A few weeks ago, in the midst of Linsanity and some of its racist reactions, journalist Grace Hwang of Hapamama.com asked if I thought racism was taken more seriously than sexism.
I was still thinking about how best to answer her when Rush Limbaugh spent three days vomiting all over Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke.
Well, I guess there was my answer.
Some of the racist taunts that hit Jeremy Lin might possibly be able to be explained as accidental, insensitivity, ignorance, (barely), but Limbaugh’s incredible remarks (coupled with all the transvaginal ultrasound legislation by white male congressmen and the all-male testimony on birth control that brought about Limbaugh’s remarks in the first place) left me sputtering.
What is wrong with these people?
click link for more: http://chicagoistheworld.org/2012/03/what-our-children-and-their-books-could-teach-rush-limbaugh-and-friends/
Monday, March 19, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
read these blogs | angry asian man
When Angry Asian Man says to read these blogs, you had better read these blogs! Thanks for the shout out, Phil! (Little Brother, by the way, asked if he can meet Angry Asian Man some day.)
read these blogs | angry asian man
read these blogs | angry asian man
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Linsanity’s Impact on My Son | InCultureParent
Third time's a charm!
I missed the first week of Linsanity because I was caught up in fighting the racist China-fear-mongering Pete Hoekstra political ad that aired during the Superbowl. I remember feeling beleaguered at the time, like we still had a looooong way to go until the elections in November, and if this was just the beginning…
I was surprised to learn that the mainstream considered Jeremy Lin an unknown who had come from out of nowhere, because even though I know nothing about sports, even I knew who Jeremy Lin was (courtesy of Ryan Higa and Kev Jumba).
click here for more: Linsanity’s Impact on My Son | InCultureParent
I was surprised to learn that the mainstream considered Jeremy Lin an unknown who had come from out of nowhere, because even though I know nothing about sports, even I knew who Jeremy Lin was (courtesy of Ryan Higa and Kev Jumba).
click here for more: Linsanity’s Impact on My Son | InCultureParent
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Linsanity-a hero for Little Brother - NAM EthnoBlog
I missed the first week of Linsanity because I was caught up in fighting the racist China-fear-mongering Pete Hoekstra political adthat aired during the Superbowl. I remember feeling beleaguered at the time, like we still had a looooong way to go until the elections in November, and if this was just the beginning…
I was surprised to learn that the mainstream considered Jeremy Lin an unknown who had come from out of nowhere, because even though I know nothing about sports, even I knew who Jeremy Lin was (courtesy of Ryan Higa and Kev Jumba).
click here for more: Linsanity-a hero for Little Brother - NAM EthnoBlog
I was surprised to learn that the mainstream considered Jeremy Lin an unknown who had come from out of nowhere, because even though I know nothing about sports, even I knew who Jeremy Lin was (courtesy of Ryan Higa and Kev Jumba).
click here for more: Linsanity-a hero for Little Brother - NAM EthnoBlog
Monday, March 12, 2012
Adventures in Multicultural Living: Chicago is the World » Linsanity–a hero for Little Brother
I missed the first week of Linsanity because I was caught up in fighting the racist China-fear-mongering Pete Hoekstra political ad that aired during the Superbowl. I remember feeling beleaguered at the time, like we still had a looooong way to go until the elections in November, and if this was just the beginning…
I was surprised to learn that the mainstream considered Jeremy Lin an unknown who had come from out of nowhere, because even though I know nothing about sports, even I knew who Jeremy Lin was (courtesy of Ryan Higa and Kev Jumba).
As I got caught up in Linsanity along with everyone else, I found myself talking about Jeremy Lin with my Chinese language class, my Critical Race theory class, my Asian Pacific American History class, even at a career talk for Chinese American high school students. I finally had something to say to the little boy next door who spends his afternoons shooting hoops on the corner. Jeremy Lin applied to everything, everywhere, in equal parts good and bad, and for once, everyone—Asian American or not—was in agreement.
Then I realized the person who needed Jeremy Lin the most was my eight-year-old son, Little Brother.
click here for more: Chicago is the World » Linsanity–a hero for Little BrotherTuesday, March 6, 2012
Ohara Language Institute Students are first in the State in 19th Annual Michigan Japanese Quiz Bowl
East Lansing, Michigan — On Saturday, March 3, 2012, seven students from Ann Arbor Public Schools (Huron High School, Skyline High School, Clague Middle School, and Slauson Middle School) who study Japanese at Ann Arbor’s Ohara Language Institute took part in the 2012 Michigan Japanese Quiz Bowl competition on the campus of Michigan State University (MSU). These students comprised three of a statewide total of 55 teams who competed in six different divisions in a quiz-bowl type format, exercising their knowledge of Japanese spoken and written language and culture.
All three Ohara Language Institute teams won first place in their divisions. Larkin Babbitt, Emily Davila, Emi Jackson (all of Skyline High School) and Chris Schweitzer (of Slauson Middle School) won first place in Division 1. Stuart Brabbs (of Clague Middle School) won first place in Division 3. Hao Hao Wang Pontius and Samantha Liu (of Huron High School) won first place in Division 4, the second highest level. (Emerson School won the other three divisions.)
Instructor Kaori Ohara said, “It was a big day for all of us. I cannot tell you how nervous, excited, and proud I was! ...The students and I all worked hard until the last minute. It was definitely a team effort. The beauty of our teams was that everyone contributed. It was definitely not one-man-show….The questions were not easy, but the students did well even under the pressure.”
Parent Anne Jackson said, “Ohara Sensei is just amazing!”
The Consul General of Japan, the Honorable Kuninori Matsuda, was also in attendance. He talked to the students about his difficulties learning English, and he encouraged all the students to work hard and have fun. Impressed with Stuart Brabbs’ lack of accent, he asked Brabbs how much time he had spent in Japan. Brabbs’ response (in Japanese, of course) was, "I have never even once gone out of the U.S."
Parent Julie Brabbs said, “Many people have said to me ‘Stuart must have worked so hard for this,’ which is funny because I don’t think of it as work since the kids enjoy it so much.”
This is the sixth year that Ohara Language Institute has participated in the annual event, that is directed and co-sponsored by the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU), the MSU Asian Studies Center, MSU’s Office of Gifted and Talented Education and the Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan (JTAM), with support from the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, the Japan Business Society of Detroit and the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of Michigan.
