Chi Tran
class year: 2019 | major/minor: business management & communications major, professional writing minor
Where were you born, where do you live now?
I was born in Hanoi, Vietnam and I’m currently working and living in Saigon, Vietnam (known officially as Ho Chi Minh City).
What cultures did you grow up with? (what were some traditions you had in your family? favorite foods, your environment?)
I grew up in Hanoi so my culture was largely Vietnamese, with lots of traditional foods like pho, bun cha, misogyny, etc. But my family wasn’t the most traditional, we ate out a lot and eat a lot of foreign foods (mostly Japanese and American) and I watched a lot of American TV growing up. My extended family also consists of mostly academics who travel the world for work and study so I’ve been exposed to the “global citizen” ideology ever since I was a kid.
How do you connect with your family?
I guess I call them every few weeks or whenever I feel like I should. Many people who live in third world countries and are exposed to poverty from a young age don’t know how to express love because they’re too busy trying to make a living, so I just try to buy them nice things whenever I could. Sometimes, if I have the energy, I confront them (unsuccessfully) about the abuse they’ve inflicted on me.
What is your relationship with your racial/cultural identity? (do you feel connected? Has it changed over time?)
When I first came to Goucher (and the US), I did. But it wasn’t a good feeling; I felt alienated as the weird international student. I never thought being from Vietnam was “cool” like some of the white kids told me. It’s merely a chance of fate that I’m Vietnamese and they’re American. Like sometimes (not all the time), you either feel exoticized, ostracized, or just dismissed altogether for being from a different country on top of already being a person color. So gradually, when I started to get more comfortable and more “American”, I decided to stop telling people where I’m from. I was never ashamed of my origin, but I got really tired of seeing the change on people’s faces when I tell them I’m from Vietnam. I’m tired of the “where are you from?” question. The question itself felt incriminating, like its purpose was to scan you before letting you in on whatever the person asking has to offer. And mind you, it’s not just “the white man” who makes me feel alienated. Some Asian Americans do it too, I think out of feeling superior to me? Thanks to the rise of Asian American figures in pop culture, though, I can finally embrace being Asian a lot more than I did in 2015. But to this day, I still feel like it’s unwise to tell people that you’re from a different country. Unless, obviously, if you’re from a European country.
How has your upbringing influenced your view on the world? (What values do youhold? How do you see others?)
Not to shit on my own culture, but there’s a lot of misogyny and heavily imposed gender roles, a lot of it stemming from Confucianism (thanks, China). Lots of rules on how a woman should behave. I know misogyny is only one issue among many others, but since there’s no racism in Vietnam (because everyone is essentially the same race), it creates a big part of a societal structure that constantly shames women and holds them back. But I was raised in a pretty academically elite social circle. A lot of the women I know are smart boss bitches. My familial background made me defiant to all of that. I’ve tried to become this person who’s accepting of people who are different from me and who doesn’t rely on societal structures to make decisions.
How did you decide to come to Goucher?
They gave me the most funding lol.
Were/are you a part of the Asian Student Union* or other clubs and events relating to Asian identity?
I was part of ASU until my sophomore year and I worked at CREI for 2 years.
During your time at Goucher were there forms of racism, microaggressions, or discrimination towards Asian students? (on campus/ off campus?)
Duh. I feel like if you didn’t experience them, it’s because you weren’t aware they were microaggressions.
What was your experience like in the classroom?
See, here’s where being an international student takes its toll more than simply being “Asian”. I felt put on the spot a lot because people expected me to share my non-American experience. Most of the time, that’s not the case and no one actually cares. But in classes that have the tiniest bit to do with international studies, I get called on a lot. Or I get mistaken for another Chinese student.
What are some of your favorite memories at Goucher?
I really enjoyed getting to know some of my professors and Karen Sykes, formerly the International Student Advisor. I made a lot of great friends at Goucher as well.
Do you think Goucher supports its Asian students? (administrative, curriculum, socially)
I think it does, to some extent, but it definitely does not support all marginalized students equally.
How could Goucher better support its Asian students?
Offer more language classes lol. Bring back Chinese classes and introduce Korean, maybe?
