Participants preparing for the Korean Spicy Noodle Challenge. Photo by Ana Pirosca
By Sabrina Monteiro and Carolina Cuevas
The Korean Spicy Noodle Challenge was held on November 8th in B426 at 2:45pm. Hosted by the Asian Culture Club, the goal was to raise money for other events they hold throughout the year. Tickets were sold for three dollars prior to the event, by the officers and Latin teacher Julie Fox, and five dollars at the door. As the door opened, dozens of people awaited outside for the club members. It was not intended to be a competition, but the first person to finish their bowl was to walk out with a ten dollars gift card to Subway.
The winner ended up being Jimmy Li: a sophomore who finished his ramen in 23 seconds. Li did not plan to participate at first but was confident enough at the moment to then give it shot. He came to watch the people’s reactions which was one of the fun parts of being there and regretted his decision afterwards saying he would not do it again. Li did not chew, but swallowed the meal whole as the other participants’ eyes filled with water.
Neima Joseph is a sophomore who participated in the challenge. She thought it looked cool and she wanted to join with her friends. Neima was confident about the task but ended with a mouth on fire.
Thao Nguyen is another sophomore who participated in the challenge because “[she] wanted food”. Before eating the ramen, she thought it was going to be okay. But after eating it, she thought it was really bad but plans on probably doing the challenge again next year.
The advisor of the club, Julie Fox, was also present at the event. Fox explained that the event was one of the many workshops used to spread Asian culture to the students of Malden High School. It was also meant to invite people to come join the club. As the first event of the year the club holds, it was the officer’s ideas and was approved by the club voting.
Vice president of the Asian Culture Club, Qian Ren, is a senior that wants the club to be fun and educational in hopes to increase diversity in the community through the arts, food, and dances. “[She] enjoyed it because most of the members enjoyed it” said Ren. Ren also stated that “it was fun to watch people’s reactions.” One of the biggest events held by the Asian Culture Club is during Lunar New Year Festival, a citywide event that is held to spread the Asian culture across the city.
Senior Tenzin Dechong, was “very excited”. There were “so many people…[there].
“[It was] so fun seeing their faces red.” Senior, Lindsay Trannguyen, was “very stressed” because she made a bet with another officer on whether or not there would be a lot of people wanting to do the challenge.
At first, the club members bought 20 packages of ramen. But seeing the outcome of participants, they sent officers to the supermarket to end up with 55 packages. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the challenge. Tran Nguyen would like to do this again. She also has the idea of holding another event like this like watching a movie while eating regular ramen and other asian foods. Nguyen states that “Asian Culture Club is not all about Asians.”
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