LK112D1 Culture Pass event report (Spring 2024) by Jaemin Roh

Culture pass report

jmroh — 2024-01-17 18:30:00 UTC

This is the place where you post your experience in participating in a cultural event on and off campus! Attend a cultural event and tale a photo. Write one interesting thing about the event in English and post a photo you took from the event. You may describe the event, what you have learned from it, and what you thought about the event in 15-20 sentences. You may use English for this assignment. Each report will count for 2% of your final grade, totaling 4% of your final grade. Post two times for two event reports this semester. The deadline of this report is by 11:59pm on the last class (5/1/2024) of this semester.

Good luck everyon! Happy participating!

Sarah - Lunar New Year Celebration

2024-02-16 00:16:03 UTC

For my first culture pass event I went to the Lunar New Year celebration. I went with Krithi and Olivia, and met new people there too! For the celebration we had a short presentation about the holiday, a musical performance, activities and lots of snacks. This year is the year of the blue dragon. I learned that this dragon symbolizes rain and water, and is the protector of the east. Many people pray to dragons for rain. We also learned about traditions like bowing to elders. Then kids often receive money. The musical performance was done by three people from the Boston Academy of Korean Traditional Arts. They performed a type of music called samul nori. One of the activity that we did was origami and make paper bokjumoni. Bokjumoni are “lucky pouches” that are used to give others money for special occasions. The other activity was making bracelets. The beads were different shades of blue since it’s the year of the blue dragon.

Rachel - Korean Japchae and Chinese Boba cooking class

raddo1 — 2024-03-31 07:12:52 UTC

Earlier on today, I was able to attend the cooking class hosted by Global House and taught by Professor Lee. A few people from our class came as well which made it fun, it was nice experience for us to bond outside of a classroom setting. I also met new people! Learning how japchae is made was an exciting learning experience for me because I always thought it was a difficult dish to make but in actuality the recipe was easy to follow along. Along the way, I expanded my vocabulary in Korean, learning the names of more foods and ingredients beyond what we covered in our regular lessons. The class provided a hands-on learning experience that was both engaging and rewarding. Professor Lee's guidance made the process smooth and enjoyable for everyone involved. Bonding over the shared task of creating a delicious meal made the event worthwhile. It was inspiring to see the fusion of different cultures through cooking. The experience served as a reminder for me of the joy that comes with exploring new cuisines and connecting with others over a shared passion for food. In the end, the team effort was a success. The japchae and boba turned out to be really good. With all that I have learned today, I will definitely be making this recipe some time around. Overall, it was a memorable and enriching experience that I will cherish.

Sarah - Japchae and Boba Cooking Class

2024-03-31 15:42:17 UTC

For my second culture pass event, I went to the Japchae and Boba cooking event. There were lots of people from our Korean class and I met some new people! We got the recipe fully in Korean, so we practiced our Korean reading skills. We also practiced Korean when Professor Lee asked us questions about our class and we learned some new food words in Korean. The first thing we did to make the food was lots of chopping. We took turns cutting bell peppers, onion, fish cakes, and garlic. Then some people cooked the vegetables. While the vegetables were cooking, they boiled water and cooked the glass noodles. When the glass noodles were done, we added soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, oyster sauce, and sugar to the noodles. At the same time we were making the japchae, some people were also making the boba. I was working more on the japchae, so I don’t really know how it was made. Everything was very delicious and it was a super fun experience!!

Wesley Choi - Japchae and Boba

2024-04-05 03:55:35 UTC

I went to the Global House cooking event hosted in Myles and it was amazing. The cooking had way more people than I expected and I got to meet so many people from many of the other classes. It turns out that cooking Japchae was much simpler than I thought. Everyone got a chance to cook and we all had a part to play in each of the roles. I personally cut up a bunch of the bell peppers. I also helped with clean up by washing up the cutting boards and knives. Simultaneously there were other students frying on the stove while others worked on preparing the boba. I thought the boba making was also pretty interesting as the tapioca pearls are made in an interesting way. For the boba the tea and pearls are boiled separately before being mixed back together. Then add milk, shake or stir to mix and enjoy. I thought the boba was pretty delicious. However the Japchae was the main star of the show. Other students cut up the garlic and fishcake. At the same time the pan was heating up and the noodles were getting ready while the sauces were being mixed together. I could understand most of the directions and what the instructor was saying which goes to show the extent for my learning. I think it was really fun to meet and talk with people outside of class as well as meet new people along the way. I think if I ever get another chance at something like this I'll definitely go.

