Editorial

EDITORIAL An unexpected year

by Parnian Salehi, class of 2023

D1

Spring semester of first year was going to be fun according to the upperclassmen! We were promised that after finishing a difficult semester packed with grueling didactics like biomedical sciences in the fall, we would get to finally pick up a high-speed hand piece and start to eagerly-and rather amateurishly- drill into our first plastic teeth. Operative was THE course that class of 2023 was looking forward to. After all, this class made us feel like real dentists. Then COVID came. At first, it started as daily emails we would receive from the school, informative but not too worrying. All classes were going according to the schedule and dental school was in full session. We were taking our usual two or three tests every week, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. In Operative, we began to work on maxillary teeth, which required us to use mirrors for indirect vision; boy, was that tough! My friends and I even started to plan the group ’ s March/April birthdays. We had already decided where we were going, what we were eating, and of course the wish-list was the first thing that was completed! Then the school emails became more serious…more alarming. Yes, COVID-19 was spreading like wildfire. The Friday before spring break almost felt like an untimely goodbye. After all, it was only mid-March! We knew we were switching to online classes, but no one knew for how long. We had a lot of questions about our didactics tests, preclinical requirements, and our general safety, but there were no definite answers. So, we did what we do best as a class; we looked at the bright side, did our best, and gave our 100%.

Webex classes were not so bad. Some were funny even! Personally, I got to go on many house tours and met so many adorable pets that I would not have met in real life. I saw several tired faces, who had just rolled out of bed for 8 a.m. classes! However, proctored exams added an extra level of unnecessary stress. It definitely did not help that my mom once walked in on me during a test to give me a sandwich. Even though classes were online, dental school was still time consuming as ever. However, after two-three weeks of online classes and tests, most of us had acclimated to the new situation. My only regret was missing my friend’ s birthday celebration. So, we decided we would throw a Webex birthday party! One of us baked a cake, the other drew a cake, another wore a party hat, and we all lit a candle. Then we all held the candles up to the screen, and once the birthday girl made her wish, we blew the candles out! It was in that moment that I realized that COVID may have put us all in quarantine, halted most activities, and ruined our semester, but it couldn ’t break our spirits to accomplish the things that matter.

HOUSTON Quick, easy weekend Houston

by Jill Huffman, class of 2022

getaways from

While in dental school, it can be hard to get away and enjoy a proper vacation. However, making time relaxation and fun are necessary to be able to get through the stressed of school! Here are a few quick and fun weekend getaways from Houston that can serve as your minivacay to get you out of town for a few days and on an adventure!

Fredericksburg, TX Only about a 4-hour drive away from Houston, Fredericksburg boasts some of the best wineries in Texas to pair with their beautiful Hill Country views. In Fredericksburg, you can stay at a cozy bed and breakfast, participate in several wine tastings, and check out the Marktplatz (Market Square) in the middle of town to learn about the town ’ s history. Not huge on nightlife and clubs, Fredericksburg is a great place to have a low-key weekend filled with great food and wine.

Silsbee, TX While Barton Springs and the Guadalupe may be the first floating and water fun locations you may think of in Texas, Silsbee is a hidden gem just a few minutes north of Beaumont (less than a 2-hour drive!) that is the home of Village Creek. Something unique about this creek is it’ s white sand beaches and sand bottoms. There are many places to rent canoes and kayaks from, so pack up your cooler and picnic basket and head over to Silsbee to soak up the nature, water, and sun in a much less crowded, crazy environment.

Kemah, TX This getaway is so close you could even go there and back in one day for a less time consuming option. Kemah is famous for the Kemah Boardwalk, a family friendly area with rides, restaurants, and a nearby marina so you can watch beautiful boats come in and out all day. Kemah also has an Aquarium restaurant with a Stingray Reef, where you can touch and feed live stingrays. Visit Skallywag Suds ’ n ’Grub or Gulf Coast Daiquiri Hut for a cold adult beverage to enjoy while watching the water!

