My Commons Life

News & features about the Vanderbilt Commons from the students who live here

mcl

Common Ground, Uncommon Lives: Tales from the Commons

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1.) Emile Marija

Emile is a passionate and dedicated individual with a strong commitment to leadership and community service. She graduated high school from UWC ISAK Japan, one of the 18 United World Colleges, where the focus on leadership and community engagement shaped her experiences. At ISAK, she was the president of the student council, leader of the Journalism Club, and an Outdoor Education leader, roles that allowed her to make a significant impact on her school and local community.

Through Outdoor Education, she not only became wilderness first aid certified but also organized and led trips such as hiking, skiing, canyoning, and rafting. Some memorable adventures included climbing Mt. Fuji, cycling 110 km around the 5 Fuji lakes, and watching a sunrise atop a local volcano. In addition to Outdoor Education, she was involved in dance, founded an archery club, and led a Bible Study. She also took on a leadership role in the First Aid Club for some time, further demonstrating her versatility and commitment to helping others.

Fluent in both Lithuanian and English, she is currently improving her Spanish and has some understanding of German and Japanese. Her dream career is still evolving, but she hopes to pursue something related to policy. She has a deep love for travel and unforgettable journeys, such as hitchhiking through Norway to go canyoning and a two-week European adventure with a close friend. More recently, she has traveled through Thailand, Vietnam, and Bali with friends from ISAK, adding to a collection of meaningful experiences. Alongside her love for travel, she is incredibly proud of her Lithuanian heritage, often reflecting on the country’s beauty, culture, and history.

Now pursuing a degree in Arts and Sciences with a major in Human and Organizational Development (HOD) and Economics, Emile brings a unique combination of leadership, service, and global perspective. Her passion for community, adventure, and learning will no doubt lead her to great accomplishments in the future.

Common Ground, Uncommon Lives: Tales from the Commons

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1.) Emily Benfield

Meet Emily Benfield! She is a dedicated and resilient individual originally from Newport, Rhode Island, but has also lived in California and Virginia Beach (Where she now lives). She has a lived a very unique journey. In fifth grade Emily was diagnosed with Dyslexia and Developmental Coordination Disorder. Facing these early challenges, Emily developed a strong work ethic and a knack for creative problem-solving, traits she now channels into her aspiration to become a teacher. She aims to support students in overcoming their own obstacles, drawing from her personal experiences. Which she wrote about in her Application to Vanderbilt, stating, “Disadvantages are Advantages.”

On top of this, she has been actively engaged in her community through her organization of two impactful events: the Love Run and the Color Run. The Love Run, coordinated with two local high schools, raised over $50,000 to help cover medical expenses for children facing extended hospital stays at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD). Meanwhile, the Color Run was a heartfelt tribute to a loved one who passed due to cancer complications, raising funds and bringing the community together in their memory.

Additionally, Emily was deeply involved in theater, where she took on roles as a technical supervisor and assistant director, overseeing set design, construction, and actor coordination—sometimes staying as late as 9 p.m. to ensure production quality! Her favorite musical she was a part of was, “The Little Mermaid,” and her favorite play was, “Puffs.”

Ultimately, Emily is very service-orientated and willing to help others. She is incredible kind, dedicated and a loyal friend. She has a genuine compassion that stands out in her community and will accomplish many great things.

Dining Daries: Rating All the Meals I Ate at Commons for a Week

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Over the course of a week in September, I ate six lunches and dinners at the Commons Center dining hall. I have rated the meals in various categories. They are listed in the order in which I ate them.

Tex Mex Bowl

Taste: ★★☆☆☆ 

Chipotle dupe? Yeah 100% but it’s really not bad. The tex mex rice is one of the better rices they serve, the beans are well cooked and flavorful, and adding in your own toppings like salsa and corn elevates the dish. The two point deduction was because the day I ate this, the pork was so so salty. Usually it’s never that salty. I don’t know what was going on. 

