Eleven weeks in Semester 2, with a month left until exams, Donburi was at rock bottom. He faced four presentations, ten short-release assignments, a doctor’s appointment to remove his wisdom teeth, a neglected lawn that desperately needed trimming, and twelve unfinished reports. His brain couldn’t even process the extent of his situation. To make things worse, he hadn't had a sip of water in nearly a month, fueling himself on purely energy drinks, clearing them out of the aisles from his local woolies. His liver was on the verge of collapsing.

Just when all hope seemed lost, he remembered –today was study café. This was his last chance to turn things around and tackle his tasks, once and for all.

Donburi arrived at the nanoscience building like a man on a mission. After dapping up the Wasabi team and grabbing a strawberry genmaicha fizz, he was locked in. His typing soared to 1,000 words per minute, neurons firing at full capacity, and the letters on his keyboard fading under the relentless friction of his fingers. He crushed his reports in the blink of an eye. Fueled by a soy houjicha latte, he powered through every assignment, even solving the legendary Riemann Hypothesis, thought unsolvable by any human.

What followed was history. Witnesses reported seeing Donburi down Japanese iced oat coffee and an iced soy matcha latte before proceeding to patch the ozone layer above Australia. He went on to solve poverty, end world hunger, and somehow banish sadness from the whole planet.

But if there was one true accomplishment of this gathering, it was the elevation of Donburi into a transcendental being, bringing peace and salvation to the world.

Thank you, Donburi, and and the Wasabi team, for making the impossible possible and inspiring a new era of hope and unity for generations to come.

‍

your prophet,

Hey, Donburi?

Do you remember the first time we met?

I was crying in the middle of a field of flowers... I did not care for their colour or their sweet scent. That day it was the world against me. I was alone, and everything… dull.

Until you came, Donburi. With a smile nestled between your rosy cheeks, you reached your hand out towards me. The tears that ran down my face were wiped away by your gentle caress, your comforting words slowly sewing the threads of the gaping tear in my heart back together.

The warmth of other people; I truly learnt what that meant from you that day.

You laid upon my palm a green paper crane. That’s all I have left of you now.

And as I sit here at WASABI’s Origami Gift Making event, you’re all I'm thinking about.

People chat giddily over snacks and drinks as they fold paper squares of all colours of the rainbow into foxes, flowers, clovers— you name it. With meticulously prepared instruction sheets, there is no chance anyone would leave this event without a wonderfully folded piece of art to give to a friend.

Except me.

As much as I love all the WASABI members, the only person I’ve yet to thank is… you, Donburi. You’ve given light to my life and yet…

My eyes lay upon a petite glass bottle placed in the middle of the room. In the bottle, dangles a tiny, tiny paper crane over multi pastel coloured folded stars. Oh, Donburi, how the glass glistens like your kind eyes. How the crane and stars are charmingly displayed, bright and colourful. Just like the field of flowers that day we met.

They call my name.

They whisper to me yours.

‍Donburi.

‍I’ve decided.

Your face is etched into my mind as I fold, fold, and fold once more. My hands shake as I tie the pea-sized crane to the string, but I don’t lose heart. I give my all into this gift, longing to see you once more.

I’ll do anything for that day to come, Donburi.

Even fold one thousand paper cranes.Yours truly,

Donburi the raccoon was a legend amongst society mascots, known for his clever mind and dashing looks. But those who knew him well noticed the gleam in his eye wasn’t one of excitement—it was desperation. Donburi wasn’t just a gambler; he was addicted to the thrill, to the rush of the game, and to the promise of the next big win.

So when the long anticipated Poker Night came around, Donburi arrived looking a little scruffier than usual. He took his seat at the poker table, paws trembling as he laid down his stack, sparkling ‘champagne’ in his hand.

It was not long before he sat frozen, paws empty, feeling a cold emptiness where his winnings—and dignity—once were. His reputation, his relationships, and his trust among his friends had dwindled as quickly as his stack. “One more”, he muttered to himself.

That night, word had spread about Muku, a sly and freakish dealer who roamed the casino under the façade of affability, with a reputation for high stakes and fair, but unforgiving games. He was Donburi’s last shot to clear his debt, maybe even restore his name. Taking out one last loan from a friendly member, Donburi staked it all on one final pot.

The rest of the night was history. As Donburi walked home, his whiskers twitched in anticipation for his next bet. But in the distance, faintly, the quiet sobs of a dealer trembled the air.

"Annual... General... Meeting?" Donburi waddled through the door. Swiping a donut from the front desk, he sat himself in the corner, munching away. First came the reports, and a farewell to Emi's two years of presidency. And for the first time, in a long time, the little tanuki was sad. The memories, mischief and shenanigans... Donburi didn't want to move on. Yet once again, he had to farewell his beloved caretakers. One by one, Emi, Joyce, Kaithlyn, Jason, Sona, Soyeong, Shysie, Tanny and Leo H went up to hug him, one last time. And waiting at the end of the line? Michelle, who had been there with him from the very start. She handed him a little badge, his floofy face doodled on the front.

"Something to remember us by," she beamed. Taking the badge with both paws, Donburi nodded. Emi's era was no more, but the memories were forever. It was all he needed.

Emi led him over to where Sarah, Arthur, Koko, Kevin, Maya, Muku, Sarah, Czarina, Emma, Gina, Miu, Brian, Leo L, Joshwa and Henry were gathered. Lots of new faces, Donburi thought. And some old faces. Unfortunately.

"Don't give them too much trouble, yeah?" Emi whispered.

Donburi locked eyes with Leo, who mouthed the word "rat".

"Yeah, right."

‍

Tsukimi Lanterns  Donburi basked in the warm sunlight, napping contentedly in the peaceful embrace of Gaddigal Green. The scent of cool grass filled the air, a gentle breeze brushed against him, and the soft murmur of distant conversations lulled him further into his dreams. In the distance, a red lantern swung softly against the blue sky. 🏮  

Hey…. Wait a minute… lantern?

The raccoon’s eyes shot open. WHERE?  

He dashed into the ISL, seeing lanterns of all shapes light up the room and knew he had to join in. Sneakily, he swiped a paintbrush and began starting his very own masterpiece. He painted a black Tsukimi lantern with silver streaks, dotted with golden stars, and even a little crescent moon. With the experience of all the recent WASABI events honing his masterful craftiness, how could he possibly mess anything up?  

Munching on a piece of mochi, Donburi gently nudged a candle into his lantern and turned it on. A warmth, even greater than the sunlight, spread through his entire body, and suddenly, sleeping no longer felt like the highlight of his day.

‍

What? Dry Clay Event? What does that even look like?

I'll tell you!

It was a nice afternoon in the International Student Lounge, as members waddled in, they pinched off clay from various colours and started to shape them. On the first hour, everyone was so relaxed. Talking with others, bouncing around ideas of what to make a model of.

Then after a while, the atmosphere changed somewhat. On one side of the ISL, people still are talking, making silly creatures, like caterpillars.. and more caterpillars... short caterpillars, and long ones.

At another part, it was dead silent. Everyone was locked in. slowly but surely more details were added to the already amazing looking models.

And at the end, one by one members breathed a sigh of relief as they marvel in their creation. and the mood lightened up again. People walked around and complimented each other's creation. It was such a wholesome sight to see!

So what does a dry clay event look like? It was sick

Did someone say Night Markets?!

First stop: WASABI! The smell of grilled yakitori hit Donburi as soon as he got close. He couldn’t resist grabbing a skewer of that juicy goodness, dripping with savory sauce. To wash it down, he went for a refreshing glass of yuzu iced tea. Talk about a perfect combo!

Next up was Chopsticks, and wow, were there some tasty treats! Donburi was immediately drawn to the shiny tanghulu—crunchy fruit covered in sweet syrup. He snagged a few sticks and then treated himself to some boba. Those chewy pearls in the creamy drink were a total game-changer!

Last but definitely not least was VSA. The smell of nem nuong was simply irresistible. Donburi couldn’t wait to dive into those for sure. And of course, he had to sip on some sugar cane juice for that sweet tropical vibe.

As the sun started to set, Donburi looked around at all the happy faces and laughter. This market wasn’t just about amazing food; it was all about community and good vibes. He can’t wait for the next one to discover even more tasty delights! Until next time!

As Donburi finished his classes he saw the sun loomed across the cityscape. The furry raccoon decided to make his way to the International Student Lounge, and as the sun’s last light rays shined through the lounge’s windows, Donburi arrived to see a collection of delicately woven strings. His eyes were like glassy beads and he couldn’t contain his wonder. Donburi discovered the art of Kumihimo.

There was hearty chatter and laughter whilst everyone carefully braided their stresses away. With each movement, each strand placement and each precise loop, a beautiful array of patterns was engendered by every crafter. Donburi witnessed people’s emotions being poured into each braid, as if every time strings were interwoven it was encapsulating a precious WASABI memory.

The braids slowly lengthened, and finally, they were completed. The array of individual Wasabian personalities glimmered from the assortments of colours. The spare ends of each string were snipped, tied and decorated with charms. There it was, a Kumihimo braided artifact that now Donburi could bring home forever. A memoir of friendships and a hand-crafted testament to his WASABI connections, all packed in a few colourful strings, dangling on his little bag.

