Make N' Munch 2023 🍙
by APASA Co-Advocacy Director Komal Kackar
It’s so crazy to think that almost exactly one year ago, I too stood unsurely outside the doors of the TCC forum after spending the -previous ten minutes trying to find the room. In all the students I see bustling in, I see a little bit of myself albeit with a better sense of direction.
Our lovely APASA E-Boarders (from left to right): Komal, Simran, Kendal!
With the start of a new year comes another APASA welcome event, and this year we had Make & Munch! Seeing all the planning and work our amazing Programming Director, Kendal Win, put into this event I just knew it was going to be a blast. This event was centered around not only welcoming all the new faces to APASA, but also giving them a taste of what this organization is all about.
It’s a celebration of culture, community, and people, while also being vulnerable whether that means attending the event of an unfamiliar club in an unfamiliar school or standing in front of everyone as emcee. I have been in the fortunate position to experience both of these.
After a few opening words, and begging people to join our newsletter, Make & Munch was kicked off! We started with an art activity where everyone got to make their own versions of an Indonesian art form known as batik. It was both funny and oh so sweet to see people drawing on their canvases like they were little kids again. After all the Picassos in the crowd finished their masterpieces, we moved onto the chai making! I am someone who comes from a family whose entire morning would be ruined without a daily cup of chai, so to say I was excited about this would be putting it lightly. I am not ashamed to say that I snagged a few tea bags and spices myself which I thoroughly enjoyed at home as well.
With people happily sipping away at their chai we served the food. People scarfed down the spam and tofu musubi from Rutts Hawaiian Cafe along with the shwe yin aye from Bagan Burmese Kitchen. I won’t lie, this would be the first time in a long while where I enjoyed such delicious flavored food.
As everyone settled down with their stomachs full we moved onto the awards. It was impossible to pick one favorite art piece so we picked two beauties. Our final activity was the trivia, and all the winners from the night collected their prizes that I am sure every member in APASA was jealous of.
As the event came to a close, I was reminded of exactly why I enjoy APASA so much. It’s the amazing group of people behind it, getting to interact with the student body, and educating and uplifting all the people in the APIDA community. It was so so so lovely to see all the faces that came that night and I hope to see countless more at future events!
APASA E-Boarders Sea and Lily!