Visuals: ★★★★☆

This picture was taken after I mixed it up because I forgot to take one before. It was much prettier when all the ingredients were separate. The corn and tomatoes add a nice pop of color. 

Health: ★★★☆☆

There’s no way that much sodium is good for you. Make sure you’re drinking water guys. 

Turkey Cheddar Wrap

Taste: ★★★★☆

A little skimpy on the turkey but overall pretty good. The cucumbers always hit and the basil pesto sauce is so good. The tortilla was nice and crispy, so crispy that it was literally crumbling in my hands as I ate. That slice of pizza kinda sucked though. Should’ve known when I saw the artichokes on it (sorry to my artichoke lovers).

Visuals: ★★★★★

That green tortilla is doing a lot. Also great artistic choice by me to hold up half the wrap to take the shot. 

Health: ★★★★★

I have no clue what they put in that basil sauce (probably straight mayo), but otherwise everything in this is quite healthy. 

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Pasta

Taste: ★★★★☆

My family is Italian, so I have very high standards for pasta. That being said, this was quite decent for dining hall food. The pasta was well cooked but not mushy, the broccoli tasted fresh, and the chicken was neither dry nor flavorless (shocking, I know). The alfredo sauce did not taste quite like real cheese, but what was I expecting? This is about as close as I can get to my dad’s home-cooked Italian food on campus (literally not close at all but I’m desperate).

Visuals: ★★★★☆

As I said, green really does a lot for visuals. That broccoli is carrying an otherwise plain, colorless meal. But you know what, sometimes plain food tastes good if you smother it in enough cheese sauce, which seems to be what we’re going for when it comes to dining hall cuisine. 

Health: ★☆☆☆☆

I think alfredo may be the least healthy invention of all time. 

Sweet and Spicy Chicken

Taste: ★★★★★

I may in fact have a sweet tooth because I’m pretty sure this sauce was just straight sugar, but I ate that stuff up. The rice was pretty good and the veggies were well cooked. And those fried vegetable wontons are so freaking tasty. What do they put in them? Also, I have a medium-level spice tolerance, but can we talk about how they always say “spicy pork” and sometimes that means no spice at all (like this dish), but sometimes it will literally burn your tongue off? And there’s no way of knowing which of the two you’re getting. 

Visuals: ★★★★☆

The red and green is such a nice color combo. And you can see the crispiness of the wonton through the photo.

Health: ★★★☆☆

Once again, most of the foods they serve in Commons are healthy enough… until you put the sauce on. Unfortunately, a few of the only ways to make a sauce tasty when you’re not a Michelin Star restaurant are butter, mayonnaise, and sugar, which are not exactly the staples of the balanced diet. Also I’ve seen the Commons deep friers. Those things are scary.

Orange Chicken

Taste: ★★☆☆☆ 

Commons wishes it could be Panda Express. Although this orange chicken initially tasted decent (the sauce was straight sugar), by the time I got four bites in I was over it. The texture of the chicken was rather nasty. Chewy, uncrispy, and way too much batter to chicken ratio. I was fighting for my life trying to find any real chicken in that chicken. The rice was not bad but those unseasoned vegetables get tiring day after day. Also, these wantons were the meat ones (don’t ask me which meat), not the veggie ones, and they are not nearly as good. In fact, I would go so far as to say they are bad. The pizza was better this time though, which is the only reason it’s rated a two instead of one. 

Visuals: ★★★★☆ 

The shine on the chicken and the color from the veggies make this meal look much more appetizing than it really was.


Health: ★★☆☆☆
Most of this is actually decent health-wise, except for the fried stuff. However, is rice really all that healthy if you’re eating it for every meal?

BBQ Chicken, Brocolli, Baked Potato, and Tomato Soup

Taste: ★★☆☆☆ 

The only part of this meal with any flavor was the chicken. The potato? Unseasoned. The broccoli? Unseasoned. The “tomato basil soup?” It was straight-up marinara sauce, like from a jar. And not even the good kind either. The barbeque chicken, however, was scrumptious, juicy, and the only thing keeping me from rage-quitting the dining hall after that meal. 