Krithi - Lunar New Year Bracelet Making and Lucky Pouches

2024-04-24 00:40:30 UTC

On February 9th, I attended the Lunar New Year Celebration in the Myles Dorm English Room. I went with Olivia and Sarah, and also ended up seeing my last semester LK111 friends Kirstin, Caitlin, and Kiana. First, the global house members went through a slideshow presentation explaining the holiday. In the slideshow, they went over the various zodiac signs in Korean, as well as the different elements each zodiac can be. That was when I learned that this year, the symbolic zodiac was the dragon, and that it's element was water. We also learned about the tradition of showing deference to your elders by bowing. Afterwards, we watched a performance by a trio from the Boston Academy of Korean Traditional Arts, watching them perform traditional 사물놀이using different traditional drums, one being a 장구. After the performance, we were given instruction papers on how to fold 복주머니, lucky pouches that are supposed to hold the money given by elders after children bow to them. Then we were allowed to enjoy some snacks, so I tried some 약과, 칠성사이다, and Choco pies. The 약과 was amazing and I indulged in another one. The final activity was very nice, making bracelets out of blue beads to represent the water dragon of the new year. I enjoyed this entire experience, and it was a great way to learn about Korean culture while spending time with friends.

Krithi - Korean and Chinese Cooking Class: Japchae and Boba

2024-04-24 00:52:15 UTC

On March 30th, I went to the "Let's Eat: Korea and China" event at the Myles Global House Kitchen. It was my first time in a while being in a kitchen, so I was excited to do some (albeit minimal) cooking. There I met up with Sarah, Rachel, Wesley, Crystal, and Allison. First, we all collectively read over the instruction sheet, and we were then instructed on how to cut the onions, fish cakes, and bell peppers that would be the main part of the 잡채. I participated by cutting multiple bell peppers into small sliver slices to be used, as well as helping wash dishes. I helped in transferring the chopped up food into the glass noodles cooking on the stove. I also helped add the various sauces and condiments into the mixture, as well as helping transfer the mixture back into the pan on the stove for the final mixture. Afterwards, we all got to enjoy the 잡채 and it was quite good. Although I didn't heavily participate in the making of the boba, I watched others boil the tapioca pearls as well as make the tea. When it was finished, I got to stand in line and try a cup, pouring the pearls in first, the tea second, and then milk third. I enjoyed the drink very much, and it felt nice to enjoy after putting in the effort. The professors there that day made the entire experience enjoyable, and I liked being in a group environment, making a dish I had never made before. Needless to say, I will definitely be making more 잡채 in the future.

Hui - French and Italian Cheese Showcase - Culture Pass #1

2024-04-24 03:07:28 UTC

On Tuesday, April 9th at 6:30pm, I attended the Italian and French cluster event at the Global House Lounge, where we sampled a variety of cheeses from both cultures. The cheese include Italian varieties such as bufala, stracciatella, pecorino, scamorza, gorgonzola, and provolone, as well as French options like brie, emmental, roquefort, munster d’Alsace, comte, and bucheron. There were many stations at the events in which student volunteers helped cut the cheese samples, and each station had a description of the cheese being offered. One thing I found particularly interesting was the legend surrounding Roquefort cheese. According to the legend, a shepherd left his sheep’s cheese out, allowing it to become moldy. Despite this, he found the cheese delicious, eventually reproducing and selling it, which led to its popularity. Another thing I learned was about the Gorgonzola cheese, which also contains mold. It is used in salads as dressing and as an ingredient in pizza. However, it is only allowed to be produced in certain provinces of northern Italy. In addition, I learned about the Brie cheese, which has the nickname of “The King of Cheeses”. This cheese has specific instructions on how and when to eat. For example, it is ready when the outside is firm, and the inside is slightly bouncy. It pairs well with salami, apples, pickles, almonds, bread, and crackers. One of my favorite cheeses from the event was Stracchino, which is a soft, creamy cow’s milk cheese. Its name supposedly comes from the tired cows that produce its milk. It has a slightly acidic flavor, and can be eaten on its own or with bread. I appreciated that the event not only offered cheeses but also provided crackers and bread to pair with them. Additionally, I thought that this event was informative, offering us to try different cheeses while also learning interesting facts about their legend, histories, and origins.

