"The sky is a different shade every time."  My family quickly gathered on the pier to take a group photo with the setting sun, which wasn't about to wait for anyone as it disappeared behind the clouds that kissed the water's surface. My tallest cousin wrapped his arms around us and laughed heartily. The picture captured delicate sun rays streaming above him and illuminating the top of his head. When...

A few weeks ago, I went to the National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. to show my family around the area. I feel like every time I go, I learn something new about our planet, especially now that I'm actively seeking narratives that bolster environmental awareness. I was particularly gripped by the Lights Out exhibit, which is a new, temporary exhibit that immerses us in the possibility of...

My family from the Netherlands visited us for the summer--from strolling around D.C. to playing board games late at night, I've had an exhausting load of fun. One morning, we took my little cousin to the local playground- a never-ending, vibrant jungle gym of imaginative possibilities. Stairs climbed towards the sky, the yellow swings made us fly, and the farm of plastic animals became a great place to ride a horse without...

I just finished my first year at the University of Southern California--over the spring semester, I took climate change, folklore, and food analysis courses, and I never realized how much these disciplines overlap when discussing global warming. From learning about cultural sustainability to understanding the narratives and stories that solidify group belief, I was fascinated with the dynamic relationship between humans and their environment. I was constantly reminded of this...