Now in its 19th year, the all-day event draws students from Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Detroit, DeWitt, Garden City, Livonia, Novi, Oak Park, Troy, Utica, and West Bloomfield. Volunteer judges, scorekeepers, and timekeepers come from Eastern Michigan University, Lansing Community College, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University. In addition to the quiz competition, there was a student-produced video contest, poster contest, T-shirt design competition, performances by Raion Taiko Japanese Drummers and US Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu martial arts, and a number of traditional Japanese crafts and activities.
Ohara Language Institute offers Japanese language classes in Ann Arbor for adults and for students 4th through 12th grades. For additional information please contact Kaori Ohara at Ohara Langauge Institute at kaori@logicsolutions.com. More information at www.oharalanguage.com.
All three Ohara Language Institute teams won first place in their divisions. Larkin Babbitt, Emily Davila, Emi Jackson (all of Skyline High School) and Chris Schweitzer (of Slauson Middle School) won first place in Division 1. Stuart Brabbs (of Clague Middle School) won first place in Division 3. Hao Hao Wang Pontius and Samantha Liu (of Huron High School) won first place in Division 4, the second highest level. (Emerson School won the other three divisions.)
Instructor Kaori Ohara said, “It was a big day for all of us. I cannot tell you how nervous, excited, and proud I was! ...The students and I all worked hard until the last minute. It was definitely a team effort. The beauty of our teams was that everyone contributed. It was definitely not one-man-show….The questions were not easy, but the students did well even under the pressure.”
Parent Anne Jackson said, “Ohara Sensei is just amazing!”
The Consul General of Japan, the Honorable Kuninori Matsuda, was also in attendance. He talked to the students about his difficulties learning English, and he encouraged all the students to work hard and have fun. Impressed with Stuart Brabbs’ lack of accent, he asked Brabbs how much time he had spent in Japan. Brabbs’ response (in Japanese, of course) was, "I have never even once gone out of the U.S."
Parent Julie Brabbs said, “Many people have said to me ‘Stuart must have worked so hard for this,’ which is funny because I don’t think of it as work since the kids enjoy it so much.”
This is the sixth year that Ohara Language Institute has participated in the annual event, that is directed and co-sponsored by the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU), the MSU Asian Studies Center, MSU’s Office of Gifted and Talented Education and the Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan (JTAM), with support from the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, the Japan Business Society of Detroit and the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of Michigan.
Now in its 19th year, the all-day event draws students from Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Detroit, DeWitt, Garden City, Livonia, Novi, Oak Park, Troy, Utica, and West Bloomfield. Volunteer judges, scorekeepers, and timekeepers come from Eastern Michigan University, Lansing Community College, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University. In addition to the quiz competition, there was a student-produced video contest, poster contest, T-shirt design competition, performances by Raion Taiko Japanese Drummers and US Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu martial arts, and a number of traditional Japanese crafts and activities.
Ohara Language Institute offers Japanese language classes in Ann Arbor for adults and for students 4th through 12th grades. For additional information please contact Kaori Ohara at Ohara Langauge Institute at kaori@logicsolutions.com. More information at www.oharalanguage.com.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Backstage at the Musuem - Ann Arbor Observer
UM Exhibit Museum Behind the Scenes Day on Sunday!
I confess I did not expect the fish tour to be very exciting, but I was amazed when we were led down steep cement stairs deep into the basement and found ourselves surrounded by one of the largest fish collections in the world--hundreds of thousands of fish specimens collected by generations of U-M faculty and grad students. Shelf after shelf after dusty shelf of all manner of fish, the neat cursive handwriting on the old-fashioned Mason jars revealing more quickly than do the inscribed places and dates that these fish were collected in a different age, a different world. Up in the lab, we looked at some of those hundred-year-old fish samples dyed red under the microscope while professors explained their research.
The museums of anthropology, paleontology, zoology, and natural history are all housed in the Ruthven Museums Building and together are known as the University of Michigan Natural Science Museums (formerly the U-M Exhibit Museum). Behind the Scenes Day is a rare opportunity to venture beyond those locked double doors at the ends of the hallways and peer into the collections areas, research laboratories, and other spaces not usually open to the public.
click here for more: Backstage at the Musuem - Ann Arbor Observer
I confess I did not expect the fish tour to be very exciting, but I was amazed when we were led down steep cement stairs deep into the basement and found ourselves surrounded by one of the largest fish collections in the world--hundreds of thousands of fish specimens collected by generations of U-M faculty and grad students. Shelf after shelf after dusty shelf of all manner of fish, the neat cursive handwriting on the old-fashioned Mason jars revealing more quickly than do the inscribed places and dates that these fish were collected in a different age, a different world. Up in the lab, we looked at some of those hundred-year-old fish samples dyed red under the microscope while professors explained their research.
The museums of anthropology, paleontology, zoology, and natural history are all housed in the Ruthven Museums Building and together are known as the University of Michigan Natural Science Museums (formerly the U-M Exhibit Museum). Behind the Scenes Day is a rare opportunity to venture beyond those locked double doors at the ends of the hallways and peer into the collections areas, research laboratories, and other spaces not usually open to the public.
click here for more: Backstage at the Musuem - Ann Arbor Observer
Friday, February 3, 2012
WCC Writing Class Saturday: Ethical Wills: Writing a Love Letter to Your Family Capturing Your Legacy
Teaching a writing class at Washtenaw Community College Saturday:
Ethical Wills: Writing a Love Letter to Your Family Capturing Your Legacy
Traditional wills distill our lives to a balance sheet of assets and liabilities but they do not fully capture the legacy of our values and experiences, our hopes and dreams that are the stuff we really want to pass down to our loved ones. Learn about ethical wills or Legacy Wills and begin writing a love letter to your family that can be shared now and treasured forever. As important for families with young children as for those with grown children or grandchildren. 2 sessions.
Bring a notebook and pen.
Ethical Wills: Writing a Love Letter to Your Family Schedule Information Section Space Date Day & Time Location CRN Instructor Cost Cart
1 Space available Feb 4, 2012 to Feb 11, 2012 Sat 10:00am to 12:55pm WCC Main Campus Business Education Building Room 160 14966 Frances Wang
Tuition
$49
click here for registration information: http://www.wccnet.edu/lifelong-learning/browse/view/category/writing-literature/
Ethical Wills: Writing a Love Letter to Your Family Capturing Your Legacy
Traditional wills distill our lives to a balance sheet of assets and liabilities but they do not fully capture the legacy of our values and experiences, our hopes and dreams that are the stuff we really want to pass down to our loved ones. Learn about ethical wills or Legacy Wills and begin writing a love letter to your family that can be shared now and treasured forever. As important for families with young children as for those with grown children or grandchildren. 2 sessions.