Donburi burst into ISL, his nose twitching like a radar, zeroing in on the irresistible scents in the air. Today, the lounge was a symphony of delicious ingredients—crispy karaage, golden ebi fry, rich unagi, perfectly rolled tamagoyaki, and of course, his personal favourite: umeboshi.

His eyes sparkled. Bento-making? Free food and art? He was in heaven. Without wasting a second, Donburi picked up a bento box and started loading it with goodies.

A piece of tamagoyaki here, a side of unagi there, and then karaage, nestled in fresh green lettuce leaves, contrasted by the bright red tomatoes. He didn’t forget the umeboshi, which he placed right in the centre like a jewel on the bed of rice. He arranged each piece with finesse, almost too pretty to eat.

But something was missing—his eyes locked onto the seaweed and nori cutter. His nimble paws got to work, cutting out a perfect little Donburi face from the nori, completing his masterpiece.

Donburi couldn’t help but smile as he admired his beautiful creation. The bento wasn’t just an exquisite lunch—it was a love letter to food, fun, and everything WASABI.

As the event came to an end, Donburi received a parting gift—a tub of extra umeboshi, his prize souvenir. He waddled out of ISL with a little skip in his step: his belly full and his heart even fuller.

Our calligraphy and watercolour event was a colourful success, filled with creativity, laughter, and artistic exploration! 🎨  

Members gathered in a cozy, vibrant setting, ready to dive into the world of watercolor. Everyone carefully selected their favourite colours of paint and sat down to start unleashin their creativity 😊Surrounded by palettes and brushes, everyone embraced the opportunity to create without the pressure of perfection.  

Throughout the event, brushes glided across paper, transforming blank sheets into beautiful bookmarks and postcards. From serene landscapes to colorful birds sitting on a branch, each piece reflected the unique style of its creator. The focus was on the joy of painting, experimenting with colors, and letting imagination lead the way ✨

Even first-time painters felt at ease, thanks to our friendly instructors who offered guidance and encouragement 🫶  By the end, participants left with a collection of hand-painted keepsakes, each one a personal memento of the day.  

The event was more than just an art session—it was a celebration of creativity and community. Attendees walked away not only with beautiful art but also with new memories, new friends, a sense of accomplishment, and the simple joy of having spent an afternoon immersed in colour. 🖌️ 🖌️ 🌈

‍

Entering the doors of The Refractory, Donburi stares in awe.A myriad of stalls from every society representing countries from all different corners of the globe greets him, each showcasing their heritage in its full glory. The wafting smell of hot food leads him to the growing queue of people eager to munch on unique nibbles from around the world. Clutching his passport, he follows the crowd of people from one stall to the next, and soaks in the vibes and laughter that fills the room. Suddenly something catches his eye. A group of people, each holding a colourful ornate piece of paper, folding, flipping, and pinching the edges to create what seems to be…“Paper cranes?!?” He dashes over, and overwhelmed with choice, opts for a wasabi green paper.Step by step, fold by fold, the simple piece of paper forms into a beautiful and proud crane. As he walks out of the hall with his paper crane and other goodies in hand, Donburi feels as though his heart is soaring; he just travelled the world in 3 hours!

Donburi’s furry tail were shivering in the cold as he made his way to USYD for the first time after winter break. Though he wanted to stay in his warm bed and hibernate as he had for the past few weeks, today was the day he would get to meet many more friends he had never met before! Excited to make new friends, Donburi hurriedly arrived at the familiar pathway, set up a tent for his booth, and put out an assortment of prizes with a prize wheel to give a warm welcome to the members and friends he was going to make. Throughout the event, Donburi reconnected with many friends he hadn't seen in a while and made dozens, even hundreds of new ones! Pleased with the reunion and new encounters, Donburi returned home and got ready to sleep, hopeful about seeing his friends at future events.

"I haven't studied at all..." Donburi sighed worriedly as he waddled his way through the bustling corridors of the ABS building.  Looking left and right, he noticed many students nose-deep in their laptops and books, and he felt quite nervous; was he going to do alright on his exams? Was he even going to be able to relax, and were his friends feeling alright? Would-The subtle sound of ice clinking and a lightly-sweet floral scent caught his attention. Donburi's eyes widened. "What was that," he murmured curiously, as he had always been fond of such delicate sounds and smells, "are they making... Drinks?" Raising his head and taking one deep whiff, his eyes began to sparkle. "That's coffee! And, do I smell yuzu... and matcha?! But there's something I can't quite pick out... A tart, yet sweet smell... What is that?" He thought for a moment, and some more, then heard grumbling; Donburi very quickly realised that his stomach was hoping to find out too. He looked to the left, then squinted; the smell of these drinks, or whatever it was, was almost tangible! He bee-lined to the room where he smelt such heavenly things and, settling himself down a little, he graciously walked in.Beautiful illustrations and descriptions on the screen welcomed him, and what did it read? "A... Study cafe?!" His glistening eyes fell onto the station at the front and he found what his stomach sought: syrups and milks of all kinds! And, all of his dear WASABI friends! They beckoned to him, "Donburi, we thought you'd find your way here! What would you like to drink?"

Donburi took no hesitation in running up to them and exclaiming, "I'd like a hojicha kuromitsu latte please!" After all, he had never seen this combination in his life! They giggled and told him that this latte was their most popular; Donburi was not surprised. He wondrously watched as his friends swiftly whipped up the latte, and he excitedly took the drink in both paws. They had even written his name on the cup with a star; how cute! In one sip, he felt his worries melt away. The subtle sweetness of brown sugar and roasted tea danced a waltz on his tongue and cuddled, lingering there as he looked up. With stars also in his eyes, he laughed, "This is delicious! Thank you!" And the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to try WASABI's other concoctions: a galaxy black tea spritz or yuzu lemonade? Maybe a classic matcha latte or iced coffee? But, that tart and sweet smell he noticed before wasn't any of the ingredients he saw on the table. Really, what was that? Leo, the mastermind behind this cafe, knew very much what Donburi was wondering. He walked up to him and winked: "You know, Donburi, we actually have a secret menu item. If you look closer at the menu, maybe you'll figure it out!" Frazzled, Donburi didn't know what to think! He stood there for a bit, and Leo laughed. "Donburi, don't worry. But, don't you think this is the perfect atmosphere for working? You can always solve this puzzle after some good study!" Donburi snapped back to reality and finally noticed the sound of intense typing behind him. Turning around, he gasped: so many of his friends were working, seemingly unfazed by everything happening around them! Nodding his head at Leo, he rushed up to the first empty seat he saw, cold latte still in his paw, and brought out his laptop. Donburi was unreachable for the next few hours; he truly was productive!

"Donburi... Donburi!" It took Leo a bit of shaking for Donburi to come out of his study trance. "I'm so happy you're studying well, but we're taking last orders now! Have you thought about what you wanted?" Donburi's eyes widened. The secret menu item! Taking one glance at the menu, it all made sense now. Those blue letters... When you put them together, you get... Ah, so that's what that fruity smell was!"One strawberry matcha latte please!" Donburi grinned, then watched happily as his WASABI friends delicately spooned in strawberry puree, poured soy milk and topped off his drink with a special matcha concentrate. And it was nothing like Donburi had ever tasted before: the matcha and strawberry, although both head-strong, mingled well with each other while the soy milk provided a subtle, mellow finish. And such a mellow end to Donburi's day it was! Wholeheartedly satisfied, he gave his friends warm hugs, waved and wandered out of the room. What more could Donburi have asked for? His heart (and stomach) overflowed with happiness as he began to skip. WASABI had saved his day once again!

‍

It was a cloudy autumn afternoon. Everyone was as usual in the ISL, studying, procrastinating, chatting ... but wait.... where is Donburi? 🙀  

WASABI members set out with their SUAnime pals in search of our beloved mascot in a Detective Conan-Style case 🕵️ There were many fun riddles and puzzles to solve with awesome prizes up for grabs 🏆 I certainly had the most fun chatting to the eager detectives while we solved this mystery together 🤩  

There were ciphers, mazes and trivias galore. Our detectives worked real hard 💪 and at the end of the day, with a bit of luck 🍀 brains 🧠 and talent 🌟, our detectives were able to solve the case of the missing mascot. How surprising was it to find out that it was Purin all along 🫢??  

As they say, there is always only one truth! and we managed to find it in the end 😌  

What a thrilling adventure, to say the least 😎  

Until next time detectives 🫡  

Case closed 💼

‍

Donburi hurried up to the exit of the metro, where it led to the imposing figure of the town hall. With an entire week of unstable weather, Donburi was constantly dodging rain showers and gusts of wind as he made his way through the bustling streets. Despite the unpredictable forecast, Donburi was determined to reach the town hall on time for the much-anticipated Sponsor Expedition!

In front of the Town Hall awaited many Wasabians who had come from far and wide to hang out with each other, go shopping, and most importantly, eat good. With umbrellas and ectasty in the air, the groups embarked on their own adventures to explore the amazing wonders offered by Wasabi’s sponsors.

