Meet Me at Kaldi’s is a recurring column in The Emory Wheel. Every other week, Assistant Arts & Life Editor Mia Hamon selects a random Emory University student and invites them to Kaldi’s Coffee at The Depot for a casual conversation.
Less than two years ago, Khushi Agarwal (28C) landed in the United States for the first time. With two suitcases in hand, she stepped onto Emory University’s campus, apprehensive and anxious for the next four years. Because her parents could not obtain their visas in time for move-in, Agarwal embarked on the international journey from India to the United States alone. After she arrived, Agarwal felt the weight of being a world away from her home in Jaipur, India. Facing culture shock within an unfamiliar environment, she worried about the little things, such as navigating Walmart’s maze-like aisles alone and the silly thought of pizza for dinner, while longing to return home.
“Everything was so overwhelming, I cannot describe it in words,” Agarwal said.
Despite Agarwal’s desire to return to the comfort of her family and her home, she heeded her mother’s advice to make the most of her experience. Now, almost two years into her Emory journey, Agarwal continues to seek support from friends from home who are also pursuing degrees in America and facing the same bittersweet transition.
Although she had not visited campus, Agarwal applied to and chose Emory because her college counselor insisted the school would be a great fit, especially because of her interest in scientific research.
As a sophomore majoring in biology and psychology, Agarwal explores the intersection of the humanities and the sciences. Similar to many students, Agarwal came to college with a general idea of what she wanted to study but was unsure exactly where her passion lay. Biology initially drew her interest because of her mother, who formerly practiced medicine. In high school, Agarwal explored biology through high-level science courses, intensifying her interest in the subject. Unlike biology, Agarwal stumbled into her second major, psychology,unintentionally after taking an introductory course, falling in love with the curriculum and the general nature of the subject.
At Emory, Agarwal has pursued several research projects at the intersection of the humanities, psychology and biology. With work spanning across three separate fields, Agarwal is committed to her future in research and academia. Although she values all of the work she undertakes, her time with Rollins School of Public Health Distinguished Assistant Professor in Global Health Joshua Jeong remains her favorite. With the help of Jeong, Agarwal qualitatively reviews caregivers from Tanzania’s interviews with Jeong to explore how paternal caregiving impacts early childhood development.
“Taking those interviews and talking to those caregivers back in Tanzania and seeing what they have to say has really shown me how privileged I am,” Agarwal said.
Along with her multiple research positions, Agarwal plans events for Emory’s Asia Global Collective, where she and other members focus on socio-political topics surrounding Asia, including subjects related to India. For Agarwal, being exposed to an environment where she can freely discuss concerns involving her home country and the surrounding area gives her a sense of connection to her home oceans away.
Despite relishing in the independence that comes with college, Agarwal admitted that she falls back into homesickness quite often, especially during her favorite holiday, Diwali. She cannot replicate at Emory the days of festivities, decorations and indulgence that went into the holiday when she was at home. Between sleepless game nights and devouring loads of ras malai — sweet, spongy dumplings popular in India — Agarwal admitted that her desire to return home for the holiday diluted the celebrations that occur at Emory.
“Back home, [Diwali] was a whole holiday,” Agarwal said. “So we used to get like 10 days of break from school, and the festivities used to start 10 days before the actual day.”
Another sticking point for Agarwal was the limited intercultural mingling at Emory. She feels there is a lack of diverse companionship, and she wishes the school would work to emphasize the value of perspectives beyond one’s own as early as orientation. Agarwal recounted finding her unlikely best friend after attending a Chinese Undergraduate Student Association meeting during her first few days on campus. From this unexpected friendship, Agarwal found herself enjoying a variety of East Asia-inspired hobbies and dishes, including reading Chinese manhua, a type of comic book, and enjoying pho with friends.
“I never had pho before coming to Emory and now pho is my favorite dish,” Agarwal said.
As an international student, Agarwal’s concerns expand beyond those of a typical domestic student. She disclosed that she often worries about her family and their safety at home, particularly during recent military skirmishes between India and Pakistan. As her family went into a lockdown last May, Agarwal was still oceans away.
“Tensions within Asia also concern me because I am very far away from my family,” Agarwal said.
Furthermore, Agarwal expressed her concerns for her future as an international student in the United States amidst the revocation of thousands of student visas and growing fears about student safety following the shooting at Brown University (R.I.) on Dec. 13, 2025. Increasingly, Agarwal finds herself unsure of how to navigate her environment.
“The shooting of the Brown University students during the finals was one devastating news that I could have heard in my life,” Agarwal said. “I was so badly shaken up by that that I couldn’t focus on my exams.”
Agarwal works to make peace with the unpredictability of life as a college student, but admits it has not been easy. However, despite her concerns as an international student, Agarwal looks at her time at Emory with fondness. With a slight glint in her eyes, she recalled her favorite memory from her first-year, when last winter Emory had its first snow in years. Between drinking hot chocolate and playing in the snow, Agarwal cherishes this memory.
“That was a surreal experience,” Agarwal said.
As a testament to Agarwal’s character, she finds the positive in every situation. Instead of cursing the weather for its fickle nature, she made snow angels and embraced its rarity.
