis notasgoodasyours)seemstoalways prevailovertheanxietyofwhetherornot peoplewilllikeyouandwhatyou’ve created.Itbecomesacycleofneedingto validateifpeoplewillliketheparty,the activities,andmostimportantly,me.ButI dorememberthefirsttruly,really, remarkablecelebrationIattended,andI thinkithasshapedwhyIplanpartiestoday. Itwasthe8yearanniversaryofmypaternal grandma,ormyNainai,passing.

Itwastheendofthefirstweekofmystay inmyfather’shometowninnorthern-ish China.Ialwaysdisparaginglycallwheremy

parentsarefrom“theboringpartofChina.If youknowthatinBeijingtheyarefamousfor Pekingduck,andinSichuantheyarefamous fornumbing-spicefood,Icantellyouthatin Langfa,thefoodissaltybutnotdistinctively so.Thebuildingsaretall,butit’sno Shanghai.Thelanguageiscloselyaligned with“putonghua,”orwhatisanon-regional accent.

Iwokeupinthemorningtoablurof brushingmyteeth,runningdownstairsto mycousin'sapartment,andintosomeone’s car.Wewentshoppinginlocalboutiques withscrapedupmannequins,andranerrands atthepharmacybeforefindingalunchspot. Atthisparticularside-of-the-roadjoint, therewereplasticstoolsandtablesmy cousinsandIsatat.Mycousin’sdaughter, Gege,knewthatmyMandarinwasweak,so sheorderedlunchforme.

“Lianggèdòufunao.”

I’mprettyecstaticbecausethisisfoodI canunderstand–twosaltysoups.Withina minute,twostonebowlswrappedinplastic appearedatthemetalcartinfrontofus.I sippedmysoupandsatinsilencewith Gege.Sheismycousin’sdaughter,butshe issomehowonlyoneyearmyjunior.Isay “somehow,”butinrealityit’snotmuchofa mystery.Myparentsareboththeyoungest oftheirfamilies,andI’mtheirsecondchild whowasbornverylateintotheircareers. SobythetimeIwasborn,myparentshad alreadybeenlivingintheUnitedStatesfor 5orsoyears.Fiveyearswithoutanytrace ofextendedfamilyinthesamecountry.

AndwhileI’vebeenabletogobackto Chinaandmeetmyfamilymembers periodically,wealwaysseemtoavoidthe dreaded“dad’ssideofthefamily.”Ihave alwaysknownverylittleaboutmyfather’s sideofthefamily.Whilemyother childhoodChineseAmericanfriendsgrew upexasperatedabouthowtheyhada never-endinglistofrelativetitlesto rememberwhenvisitingorevenQQ-ing (anoldformoftransnationalSkype)their families,onesideofmyfamilyhadalready beenlargelyeliminatedfrommyvisits.It wasananomalytovisitthem,thoughIwas neversurewhy.Itwasn’tlikemymother’s sideofthefamilywassqueakycleanor significantlymorewelloff,thoughI noticedthatthereweresimplyless membersofmymother’sfamily,asmyaunt andunclewereabidersoftheone-child policy,asopposedtothoseonmyfather’s side.

Inlieuofmeetingmyfather’sside,Iwas stillabletoformstoriesandimagesofthem usingtherumorsI’dheard,namelyaround gettingintofunnybusiness:onehadtheir

hairbleachedagodawfulorange,one familyhadtheirdogsrunaway,and apparentlytherewasacousinwhowentto jailaftereither1)runningoversomeone withacarpurposefully,2)robbingabank. (Mydadbelievedthefirstandmymom believedthelatter.)Anothercousingot HepatitisCfromeitheratattooora dimsumsession.AsfarasIknew,my father’ssidewasatroupeofdisingenuous jugglers,contortionists,andmagicians.The flamingringsofpassive-aggressive, drunkenfights,andhiddenfamilyhistories havecreatedabracingsmog,ironically akintothatofLangfa’sskylinethatIhave onlyobservedfromafar.

