Freshers Week: Building Friendships in the ESEA Community at University
Alright, so you’ve landed at uni, and Freshers Week is kicking off—it’s buzzing, but also a bit nerve-wracking, right? Everyone’s out here trying to meet new people and settle in. But for us in the ESEA community, it can sometimes feel like we’re on a different wave. With the mix of cultures and everything, finding your people might feel like a mission. No need to stress though; there’s bare ways to connect with like-minded East and Southeast Asians and feel right at home. Get in on the ESEA Contemporary Scene One of the best ways to kick things off is by hitting up events that are all about the ESEA community. Loads of societies and orgs are now creating spaces for us to vibe, bond, and just hang out. If you’re after cultural or varied events, there are various ESEA organisations, such as the London Chinese Community Centre, and B.SEAn. They are typically volunteer-led organisations who organise events to bring the community together. If you’re after nightlife, Official K Events is Europe’s largest Kpop Club Nights organiser. If you have a love of Kpop and after a fun night, this could be a good option. If you’re in London, Thai Square in Trafalgar Square is also the Asian night to-go. Every Friday and Saturday night, the club is packed with trendy Asians dancing the night away. Whether you're Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, or repping another ESEA background, you're bound to meet people who get where you're coming from. The Asian networking scene is more alive than ever. Your Uni’s ESEA Societies Are a Goldmine Nearly every uni in the UK will have some kind of ESEA-related society—whether it’s an Asian society, an international asian student group, or something similar. These groups are the perfect places to build those solid friendships. Keep an eye out for ABACUS (Association of British Chinese University Students). Almost all universities in the UK have one, and despite the name, it’s typically open to all Asians. Most universities will also have specific ethnic societies, such as Filipino Society or Vietnamese Society. Sign up at Freshers’ Fayre or follow their Instagram pages. Asian networking events, cultural festivals, and socials—they're ideal for bonding over shared food, languages, and vibes. Don't hesitate to dive into Freshers Week! We're all in this together, and bonding over shared experiences is the best way to make friends. Feeling a Bit Lost? It’s Calm, We’ve All Been There If you’re feeling a bit out of place, no stress. Freshers Week is chaos for everyone, whether they’re locals or internationals. For the ESEA community, it might take a bit more effort to find people who get your background, but trust us—it’s 100% worth it. Hit Up Your Uni’s Asian Societies ASAP If you haven’t already scoped them out, what are you waiting for? Most unis have Asian or international societies where you can link up with people from the ESEA community. These groups are all about making you feel at home, whether through socials, cultural nights, or just chill hangouts. Honestly, it’s probably the easiest way to meet new people in the UK who just get it. Find external ESEA-related events to suit your taste If you’re based in or near London, you’re set. The London Chinese Community Centre and B.SEAn are volunteer-led community organisations. You’ll meet students, professionals, and creatives all looking to connect. The UK is also vibrant with Asian nights, from K Events, to Thai Square. Don’t worry—other cities like Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds have their own ESEA communities with similar events, so keep your eyes peeled. Don’t Sleep on Social Media Let's be honest: everything is blowing up on social media. Follow your university's societies, the ESEA community sites, and local Asian activities. It's a low-key method to stay informed without feeling pressurised. Furthermore, it allows you to discover which events interest you and who you may like to connect with ease. Food is the Ultimate Connector Listen, food brings people together like nothing else. Whether it’s a hotpot night, dim sum run, or a homemade potluck, food events are the perfect vibe for getting to know people in the ESEA community. If your uni’s Asian society is throwing a food-based event during Freshers Week, you do not want to miss it. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Yeah, we know it's super awkward to walk into a room full of strangers. But guess what? Everyone's feeling the same way during Freshers Week! Relax, take a deep breath, and go ahead and introduce yourself! Most people are looking for mates just like you, so whether it’s joining a convo or asking about the next big event, it’s all good. Find Your People with Maccha Feeling a bit stuck on how to find your crew? Check out Maccha—the community app built specifically for the ESEA community living in the West. Maccha makes it easy to connect with like-minded people in a super chill, community-focused way. You’ll find events, activities, and casual meetups nearby, so you can link up with others who are on your wavelength. It’s like having your own personal guide to the ESEA scene! Final Thoughts Freshers Week is your perfect chance to build lifelong uni friendships, especially within the ESEA community. From joining societies to using the Maccha community app to find your tribe, the possibilities are endless. So get out there, embrace your heritage, and link up with new people who get you. Trust us, there are loads of like-minded ESEA people just waiting to meet you. Let’s make those connections happen!
