Episode 19--Cultural Games and Happy Hour

So, as a continuation of my previous blog(Episode 18), I am going to share with you a great evening I had in GSC center on Friday night. The event was called "cultural games and happy hour" where participants could play US games and games of other countries. You will get a passport at the entrance, and there will be eight slots for you to gain stamps. After you play a game, you will get one stamp, and players need to get six stamps in order to go the happy hour where you can have free food and drinks. I registered for this event because I thought it was a fun and interesting way to get involved and experience different cultures by playing games.

The games were held in separated tables with one host assigned to each table to give instructions. For each round, the table can hold four to five people, but people can also participate in the middle of the game. So it was pretty flexible. Unlike other games that would make me competitive, this event aimed at bringing students together and creating a relaxing atmosphere to have fun. We don't have to be the winner of the game in order to get stamps. As long as we participated, the host would be so generous to grant us a ticket. That being said, if one only get there to have drinks and food, then he will miss the whole point. There are many "real" happy hours going on on Friday night. So if the only purpose is to get beers, then this event might not be the best choice to go for. 

These are the food we got after playing games. I think the plates have assorted fruits,  vegetables and cheese. And in the bowls, we had cookies and naan with different flavored sauces. 

Pause a second. I think I have already introduced GSC (graduate student center) and its service offered to graduate students at Penn. If you go over what I wrote about it in the previous blog, you can discover its great advantage to our graduate students. 

This photo gives you a general idea of what Graduate Student Center is like on the first floor. The second floor to fourth floor are composed of rooms where students can get in and have group meetings. Students are recommended to reserve the room in advance before they come in. Also, activities like language chats are held on the first floor, just like the place in the picture. If you check out its website, you can find out the events that they have throughout the semester, and they definitely has one or two that match your interests.