Final Assignment Anthology: Revised Food, Religion and Gender

Food and religion have an inexplicable connection. Each religion entails a different set of rules that either prohibit or encourage the consumption of certain foods, albeit with an explanation as to why the rule is enforced. For example, Hinduism strictly forbids its followers from eating beef, due to the belief that cows are sacred and the slaughter of these animals would be concurrent with disrespecting the religion. Islam, similarly, does not allow the slaughter and ingestion of pork due to the unsanitary conditions in which pigs are bred, and all other meats must be prepared under certain conditions in order to be allowed at the dinner table. On the other end of the spectrum, Jainism and Buddhism believe that all life is equally important, and therefore completely forbid meat from the follower’s diet, including eggs and fish. So, religion can have a big impact on the type of food that is eaten, and in some cases the way its prepared as well.

A much more sensitive topic is the relation of food to gender, and specifically, women. A few hundred years ago, no one questioned the fact that a woman’s job was to cook the food and take care of the family, as this was the social norm. In her essay Introduction: Feeding an Identity-Gender, Food and Survival, Norma Joseph talked about how food is the source of a woman’s power, giving the example of how recipes from past generations are passed down to preserve the culture and share it with the world. She also mentions how the dynamic has changed and women have embraced their role in the kitchen, using simple gestures such as adding a new element (an orange) to the Passover plate in Jewish culture, to show the power they have gained from food.

Food is a very important resource, as it has the power to bring people together, be it through religion and certain festivals such as Eid, or through cultural means, such as a Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas brunch, and women have embodied this resource and made it their own, making them that much more powerful in our daily lives.

Final Assignment Anthology: Revised Personal Essay

Vegetarian. All my life, I have grown up with this word attached to me like a shadow. Being raised in Mumbai, where a large proportion of the population is vegetarian, the disparities in the type of food I ate did not manifest themselves. The wide varieties of food available to me only led me to believe that it was okay to be a vegetarian, and that this 'restrcition' would not affect my social life. However, the truth of the matter became painfully clear the year I moved to Dubai.

 Adjusting to my new life in a predominantly British school was hard; however, having this dietary restriction only made things worse. Having to explain to others that I was a “full vegetarian” and didn't have “cheat days with chicken” became a daily routine, and although this was just friendly banter, it became an arduous task to constantly argue with others over this lifestyle choice. Going out for dinner with friends became a dilemma, and something as simple as inviting friends over for dinner came with the added quandary of ‘Would they like vegetarian food?’

 This predicament soon came to a head on my 12th birthday, the first one I was to have in Dubai. All throughout the planning of my party, the question that gnawed at my mind was, “What terrible disappointment would my friends feel since they would only get vegetarian food?” As these thoughts ran through my head, I walked into the kitchen and saw that my mother had prepared an all-Indian dinner, and panic coursed through me. Not only would my friends have to be vegetarians for the evening, they would also have to eat food they had probably never heard of before! 

 My friends arrived and we had a good time playing football and baseball in the backyard, oblivious to the foreign aromas that permeated the kitchen inside. All too soon, it was dinner time, and we filed into the dining room, dread rising in me at the potential reaction my friends would have to the exotic platter in front of them. I expected gasps of surprise, murmurs and whispers, and I feared the worst. To my surprise, however, my friends silently took their seats as my mother explained to them what each plate contained. The menu consisted of typical Indian food, such as curry and naan bread, other more elaborate dishes such as pav bhaji and biryani, as well as some Indian delicacies to complete the intricate menu that my mother had prepared. The dinner proceeded, and by the end, not a single plate was left with food on it. My friends, who regularly joked about the fact that I was a vegetarian, had cleaned out every morsel of food on the table. They had been vegetarian for the evening, and they had enjoyed it!

That day made me realize that I must not be ashamed of who I am, or where I come from, and that no one should let me question my choices. I will be a vegetarian for the rest of my life, and just like a shadow, it is now a part of me, and something that I am proud of.

Final Assignment Anthology: Revised Buying and Eating Local

Being from Dubai, buying and eating local produce is not something that seems natural for me, especially since not much can be grown in the dry desert. A routine trip to the grocery store would consist of buying apples from Iran, coffee from Brazil, oranges from India, and a pack of chips from the US. Even before Dubai, eating local was never encouraged in Mumbai, where buying food from other countries was a luxury and a status symbol. 

