A Flight of Melatonin

By:

Ahllain Santos

Published:

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Ahllain Santos

<i>"Hello" in your host country's language:</i> Hej <i>Home Institution (your U.S. University/College):</i> University of California, Berkeley <i>Expected graduation year:</i> 2023 <i>Destination city & country:</i> Sweden <i>Program provider:</i> UCEAP <i>Major/minor:</i> Environmental Economics and Policy <i>Demographics:</i> Asian/Asian American, Immigrant, First-Generation American, First-Generation College Student, LGBTQ+, Person with a disability <i>Future career aspirations:</i> Growing up in Richmond, CA, my community lacks access to nutrient-dense food. Richmond is a food desert surrounded by fast-food chains, and hypertension is a growing epidemic within our low-income population. My parents are one of many immigrants that are at high risk of cardiovascular disease due to their unhealthy diet. My career goal is to work in business development for the plant-based food industry. I want to teach my community about the benefits of this new food system. By promoting a plant-based diet, I can be part of the transition that will transform human and planetary health. <i>Top 3 goals for your time abroad:</i> 1. Learn to cook traditional recipes with my housemates 2. Attend local concerts to experience the music scene 3. Find the best coffee shops

Group 5.

Can Group 5 please board the aircraft?

At the corner of my eye, Henry’s smile appeared.

We’ve been sitting for three hours at the gate

And finally, the wait was over.

He was excited about the destination, and I was thrilled to be up in the sky again.

In the past year, we’ve traveled to Nevada, Oregon, and Washington but Europe was going to be entirely different.

Struggling to move my luggage down the ramp,

I felt frustrated with my inability to not overpack.

Luckily, the flight crew offered to check it in for free and greeted me with ‘Hello love welcome aboard.’

Dinner was served within an hour of us in the air.

Chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, quinoa, and tiramisu.

The flight crew came by asking ‘any rubbish at all’ to which Henry replied no before turning to me and giggling.

Both of us were enlightened and entertained by their British accents.

Right after dinner,

Henry questioned whether the food contained melatonin.

We both fell into a deep sleep as the crew turned off every light and shut the windows closed.