Asian Community Sites & Forums: Where They Went & What's Used Now
In 1991, the internet was launched to the public, changing the way we would connect forever. Asian Avenue, a platform connecting Chinese ethnic groups and the broader Asian diaspora, launched in 1997, just 6 years later. This was run by co-founders Benjamin Sun, Peter Chen, Grace Chang, and Michael Montero. A year later, the New York Times described it as “unusually successful.” At its peak, the site had 2 million users, with more than 5,000 online at a time. It became a hub for the American Born Chinese, Australian Born Chinese, British Born Chinese, and other Chinese people groups to speak out. In 1999, SKYY vodka displayed an advert of a Caucasian woman with chopsticks in her hair, and many users called out cultural appropriation. What was particularly unique about Asian Avenue was that the user page was completely bespoke. Most young people, especially from the ESEA community, learnt HTML specifically to create their webpage. Moreover, there would be a profile of the week, where the users with the most views would feature on the homepage. Users would communicate through the guestbook, leading to new friendships and fostering community ties similar to those found in the London Chinese Community Centre. The dynamic profile pages and excitement of user of the week created a buzz. Asian Avenue was a pioneer in connecting Asians online and became a virtual meeting space to discuss topics and cultural events in the UK and beyond. There is currently no information about why Asian Avenue disappeared. The Rise of Community Forums The early 2000s was an era of discussion forums. At a time when Dance Dance Revolution became popular, this led to the launch of the Dance Games forum. Although not strictly for Asians, many of the fans were from the community. They would arrange to meet at arcades and spend their weekends on the DDR machines, and afterwards go to bars and clubs. This became a regular routine, building a network of friends which would still stand the test of time. British Born Chinese Discussion Forum vs. DragonLink Then came the British Born Chinese Discussion Forum and DragonLink. Both were dedicated websites for the Asian community, with the former more focused on British Chinese, and the latter for all “Orientals in the UK”. This was before the term became derogatory. There was some stereotyping and healthy competition between the two. The British Born Chinese Discussion Forum was considered more mature and civilised, whereas DragonLink was considered more for younger party-going Asians. Much of the community parties were promoted on these forums. Both would organise their own ‘Meets’, and ESEA club night organisers would advertise on the forums. DragonLink would advertise community news. There was a dedicated user profile page, where users could rate each other based on attractiveness. A girl with perfectly straightened hair in a red dress looking to the side would consistently feature over 9/10. On both forums, users would post in dedicated topic boards and were very active in keeping up with discussions. Facebook’s Dominance and the Decline of Forums Facebook launched in 2004 and became hugely popular. Discussions became stagnant on these forums as users connected with each other directly on Facebook. Users were more hooked on checking each other’s profile pages with personalised updates rather than discussing topics on a forum. As the engagement dwindled, the British Born Chinese discussion forum and DragonLink created pages in Facebook Groups. This saw a migration of discussions, leaving the original sites derelict. Fragmentation in the 2020s Fast forward to the 2020s and Facebook usage has decreased amongst all age groups, with only 1/3 of under 25s reportedly using the site. As Instagram rules supreme, this platform has fragmented the community connection experience. Today, the Asian diaspora follows some dedicated Asian community Instagram pages with event updates, but there is no central hub to promote these. Moreover, Instagram does not feature a community forum, so the community don’t have a space to discuss topics. The British Born Chinese group on Facebook boasts 16.5k users, but the user experience is somewhat less organised and tailored to the community. The Future: Maccha's Role in Reconnecting the Community Maccha aims to bridge the gaps faced by the ESEA community and Asian diaspora in building connections, finding friends, and sharing real-life experiences. In a time when traditional hubs like the British-Born Chinese Forum and the London Chinese Community Centre have shifted focus, Maccha provides a modern digital platform where American-born Chinese, Australian-born Chinese, British-born Chinese, and all ESEA members can connect in one place. With dedicated spaces for discussion, discovering cultural events across the UK, and organised meetups, Maccha paves the way for a new chapter.
Simu Liu’s Cultural Appropriation Claim Ignites Community Response
In early October 2024, Simu Liu found himself in a TikTok uproar. The Asian-Canadian actor famous for his roles in Marvel’s Shang Chi and Canadian sitcom Kim’s Convenience called out “cultural appropriation” to two Quebec-based entrepreneurs of a CPG company selling boba. Why did the Asian community react so strongly to the pitch and the other dragons’ reaction? Creating Distrust Towards the Asian Community When the business owner said, “you never know what’s in boba tea,” this immediately created distrust in ethnic food. This propaganda of distrust towards Asians has been a growing theme and has exposed the community to more discrimination and harassment. Not Being Heard The Asian community has experienced outright racism, but much of it is subconscious bias and subtle racism. Other ethnicities experience this too, with Michelle Obama stating in her experience, “there are daily slights, in our workplaces where people talk over you, or people don’t even see you” (The Light Podcast). When Simu Liu expressed his concern for cultural appropriation, he was interrupted by other judges. At the same time, none of the judges tried to understand his point of view, instead challenging him and making the entrepreneurs an offer. This is the daily frustration that the community faces, and watching it televised made it personal. Lack of Recognition for Boba's Heritage The business owners stated they started the business due to the “trend” of boba and believe they can sell the company to Pepsi for $1B in 5 years. Simu inspected the can and pointed out that there are no mentions of where boba comes from – which is Taiwan. They also claimed that boba was “not an ethnic product anymore,” a tone-deaf move that demonstrated the company’s willingness to erase the heritage of boba. This struck a nerve with ethnic minorities, who are reminded yet again of others’ willingness to profit from their products without giving them a stake. Some internet users went as far as to call this modern-day “colonialism.” Mixed Reactions: “Who Cares, It’s Just Boba” There were, of course, opposing opinions, even from the Asian community, with attitudes like “who cares, it’s boba,” or “Pizza has various versions in different countries.” But it’s not just about the food. Those five minutes of Simu sitting on the panel reminded us of the struggles that the overseas Asian community faces – from being treated with distrust, to not being heard, nor recognized. The judge who had her offer accepted by the boba company has since withdrawn, showing the impact the community can make when we speak up. Final Thoughts The backlash surrounding Simu Liu’s callout of cultural appropriation over boba reflects the underlying frustrations felt by the Asian community and Chinese ethnic groups globally. Whether it’s American-born Chinese or British-born Chinese, the issue is not just about food but rather about cultural recognition, respect, and fair representation. Moments like these, whether in popular media or everyday interactions, resonate deeply with the ESEA community and others who feel their heritage often goes unacknowledged. As we’ve seen, the response was loud and impactful, with the Asian diaspora rallying together to raise awareness. The London Chinese Community Centre and similar organizations will continue to be vital spaces where cultural discussions can thrive, helping create a world where Asian heritage is celebrated, not sidelined, even when popular trends like boba make their way to the global stage