Therefore, after coming to Atlanta, my perception of buying and eating local has completely changed. From the various symbols that denote local produce to the weekly farmer’s market events, I have been convinced that home-grown food is a much better alternative to the genetically modified fruits and vegetables commonly found in supermarkets. There is something about eating a salad with juicy green lettuce and big red tomatoes grown a few miles away that really appeals to me and makes me feel fresh through the day. Even in the food court of Emory University, the salad counter consists of only local produce and it is stated proudly there.

Although I never appreciated the value of buying and eating local, being given the opportunity to try this style of eating after coming to Emory and Atlanta has opened my eyes to the great benefits that can be had from following this lifestyle, and I plan on educating my family about buying local when I go back to Dubai.

Final Assignment Anthology: Revised Genre and Audience

Genre is the type of writing and audience is the “who” of the writing, or in other words the readership of a piece of writing. These two terms are interconnected in many ways. 

The genre of the writing, such as whether to write an article or a personal essay, can be determined by looking at the audience for that particular piece of writing. For example, if the audience for a piece of writing is a professor, or a high ranking official in a firm, then the genre chosen would normally be a formal essay or letter, whereas if it was a younger audience, the genre would more likely be a blog post or a personal essay. 

Some other examples of genre include a blog proposal, or a research log, which comprises of collecting different sources and writing short summaries on each source. 

Genre can also help determine audience. For example, the readership of a scholarly article would comprise mostly of an older audience, whereas a comic strip as a genre would attract a much younger audience.

Final Assignment Anthology: Revised Across the World Pie

Across The World Pie - This is a pie that will incorporate ingredients inspired by different places around the world (hence the name) but will have a primary focus on India, where I am from, and USA, where I currently live.

Ingredients: Apples, (Sweet) Potato, cinnamon, dark swiss chocolate on top, danish pastry as crust

The pie would be a sweet pie based around a hybrid of the traditional apple pie and an Indian potato pie. The center of the pie would be filled with apples and sliced potatoes. Surrounding this would be a crust made from danish pastry and over the pie could be a dark swiss chocolate sauce that adds a little bitterness to the sweet center of the pie.

I chose to create this pie because it represents my Indian background as well as the fact that I now live in the US. The sweetness of the pie comes from all the good parts of living in US but the bitterness of the swiss chocolate is inspired by the slight bitterness of leaving my family and my home in India. This bitterness, however, is overpowered by the sweetness and compliments it. The combination of potatoes and apples in the center reflects the conflicting cultures of both the places, where they do not really make sense when paired together, but weirdly still taste delicious.

Across The World Pie

Across The World Pie - Pie inspired by different parts of the world but focusing on ingredients from India and USA

Ingredients: Apples, (Sweet) Potato, cinnamon, dark swiss chocolate on top, danish pastry as crust

The pie would be a sweet pie based around a hybrid of the traditional apple pie and an Indian potato pie. The center of the pie would be filled with apples and sliced potatoes. Surrounding this would be a crust made from danish pastry and over the pie could be a dark swiss chocolate sauce that adds a little bitterness to the sweet center of the pie.

I chose to create this pie because it represents my Indian background as well as the fact that I now live in the US. The sweetness of the pie comes from all the good parts of living in US but bitterness of chocolate is inspired by the slight bitterness of leaving my family and my home in India. This bitterness, however, is overpowered by the sweetness and compliments it.

Revision: Genre and Audience

Genre is the type of writing and audience is the “who” of the writing, or in other words the readership of a piece of writing. These two terms are interconnected in many ways. 

The genre of the writing, such as whether to write an article or a personal essay, can be determined by looking at the audience for that particular piece of writing. For example, if the audience for a piece of writing is a professor, or a high ranking official in a firm, then the genre chosen would normally be a formal essay or letter, whereas if it was a younger audience, the genre would more likely be a blog post or a personal essay. 

Some other examples of genre include a blog proposal, or a research log, which comprises of collecting different sources and writing short summaries on each source. 

Genre can also help determine audience. For example, the readership of a scholarly article would comprise mostly of an older audience, whereas a comic strip as a genre would attract a much younger audience.

