Events throughout the year range from campus events creating Asian culture awareness to various member social events allowing members to bond. Click the event banner to learn more!
The Moon Festival (or Mid-Autumn Festival) is a celebration of family and unity, normally falling around the middle of September and early October. In the past at the scenic Thousand Hills State Park, a pavilion is reserved for holiday moon gazing and the enjoyment of the traditional moon cakes with family and friends. Starting in 2008, the Moon Festival was brought to campus and was celebrated in the SUB Down Under, drawing approximately 200 guests. SSAS members shared the tradition with entertaining performances.
2008 Celebration: Sept. 14, 2008 SUB Down Under
2009 Celebration: Oct. 3, 2009 SUB Down Under
SSAS held a Taichi Kickoff event where tai chi was introduced with brief background information such as history and health benefits, followed by a demonstration of the basic forms and moves. This was a kickoff event for weekly tai chi lessons by SSAS member Abigail (Yizhou) Li.
Event Date: Oct. 29, 2008 SUB Alumni Room
A new event in 2008, Asian Food Night displayed select dishes from East Asian countries. SSAS members prepared and served the dishes as a small fundraiser for the society. Countries represented include China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand. Dishes included Kung pao chicken, California rolls, Bulgogi (Korean BBQ), Vietnamese sticky rice, Thai chicken curry, and more. Bubble milk tea was also served.
For 2009, SSAS is twisting it up and making it a weeklong event, Asian Food Week! There will be a different specialty each day and bubble tea everyday. Each portion costs only $1.00! On the menu are: sushi rolls, wontons/dumplings on a stick, sweet red bean soup, Korean dubokki (spicy rice cake), Vietnamese spring rolls, and of course bubble tea! Stop by the Quad each day for delicious food. 11am-3pm (or sell-out).
Event Date: Nov. 16, 2008 Ryle Main Lounge
Event Date: Nov. 16-20, 2009, Quad between BH and the Library
Chinese (Lunar) New Year is new years according to the lunar calendar and is considered the biggest holiday of the year. The celebration usually takes place at King’s Buffet with about 100 guests. Tickets sell fast as there is limited seating. Guests joyfully ring in the new year with King’s Buffet’s wonderful specialty new year’s dishes and a wide range of entertaining acts by SSAS members and friends.
Event Date: Jan. 25, 2009 King’s Buffet
Asia Fest is a new event starting in 2009. Set up like a festival, many table booths displayed various and interesting aspects of Asian culture that included educational displays, games, activities, food, and more. Booths this year include origami, calligraphy, chopsticks game, Chinese and Vietnamese language tables, mahjong, tea, Nepali culture, Chinese face reading, feng shui, traditional clothing, and a photo booth. Guests could circle the room and easily learn while having a blast! Admission to the event is free while food is inexpensive.
Event Date: Mar. 27, 2009 SUB Georgian Room C
To fund our events, we have a main annual fundraiser of selling fresh roses for Valentine’s Day. There is a selection of red to colored roses bundled singly, in a half dozen or dozen. We also offer on campus delivery for extra charge. It is quite a challenge preparing roses the night before, but we turn it into quite a social event!
Event Date: Feb. 9-14, 2009
Our member social events change every year. Socials we have planned throughout the year include road trips to St. Louis and Kansas City, pot-lucks, hot pot social, spring roll social, a Halloween party, movie nights, volleyball games, Chinese dinners, and going out to eat together. For 2009, our year-end social was a BBQ Potluck at Thousand Hills State Park.
Other events we sponsor include weekly Chinese Language Tables in Mainstreet Market where we try our best to converse in Chinese for an hour (though trailing off many times). We welcome all who have an interest in the Chinese language, or anyone who wants to meet new friends! At times we also hold small charity fundraisers for Operation Smile asking passersby for donations. In addition, we participate in events such as International Dinner and International Idol. This year we took second place with a wonderful skit. Check it out under Pictures/Videos!
