There is a distinct sense of nostalgia that hits when you step onto a university campus years after graduation. Last month, I had the pleasure of returning to UC Davis thanks to a warm invitation from Professor Ling Yu, my very first Chinese language professor from my undergraduate days.
Returning to the US officially this year, Davis during a brief trip back to the U.S. felt like stepping into a time machine, albeit through a fresh lens. My destination? The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures’ annual End-of-Year Chinese Celebration.
The Main Event: Culture, Community, & Connection
Hosted every June just as Spring Quarter wraps up and final exams loom, this gathering is a beloved tradition for the language community. Held in Rooms A & B of the UC Davis Conference Center, the event brings together students, faculty, and alumni to unwind and celebrate the year’s milestones.
This year’s production featured all the essential ingredients of a great gathering:
- Chinese Catering: A popular Hunan style Chinese lunch plate served featuring classic favorites—walnut shrimp, Mongolian beef, egg rolls, and more.
- Interactive Perks: A lively raffle, interactive performances, and a popular student-organized photo booth capturing memories throughout the afternoon.
*I jumped in to help pass out lunch and tally raffle tickets, which offered a front-row seat to the energy of the room.
The Afternoon Rundown
Running from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM, the afternoon followed a seamless, high-energy agenda:
- 12:00 PM | Arrival & Gathering: Guests checked in, picked up raffle tickets, and loaded their plates before settling in.
- 12:20 PM – 1:30 PM | Showcases & Speeches: Opening remarks by faculty transitioned into vibrant performances by both faculty and student groups singing Chinese songs.
I couldn’t help but think – we didn’t have anything like this when I was an undergraduate (though the past me wouldn’t even dare to step into an event or perform), so I am glad the Chinese majors or anyone who is taking Chinese studies at UC Davis have an outlet to resort to for more informative sessions and resources. Most importantly, the ACT (America-China Talk) initiative platform is a relatively new one that helps bridge American and Chinese cultures through dialogues and provides academic and extracurriculars.
The professors took the stage together for a surprise group song performed entirely in Cantonese. Watching non-native and Mandarin-focused faculty give Cantonese pronunciation their absolute best effort was quite interesting, coming from a Cantonese speaker, but a heartfelt crowd favorite.
The student performances were equally memorable—several students, and even one of the professors, took to the stage solo with incredible courage, earning massive applause from the crowd.
Full-Circle Moments
While the performances and food were fantastic, the true highlight was personal: catching up with Professor Ling Yu. Sitting in that room was like entering a time machine and going back to when I was 18—only this time, returning with the perspective, experience, and appreciation of an alumnus.
It was a great reminder that language programs do far more than just teach language, literature, and culture ; they build long-lasting communities and the importance of the dialogues that stay with you well beyond graduation and help students build global skills. What did I learn from this most recent visit? – “Ain’t in Davis, California, China, Korea”. I fantasized so much about living it big, traveling and exploring the big cities of LA, New York, Seoul, Beijing. Yet coming back, I felt a sense of humbleness and living in other cities remind myself that I rather be unique and my identity is who I am, as someone who did feel some peer pressure to fit in and having to come from a bigger city to succeed in life. We run away for bigger dreams, but somewhere in the middle, we come back and embrace the moments and experiences we had with people who helped us along the way, whether it is family, friends, teachers, professors, etc.
Until next time, see you again very soon Davis!
Best,
Mason
MKH Productions