Commentary on opening scene of Eat Drink Man Woman

Welcome to “Cooking through a Vegetarian’s Eyes”. I am your host Shanil Mehta, and today we will be watching as this chef prepares a traditional meal. We open onto a scene of a bowl of fish. The man fearlessly grabs one of the fish and sticks a pair of chopsticks through its mouth. He then cuts it open and, after coating it in a white flour-like powder, fries the remains. He then progresses onto slicing and dicing a few vegetables and spices to add some flavor to the dishes. As he cuts, we can observe the precise and confident skills that are borne of a lifetime of cooking experience. He then removes some meat from the frier and slices it into pieces. Following this, he uses a woven box to steam fry the vegetables he had earlier cut. As he waits for the food to be ready, he takes a walk to his private animal enclosure and selects the best looking chicken. He brings the chicken into the kitchen by its legs, and we also see some live frogs! By this time, the dish he was steam-cooking is ready and he makes it presentable on a plate and also adds some sauce on top. He then cuts and guts the chicken, and adds some broth to it as he sets it in a pot. We then see him enjoying the preparation of a dish as he happily chops away as some meat. Finally, he prepares the dough for his final dish, stuffs it with some filling, and moulds it into the shape of dumplings. That completes the preparation of the dishes, with a wide array of meats and vegetables combined to create a sumptuous meal for him and his family.

Ethnography : Cox Hall

Sunlight. A path. Glass doors. I had made it. Cox Hall.

Every freshman goes through a time period where the sight of the food in the DUC produces a gag reflex and they just cannot bring themselves to enter the building. Already, according to freshman Jordan Lempert, the food available in the DUC is “below par” and, at best, “mediocre”. That is when he discovered the plethora of options available just a short walk away in Cox Hall. 

Cox Hall is another dining option for students on campus, with different cuisine themed restaurants that all accept Dooley Dollars. To get a first person insight into the food and atmosphere, I visited Cox Hall on 20th September at 2.30 pm. As I entered, I noticed the greasy yet enticing aromas of the nearby Mexican-themed restaurant, Twisted Tacos. However, blended into this smell were other, more subtle smells from the other restaurants, that permeated the dining area of Cox. Observing further, I noticed that there were roughly 60 people in the hall, even though I had decided to go after the prime lunch time. Looking around, I decided to visit Bhojanic, the Indian cuisine restaurant. While standing in line, I had a look at the menu and recognized several items of food, commonly found in my hometown of Mumbai. I ordered the two piece samosas and the chick pea curry with rice. What I immediately noticed, and what corroborated with what freshman Jordan had said, was that the quantity of food was huge. Additionally, sophomore Ishaan Sethi, who was accompanying me on this meal, observed that all food is given in take-out containers, which is a big benefit for college students, who can store and then eat this food later as well. 

Seating in Cox, according to Jordan, was much more preferable than the DUC as in Cox, there were couches available, as well as large and small tables, which accommodated any sized groups. Additionally, a level above the cafetaria is a computer lounge complete with bean bags and gaming consoles to relieve some stress from upcoming exams and quizzes.

After eating in Cox, and interviewing both freshman Jordan Lempert and sophomore Ishaan Sethi, I have concluded that Cox is the superior dining option on campus, and the computer lounge is just an additional benefit of Cox Hall. One thing that Jordan said he was not happy with in Cox was the placement of garbage bins outside the actual hall, and said he would prefer if the garbage bins “were more accessible”. Additionally, I think that a lot more freshmen would be more motivated to visit Cox Hall if they could exchange their meal swipes for food. However, overall, through the interviews and my own experiences, I would definitely recommend Cox Hall to all Emory students who are looking for a satisfying alternative to the DUC.

The Making of a Meal: Lebanese-Themed Dinner Party

I am planning to have a dinner party in my dorm, following the theme of Lebanese cuisine. I chose to have a Lebanese theme as this is my favorite food, and all the dishes are inspired from my favorite restaurant in Dubai, Reem Al Bawadi. 

