GO DUCKS

Leah C.

October 25, 2009 - 11:30 PM

Everyone has got to be proud of the ducks. The University of Oregon's football team made it to the top ten ranks on ESPN. Of course everyone is anticipating the outcome of the football season. Maybe, just maybe, we can make our way to the top. I don't know much about football but I know enough to understand the game, and we definitely have a good team this year. The feeling of your team scoring is enough to make one feel spirited and proud.

 

Walking in the beautiful Autzen Stadium during home games, is always breathtaking, and standing in the crowd shoulder to shoulder cheering for your team, friends, or even fellow classmates is a great experience.

 

The next home game is this Saturday. Oregon is going to play against USC (#5 ranked). It's going to be an exciting game, not only because both teams are good, but because its Halloween! It's going to be a "black out" which means all the duck fans are going to be wearing black! I really believe this game is going to be bigger than the Civil War game against Oregon State. As much as I'd love to go, I do have one problem. I won't be able to attend because 1. I didn't get a ticket, and 2. I won't be back until an hour into the game because of my Geology class field trip to Central Oregon. Instead of yelling "O," I will on the bus, coming back from a hopefully exciting trip. I'm actually really excited to see the landscapes of Central Oregon, and I'll be wearing my lucky yellow bandana in support of the team. GO DUCKS!

 

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Finally Joined Wushu!

Leah C.

October 23, 2009 - 8:00 PM

I have finally fulfilled one of the goals I had made when I first came to the University of Oregon. After two years, I finally found enough courage to join the UO Wushu Club! For those who are unfamiliar with Wushu, it is a Chinese martial arts style that involves dynamic, fluid motions along with arial kicks, form and weapons. Over the past years, It has become more of a performance art, but still requires much skill, strength and endurance. The art of Wushu can be seen in many Chinese action films, as well as demonstrations on stage, and world competitions. The University of Oregon has a very well trained team that participates in Collegiate Wushu competitions on the West coast. They also perform for many cultural events on campus, as well as the once a year "Thriller" dance on Halloween.

 

I am secretly an admirer of anyone who practices Wushu. I grew up watching Chinese action films, and have since developed a strong interest in this art. I first found out about the club during the "Week of Welcome" freshmen year, but never had the courage to check it out. I had no prior experience in Wushu and after watching some of the team's competitions on Youtube, the club seemed so advanced, I thought I'd never be able to catch up. A friend of mine was the first one who persuaded me to join this year. She told me that many people were beginners, and it was an excellent way to work out. It only took me a minute for me to dedicate myself to the club. I worried about being the "late student," since practice had already started during the first week of school, but apparently new members are still dropping in to learn.

 

I've only joined the group for about a week. The Wushu Club practices 3 times a week, and is free to all students. Anyone can join regardless of skills, and it is definitely a great way to meet new people. During the first practice, I was shown all the kicks, stances and punches. The current directors of the club were also very kind in helping me adjust to the training exercises. After the first session my legs ached for nearly 3 days. It is a very intense training session, but I felt that I had accomplished a lot during the first two hours. I still have a long way to go to catch up with the class, but I'm determined to do well and perhaps finally do a butterfly kick. My only regret was not joining the club sooner. The people there are so much fun, and I can't wait for the next practice!

 

Side note: The University of Oregon Club was founded by Daniel Wu, a famous Hong Kong actor, director and producer.

 

Wushu Demo Reel

 

 

 

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Addicted to Facebook

Leah C.

October 18, 2009 - 8:00 PM

I have to admit, I am one of those people who is addicted to Facebook. I won't deny it, and it's not something I'm proud of. If I had to give an estimate, I would say I'm on at least 4 hours a day. I like uploading my photos online to share with my family and friends. I enjoy sending messages to people, perhaps poke or even throw a sheep at them. I enjoy drawing "graffiti" on the "walls," looking through their recent pictures, and "like"-ing their status. I also have a virtual pet on Facebook which I feed, and take care of. I would be kidding myself to deny that Facebook has become a part of my life.

 

When you think about it, most students in college spend a significant time on Facebook. When I sit in class, I can always spot out the familiar blue bar on several computer screens. It's amazing how much one can do on Facebook. There are even groups and events related to the University of Oregon. It's a convenient tool for students to keep themselves updated with what happens on campus and how to get involved. As a club organizer, I can easily invite hundreds of friends on my list to join events hosted for the Hong Kong Student Association. As well as holding small discussion boards in which only the committee members can read and post comments, all conveniently located on one page.

 

 

I can't image what college would be like without Facebook. Perhaps more students would get their work done instead of looking through photos, or playing mini games. Yet this website can be such a great social tool. For example, getting invited to parties is so much easier now with Facebook. The invited can also see who else is attending the event, receive reminders, look at a map and even get directions to the location. Facebook also allows me to easily find fellow classmates, long lost friends and even professors. I definitely feel like it gives me a stronger connection to all my friends online and in person. I really encourage students in college to get one if they already haven't. Keeping in touch with new or old friends on Facebook is definitely a common thing on campus.

