S&A Magazine Issue 7 – Volume 3

April 2023 Issue / Volume 3

This Issue’s Contents

Poem of The Month
Drawing Prompt
Book Review
Empowering Activity
Sustainable Fashion
Main Article
Recipe

Poem Of The Month

The City

Fluorescent lights,

Neon colors

Late at night, the city is asleep

And the world is made of shadows.

Within dreams,

Everything seems as if its

Stuck in time,

Suspended in the darkness

But the city is never as romantic

As it seems.

Every street is littered with

Thousands of memories,

Everybody is headed somewhere

Moving as if they are

Automatic

In a perpetual cycle of

nothingness

It’s easier to forget everything else

And just savor the feeling

Of being young

And alive

– Audrey Smith

Drawing Prompt

Draw Something Colorful

Sometimes adding a splash of color to your drawing is just what you need to make it come alive. That was the case for me with this drawing of someone looking inside a fish tank. I was inspired by light leaks, so I tried to replicate that effect in this drawing. So the next time you’re working on a drawing, try to add a splash of color!

Album Review

MELTING MOMENT – POiSON GiRLFRiEND

MELTING MOMENT is an art pop/electro-pop album released in 1992 by Noriko Sekiguchi, who was born in Tokyo, raised in Brazil, and educated in France. The album features six tracks, including her most popular song, ‘HARDLY EVER SMILE (without you).’ Her music blends many different music genres including pop, R&B, electronic, and hip-hop.

I really like this album because each song has a lot of layers, so it’s something you have to really listen to in order to hear every instrument. The futuristic sound makes the album seem almost timeless, and it’s hard to tell that it was released over 30 years ago.

Works Cited

“POiSON GiRLFRiEND Music, Videos, Stats, and Photos | Last.fm.” Last.fm, 2 Oct. 2022, http://www.last.fm/music/POiSON+GiRLFRiEND.

Empowering Activity

Organize Your Workspace

Sometimes a good way to make work less overwhelming is by cleaning out your space. After a while, binders and notebooks can start to get cluttered with papers you don’t need, which can make it harder to find your notes or important papers. Cleaning out your binder and adding dividers can help make it easy to find your notes by subject and time.

Sustainable Fashion

An Outfit Styled With Reformation

Although denim is often made in an unsustainable way, Reformation uses recycled and regenerative fibers for their jeans along with natural and sustainable dyes. They also make sure to produce enough clothing so they don’t waste unused materials.

High Rise Wide Leg Jeans

Main Article

How to Reconnect With Your Culture

Growing up with a cultural disconnect is an extremely common experience among immigrants or further generations of immigrants. For many, trying to assimilate into their country and avoid what makes them different has caused them to lose a part of their identity. While it can feel daunting to try and reconnect with a whole culture, there are still many ways you can go back to your roots.

Ask your family about your heritage

If your parents or family live in the country you are trying to learn about, it’s best to ask them about it! Show them that you are interested in learning about their way of life and you want to be more connected with their community. Even if you may feel like you are not similar enough to them, remember that it’s amazing that you are even making an effort to learn about your heritage.

Learn Your Language

If you have a language barrier with your family, try to learn more of their language. While it’s not easy to learn a language, it can still be a great way to feel more connected to your culture. There are many language-learning apps and websites you can try to use. You can also find local classes to have in-person lessons and a teacher. While you are learning, be kind to yourself and feel proud of your progress. It’s ok if you have an accent or don’t sound perfect. Trying your best is more than enough.

Learn to Cook Your Traditional Foods

For many people, cultural foods can bring up mixed emotions. Food always carries memories and nostalgia. However, some of these memories could be negative. If you have ever experienced people making fun of your cultural food, it may feel embarrassing or weird to try to eat them again. While these feelings are valid, it’s important to realize that there is nothing with your culture! Food is just food, even if not everyone likes it, it only matters what you think of it. There are many places you can find recipes for cultural foods online. You can also find cookbooks written by authors who are of the same ethnicity as you.

Participate in Community Cultural Events

Many cities are starting to host cultural events. You can attend festivals, holiday celebrations, performances, or even religious gatherings. These events are a great way to try cultural foods, listen to music, and meet other people who have the same background as you! You can check your town or city’s social media pages to see if they are planning any gatherings.

Travel to the Country/Countries Your Family is From

One of the best ways to learn about a culture is by experiencing it in person! Going to the country you are trying to learn about can be a memorable and valuable experience. While you are there, try to recognize what’s similar and different. By doing this, you can incorporate new values or practices into your life. You can also realize that you are not too different from the people you are trying to connect with.

At the end of the day, we’re all people. We don’t need to be just like everyone else and we don’t need to fit into multiple cultures at once. While culture is an important part of your identity, it does not need to define your worth as a person. However, trying to connect with a part of yourself that feels like you’ve lost can bring joy and a new sense of purpose into your life.

Photo Collage

Spring Trees

Recipe

Banana Cinnamon Oatmeal

This oatmeal is so simple yet comforting. This recipe is also another great way to use up a ripe banana because it provides a lot of sweetness and flavor in your oatmeal! Try this out if you’re looking for a quick and warm breakfast!

Ingredients

1 small ripe banana
1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup almond milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Dash of cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Peanut butter (for optional topping)

Directions

Mash the banana with a fork. You can leave some chunks if you like some texture.
Add in your vanilla extract and oats.
Pour in the milk and mix. You can add more or less depending on your preference. Add a dash of cinnamon and salt.
Cook your oatmeal for 1-2 minutes in the microwave. Start with 1 minute and see if it is cooked. Every microwave is different so it could take longer or shorter depending on yours!
Let cool and top with more banana slices and drizzle on some melted peanut butter. Enjoy!