Leggings as Pants

     Every morning I wake up and wonder what to wear for the day. Skirt? Shorts? No...look at the State College weather. Jeans? Nah, too uncomfortable. Leggings?

     Why not? They are comfortable, easy to match and even warm for the chilly weather. But this does not seem to be understood by one of the writers in the Penn Statements: A magazine of Student Writing from Rhetoric and Composition, as she views leggings as a “gripping” fashion craze. She argues that they are made out of un-Godly fabric and “take muffin tops to a whole new level.”

     Although back at home leggings are an alternative to nylons or pantyhose where it is generally worn to add modesty to a too-short skirt or shorts, decreasing the chance of a peep show, it's different when you attend a college in the United States. It's a normal occurrence to wear leggings as pants.

      When you wake up in the morning for an 8 AM class and you don't want to be uncomfortable and wish to pay close attention to what the professor is teaching you, then I suggest all the girls to choose leggings. It's flexible and a lot more casual than jeans... and if you want to wear jeans but at the same time also embrace the comfort, then try jeggings. 

     Leggings are the new phenomenon. They might not be for everyone and fit to everyone's taste but for me, as a college student, leggings are the most utilitarian clothing I have in my dorm room. Even though back at home, people would give me a gaze as to what exactly I'm wearing as my pants, I'm sure they too will understand the comfort of leggings soon.

No Driver's License=Odd Ball

     Watching Twilight and most of the American television shows and movies, I've learned that it's normal for teenagers to drive. But until I got here, I never knew that it would be abnormal to not be able to drive.

      I can't drive. I've never tried and I'm almost terrified to. When Robin said in class today about how it would have been weird for me to see my peers be able to drive when I can't because I'm usually a year or two younger than most of my class, I realized how that never crossed my mind.

      I lived in cities my whole life and so commuting was always through public transportation—buses, subways, and in Japan, bicycles! Until today, I thought the legal driving age in Japan was 21, hence why I didn't urge my parents to acquire a driver's license. But I researched today and found out that it was 18.

      The age that you can legally drive varies from country to country but in many places it is lower than 18. In some American states like Louisiana, you can get a driver's permit when you're only 15 years old. That just sounds really...odd to me.

      I've been so accustomed to relying on public transportation and working around their schedule that I find it fascinating that my friends don't do that here. When they just go casually, “visit me over spring break!” I would just go “Yeah, if my mom doesn't mind driving me there...”

      America is too big and State College is certainly not a city...I need a car and know how to drive not only because I can work around my own schedule but also because I'm starting to feel guilty asking my friends and family for a ride.

Asian dramas...yay or nay?

     On Monday nights, me and my close friends on the 4^th floor of Stuart Hall have made it a tradition from the beginning of the school year to watch the famous television show, Pretty Little Liars together. Originally from the best selling thrillers, the show have gained instantaneous popularity especially from teens due to good looking actors and actresses. Moreover, the action packed episodes give us chills even on dull Monday nights.

      I'm a big television fan-- from popular teenager shows such as Gossip Girl or 90210 to weighty and solemn shows like Grey's Anatomy or Desperate Housewives, I give my undivided attention and follow them like religion.

      Being aware of the fact that I'm obsessed with most of the characters in shows, especially the actors from the Vampire Diaries, my friends wonder if I catch up on any “Asian” dramas. Although it may be hard to believe because it is unknown in the States, Korean dramas are very famous and revered in other Asian countries such as Japan, China, Taiwan and etc. To answer their question, yes from time to time I do.

       Even though I only watch two Korean shows, I don't pay as much attention to them as I would to American ones. This could be largely explained by the reason that Korean dramas tend to not be as straight-forward enough and therefore the story would not progress fast enough. It requires a lot more time and patience for the plot to reach the climax.