As a starter, Donburi visited Tenkomori to enjoy a nice warm ramen, followed by a flavorful matcha ice cream from Oh! Matcha. Donburi wasted no time in heading to Maruyu to buy his favorite Japanese snacks, then to Hondarake to further his knowledge of Japanese agriculture, and finally pulled off the drippiest fit at Via Artists.

Donburi did not stop there and proceeded to Ramen Zundo for another culinary treat, followed by an indulgent ice cream from Ice Kirin Bar. Last but not least, he joined the Wasabians for karaoke, singing his heart out until his voice faded into the night. Thus, amidst the camaraderie and savory delights, Donburi's Sponsor Expedition proved to be an unforgettable adventure, leaving him with cherished memories and a satisfied appetite.

As Donburi stepped into the lively atmosphere of WASABI Bunkasai, he was instantly enveloped in the tantalising scent of Japanese street food wafting through the air. Greeted by the lovely sign in hosts, Sona and Henry, he soon found himself clutching a handful of vouchers, eager to embark on his adventure at the fair.Donburi’s first destination was none other than the beloved Takoyaki stall! He grabbed a plate of the sizzling octopus-filled balls from Gina and Maurice. Despite the risk of burning his tongue, Donburi savoured every bite, declaring it a delightful start to his Bunkasai journey. Next on his list was the irresistible aroma of Tebasaki (Japanese Chicken Wings) from Jasslyn’s stall. Juicy and coated in a tantalising glaze, these wings were an instant hit, leaving Donburi craving for another delicious bite.In need of a refreshing treat, Donburi made his way to the Kakigori (Shaved Ice) stall. After a friendly game of scissors-paper-rock with Kevin and Muku, he emerged victorious and enjoyed every spoonful of his shaved ice creation.His sweet tooth calling, Donburi ventured to the Cotton Candy station, where Pranam and Mao expertly crafted the sugary delight that earned a perfect 10/10 rating from him. With promises to return for seconds, he left with a smile on his face. But of course, no Bunkasai experience would be complete without Edamame, the humble yet satisfying snack that never fails to impress. Arthur’s offering of these delightful beans was a welcome addition to Donburi’s culinary journey.To warm up on the chillier autumn day, Donburi cozied up with a cup of Miso Soup from Jason and Leo. Rich, comforting, and oh-so-delicious. He burnt his tongue, but he preferred not to mention about that, oops.

Continuing his culinary adventure, Donburi indulged in Sarah’s Taiyaki, relishing the delightful combination of crunchy on the outside and gooey red bean filling. The experience left him eager for another bite and ready to explore further. Donburi thought he was full until he saw the tempting Kuromitsu Dango served by Bill. The skewered rice cakes drizzled with sweet black sugar syrup and dipped in Kinako powder. Each bite was like a little piece of heaven that transported him straight to the streets of Japan.And how could Donburi forget about the heavenly delight of Fruit Sando crafted by Koko? Layers of fluffy milk bread enveloped a colourful medley of fresh strawberry, Donburi treasured every bite of the sando, savouring the harmonious blend of textures and flavours.To wash it all down, Donburi treated himself to a cup of Yuzu Lemonade from Miu. Tangy, refreshing, and utterly delicious, it was the perfect way to quench his thirst after indulging in all the festival delights. Sipping the cool beverage, Donburi felt refreshed for more activities. The fun didn’t end with food! Armed with tokens, Donburi dove into the array of festival games on offer. His first stop was the Yoyo Tsuri station, where he met Emi, the master of the art of fishing with a twist. With steady paws and a twinkle in his eye, Donburi skilfully manoeuvred his strings, hooking the green balloon out of the water container. His prize was a cute plushie keychain. Donburi then dashed to the Shateki stall, where Josh and Brian, the shooting game gurus, guided him through the intricacy of the game. Channelling his inner ninja, Donburi aimed with precision, sending his shots flying towards the cups. In no time, a cuddly bubble tea plushie was in his paws, marking his victory!

Donburi then dashed to Sarah’s paper plane racing station. With his tiny paws working skilfully, he folded and creased his way to perfection. As he launched his paper plane into the sky, he marvelled at the sight of planes gliding gracefully, competing for glory.At Tanny’s Ema station, an array of wooden plaques invited attendees to share their wishes. Donburi eagerly picked up a plaque and penned his wishes: to acquire more wasabi and make new friends at upcoming WASABI events. Donburi then waddled over to the merch table, where Kaithlyn was displaying an array of keychains, stickers, and clothes. Unable to resist, he indulged his inner narcissist and snatched up every keychain and sticker, each featuring his own charming face. Finally, he grabbed a cozy t-shirt before making his way to the checkout, his wallet empty but at least his heart is filled with joy.Last but not least, Donburi found himself drawn to the enchanting Polaroid Photobooth nestled in the corner of the festival grounds. With vibrant props in paws, Donburi eagerly posed for Shysie’s camera, flashing a wide smile as the shutter clicked. As the day drew to a close, Donburi couldn’t help but feel grateful for the delicious food, thrilling games, and the wonderful sense of community that surrounded him. Leaving him with a heart full of happiness and memories that will last a lifetime. Before bidding farewell, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he dashed over to Leo and planted a big, heartfelt smooch on his cheek. “Leo! Thank you for making this event possible!” he said.

‍

Fresh out of the mid – sem break, Donburi sat and looked out into the sunset, reminiscing the fun times that had made up the week prior. Determined to never back down and ride the fun times until the end of the semester, he parades to Hermann’s to mark the start of the second half of the semester.

Lively and jovial wasabians greeted him as he, alongside many others, claimed his free drink at the bar. Some chose to relax and chat with others, both new and familiar. Others had fun with the many board games spread out amongst the tables.

Out of the corner of his eye, however, Donburi sees a peculiar group sitting by the window, with laptops out and code plastered all over their screens. Rolling his eyes, he didn’t let them take away from his fun, which was all but guaranteed as the night went on.

WASABI’s annual General Meeting was held once again at ABS, fulfilling our regular agenda and yearly reports from executives, and the donuts bringing an added spark of sugary joy.

This year, we bid a fond farewell to our Vice President, Joyce, who has been involved in WASABI for over three years, leaving a lasting legacy of continued joy, comfort, and creative inspiration within the team. She is a much beloved person who always brings an energetic and bubbly personality to the team, and she is always coming up with creative and interesting ideas.

As a Language Workshop Coordinator, Joyce enthusiastically contributed to one of the most core aspect of the society — engaging and enjoyable Language Workshops. Then, as Vice President, she has been a guiding and influential force and has truly helped shaped WASABI to what it is today.

With much love (and a few tears) we wish Joyce the best, and eagerly await her return to events as a member.  WE LOVE YOU JOYCE! ✨ 💚

‍

It was a sunny Easter Sunday, when Donburi stumbled upon bunny-prints engraved on the earths of Prince Alfred Park…  As he curiously followed the trail, there opened three colourful banners of WASABI JAC and NSA as though welcoming him to the very first JAC event of 2024, the JAC Orientation!!

Green, pink and red colours all merged together into one, creating vivid laughters bouncing across the many trees protecting the friendly and safe environment. The connections between each members were entwined as they participated in large group activities, while the sizzling of sausages invited all for a sausage sizzle lunch break. Soon after hungry stomachs were filled, the connections were tightly sealed as team members played more fun activities like the Human Knot Game, Japanese Whispers, Bang, and Duck Duck Goose!!

The three beautiful colours were finally captured on frame, all proudly presenting their bright banners towards the camera which recorded the many memories of the day.

And the last goodbyes of the day were … “See you at the next JAC event!!!”

Donburi finally finished his long week, packed with assignments and tests. Taking a deep breath before the second half of the semester starts, he walked towards his own kennel in ISL. On the way, he heard a WASABI member shout “UNO!!” A sparkle lit up in his eyes, and he immediately rushed in to join the fun.

As Donburi entered the room, he noticed some new board games on the table, like “Don’t Say Um”, Jiggle, and Werewolves. Meanwhile, a few WASABI members spotted him and waved, calling out, “Donburi!! Come and play ‘Exploding Kittens’ with us!”

Excitedly, Donburi joined them, chatting as he shuffled the cards, praying for good luck in his first game. Despite losing all the games he played, he continued fighting for a win. Determined, he glanced at the clock and declared, “LAST GAME!”

He quickly ate a whole pack of chocolate pie for an energy boost and picked up his cards.

Against all odds, he won the last game on the final card.

"HAHAHAH!" Donburi’s proud laughter echoed across the entire ISL. He left for home feeling like a king, victorious and satisfied.

Late in the night, a certain beloved raccoon and four of his minions by the name of Henry, Joyce, Leo L and Jason were in the kitchen cooking up a storm…

Chopped potatoes, diced carrots and cubed chunks of beef are added into the simmering pot. In went the curry roux; the densely packed spices and seasoning dissolves into the broth creating a rich stew —the smell permeates the air, making everyone in the kitchen unconsciously salivate. Those were the ingredients chosen to create the perfect Japanese curry dish for our WASABIANS.

