On getting my driver’s license at age 25

STEEPED BY SAMIA #25 | 12.02.23
… And other thoughts & happenings from the past few months.

It’s been a while since my last post. I took an unintentional hiatus from Steeped by Samia. I had writer’s block these past few months, but not the kind of writer’s block that made me frustrated or disappointed, per se. It was the kind that’s like, “Oh well, such is life!” A lot has been happening, in general.

Fall is the time of year where I feel the magic of writing and tend to write more. This year, it was more of an incubation period for my curiosities, which also feels right for this season.

“Life is what’s happening when you’re busy making other plans.”

— The Princess Switch I (2018), lol

Here we are, nearing the end of 2023. Welcome back to Steeped!

I. From the river, to the sea.

By the time I post this, it will be around two months of Israel’s continued bombardment of Palestine. Thousands of Palestinians have died and a million+ have been displaced. For years, American tax dollars have funded & supported Israel and have been funneled into the destruction of Palestine.

Many would agree with me that there’s a layer of grief, anger, and blurriness that has settled on our days. The perpetual lumps in our throat and tears in our eyes.

The American government and media tries to keep people misinformed and complacent to uphold settler colonial and capitalist values. I’m starting to notice it, more & more, how this filters into our daily lives. We’re seeing real time, though, how younger generations are dismissing harmful propaganda on social media. They see what’s going on here.

This is genocide.

Below, I’ve listed some impactful newsletters and articles in my saved folder. They’re filled with resources on Palestine and grapple with key themes:

  1. Notes for a Free Palestine by Tanaïs in Tanaïs’ Substack
  2. The Palestine Double Standard by Hala Alyan in The New York Times
  3. Are you ready to be brave? by Anam Raheem in Liminal Fuzz Substack
  4. Israel: the checks and balances by Fariha Róisín in How to Cure a Ghost Substack
  5. ‘Don’t Let Them Kill Us’: the campaigns to be seen as human by Fatimah Asghar in Fati’s Thoughts Substack
  6. An Open Letter to Hindu-Indian Americans  — It’s Time to put Ourselves on the Line for Palestine by Meghana N. & Nikhil Dharmaraj in Brown Girl Magazine
  7. There is a place in my heart where gratitude is a neighbor to everyone by Neema Githere Siphone in Neema’s Substack
  8. Sunday energy #40: no fear by Zeba Blay in Carefree Black Girl Substack

The streets are filled with red, green, black, and white and may they continue to be. 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

II. I got my driver’s license.

(“Finally,” some would say.)

In the Bay, it’s pretty much expected for people to have their driver’s license. From age 18 and into my early post-college days, I would get my permit during the summers but didn’t commit to learning how to drive. I didn’t really need to have my license (with three drivers in the house and WFH), but I knew it was important in case of an emergency. Almost like a snow-ball effect, the process of learning to drive + taking the driver’s test made me feel increasingly anxious. So, I kept putting it off.

This summer, my dad was like, “Your schedule is flexible right now, Samia; you better learn how to drive. There’s no other time but now. We’re scheduling a DMV appointment.” He was so real for that, lol.

So, I did it! These past few months, I learned how to drive (and stressed out my dad a lot in the process, srry Abu.)

I recently reread my Steeped piece on Starting from Square One, and it definitely resonated with this moment. The arc of learning to drive and range of emotions I experienced, made me feel like a teenager again. Maybe I needed that.

After a bad driving practice, though, you have to dust yourself off, have a little cry if you need one, and try again the next day.

Driving doesn’t come intuitively to me, tbh. Like, What is depth perception, even?! Driving is a serious and nerve-wracking thing — there are very real risks and dangers involved. No wonder I was so nervous.

When faced with the prospect of learning something new, I’ll definitely remind myself of this era. There is something so satisfying and good-for-the-brain to work through the process of learning new things. It’s something I hope to do as I continue to get older.

I love this quote from the Steeped post I mentioned:

“If I feel regret that I haven’t done something yet, my future self might have a better time with it. At 25 or 35 or 55, and onward (Inshallah!).“

I knew, theoretically, the possibilities and freedom of having a driver’s license, especially living at home. But now that I have this piece of paper (my provisional license), it’s so much more tangible. My post-license plan is to make a guide of major libraries in the South Bay and visit them, one by one.

III. Rice & a side of mango chunda.

Lately, I’ve been exploring my renewed interest in food and food media. I’ve been listening to This is TASTE podcast and loving the array of guests — from food biz entrepreneurs, to the cast of The Bear. I’ve been helping a pre-launch Aussie-Sri Lankan food business called Gedera & Co. (so exciting!!) with copywriting and exploring the fertile themes within culture and cuisine.

Food, quite literally, is a portal to new & familiar experiences and nostalgic memories.

During dinner the other day, my dad and I were chatting about how he made mango chunda (chutney) for the first time this summer. He bought boxes of green mangos and cooked them down into a spicy, sweet, tangy, mouth-watering preserve. Now, we’re reaching the bottom of the jar. When I was little, I adored eating mango chunda and rice together. I’m excited to help my dad with next summer’s mango chunda process and to try Brooklyn Delhi’s Spicy Mango Chutney in the off season!

I hope to do more food storytelling on Steeped; I’m working on some personal writing in my journal rn and excited to see what comes up!

Hope to be here more often.😌 — S.A.

 🔗 Steep On This:

💫 Catch Up:  

08.31.23 | All in a midsummer’s evening

STEEPED BY SAMIA #24: Shakespeare in the Park, what Anne learns, & getting sh*t done.

💌 About This Blog:

Steeped by Samia is a space where I can simmer on thoughts & curiosities about life, liminal spaces, digital culture, & more. Far too often, my writing ideas fizzle out in energy; I never get to see them to their full potential. While building my rhythm with writing, I want to share these stories with you. 

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