Good luck, freshmen

This semester, I will be coming to you from Spain as I trek around Europe looking for good places to eat and think about doing my homework.

As a result, I’m missing out on what is arguably the most (im)memorable event of the fall semester, New Student Orientation. This cherished time of year involves many a frat party and drunken foray into quasi-philosophical nonsense.

Freshmen attempt to display their mental chops and often get roasted for it, and a new class of Penn students discovers the mysteries of dining hall cuisine. (”Is that really what I think it is? Isn’t that only eaten in rural Kazakhstan?”)

Personally, I have different ties to NSO. Anyone that knows me even remotely will tell you that I got my party out of my system a very, very long time ago. Like before I was born.

I have no regrets about missing out on the festivities as 17- and 18-year-olds taste their first floor-and-ping-pong ball-flavored light beer. No amount of “I’m Bringing Sexy Back” repetition could compel me to step into those dens of vice known as frat houses.

Nevertheless, I will miss many parts of NSO. (more…)

Dear white people: I like you guys.

Seriously, in high school, I was made fun of by the other Asian kids for having no Asian friends. I don’t know why, but it sure wasn’t because of a meager talent pool; I hail from Vancouver, BC, which, according to some sources, is 30% Asian. But I digress.

As much as I like you guys, I’ve come to realize that sometimes I really feel sorry for you. I most recently had this revelation as I strolled through (okay, elbowed through at a sloth’s pace) the NSO Activities Fair on Tuesday.

Bombarded with pamphlets (I guess I look young) and later, out of curiosity, browsing through the OSL Cultural and Support Organization list, I was elated that I, at this moment, technically have the option of joining the Asian Student Union, Asian Pacific Student Coalition, Canadians at Penn, and the Korean Student Association. In fact, if you are a minority student, you are free to dabble in the veritable potpourri of Penn’s available cultural groups.

But what do you have if you’re one of them simple, good ol’ WASP-y American types?

(more…)