 

 

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HKSA Welcoming Dinner

Leah C.

October 16, 2009 - 1:00 AM

Despite all the hard work and uncertainty, the "Hong Kong Student Association Welcoming Dinner" was a huge success! Over sixty-five students attended the event, filling the entire restaurant. The dinner was held at East Meets West, a small restaurant located on 13th Ave. The dinner was also our first general meeting, and what better way to start off the year than with a family style dinner. With a suggested $5 dollar entrance fee, one would be able to eat through eight dishes that consisted of traditional entrees such as stewed beef, and string bean with black bean sauce. To end the night the restaurant gave us all sweet orange wedges and red bean filled desserts shaped like peaches, a symbol of "a sweet life" and longevity. 

 

It took a lot of planning and the help from all the committee members to pull the event off. I can't express how grateful I am to work with such a dedicated team this year. The number of people who showed up represented all the effort we put in. From passing out fliers, chalking the sidewalk, to making announcements during big events, we really didn't know how many students we would be able to reach. At five o'clock, we started setting up for the night. Streamers, balloons, flowers and table clothes painted the restaurant red and white. As we were setting up, the Vice President expressed how worried she was that we would not have fifty people at the event, our estimated attendance.
By six o'clock students were lining up outside the door and filling out name tags. The tables filled up very quickly, and in 10 minutes I feared that there would not be enough seats! I asked the chef if I could add another row of tables, and an extra order of dishes, basically booking the entire restaurant! The committee members gave up their spots, and instead helped serve, and floated around the tables to make sure everyone was comfortable. Half way into dinner, we introduced the 16 members of our committee, three of which were unable to attend. We also raffled off stunning "I heart HK" T-shirts, and made our announcements for upcoming events both in English and Cantonese. Peter, a fellow blogger, also stopped by to make a short announcement about "Teach for America." A program that I highly encourage everyone to check out.

 

The HKSA Welcoming Dinner reflected our efforts in getting the group's name out. We also met many Hong Kong exchange students, and those who were simply interested in the culture. I was also pleased to see a few friends who had came to support me. I couldn't have wished for a better turn out. Hopefully, this event will lead to the success of the Hong Kong Student Association. The club started off really small, and somewhat disorganized during the past years. I hope that under my direction and the help of the committee, the Hong Kong Student Association can strengthen its reputation and continue to grow.

 

 

 

 

 

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Until Next Spring

Leah C.

October 11, 2009 - 9:30 PM

The Street fair came! It came, it came, it came! The street fair, which comes twice a year was hosted by the ASUO, our student body government, and lasted from Wednesday through Friday. I was so excited when I first saw the familiar white tents all along 13th. The street that usually led me to all my classes became my access to food, clothes, and trinkets! I saw stalls that sold kettle corn, elephant ears, clothes, jewelry, furniture, and art. There were so many things to see, and taste!

 

To top it all, they're all local businesses! It's like having the Saturday Market right next to your class room. There were many food stalls, from Mexican to Thai. I tried this chicken and pad Thai special from Three forks a pan-Asian restaurant, and it was so delicious! Apparently my writing professor's brother owns/cooks for the business, which is pretty cool! This year was the first time I tried their food, and I didn't know why I haven't before. The chicken was moist and tender, topped off with green onions, sesame seeds and peanut sauce. There was also a tofu version for a more vegetarian friendly dish, that looked delicious too.

 

I love roaming under the tents. I can't express how much there is to see. One of the most popular spots for students at the street fair is the poster tent. You can usually find 6 or more people flipping through the stacks of posters. The guy who runs it has almost everything a college student would want to post on his or her wall. I even saw a couple of famous Korean singers in the stacks too! I love looking through all the images but I could never persuade myself to shell out $10-$12 bucks for a piece of paper. Maybe next year when I finally find a job...

 

Walking through the street fair is just a wonderful experience to have on campus. It really gives students who are unfamiliar with Eugene the opportunity to see what is out there when it comes to buying from small and local businesses. There are also many aspiring artist out on the streets. Musicians, from rappers to a modern beep bop flutist filled the air around us with music, while fine artist displayed their works. One of the tents that really caught my eye was an artist who painted on longboards. He gives each piece its own individual personality, as well as telling a lot about the person who would eventually ride it. For more information check out, Cascadia Longboards. Longboards are definitely a clean and fun alternative in transportation, and many people choose to ride them here on campus. Apparently the company and many other tents from the street fair are also at the Eugene Saturday Market, which I have yet to discover. Until then, I will definitely have to visit Three Forks when I'm free, and eagerly wait for the next street fair when spring comes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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