Kyeonji Kim
class year: 2019 | major/minor: art history major concentration in arts administration, studio art minor
Where were you born, where do you live now?
I was born in Bucheon, South Korea and I am currently living in Bucheon.
What cultures did you grow up with? (what were some traditions you had in your family? favorite foods, your environment?)
I grew up with Korean culture. I grew up in a metropolitan city near Seoul which is the capital. I grew up with a fairly normal family setting except my dad is a deaf pastor in Korea so I got to interact with a lot of deaf people in Korea while growing up which is different from average Koreans. So, I grew up with Korean Christian culture which is extremely conservative and sexist (I went to a normal church with hearing(?) people) which I hated so I think that made it easy for me make up my mind to come to United States when I was 15 years old and start going to high school in Lancaster PA. And the culture shock was pretty big because Lancaster was middle of nowhere compared to where I grew up. And I got to realize after I left Lancaster that the new, American, culture that I was immersed in was also the conservative white Christian culture. No wonder why I didn't really like it... lol....... but I'm glad that I could even see that fact now. I can't really pick one favorite food because I love food but if I pick one that'll be unfamiliar to most American will be gopchang - beef small intestine. It's amazing when grilled and goes perfect with some soju.
How do you connect with your family?
I rarely talk to my family to be honest but I talk to my mom everyday now and we're so much closer since I moved back to Korea last year due to covid-19 (september 2020). I still live by myself but I live in the same city with my family so I see them more often. When I was back in the states, the time difference was a big inconvenience when it came to connecting with my family, so I'd go for a whole week or more without talking to my family...
What is your relationship with your racial/cultural identity? (do you feel connected? Has it changed over time?)
My relationship with my racial and cultural identity was weird before I left Korea and still weird. I am a do-whatever-you-want and mind-your-own-business type of person. And I am sensitive about having privacy so I respect others privacy too. Which is almost the opposite of most Koreans way of life.. They are group thinkers and cares a lot about others, how other people think of them, extremely invested in other peoples lives and businesses in general. I just couldn't figure out why that matters that much and I still can't understand. I think that's why I could adjust to American individualistic culture and felt much more at ease living and interacting with people there. It's still uncomfortable for me when it comes to being a part of this Korean society and interacting with them. My relationship with my racial and cultural identity is 'uncomfortable'.
How has your upbringing influenced your view on the world? (What values do you hold? How do you see others?)
I lived with my family in Korea until 15 years old. Like I already mentioned, I was exposed to another niche(?) part of Korean society which was deaf people, so I got to learn how to accept the fact that everyones a little different from each other and there's nothing wrong with it. But also disabled people's rights in Korea was definitely undervalued(?) so I grew up seeing people who were actually living in poverty or having to deal with unjust situations only because of their disability. However they were one of the most giving and naive people I've ever met. So I guess the exposure to the darker reality of life at young age did affect me in a way to be more cynical at life overall and untrusting others. Well I still love to interact with people, and try to see good in them but it takes me a long time to actually open up to someone and trust them. Since I lived in two different countries, I met a lot of people from different backgrounds and stories, and I definitely can't say that I always had good experiences. However, I am thankful for the wonderful people that are in my life.
How did you decide to come to Goucher?
They gave me the most scholarship and financial aid.I just didn't really want to spend that much money on college...
Were/are you a part of the Asian Student Union* or other clubs and events relating to Asian identity?
Yes I think I was a part of the Asian Student Union but to be very honest here, I may have attended the events like three times in total out of my whole college years...
During your time at Goucher were there forms of racism, microaggressions, or discrimination towards Asian students? (on campus/ off campus?)
Well it's been more than a year now since I have left Goucher so it's hard for me to remember whatever happened in the beginning of my college years. Honestly, racism, microaggressions and discrimination towards Asian students were far worse in the private christian high school I went to in Lancaster so Goucher college really felt so much safer than what I had to deal with for 4 years. However, it wasn't exactly racism towards Asian students but there definitely were some racist faculties especially at the library which I was working at. I wonder if they were let go yet. However, I felt like I wasn't dealing with exact same kind of racism like other poc students since there is the stereotype of Asians being the 'model minority'. However it is just as offensive... and I don't wanna talk about which is worse treatment or not,,, I really think the faculties at Goucher were wonderful and respectful when it came to this issue. But of course off campus I had to deal with people with Asian fetish which is the majority of Americans I feel like.
