As international students, we are always worried about not fitting in, not finding the right group of friends and all the other concerns that come with being far away from home. I’m from Pakistan –a country that is a 21 hour journey, and sometimes more, by plane. Many of you who live in Asia or South Asia would understand how difficult and expensive it is to make that journey. But one thing that has really helped me adjust to this new environment is trying to find interesting ways to find your place at the University of Southern California (USC).
I am going to use this blog to tell you what you can do to make yourself at home in this beautiful city. You should always know that you are never going to be alone. As per Fall 2018, there were 11,308 international students enrolled at USC and they’re all in the same boat as you and me. We all miss the food at home, we miss being with our families and celebrating exciting holidays like Thanksgiving or the Chinese New Year and we miss our friends that we have grown up with. So my first tip to you is to keep an open mind, put a brave face on and take this as a challenge. While doing this, it is important that you be yourself.
You will find people who will be in awe of your diversity and they’ll be curious about your culture and your life back home, you will find people who you gel with perfectly and also some who you won’t gel with at all. But you’ll only really find a close group of friends if you put yourself out there.
‘Tis the season of pumpkin spice lattes, snuggling up on your couch, and holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving. Fall is a time to breathe in the crisp cool weather, break out your sweaters and scarves, and of course eat everything pumpkin. Here are some of my favorite fall traditions.
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Photo is author’s own
One of my favorite traditions is going to local pumpkin patches with my family or friends and picking out pumpkins to bring home and decorate. Most pumpkin patches sell things like hot apple cider and some even have small rides!
Carve a Pumpkin
Photo is author’s own
Once you’ve selected your pumpkin, you get to carve it up and decorate it! You can find simple ideas online and most stores sell relatively inexpensive pumpkin carving tools! Here’s an example of the pumpkin that I carved last year!
Indulge in Pumpkin Spice Latte Everything
Photo from Pixabay
When I was younger, the most memorable food of the season was pumpkin pie and candy corn but now that PSL (pumpkin spice lattes) have taken over, there is a whole world of pumpkin spice flavored things that are full of festive flavor.
Enjoy the Warmth of Bonfires
Photo from Unsplash
The best part of any bonfire is S’MORES!! It you’re like me and love late night sweets then this is the fall tradition for you. A s’more is a toasted marshmallow sandwiched between Graham crackers and chocolate. This sugary concoction is best served over an open flame but if you live in an apartment there are also microwave and oven safe variations.
Binge with Movie Marathons
Photo by Marian Ladiona on Flickr
“Halloween Town”, “Hocus Pocus”, and “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” are my absolute favorite fall movies and I definitely recommend watching them to get into the Halloween spirit. Fall weather tends to be chilly so a great way to embrace the season is to cuddle up on the sofa with a mug of hot apple cider and marathon a bunch of feel good movies. A popular alternative movie night is to binge watch horror movies (but I am a scaredy cat and I do not enjoy scary movies!)
Go Fake Camping
Photo by Paul on Flickr
This is one of my favorite childhood memories. My friends and I always loved the idea of camping but didn’t love the idea of bugs, a lack of restrooms, and long drives so we would set up a tent in the living room or backyard. We would bring in snacks and sleeping bags and pretend that we were in the mountains exploring the great outdoors.
Bake Cookie and other Fall Treats
Photo by Kurman Communications, Inc. on Flickr
There’s nothing more cozy than a warm oven wafting the smell of fresh baked goods. The oven warms a chilly house and the baked goods make the room smell amazing. PLUS, you get fun treats to share (or you can eat them all yourself!)
Soak in the Season at Disneyland
Photo by Loren Javier on Flickr
As an avid Disney fan, one of my favorite things is watching the park transform each season. The fall season brings out pumpkin desserts and spooky decorations!
I hope you have an amazing fall season and that you get to make memories that turn into traditions!
Brianna is a first year graduate student at the Keck School of Medicine studying Global Medicine. She is Chinese, British and Irish and currently lives and studies at the HSC (health science campus). Born and raised in Southern California, Brianna received her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and medical anthropology. Brianna is passionate about research and volunteering and loves trying new things. In her free time she enjoys reading, dancing, trying new foods, and traveling! Brianna was a resident adviser in a community that had international housing and her family hosts international high school students!
It’s a late night on campus and you’re working hard. But then it hits you. The craving for boba. Now, since you’re a USC student you have two major options for boba nearby: Boba Time and Cup o’ Joy. But which one should you choose to give your money to? Here is a helpful guide to cure your late night boba cravings.
Boba Time
If you’re on the West side of campus, Boba Time is the closest option to you. Right by the local Taco Bell, all you have to do is exit out of the gates by KAP. It’s orange themed décor welcomes you as you take a step inside. Boba time has a modern feel and extensive menu. They serve coffees, slushes, smoothies, milk foams, milk teas, etc. They even sell acai bowls and macarons for those late-night munchies. The acai bowls are around the same price as Nektar and Amazebowls, around $8. The boba however, is much cheaper. And guess what? Unlike most places, they don’t charge extra for boba! If you order just a milk tea or iced tea, it’s around $3.25. What a steal!
Cup o’ Joy
If you’re on the East side of campus, Cup o’ Joy is probably the closer option. Walk past Gateway and up the street past CVS. It’s a little bit of a trek, but if you love boba, you’ll power through. Cup o’ Joy has a menu very similar to Boba Time, however boba costs extra. The good thing about Cup o’ Joy is that it’s surrounded by other food options. Nearby you have, Subway, Ono’s, and Blaze, to name a few. If boba isn’t enough to satisfy your hunger, you can easily go to another restaurant. However, there’s really no need. Cup o’ Joy, in addition to its many choices in beverage, has food to. You can get a meal set consisting of rice and Chinese fried chicken or just a snack of takoyaki. But if you’re just in the mood for a drink, compared to Boba Time, Cup o’ Joy costs just a little more money, a little more than $4.
Which place is more worth it to visit? That’s really up to you and your taste. If you’re a boba connoisseur, then neither of these places will please you. But if you want something cheap and nearby, you have these two great options.