Lay a bed of rice out onto the bowl and add a ladleful of curry abundant with hearty toppings. The only thing left to do is give our thanks to Donburi’s cooking minions helpers and dig in!

One sunny Wednesday morning, a certain crafty little raccoon awoke to the earthly scents of freshly cut grass and dewdrops twinkling atop the leaves. Nothing could be more refreshing than that, right?

With his fluffy tail swaying to an invisible melody, Donburi set out on a quest at the WASABI perfumery —to create the most enchanting aroma the world had ever known. Armed with a tiny vial and boundless creativity, he scampered from one fragrant station to another, his nose twitching in delight as he blended scents with the mastery of a seasoned alchemist. As he unveiled his creation, a marriage of floral notes and hints of woodland musk, the members of WASABI erupted in applause, marvelling at Donburi's talent and the magic he brought to their midst.

With a humble bow and a twinkle in his eye, the little raccoon proved that even the smallest of creatures could concoct miraculous wonders with a dash of imagination

On a fine Tuesday morning, Donburi woke up extra early to make his way to the WASABI Tea Workshop.

When he arrived,  he saw the beautiful line up of teas: Gyokuro, Genmaicha, Sencha, Oolong, Early Grey and Jasmine tea. He rushed to grab his 5 tea bags and made himself a nice cup of tea. Topped it off with some peach syrup, and sat at timber floors for the rest of the afternoon, sipping away. He may have invited a lot of other people to the event, keeping Arthur our Event Coordinator very very busy... what a cheeky little thing.

We hope you had a fun and relaxing afternoon with us at WASABI Tea Workshop, like Donburi did!

As the second week of the semester approached, WASABI members came together to meet new friends and make unforgettable memories at our speed friending event 😊

So many people turned up and filled the room with chatter and smiles. We had such a great turnout that the snacks we provided were almost all gone 😼 The new semester energy is always great, and I had the chance to talk to some new WASABI members as well.

We had provided worksheets as a guide for starting conversations, but as time passed people started to naturally engage in various topics and found common interests which sparked many new friendships✨ Everyone came for a genuine place to chat and meet fellow WASABIANS, and the event had such a lovely vibe overall!

I love hearing the lively chats and exchanges that fill up the room and it has made me very excited for the rest of the semester! I hope everybody had a great time, and I look forward to seeing everyone back again in future WASABI events

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Donburi was panicking. When he woke up, he checked the weather and saw that it was raining. Wearing his messenger bag over his shoulder, and an umbrella on his left arm, Donburi swung his front door open and ran for the campus.

This is bad! Today was supposed to be the day WASABI held their crepe hunt event! With such uncooperative weather, who is going to want to run around campus?

"Fear not dear member" a voice rang inside his head. "We have prepared for this scenario. come to the International Student Lounge and everything will be clear.

"Soon he arrived to the ISL. In the middle of the room, sticking out like a sore thumb was a collection of tables, arranged into a big 3 sided square.

Members were going around, picking ingredients such as strawberries, cream, syrups, bananas, and some more. At the end of the line, the plates were filled with fully decorated crepes!

Donburi lined up, grabbed one for himself and went to greet his friends. "I'm glad everything worked out in the end..."

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With the light shining down on new year of WASABI, and the advent of yet another Welcome BBQ, I thought about what this annual event means for us as a society, because after all, this is an event that’s stayed consistent throughout the years.

Is it for the food? For the familiarity and popularity we know the event has? For the engagement we know it can bring to the members?

For me the Welcome BBQ has always been a celebration of our achievements and engagement as a club throughout the past year. Seeing the familiar faces as well as new, watching the admittedly small space of the Cadigal Green BBQ area crowded with more people than really the space allows, hearing the chatter of people with the get-to-know you small talk I’m sure we are all somewhat familiar with by now.

It’s an event that really shows what the society is about, and what I think all non-faculty societies embody at its core. It’s a place to bring people together, forming connections in an environment that may not necessarily encourage it, and making the admittedly difficult parts of university just that bit more enjoyable.

I could go on and on about how busy it was this year, with the line reaching down in a way that seemed a bit incredulous. I could talk about how different the food was this year, with the never done before okonomiyaki, and all the inevitable issues we had during setting up.How it was so hectic at the sign-in desk with seemingly never-ending stream of people barraging our little three man sign-in team.

But in the end, this year’s Welcome BBQ was the same as every other year’s. It was an event where food was eaten, questions were asked, and friendships were made. It welcomed us to another year, with all its shining possibilities and scary unknowns.

So my fourth Welcome BBQ of my time at WASABI was just as amazing as every other one, and I hope everyone enjoyed it just as much as I did. And kudos to Jason, one of our new event coordinators, for keeping our tradition alive, organising his first big event in a fantastic way that’s lived up to all the past Welcome BBQs.

Welcome everyone to another year of WASABI

DON DON DONNNN! With a jolt, Donburi’s eyes snapped open as he sprang right out of his comfy straw bale bed ready for action. Donburi felt the adrenaline and excitement of starting a new year! He swore to himself this year was different, this year would be one where he was on top of things, a year where he no longer procrastinated on those farming tasks, and a changed mascot (new year, new raccoon). Donburi seized his straw hat and ran out the door in a jiffy.

The concrete pathway glistened as the sun shone brightly and the sky, a canvas of endless blue, stretched as far as the eye could see. Donburi skipped and skipped until he reached the WASABI stall, a place filled with amazing prizes, sweets and many familiar smiles. The sight of our laughing Wasabians enjoying the raffle and the smiles from the Soot Sprites stand-up stall made the raccoon one happy mascot. As the sun set, Donburi knew it was time to leave. Donburi waddled away, excited for next season’s welcome week.

It's exam season, and students need a way to get away from all the stress and cool off. Luckily, Donburi planned ahead and created Springtime Paint n' Sip! Donburi knew just what all the wasabians needed and invited everyone to come paint their favourite scenes under the Spring shade and sip on some refreshing drinks!

New and familiar faces turn up one by one to Victoria Park, taking their canvas and settling down on the soft grass. The gentle breeze and warm scenery made the location perfect for small chit chat with friends. As wasabians conversed amongst themselves, masterpieces were being whipped up! Let WASABI cook!! By the end of Paint n' Sip, all the wasabians unwinded for the week and even had a little memory to take home. As expected of Donburi!

Jason

Donburi walked into ISL in a morning, and saw all the students studying before exams. He started watching ninja drama and dozed off. He opened his eyes, seeing everyone shocked on their faces. They found out they had travelled back to Sengoku-era in a ninja academy.

They saw origami sheets, cardboards and coloured A4 papers on the table, and Donburi’s knowledge from the drama kicked in. He started leading everyone to craft ninja weapons such as shuriken, katana and kunai. Folding papers into different types of shuriken and kunai, cutting cardboards into katanas. Everyone was chatting and cheering about their unique fashioned weapons. After all the fun craftings time, they are brought to the corner to examine their ninja skills. Paper cups pyramids, shooting targets and wooden sticks look like a tower stopping them from passing. Despite the obstacles, their determination shone through as they fought hard for the test. Pyramids had fallen, targets were shot and woods were cut into halves. They aced the test and laughter echoed as they celebrated. Donburi felt tired after all these challenges and fell asleep smiling.

He woke up with a cute certificate and KitKat in his hand, and in everyone’s hand. He left ISL with a sense of accomplishment and a smile.

Arthur

As October neared its end and the darkness crept in, a mysterious atmosphere enveloped UTS. The air was thick with anticipation, and a touch of eerie excitement as students prepared for the most spine-chilling event of the year: JAC HALLOWEEN!  

Taking inspiration from Donburi, our members pulled up in the scariest, most horrifying, legit spine-tingling, and ickiest costumes possible, fully embracing the spooky theme. Congratulations to the winners, who truly embodied the spirit of Donburi.  

Do you know what's scarier than monsters from the unknown? University students and alcohol. The bar at UTS loft served some horrifying concoctions, which left everyone in high spirits (see what I did there). Although some may still be wondering if there was a hint of elixir in those drinks.  

Now, it wouldn't be a proper Halloween night without paranormal shenanigans. Our hardworking JAC team set up a spooky twist into the night as members were pulled into the House of Horrors, where every creak and groan sent shivers down spines. From Sukuna to Scary Women (Real, I'm scared of women), the room acted as a domain into the otherworldly.  

As the Spectral Soirée fades into the realm of memories, we are left with a lingering sense of the supernatural. Until next year, when the shadows once again come alive, remember: the spirits may rest, but the memories of this haunted night will haunt us forever. 👻🌙

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Pranu

In the middle of the hectic assignment seasons, groups of students gathered around the International Student Lounge. As Donburi peeked through the corner, he sees many familiar faces fiddling with what seems to be small colourful plastic pieces.

Approaching closer to the area, it turns out to be plastic beads! Seemingly disconnected from the outside world, this area of the ISL felt very tranquil. Some people were deeply in focus with creating bracelets, others were having leisurely conversations. While the idea was to create friendship bracelets, some people got creative and made keychains, and phone straps. Uncharacteristically, Donburi decided to sit down beside his friends, and started creating a bracelet as well! One by one, he slipped in the plastic beads. Pink.. blue... pink.. blue.. and ocassionally some letter beads. As he finally finished up on the bracelet, he looked up to the window and saw the sky already turning orange.

