Los Angeles Wall Crawl


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The Instagram essential: a nice wall. You know the kind I’m talking about. Artsy and intriguing, the wall adds interest to what is yet another photo of someone posing and smiling.  Wall murals, street art, graffiti, vandalism, whatever you want to call it — they are everywhere in Los Angeles. Traipsing around Melrose, I recently […]

Modern Art at MOCA Lacks Meaning


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I recently visited the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Los Angeles and found myself, I confess, utterly baffled. The other museum-goers, dressed head-to-toe in black and clutching Moleskine notebooks, stood next to me and observed the same installations as I did, but would nod sagely and make remarks like “Crushed soda cans to critique […]

Ramadan in Marrakech


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Last summer, I had the chance to visit Marrakech, Morocco. Because of my responsibilities as a student, I could only visit in June. While I was excited to explore this land filled with adventures, I was also concerned. Why worry, you ask? Other than the extreme heat that summer in the Sahara would entail, June […]

My Winter Trip to Japan


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I’ve always considered myself a seasoned traveler. But I never realized, how much of a tourist I was. I went to famous places, took pictures, met fellow travelers and ate amazing food, but that was all I did. I’d never taken the time to learn about the places and cultures I encountered. That changed during […]

Trojan Postcards: L.A. Beach Guide


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  Los Angeles is perhaps one of the best cities to experience the quintessential endless summer in Southern California. With miles of picturesque coastline from Malibu to the South Bay, it has some of the best oceanfront getaways for beach bums. Beaches in Los Angeles are for those who enjoy sun-bathing, surfing, swimming, water skiing, […]

Local Adventurer: Jimmy Kimmel Live


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If you have ever studied abroad, which I did in Switzerland last semester, you know how your weekdays are filled with work and exploring local spots, while weekends are for traveling everywhere possible. There is a sense of urgency to see as much as you can, eat as much as you can and do as […]

Trojan Postcards: New Year’s in New York


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Signing off 2016 had to be special. Going back to grad school, moving continents away from family — 2016 was a year of life-changing decisions for me, and it was all quite overwhelming. Winter break couldn’t have been more welcome! I took the chance to reconnect with my closest family in this country and enjoy a […]

B’salama Morocco


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As my semester abroad comes to an end and finals are around the corner, I am sad to be saying farewell to Morocco, which has challenged me, comforted me, mesmerized me, and most importantly, helped me grow as an individual. Here are some of my favorite memories and moments that I’ll miss: Zelij Street Art […]

Celebrating Halloween and Diwali in L.A.


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For graduate students, the end of October is when you start feeling the heat — you are venturing into the harder topics of your courses, the next set of exams are due in no time, and assignments are more challenging than ever. Even amidst all of that chaos, being in the U.S. makes it hard to […]

Saharan Dunes and Dreams


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“Immediately when you arrive in Sahara, for the first or the tenth time, you notice the stillness. An incredible, absolute silence prevails outside the towns; and within, even in busy places like the markets, there is a hushed quality in the air, as if the quiet were a conscious force which, resenting the intrusion of […]