Mysoupisfinishedandmyunclepicks usupfromthesideoftheroadshortlyafter. “Doyouknowwherewe’regoing?”my gray-haireduncleaskedmeinthecar.He lookslikealesseasygoingversionofmy dad.ContrarytotheTJMaxxAdidastrack jacketsmyfatheroftensports,myuncle woreanononsense,sortofCommunist Revolutioninspiredfit.Hewaswearinga straight-collaredshirtthatlookedlike somethingfromUniqlo.Myunclealso servedinthemilitary.Hewassofamously hardenedbyitthataftermydadfailedhis seniorexamsandreadiedtoforgohigher education,myuncletoldhimtojustredo hissenioryearandtryagain.

Knowingthatmydadthenwenttogoto medicalcollege,becomeabiologist,and eventuallyadoctor,Iwonderedhow beholdenmydadwastomyuncle.

“Yes,”Ilied.

BecauseIcouldnotengageinfurther conversation,Ilookedoutthecarwindow andsawtheChineseequivalentofa podunktown,asopposedtothefasterpacedcityIhadbeenresidinginthepast week.Theconcentrationofmenpeeingon thesideoftheroadbecamesignificantly higher.Which,fortherecord,Iwasneutral on.InAmerica,there’snotasmany commonsourcerestrooms.ButI’mnot surehowtheperfectlymanicuredgreen spacesinAnnArborwouldhandlelarger amountsofhumanurineeither.

Wearrivedatadryplain.Andhereis whereIrealizedonlyaselectfewcanhold theignoranceI'vecarriedtotheburning ground.Mygrandparentsclearlydon’t havecarefullysculptedivoryheadstonesor evenamarkingplace.Here,Iunderstood whymyfatherenjoyedmoremacabre touristactivities,suchasvisitingthe headstoneofBruceLeewhenwewere visitingmysisterinSeattle.AtChinese gravesites,youburnandyouburn,sothat thoseintheafterlifemaycherishyourgifts ofwealthandfood.AtAmericangravesites, youleaveeverythingintherealworld:the bouquetsandthestuffedanimalsareforthe livingtoseehowmuchsomeonewascared for,ifatall.

Theysparkedtheflintforthefuneral ritesatapracticallyrandomsite.Itwas definitelynotwheremygrandmotherwas buried.Atfirst,myaunthandedmeastack ofpapermoneyandinstructedmetothrow itintheflames.

Thenshehandedmeanotherstack,more aggressivelythanthelast,whichItriedto throwinbeforeshestoppedmeandtold methatitwasrealmoney.Mydadtriedto grabthemoneyfrommeandgiveitback, whichIdeeplydidnotwanthimtodo.

Afterthecelebrationended,wedroveto aninnofsortstocelebrateevenmore.It wasaseafoodrestaurantinahutthathada hugelazysusan.Atthisparty,Iobserved whohasadrinkingproblem,wholikesto jokearound,andwholikestodeliver monologues.Thatnight,Igotinacarwith mydrunkenunclewhodroveaboutfive milesperhourbetweenalleywaysand backends.(Idonotcondonethisbehavior, bytheway.)ThoughIdidn’tdrink,Ifeel drunkonallthissubtextI’vegathered aboutmyfamily.

Sonowitmakessense.mydad,the “pragmatic”constructionworker;my uncle,thehardenedsoldier;mydad’sside ofthefamily,andhowthey’reallkindof theblacksheepofmyentirefamilytree. AndIrealize,maybethatiswhathavinga gatheringisallabout.Yes,thedirect conversationswhereyoucreatecomradery andtheabilitytoreminisceonthepastare thehighlightsofhostingparties.Butthe thingIenjoyedmostaboutthecelebration weretheassumptionsIwasabletomake, thestoriesIwasabletomake,inspiteof notbeingabletocommunicatewiththem fully.Andultimately,isapartyabout havingfun,orisitaboutcultivatinga curiousenvironmentwhereyoucan validateorinvalidatetherumorsyou’ve heardandthejudgementsyou’vemade abouttheonesyoulove?

My Transition from Enemies to Lovers with Korean Food

By Allison Choi

IusedtohateKoreanfood. Well,hateisastrongword.‘Sickof’was morelikeit.

