Heavy torrential rain poured down on us as the children ran around their school playground, which consisted of three mangled tires placed sparingly across the uneven field. As they skidded down what had become a mud slide, they hauled us along, all the while screaming with glee. All of a sudden, a tiny girl came leaping towards me, enveloping me in a hug; Sam and I had become fast friends on our first day at the school. Gesturing for me to follow, she grabbed my hand, laughing as we ran into the gathering room to dry off. Around me, I saw my classmates engaged in the same process, playing with the children they had formed connections with, while cleaning themselves up. Laughter and friendship were in the muggy air. I had never laughed, or smiled as much in a place than I had during that trip, especially fitting seeing as we were in the ‘land of smiles’. Looking around, I was in disbelief that we were already halfway through our trip.
Los Angeles is world famous for many things: its cinematic arts, its culture, its beaches, and of course the near perfect weather. One thing that often goes unnoticed to many is the city’s authentic Mexican food. One of the closest American cities to the border, Los Angeles offers some of the best, most genuine Mexican cuisine. From Pupusas to Horchata, South Central’s selection of Mexican cuisine appeals to even the pickiest of palates. In my two years here at USC, I like to think I have sampled a good majority of the University Park neighborhood’s local restaurants. Here are my personal recommendations for some of the best Mexican food north of the border:
The crowd begged the live band to play the family-favorite tune, an upbeat Garba song that involved sitting patiently until the magic words “Sanedo lal lal sanedo” blasted out over the speakers and across the audience.
When the singer reached the refrain, everyone sprung up from their spots and landed spinning, dancing with swift turns, swinging arms and short, energetic hops. Colorful skirts and suave kurthas amassed into one giant kaleidoscope of dancers, all shouting and singing along as loudly as they possibly could. In the middle of it all, I was there.