Bring a notebook and pen.
Ethical Wills: Writing a Love Letter to Your Family Schedule Information Section Space Date Day & Time Location CRN Instructor Cost Cart
1 Space available Feb 4, 2012 to Feb 11, 2012 Sat 10:00am to 12:55pm WCC Main Campus Business Education Building Room 160 14966 Frances Wang
Tuition
$49
click here for registration information: http://www.wccnet.edu/lifelong-learning/browse/view/category/writing-literature/
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Ann Arbor Chinese Center of Michigan Chinese New Year’s Celebration Saturday, January 28, 2012, 3-9pm - Community News
The Ann Arbor Chinese Center of Michigan’s Chinese New Year’s Celebration will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2012, 3-9pm, at Washtenaw Community College, Morris Lawrence Building, 4800 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor.
There will be Children’s Performances by students (3:00-5:30 pm) including a colorful lion dance; traditional Chinese instruments; dangerous kung fu (martial arts); graceful Chinese fan dancers; spectacular Chinese Yo-Yo stunts; and Chinese New Year’s stories, songs, rhymes, skits, videos. A Chinese New Year’s dinner will be served 6:00-9:00 pm. There will also be children’s games, crafts, tea, and fruit (7:00-9:00 pm). Raffle. Special guest performance by the Ann Arbor Traditional Chinese Music Ensemble.
Tickets for performances and dinner will be available in advance and at the door: $12 Adult, $10 Children ages 4-14, children under 4 free ($10 adult, $8 child, in advance at principal@aaccom.org). Additional tokens (25 for $5) may be purchased and exchanged for games and snacks.
For more information check out www.aaccom.org or contact principal@aaccom.org
Chinese New Year’s Day will be on January 23 of this year. It signifies the beginning of spring and is celebrated by ethnic Chinese in many countries around the world. It is also celebrated by ethnic Taiwanese, Koreans (Sol), Vietnamese (Tet), Tibetans (Losar), and others; and it has become woven into the fabric of American culture. Every year is represented by one of 12 animal zodiac signs, and this will be the Year of the Dragon.
The Ann Arbor Chinese Center of Michigan is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to provide an opportunity for any interested persons to learn about Chinese culture and language regardless of one’s race or cultural background, and to promote cultural diversity. Chinese classes are held once a week on Friday nights and are open to the public. For more information check out www.aaccom.org.
click on link for more: Ann Arbor Chinese Center of Michigan Chinese New Year’s Celebration Saturday, January 28, 2012, 3-9pm - Community News
There will be Children’s Performances by students (3:00-5:30 pm) including a colorful lion dance; traditional Chinese instruments; dangerous kung fu (martial arts); graceful Chinese fan dancers; spectacular Chinese Yo-Yo stunts; and Chinese New Year’s stories, songs, rhymes, skits, videos. A Chinese New Year’s dinner will be served 6:00-9:00 pm. There will also be children’s games, crafts, tea, and fruit (7:00-9:00 pm). Raffle. Special guest performance by the Ann Arbor Traditional Chinese Music Ensemble.
Tickets for performances and dinner will be available in advance and at the door: $12 Adult, $10 Children ages 4-14, children under 4 free ($10 adult, $8 child, in advance at principal@aaccom.org). Additional tokens (25 for $5) may be purchased and exchanged for games and snacks.
For more information check out www.aaccom.org or contact principal@aaccom.org
Chinese New Year’s Day will be on January 23 of this year. It signifies the beginning of spring and is celebrated by ethnic Chinese in many countries around the world. It is also celebrated by ethnic Taiwanese, Koreans (Sol), Vietnamese (Tet), Tibetans (Losar), and others; and it has become woven into the fabric of American culture. Every year is represented by one of 12 animal zodiac signs, and this will be the Year of the Dragon.
The Ann Arbor Chinese Center of Michigan is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to provide an opportunity for any interested persons to learn about Chinese culture and language regardless of one’s race or cultural background, and to promote cultural diversity. Chinese classes are held once a week on Friday nights and are open to the public. For more information check out www.aaccom.org.
click on link for more: Ann Arbor Chinese Center of Michigan Chinese New Year’s Celebration Saturday, January 28, 2012, 3-9pm - Community News
Friday, January 27, 2012
American Citizens for Justice/Asian American Center for Justice (ACJ/AACJ) has new website
American Citizens for Justice, also known as Asian American Center for Justice, is a nonprofit 501c3 organization serving the Asian Pacific American communities of Michigan and fighting for the civil rights of all Americans. It was founded in 1983 after the baseball beating murder of Vincent Chin.
American Citizens for Justice/Asian American Center for Justice (ACJ/AACJ) has a new website at AmericanCitizensforJustice.com.
The American Citizens for Justice Blog formerly at americancitizensforjustice.blogspot.com has been moved to asianamericancenterforjustice.blogspot.com and will no longer be maintained.
American Citizens for Justice is sponsoring a Remembering Vincent Chin Conference: The Legacy and Future, A 30th Year Remembrance on June 23, 2012, at the Chinese Community Center, Madison Heights, MI. Frank Wu will be the keynote speaker.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Chinese New Year at Cranbrook Whole Foods Market
Lion Dancing, Chinese Traditional Music Ensemble, Chinese fan dance, Chinese Yo Yo, crafts and activities and more! Sunday, January 22, 2012
Store Calendar | Cranbrook | WholeFoodsMarket.com
Store Calendar | Cranbrook | WholeFoodsMarket.com
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Chinese New Year | Ypsilanti District Library
Lion Dancing, Chinese Yo Yo, stories, traditions, crafts and activities and more! Saturday, January 21, 2012
Chinese New Year | Ypsilanti District Library
Chinese New Year | Ypsilanti District Library
Friday, January 20, 2012
Chicago is the World » We gain so much wading in the water of each other’s cultural experiences–Adventures in Multicultural Living
Two years ago, my father’s choir at the University of Hawaii was invited to sing at a big international diversity concert at Lincoln Center in New York for MLK Day. Choirs from around the world had been invited to sing together, and a Hawaiian choir adds instant diversity with its multicultural population of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Portuguese, Caucasians and native Hawaiians. That summer, over a breakfast of Chinese pancakes and Portuguese sausage, my father told us about the difficulties he had had the night before at choir practice pronouncing the words in the spirituals that they were learning, “You have to say the words like a Negro,” he said.