Koreanfoodisattachedtomemoriesof sittingatmygrandparents’smallwooden diningtable,coveredinpaperplatesof theirdailymedicationsandsupplements,a plasticcontainerofshreddedgimsquares perpetuallyperchedonthewater-ringed tabletop.Mygrandmawouldwakeupat fiveamtopackgyeranmariinmylunch boxandIwouldgiveitawaytomyfriends. Mygrandpawouldcookapotofjjigaefor dinner,andIwouldmicrowavetheleftover pastafrommylunchthatday.Atthe dinnertable,mygrandmaalwaysmadeita competitionbetweenmysisterandItosee whocouldeatthemostandthefastest. Plaguedbyindigestionandveryround tummies,we’dwatchcartoonsoncable, eyescranedtowardsthesmalltelevision standswarmedincouponsandnapkins withaddresseswritteninballpointpen, insteadofconversingin“oorimal(our language),”tiredofourgrandma’snagging. Everyday,oncemyparentsgotoffofwork anddroveusbackfromour grandparents,I'dask,“CanwegetOlive Gardentomorrow?”Icravedwesternfood, thecreamofpastaorthegreasinessof burgers,somethingrichandheavy.I’dhad alifetimeofstewsandbrothssloshing aroundinmystomach–morethan enough.

Ididn’tharboranappetiteforKoreanfood untilIstoppedhavingtoeatiteveryday. NowwheneverIgoouttoeat,it’salways hansikhansikhansikracingthroughmy cravings.Ididn’tcultivateatasteforituntil Iexperiencedthedisappointmentofbad qualityKoreanfood.MDining’sAsian cuisinewasjustnotcuttingit.Theflaky ricethatwon’tsticktothewallsofthe dininghall,the“veganKoreanbreakfast bowl”–likehell.Oneofthehappiestdays ofmyfreshmanyeargoesbacktothetime whenmyfriendinvitedmeovertoeat tteokbokkiandgimmarishemadeherself. Thetimeswhenshesurprisedmewith bungeoppangandhotteokaren’tfar behind.Assomeonewhoseldomcooks, whenpeopletakemeoutforfoodortell metheyhomecookedameal,Iinternally scream.BecauseitreturnsmetothetimesI tookforgrantedwhenIwasyounger:of havingbowlsofguksuandtteokgukatmy dailyconvenience,oronoccasion,goingto theKoreancornerstoreafterschool,where mygrandpawouldbuyusmanduor gimbapasanafterschoolsnack.These

timeswhenI’vebeenfed,Ifeelsotaken undertheirwing,likealittlekidwhogoes round-eyedattheaislesofgosomiand saewookkang,whowenttoKoreandrum andfandancepracticesjustforthechoco piethey’dgiveusduringthebreak. Itwasmygrandpa’srequesttosendovera listoffoodsforhimtomakeuponmyfirst returnfromcollegethatabsolutelybroke me.UnlikemosttraditionalKorean grandpas,hecooks.Therestofmyfamily–allgirls–weneverhavetoliftafinger. Samgyubsal,sundubu,budaejjigae,and naengmyeon,Isentover.BecauseIoften requestmoremodern,junkierKorean foods,hewillusuallymakehisown additionalmulbaporsomejjigaeoutof leftoversforhimself.“Italltastesthesame,” hetrademarkswheneverwebringhim hometakeout,ortrytotakehimoutfora nicefancymeal.Thisalwaysmademesad, toseehimcaremoreforwhatheputsin ourbodiesthanhisown.ButIguessfoodis important.Weneedfood.Wecan’tlive withoutit.Weconsumeit,digestit,hold ontoitsnutrients,andculminateappetites andcravingsanddistatesforit.Itisan essentialpartofus.It’sabiggestureof jeong,whatI’vedevotedasmylife’s purpose.Sowhenpeopletalkaboutfoodas alovelanguage,Idon’tblamethem.When I’mofferedfood,Itakeit.WhenIget homeaftertheschoolyearends,I’llshadow mygrandpaashepreparesdinnereach evening.I’llscroungetogetheraportionof myallowancetopayforunderclassmen's meals.Howgreatitwillbe,thedayIget mygrandpa’sdishesdownandcando muchmorethansetthetable.