Visuals: ★☆☆☆☆ 

You can tell just from the picture that there’s no seasoning on this food. And why was there so much broccoli on that plate?


Health: ★★★★★

Usually baked potatoes are slathered in butter, however, since this one lacked any flavor, it remains healthy. 

Spotify Playlists for Vandy Freshman

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I am always searching for songs and Spotify playlists to match my emotions or whatever I’m experiencing, and I’m sure many of you do the same. Being in college comes with many new experiences and emotions, so I wanted to share some Spotify playlists to match them!

Sometimes you need an upbeat, confident playlist to listen to on the way to your big exam. Music can actually have a big impact on your mood, so listening to positive and confident music will help you feel the same going into your exam.

Here are some other, more chill playlists to stream before your exams. These songs will put you in a good mental state and even calm your anxiety before the test.

Before I came to college, I mostly listened to music in the car. But since I’ve been at Vanderbilt, most of my music listening has been while I’m walking around campus. If I’m having a tough day, feeling tired, or just don’t feel like going to class, listening to music on my walk can help improve my mood and energize me. So, here are two playlists for walking to class and romanticizing your college life.

Most of us have probably been spending a TON of time studying – the workload at Vanderbilt can be a lot! But, having just the right playlist can make studying so much better and the time go by faster. This playlist is perfect for studying around campus, especially now that it is officially fall!

Here is some study music specifically for when you really need to lock in. This playlist has more instrumental songs and music that will really help you focus.

Of course, one of the main parts of college is spending time with your friends. So, here is a playlist to put on when you’re hanging out with all of your friends or just want happy, social songs!

This is a fun playlist I found full of older songs that will make you feel like you’re going to college in the 1990s. I love when music can transport you to a different time period!

We are in Nashville, so we pretty much all have to be country music fans by default! Here is a playlist titled “Nashville Hits” to get you connected to the music made here in Nashville.

Another very real part of college is feeling homesick. Even if you’ve been loving Vanderbilt, it’s still natural to be struck with feelings of homesickness and missing your family and friends back home. Sometimes, we just need music that connects with some of the more difficult emotions we might be experiencing, and this playlist is perfect for that.

Finally, with fall just beginning, I had to include a fall playlist! As someone who lived in Texas my whole life where we didn’t really have the stereotypical fall season, I’m excited to romanticize the cooler weather and orange leaves and this playlist will definitely help me do that.

Thanks for reading and I hope these playlists can be a part of your daily life here at Vanderbilt!

Journaling Prompts for College Freshman

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If you know me, you know that I am an avid journal-keeper. For the past four years, I’ve written down pretty much everything that’s happened in my life. Journaling is a great way to process your emotions, capture memories, and reflect on your life. Feel free to check out an article I wrote titled How Journaling Changed My Life to learn more about the value and benefits of journaling. Today, I want to share some journaling prompts (or just questions to think about!) that are applicable to us freshman after our first month of college.

Journaling Prompts:

How have I grown in my independence since living away from home?

What subjects or classes are most exciting to me?

How have I been working to build meaningful relationships?

How can I manage stress or other challenging emotions?

How can I better take care of myself and establish a healthy lifestyle and routine?

What have I learned about myself since starting college?

How have I been doing academically?

What has been my favorite memory or experience of the first month of college?

What has been the hardest part of the first month of college?

How have I seen myself grow in the past month?

What have I enjoyed most about being at a school like Vanderbilt?

What is something I want to contribute to the Vanderbilt community?

Quotes About Journaling & Self-Reflection

I hope these prompts can inspire your journal-entries or just be questions to reflect on! Finally, I want to share some quotes about the importance of journaling and personal reflection.