Hui - Hwachae Night - Culture Pass #2

2024-04-27 21:04:42 UTC

On Friday, April 26th at 7:30 pm, I attended the Korean Student Association Spring general meeting, during which we made Hwachae 화채 and enjoyed Korean foods Kimbap and tteokbokki. Before eating, we played a Kahoot game to determine the order of food distribution. We were randomly assigned to different groups, which was nice because it encouraged us to make new friends outside of our usual circles. We introduced ourselves, and the icebreaker activity involved sharing our lock screen pictures and explaining where they came from. Each group then came up with a name for our Kahoot game; my group’s name was 순두부. The Kahoot questions covered various topics such as KPOP songs and idols, the current Korean president, and the meaning of the black lines on the Korean flag. I learned that the black lines, which represent four trigrams, symbolize the seasons, the cardinal directions, and the harmony and balance of opposites in the universe. Since my group won first place in Kahoot, we got to make Hwachae first. Hwachae is a traditional Korean fruit punch made with various fruits and is usually served as a refreshing drink in the spring and summer. The ingredients for Hwachae included sprite, strawberry calpico drink, fruits like watermelon, blueberry, strawberry, and different kinds of jelly such as lychee, and ice. The Kimbap was delicious, containing bulgogi beef, eggs, carrot, spinach, yellow radish, rice, and roasted seaweed. The tteokbokki was also tasty with options for both spicy and non-spicy preferences. I particularly enjoyed the spicy version. One interesting thing about the event was how it combined both cultural activities and fun games, creating an engaging and interactive experience for everyone involved. It was a platform for participants to showcase their talents and knowledge related to Korean culture. I thought that this event had a vibrant atmosphere, and the environment was welcoming, as everyone felt included in the activities. I deeply appreciate the efforts of the members of the Korean Student Association who coordinated the activities, prepared the ingredients for the food, and ensured that everyone had a wonderful time.

Rachel - Japan Festival at Boston Common

raddo1 — 2024-04-28 20:24:13 UTC

Over the weekend, I went to the Japan Festival with Kadi and Marie. There we were met with so much to do/explore. First we started off by watching a cultural performance where the performer used traditional Japanese instruments. The sounds were interesting to hear. They were similar to the sounds I've heard in my culture which was unexpected. It was interesting to see/learn how many cultures are different yet so similar in so many ways. After watching a bit of the performance we walked around and stumbled upon a variety of different booths such as anime, clothing/tote bags, and plushies/stuffed animals from popular anime shows. There were also a lot of different food vendors. There were many different options to choose from such as gyoza(dumplings), ramen, and takoyaki. Unfortunately, the lines were extremely long for many of them so we weren't able to try as much as we wanted to. We eventually stood in line for a Tokyo Teriyaki Chicken Bowl. The food was definitely worth the wait because it was good and flavorful. The festival was very entertaining and it was exciting to witness so many different people from various backgrounds engaging in a particular culture. There was also activities for kids where they were coloring on a large piece of wood, which looked like a mural. I found that to be very inclusive because there were so many things to partake in no matter the age. All in all, this experience was fun and I hope to go to more of these in the future.

Olivia- Lunar New Year Celebration

2024-04-28 22:29:36 UTC

At the Lunar New Year event, I learned that there is a different New Year in Korean culture other than January 1st. There was a presentation explaining the holiday as well as the different zodiac signs that go with certain years. I was born in the year of the Rooster and this year happens to be the year of the Dragon. I learned that there actually different dragons and this year is the year of the Blue Dragon and to commemorate that we made very cute blue bracelets. In addition, we watched a performance from traditional Korean musicians who used specific kinds of drums and cymbals to create different sounds. It was super loud but the music was good and I definitely couldn’t do it myself. We also had traditional Lunar New Year snacks like rice snacks and one called Yakgwa which was very sweet but delicious. We also made little luck pouches called Bokjumoni which are used to store money given to you for the New Year. They were very cute once I learned how to fold them properly. Overall, the event was fun and I enjoyed learning about Lunar New Year with my friends.