       I wonder if it's because Koreans tend to be more conservative and beat around the bush more often so than Americans do. I love Korean dramas when I'm on my break where time is always in my control...but at school where my time is limited, I prefer American dramas. But Korean dramas should be given the chance for everyone to know how deep the stories go-- in other words, I'm pro-Korean dramas but an active advocate for American ones.

Pray For Japan

      Ever since I started this blog, I've (hopefully) generated a positive view on my life away from home in Japan and my adventurous days here at Penn State. This is largely because I embody optimistic and lively characteristics as well as crazy yet pleasurable experiences while settling in the States making the adaptation to America enjoyable.

       But I want to take this time to write about the tragedy that is occurring right now back at home. There are numerous rumors circulating the death tolls and how the radiation will ultimately deteriorate Japan in whole. How many are dead/missing? When are the aftershocks going to stop? Is there going to be another big earthquake and repeat this calamitous event? What is radiation and how will it effect the citizens?

       These questions are only some of the many worries that my friends and their family members are facing. Most of my friends traveled all the way to America, Canada, and Britain on their own to pursue successful academic careers. I can only imagine what they are going through right now as they anxiously agonize the safety of their family and friends.

       The tragedy consumes my mind, but I am powerless. All I can do is empathize.  I wish the best to everyone in Japan. I also want to take this time to show my gratitude to those who have contacted me to see if everything was okay and that they send their regards.

       If people are united for this cause-- for the future of citizens and Japan, we can make it through this catastrophe. Pray for Japan.

Shopping Time!

     After a tough week inundated with assignments, papers, and exams, Spring Break is highly anticipated. I just can't wait to be home and wake up with my mom's cooking and my bed where I can sleep endlessly without getting disturbed by forty different alarms on my floor.

      But something that I always miss are my high school friends. When all my friends go back home for Thanksgiving or Christmas, they have the opportunity to catch up with friends they have known for almost their whole life time. Since I just moved here, I don't have that advantage—unless I take a thirteen hour flight to Japan.

      When I do go back home, I enjoy the luxuries of having cooked meals, resting from laundry and showering without my flip flops. But I miss having people my own age where I can just talk about clothes and music. So that's why I'm going to visit my college friends in Long Island.

       Apparently, this Long Island hangout session that we'll be having is not for a relaxation outside of campus. We'll be doing a sport, shopping.

Friend: “Sal, we need to take you shopping...for American clothes (smiles)”

Me: “WHAAT? I'm wearing everything from AMERICA right now and what are you even talking about?”

Friend: “No, I don't believe you—it doesn't look it ahahaha”

       I don't quite understand how I don't look like I'm wearing “American” clothes. I gave her a list of where all my clothes were from and she still doesn't believe that my closet is all from American brands. What does this mean anyway?

       I will be excited but afraid of what's going to happen this Spring Break. Only time will tell...

My week as a Sushi Critic

      Back in Japan, all I can remember eating during lunch time is sushi or onigiri (rice balls). Before taking the school bus for long forty minutes, I would buy packaged sushi for lunch and buy a rice ball as my breakfast. Back then, I thought my daily routine of eating sushi was monotonous and most of the days, all I just wanted was grilled cheese.

      But now that I have fulfilled my wishes of eating way too many grilled cheese paninis here at Penn State with creamy tomato soup, all I want now is sushi- authentic, fresh and flavorful sushi. So I sought out for sushi downtown at Maki Yaki. For $6.99 +tax for a spicy tuna roll, I was iffy if sushi here was worth paying that much for.

      As always, I couldn't resist the temptation and courageously ordered it. “One spicy tuna roll please.” In less than ten minutes, my food was served and I already had my chopsticks out with a dish full of soy sauce and wasabi. Hoping that it was good, I took a bite. Mhmhm, not too bad!

      With confidence that I could finally find sushi that was somewhat similar to what I lived with everyday in Japan, next stop was Panda Sushi Express at the HUB. I picked up the boxed California roll with my friends and ordered it with bubble tea. Grabbing soy sauce and chopsticks, I sat down and unpackaged the appetizing roll.

