This week our Campus Cutie talks with us about all things travel and her incredible jobs all over campus. Catch her with her Alpha Chi sisters, at the International Center, or as a crew member for concerts!
Age: 20
Major: International Studies – Sociology
Minor: Chinese Studies
Hometown: Arcadia, Los Angeles, CA
Relationship status: Single
What are you involved with on campus?
I’m in Alpha Chi Omega and I have two jobs, one at the music department and one with the International Center. I get to work with the stagecrew at Mandeville Auditorium and the Conrad Prebys Music Center. As for the IC, I mentor first-year international students and helping them acclimate to life at UCSD.
Why do you love being involved with each one?
With Alpha Chi, it’s given me a lot of direction in my college life, and a support network and social outlet that I definitely would have never found without my sisters. When I go to concerts, I look around at the staging, naming all the lights and the whole experience has definitely made me appreciate the little things a lot. As for my mentoring position, I really love the fact that I get to interact with students from different cultures on a regular basis.
What is something you want to do before graduation?
The fun answer would be that I really want to do a spontaneous trip to Tijuana, (really anywhere), or get invited to a Fraternity formal.
What is your hidden talent?
I don’t know about hidden talent, but I love to cook and bake and I do it pretty often. I can probably (attempt) to make anything you’d like.
What are three words that describe you?
Honest, compassionate, outgoing
Fondest memory of college so far:
First would probably be the first trip my new friends and I made to Blacks beach on the third day of school my freshman year. It was just a fun afternoon and the first real bonding experience that I had with friends at UCSD.
One of my favorite memories in the past couple years probably has to be recruitment, being able to goof off with my sisters, sing along to famous songs, and dance around the room knowing that I am with the girls that know me best.
TRAVEL ABROAD Q AND A
When did you travel abroad/ how long did you go for?
I went abroad during Spring Quarter 2015 for 4 months. My program was 5 weeks in London, and 11 weeks in Paris. During my time abroad, I went to 10 different countries (Scotland, Ireland, Britain, France, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Hungary, and the Czech Republic).
What are your favorite places?
My favorite places were Madrid – because the food was BOMB, I drank Sangria all day, the city was colorful and vibrant, and it was the first time I was in weather above 70 degrees in 2 months; Budapest – because the city was beautiful, the baths were peaceful, nightlife was lit, and the boys were so handsome; and Disneyland Paris – because Disneyland, but with a focus on all that was French: Ratatouille, Beauty and the Beast, and the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Best cafe/restaurant abroad?
When I went to Bordeaux in Southern France, my roommate and I went to this small restaurant called L’Autre Petit Bois. We were expecting some good wine because it was Bordeaux, so we each got a white wine and rose (yes, two glasses each can you blame us?). They were literally the best wines we had our entire trip, and we ordered this baked foie gras that was so good I’m salivating thinking about it right now. The ambiance was perfect, our waiter was super friendly (and cute), and it was an overall amazing evening.
Favorite dessert you encountered:
Hands down the macarons from Pierre Herme in Paris. If you ever get a chance to go to Paris, GO TO PIERRE HERME. They have multiple locations and they will put any other macaron you’ve had to shame.
How is that culture different from American/Californian culture?
The French put a lot of stock by manners, so everybody is super polite and engaging. I found conversations to be very open and constructive. They are very frank about their opinions on topics that are taboo in the U.S, which is derived from their tradition of philosophy and rational thought.
Also, they are quite open about drinking and affection. “We have to be open about everything because we have no space!” It was definitely true. The French don’t have the same idea of personal space that we do here in California. They’ll do the big (kiss) on your cheeks, or speak to you very closely because their idea of personal space is just different.
Most adventurous thing you did?
There were two times my plans changed last minute, once, my roommate and I missed our flight to Madrid, so we decided to book a 17 hour bus ride from Paris the next day. Instead of having 3 days in Madrid, we had 24. We still killed it though and I had a blast. The second thing that happened is I booked my trip to Budapest 3 days before leaving and spent 3 days in one of the best cities in Europe.
Tips and tricks for those planning on visiting or traveling to those destinations?
Pub Crawls are a bunch of fun and you meet people from all over the world! Also, definitely try to withdraw from ATMs instead of exchanging money because they give better rates. Honestly, the best thing that we did while traveling was to not have too many expectations or a set itinerary. We just decided the 3/4 things we COULDN’T miss, and then did those and then just did everything else as it came up.
One thing you wish someone had told you before going:
I just wish somebody had told me to take more chances. I did so much and had a blast, but there were definitely times when I could have taken the opportunity to meet more locals. If I could go back, the only thing I would change is to have never said no to an opportunity.
Where’s your next destination and why?
I actually just came back from Taiwan and Hong Kong. I ditched a week of school to take a last-minute trip to Taiwan and Hong Kong with my brother and mom because life is too short to say no to a paid trip. Anyways, I’m applying for an internship in Kyoto for next summer because I’ve always wanted to travel to Japan and get the chance to intern abroad again.