While it wasn't his usual hobbies of pranks and high energy activities, it was a nice change of pace, Donburi thought while walking back home wearing his brand new bracelet.

Brian

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Shaka shaka shaka, sip, sip. What’s that sound? Looking over into Isabel Fiddler, we can see Donburi enjoying a nice cup of matcha tea, then Chinese Long Jing green tea, then Taiwanese Alishan green oolong tea. 🍵  

We watched the late afternoon sunshine turn golden, then sunset, then navy blue, the cozy lamps lighting up the evening and spreading their warmth throughout our first collaboration with Tea Society. Enjoying some Japanese sweets and mochi before drinking some whisked matcha, then fragrant and flavourful Chinese and Taiwanese teas, members from both societies enjoyed conversing and sharing small talk on their favourite teas, mindful thoughts, and queries on the process of tea ceremony. 🍵🍡 The wonderfully comforting vibes of the event allowed for tea masters to talk with the tea curious, and share their interests and impart their knowledge. Everyone left feeling the after-warmth from partaking in the selection of delicious teas, a little less stressed and a little more wise. 😌  

Sarah, resident tea enjoyer.

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With joy, we celebrate Wasabi’s 20th anniversary as a society!! Together with old and new members we celebrated through everlasting polaroids with our wasabians with cute studio ghibli props! drawing our luck 🍀, testing our shooting aim 🫣, letter writing ✉️ and yummy takoyaki. 😋😋 Creating present and future memories with wasabi will forever be a core memory 💛💛.  

By the end of the event, everyone’s hearts were full of companionship and love. To wasabi and future events we look forward to creating forever and fun memories 🫶🏻

Ellie

If you were a foodie, you HAD to be there at VSA X WASABI Night Markets 😍

zPicture this: tender beef, fresh herbs, and a dash of secret sauce grilled to perfection. The Bo Lat Lot served by VSA was absolutely mouth-watering and well worth the wait 🤤 And don't forget about WASABI's very own dango. Those sweet and chewy desserts were an absolute feast on the eyes (and the stomach course) 💗 ! Served some DELICIOUS miso soup (and some really good company) we brought the night market to you on a Tuesday at uni.

By the end of the event, everyone's hearts and tummies were full, after an exciting day at VSA X WASABI "night" markets 😊

- Kaithlyn

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Donburi walked into ISL one afternoon with his mouth wide open in shock - how could WASABI neglect him and hold an event in celebration of the lowly Sanrio characters?!

Despite his reservations, he waddled his way over to the first station he saw as he still wanted to experience the event with an unbiased lens. There, he made a cute omamori charm and giggled as he admired his own work of art. Maybe the event wasn’t so bad after all.

Then, he waddled over to the next station where he made a fun popper craft. He pulled it open with Sona but ran away as the little pop of confetti gave him a fright. Eventually, he regained his breath to tackle the final station, where he made a little shaking keychain. He was so proud of it that he shook it happily in front of each team member he came across.

At the end of the day, Donburi waddled his way back home to the WASABI lockers and looked over his loot from the afternoon. The event was a lot of fun after all, even if it wasn’t all about him.

~ Joyce ^•ﻌ•^ฅ

Coming together for a delightful event that celebrated the wonders of sushi and wagashi, we rolled in the fun with a burst of enthusiasm!

With skillful hands and imaginative minds, we crafted charming flower maki-sushi, classic cucumber rolls, and even the enchanting ichigo-daiguku. Everyone got to experience the joy of making these delectable treats.

Laughter echoed as we worked side by side, sharing tips and techniques. It was a true team effort, and we savored every moment of it! A big thanks to everyone who joined in, making this event a truly memorable one. Stay tuned for upcoming events!

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Sona

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As the birds chirped and faint rays of light passed between the blinds, we see Donburi brushing his fur, stuffing his learning materials into his bag and rushing to the door. On campus, heaps of returning and new students flooded the Eastern Avenue and the Front Lawn. The sun was bright, the sky was clear and Donburi happily weaved through the crowd to finally arrive at the WASABI Welcome Fest Stand! Execs scurry around, distributing flyers, helping students sign up, and writing up membership cards. Laid on the tables were stationery packs! Coin pouches! Plushies! As well as merchandise! T-shirts and tote bags with Donburi on it! Donburi took his chances, stuck his paw into the pile of paper and... a coin pouch!When the time for his first lecture arrived, he bid everyone goodbye, and went on his way to the lecture hall. This semester is going to be a great one, Donburi thought, don don don...

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Brian

Ahh JAC Camp.. the annual event Donburi looks forward to every year.

He looked off into the distance as he reminisced the fun mini games, horror night, scavenger hunt, idol dance and.... the nights at Geebung.

Mini games and scavenger hunt released the member's inner-child, as the activities were structured with various childhood games. Donburi had way too much fun playing bento box.. can't believe he won against our gym boy Wilson. But we did catch the moment he lost against our little Leo. He definitely cried back in the cabins... he denied it in the morning but we all saw Sona comfort him as he rolled up under his blanket.

Horror night was a personal favourite for sure. Donburi, Pranam and Judy walked through the field with nothing but torch in hand. They heard rustling in the bushes and started running for their lives as an invisible figure started running towards them. His short legs couldn't keep up with Pranam and Judy's speed and he face planted as he tried to catch up. I hope he was ok.

Idol challenge was one to remember. Kaithlyn and Sarah put blood, sweat and tears into teaching Donburi the dance but he just could not master the footwork near the end. However, in the improv section, we all got to see him do a round-off back hand spring, layout to back handspring full... and it was impressive. Joyce gave it a 100/10 and Jason just winked. I think that means he approves.

To top off each night, we had the iconic Geebung parties. Donburi and Emi had a nice tipsy karaoke session, singing Arashi at the top of their lungs as all the members gathered to play uno at the big table. Kai walked over and challenged Donburi to some rounds of table tennis. Kai played with a blindfold on and Donburi still lost. At least we know he's good at farming and taking care of the WASABI family.

We all hope his goofy moments at camp can be looked back on as iconic highlights and we look forward to another JAC Camp with him in 2024.

~ Emi <33

Whipped cream + Anko + Cookies + Fruit + Chocolate syrup = one of Donburi’s favourite desserts…PARFAITS! 🍓

With a long line of WASABI and CHOCSOC execs/subcom manning the parfait creation chain, our lovely members were able to enjoy a quick and easy dessert at ISL! Our non-decisive members may have had a harder time as many stations had more than one option but some found a way around that by requesting a bit of everything (Franken-parfait? 👀).  It was also great fun watching our members try unusual flavour combinations and either smile or grimace in turn! 😝

Thank you to everyone who came to our event! I shall leave you all with Donburi’s parting words:

"Don Don Donburi!" ☺️

- Emily

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On this lovely day, nestled in a corner of new law was our lovely WASABI Kodomo No Hi crafts event! 🤩 We were transported back to when we were just small children, having fun making crafts while chatting and playing around with friends. Our members nibbled away on snacks and drinks whilst making the koinobori 🎏, a fish-shaped windsock that is an important part of Japanese tradition and culture.✨The chatterbox brought back fond memories of childhood 👶 and reminded us of the joy that came from choosing random colours and numbers to reveal a message or dare inside 😈. Finally, members challenged themselves with origami as they made their way through the different levels, making foxes 🦊, frogs 🐸 and of course the infamous geese 🐦.

- Tanny

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As the sun descended and city lights shimmered into view, an air of anticipation enveloped Jazushi. With glasses raised and spirits high, we embarked on a tantalizing culinary odyssey, exploring the splendid offerings of the special WASABI Izakaya Night menu. Mouthwatering kingfish sashimi and wagyu tataki, crispy JFC, delectable salmon rolls delighted our taste buds, leaving us craving more with each bite.As the evening progressed, the merriment grew, and the sound of clinking glasses and cheerful banter filled the air. Drunk with joy, we sang the night away, fully embracing the present moment and letting go of our worries about the impending finals. Donburi invites you to toast to the oishii food, fantastic company, and an extraordinary semester brought to you by the WASABI Team. Kanpai! See you in Semester 2!

- Shysie

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Events Coordinator Kaithlyn was lying in bed one night, trying to catch some snoozes, when little subcom Sarah telepathically whispered in her ear, “WASABI tea ceremony…”

And so began a frenzy of planning, as Kaithlyn frantically worked to bring to life a vision that had struck her on that fateful night.

Fast forward to the actual day of the event, Kaithlyn sat down and breathed a sigh of relief as she contentedly watched everyone enjoy delicious green tea, the bitterness of which was perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the authentic Japanese snacks she had prepared. The professional tea ceremony performed by Sarah in a beautiful yukata (thank you Shysie!) was mesmerising to witness and an experience that I'm sure we will all never forget.

That day, Kaithlyn went home and lay in her bed again. This time, she could sleep soundly without any disturbance... at least until Semester 2 starts.

