Student Spotlight: White Girl Who Celebrates Lunar New Year

She did horseback riding once!

Lunar New Year is the most significant holiday in East Asia and Southeast Asia. The University of Iowa holds a large number of Asian American students who come together with various student organizations hosting Lunar New Year events with entertainment, food, and performances. The Doily Allergen spoke to a white performer, Korie Affetish, about an upcoming celebration on campus.

DA: Korie, it’s nice to meet you. Could you tell us a bit about your background?

Affetish: I am a junior studying Psychology with minors in Japanese and Korean. I studied at Yonsei University over the fall semester. I’m an ISFP. I have so many Asian friends, so when I heard that they would be celebrating Lunar New Year on campus I signed up because I’m genuinely obsessed with them!

DA: What does the annual Lunar New Year show mean to you?

Affetish: As a bisexual white girl who spent my formative years on stan Twitter, I’ve never felt more accepted by the Asian community on campus! Asia has produced some of my favorite music ever! I’m a part of some KPop dance groups on campus. I’ve even joined some Asian multicultural shows just to dance ILLIT. To me, Lunar New Year is about having fun and being creative. It’s the Year of the Horse and I just feel so connected to them. I did horseback riding for a year, but I hated being around all those rich white girls. Afterwards, I got into KPop. I’m just so well-immersed in Asian culture that sometimes I think in Korean. ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵)

DA: Wow. That’s impressive! What’s your favorite food to eat during the Lunar New Year?

Affetish: I actually can’t stand any kind of Asian food, so I’ve asked catering to leave me a bowl of plain butter noodles for the day. ^ 3 ^

DA: Oh! How did you survive studying abroad in Asia?

Affetish: Plain white rice and fast food places like KFC. Just the chicken though. Nothing else. I was in Japan and went to the KFC so I felt the spirit of Satosugu. I almost--

DA: You know what? Next question. Favorite Lunar New Year tradition?

Affetish: Watching my favorite K-Pop idols’ WeVerse lives. Hyunjin looks so hot in his hanbok. (♡‿♡)

DA: Um… you said you’d choreograph the Girl Group Pop dance, right? Can we get some insight into that? What song are you dancing to? What will you be wearing?

Affetish: Oh yeah, the song is in Vietnamese. I don’t know anything about Vietnam. Originally the group was supposed to be wearing something traditional, but the high neckline was ugly and made me feel like I was choking. I have sensory issues. Instead, I asked the group if we could change it. We’re all wearing something different but coordinated. I’ll be wearing a leather bralette and shaking my ass in a pleated SHEIN miniskirt. I love performing on stage because it makes me feel empowered.ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ

DA: And what is your relationship to the Lunar New Year?

Affetish: I’m just at a very Chinese time in my life! (˵>ᗜ<˵) !!

The event’s main coordinators provided The Doily Allergen a statement.

“We just hope we come across as an inclusive student org. I asked Korie if she wanted to be the masked man for the lion dance. She said the drums were too loud for her ears,” said Kevin A. Nguyen, President of Southeast Asian Student Union.

The Doily Allergen wishes everyone a Happy Lunar New Year full of luck and prosperity. May the Year of the Horse strengthen you all!