“Journal writing gives us insights into who we are, who we were, and who we can become.” – Sandra Marinella

“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” – Anne Frank

“Keeping a journal of what’s going on in your life is a good way to help you distill what’s important and what’s not.” – Martina Navratilova

“Without deep reflection, one knows from daily life that one exists for other people.” – Albert Einstein

“Self-reflection is the secret of introspection, and introspection is the gateway to wisdom.” – Richelle E. Goodrich

“Journal writing is a voyage to the interior.” – Christina Baldwin

“Self-reflection is the school of wisdom.” – Baltasar Gracián

“A breed apart from the diarists who write simply to collect the days or preserve impressions of foreign places are those who set out in their books to discover who they really are. These are generally very serious people, more in the way of pilgrims, with inward destinations, than mere travelers. Some of them are after the sight of God; others are out to realize their full ‘potential,’ spiritual and otherwise; and some of them are carrying burdens of suffering they are unsure they can shoulder—they want to use their diaries to test, and add to, their strength.” – Thomas Mallon

Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a great week!

Entertainment Picks About Starting College

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Relatable Movies, Series, and Songs to Ease Your College Transition

No matter what I’m experiencing in my life, I always search for entertainment that relates to my situation. If I’m traveling to a cool place, I listen to songs about that place or watch a movie filmed there. If it’s a holiday, I watch all the episodes from my favorite shows about that holiday (think the Friends Thanksgiving episodes!).

So, as I’ve been preparing to move to Nashville and begin my Freshman year at Vanderbilt, I’ve been searching for entertainment that relates to this new experience in my life. 

I compiled a list of movies, TV series, and songs about beginning college and starting a new chapter of life. I hope that if you ever are feeling alone or unsure in navigating the start of freshman year, you can turn to some of these fictional stories about people going through the same thing.

Movies

Legally Blonde

  • I couldn’t not include this classic film, and even though it’s about starting Law School, we can still relate to Elle Woods’ journey showing up at a new school and working to prove herself. Elle’s ambition and passion for what she does is inspiring and something we can apply to whatever we pursue at Vanderbilt.

The Social Network

  • This is a fascinating film about Mark Zuckerberg starting Facebook while at Harvard. There are a lot of good lessons here about success and even what mistakes not to make. It’s cool to watch a true story about ambitious students in a similar environment to Vanderbilt.

Accepted

  • Applying to college was a stressful time, and there were a few times I worried if I would even get accepted anywhere! Well, Accepted is all about a kid who whose worst fears came true and got rejected from every single college he applied to. So, he ends up creating his own college and it’s pretty hilarious.

Back to School

  • If you are ever feeling upset about your college situation, just know it could be worse: your dad could have enrolled in college alongside you. That’s exactly what happens in this comedy that follows a wealthy businessman father who enrolls in his son’s college.

Sydney White

  • This is a fun film all about a girl whose plans to join the top sorority at her college go astray. It has a great message about finding friendships with unexpected people which is something I hope we all experience at Vanderbilt.

TV Series

Gilmore Girls

  • Gilmore Girls and main protagonist Rory Gilmore were guideposts throughout my high school journey, and so it was fun to rewatch the episode of Rory moving into college as I do the same! The later seasons follow Rory through her college journey, beginning with Season 5 Episode 7 where she moves into her dorm.

Community

  • Community is a comedy about a diverse group of students at a community college. Although the characters are in much different stages of life than most of us here at Vanderbilt, it shows how college can bring people together in amazing ways.

Normal People

  • Normal People is a TV series that follows Connell and Marianne through their high school and college years. It highlights how college impacts us personally and introduces us to new people and opportunities.

Felicity

  • Felicity is about a girl who leaves home to begin her freshman year of college in New York. She experiences all the ups and downs of friendship, romance, and growing up throughout the series.

Fresh Meat

  • This series follows six university housemates who are living away from home for the first time. The characters are all very different, but together they embark on a new journey and experience all the fun and challenges of college.