~ Joyce ^._.^ฅ

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WASABI's back again with our annual trivia night!

With a crazy turn out, our members were able to indulge themselves with a night of Japanese and anime themed questions and minigames  🇯🇵🎌🗾   It was so much fun seeing the responses to short answer questions and the member's very creative drawings of Donburi 🦝  As always, the pizza and drinks were delicious, and it certainly gave everyone energy to make it through all those difficult questions.  🍕🍵

Overall, the trivia night was vibrant and exciting, and everyone on our team worked hard to make sure everything went smoothly!  👍

Thanks to everyone who came, and we hope everyone had a great night 🫶

- Wilson.

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Dear Donburi,

What have you been up to lately? It’s been a while since we met each other, and I must admit I missed you and the WASABI events over the mid semester break. I’ve been busy with mid sem assessments and study, but writing this letter to you has granted me a short reprieve from my stressful schedule.

Listening to upbeat city pop tunes and comforting background beats, I look around to see new friends and familiar acquaintances alike absorbed in creating beautiful letters. Nearby, laid out in an aesthetic array are an extensive collection of pretty letter designs, and multiple different styles of stickers. We pondered over the perfect combination of letter paper and envelopes, and laughed about the humourous Gudetama and sushi stickers, and I thought about what would best fit my letter to you.

I hope to meet you there at the next Letter Writing Workshop in Semester 2, but if not, I’ll write another letter to you again. ☺️

Love from Sarah ✨

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With the looming pressure and stress of all our assignments and exams, I wonder if I’ll ever get a chance to relax again. “Fear not”, Donburi says. “Have a matcha latte.” Whilst the sun shines through the windows and birds chirp, the ambience of laughter and studious typing fills a comfortable room in ABS. People eagerly line up for their shot of customisable matcha lattes as our enthusiastic baristas work hard creating drinks for our wasabians attending. Gentle lo-fi music breezes through the air as some people put on their focus on as they get through their university work, or they merrily chatter their woes away with friends new and old.

I close my eyes for a brief moment, sipping my calming matcha latte.

Donburi was right all along.

- Michelle

The gentle noon sun warms us against the cold winter breeze as we frantically pace through Prince Alfred Park, collecting items for the scavenger hunt. In the distance, you can see Donburi watch over enthusiastic WASABI members as they mingle with friends from NSA and JASS.

Undoukai is undoubtedly a staple JAC tradition, where members of the Japanese societies of UTS, UNSW and USYD are able to come together to compete, socialize and create inter-university bonds. We had many activities running simultaneously, to keep our active and athletic members entertained. Tug of war was an absolute classic, as well as the infamous egg and spoon race. By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted, but wore satisfied smiles.

- kai

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Held in a spacious room in ABS, as the sun said its goodbyes and the glowing moon crept up through the skies, so did Annie who marked her last week as our Communication Officer. Annie’s speech resonated across the halls and hit everyone's hearts as she reminisced on her hard work and great services to WASABI ༼ ༏༏ີཻ༾ﾍ ༏༏ີཻ༾༽༽.

Yet, we all turned to a new chapter in the story of WASABI with the election of the new Communications Officer. As our executives carried the general meeting with utmost professionalism (〃▽〃), our Wasabians filled the air with good vibes as always, contagiously laughing and all excited to watch the highlight of the event - the Communications Officer nominee speeches.

With massive gratitude and honour, I write this blog as your new Communications Officer for WASABI 2023. It was truly a memorable day and of course, I want to thank my fellow Wasabians who were supportive and made it comfortable and wholesome for everyone running („ಡωಡ„). I hope to see everyone at the next General Meeting.

-Michelle (∗ᵒ̶̶̷ω˂̶́∗)੭₎₎̊₊♡

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When you think of the classic university experience, our first thought is probably alcohol. If it isn't, then you're too innocent. Wasabi's Drinks Night established a comfortable and safe hub for students to wind down after a high pressure day of school, work or commitments. For others, as the sun slowly set over Herman's Bar, it was time to call it in, but for Wasabi, the day had just began. As the people started piling up, so did the lovely scent of alcohol as it wafted throughout the bar as Students both past and present had a good time, mingling, drinking and simply vibing to the music.

Who could ask for a better time?

Thank you to everyone who came, we hope you enjoyed and wish to see you at future events!

Pranam 🙂

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It was a cloudy Saturday, light rain lining the path of which groups of wasabians toured our amazing sponsors. We were quick to make new friends,  as we made our way to Ramen Zundo for lunch, enjoying bouncy ramen noodles served in a rich, savoury broth. After lunch, we were serenaded by street musicians on our way to Via artists embraced by the familiar tunes of studio ghibli where at Via Artists, members were quick to snatch up their stunning designs. After, we headed to Hondarake, stopping at Maruyu on the way to pick up a light snack. Our members filling up every inch of Sydney's favourite rustic Japanese bookstore, we exchanged new books with our newfound friends. We enjoyed Dinner at Tenkomori, with the creamy soft serve of Oh Matcha for dessert, before singing out hearts out at Karaoke !!

Thank you to our sponsors for hosting us !!

- Leo L<3

International Fest was an exciting event with many stalls besides our one! Our stall featured a variety sushi🍣 such as salmon, prawn, fried-tofu, and California roll. Despite super hot weather😎☀️, many wasabians popped in to say hi and tried sushi with ‘wasabi’💚😆 The food was all delicious, many people came back to get more and we sold out before 1pm😊🙊

Overall, the event was successful, hope everyone enjoyed our food😋 and thank you USU for hosting✨

-Sona

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Braving the summer heat☀️😎and a postponement (tyty sydney trains🚂), our members mingled with our friends over at NSA (UNSW) and JASS (UTS) in a series of challenges and games! With our stomachs full with freshly sizzled sausages🌭and lovingly handmade fairy bread✨, we played charades, silent line up and even with kendama, forging new friendships along the way 💖🤝

An epic JAC start to what is hopefully an equally epic year of events, thank youuuu to everyone who came along and endured the heat, and we hope to see you again in the future!! 🎉🫶🫶

- Henry

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Starting off with our first Japanese communication workshop for this semester, members and language facilitators were able to meet new faces and tackle worksheets together. 💪 The main focus was on letting go of feelings of fear about making potential mistakes and understanding that it's all part of the learning process. We learned how to introduce ourselves in Japanese and interesting facts about each other -- all whilst snacking on a variety of delicious treats and drinks. 🍵🍬 We would love to see you at our next language workshop, to practice Japanese or even just pick up a few introductory phrases! ☺️ - Sarah 😌

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After stressful exam week, we closed last year with memorable JAC Ball ✨✨ It was wonderful night where many friends across three different universities gathered and spent time together💞🥰 Congratulations to the people who were voted first in various categories on the night 🥳🎉 Hopefully all your photos 📷 are great and nothing too embarrassing was captured 😅😅 especially when people were dancing with the DJ 💃🕺 Overall, it was a memorable night where old friendships were renewed and new friendships were made 😊 Thank you everyone who come, hope you all had a good time 🥰❤️

- Sona

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As the sun sets on another semester and another year, time flowing by faster than ever, came another one of our Izakaya nights. The gentle red glow in Jazushi, the cool night air on the balcony, the plates of food relentlessly coming one after the other, the alcohol I'm sure more than a few of us consumed, and that irreplaceable atmosphere that being around great company inevitably creates, all bringing us together for one last hurrah before the end of the year. With all the looming dread and doom not too far away now, I hope Izakaya night was one where you could celebrate getting through another semester, make new friends, have some fun, eat some food and laugh away all the stress if only for a little bit. Hope everyone had a fantastic 2022. I'm looking forward to see all you guys next year : )

-Leo

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What a great way of spend time watching movie 🎥 together with friends after stressful week✨ It was a relaxing night, many Wasabians 🫶🏻 pop in to take a break from uni work 🤯 We enjoyed super cute Ghibli movie,  ‘The Cat Returns’ 🐈  with yummy pizza 🍕, popcorn 🍿 and lollies 🍬 We learn some Japanese from movie as well 🇯🇵 Overall, it was an enjoyable and relaxing night 🥰 Thank you everyone who come ❤️

- Sona

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wOOOO~ just in time for the spookiest time of the year, JAC came together and held a terrifyingly fun halloween night for our members. Filled with frightening costumes, horrifying games and activities, and spine-chilling food and drinks, I'm sure everyone in attendance had a fearsome time. There were also grotesque (super cute) polaroids being taken all night, a spooky darts game, and even a competition for the most pretrifyingly-dressed. What better way would there have been to spend halloween than at the most sinister event in town 😎

- Andrew

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On a humid ☀️  spring day nearing the end of semester 📚 , we found fun and relaxation in decorating some beautiful fans 💝 ! It was so great to see people unleash their creative sides 🎨 , whether it be by doing calligraphy 🖋️  or making cute little origami bunnies 🐰 ! The snacks 🍭 and drinks 🍵  were plenty, keeping us full and hydrated as we toiled away at our creations. Thank you everyone who came, and I hope you had a fun time making fans with friends 💕

