Cute Meets Kawaii: UT Tyler Edition

Over the weekend, I went shopping with students from Shimane University here in Tyler at the Broadway Square Mall. This is not the first time I went shopping with students from Matsue, but this group of students was different than the first group I escorted to the mall. It was a new experience for me entirely.

The infamous Octo-Cutie

The first group of students (Group A) had both young men and women in it and they were randomly divided amongst us eager GATE students by whoever wanted to go to which store and who showed up at what time. When my group first showed up to the mall, our advisor Ashley instructed us to find the Shimane students in Buildabear. This baffled us, but once we got to Buildabear, we found our pair of students to show around the mall. One was quite puzzled as he looked at a pink octopus/squid hybrid with lollipop wings and the other student was standing beside him holding a little skeleton costumed hedgehog as though trying to understand why in the world such things would exist. Upon asking me what it was, all I could think to say was: “It is cute.”He smiled, content with my answer and repeated it back to me. “Cute. Kawaii?” While before he wasn’t entirely sure what I was saying because of the language barrier and acting out what we were trying to say with charades, he got the message clearly. 

It's looking into your soul!

After a little deliberation amongst themselves, the two young men from Shimane University asked us to take them where they could buy casual shirts. As we browsed through the racks of JC Penny for men’s clothing, he brought everything that was pink, sparkly, or animal print to my attention with one simple word: “kawaii?” In turn, I tried to figure out exactly the look the two were after. There were so many options: polo shirts, t-shirts, long sleeved shirts? The (all girl) GATE group I led searched relentlessly, finding all kinds of cute t shirts and business shirts, each time the question asked was: “do you like it? We think it’s cute!” Each time, we struck out.

 It wasn’t until we tried Old Navy (where I discovered the fox sweater) that we found the perfect look. It was a simple white collared shirt, with brown shell buttons. Suddenly it clicked with our group. This was the perfect shirt for what we were looking for! Both groups looked at each other and asked the following: “Do you like it? We think it’s cute.” The shirt was so simple and so clean that we fell in love with it instantaneously. While not initially what we (GATE) was looking for, the purity of it was what made it so special. After a makeshift fashion show in the middle of Old Navy, they bought the shirts.

To an onlooker who had no idea what was going on, it would look like a field trip and nothing more, nothing less. To us, it was something more than a quest for a shirt. We could’ve played charades all day trying to figure out what each group was saying, but at the end of the shopping trip, we were both searching for something we found “cute” or “kawaii” that each other liked. The friends that shop together, stay together.

Universal Cuteness <3

Global Holidays: Ssssnakes are in Season This Chinese New Year

Most people have heard of the Chinese Zodiac calendar that associates you with an animal, depending on what year you were born. For example, because I was born after the Chinese new year date in 1993, I am a rooster. Cock-a-doodle-doooo!!  However, most people don’t know much about the holiday behind the horoscope or what it means. I’m here to introduce you, dear readers, to the basics of this interesting holiday and where it came from.

Chinese New Year is a period of several days that used to be considered the first days of the year according to the ancient lunar-solar calendar that the Chinese were accustomed to before the world adopted the standard calendar that we have today, and it always falls between Janurary 21 and February 21 on the first new moon. This year it falls on Sunday, February 10, 2013.

Take Advantage!

Whenever I get the chance, I am going to be buying some new music, the soundtrack to this legit musical called 1789:  Les Amants de la Bastille [The Lovers of Bastille], a French production based on the events of Bastille Day, the French independence day.  Were it not for French courses that I took a few years ago, I would not be able to appreciate and understand the music.  (Now I just have to get over to France so that I can actually see the musical. :D)

Every year, there are an increasing number of ways to experience different cultures, both in class and outside of class at UT Tyler.  Here are just a few of these opportunities:

• Language courses:  By learning a new language, you learn about another culture.  On top of that, you get something awesome to put on your resume; as companies continue to expand around the globe, they want bilingual employees.  Here at UT Tyler, you can study Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish, just to name a few.
• Culture classes:  There are several courses with a multicultural focus, including courses in art, English, history, political science, and sociology. Of course, the best way to learn about other cultures is to experience the culture at it's heart, which is possible through UT Tyler's travel-study courses.
• Multicultural Events: The Cowan Center offers numerous events that students may attend for free.  The GATE program schedules a variety of programs with a global focus throughout the year;  the Jazz Band and the Choir offer periodic performances as well.   Many of our own students get to have their artwork displayed at the Meadows Gallery, which is open to students free of charge.  If those do not pique your interest, then there are also lots of student organizations to participate in to broaden your horizons.

As you can see, there are lots of opportunities to explore the world around you right on your own university; try to take advantage of these opportunities if you can! :)

Free Movie

Tuesday night, I went to the UC Theatre for a free screening of a movie called Cairo Time. At first, I thought it was going to be a documentary about Egypt. I was totally into a documentary, regardless of how long I’d have to sit still. After I looked it up I discovered that it was a romantic drama, I wasn’t sure if I’d be into romance.

I thought twice about going. Maybe it would be lame? It was free and I had already invited a friend, so I attended anyway.
Best decision I’ve made for myself in a while.
It was a magnificently filmed and acted movie, even with the gooey lovie dovie parts.

Aside from that, it was a movie of clashing American and Middle Eastern culture. The way women were seen, specifically, interested me.

In one part Juliette, the leading lady played by Patricia Clarkson, enters a coffee shop to find her friend Tareq, played by Alexander Siddig. She talks to him for 5 minutes of the movie, and finally notices that everyone was staring at her, and asks why. She finds out that coffee shops are only for men! Everyone that was staring at her didn’t say anything because “it wouldn’t be polite”.

The GATE Program, or Global Awareness Through Education, is a two-year residential learning program and a series of planned events on campus that are designed for students. They are globally engaging, culturally diverse, and always fun.

 Free movies, too.

Diverse Student Life

UT Tyler is home to students representing around 45 nations. We have a diverse student body and just walking around you will be sure to run into somebody from a country far far way. Here's some pictures taken from our cafeteria displaying a few of the multiple nation's flags we represent.