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The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

Illustrations | Erin Liu
Photos Courtesy of Pragti Gupta and Zoey Liu | Used with Permission

Breaking down the breaks

MVHS students and staff discuss how the school calendar could be structured to accommodate a diverse set of holidays
Yixuan (Joyce) Li and Erin Liu
January 31, 2025
A stack of completed puran poli. Photo courtesy of Pratima Gogineni | Used with permission

Preserving and adapting cultural traditions are not mutually exclusive

My family’s quest to find the perfect puran poli recipe taught me that adapting cultural traditions do not make them less authentic
Anika Bhandarkar
January 31, 2025
Graphic | Owen Liu

Finding yum in yuck

Students and staff discuss childhood dishes that they hated but grew to love
Aletheia Ju and Owen Liu
November 3, 2024
The MVHS community may experience culture shock returning to their home countries, showing contrasting lifestyles and reinforcing cultural connections.

Unaccustomed to customs

MVHS students and parents share their experiences of culture shock traveling to their home country
Erin Liu and Alan Tai
September 29, 2024
A plate of cut fruit is a sign of something Asian parents have perfected: the art of saying sorry without the words ever leaving their mouths

Fruit(less) communication

My journey to overcoming the cultural barriers in communication between my parents and me
Meggie Chen
May 23, 2024
Bridging skies

Bridging skies

How learning to cook offset my dwindling Chinese skills
Yixuan (Joyce) Li
May 22, 2024
Various cultural clubs exist around MVHS, hosting events, shows and meetings. | Photos by Dylan Canoglu, Lily Jiang, Michelle Zheng and Yutong Zhong

Club hub

El Estoque's Features section showcases all of the cultural clubs on campus

Within Chinatown

The historical region serves as a cultural epicenter in the Bay Area
Jami Lim and Michelle Zheng
April 1, 2024
Senior Nithya Appannagaari poses with her gold stud piercing. 

Photo by Nithya Appannagaari | Used with permission.

Power to the piercing

MVHS students’ piercings influence their identities
Samika Bhatkar and Sarah Liu
January 24, 2024
Since losing certain words in Kannada, Chikkaballapur finds himself using Google Translate more and more. | Photo by Suhana Mahabal

Culture through language

Exploring different ways second languages affect MVHS students and their daily lives
Suhana Mahabal
December 11, 2023
Graphics by Stella Petzova

Immersed in India

Recognizing different forms of Indian-influenced entertainment in our community
Savoring spices

Savoring spices

Exploring what authentic Indian food means
Sarah Liu
December 9, 2023
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