     I was surprised by how good it was. The sushi here, with great diversity are amazing. My friends always mention, “Sushi, even wasabi here will never do justice, right Sal?” No...It's hard to tell the difference. I don't know if I think this just because I was away from Japan for too long. I mean, I would probably see the difference when I go back but for now, it successfully quenches my thirst for sushi, real authentic Japanese sushi.

      This amazes me- Japanese cuisine can be found in America! The fact that Asian culture could be embedded in places like State College, shows how diverse Penn State and eventually America already is and will become.

English 101

     This may be brave of me to state this, especially when I'm announcing this to the public. But here it goes...I think I sound just the same as any other American when I speak English.

      If my friends and probably my classmates as well heard of this, they would either giggle, burst out in laughter or just stare at me in awe as if I made a disturbing statement. But the truth is, I don't hear what they hear. As for me, I can point out grammatical and pronunciation mistakes when other people speak English.

      I started to learn English when I was in fourth grade at an American international school in Singapore. I was forced to engage with my teachers and peers when all I could force out of my mouth was “Hello” and “My name is Sally.” I stayed at an English intensive programs such as ESL (English as a Second Language) when my friends were taking regular English classes with my homeroom teacher, Mrs. Tomerlin. I felt ostracized and at that young age, almost hopeless as I constantly felt as if I was behind and not matching up to the game.

      Now that I'm attending college in the United States, I feel as though I've mastered the language. I'm more than comfortable speaking and writing in it and I think in English. I've reached a point where I mostly dream in English. For the first time, I feel confident.

      When my friends say, “you're such a Korean/Japanese” or “you're such a fob,” I don't mind because it's true- I've never lived in the States and at times I have no idea of some of the slang words that my friends often use. I actually find it funny and gleeful that my friends are so interested in the world that I came from.

      But one issue that concerns me the most is that people tell me that I have an accent and I speak in the manner of English teachers (they say that I speak in a formal manner). Although I constantly attempt in trying to see this minimal difference in the positive light, that I stand out from the crowd, more and more I tend to believe that they are just petty mistakes that I never adjust.

      During a typical conversation, I would just note, “Oh yeah, she is coming as well.” The “as well” is apparently too formal and anachronistic. I would pronounce the word dilemma as “dye-llema” not “dee-llema” and ostensibly that is wrong too. Am I just being too sensitive as it happens to everyone or am I really that distinct from others?

      I can't help to wonder (Carrie's famous line from the show, Sex and the City), would an American person, stereotypically with blonde hair and blue eyes receive as much constructive criticism on their English like me? Would anyone notice my ethnicity if they only heard my voice?

      Hmmm...some ideas worth experimenting.

Asian Food for Thought

     Chicken fingers, curly fries, tuna melt paninis, egg salad sandwiches and buffalo chicken pizzas are what I consume day to day here at Penn State. Surprisingly, my friends and I look forward to meals on campus because after much apprehension of the stereotypical college food, we found Penn State dining halls to be quite pleasant.

     There's so much to choose from- the soups change everyday, ranging from broth soups such as the french onion soup to creamy seafood clam chowder. The menus provide great diversity from Mexican, Italian, American to Chinese cuisines. I must note that I become a little too excited and anticipate for fajita nights.

     On campus dining halls are economical, convenient yet delicious- most of the time. But even Chinese special nights do not quench my thirst for...simply put, Asian food. It's difficult to explain why Asian food differs from any other cuisine. It's just as diverse, appetizing and exotic as other cuisines.

      I may long for it because I grew up enjoying my mom's Kimchi Jjigae (also known as kimchi stew) where spicy Korean pickled vegetables are mixed with bean paste, garlic, seafood, diced tofu to boil with water and be served as mouthwatering stew. It could also be that my friends back in Japan enjoyed Bibimbap, one of most famous Korean dishes as our usual meal when we hung out. Bibimbap, in literal term as the “mixed meal” is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with sautéed and seasoned vegetables, sliced beef, chilli pepper paste and fried egg.