Songs

There aren’t a ton of songs that are directly about moving into college for freshman year, but I compiled a list of songs that cover themes of growing up, moving away, and beginning a new chapter of life. You should totally add some of these to your playlist for walking around campus this fall!

“Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift

“Changes” by David Bowie

“Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac

“Don’t Forget To Remember Me” by Carrie Underwood

“Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield

“Forever Young” by Bob Dylan

“Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson

“You’re On Your Own Kid” by Taylor Swift

“Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey

“The Climb” by Miley Cyrus

“Nashville” by David Mead (not about anything to do with starting college but it’s a great song that references Nashville!)

Thanks for reading and I hope that you can turn to some of these entertainment picks as you move in and start life at Vandy! It is an exciting and often overwhelming time, so having entertainment to relate to can provide comfort and remind you that you aren’t alone.

MCL Top Five: Snacks to Keep in Your Dorm

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Let’s be real, some of us can’t be bothered to make it to the dining hall when we’re working and a bit hungry. Luckily, the Munchie Mart and CVS provides plenty of snacks for those of us who are both busy and lazy.

5. (Instant) Oatmeal

Ok, I was skeptical too, but the instant oatmeal you can get at the Munchie Mart (two count as an entrée) is decent. It’s even better if you add a little bit of peanut butter and a fruit of your choice. It’s low on the list because it does require about a minute and thirty seconds of work, but it’s really filling.

4. Popcorn

Popcorn is great whether you’ve got a microwave or not. If you do, or if you’re willing to use your house’s kitchen, I’d definitely buy bags of microwave popcorn- it’s typically cheaper than pre-popped bags, like SmartPop.

3. Mixed Nuts

What’s great about nut mixes is that they’re usually high in protein and often full of nutrients like vitamin E and magnesium. Of course, it depends on what brand you buy, which nuts are in the mix, etc. Anything with almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, or walnuts are a great choice. If you’re looking to eat healthier, be wary of flavors or additives- they’re not as bad as processed foods, but are often packed with a lot of sodium. If you’re less concerned, then don’t worry, and enjoy those wasabi-flavoured almonds.

Note: if you’re allergic to tree nuts, jerky, roasted chickpeas, edamame, and pumpkin seeds also contain a lot of protein.

2. Yogurt (+ Granola)

Yogurt is great because no matter your dietary preferences, you can find a yogurt that matches them. Lowfat, no sugar, vegan- anything you want, you can find. Whenever I can, I add fruit and granola for the extra flavour and nutrients. Of course, if you don’t have a fridge, you can always use the communal one in your kitchen- just be sure to label it!

1. Fruit

Yes, my number one pick is just fruit. If you haven’t noticed, I like to add fruits to other snacks to improve them. Apples and bananas go great with peanut butter, berries go great with chocolate, and almost everything goes well with honey. Even if you don’t add fruit to anything else, it’s great on its own. The best fruits to get are bananas, apples, or oranges, since they are some of the cheaper fruits and also have the longest shelf life. Of course, the real best fruit is your favourite (I’m partial to apples, peaches, and pineapples). Additionally, dried fruits are even more shelf-stable.

Honorable mentions:

  • Hummus & vegetables
  • Granola bars
  • Applesauce
  • Scrambled eggs (you can make them in a mug!)

MCL Top 5: Things I’ll Miss About Freshman Year

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Wow, can everybody believe we’ll be done with our first year of college in a week or two? Time certainly crawled by at times, but looking back, everything has flown by so quickly. It feels like just a little while ago that I joined the MCL team, and now we’re already on our final (!!!!!!!) newsletter of the year. Damn. Anyways, to wrap up this absolute roller coaster of a time, here are my top five things I’ll miss about freshman year!

5. Living on Commons

Okay, yes, it’s far from pretty much everything except all the Peabody buildings, but I still think it’s quite a nice place to live. And I know Commons is not anybody’s favorite dining hall (if it is, I truly have no words for you), but as someone who’ll be in Highland next year, I’ll certainly miss being two minutes away from a decent meal that I don’t have to cook myself. Looks like I’ll be getting my exercise in every day.

