We’re back in the semester cycle: classes, jobs, and best of all, student-led events! At Amherst, we’re lucky to have so many opportunities to have fun and do things that we might’ve never experienced otherwise. On Saturday, I went to three events led by three different affinity groups: Asian Student Association (ASA), Korean Student Association (KSA), and Southeast Asian Student Association (SEASA). All of these events were so different, but they were all amazing experiences in their own way.
Around 2:00PM, I hopped over to O’Connor Commons for my first event: ASA’s Photocard Making. As an E-Board member, I feel a little obligated to let you know that this was incredibly fun and you should definitely show up next time we host! Everyone who showed up had the opportunity to take Polaroid pictures with their friends. After the photo finished exposing, we made sure to stockpile tons of stickers and colored tape for the next task: decorating! If you’re an artsy person, this would definitely be the best part of your day by far. We had full creative freedom to do whatever we wanted, as long as you were happy with how it looked. Personally, even though I’m not particularly artistic (you should see my doodles… little abominations), I had so much fun trying out different ways to style my photos. I’m definitely biased when I say this, but this event is a must-attend!
Right after we cleaned up photo-card making, I sped over to Ford Event Hall for the next event: KSA’s Buldak eating contest! The event is exactly what it sounds like: eat Buldak ramen as fast as possible. If you don’t know what Buldak ramen is, it’s a Korean-brand ramen that is famous (or infamous) for its spiciness. Even though I think my spice tolerance is pretty good, I’m definitely not a fast eater. That didn’t stop me from competing, though: I downed a cup of regular Buldak in 46 seconds. I was nowhere near winning, but the fastest eaters won gift cards ranging from $25 to $50—not bad, if I do say so myself. KSA graciously provided milk and sweet treats to calm our burning mouths, so the contest was a great opportunity to test our spice levels and eat good food!
A few hours later, I headed back to Ford Hall for more food. This time, SEASA was here to celebrate Tết, the Vietnamese New Year. Catered by Miss Saigon, we ate some delicious Southeast Asian appetizers and classic pho. They had vegetarian options as well, so no excuses for missing out on Tết! After dinner and a brief lesson on Southeast Asian traditions, we played two rounds of Bingo. I unfortunately didn’t win either round, but it was a great time regardless!
As the semester continues, I’m so excited to attend even more fun events. There’s nothing like some fun activities and delicious food after a long and academic week, so I’ll definitely show up to as many of these as I can. I hope to see you there!
Until next time,
Tony