Shopping list: 

• For falafel wraps: falafel bread, falafel dough, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, tahini sauce, spicy red sauce, hummus
• For cheese bread: mozzarella cheese, halloumi cheese, yeast, butter, zaatar
• For fattoush salad: pita breads, leaf vegetables, tomatoes, radishes
• For spicy potatoes: Potatoes, paprika, chilli powder, onion powder, garlic powder
• Extras: salt, pepper, garlic cloves, whole onions, garlic paste, soda, moroccan tea bags

Total price: $150-200

Travel cost: $40-50

First, I would make a shopping list of all the things I would need for the party (above). Then I would travel to different shops to obtain these items. For example, I would go to Whole Foods to get the vegetables and mixed greens needed. I would choose Whole Foods as they are known to have organic food that isn't modified and this is much better for your health. I would then look for a local Lebanese restaurant or food store that would sell me the more Lebanese-themed items such as halloumi cheese, zaatar and hummus. Finally, I would go to Walmart or a similar store to get the menial items such as salt, pepper etc. I would choose Walmart simply because it is cheaper and could help reduce the overall price of the party.

After returning to my dorm, I would go to the kitchen, and maybe with the help of a few friends, I would start preparing the food. I would use online recipes to make all the food, and then present it in bowls and plates to make it look artful. I would then set the table and wait for the guests to arrive. I would start with the fattoush salad, then leave the rest of the dishes on the table for everyone to take, then finish with the moroccan tea.

Reflection: I think that the most time-consuming process would be to collect all the ingredients needed to make the dishes. Following the recipe could be tricky at times but I think I would be alright as I have previous experience with following specific recipes. Also, Lebanese food is pretty simple to put together so the actual preparation wouldn't take as long, especially since I would have a few friends help me out.

Buying and Eating Local

Being from Dubai, buying and eating local produce is not something that seems natural for me, especially since not much can be grown in the dry desert. A routine trip to the grocery store would consist of buying apples from Iran, coffee from Brazil, oranges from India, and a pack of chips from the US. Even before Dubai, eating local was never encouraged in Mumbai, where buying food from other countries was a luxury and a status symbol.

Therefore, after coming to Atlanta, my perception of buying and eating local has completely changed. From the various symbols that denote local produce to the weekly farmer’s market events, I have been convinced that home-grown food is a much better alternative to the genetically modified fruits and vegetables commonly found in supermarkets. There is something about eating a salad with juicy green lettuce and big red tomatoes grown a few miles away that really appeals to me and makes me feel fresh through the day.

Although I never appreciated the value of buying and eating local, being given the opportunity to try this style of eating after coming to Emory and Atlanta has opened my eyes to the great benefits that can be had from following this lifestyle, and I plan on educating my family about buying local when I go back to Dubai.

Comparing and Contrasting Evidence: Here's Why Salads Feel Feminine And Nachos Feel Masculine by Tanya Basu and Purity Through Food: How Religious Ideas Sell Diets by James Hamblin

Evidence can be found in many forms. It can be primary or secondary. It can be from an interview or survey taken hours ago, or a centuries old artifact or newspaper. The article Here’s Why Salads Feel Feminine and Nachos Seem Manly by Tanya Basu uses secondary evidence in the form of a research paper by Luke Zhu. Alternatively, in the article Purity Through Food: How Religious Ideas Sell Diets by James Hamblin, he uses sources such as scholarly books so convey and prove his ideas. Although this may seem like a similar form of evidence to that used by Basu, the difference between a research paper and a scholarly book is vast, and each brings its own credibility to the topic and the ideas being discussed in the articles.

Revised Personal Essay - Vegetarian and Proud

Vegetarian. All my life, I have grown up with this word attached to me like a shadow. Being raised in Mumbai, where a large proportion of the population is vegetarian, the disparities in the type of food I ate did not manifest themselves. The wide varieties of food available to me only led me to believe that it was okay to be a vegetarian, and that this 'restrcition' would not affect my social life. However, the truth of the matter became painfully clear the year I moved to Dubai.

 Adjusting to my new life in a predominantly British school was hard; however, having this dietary restriction only made things worse. Having to explain to others that I was a “full vegetarian” and didn't have “cheat days with chicken” became a daily routine, and although this was just friendly banter, it became an arduous task to constantly argue with others over this lifestyle choice. Going out for dinner with friends became a dilemma, and something as simple as inviting friends over for dinner came with the added quandary of ‘Would they like vegetarian food?’

 This predicament soon came to a head on my 12th birthday, the first one I was to have in Dubai. All throughout the planning of my party, the question that gnawed at my mind was, “What terrible disappointment would my friends feel since they would only get vegetarian food?” As these thoughts ran through my head, I walked into the kitchen and saw that my mother had prepared an all-Indian dinner, and panic coursed through me. Not only would my friends have to be vegetarians for the evening, they would also have to eat food they had probably never heard of before! 

