The Chinese Language Program hosted a dumpling activity on November 18^th, which was the inaugural event of a new series ‘Learn Chinese by Cooking Chinese’ run by the language program. Students learned dumpling-related vocabulary in Chinese, food appreciation etiquette, and dumpling-making techniques. The participants made more than 200 dumplings under the guidance of instructors and GATs. The dumplings were cooked on-site. The best moment arrived when the dumplings were ready to eat. Students were happy with their creations. They also saved some of the dumplings and shared them with family and friends. It was great fun!

The Japanese Language Program held an Autumn Festival (秋祭り) for students on Friday, October 25^th, 2024, at the Learning Services Building Courtyard. Students enjoyed a lively event filled with various Japanese activities, including karaoke, cosplay, a photo booth, and more. Traditional Japanese games, like tug-of-war (綱引き), added to the excitement. The event was supported by the Center for East Asian Studies and the Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI).

On September 26^th, the Korean studies faculty successfully wrapped up the final cook-off event of the “Campus Kimchi Masters” scholarship contest. This month-long event was a special collaboration between the Department of East Asian Studies, the Center for East Asian Studies and the Korea Agro-Fisheries Food & Trade Corporation (aT Center Los Angeles). For this special collaboration to promote K-Food and K-Culture globally, aT Center Los Angeles awarded scholarships totaling $3,000 to the winners of the contest.

In the weeks leading up to the main event, the University of Arizona students, staff, and faculty entered recipes featuring Korean kimchi—ranging from familiar to reimagined dishes—for a chance to be selected as a finalist to compete in the cook off at the main campus event.

This unique, hands-on cross-cultural exploration of K-Culture was covered by a local journalist in a feature story for the Tucson Sentinel.

The eight finalists were:

Arianne Law – Junior, Operations and Supply Chain Management & East Asian Studies

Ariel Heinrich – Junior, Microbiology, with Minors in East Asian Studies & Molecular and Cellular Biology

Hyunjin Yang – Junior, Exchange Student from Seoul National University, Sociology

Lily Nicole Jones – Junior, East Asian Studies & Religious Studies

Meagan Rausch – Freshman, Political Science & East Asian Studies

Seina Okamoto – Junior, International Student from Japan, Linguistics 

Shu-Chien Yang – Graduate Student, East Asian Studies

Syriana Coronado – Freshman, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science & Molecular and Cellular Biology

The main event of September 26^th took place in Bear Down Gym and featured special talks by Dr. Wooje Lee from the World Institute of Kimchi, James Beard Award semifinalist Chef Ji Hye Kim, and Chef Richard Park—as well as performances from U of A’s very own K-Pop dance team, UnderSkore.

During the highlight of the event—the cook off—the eight finalists whipped up their best kimchi recipes for a panel of judges that included Min Ho Kim, President of aT Center Los Angeles, our event speakers, Dr. Lee, Chef Kim, and Chef Park, and EAS professors Sojung Chun, Sandra Park, Jieun Ryu, Joshua Schlachet, and Sunyoung Yang.

The third-place scholarship of $500 went to Arianne Law. The second-place scholarship of $1,000 went to Syriana Coronado. And the first-place scholarship of $1,500 went to Lily Jones.

Congratulations, Campus Kimchi Masters!

The Chinese Language Program hosted the 2024 Chinese Talent Show on September 20^th to celebrate the Moon Festival. 12 groups of students at all levels, from CHN 101 to CHN 415, competed in the event. Elizabeth Mei Badowski, from CHN 301, and MiLee Vogel, from CHN 202, served as emcees. The contestants showcased a wide range of talents, including artwork, calligraphy, singing, dancing, tai-chi, flute, piano and trumpet. In addition, two graduate students Huafan Su and Leyin Xu, performed hit songs in China as part of the celebration. About 90 students, their families, and friends attended the event. 50 mooncakes were given out as prizes to raffle winners. The event was sponsored by the Department of East Asian Studies and the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Los Angeles.

Winners

First Place:

• Amanda Akyol

Second Place:

• Jemma Jasso
• Izabell Molina
• Cole Nagoda
• Abby Reich           

Third Place:

• Trinity Blackburn
• Ava Jefferson
• Shalan Wu

Participation:

• Ronnie Beason
• Jacquiline Boe
• Atticus King
• Colin Koprowski
• Heather Lambeth
• Grace Leav
• MiLee Vogel

Congratulations to all the winners and participants!