Twelve-year-old Hao Hao gently corrected him: “African American. These days you should say African American.” (I bet Senator Reid wishes his grandchildren had told him this, too.)
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » We gain so much wading in the water of each other’s cultural experiences–Adventures in Multicultural Living
Twelve-year-old Hao Hao gently corrected him: “African American. These days you should say African American.” (I bet Senator Reid wishes his grandchildren had told him this, too.)
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » We gain so much wading in the water of each other’s cultural experiences–Adventures in Multicultural Living
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Rec and Ed class: Chinese New Year Celebration: Dumplings!
A hands-on Rec and Ed class to learn about the foods of Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year Celebration: Dumplings!
Thursday, January 26, 6-8pm
Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Learn about the foods and traditions of Chinese New Year. Why can't you finish the fish? What does serving a whole chicken represent? Why do soy bean sprouts make your wishes come true? Have fun making chinese dumplings -- meat or vegetarian, boiled or fried -- and find out what they tell you about the coming Year of the Dragon. Scholarship recipients pay $20. Instructor: Frances Kai-Hwa Wang. 1 class. $39
http://activenet14.active.com/aareced/servlet/registrationmain.sdi?source=adet.sdi&activity_id=26950&sdireqauth=1324354981714
Chinese New Year Celebration: Dumplings!
Thursday, January 26, 6-8pm
Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Learn about the foods and traditions of Chinese New Year. Why can't you finish the fish? What does serving a whole chicken represent? Why do soy bean sprouts make your wishes come true? Have fun making chinese dumplings -- meat or vegetarian, boiled or fried -- and find out what they tell you about the coming Year of the Dragon. Scholarship recipients pay $20. Instructor: Frances Kai-Hwa Wang. 1 class. $39
http://activenet14.active.com/aareced/servlet/registrationmain.sdi?source=adet.sdi&activity_id=26950&sdireqauth=1324354981714
Monday, January 16, 2012
Race Card - Michele Norris - UM MLK Day
University of Michigan's MLK Day Symposium speaker Michele Norris talks about her book, "The Grace of Silence: A Memoir," and plays the race card! Now we can all play the race card!
Click here to check it out: Race Card - Michele Norris
UPDATE: Little Brother came home from University of Michigan's MLK Children and Youth Day http://bit.ly/AAwOK0 singing Wade in the Water. Love Rev Robert B Jones! bit.ly/7cBBGE
Click here to check it out: Race Card - Michele Norris
UPDATE: Little Brother came home from University of Michigan's MLK Children and Youth Day http://bit.ly/AAwOK0 singing Wade in the Water. Love Rev Robert B Jones! bit.ly/7cBBGE
Saturday, January 14, 2012
David Henry Hwang talks Chinglish at University of Michigan
Very excited to see dreamy David Henry Hwang, Literary Genius, once again at the University of Michigan Friday night. Officially, he was here to talk about his Broadway play, Chinglish. But we had fun making paper airplanes together with Little Brother. Apparently the last time he was here (when I followed him all around campus, utterly starstruck), Glee's Darren Criss was a student in the playwriting class he visited. I was there, too. What a difference five years makes. Here's the link to his talk: http://www.confucius.umich.edu/images/hwang.jpg.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Remembering Vincent Chin Conference: The Legacy and Future, A 30th Year Remembrance
Where are you going to be June 23, 2012? Keynote Speaker Frank Wu.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
This is Michigan Engineering? Where my Asian Americans at?
Great video, but this does not look like the Michigan Engineering I know. Where my Asian Americans at?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Oh! Oshogatsu! Missing Japanese New Year’s Day–Adventures in Multicultural Living | Articles | Discover Nikkei
Thanks to Discovernikkei.org for reprinting this Oshogatsu article!
The doorbell rings. The dog barks. I turn on the porch light, open the front door, and…
No one is there. Then I look down. A package!
Ooh, I was not expecting any more Christmas presents. I bend down to pick it up, and I hear the unmistakable sound of …
Rice.
A box of rice. A very big box of rice. Who would ship me a very big box of rice?
click on link for more: Oh! Oshogatsu! Missing Japanese New Year’s Day–Adventures in Multicultural Living | Articles | Discover Nikkei
The doorbell rings. The dog barks. I turn on the porch light, open the front door, and…
No one is there. Then I look down. A package!
Ooh, I was not expecting any more Christmas presents. I bend down to pick it up, and I hear the unmistakable sound of …
Rice.
A box of rice. A very big box of rice. Who would ship me a very big box of rice?
click on link for more: Oh! Oshogatsu! Missing Japanese New Year’s Day–Adventures in Multicultural Living | Articles | Discover Nikkei
Monday, January 9, 2012
Asian Pacific American History and the Law at UM
Team-Teaching Asian Pacific American History and the Law tomorrow with Roland Hwang and Ron Aramaki. American Cultures 301 Section 11. Send your University of Michigan students! Overrides no problem.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Teaching My Asian Daughters to be Strong and Confident | BlogHer
So exciting to be featured on BlogHer.com!
A few years ago, I took a seminar called, “Raising Strong and Confident Daughters.” My husband laughed at me. “Could our daughters be any stronger or more confident?”
The class was an eye-opener for me, not just in how to raise my girls, but also in understanding my own Chinese-American childhood. I had no memory of dealing with a lot of the issues the instructor talked about as being so important to pre-adolescent girls, such as friendship and physical appearance.
click on link for more: Teaching My Asian Daughters to be Strong and Confident | BlogHer
A few years ago, I took a seminar called, “Raising Strong and Confident Daughters.” My husband laughed at me. “Could our daughters be any stronger or more confident?”
The class was an eye-opener for me, not just in how to raise my girls, but also in understanding my own Chinese-American childhood. I had no memory of dealing with a lot of the issues the instructor talked about as being so important to pre-adolescent girls, such as friendship and physical appearance.
click on link for more: Teaching My Asian Daughters to be Strong and Confident | BlogHer
Saturday, December 31, 2011
How to Raise Strong and Confident Asian Pacific American Daughters | InCultureParent
Thanks to InCultureParent.com for featuring this article!