What was your experience like in the classroom?
Mostly great, if there was a problem, it was more of a personal one between me and the professor, not race related. Not saying that the experience in the classroom was perfect tho. But again, I think it is more of a personal and unrelated issue. Most faculties are just amazing at Goucher tho. That's the only reason that kept me going to this college. I'm very grateful for most of them.
What are some of your favorite memories at Goucher?
stir fry by noppol: I miss him and wish that he is healthy and happy :`)
woods: if you know you know
senior week: week of no pressure no responsibilities and it's like a throwback to your very first week of college that you'll never get to experience again ;(
going to my favorite classes : April's art history classes, Zahi's modern arab culture class, Tom's intro to data analytics class, Matt's drawing class, and Dawley's modern japanese history class
staying up late at the ath with burnt coffee from alices getting nothing done but chatting with other procrastinating friends.
Do you think Goucher supports its Asian students? (administrative, curriculum, socially)
The faculties were mostly very supportive. Curriculum wise tho, it definitely could improve but it's a small liberal arts college without asian studies major or minor so maybe it's just too much to ask.
How could Goucher better support its Asian students?
The international student advisor Karen is absolutely lovely, wonderful and supportive, so don't lose her first of all for all the international students. but I don't know if CREI overall was honestly that helpful or supportive. I just felt like CREI has been pretty slow dealing with racists incidents on campus overall. So, I think in order to support Asian Student at Goucher, Goucher should hire more Asian or other poc faculties and gotta let go racist faculties with timely manner.
Phong Le
class year: 2003 | 6th year as a faculty member (as of 2021) | major/minor: mathematics major, music minor | faculty position: associate professor of data, mathematical, and computational sciences
I’m not an artist. I do work in the Makerspace to support artists. I also frequently participate in local food competitions. Often this involves creative integration of techniques and ingredients I grew up with. My entire career has been spent in proximity to art and artists. One common thread in my work as a mathematician and the work of artists is abstraction. It can be used to create distance or create proximity. It allows us to change how knowledge or an experience is represented and often, to generate new ideas. I find the most interesting mathematics and art both play with concrete, specific experiences and seek commonalities through abstraction.
Where were you born, where do you live now?
I was born in Orange County California. I current in Baltimore City and lived for several years in Buffalo, New York.
What cultures did you grow up with? (what were some traditions you had in your family? favorite foods, your environment?)
I grew up in a Vietnamese household. We lived in a largely mexican and white neighborhood. Our home a blend of American and Vietnamese traditions. Much of my family is Catholic, though we were raised Buddhist. The usual dishes you may be familiar with in Vietnamese culture, Pho and Bánh mì were not eaten very often. We ate food very specific to our region of the country such as Banh beo hue which is a steamed rice cake and shrimp dish. We also always had a big memorial day where we remember all of our relatives who have passed and occasionally attended new years and harvest festivals in Little Saigon.
How do you connect with your family?
We have a group email chain going right now where we are discussing the possibility and details of a family reunion. My family lives all over the country so it is rare to have us all together in the same place, though I’m never too far from some relative. I don’t hear much from my family back in Vietnam. I hear about them mostly from my mom or my aunts and uncles in the US.
What is your relationship with your racial/cultural identity? (do you feel connected? Has it changed over time?)
My culture and race have always been important to me. I feel it now more than ever. I do not live near a large Vietnamese community as I had growing up. Like all relationships, my connection to my culture is a living relationship that needs intentional space and attention. Now, with the rise in anti-asian sentiments and hate crimes, my relationship is more outward facing. It is not enough to know the experience of Vietnamese-Americans. I have found myself spending more time learning about the experience of other Asian American groups such as Chinese, Indian, and Korean communities. My feelings seem less relevant at this time. We are a “category” and I feel that I must support us as much as I can.
How has your upbringing influenced your view on the world? (What values do you hold? How do you see others?)
