During high school, I struggled with understanding my Vietnamese heritage, language, and being involved in the community. However, food was something I held dear to my heart during this time and throughout university. I knew spring was here when a dish of bánh xèo (crispy rice pancakes) was on the table or a bowl of cháo (rice soup) meant someone in the family was sick.

So when I began cooking on my own, I learned how to make the dishes that comforted me and, in the process, connected more to my culture and language. This second comic is dedicated to both my family and siblings who the characters are based off.

Content: Written and illustrated in Ryan Claytor’s course