Olivia-MFA Hallyu Exhibition

2024-04-28 22:43:23 UTC

At the MFA Hallyu Exhibition, I was able to see a lot of different representations of how Korean Culture has been brought into popular culture. A lot of the focus of the exhibition was K-Pop and there was music playing the entire time. At the entrance there was a part specifically dedicated to Gangnam Style by Psy so that was the first song I heard. It was explaining how Gangnam Style really propelled the “Korean Wave” forward. Then in the main room there was a giant screen playing K-Pop music videos. I recognized Idol by BTS, Boombayah by Blackpink, Love Scenario by IKON, and Bang Bang Bang by Big Bang. There were also stands with examples of clothing worn by K-Pop idols. There was also a room dedicated to Korean film and TV which featured my favorite part of the exhibit which was a recreation of the Parasite bathroom set. There was also a lot about Squid Game in that section. Then, there was a part talking about the modernization of Hanbok’s which are a part of Korean traditional wear. Then at the exit there was a wall of lightsticks which are used at K-Pop groups concerts. (This is where I took my picture and the NCT and IKON lightsticks are kind of in frame). There was also a K-Pop dance challenge at the end which I did not attempt because I knew I would embarrass myself. Once I exited there was a shop that sold books by Korean writers as well as Korean art and a lot of BT21 merch which is a brand made by BTS. Overall, it was a very fun experience and I wish it were bigger!!!

Korean Japchea and Chinese Boba event- Crystal Olagunju

2024-04-29 21:07:03 UTC

This was the event where we made Japchae and boba It was really fun and my first ever time trying this Korean cuisine. We all gathered in the kitchen of myles. the kitchen was small but cooking the food all together made it more enjoyable. the ingredients I which we made the Japchea required glass noodles, soy sauce, peppers, onions and more. It was fun to have the steps of making the it in Korean, kinda made it more fun to read. As we cooked we all took turns chopping, reading the steps, cooking the boba and the japchea on the stove. The food was very flammable and I was happy I was able to join. I would love to do this again.

Japanese festival. Lunar New year festival ChinaTown- Crystal Olagunju

2024-04-29 21:25:00 UTC

On March 18,

Me and My friends had went on a Valentine's brunch to eat out for valentines day and after went to ChinaTown to see the festival. It was very beautiful seeing all the different color dragons, the details of each dragons design was very eye catching and the loud bangs of the cymbals made you look over. There were also so many fire crackers and I found it amazing just to see the culture of lunars new years comense. I had learned that when the dragon would go up to your door that you had to pay them with gifts and that what each dragon did which I found hilarious but truly amazing. We also received red envelopes for when we purchased something at a mochi doughnut place. the even elope was gorgeous, with an gold emblem in the middle it made the envelope stand out so much.

Amanda Duan - French and Italian Cheese Showcase

2024-04-30 21:56:19 UTC

Me and Hui went to the French and Italian Cheese Showcase at the Global House Lounge. It was held on April 9th at 6:30 p.m. The event was a cheese gallery. At this gallery, students can taste various kinds of cheese. These include stracciatella, gorgonzola, brie, and so on. Besides offering cheese samples, each station provided additional information. They printed out an introduction for each cheese. These introductions were placed beside the cheese boards. I tried several different kinds of cheese at the event. In total, I sampled 7 different types. Among all the cheeses I tried, one stood out as my favorite. It is called emmental. Emmental cheese can be enjoyed in many different ways. One popular way is melting it. Once melted, it can be added into sandwiches and burgers. Personally speaking, I think this cheese would be a great match for grilled cheese sandwiches. Additionally, emmental can be grated or shaved. It is often used as a topping for salads. For me, it also pairs perfectly with salads. This is because the cheese gave me a nutty flavor when I tried it.

Amanda Duan - MFA Hallyu! The Korean Wave

2024-04-30 22:15:12 UTC

I went to the MFA Hallyu exhibition on April 1st. In the exhibition, I was able to have a comprehensive understanding of Korea's history, the evolution of fashion, idol culture, as well as film and television culture. Not only could I see the performance outfits of idols up close, but I could also view the bathroom scene from the movie "Parasite" and a physical display of costumes from the TV series "Squid Game". As a K-pop fan, this event had many details that impressed me. For example, at the entrance of the gallery, the music "Kick It" and "Next Level" were played, and there were walls displaying music videos and light sticks of various K-pop groups. Also, in the visitor center in the central courtyard of the venue, there was a photo booth machine branded with 'Hallyu'! What impressed me the most was the wall at the exit, where everyone could freely express their thoughts about the Korean Wave. Many fans expressed their love for their favorite idols! As a fan of EXO, I walked around and only found one fan who wrote "Happy 12th Anniversary EXO". I immediately took a photo and then picked up a marker to write "EXO, we are one" and posted it next to that fan's message, hoping to contribute a little more strength to our EXO support wall!

Wesley Choi Hallyu!