Food Culture — a comic

By Nellie Shih

Thiscomicwasanassignmentformy architecturestudioclass,whichexplores themesoffoodandarchiving.Iwantedto addressissuesofgentrificationandtheloss ofsmallbusinessesatthehandsofexpensive franchiserestaurants.Ofcourse,the expenseaccountsforthecostoflabor;but theissueliesintheheartofcitiesandfood culturebeingsnuffedoutby standardizationandcapital.

Comic on next page...

Tonkatsu Curry Recipe

By Rino Fujimoto

Fruits — an illustration

By Nami Kaneko

Fortune Cookies

By Jasmin Lee

EverytimemyfamilywenttoaChinese restaurant,wealwaysweregivenfortune cookiesattheendofourmeal.Ironically,I lovedgettingfortunecookiesbutInever atethem.Thetasteofthecookiewasnot extraordinarybyanymeansanddidnot appealtome.Infact,thesmooth,light brown,foldedcrackerwasonlyavesselfor theactualtreat:Thefortune.

WhenevermyfamilygotChinesefood, mysisterandIlovedtoplaygameswith ourfortune.Wewouldlookatthelottery ticketnumbersandseewhogotthebiggest mean,median,modeandbiggestnumber overall.Wewouldseewhohadthelargest numberinthemiddleofthesequence, becauseitwasimportantforsomereason, anditwouldbecompetitive.SheandI wouldallreadourfortunestogetherand ponderwhattheycouldmeanforour future.Afortuneaboutworkcouldmean someonewasgoingtogetagoodgradein school.Afortuneaboutlovecouldmean someonewasgoingtohaveacrush.We lookedatthesefortunesasiftheydictates therestofourlives,butwedidnotthink muchofwherefortunecookiesactually camefrom.

*

AlthoughFortuneCookieshavea connotationwithChinesefood,theyare actuallyanAmericaninvention.Createdin theearly20thcentury,theexactoriginof thefortunecookieisconstantlydebatedbut theconsensusisthatfortunecookiesdid notcomefromChina.

Whenexaminingthemultipletheoriesof fortunecookieorigin,fortunecookiesmost likelyderivedfromtheJapaneseSenbei, whichisdescribedas“acrescent-shaped crackerwithlittleslipsofpaperinside.”

SincetheSenbeipredatesthefortune cookie,itismostlikelythatitcamefrom thetraditionalJapanesetreatbuthowdidit cometobeconnectedwithAmerican Chinesefood?Thehistoryofthisrisein popularitycomesfromadarktimein Americanhistory:WorldWarII.

TheJapaneseInternmentCampsin WorldWarIIseparatedJapaneseAmericansandJapaneseimmigrantsfrom theirrestaurantswherethecookieswere originallyused.Whentheserestaurants wereleftbehind,manyChinese-Americans tookovertheseestablishmentsand discoveredthefortunecookie.Withthe endofWorldWarIIcametheriseofthe fortunecookie,astheybecameasmuchas anAmericannormasChinesefooditself.

*

Senioryearofhighschoolwastheyear allmywishescametrue.Ihadgotten admittedintoMichiganearlyadmission withafull-tuitionscholarship,Ihadlotsof friendsandIhadaninternship.This internshipwaswithanewspaperinDetroit

calledTheMichiganChronicle.Atthe beginningofthisinternship,Iwaspretty shybutIworkedhardoneverythingthey gaveme.Ipitchedstories,volunteeredat events,shadowedaphotographerandgot tomeetimportantpeoplethroughmy workatTheMichiganChronicle.Ialso startedtomakeasolidfriendgroup.Ihad spentthepreviousyearsadandlonely becauseIhadbrokenoffwithmygroupof friendsI’vehadsincemiddleschool.Iknew wehadgrownapartbutitwashardto figureouthowtotellthemthatsothe friendshipwasdoomedtobesabotagedby teenagefeelingsandpettiness.Itwas throughthissolitudethatIwasabletofind betterfriendsandbehappierthanIever wasbefore.Ontopofthat,Ievenhada promdate.Iknewthatnoonewouldask metopromsinceIwasprettyquietandnot toopopular,soImadealistofthreeeligible boysIthoughtwereprommaterialand wentdownthelisttoaskthemtoprom. Luckily,thefirstboyIaskedendedup sayingyesandjustlikethat,Ihadaprom date.Allmywisheswerecomingtrueand senioryearwasatimeforendless possibilities.Imetmypromdate,John, whileIwaseatingataChineserestaurant withmyfamily.