A few years ago, I took a seminar called, “Raising Strong and Confident Daughters.” My husband laughed at me. “Could our daughters be any stronger or more confident?”
The class was an eye-opener for me, not just in how to raise my girls, but also in understanding my own Chinese-American childhood. I had no memory of dealing with a lot of the issues the instructor talked about as being so important to pre-adolescent girls, such as friendship and physical appearance.
click on link for more: How to Raise Strong and Confident Asian Pacific American Daughters | InCultureParent
A few years ago, I took a seminar called, “Raising Strong and Confident Daughters.” My husband laughed at me. “Could our daughters be any stronger or more confident?”
The class was an eye-opener for me, not just in how to raise my girls, but also in understanding my own Chinese-American childhood. I had no memory of dealing with a lot of the issues the instructor talked about as being so important to pre-adolescent girls, such as friendship and physical appearance.
click on link for more: How to Raise Strong and Confident Asian Pacific American Daughters | InCultureParent
Friday, December 23, 2011
Learning about Christmas and Santa through the claymation classics-Adventures in Multicultural Living - NAM EthnoBlog
Asian American journalist Lisa Ling once said onThe View that as a child she thought Santa liked Caucasian children better than Chinese children because he always left much better and bigger gifts, like stereos, for her Caucasian friends, whereas he only left small gifts, like batteries and toothbrushes, in her stocking. When I heard that, it was as if I was hearing silver bells. I always got batteries and toothbrushes in my stocking, too. I had grown up thinking that gifts from Santa always had to be small in order to fit inside the stocking.
It was not until I was in my 30’s that I discovered that some people received gifts from Santa that not only spilled out of their stockings, but covered the floor and piled up as high as the Christmas tree. Some people did not even bother hanging up stockings by the chimney with care, as they knew their gifts would be bigger than that. Is that allowed?
click on link for more: Learning about Christmas and Santa through the claymation classics-Adventures in Multicultural Living - NAM EthnoBlog
It was not until I was in my 30’s that I discovered that some people received gifts from Santa that not only spilled out of their stockings, but covered the floor and piled up as high as the Christmas tree. Some people did not even bother hanging up stockings by the chimney with care, as they knew their gifts would be bigger than that. Is that allowed?
click on link for more: Learning about Christmas and Santa through the claymation classics-Adventures in Multicultural Living - NAM EthnoBlog
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Chicago is the World » Learning about Christmas and Santa through the claymation classics and Oh! Oshogatsu!–Adventures in Multicultural Living
oops these were supposed to go up in December and January.
Chicago is the World » Learning about Christmas and Santa through the claymation classics–Adventures in Multicultural Living
Chicago is the World » Oh! Oshogatsu! Missing Japanese New Year’s Day–Adventures in Multicultural Living
Chicago is the World » Learning about Christmas and Santa through the claymation classics–Adventures in Multicultural Living
Chicago is the World » Oh! Oshogatsu! Missing Japanese New Year’s Day–Adventures in Multicultural Living
Monday, December 5, 2011
Adventures in Multicultural Living: Racism in the Extended Family on the Holidays | InCultureParent
The Sunday after Thanksgiving: The day we pack up, gratefully drive back to our own home in our own town with our own way of doing things, and are stuck in the car together for hours and have no choice but to talk to each other. It is a time to reflect on the (peculiar) people we met and the (wacky) things that happened, and it is a chance to talk to the kids about what is really important to us as a family. I call it the post-holiday debriefing (and I recommend this in my Multicultural Toolbox workshops as one strategy for combating racism and intolerance in the extended family).
click on link for more: Racism in the Extended Family on the Holidays | InCultureParent
click on link for more: Racism in the Extended Family on the Holidays | InCultureParent
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thanksgiving … Asian-fied! (a round-up of blog posts and newspaper stories) | Northwest Asian Weekly |
Thanks to Northwest Asian Weekly for including not one but two of my articles in their Asian-fied Thanksgiving roundup!
Thanksgiving … Asian-fied! (a round-up of blog posts and newspaper stories) | Northwest Asian Weekly |
Thanksgiving … Asian-fied! (a round-up of blog posts and newspaper stories) | Northwest Asian Weekly |
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
How to make Hawaii-style barbecue (teriyaki) sauce. A recipe. by Derek Paiva | HAWAII Magazine
Our Thanksgiving Eve teriyaki turkey with homemade teriyaki sauce and 12 treasure sticky rice stuffing an unexpected success. I shouldn't brag, but I'm so surprised! Here's the recipe for the teriyaki sauce that I discovered this summer in the book, Kau Kau:
How to make Hawaii-style barbecue (teriyaki) sauce. A recipe. by Derek Paiva | HAWAII Magazine | Hawaii news, events, places, dining, travel tips & deals, photos | Oahu, Maui, Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai: The Best of Hawaii
How to make Hawaii-style barbecue (teriyaki) sauce. A recipe. by Derek Paiva | HAWAII Magazine | Hawaii news, events, places, dining, travel tips & deals, photos | Oahu, Maui, Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai: The Best of Hawaii
Friday, November 18, 2011
LifeLong Learning @ WCC ›› Writing & Literature
Teaching two writing classes at Washtenaw Community College next term: Writing Ethical Wills--a Love Letter to your Family, and Writing with Style--Finding your Voice. Full descriptions and Registration information here: LifeLong Learning @ WCC › Browse All Classes › Writing & Literature
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Distant Relatives versus Nearby Friends on Thanksgiving - NAM EthnoBlog
My parents say that there is a Chinese saying (there is always a Chinese saying) about how distant relatives are not as good as nearby friends. To illustrate, they recall the time our car broke down on the winding and treacherous Pacheco Pass after midnight and how our neighbor, Mr. Shigematsu, came to rescue us and did not get home until after 2 a.m. Our relatives in distant Los Angeles or San Francisco could not have done anything to help because they were too far away.
click on link for more: Distant Relatives versus Nearby Friends on Thanksgiving - NAM EthnoBlog
click on link for more: Distant Relatives versus Nearby Friends on Thanksgiving - NAM EthnoBlog
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Friends vs Relatives on Thanksgiving | Adventures in Multicultural Living | InCultureParent
My parents say that there is a Chinese saying (there is always a Chinese saying) about how distant relatives are not as good as nearby friends. To illustrate, they recall the time our car broke down on the winding and treacherous Pacheco Pass after midnight and how our neighbor, Mr. Shigematsu, came to rescue us and did not get home until after 2 a.m. Our relatives in distant Los Angeles or San Francisco could not have done anything to help because they were too far away.