4. Having easier classes

Kidding, kidding… kinda. On one hand, I’m excited to learn more in-depth content in the subjects I’m interested in. On the other, the lazy half of my brain is kicking and screaming knowing that I’ll have to keep on top of things much better in the coming years. Ah well. It is what it is.

3. Knowing I have a lot of time to figure everything out

This one is just me being a bit anxious about things. We still have time to figure everything out—it’s what college is for! (That is, if we ever do figure things out.) But thinking about the fact that we only have three more years to prepare ourselves before we’re thrown into the real adult world where we’ll actually have to pay for do everything ourselves makes me quite nervous, and I frankly would rather ignore that fact for as long as possible!

2. Discovering fun new things about campus and Nashville

I’m sure that I’ll continue to learn new things throughout my time here. After all, I’m only one person, and the campus and city are quite complex. Despite that, I know that there probably won’t be as many of those OMG-guess-what-I-found moments as the years go by. Perhaps it just means they’ll be more impactful?

1. Being on the MCL team

C’mon, I had to. This year has definitely had its ups and downs, but one thing I’m extremely grateful for is that I’ve worked with many wonderful people throughout my time in MCL. And hey, if any of you readers happen to be incoming freshmen who are considering joining, I say go for it! You’ll have a great time.

And that wraps up my last Top 5 of the year! Gosh, how crazy is that. To everybody who’s been keeping up with our content throughout the year, thank you so much for appreciating our work! It’s been an honor and a joy. Good luck on your finals, and enjoy your summer break! Toodles, everyone.

MCL Top 5: Obvious Things I’ve Learned This Year

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You live and you learn, ey? It’s what makes life fun (at least, when it’s not for school)! And yet, some of the things I realize are so obvious that I’m just flabbergasted as to how I didn’t know it sooner. This whole article has been quite embarrassing to write, but hopefully someone can learn something from my own ignorance.

5. You can cover the toilet sensors (potential TMI warning?)

This one is just. Wow. How did I never think of this until I was 18 years of age. I always just suffered through the feeling of having cold toilet water splash up onto my butt when the toilet flushed while I was still using it. To be fair, I didn’t really use automatic toilets often enough for this to be much of an issue for me until I got here, but oh my goodness. Draping a piece of toilet paper on top of the sensor is such a wonderful quality of life hack.

4. It’s spelled “arboretum”

Someone tell me why and how I’ve managed to live my whole life thinking the word was actually “arboreum”. I only found out about my error when I was speaking to some people about my pollen allergies, which may have been made worse by the fact that we live on an arboretum (apparently the entire Vanderbilt campus is one!). The more ya know, I guess.

3. You can get a side with your 2301 smoothie

BEFORE YOU START TO JUDGE ME, please remember that the title of this article is top 5 obvious things I’ve learned this year. This one actually hurts to admit to, because how in the world did I not know this??? In my defense, I… Okay, I actually have no defense. Oops, I guess.

2. You don’t have to measure yourself in a vacuum

Whew, okay, getting into the deep stuff now! The heading is a bit confusing, but I couldn’t figure out how to word it concisely (sorry). Anyways, to elaborate: I was feeling a bit down on a random night because I randomly realized that I was always doing something—listening to music, working on a project, meeting friends, going places—in order to distract myself from the feeling that I’m not much at all without all of those things. But then I thought, “Why do I feel the need to measure myself in a void? That’s stupid.” And it really is!! Even the people that are universally considered to be successful wouldn’t be much on their own! Why do I, by myself, need to be something great? I don’t plan on living the rest of my life completely alone, nor am I going to do everything by myself. People and their lives are just accumulations of their relationships and accomplishments (“accomplishments” is used loosely here, since I’d say living well is an accomplishment), so why try to judge myself in a vacuum? If I really look at myself as I am—a person with a great family and friends I can rely on, a person who’s pursuing higher education, a person who is doing her best to live a good life—I’d actually say that I have quite a lot. And that’s something I can be satisfied with.