HOUSTON A review of Houston ' s spaces

by Blake Hutzler, class of 2022

outdoor recreation

Buffalo Bayou Park This was a clear leader for outdoor recreation spaces in Houston due to the sheer versatility of the park. This span of 10 mile green space nestled directed east of Houston ' s downtown area hosts many joggers, cyclists, dogs, and even native Texas wildlife species. The Bayou is actually privately funding by generous donors in the Houston area, and likewise often hosts many passionate outdoor goers throughout the year. During the summer hours, a visit to the Bayou could find yourself listening to free concerts located within the inner Sabine Park, or observing an aerial battle as millions of Mexican free-tailed bats embark on their nightly odyssey to harvest insects while avoiding predatory raptor species.

Rice University campus and surrounding trails Rice ' s campus is absolutely stunning. Located adjacent to the Texas Medical Center located in Houston, a visit to Rice ' s campus will often find you gazing at various abstract art pieces on the campus amongst the shady antiquated live oaks along with dodging photoshoots in the magnificent courtyard that surrounds the Fondren Library. Rice ' s campus was very close in ranking to our third and fourth place but this location edged out the competition with the addition of the 3.5 mile jogging trail that surrounds the campus.

Herman Park Arguably a continuation of Rice ' s campus, this location is right north of the Texas Medical Center. This park is a fantastic attempt to represent Houston from a multicultural approach while blending an active community harmoniously. A visit the Herman Park could find you peddling along the McGovern Lake, taking a cruise along a railroad train, or even finding tranquility amongst the peaceful flora of the Japanese garden. Of all locations reviewed, Herman Park certainly has the most content to explore.

Memorial Park Perhaps one of the largest parks in the United States, Memorial Park is slightly removed from the city atmosphere in comparison to every other recreation space in this list. This park actually self-labels as a conservatory and often finds a more tranquil crowd compared to the busy active youth of Houston ' s other spaces on this list. Memorial park often finds many bird watchers, trail hikers, and even mountain bikers throughout the year. Although this park has more of a suburban feel, it has long been park of the Houston parks and recreation scene and deserve to be a park of this list.

Levy Park This is a smaller park located in the middle of downtown, the medical district, and galleria areas of Houston. However, the Park' s ambition is quickly turning heads amongst Houston city goers. The park has a ton to offer for all walks of life including a smaller dog park, public ping pong tables, many food trucks, and even an on demand Zumba pavilion. I can only imagine as this park continues to mature and develop, it will quickly bring more competition to the Houston parks and recreation field.

WELLNESS How To: Charcuterie

by Rachel Finelli, class of 2023

Board

There is no appetizer more impressive than a charcuterie board on the counter before hosting friends over. Piled high with cheeses, cured meats, crackers, fruits, nuts, and much more, your guest will be mesmerized by the spread. From holiday themed boards, brunch-style boards, to the OG of charcuterie boards, they are simple and easy to execute for your next occasion.

Step 1: Get yourself a board and serving knives Charcuterie boards can come in a variety of sizes and types. Any flat surface wood cutting board, slate board, serving tray, etc. could work. You can find inexpensive, cute wooden boards and serving knives at Home Goods or Target.

Note: when purchasing the items for the board, think about color and texture when you assemble them together. Look for some bright colored fruits for a pop of color on the board and do a variety of textures.

Step 2: Bowls of jams and dips The bowls set the foundation for the board where everything else builds around. I prefer a more esthetic look where I will have small bowls of different colors or textures scattered on the board. Inside these bowls can house a variety of jams, preserves, dips, etc. My go to is a fig spread or apricot jam, but go with whatever you want! To make a fuller board look, I try to stack and lean crackers, meats, and cheeses against the bowls.

Step 3: Let’ s talk meats and cheese Go with a variety of cheeses from different families that your guest will enjoy. My go-to: smoked gouda, brie, and cheddar. The Unexpected Cheddar from Trader ’ s Joe has been a fan favorite. Just like the cheese, go with a variety of meats. Most grocery stores already have dry cured salami, prosciutto, and sopressata packaged together.

Step 4: The crackers Most grocery stores have brie. boxes of a variety pack of crackers to make life easier. I also recommend getting the mini “toasts ” crackers for

Step 5: The add-ons We need to include a few more things to balance out the flavors and make it look full. To balance all the salt from the cheese and meats, add sweet preserves, chocolates, and fresh fruit to your board. Add a crunchy dynamic to the board with a handful of nuts. Next, add some savory with olives, pickles, roasted peppers, etc. Finally, add appetizers if you are hosting a large group or your guests are planning on coming hungry.

Now grab the vino and enjoy!

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