2024-05-01 03:33:44 UTC

The second culture pass event was the Hallyu Korean wave at the museum of fine arts. I went with my friend Mayara who is a huge K-Pop fan. It was a little tricky to find the exhibit at first I didn't realize how big the MFA is. We wandered the halls for a little bit searching for the entrance and accidently ended up at the gift shop. After we finally got to the entrance the exhibit was awesome there was so many cool references and outfits to all the modern Korean pop culture. I really liked the Squid Game exhibit where they had the costumes and a display of the set. One of my favorite things was the video displaying the rise of PC 방s and the popularity of Starcraft. I remember playing a lot of Starcraft when i was younger with my dad. The movie displays were also cool with examples for Parasite. I learned a lot about how Korean culture has changed in the modern day. Fashion and culture have combined with classic tradition to create a new kind modern fashion. There was amazing new kinds and styles of clothes that showcase the modernity of Korean design. Overall the MFA was an amazing experience the museum had a lot to offer and I would love to go again. One thing I found really funny was an animated minecraft video parodying Gangnam style. I remember when the video first came out and when the Gangnam style craze took over pop culture. I think it was one of the first moments that saw Korean pop culture enter the world stream and mainstage.

Kadiatou- Japan Festival

kdiallo6_1 — 2024-05-01 22:48:53 UTC

I went to the Japan Festival last Saturday with Rachel and her roommate, Marie. When we first arrived we took a look around all of the different activities that they had. The festival was packed with a lot of people and there were so many distinct outfits from anime cosplay outfits to traditional Japanese clothing. Some of the possible activities were watching people perform music, buying Japanese food at different food stations, and buying souvenirs from small pop up shops. One of the first things we did was watch a musical performance where a man was playing a drum-like instrument in traditional Japanese attire. I’ve never seen the instrument before and the sounds that it was creating were very interesting. After that, we went around looking at the different food stands that were there. The food ranged from various Japanese cuisines from karaage to ramen. Since there was a lot of people present, most of the food lines were very long. We also took a look at different shops where they sold stuffed animals, anime merchandise, and other items from Japan. After looking around for a bit, we decided to get a teriyaki chicken bowl with rice from a food station at the festival. The food was pretty good and I really enjoyed learning a bit about Japanese culture. Outside of watching some anime shows and eating food native to Japan, I haven't really explored Japanese culture. Therefore, this was a great opportunity to get a window into Japanese culture and art. I look forward to learning more about Japanese culture in the future.

Kadiatou- Korean Language Exchange

kdiallo6_1 — 2024-05-02 03:01:49 UTC

I participated in a language exchange with a student, Jiwon, from Korea on BU’s campus. I was really surprised by how good my partner’s English was and beforehand I was nervous about how to communicate with her effectively. We met up on BU’s campus multiple times and we each exchanged questions and answers pertaining to American and Korean culture. I also conducted this language exchange with another student in the Korean department, Kirsten. The first time we met, we did a couple of icebreakers to get to know each other's age, interest, and food that we enjoy. In our following meetings, we usually met up to get food and had discussions about both America and Korea. I was very curious about the contrast of cultures between America and Korea outside the media perspective so I asked Jiwon a lot of questions pertaining to that. My partner mentioned how in Korea people usually always dress up and look their best even to just go to the convenience store so she was really surprised to see a lot of people wearing sweatpants/comfortable clothes outside. She also talked about the contrast of beauty standards amongst men in Korea. This opportunity allowed me to practice my Korean a bit and even learn a bit of the trendy phrases in Korean culture. It was also an interesting experience as I haven’t really met any people that grew up in Korea around my same age. This language exchange allowed me to practice my Korean and gain insight into Korean culture.

Raysa - Hallyu Exhibition at the MFA

2024-05-02 03:04:12 UTC

Raysa - Japan Festival at Boston Common

2024-05-02 03:45:58 UTC

This past weekend Sarah and I were able to attend the annual Japan festival at Boston Common. There was so much to look at and explore that it was overwhelming to start, along with the fact that there was so many people. The park was full with a lot of different food spots and mini "store' tents. We first looked at an interactive mural where everyone was welcome to add their spark and draw/write whatever they wanted. We then looked at some of the stores, there were a lot of food options representing different aspects of Japanese dining. We also got handmade earrings from one booth that resembled traditional Japanese fans and flowers. We were able to walk by a small version of a traditional Japanese temple, and seeing that up close, and learning that people carry it on their shoulders was mind-blowing. In the background there was traditional Japanese music playing, which really made it feel like we in Japan, so that really added to the experience.