My first Super Bowl Sunday without my family feels strange. There's no epic family screaming and yelling I can hear from barbecuing outside. There's no family reunion with cousins that I haven't seen in months to catch up and play Nintendo 64. There isn't even an automatic, "Ashley get me some chips!" from my dad after ten minutes into the game. Not being home for events like these makes me feel like more of an adult, making my own decision to celebrate this American "holiday" in a completely new city and with people I barely know.

All of us in the DC Scholars program decided to spend Super Bowl Sunday together and have a potluck. It was fun for all of us going to Giant (supermarket in D.C.) and figuring out what to make or just bring. I made bowtie pasta with vodka sauce and tomatoes and mushrooms and then Yuri and Tran and I made cream cheese wontons. .It was a fun party. We all went crazy when Missy Elliot came on to the screen. I honestly could not handle it. It was awesome. After the patriots won we moved up to the roof and had a photo shoot. We were exhausted.