Here is my playlist of the week: http://8tracks.com/reidspence1/hyper-paradise
(includes tracks by: Flume, Major Lazer, Disclosure)
Hi! Yay you’re reading my blog!
I know you’re interested in Wellesley. That’s awesome. I hope this blog helps you learn more about this place, and that my entries are a way for you to vicariously experience what I am seeing/hearing/doing/eating as a first year. Before I get to the interesting stuff, though, maybe you’d want to know whose life you’re reading about (if not, you know, that’s fine too.)
My name is Lia. I’m from Japan – Tokyo born and raised! I attended International/American schools from Kindergarten through High School. I’ve visited the States before, but this is the first time I’m living here. It’s a bit of an adjustment but things are going pretty well so far. In my free time I watch TV Shows (any Grey’s fans? Suits? Newsroom? New Girl?), look for new music, read, and spend an inordinate amount of time on YouTube watching videos (any Nerdfighters? DailyGrace viewsers? CTFxC?). I’m planning to pursue a career in medicine in the future – hopefully pediatrics. I consider myself to be a feminist. I also like Cheez-its.
Here’s a question I’ve been asked a lot in the past 4 months: WHY WELLESLEY??? I honestly couldn’t tell you when I first heard about Wellesley. But I do know that over time, I came to know that this was the place for me: a small, liberal arts college removed from a major city full of distractions. My whole life I’ve been surrounded by the ongoing chaos of a large city – I knew it was time I tried something new. I wanted to be challenged academically, to be at a place where people actually liked learning and discussing and reading. I surprised myself (along with many of my peers and family members) by choosing a women’s college, but as of right now, I have a gut feeling that I chose right.
If you are an international student, I recommend attending Pre-Orientation. Big Kudos to the Slater International House (a gathering of students from all over the world here at Wellesley). The program consisted of touring different parts of Boston (picture: me and my friend at North End in Boston) getting to know the Wellesley campus, as well as the “American ways”. As an American Citizen who hadn’t ever lived in America, it was great to ease into the transition of living in a place where I don’t particularly look or sound foreign but felt a bit out of place. I met some great people during the three days, and was able to share my experiences with other TCKs (Third Culture Kids).
This semester, I’m taking Human Biology, Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Hispanic Studies, and a writing course titled Gender in East Asia. In this last class, I’ll be exploring topics concerning gender in historical and contemporary China, Korea and Japan. My hope is that by taking courses like this one at Wellesley, I’ll be able to find my place here in my new “home”, and still remind myself of where I’m from.
Clubs and Organizations are a big thing here. I’m still not 100% sure what groups I’ll be joining, but I’ve attending meetings for Fusion (for students who are of mixed-race/identity or have interest in topics concerning mixed-race/identity) and Japan Club. At both meetings I was able to meet like-minded people as well as awesome upperclasswomen who have so graciously taken me under their wings. There are still a few meetings I’ll be going to this following week, so I will let you know about those next week.
A couple of weeks ago, some friends and I went to a Music Festival called Boston Calling. Ohh man. What a good time. The artists (FLUME, Kendrick Lamar, Major Lazer, Flosstradamus, Passion Pit) were amazing, the weather was perfect … Needless to say I was in quite a bit of pain from being on my feet all day and intensely sleep deprived the next day, but it was all totally worth it. Venturing out to Boston takes a bit of time and planning but it’s possible! For a city-girl like me, knowing that Boston isn’t too far away gives a bit of comfort being out here in the woods.
Okay, so to those of you who have lived outside of intensely populated urban areas, this might not be a big deal. But there is So. Much. Open. Space around here. I’m not used to being able to see this much sky, or walk on fields of grass (not patches, FIELDS). And this is all ON CAMPUS too. Can you tell that I’m still not over how beautiful this campus is? Let the picture speak for itself…
Lastly, here is a picture of a swan.
Yup. That’s a real swan (it hissed and everything). Two of my friends and I were on a run around the beautiful Lake Waban. I was admiring the incredible view when all of a sudden I see something blocking the way. I stop suddenly, and scream instinctually, scaring my friends behind me. (I’m ornithophobic. I have an irrational fear of birds). As one of my friends took out her phone to take a picture, and the other laughed hysterically at how nonchalantly the swan was sitting, I was backing up. I was planning on going back the way we came, back to safety.
My encounter with the swan was somewhat symbolic of my journey to Wellesley and what the past few weeks have been like for me:
It was completely unexpected, I was worried about my health and safety, I was completely out of my comfort zone… But I was with friends who led the way when I couldn’t, and who told me it was all going to be alright. Now, we can look back and laugh (at both the swan and my ridiculous scream) and it’s come to be a great memory.
I’m excited to share more of my experiences here at Wellesley with you. Share, comment, and check for new posts every week!
-Lia