<p>what is the social scene like for korean-americans at usc?</p>
<p>This is a very…vague post with a lot of really ignorant implications.</p>
<p>haha i meant like…</p>
<p>is there a big presence?
how active is ksa?
do you see a lot of koreans at frat parties?
do they tend to stick together or talk to others?</p>
<p>i visited a school a few weeks ago where all the asians talked only to each other… it was as if they attended a different school than the rest of the students</p>
<p>Being Asian at USC, although Chinese, there is segregation race wise as you allude to in your above post. But a lot of Asians are involved with the PHC and IFC scene haha. It’s what you make of it! You can be in more of an Asian American niche, international Asian niche, or a general student population niche, whatever you want haha. KSA is pretty tight knit from what I’ve seen. They have KSA exclusive parties and everything. </p>
<p>And yes, Koreans on campus talk to Koreans, and non-Koreans on campus. In English.</p>
<p>sAfuRos is kinda right, so excuse me if some parts of the following also sound somewhat ignorant.</p>
<p>Statistically, South Korea is the 3rd biggest country of origin for international students at USC, according the the 2010 USC International Student Enrollment Report published by the Office of International Services. </p>
<p>I’m Korean and speak fluent, unaccented Korean as well as fluent, unaccented “white” English. I don’t do jack with and have zero interest in doing jack with KSA or APASS or any other ethnic organization, hate having to deal with OIS, and hang out with lots of white people. In fact, I can probably safely say I have no Korean friends, or at least none un-whitewashed enough for me to significantly consider so. And I’m fine with that. So is everyone I know. In fact, I’m sure many, if not most, whitewashed Koreans (twinkies, as some refer to whitewashed Asians) do exactly what I do. </p>
<p>If you want me to be honest and make a judgment call, it does seem to me like fob Koreans hang out a lot in their own groups and speak Korean to each other (some of the conversations I’ve overheard are absurd). I don’t really have any desire to try to be part of that group because aspects of Korean culture **** me off often times (but there are aspects to American culture that **** me off, too, to be fair). I have to deal with cultural discrepancies in a family setting, I have zero desire to have to deal with it in a social setting. You want me to call you “hyung” or “noona” because you’re a year older than me? Yeah, forget it, not happening. Oh, all the other Korean kids do it? Then go hang out with them. </p>
<p>So the bottom line is, everyone dances their own dance. If you wanna hang out with lots of Korean kids, do KSA, and listen to K-pop all day, go for it, no one’s gonna care. If you don’t, whatever, do your own thing, no one cares. The best part about college is that everyone does their own thing and no one cares. Why does is matter what people “tend to do” or if there are lots of Koreans at frat parties? You hang out with who you want, do what you want. Have fun, do what you want, no one’s gonna think you’re a disgrace to your motherland or something if you don’t hang out with Koreans all the time. </p>
<p>I’d say the whitewashed Koreans who rush rush IFC/PHC while the less whitewashed ones rush the Asian frats/sororities.</p>
<p>you can make it whatever you want it to be.</p>
<p>as a korean-american i had a lot of asian friends. not necessarily just korean–i had a ton of chinese, taiwanese, japanese, etc friends.</p>
<p>i avoided hanging out with the KISA people in general, although i met several individuals that were fine to hang out with.</p>
<p>i also avoided KSA because unlike all the other asian-american culture groups, KSA is the only group that doesn’t really promote their culture. all the other groups put on a culture night at bovard, hosts various charity events, etc. KSA (or at least 4-5 years back) just drinks and eats korean bbq.</p>
<p>you can also rush asians frats/sororities like BOP.</p>
<p>once again, it’s all up to you. if you choose to hang out with all or none of the aforementioned groups/organizations, no one will think any more or less or you for it.</p>
<p>All I can say is: don’t limit yourself by staying within your own ethnic group. You’re going to miss out on so much of college if you do.</p>
<p>word ^
i have friends in KSA, other asian org/frats but would never join one myself</p>
<p>and a lot of koreans just hang out in k-town since it’s right down fig</p>
<p>fobs only talk to fobs for the most part, and occasionally to whitewashed Asians. I believe USCs asian population is around the neighborhood of 25%. Personally I spent all my life in Asia but I read and write perfect “white” english. My advice is to socialize with everyone, asians and non asians. It never hurts to learn about another culture or point of view, and really any previous background is irrelevant as long as someone has something meaningful to say.</p>