Letter from the Editor

Dear Reader,

Spring forward! Daylight saving time is arriving, meaning our clocks must be set an hour ahead. As I lament over my lost hour—and as spring pours in showers—I also think of warm sunsets late in the evening, rapid rivers, and annual blooms. This season is a gentle reminder that loss is a disguise for transformation; the shifting is unstable in order for plates to settle. 

We tend to desire predictability amidst change. However, it’s just as productive to look backward as much as we do forward. I am reassured by spring’s arrival because—despite the onset of terrorizing allergies—I know summer will come, and I know fall is next. This has happened time and time again. 

This issue aims to realize such illusions; we look backwards to make sense of seemingly different terrain. We dive into the heart of Valentine’s Day, realizing that communicating appreciation can instill connection in an unconventional, global community. Next, we explore how different cultures celebrate Lunar New Year to recognize that—beneath myths of Nian and plates of Banh Tet—the hope of a new year still unites us. Finally, we recap this year’s Pixel Fest, which continues to reunite peers with their friends!

Prepare for midterms, enjoy reading this issue, clean for the new year, watch temperatures creep upwards—this has happened time and time again. You still may not predict every dish prepared for Lunar New Year, or each theme for Pixel Fest… but at the very least, if you look back, you’ll know that your tummy will be full and your feet will hurt. And, at the very, very least, you’re probably wading better than Punxsutawney Phil’s 35% accuracy rate. 

Warmly,

Rachael