1. Living your best life takes a lot of effort

This one was probably the most impactful realization I’ve made this year. I won’t lie, my first semester here was pretty rough. No details, but it was a not very fun time, and I don’t like to think about it too hard anymore. Since then, I’ve done my best to turn things around, and I’d say that I’ve succeeded in doing so! Yay 🙂 But one of the things that I continue to realize every single day is that it is difficult as hell to actually live in a way that I’m proud of. It always looked so easy when other people did it, so I just lived my life thinking that it would just come to me one day. Nope. Turns out all the people I admired and envied actually work very hard to live good lives! Who woulda thunk, huh? Again, really obvious stuff. Anyways, I suppose this is sort of a flip side to the “everybody struggles, you just can’t see it” thing.

Alrighty! That’s the end of this one! We’re getting pretty close to the end of the year now, which is crazy to think about. I’m not sure what to say about it all, but at the very least, I can say I’ve learned from this whole experience (as you just read about)! Good luck on the final stretch everybody. We got this!

MCL Top 5: Meals I Ate During Spring Break

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Remember the list I made two weeks ago of food to eat over spring break? Well, I’m happy to announce that I managed to check off every single item! I’m already missing it all, even though it’s only been a few days since we’ve been back. In honor of all the great food I had over break, here are my top five favorites from the week.

5. Naengmyeon + Pork Galbi

Naengmyeon, a Korean cold noodle dish, is usually something I want when the weather is warmer. I haven’t got much to say about it, but despite the oddly freezing temperatures recently, I really enjoyed this meal!

4. Jjajangmyeon + Jjamppong

Jjajangmyeon is a Chinese-Korean noodle dish topped with a black bean sauce usually containing vegetables and meat, and it’s something I’ve loved eating since I was but a wee child. Jjamppong (a Chinese-Korean noodle dish served with spicy broth and seafood), on the other hand, is something I’ve had to learn to appreciate, as I wasn’t the best at handling my spice when I was younger. I’m glad to say that I can now enjoy jjamppong without any issues, as I think these two dishes go wonderfully together. I think this meal would be a lot higher on my list if not for the fact that I was feeling oddly full the day I ate it, but it was still very good.

3. Sundubu Kalguksu

Oh man, my noodle obsession is showing. Sundubu jjigae is a Korean stew that’s made with soft tofu, and it’s usually served with rice and an egg to top it off (which is what my friend ordered). However, this restaurant I go to offers the option of getting kalguksu instead, which are thick, knife-cut wheat noodles. This is something I always crave when I’m back at Vanderbilt, and it was just as excellent as I remembered.

4. Kimbap

This was the last meal I had before I returned to school, and boy was it a great way to end off the week! As much as I love going out to eat, nothing beats home-cooked food. Kimbap (or gimbap) is a Korean dish usually consisting of rice, vegetables, and meats, all rolled up in dried seaweed. I’m actually not the biggest fan of kimbap unless my mom makes it, but that just goes to show how excellent it really is.

1. Donkatsu

Last but 100% not the least, donkatsu (i.e. fried pork cutlet)! This was the first real meal I had after getting back home, and yet it’s definitely got to be my favorite of the week. I actually texted my mom before break telling her that I really wanted her donkatsu, and she delivered! It’s a pretty plain-looking photo compared to the rest, but it was so incredibly good. (Please ignore the the weird sauce stains; I tried to do a drizzle and failed miserably, as you can see.) No joke, this meal made me do a little happy dance when I ate it. Chef’s kiss.

Those were my top five meals from the spring break! I had a bit of a hard time choosing only five meals, but I think I’m satisfied with my choices here. Eating so well at home has inspired me to try and do the same here, so perhaps I’ll get back on the restaurant reviews soon. Make sure to keep an eye out for that! ;D