Being in a family of refugees and immigrants brings a sense of exclusion. Growing up I was fixated on what we were not and what we could not do or be. It took me many years to recognize that while I was focused on assimilation, so much of the Vietnamese-american community was focused instead on building a new home and a new identity, similar but not identical to where we had come from. I think we are always struggling with what to hold on to and what to let go of. Sometimes I see the world in terms of this tension.
How did you decide to come to Goucher?
I wanted to go far away from home. It turned out I had relatives who lived in White Marsh. Goucher was very different from anyplace I had been to before. I was far away from the Mexican and Vietnamese communities I was more familiar with.
Were/are you a part of the Asian Student Union* or other clubs and events relating to Asian identity?
I was! We were a very small group. We had a really nice new years festival and ran some other limited programming throughout the year. Sometimes it felt perfunctory, other times it felt like a small familiar space that allowed me to engage more deeply with the unfamiliar Goucher.
During your time at Goucher were there forms of racism, microaggressions, or discrimination towards Asian students? (on campus/ off campus?)
Of course! I remember getting asked to leave a party cause the host felt uncomfortable with me being there. That will always stand out in my mind. There were many other instances of administrators confusing me with another Asian student (constantly!). One of the more bizarre instances a friend was teasing a group of us about class privilege, but then felt it was important to apologize to me specifically afterwards and over-explain the joke, assuming the joke did not apply to me because I was not white. That felt like a very Goucher thing to do.
What was your experience like in the classroom, professional settings? (as a student & professor?)
As a student I was largely treated with kindness and support by the faculty and staff. As you could imagine back then, it was understood to some degree that I would never study someone who looked like me or I strongly identified with. Occasionally my experience as an Asian-American was met with curiosity, but rarely with ignorance or hostility. I will say, compared to my friends and classmates, I had higher expectations of my peers with regards to race than I did anyone other group at Goucher. That was unfair I suppose.
Now, as a professor, I see things more in terms of potential. What can Goucher become? I try to hold my students and colleagues to higher standards. We have come a long way since the time I was a student. We are certainly better, but I think I see more clearly how far we are from our ideals. We spend a lot of time talking, and planning but have not made significant changes to educate and elevate out community. These struggles are certainly not unique to Goucher but I also do not see how we are moving toward a solution. My experience is one of frustration with inaction. We continue to be centered around white feelings and white gestures, but lack a will to go beyond that.
What are some of your favorite memories at Goucher?
As a student, it was the Hackysack Club. This is something I did all four years. We were aggressively inclusive in that we asked everyone to participate on a near constant basis. I do not advocate this as a general recruitment strategy or organizing tool, but it worked for us. The communities you build are just as important as the communities you are born into. To some folks in FMS, I’ll always be “That hackysack kid.”
As a faculty member it has to be graduation. I get such a feeling of pride. I get to see my students at their very best. I also often get a meet parents and get bigger glimpse into the entire person and not just as a student in my class or in my program.
Do you think Goucher supports its Asian students/faculty/staff? (administrative, curriculum, socially)
In 2003 as a student? hell no. As a faculty member? Also hell no.
How could Goucher better support its Asian students?
I want to pick apart the definition of Asian student. So much of what unites us is how we are seen by others. What part of my experience as a child of refugees connects me with someone whose family was in an internment camp, someone who came to this country for work or someone who was adopted into an american family from an Asian country. I do not think those distinctions are well understood in our community and we are in many ways all treated the same.
Educating the community on some of the nuance I mentioned in the previous response would be a big step in the right direction. I know we are trying to increase our international student enrollment. I believe many will come from Asian countries. We are courting international student, but have not done the intense internal work to figure out how best to support them. I worry that the cultural challenges this will bring will be hard on everyone, those students most of all.
More broadly, how will our perpetually stalled conversations and inaction around race impact a community that is often ignored in those race conversations? Will we use Asian bodies to prop up our diversity metrics while underserving other minority communities? I would like to see any conversation around Asian students include awareness and training around the complex and fraught relationship between Asian and Black communities and how it is used by white people to damage all of us.
Aaron Grossman
class year: 2021 | major: professional & creative writing
Where were you born, where do you live now?