- Kaithlyn

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What better after a long day at uni 🥵 than using the rest of your brain juice for some board games 🤩 Board games night was a super fun night where no one could be bored 🤭 ! Many friends (and temporary enemies 😅) were made over rounds of games won by pure luck or a mastermind 🧠 There were an array of delicious snacks 🍬 and drinks 🧃to keep our brains fuelled throughout the night - much needed to understand game instructions 🤓 Overall, it was an enjoyable night where old and new friendships blossomed 🌷, everyone who came were winners 😙

- Maggie ♡

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I hope everyone was hungry 😋 on Wednesday because our curry rice event was a banger 🍛! The aroma of chopped potatoes 🥔 , diced 🥕 and stewed beef 🥩 mixed with our hearty curry brought life and energy 🤩 back to our beloved ISL after an enjoyable mid-sem break. Batches of 🍚 and curry were served in quick succession as our hungry members came back for more🫡. We saw many old and new faces alike, chatting and munching away. Nothing better than good food and good company! 😎

- Kai

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Week 9 brought with it the first reoccurrence of our language event special: WASABI’s Letter-Writing Workshop! Heaps of cute stickers and letter-writing sets were prepared (shoutout to gudetama-chan) so our members were able to write heartfelt and well-decorated letters to their friends <33 Not to mention we had plenty of yommy snacks to munch on as well as delicious drinks to quench our thirst! We also had a variety of small candies to fit in envelopes to give along with the kawaii letters ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶Thank you to our language facilitator team for making the event possible by keeping up the amazing vibes and helping those who wanted to write in Japanese! Overall, I’m very happy with how the event turned out, and I’m looking forward to many more successful language events to come along with the new era!

~ Joyce ( ˘ ³˘)♡

After a fantastic year with the 2021-22 WASABI team, the WASABI AGM finally arrives, calling for a new team for the upcoming year. All the accomplishments achieved in the past year such as the large scale events held and the growth of the member base were reflective of the all time and effort put in by Stephanie and the 2021-22 Executive team. Even with all the hardships and challenges we had overcome together as a team, I could not be more grateful for the group of people I got to work with. With the previous team including the supportive and most lively bunch.. Stephanie, Elina, Jason, Jenny, Christine, Jinju, Annie, Zoe, Joyce, Andy, Emi, Leo, Ngoc, Lily and Jackie have worked so hard for the past year, making sure that WASABI can be the best version of itself. Our amazing subcommittee members Alysha, Amy, Emily, Kai, Kylie, Maggie, Phoebe, Sakura, Tanny and Wilson have been such a helpful bunch at all of our events, ensuring that everything is smooth running while also assisting in the behind-the-scenes planning. Our bright language facilitators Amanda, Ellen, Faye, Hannah, Hiroki, Jessica, Kaithlyn, Keika, Rebecca, Shysie, Sona, Takara and Takumi have guided many members to the right path with the Japanese language and the language events would not have been possible without them. It has been one heck of an amazing ride with you all and I am so glad to have been able to work with you guys for the past year! I cannot express how grateful I am for you guys and your support! For the newly elected 2022-23 WASABI Executive team… Emi, Joyce, Leo, Emily, Jason, Andy, Tanny, Kai, Kaithlyn, Sona, Christine, Jinju, Annie, Stephanie and Ngoc, I am so excited to see what the future holds for WASABI and I believe we can achieve high goals if it’s us! - Emi

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As the curtains close on another year of the Wasabi team, under the gentle light of our subcommittee member Kai’s studio, in front of a meagre table and an even stranger setup, some members of our current team reflected on their time in Wasabi this year as well as their whole tenure as a part of Wasabi.Amidst the fun times and the hard times we hope everyone found something enjoyable or cool about all the things we talked about and hope that everything we have loved about the society continues on into the next year with the new team.Til the next podcast : )

- Leo

International Fest was a great event that had a ton of other stalls besides our one. Our stall featured tones of delicious bread that was provided by our sponsor Azuki Bakery. We offered a variety bread such as melon pan, yuzu donuts and yakisoba pan - all of which were well received by everyone! The breads were all delicious and we managed to sell out quite quickly despite our large stock. The event ran super smoothly and despite only allowing one bread per person - we were able to satisfy everyone who came to our bread stall.  Overall, this event was a massive success and amazing thanks to Emi who coordinated it and USU for hosting.

- Christine

This week, we teamed up with our good friends at ChocSoc and SUAnime to bring you an event filled with the delicious chocolate-filled taste of a quintessential Harajuku street food: crepes. With each member receiving a beautiful crepe donned with strawberries, bananas, whipped cream and an assortment of chocolates and biscuits, it was the perfect way to sweeten up the sluggish Monday afternoon.Whether you stuck around and chatted with other members over board games, or just came and went for a quick sugar fix, we were so glad to see so many people show up and have a great time together.Special thank you to ChocSoc and SUAnime for collaborating with us once again, as this event would not have been possible without their cooperation. Please check out their societies as well!anyway bye

- Andy

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Even though it was slightly drizzling, I think that it perfectly sets the mood ☔🍹 The night was bright and particularly loud with the atmospheric belting of lyrics ever so often . Did everyone enjoy their beverages? Doesn't matter if it was alcoholic or non-alcoholic because the vibes and energy was just perfect ✨✨ We all know why Drinks Night is one of our favourite events (and clearly one of our members favourites too) and I'm glad that everyone enjoyed their Friday night with Wasabi! 🥂 Here's to another successful Drinks Night!

- Lily

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Blessed with fine weather we gathered at the Auburn Botanic Gardens for a viewing of the Japanese cherry blossoms! Whilst waiting to enter the cherry trail, members enjoyed a variety of food and drinks served at the festival stalls, mingled amongst themselves, and also participated in various small events including mini golf, where we took turns trying to get a hole in one. Right before entering the cherry trail, everyone came together to enjoy free pizza and drinks for lunch and continued to socialise some more. Lots of photos were taken in the cherry blossom trail and we were also fortunate enough to be greeted by a large family of geese, several peacocks, and some bright looking chooks. Overall it was a great time and we’re glad everyone had lots of fun!

~ Phoebe

With people flocking back onto campus, hundreds of new and familiar faces alike joining our society, we kicked off the language events this semester with a speed friending session! Whether it was among your first ever WASABI events and an opportunity to make new friends in the society, or a way to catch up with everyone you hadn't seen since Semester One, the ABS room was packed and we quickly ran out of space for our happily chatting members. Thank you to our language team who put together helpful sheets for the brave souls who tackled socialising in Japanese. It was great to see such a large turnout and we hope to see everyone again soon!

- Jason

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What better way to start off the new semester than BBQ with friends!!😁 We kicked off week 2 with our long anticipated collaboration with VSA, who were just as excited as us in restarting society events. 🥳 The event had a high turnout, and it was very heartwarming to see so many old and new faces, espeically after a long one and half month holiday break. Our hardworking execs laboured deep into the night before, and early morning of the day of the event to procure freshly made yakisoba.♨️ VSA offered an interesting candied fruit and jelly cup which complemented our savoury fried noodles. 🍎👍 From afar, one could hear the sizzle of the BBQ mingle with chatter and laughter as old friends caught up with each other and new friendships formed. 🤝 If you missed out on welcome bbq, fear not! As there are many more events for you to attend and many opportunities for you to get to know everyone better ^-^

- Kai

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There was no better way to celebrate the start of a new semester than visiting the WASABI stall at Welcome Fest!🥳 Excited to meet both new and returning students, our team set out delicious snacks and prizes to be won over the two days!🤩 The luck of new members was put to the test during the raffle where MARUYU ice-cream vouchers🍦, candy🍭, kit-kats🍫and super cute erasers (which deceivingly looked like food🫢) were up to take home! Existing members were also challenged with the kendama game to win some prizes (all those who dared to try were great fun to watch🤣)! A huge thank you to everyone for visiting us, we couldn’t have celebrated such a successful S2 Welcome Fest without you! 🫶

- Emily

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JAC Camp is one of the best and most unforgettable experiences you’ll have with WASABI and other universities such as JASS (UTS) and NSA (UNSW). On day 1, get to know your roomies from other uni’s!!! The day started off with a sussy scavenger hunt 😆  and fun icebreakers to get to know your teammates and everyone there! DAY TWO, everyone channeled their inner idol abilities and learned a fun dance to 'summertime' and we threw a concert of our performances!!  Later that evening, was the JAC HORROR NIGHT!! Where everyone was CURSED 😱  and to save us from this curse our teams ventured off in the cold, scary woods collecting talismans  to protect ourselves from the evil spirits 👻  and freeing ourselves from the curse bestowed upon us!! Definitely one of the funniest and memorable nights ever (espsecially the person hiding under the bed grabbing our legs 👀 ). DAY THREE, the loser team got punished by getting shaving cream smacked onto their face by the victory team and many prizes were handed out!! nevertheless, JAC camp is the place to make your forever friends ❤️ and just get down and have some fun!!! 🫶  