Hisfamilyownedtherestaurantandhewas helpingoutbywaitingthetables.Ihad seenhimbeforeandIstartedtalkingto him.Irealizedthatwewerethesameyear inschoolandthathehadalsogotteninto Michiganearlydecision.These commonalitieskeptmeintouchwithhim andlaterledmetoputtinghimonmylist ofeligiblepromdatecandidates.

WhenIaskedJohntopromover snapchat,hesaidyesandthat’swhenthings startedtogetsetinmotion.JohnandI wouldhangoutallthetime,mostlygoing togetbubbletea,butothertimesjust drivingandhangingout.Soon,Johnmet myfriendsandtheybecameclosetoo.John andIevenwentBowlingtogetherona doubledate.However,thenightofprom turnedintowhatwasoriginallyafundance intoanightofbetrayal.Attheafterparty, manypeoplewereaskingifJohnandI weredating.Atthetime,wewerenot datingbutwebasicallycouldhavebeenso Iresponded,ifhewantsto.Afterthat,I wentuptoJohnandaskedhimifhe wantedto“officiallydate.”That’swhenhe toldmeeverything:heliedtohisparents aboutgoingtopromwithme.Justlike that,thefairytalewasstartingtocrashbutI stillheldontohope.

Oneday,whenmyfamilyorderedtake outfromJohn’sfamilyrestaurant,Igota fortunethatconnectedwithmesoclosely thatIstillhaveittothisday.Thefortune read“Youroriginalideaswillgetyouwell deservedrecognition.”Therewasalsoa littlesectionwithaChinesewordandthe wordinthisspecificfortunewas 报纸 “Bao-Zhi”ornewspaper.Topreservethis fortune,Iputitinthebackofmyphone case.

“Yourpersonalityisfueledbythe fascinationyoufeelforlife.”

“Youwillbefortunateineverythingyou putyourhandson.”

“Youarenextinlineforapromotion.”

“Don’tgiveup,thebeginningisalways thehardest.”

Theseareonlyafewofthemanyfortunes thatcallthebackofmyphonehome.I keepthesefortuneswithmetoremind myselfoftimeswhenIwasdown.Times whentherewassomuchpossibilitythatit wasspokenintoexistenceandtimeswhen hopewaveredlikeaburningflame.

Utopian Meal

By Aarushi Ganguly

Yousitdownatthetable,orthefloor,or maybeyougotostandnexttothepeople youlove.Theirbodiescallyouin, wordless,youfollowthefeeling.It’sbeena hardyear,aharddayperhaps,andyou’ve feltyourpatiencecrumble.Youwishthey lovedyoumorethantheycouldbear,but thatisimpossible.Youknowthat.Soyou’ll compromiseforthishereandnow.

Fromdifferentworlds,you’veallcome togetherforthisonemoment.Itnever matterswhereeachofyouwerebeforethis. Itonlymatterswhereeachofyouarenow, awarmplateoranice-coldbowlinyour hands.Foodoverflowing,worriessealed tightlyaway.

Thereisbeautyinthismoment,inthe waysyoureyesflickerbetweeneveryone’s facesandlaughterpaintstheairbetween youall.Nothinghaseverbeensosweet, youthinktoyourself.

Theworldhasstoppedforthismomentyou’resureofitbecausethatisallyou reallycanknowwithcertainty.Because howcouldithavenot?Youcloseyour eyes.

Amealisnourishmentforbodyandsoul. It’sneverbeentaughttoyou,butsomehow you’vealwaysknownthisoneuniversal truth,havinglivedthrougheveryversion oflonginganddesperationandhunger.

Soyourutopianmealisbeingaround thepeopleyouloveandwholoveyoususpendedintime–thefoodoflife betweenall.

Shake n Bake

By Jasmin Lee