On Sunday afternoon, I went to the Science Sundays Social Sciences at the Ohio Union U.S. Bank Conference Theatre. This week it was about the underexplored global health concern of food insecurity and mental health. This lecture was given by Dr. Barbara Piperata, who I also had the opportunity to hear from at one of our International Affairs Scholars Community Meetings on Wednesday evenings. This talk was highly informative and it was interesting to hear about Dr. Piperata’s research in Nicaragua and the Brazilian Amazon. It was saddening to hear that food insecurity is on the rise and is taking a toll on the lives of around 821 million people around the globe. As a Public Health major, I find this research extremely interesting. It is imperative to have healthy food available to all people because this ultimately shapes their health and outcomes. The mental health effects of food insecurity are undeniable. I cannot imagine how distraught I would be if I not only did not know where my next meal was coming from, but also where my child’s meal was coming from. This talk has made me realize how fortunate I am to have the resources that I do available to me. These statistics and numbers just make me want to fight even harder for those who deserve access to food and water. In my opinion, everyone deserves clean water and food, it is simply a human right. While it is heartbreaking to hear about the food deserts and the detrimentally effects this is having on individuals and communities, it is reassuring to know that more and more people are becoming aware of this problem and fighting to solve it.

After class on Friday, January 31th, I rode the COTA bus with my fellow International Affair Scholars and Social Chair, Audrey Montgomery to Lavash Cafe in the Clintonville area. It was a quick 10 minute bus ride over. We enjoyed an authentic Mediterranean meal while learning more about each other. It was great interact with fellow International Affairs Scholars that I had never talked with. I ordered a Beef and Lamb Shawarma which was sliced roasted lamb and beef with lettuce, tomatoes and tahini sauce all in a warm pita. It was my first time trying Shawarma and it was amazing, I was pleasantly surprised. All of us had the chance to talk to the restaurant owner, who was very welcoming. At the end of our meal, the restaurant owner came back over to our table and gave us all a complementary baklava to try. This was very kind and he definitely did not have to do this. Through this experience, I not only built deeper connections with my fellow International Affair Scholars, but I also gained a cultural knowledge of Mediterranean culture. Being immersed in the culture, even though it was not for long, made me recognize how much you can learn from simply being part of something you are not familiar with. This is why I definitely plan to study abroad during my time here at the Ohio State University. Finally, I definitely plan to go back to Lavash Cafe because of the excellent customer service and delicious food!