-ELLIE

In celebration of the semester coming to an end, our language workshop coordinators had organised a cute and wholesome event for members to put their letter-writing skills to the test. 💌 📝 As a japanese language workshop related event, members were encouraged to write in japanese with the language workshop facilitators being super helpful as always.🥺💗 The tables were also filled with cute washi-tapes, stickers, letter sets and coloured pens for everyone to decorate their letters to their heart’s content! ✨😻 During the event, letters between old and new friends were exchanged📨, inside jokes were cracked and perhaps even a few letters of confession might’ve been written😳, drawing a nice conclusion to our semester one events! ☺️

~ Annie

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To celebrate the coming of Autumn, WASABI held our long awaited Akimatsuri!!!!!🍁 We served lots of food including takoyaki 🐙 , yakisoba pan 🍜 , onigiri 🍙, dango 🍡 and candied fruits 🍓 . We also held ring toss, a shooting game 🔫 , ema 🔖and kujibiki🗳 . Each store was bustling with members waiting for food or for their chance to win a prize at the games. It was great to see members with dango and candied fruits as they strolled through the stalls and write their hopes and wishes at the ema store. The shooting game and ring toss were a big hit with members constantly lining up to try their shot. 🤩 The takoyaki store was also a great success, members just couldn’t get enough of them! 🤤And the origini and yakisoba pan had almost sold out by the second half of the event! 😮 Kujibiki proved more difficult then it looked but members quickly got addicted going back for their 3rd or 4th try.😆Although there were some hiccups, we all pulled through and had an amazing time!😍Looking forward to the next Akimatsuri!!

- Tanny

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Even after our bellies were satisfied with the previous suke bowl event, we couldn’t help but continue to bring more Japanese delicious cuisine into our mouths on Friday in our BIG snacks and chill - with homemade dangos, matcha cookies, and onigiri! The event was a blast, with members enjoying the food we made the night before. The most popular dish was the sanshoku-dango, or the three-coloured dango, in which the green dango in 🍡 was matcha flavoured. With wasabians chilling in the ISL with other wasabians, while meeting new people and enjoying our snacks, saying that we were contented is an understatement. All in all, we hope everyone got not only a good taste of our dishes, but was able to relax and have fun in our event!

- Sakura

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Under an unusually blazing sun for Autumn at Manning Lawn, WASABI held our much anticipated return of the Poke Bowls from our sponsor Suke, and this time with even cheaper bowls 😝 We got to enjoy an assortment of bowls that that were almost deceptively small looking, as well as a nice soft drink of their choice, and some of us got to socialise a little in the scarce amount of shade. We had members new and old, with some of the previous WASABI presidents coming along to say hi, see how the team was doing and, of course, eat some delicious Poke Bowls. As a nice little chill event before our big Aki Matsuri next week, we hope everyone enjoyed their Poke Bowls 😩 and hopefully next year we can all enjoy more Suke 🤓

- Leo

To start back the semester after a week of a much needed mid-semester break, our first collab with both Craftsoc and SUAnime went smoothly with the help of execs and subcom from each societies! Along with the bustling crowd in the courtyard café, members got to experience and experiment with different shibori dyeing techniques on bandanas, tote bags, and t-shirts, some even took a step further and dyed their shoes! We hope everyone enjoyed the event and went home with some nice tie-dye pieces : 3

- Jinju

Despite many delays due to external circumstances, the JAC Companionship Championship, held at the UNSW Quad, proceeded very smoothly with a large turnout. We started the bonding process with icebreakers as members from each society got to meet and make new friends. 🥰 Our first task was the tower building challenge, where teams had to construct the tallest tower with nothing but pasta, tape and a marshmallow. This challenge required teamwork, communication, and lots of creativity, all of which resulted in very peculiar leaning towers pasta.:prayblob~1: As the clock ticked past 1pm, the halls and courtyard were overflowed with the familiar scent of Dominos pizzas. The afternoon sun was warm but not overly harsh, and the courtyard provided ample space for member to chill, socialize and relax. In the afternoon, we were entertained by an array of Japanese mini-games, ranging from the infamous Oreo challenge to traditional Kendama. We hope everyone had fun, and wish to see y’all in future events.✨ OwO✨

- Kai

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Our language exchange zoom call with Hiroshima Uni’s English conversation group TalkxTalk was a great opportunity for Wasabi members and Hiroshima Uni students alike to practice their language skills and make new friends. The hosts from TalkxTalk did an amazing job facilitating the event and making sure that everyone had a fulfilling and engaging experience, and introduced us to some fun Japanese group games that I’ll be sure to share with my friends too. There was a good balance of both English and Japanese spoken throughout the session, and all in all was a very fruitful learning experience for everyone who attended.

- Andy

Wasabi bacc at it again with our annual trivia night 🥵🙏❓With a large turn out, our members were able to indulge themselves with a night of Japanese and anime themed questions and activities 🇯🇵🎌🏯👹 It was so much fun reading everybody's responses, with some people drawing some very creative artworks during our last round!! 🤩 🤙 Like usual, the pizza and drinks to fuel all that brain power used that night were delicious; it certainly gave everyone sustenance to last through all those difficult questions. 😋 🍕 All in all, the night was full of energy and excitement, with our team working busily behind the scenes to make sure the night went smoothly!  🥳 🎉 Thanks for coming along and we hope everyone had a great night 🥺❤️🌸

- Wilson

Drinks night was a very well timed event where members and the WASABI team alike were able to unwind after a torrent of mid-sem exams 📚🙏🏻.The transition from slamming textbooks to slamming shots was much appreciated 😔. The room bustled with energy, laughter and immaculate vibes as we got to meet and learn more about our beloved members 😍. Overall, the night was very based. BTW, ever wondered why WASABI was called WASABI? The meaning behind our name was unveiled at drinks night as we were graced by the presence of our founder! "To add a little spice into our uni life". A very cute message to say the least UwU.

- Kai

Our general meeting went along well during the afternoon. As most executives attended, the meeting was well catered for. Our amendment of our constitution went along well with the general members as we gained another Language Workshop Coordinator to add into our team: Andy Sun. Although, with  a funny turn of events as the other two nominees dropped out after his heartfelt speech. We are excited and happy to have him on board and keen to see what he has planned. As well as, also adding Kevin Wong as an honorary member for Wasabi. We all are looking forward to a great sem ahead.

- Christine

We are just around halfway through the semester and WASABI was gladly able to present the first themed Snacks ‘n’ Chill of the year! This week, we got to experience a snippet of Japan and had the opportunity to enjoy some delicious matcha latte and gyokuro tea! On top of that, we all had a taste of some traditional Japanese snacks as well, such as the Kyoto rice crackers and the warabimochi topped off with some sweet kinako! Our lovely members also had the chance to try on beautiful kimonos and we could not be happier with the lovely feedback we have received! Thank you to everyone who came along! I hope to see you at our future events! ૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა♡

~ Emi

WASABI is back at it again with another pog event, Crafts 'n' Arts 🤩 Members (and execs) got to learn the art of Japanese calligraphy using tools such as calligraphy paper, brushes and ink, while munching on yummy Japanese snacks. We were delightfully surprised with the amazing products created by our talented members which can all be viewed on our Instagram page. owoWe hope everyone enjoyed the event and please look forward to our exciting future events !! 🥺

ehe -Ngoc

A busy summer morning followed by a torrential afternoon was on a quiet, unsuspecting Monday was jsut like any other day. But in the quaint ISL, WASABI was proud to celebrate the second day of love in the year. From chocolates ranging from Ferrero Rochers to Mars bars (as well as some little mochis), members had the chance to make a little present bag for that special someone in their life. Ngoc has organised a cute little event that we hope all the members enjoyed. We also got to meet some of our lovely subcommittee who have been greatly needed and did a great job at their first event.We're looking forward to seeing more people coming to next events :)))

- Leo

After a week of torrential downpour and an unfortunate cancellation of the semester’s first Snacks ’n’ Chill, WASABI was nonetheless proud to bring to its members a safe indoor event away from the hectic rain: Board Games Night! Though the sign-in line remained long for the first hour with people constantly arriving to join in on the fun, we hope everyone was still able to settle in quickly for a night of unforgettable bonding and yommy pizza + drinks. We provided distinctive Japanese games such as Hanabi and Tokyo Highway but also safe classics such as Monopoly and Uno, so before long, ISL was filled with the boisterous sound of laughter and enjoyment from members and non-members alike. We even had cute kimonos on the side for try-on whenever anyone needed a break from the board games, which made for amazing memories and entertaining moments! Special shoutout to our event coordinator Leo for organising such a lively night to wrap up Week 2 - with over 150 members in attendance, 2022 WASABI Board Games Night was most definitely a success! We hope to see everyone again at future events <33

~ Joyce ( ˘ ³˘)♡

Welcome welcome to a new semester and a new year with WASABI! Week one Monday, Wasabi held our very popular Welcome BBQ and there were over 200 of us altogether! At the event, not only was there a juicy sausage sizzle, there were also some mouth-watering yakisoba, and a variety of thirst-quenching drinks (which unfortunately ran out quite quickly ;-;). But nonetheless, the event was a huge success where hopefully everyone walked away with a filled tummy and a new friend to talk to on a hot, summer day! Hope to see everyone again!

~ Annie