Article begins This piece was selected as one of the winners of the AAA’s  AnthroDay Student Unessay Competition . This year’s competition was inspired by the Annual Meeting theme, “On the Verge.” My dish hesitated in my hand, unsure, Eggplant slick along its side, sliding slow; The cafeteria, spice-mix, an unknown blur, Items jumbled with nowhere left to go. Trays clattered, friends took their seats, A mingled chorus of plates and forks; I felt my heartbeat skip tiny beats, Caught between the rules and quiet works. Steel chairs scraped, the laughter rang, Soy sauce and cumin filled the crowded room; Samosas split, their spices sang, Dumplings pleated, sealed in gentle bloom. Steam curled from dumplings in neat little rows, Samosas gleamed with golden spice; I watched my classmates, their laughter flows, Each bite a small leap, a silent slice. A roasted chickpea rolled, mocking my grip, Slid sideways, eluding my aim; My pulse betrayed the tightrope tip, This bite was not the same.…