Thanksgiving is a time of feasting and family, and people are traveling, cooking and cleaning like mad, trying to get to their families for four brief days. Because many of my children’s friends are from international families and do not have extended family close by, I like to gather up all our friends and celebrate “Thanksgiving Eve” the night before with a big potluck of what turns out to be the most amazing spread of foods from around the world — teriyaki turkey, sticky rice stuffing, butternut squash Thai curry, chicken biriyani, babaganoush, tabbouli, lasagna, shrimp and broccoli, mangoes and black sticky rice, Thai pumpkin custard and more.
click on link for more: Frances Kai-Hwa Wang | InCultureParent
Thanksgiving is a time of feasting and family, and people are traveling, cooking and cleaning like mad, trying to get to their families for four brief days. Because many of my children’s friends are from international families and do not have extended family close by, I like to gather up all our friends and celebrate “Thanksgiving Eve” the night before with a big potluck of what turns out to be the most amazing spread of foods from around the world — teriyaki turkey, sticky rice stuffing, butternut squash Thai curry, chicken biriyani, babaganoush, tabbouli, lasagna, shrimp and broccoli, mangoes and black sticky rice, Thai pumpkin custard and more.
click on link for more: Frances Kai-Hwa Wang | InCultureParent
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Thanks Angry Asian Man and USF APA Students for making my day!!
great twitter exchange yesterday, Angry Asian Man is the best!
fkwang Frances Kai-Hwa Wang
signing out for now @JusticeConf see you next year in chicago #ajc2011 i'm off to talk to USF students about cultivating APA identity!
28 Oct
JusticeConf Advancing Justice
@fkwang Thanks for coming out here and happy travels! Loved hearing your thoughts on the social media panel yesterday.
28 Oct
angryasianman Angry Asian Man
@fkwang Lucky USF students!
28 Oct
apascusf APASC
Yes we are! RT: @angryasianman: @fkwang Lucky USF students!
28 Oct
fkwang Frances Kai-Hwa Wang
signing out for now @JusticeConf see you next year in chicago #ajc2011 i'm off to talk to USF students about cultivating APA identity!
28 Oct
JusticeConf Advancing Justice
@fkwang Thanks for coming out here and happy travels! Loved hearing your thoughts on the social media panel yesterday.
28 Oct
angryasianman Angry Asian Man
@fkwang Lucky USF students!
28 Oct
apascusf APASC
Yes we are! RT: @angryasianman: @fkwang Lucky USF students!
28 Oct
Friday, October 28, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Speaking at Advancing Justice Conference in San Francisco, Thursday, October 27
Is There An App For That? Leveraging Social Media for Social Justice
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: 11:00am-12:30pm
Place: Spring C
Workshop Track: Capacity Building
Social media is now ahead of email in terms of online activity and accounts for over 10% of user time spent on the Internet. Recognizing that this shift is a powerful vehicle by which to communicate social justice messaging, many nonprofits are using social media to raise funds for their programs, inspire advocacy, and raise awareness. This workshop will address how to leverage social media more effectively, overcome challenges, and draw supporters to their cause.
Speakers: Keith Kamisugi, Director of Communications Equal Justice Society; Bilen Mesfin, Communications Consultant/Principal Change Consulting; Mariam Hosseini, Director of Communications Asian Law Caucus; Frances kai-hwa Wang, Online Communications Chair American Citizens for Justice Advisory Board
http://advancingjustice.org/conference/2011/is-there-an-app-for-that-leveraging-social-media-for-social-justice/
Date: Thursday, October 27th
Time: 11:00am-12:30pm
Place: Spring C
Workshop Track: Capacity Building
Social media is now ahead of email in terms of online activity and accounts for over 10% of user time spent on the Internet. Recognizing that this shift is a powerful vehicle by which to communicate social justice messaging, many nonprofits are using social media to raise funds for their programs, inspire advocacy, and raise awareness. This workshop will address how to leverage social media more effectively, overcome challenges, and draw supporters to their cause.
Speakers: Keith Kamisugi, Director of Communications Equal Justice Society; Bilen Mesfin, Communications Consultant/Principal Change Consulting; Mariam Hosseini, Director of Communications Asian Law Caucus; Frances kai-hwa Wang, Online Communications Chair American Citizens for Justice Advisory Board
http://advancingjustice.org/conference/2011/is-there-an-app-for-that-leveraging-social-media-for-social-justice/
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
UMS Lobby » Performances for the Whole Family: Filling the master calendar with UMS events
Part of the excitement of coming back to town at the end of summer is collecting all the calendars—Ann Arbor Public School’s holiday and half-day calendar, Huron High School’s band calendar, Clague Middle School’s orchestra calendar, King Elementary School’s PTO calendar, the crew calendar, the soccer calendar, the academic games calendar, University of Michigan’s football calendar, Washtenaw Community College Lifelong Learning calendar, Rec and Ed, Parks and Rec, etc.—whew!—and finally sitting down to map them all out onto one big master calendar in order to see what our year is going to look like.
My favorite calendar to pore over with the kids is the one from University Musical Society (UMS).
click on link for more: UMS Lobby » Performances for the Whole Family: Filling the master calendar with UMS events
My favorite calendar to pore over with the kids is the one from University Musical Society (UMS).
click on link for more: UMS Lobby » Performances for the Whole Family: Filling the master calendar with UMS events
Monday, October 3, 2011
Chicago is the World » U-M Center for Chinese Studies Kite Festival and keeping the conversation going | adventures in multicultural living
excerpt: An English teacher at Huron High School used one of my columns to stimulate classroom discussion of a Maya Angelou book they were reading — which was so lively it spilled into a second day, and even more impressive, students who normally never talked in class really got into the discussion.