I was born in Honolulu Hawaii and now live in Tysons Corner in Northern VA.
What cultures did you grow up with? (what were some traditions you had in your family? favorite foods, your environment?)
I grew up with influences from the Chinese, Japanese, and Hawaiian cultures. While I lived in Hawaii we would celebrate girls day “Hinamatsuri” and boys day “Tango no Sekku”. Some of my favorite foods include mochi, chasubao, spam-musubi, luau luau, and poi.
What is your relationship with your racial/cultural identity? (do you feel connected? Has it changed over time?)
Japanese is only a quarter of me and I am a very mixed person. I feel as though I don't identify with just one culture or race. Most people just assume I am Hawaiian. It has changed over time in the sense that I have a much better understanding of my culture and who I am in relation to my race.
How has your upbringing influenced your view on the world? (What values do you hold? How do you see others?)
Treating others the way you would want to be treated, the golden rule of respect is something that I value and believe in. Understanding and identifying social constructs is something that I try to use to guide my actions in life. I also try to be positive and find the silver lining in certain situations.
How did you decide to come to Goucher?
Originally I was deciding to come to Goucher because they wanted to recruit me for lacrosse. After a number of campus visits and an overnight, I realized that Goucher was a place I could picture myself being at for my undergraduate years. Goucher was more than just an opportunity to continue playing lacrosse, I really loved the campus location and the very inclusive community
Sonia Sukumar
class year: 2020 | major/minor: business management major creative writing minor
As a poet, I focus on writing about mental health and feminism, making sure I emphasize intersectionality, which I relate to my broader understanding of the world. As a dancer, I focus on my culture and storytelling with the fusion of different dance styles such as Tap, Bollywood, Kathak, and Hip Hop.
Where were you born, where do you live now?
I was born in Minneapolis, MN and I currently live in Inver Grove Heights, MN.
What cultures did you grow up with??
I am Indian! My mom is from Thane, Maharashtra and my dad is from Bangalore, which is in the south of India. I spend time in both places every summer and have great memories from my time there! My favorite food is Pani Puri and I love connecting with friends and family over food and poojas as we celebrate various festivals, such as Diwali and Holi.
What is your relationship with your racial/cultural identity? (do you feel connected? Has it changed over time?)
I feel very connected to my racial and cultural identity. I love spending significant amounts of time in India and really appreciate the diversity that exists throughout India, as well. I have always felt connected to India and my heritage and over time, I learn and grow even closer to both. I love doing my part to educate my communities about issues around the world that pertain to South Asia, as well as discuss the various aspects of Indian culture, as well as how it differs with each state and city in India.
How has your upbringing influenced your view on the world? (What values do you hold? How do you see others?)
From Indian culture and Hinduism, which are closely intertwined, I have learned a lot about kindness and respect. It’s very important to respect people, animals, and nature. Also, diversity is so important to have in various environments and I strive to educate others and encourage diversity. In addition, education is very important to me and part of Indian culture is respecting books and learning.
How did you decide to come to Goucher?
I decided to come to Goucher because I wanted to be part of the tight-knit community it offers and still be able to explore the bigger city of Baltimore. In addition, there are a lot of dance opportunities (Tap and Bollywood) in Maryland that I am grateful to have been a part of.
Were/are you a part of the Asian Student Union* or other clubs and events relating to Asian identity?
I founded Goucher’s South Asian Student Association (SASA) in order to create a space for South Asian students on campus to have candid discussions about topics and issues that pertain to South Asia, as well as celebrate different South Asian festivals and holidays together. I was also co-captain of Goucher’s Garam Gopher’s Bollywood Fusion Team and choreographed performance pieces (traditional dances, storytelling dances, and fusion dances) to music from a variety of South Asian countries.
What are some of your favorite memories at Goucher?
I have loved connecting with other students of color at Goucher at various events and performances organized by SASA, Garam Gophers, or other student groups! Everyone who attends our events love asking questions and they show so much interest in Indian culture, art forms, and discussion topics. I’m grateful that I was able to experience these amazing memories at Goucher.
