After getting your food, you stand in the dining hall looking at the alien sea of white faces, desperately trying to find the familiar asiatic features. And for a moment you stand there in a vague sense of panic, wondering where you're going to go, your eyes surveying the room, your head moving from side to side like a security camera. More small talk with complete strangers: 'Hi, I'm Andrew, nice to meet you, where're you from, where's your dorm, you like it, what're you thinking of majoring in, ah nice, what'd you do last night?'I went to a frat party last night to see what it was all about, aside from the free drinks it was downright bizzare and uncomfortable. For one, I didn't go with any friends, or rather, all the 'friends' I went with were of the caucasian persuasion and were quick to abandon me once we got there. Secondly, I'm male and no one really wants to talk to a guy who's a complete stranger in the dark. Thirdly, I hate making small talk especially in the dark and when the music is too loud to hear anything. So I had two drinks and left for a square dance.
The square dance was surreal especially after the two drinks. A man in a cowboy outfit yelling out instructions while we danced and skipped about to some mad old record. But at least my friends from ISO were there, and that made all the difference.
Later, we went over to a senior's house for a birthday celebration which was really an excuse to party. It was almost all international students, almost all asian in other words. The experience was completely different from the one earlier in the night, a real stark contrast - it was a blast! Sure, I'm suppose to be stepping out of my comfort zone and all, but gosh, sometimes I just don't have the stomach for it! And yes, it really is quite a strange feeling not being part of the majority after being so all your life, it gives a new perspective to things, looking out into the world from the eyes of a minority.
