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Which chaat are you?

Despite snowstorms and other setbacks, I made my way toward Charlottesville again after a brief detour at the University of Pennsylvania. I needed to resolve a few academic and financial issues, but more importantly, I missed U.Va. and the faces of friends.

Although taking classes at UPenn was a remarkable experience, I craved to be entangled in the comfortable melodramas I left behind. But before I could do that, I wanted to bring a bit of Philly culture back to my Shea House, Hindi-Urdu floor family. I decided to bring them chaat.

I will simply describe it as a savory South Asian snack with spices and sauces because I feel my culinary descriptive skills are not adequate. Only taste can accurately define chaat. Basically, it is a medley of vibrant bliss, and after a spoonful on my tongue, I can see colors behind my eyelids.

So, instead of bringing back Philly foods like cheese steak, soft pretzels or cream cheese, I trudged down the sloppy, slushy, snow-lined street of Baltimore Avenue to get chaat. All city buildings hug narrow streets in Philadelphia, but I like Baltimore Avenue. It has character. Every time I walk by, I mean to try out the eco-friendly "green" caf

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Dr. Anne Rotich, Director of Undergraduate Programs in the Department of African American and African Studies, informs us about her J-term course, Swahili Cultures Then and Now, which takes the students across the globe to Kenya. Dr. Rotich discusses the new knowledge and informational experiences students gain from traveling around Kenya, and how she provides opportunities for cultural immersion. She also analyzes the benefits of studying abroad and how students can most insightfully learn about other cultures.