Hi, I'm Youmi from China and Japan and I'm majoring in CS and minoring in Human-Centered Design. I love playing tennis, taking peaceful morning walks around Occom Pond, and relaxing by the river with friends. Dartmouth feels like a patchwork of people and places that constantly surprise me, and I'm excited to share those little discoveries with you through my blogs and photos.
Fun fact: I've never visited Dartmouth in person before moving in.
This was one of my biggest worries before starting college: What if I don't find people I get along with? What if I can't adjust to the culture here? What about the food?!?! I've lived in East Asia for my whole life, and moving to the literal other side of the world is definitely going to be totally different and challenging in ways beyond my imagination.
Thankfully, I was able to make many friends through various activities arranged by Dartmouth duringmy first weeks at Dartmouth. During those weeks, a few upperclassmen who had the same worries in their first year introduced me to their solution—joining student organizations.
Fast forward to Club Fair day, I put my name on the sign-up sheet for the Asian student organizations as soon as I saw their booths. Looking back after being halfway through my first term at Dartmouth, I feel that being a part of these organizations—KSA in particular—helped greatly with my transition to college life in the US.
More about the KSA (Korean Student Association):
First, you don't need to be ethnically Korean to join KSA!! This is one big misconception that many of my peers had about KSA (or any culture-based groups in general). In fact, a large portion of KSA members are non-Korean and simply joined to learn and appreciate Korean culture.
At the start of every term, everyone is assigned to a random "Unoh family" consisting of 2-3 "parents" (upper-level students) and the equivalent number of "kids" (first-years). Then, throughout the term, each Unoh family makes plans and bonds over various activities of their choice. Of course, collaboration between families is also encouraged! Some hangouts that my current family planned include making Korean food in the communal kitchen, grabbing Late Night after studying together, playing SpikeBall, and having picnics on the Green.
Me and my KSA Unoh family having Late Night together at Foco (Class of 1953 Commons)
My Unoh family hanging out with other Unoh families in the Fahey Hall communal kitchen. I love food at Dartmouth dining halls, but I can't help myself from missing Asian food from time to time… cooking Korean food with my "family members" definitely helped with my stomach's homesickness!
If you're also unable to visit Dartmouth's campus and/or are worried about adjusting to a different culture, I hope you know that you're not the only one feeling this way! From talking to people in the Dartmouth community, I know that this anxiety is far from uncommon and definitely normal. I felt the same, and just like what my friends told me from their experience, joining a student organization based on similar interests or backgrounds helps with the transition process. I'm glad to have found a way to connect with Asian cultures at Dartmouth, and I can't wait to be an Unoh "parent" myself!