 My friends arrived and we had a good time playing football and baseball in the backyard, oblivious to the foreign aromas that permeated the kitchen inside. All too soon, it was dinner time, and we filed into the dining room, dread rising in me at the potential reaction my friends would have to the exotic platter in front of them. I expected gasps of surprise, murmurs and whispers, and I feared the worst. To my surprise, however, my friends silently took their seats as my mother explained to them what each plate contained. The menu consisted of typical Indian food, such as curry and naan bread, other more elaborate dishes such as pav bhaji and biryani, as well as some Indian delicacies to complete the intricate menu that my mother had prepared. The dinner proceeded, and by the end, not a single plate was left with food on it. My friends, who regularly joked about the fact that I was a vegetarian, had cleaned out every morsel of food on the table. They had been vegetarian for the evening, and they had enjoyed it!

 That day made me realize that I must not be ashamed of who I am, or where I come from, and that no one should let me question my choices. I will be a vegetarian for the rest of my life, and just like a shadow, it is now a part of me, and something that I am proud of.

Food, Religion and Gender

Food and religion have an inexplicable connection. Each religion entails a different set of rules that either prohibit or encourage the consumption of certain foods, albeit with an explanation as to why the rule is enforced. For example, Hinduism strictly forbids its followers from eating beef, due to the belief that cows are sacred and the slaughter of these animals would be concurrent with disrespecting the religion. Islam, similarly, does not allow the slaughter and ingestion of pork due to the unsanitary conditions in which pigs are bred, and all other meats must be prepared under certain conditions in order to be allowed at the dinner table. On the other end of the spectrum, Jainism and Buddhism believe that all life is equally important, and therefore completely forbid meat from the follower’s diet, including eggs and fish. So, religion can have a big impact on the type of food that is eaten, and in some cases the way its prepared as well.

A much more sensitive topic is the relation of food to gender, and specifically, women. A few hundred years ago, no one questioned the fact that a woman’s job was to cook the food and take care of the family, as this was the social norm. In her essay Introduction: Feeding an Identity-Gender, Food and Survival, Norma Joseph talked about how food is the source of a woman’s power, giving the example of how recipes from past generations are passed down to preserve the culture and share it with the world. She also mentions how the dynamic has changed and women have embraced their role in the kitchen, using simple gestures such as adding a new element (an orange) to the Passover plate in Jewish culture, to show the power they have gained from food.

Food is a very important resource, as it has the power to bring people together, be it through religion and certain festivals such as Eid, or through cultural means, such as a Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas brunch, and women have embodied this resource and made it their own, making them that much more powerful in our daily lives.

Summary of Introduction: Feeding the Identity-Gender, Food and Survival

Introduction: Feeding an Identity-Gender, Food and Survival by Norma Baumel Joseph is an article that ties in the cultural heritage of Judaism, food and the female gender, to create a powerful piece on the influence of food and religion in our daily lives. 

The author talks about how food is one of the very few things that can contains “the language of memory”, simultaneously being in the present with the food, and in the past with the nostalgia. Norma Joseph also describes how food not only stimulates the mind, but brings back such memories through the other senses of touch, taste, smell and sight.

The article then transitions to the importance of food in the preservation of tradition, as well as the importance of the role of women in this effort to pass on the heritage of such recipes to future generations. Using several critical sources, the author details the early stereotype of “women belong in the kitchen” and how this perception has changed with time to a point where preparing food is a domain of the women, and is the source of their power. One way in which women have shown this power is with the addition of the orange to the Seder. This changed a historical ritual years in the making, while concurrently supporting the gay and lesbian Jews. This ideology was later changed to more generally support gender.

Norma Baumel Joseph, in this article, used the perfect blend of food, gender and religion to deliver a powerful piece on the importance of each aspect, as well as their impact on our daily life and our cultural heritage.

My favorite food is pasta. I know, I can already hear the murmur of “that’s everyone’s favorite food”. But I have an unusual, unconditional love for pasta which strays beyond the mere boundaries of ‘favorite food’. I could, without a doubt, give up all other food in exchange for a bowl of pasta every meal, be it with: alfredo sauce, marinara sauce, pesto sauce, pizza sauce, tomato basil sauce, the list goes on. 

