I don’t know about you, but according to my humble observation, the weekend of Valentine’s Day definitely got 50 shades darker. I am not referring to the hoards of vulture-like singles waiting for Feb. 15’s chocolate sales, nor am I referring to the actual film release. I am referring to the fact that everyone seems […]
Justina Huang
Dating or Discriminating?
“I’m just not attracted to Asian men,” she says. “But to each their own, right?” I freeze. This is hardly like preference towards ice cream flavors, I think. This is personal. However, upon second thought, even when it comes to ice cream flavors American polls consistently show preference towards vanilla. In her attempt to make […]
Cultural Chameleons: Third Culture Kids
Keanu (left) with his family at his dad’s retirement ceremony on the military base in Ansbach, Germany. As a campus, we are well acquainted with international students, but few of us are aware of another breed. This type of peculiar persons includes President Obama, Kobe Bryant, King Jong Un and Cady Heron from Mean Girls. […]
Why Personality Tests are Horrible
If you were anything like me, your mandatory Freshman Seminar course started off with an incredible dose of awkward. As the nicest professor in the world kicked off the semester by asking the class why they signed up for the particular course, your classmates took turns finding creative ways of saying, “I didn’t get into […]
Stampedes: From the Shanghai Skyline to Target
“Ten, nine, eight, oh look at that. It’s midnight. Happy New Year,” my friend scoffed. I curled my toes so that I can feel them. It was bitterly cold and I had been trying to find a taxi home since 10:30 p.m. More than 300,000 eager partiers had already congregated by the Shanghai waterfront for […]
There are Contraception Options
Art by Sacha Irick Pepperdine’s Student Health Center uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition of contraception when considering students options, according to Student Health Center Director Nancy Safinick. The CDC’s definition of contraception is “the deliberate use of artificial methods or other techniques to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse.” […]
Pepperdine is a Christian University, Get Used to It
As a tutor on campus, one of the main complaints I hear is that religion should be taught independently of academics. Why do we need three classes on religion? Why did the Convocation speaker mention God? Three whole times? What is this, a reference to the Trinity or something? It is as if these complaints […]
Visibly Western: Musings from the Sweatshop
My mother is quirky, or maybe I just don’t get her. One year, I asked her what she wanted for Christmas. Despite being mentally prepared for an answer that was painfully practical, I was still shocked to hear that Saran wrap was a top contender. When I asked her what she wanted for Mother’s Day, […]
The Cost of My Skyline: A Reflection on Shanghai
Answering where I call home is always tricky. As I say “Shanghai,” rhyming it with an American vernacular to “Slang-high,” I grimace and anticipate the shock. “Wow, your English is really amazing,” is usually the first response. Following a series of “Wow, were you adopted?” or “Did you come here when you were really young?” […]
Until the Pink Ribbon, I Wasn’t Aware of Breast Cancer
I was not aware breast cancer existed until I saw your pink ribbon. As Breast Cancer Awareness Month just came to an end, we say goodbye to Halloween and pink ribbon paraphernalia. Pink merchandise, along with no-shave November, the ice-bucket challenge and a host of other forms of activism that generate a visceral response from […]