Do you think Goucher supports its Asian students? (administrative, curriculum, socially)
As an Asian student at Goucher, I have felt very supported by Goucher and both SASA and Garam Gophers have formed close connections with other groups around the Maryland area that focus on Asian identity, particularly different colleges and universities. Being a South-Asian student at Goucher who hosted many events and encouraged involvement by reaching out to different groups and members of the Goucher community, I have noticed that the South-Asian community at Goucher is small. By founding SASA and doing more outreach for Garam Gophers in order to include more members of the Goucher community, such as commuters and students who were unfamiliar with SASA and Garam Gophers in the past, I feel that I have created spaces at Goucher for current and future South-Asian students and hope that the groups grow in the coming years and over time. By simply encouraging involvement and participating in many Goucher events throughout the past few years, connections within both groups, the overall Goucher community, and the greater Baltimore community have grown immensely and I'm so happy I was able to connect with so many people.
Maya Miller
class year: 2021 | major/minor: environmental studies and spanish
Where were you born, where do you live now?
I was born in Guangxi, China and now I live in Brooklyn, New York
What cultures did you grow up with? (what were some traditions you had in your family? favorite foods, your environment?)
I have one parent who’s white and one parent who’s Chinese, so I grew up with a mix of cultures. Most of the schools I’ve gone to were mainly made up of white kids and all of my family spoke English at home. But I also took Mandarin lessons for a long time and spent lots of time in Chinatown with my Chinese grandparents. Every weekend, my family would meet my grandparents in Chinatown for dim sum and we’d go to a big banquet in Chinatown for the lunar new year. My favorite foods growing up were jook (rice porridge), char siu bao (steamed pork buns), and watermelon juice.
How do you connect with your family?
Due to covid, I don’t see my grandparents very much now, but before, I would talk to them and hang out over dim sum or at family dinners at my cousin’s or aunt’s house. My parents and I cook together and go on outings to parks or museums
What is your relationship with your racial/cultural identity? (do you feel connected? Has it changed over time?)
When I was in middle school, I really didn’t want to be Asian. Back then, the beauty standards and media that I consumed were very white-centered. I began to think that since I didn’t fit into those standards, I wasn’t attractive or interesting. Around that age, I also was exposed to racist stereotypes for the first time; so I started to dislike who I was and just wanted to become white. This definitely isn’t the case now, I love who I am and my cultural identity. However, I’m now aware of the fact that many people who made me feel bad about being Asian when I was younger now love boba tea, anime, and dim sum. And although the world of makeup and beauty are a lot more inclusive to include POC, it makes me feel uncomfortable to see that things like big lips and narrow eyes are trendy now, when they were seen as unattractive and undesirable by so many people only a few years ago. In a way, I feel protective over those aspects of my culture from people who only like it as an aesthetic.
How did you decide to come to Goucher?
I knew that I wanted to go to college out of state, so I looked at a bunch of liberal arts schools on the east and west coasts. I applied to a lot of schools but got declined from the ones I really wanted to attend. I took a tour of Goucher and made a friend who was also going to go there, so I decided it was a nice next best
Were/are you a part of the Asian Student Union* or other clubs and events relating to Asian identity?
I went to one ASU meeting a while ago
During your time at Goucher were there forms of racism, microaggressions, or discrimination towards Asian students? (on campus/ off campus?)
Not that I can think of on campus… However, there were a few people who said some insensitive stuff on dating apps I used while at school
What was your experience like in the classroom?
It was fine
What are some of your favorite memories at Goucher?
Going out to Baltimore or Towson for dinner with friends, hanging out in my friends’s dorms, and taking walks in the woods alone.
Do you think Goucher supports its Asian students? (administrative, curriculum, socially)
Maybe…? To be honest I don't really think Goucher thinks about its Asian students. Or maybe I’m just unaware of examples of Goucher’s support
How could Goucher better support its Asian students?
I know that forcing people to be friends doesn’t work, and if you put a bunch of people in a group and make them do an activity together, that doesn’t mean that they’ll be friends, but I think that Asian and non-Asian students need to interact with each other more. To me, it felt like most of the Asian students on campus self-segregated, only hanging out with other Asian people. I think it would be good to have non-Asians engage in discourse and spend time with Asians and vice versa