by Neethi Srinivasan – University of Michigan What’s in a name? Contrary to Shakespeare, apparently a lot. As my friends and I watched the Super bowl a few weeks ago, the topic of ethnic names came up. Why do some Asians (Indians, Chinese, Japanese, etc.) change their traditional names to...

by Syeda Hasan - University of Texas at Austin When I suggested to my mom that I be allowed to wear a sari to her cousin’s wedding in Pakistan this summer, I was surprised to see such a puzzled expression on her face. “A sari?” she said with a chuckle. “We’ll go clothes shopping together when...

by Aditi Mehta Recently, BG had the privilege of interviewing Shivani Thakkar, a talented artist in the field of dance and artistic performance. Many can say they have a passion for dance, but Thakkar has taken that passion and turned it into a full fledged career. Thakkar was born and raised in Calgary,...

by Foram Mehta Jewel-sized droplets of rain begin to pitter-patter on Brice Johnson’s head. A pesky bumblebee zooming around briefly interrupts his thoughts, but the disturbances are only external. His unwavering calm exudes from a place deep within, and he continues to recall memories of the long...

by Shruti Purhoit Friday night-time to PARTY!  You have two options: 1) there is a “brown party” going on that you could go to. 2) Some of the people you are in class with (not brown) are having a party.  Which one do you choose? Naturally people are drawn to those who are like them.  Many South...

by Sunita Dharani photographs by Thuy Ly The bonds of family-especially a South Asian family-are as tightly woven as the beads on the fabric of a designer sari. It comes as no surprise that our immediate and extended family members are bound to contribute (perhaps interfere is a better term) in every...

by Sunita Dharani photographs by Thuy Ly The end of the school year can bring about high levels of anxiety for college seniors-professors stacking exams and projects back-to-back, decisions arrive for graduate programs and job interviews, and the ever imminent graduation itself. It is within the past...

by Sunita Dharani The life of a typical South Asian young woman in the States is filled with attending classes, juggling a job or two, perhaps a few extracurricular activities and hobbies to fill the downtime, and of course, nagging from the parents. It appears that once a woman hits that brink of post-high-school...

Syeda with her parents in Pakistan. by Syeda Hasan This past December, my trip to Pakistan was filled with first times – my first time in a foreign country, first time flying alone, first beachside camel ride – among countless other adventures. It was also the first time I got to see my family...

University of Nicosia, where Sunita is currently studying abroad. by Sunita Dharani When I first chose to study abroad in Cyprus this semester, my intent was to truly integrate myself into a culture so different from my own that I would be lost upon arrival, that I would be forced to socialize with the...