     When I tell my friends of the food that I normally enjoy back at home during breaks such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, they undoubtedly interrogate me with hundreds of questions. Do you not eat Turkey? Do you add hot sauce to everything? Is there ketchup at your house? Do you know what gravy is? Have you ever tried bread stuffings?

      I could easily celebrate American traditions but I choose not to- especially when I'm with my family. I enjoy diverse Americanized and westernized cuisines at school but back at home, I'm inclined to savor in the type of food that I grew up with. That way, I get to have the best of both worlds!

My Passion for Hip Hop

Ever since I was young, I held a strong passion for music and somehow that led me to develop an illusion that I could sing. Truly believing in myself that I was capable of singing notes that are as high as Alicia Key's “If I Ain't Got You,” I would drag my friends to the karaoke machine continuously and blast the room with my raspy but heartfelt voice.

On my iPod, ninety nine percent of the artists that I listen to are popular American artists. They are those who could be found on iTunes top hundred and Billboard's hot hundred. Just to name a few, I prefer listening to hip hop and therefore my all time favorite artists would have to be Eminem, Bruno Mars and Lil Wayne.

When I first heard that Lil Wayne was making his visit at the Bryce Jordan Center, I had to gasp for air. I was so excited! I've been to Mariah Carey and Beyonce's concerts back in Japan but never really had the opportunity to attend my all time favorite idol's concert.

As I gaily discussed Lil Wayne's concert and attempted to come up with a strategy to obtain the tickets with my friends on my dorm floor, they were in shock: “How do you know him? Is he popular in Japan?”

Are you kidding? Is he popular in Japan? He's popular everywhere! Popular American music is prevalent and dominant in music industries all over the world. This may be due to websites such as YouTube and music hosting sites such as Pandora that allows diverse audience to truly appreciate international, foreign and exciting music. I can't imagine my life without popular American rhythm and blues and hip hop- I probably adopted my passion for these genres as my friends were mostly from America.

But my friends have trouble understanding how I came about to these artists and memorizing the lyrics by heart. So I rap for them- I rap one of Lil Wayne's most renowned song, “A Millie.” Although I feel that I'm talented in rapping and singing, my friends laugh.

I may stumble on words and lose track of rhythm- but that doesn't stop me from manifesting my passion for hip hop and lining up for his tickets by camping out at the HUB.

The New FOB On the Block

I'm what my friends like to call, a fob. That stands for “fresh off the boat.” This term usually refers to those who are foreign to a country and in my case, I'm a foreigner living and studying in the United States.

Although my nationality is Korean, I have lived in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan respectively. Having lived my whole life in Asian countries, I have recently moved to the States to attend Penn State University and not too long ago, my parents moved to Whippany, New Jersey.

So it makes sense that I'm a fob, right? I know my friends think so. The friends that I've made in the States frequently say, “You're such a Korean,” to almost everything that I say and do.

I have seaweed snacks I brought from Japan and they say, “You're such a Korean.” I buy a rice cooker and they call me a fob. I complain the taste of the sushi and soy sauce sold at the HUB and they look at me in awe.

What would be normal at home is considered strange in the dorms. All my friends who have never visited any Asian countries have no idea how life is like there. There are many differences such as culture, cuisine and social norms but there are a lot of similarities too- my friends are not well aware of that though...not just yet.

The other day, I was craving food from home. The tuna melt sandwiches and buffalo chicken pizzas were becoming dull and monotonous. As a solution, I decided to have cooked rice with my furikake (seaweed seasoning) as my dinner. As always, my friends were eager to try it.

“Ughhhhhhhhh, WHAT are you eating?” was their reaction. Clearly, they didn't like it. But I'm not going to give up. I will find something that we have in common and let them know that I'm not such a fob and foreigner after all. Well, maybe just a little.