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » U-M Center for Chinese Studies Kite Festival and keeping the conversation going | adventures in multicultural living
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » U-M Center for Chinese Studies Kite Festival and keeping the conversation going | adventures in multicultural living
Monday, September 26, 2011
U-M Center for Chinese Studies Kite Festival and Frances' Farewell--let us keep the conversation going - NAM EthnoBlog
The University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As usual for an academic department, they have all sorts of lectures and films and art exhibits and concerts and performances and colloquia and conferences planned.
click on link for more: U-M Center for Chinese Studies Kite Festival and Frances' Farewell--let us keep the conversation going - NAM EthnoBlog
click on link for more: U-M Center for Chinese Studies Kite Festival and Frances' Farewell--let us keep the conversation going - NAM EthnoBlog
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Adventures in Multicultural Living: U-M Center for Chinese Studies Kite Festival and Frances' Farewell--let us keep the conversation going
The last installment of Adventures in Multicultural Living in AnnArbor.com:
The University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As usual for an academic department, they have all sorts of lectures and films and art exhibits and concerts and performances and colloquia and conferences planned.
Kicking it all off is the New Millennium East Meets West Kite Festival this Sunday, Sept. 25, 1-5 p.m., at Nichol’s Arboretum. There will be kite-making workshops, kite flying competitions, cultural performances, and kite masters from China and Michigan. There will be special categories for students and community. It's a real town and gown and east meets west affair, much like the dragon boat races they organized at Gallup Park in 2007.
I had the good fortune of being invited to help with some kite-making workshops through Parks and Rec and to escort fourth-generation premier kite master Ha Yiqi — with whom two U-M Art and Design faculty apprenticed this summer in Beijing — to visit local elementary schools. I also enjoyed the neat kites made at the Center for Korean Studies’ Chuseok celebration.
I am excited to see what this year will bring. During the University of Michigan LSA ChinaNow Theme Year in 2007-2008, converging as it did with University Musical Society’s Asia Festival and the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads Asian American book, I met so many incredible people (including my literary hero, playwright David Henry Hwang) and was given the gift of so many personal and professional opportunities. My whole life changed that year, and I did my best writing ever.
Unfortunately, AnnArbor.com will be discontinuing my column, “Adventures in Multicultural Living,” to focus more of its resources on local news.
click on link for more: U-M Center for Chinese Studies Kite Festival and Frances' Farewell--let us keep the conversation going
The University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As usual for an academic department, they have all sorts of lectures and films and art exhibits and concerts and performances and colloquia and conferences planned.
Kicking it all off is the New Millennium East Meets West Kite Festival this Sunday, Sept. 25, 1-5 p.m., at Nichol’s Arboretum. There will be kite-making workshops, kite flying competitions, cultural performances, and kite masters from China and Michigan. There will be special categories for students and community. It's a real town and gown and east meets west affair, much like the dragon boat races they organized at Gallup Park in 2007.
I had the good fortune of being invited to help with some kite-making workshops through Parks and Rec and to escort fourth-generation premier kite master Ha Yiqi — with whom two U-M Art and Design faculty apprenticed this summer in Beijing — to visit local elementary schools. I also enjoyed the neat kites made at the Center for Korean Studies’ Chuseok celebration.
I am excited to see what this year will bring. During the University of Michigan LSA ChinaNow Theme Year in 2007-2008, converging as it did with University Musical Society’s Asia Festival and the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads Asian American book, I met so many incredible people (including my literary hero, playwright David Henry Hwang) and was given the gift of so many personal and professional opportunities. My whole life changed that year, and I did my best writing ever.
Unfortunately, AnnArbor.com will be discontinuing my column, “Adventures in Multicultural Living,” to focus more of its resources on local news.
click on link for more: U-M Center for Chinese Studies Kite Festival and Frances' Farewell--let us keep the conversation going
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Adventures in Multicultural Living: 'Looking Both Ways' at the 'Made in China' label and 9/11 fears | annarbor.com
The wall of 52 faces at the Eastern Michigan University (EMU) Looking Both Ways contemporary art exhibit is striking.
The styles are all different — formal, casual, realistic, cartoonish, playful, even black and white and fake-photoshopped. There are old men and young women, hipster rock stars and craggy-faced workers. There is a high mandarin collar, a hooded sweatshirt, a tie, a baseball cap, spiky dyed hair, a cigarette.
One of the three curators, EMU art education professor Guey-Meei Yang, explains that these are the real people who work at an art factory in Dafen, China. Their job is to paint to order, whatever you want—A painting of your family or a Vincent Van Gogh. Normally prized for their technical precision, self-expression is not particularly valued, and the artists remain invisible behind factory walls.
Then John C. Gonzalez from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, made an unusual order—a self-portrait of every artist who worked in that art factory, in any style. Together, they are a powerful illustration of the real people behind the “Made in China” label.
click on link for more: 'Looking Both Ways' at the 'Made in China' label and 9/11 fears
The styles are all different — formal, casual, realistic, cartoonish, playful, even black and white and fake-photoshopped. There are old men and young women, hipster rock stars and craggy-faced workers. There is a high mandarin collar, a hooded sweatshirt, a tie, a baseball cap, spiky dyed hair, a cigarette.
One of the three curators, EMU art education professor Guey-Meei Yang, explains that these are the real people who work at an art factory in Dafen, China. Their job is to paint to order, whatever you want—A painting of your family or a Vincent Van Gogh. Normally prized for their technical precision, self-expression is not particularly valued, and the artists remain invisible behind factory walls.
Then John C. Gonzalez from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, made an unusual order—a self-portrait of every artist who worked in that art factory, in any style. Together, they are a powerful illustration of the real people behind the “Made in China” label.
click on link for more: 'Looking Both Ways' at the 'Made in China' label and 9/11 fears
Chicago is the World » Making Mooncakes the modern traditional way for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival | Adventures in Multicultural Living
"The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is this Monday. That means mooncakes!
A harvest festival, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a Chinese (Zhong Qiu Jie),Vietnamese (Tet Trung Thu) and Korean (Chusok) festival that celebrates the end of the harvest, family and food. It’s sort of like Thanksgiving (without the turkey), Octoberfest(without the beer) and Sukkot (without the tent). It is always celebrated on the largest full moon of the year, the Harvest Moon."
'via Blog this'
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Making Mooncakes the modern traditional way for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival | Adventures in Multicultural Living
A harvest festival, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a Chinese (Zhong Qiu Jie),Vietnamese (Tet Trung Thu) and Korean (Chusok) festival that celebrates the end of the harvest, family and food. It’s sort of like Thanksgiving (without the turkey), Octoberfest(without the beer) and Sukkot (without the tent). It is always celebrated on the largest full moon of the year, the Harvest Moon."
