<p>Are there no Asian / African- Americans (other than Untilted) who actually go to UVa who can comment on whether it's easy to make friends (and close friends) with people of all colors, or whether people are expected to sit at the "Asian" or "Black" table if they're not White? Is interracial dating common or would people stare and gawk? Are there events and activities that only White / Black / Asian people go to, or is everyone welcome anywhere? Do minorities get shouted at from cars? If your group of friends has White people in it, you aren't known as "the Asian/ Black guy", are you?</p>
<p>Sorry melli, I don't understand why you're calling yourself an Asian-American when you're an international student and you go about talking to your friends in Chinese. Most of us don't have the temptation to speak in an Asian language because, well, we simply communicate better in English.</p>
<p>Well vincente you may not have meant it but that sounded like a slightly contemptuous personal attack to me... but hey. When I talk about myself I call myself an international student (actually, have I called myself that on this board? Don't remember.) because I've lived overseas most my life. However, I was born here, also lived here, and spent all my summers here. I'm also instate, so I'm tempted to say 'bugger off' to you deriding my choice to speak in the languages I know, but each to their own opinion. Maybe I was speaking to that friend in Chinese because he actually is international. =)</p>
<p>And it's really not as bad as you might be fearing. There is no Asian or Black table -- I'd consider that a silly notion to consider happening at UVA. Mmph, I don't know about the commonness of interracial dating but people don't gawk. Everyone is welcome anywhere, but you'd probably feel understandably uncomfortable if you (as an Asian) showed up to say a predominantly African American event celebrating African American history. Minorities definitely don't get shouted at from cars, again, I'd consider that a silly notion to even consider happening at UVA. Yes it's easy to make friends with people of all colors, and you're not known as the Asian/Black guy in a group.</p>
<p>"Sorry melli, I don't understand why you're calling yourself an Asian-American when you're an international student and you go about talking to your friends in Chinese."</p>
<p>If she's asian and living in america, i consider her an asian american. Unless she started school with a t-shirt saying "I'm white washed, come talk to me" everyone else perceived her as an asian-american as well. So how easily she made friends and her experiences are pertinent. </p>
<p>I'm also an asian-american who applied to the fall term this year. Spent 5 years growing up in China before i moved here and i visit my relatives every other summer. UVA's not my top choice since I'm really interested in McIntire anyway, but the issues brought up are interesting. I didn't actually consider that since I live in NJ and race isn't much of a problem (at least IMO). I don't have any first hand experience with UVA, but from what I gathered after reading everything was that the predominant racial barrier is self segregation. So i'm sure it won't be a problem for anyone that's outgoing enough. And if it's safety you're worried about, walk around in groups if you can and just follow basic college safety measures. Well that's my .02. Good luck to everyone that applied this year. and if you do go vincente, i'm sure you'll be fine.</p>