Although I have always preferred pasta over any other food, the event that pushed me over the edge was the holiday I took with my family in Italy, the home of pasta. While the brilliant pizza and sumptuous desserts did not fail to impress, the standout was the freshly crafted pasta, cooked a dozen ways that bursted with flavor. The gratification I got from enjoying a different style of some of the best pasta in the world every day, is indescribable.

One thing that is very important in the consumption of this food is the way to eat it. Simply eating the pasta is not enough. Here is the correct way to eat a bowl of any pasta:

• Stare at the food, eating with your eyes
• Indulge other senses by slowly inhaling the wondrous aromas
• Slip the fork into the nearest piece, taking with it a sizable chunk of sauce
• Build up the anticipation by observing the piece as it steadily makes it’s way towards your mouth
• Place the piece into your mouth and feel the different textures swirling over your tongue
• Slowly chew
• With each bite, discover a new taste and texture 
• Enjoy

Another engaging feature of pasta are the many different varieties that can be bought. From the classic penne, spaghetti and macaroni to the more inventive tagliatelle (the Oxford Dictionary defines it as "Pasta in long ribbons") and route (cartwheel pasta), each type of pasta comes with it’s unique twist and experience. What also makes pasta so appealing, and a household favorite, is the ease with which it can be made. Boil the pasta, make the sauce, mix together, and that’s it! 

I may try a thousand more dishes in my lifetime, or I may only try two, but pasta will always be the one that never disappoints.

Genre and Audience

Genre is the type of writing and audience is the “who” of the writing, or in other words the readership of a piece of writing. These two terms are interconnected in many ways. The genre of the writing, such as whether to write an article or a personal essay, can be determined by looking at the audience for that particular piece of writing. For example, if the audience for a piece of writing is a professor, or a high ranking official in a firm, then the genre chosen would normally be a formal essay or letter, whereas if it was a younger audience, the genre would more likely be a fiction piece.

Personal Essay Assignment

Vegetarian. All my life, I have grown up with this term attached to me like a shadow. Being raised in Mumbai, where a large proportion of the population is vegetarian, the disparities in the type of food I ate did not manifest itself. The wide varieties of food available to me only led me to believe that it was okay to be a vegetarian, and that it would not affect my social life. However, the truth of the matter became painfully clear the year I moved to Dubai.

Adjusting to my new life in a predominantly British school was hard, however, having this restriction only made things worse. Having to explain to others that I was a “full vegetarian” and didn't have “cheat days with chicken” became a daily routine, and although this was just friendly banter, it became an arduous task to constantly argue with others over this lifestyle choice. Going out for dinner with friends became a dilemma, and something as simple as inviting friends over for dinner came with the added quandary of ‘Would they like vegetarian food?’

This predicament soon came to a head on my 12th birthday, the first one I was to have in Dubai. All through the planning of my party, the question that gnawed at my mind was, “What terrible disappointment would my friends feel since they would only get vegetarian food?” As these thoughts ran through my head, I walked into the kitchen and saw that my mother had prepared an all-Indian dinner, and panic coursed through me. Not only would my friends have to be vegetarians for the evening, they would also have to eat food they had probably never heard of before! 

My friends arrived and we had a good time playing football and baseball in the backyard, oblivious to the foreign aromas that permeated the kitchen inside. All too soon, it was dinner time and we filed into the dining room, dread rising in me at the potential reaction my friends would have to the exotic platter in front of them. I expected gasps of surprise, murmurs and whispers, and I feared the worst. To my surprise, however, my friends silently took their seat as my mother explained to them what each plate contained. The menu consisted of typical Indian food, such as curry and naan bread, other more elaborate dishes such as pav bhaji and biryani, as well as some indian delicacies to complete the intricate menu that my mother had prepared. The dinner proceeded, and by the end, not a single plate was left with food on it. My friends, who regularly joked about the fact that I was a vegetarian, had cleaned out every morsel of food on the table. They had been vegetarian for the evening, and they had enjoyed it!

That day made me realize that I must not be ashamed of who I am, or where I come from, and that no one should let me question my choices. I will be a vegetarian for the rest of my life, and just like a shadow, it is now a part of me, and something that I am proud of.