'via Blog this'
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Making Mooncakes the modern traditional way for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival | Adventures in Multicultural Living
Friday, September 16, 2011
AML Making Mooncakes the modern traditional way for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival - NAM EthnoBlog
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is this Monday. That means mooncakes! A harvest festival, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a Chinese (Zhong Qiu Jie), Vietnamese (Tet Trung Thu) and Korean (Chusok) festival that celebrates the end of the harvest, family and food. It's sort of like Thanksgiving (without the turkey), Octoberfest (without the beer) and Sukkot (without the tent). It is always celebrated on the largest full moon of the year, the Harvest Moon.
Mooncakes are the centerpiece of this festival, as much for eating as for giving to other people. They are round like the full moon and symbolize family unity. To call mooncakes “cakes,” though, is a bit of a misnomer. They are not light, fluffy, frosted, candle-studded confections. Rather, imagine a giant Fig Newton, the size and shape and weight of a hockey puck, dense and heavy and rich with red bean, date, lotus seed, dried fruit or pineapple filling.
click on link for more: Making Mooncakes the modern traditional way for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival - NAM EthnoBlog
Mooncakes are the centerpiece of this festival, as much for eating as for giving to other people. They are round like the full moon and symbolize family unity. To call mooncakes “cakes,” though, is a bit of a misnomer. They are not light, fluffy, frosted, candle-studded confections. Rather, imagine a giant Fig Newton, the size and shape and weight of a hockey puck, dense and heavy and rich with red bean, date, lotus seed, dried fruit or pineapple filling.
click on link for more: Making Mooncakes the modern traditional way for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival - NAM EthnoBlog
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Adventures in Multicultural Living: Making Mooncakes the modern traditional way for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival | annarbor.com
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is this Monday. That means mooncakes!
A harvest festival, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a Chinese (Zhong Qiu Jie), Vietnamese (Tet Trung Thu) and Korean (Chusok) festival that celebrates the end of the harvest, family and food. It's sort of like Thanksgiving (without the turkey), Octoberfest (without the beer) and Sukkot (without the tent). It is always celebrated on the largest full moon of the year, the Harvest Moon.
Mooncakes are the centerpiece of this festival, as much for eating as for giving to other people. They are round like the full moon and symbolize family unity. To call mooncakes “cakes,” though, is a bit of a misnomer. They are not light, fluffy, frosted, candle-studded confections. Rather, imagine a giant Fig Newton, the size and shape and weight of a hockey puck, dense and heavy and rich with red bean, date, lotus seed, dried fruit or pineapple filling.
click on link for more: Making Mooncakes the modern traditional way for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
A harvest festival, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a Chinese (Zhong Qiu Jie), Vietnamese (Tet Trung Thu) and Korean (Chusok) festival that celebrates the end of the harvest, family and food. It's sort of like Thanksgiving (without the turkey), Octoberfest (without the beer) and Sukkot (without the tent). It is always celebrated on the largest full moon of the year, the Harvest Moon.
Mooncakes are the centerpiece of this festival, as much for eating as for giving to other people. They are round like the full moon and symbolize family unity. To call mooncakes “cakes,” though, is a bit of a misnomer. They are not light, fluffy, frosted, candle-studded confections. Rather, imagine a giant Fig Newton, the size and shape and weight of a hockey puck, dense and heavy and rich with red bean, date, lotus seed, dried fruit or pineapple filling.
click on link for more: Making Mooncakes the modern traditional way for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Adventures in Multicultural Living: Ode to bento boxes and lunchboxes for back to school perfection | annarbor.com
In the hubbub of back to school preparations—registration, green emergency cards, forms, fees, textbooks, pictures, school supplies, backpacks, lunchboxes, scheduling extracurriculars, new lunch and snack ideas, catching up with old friends, etc., I keep ending up in the bentobox or lunchbox section of every store I enter, be it the Chinese grocery store, the Japanese bookstore, Target, Walmart, CVS, or Busch’s grocery store.
Long after we have bought all the things we came for, and the children suddenly notice that I am no longer walking with them, they know where to find me. Mesmerized. Stammering. Strategizing lunches. Squealing over lunchboxes.
I confess.
I have a fetish for bento boxes. A fondness for tiffins. A weakness forTupperwares. Don’t get me started on lunchboxes.
click on link for more: http://www.annarbor.com/passions-pursuits/ode-to-bento-boxes-and-lunchboxes-for-back-to-school-perfection/Ode to bento boxes and lunchboxes for back to school perfection
Long after we have bought all the things we came for, and the children suddenly notice that I am no longer walking with them, they know where to find me. Mesmerized. Stammering. Strategizing lunches. Squealing over lunchboxes.
I confess.
I have a fetish for bento boxes. A fondness for tiffins. A weakness forTupperwares. Don’t get me started on lunchboxes.
click on link for more: http://www.annarbor.com/passions-pursuits/ode-to-bento-boxes-and-lunchboxes-for-back-to-school-perfection/Ode to bento boxes and lunchboxes for back to school perfection
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Chicago is the World » Showing off our many local treasures, the power of sharing our ideas | Adventures in Multicultural Living
The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) National Convention was held in Detroit this month. I really wanted to attend, since it was home, but unfortunately I was not able to make it. Still, I watched from afar via Twitter, I saw my friends smiling in Twitpix, I connected people to each other via Facebook and email, I read newspaper articles online, and I even received a cellphone call that would have allowed me to listen in on one of the panels (if only I had not been driving at the time). It was a little surreal seeing a photograph in the Detroit Free Press of my real-life friends together with my virtual friends, not to mention hearing about the conversations they had because of my virtual introductions.
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Showing off our many local treasures, the power of sharing our ideas | Adventures in Multicultural Living
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Showing off our many local treasures, the power of sharing our ideas | Adventures in Multicultural Living
Monday, August 29, 2011
AML: Showing off our many local treasures, the power of sharing our ideas - NAM EthnoBlog
The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) National Convention was held in Detroit this month. I really wanted to attend, since it was home, but unfortunately I was not able to make it. Still, I watched from afar via Twitter, I saw my friends smiling in Twitpix, I connected people to each other via Facebook and email, I read newspaper articles online, and I even received a cellphone call that would have allowed me to listen in on one of the panels (if only I had not been driving at the time).
It was a little surreal seeing a photograph in the Detroit Free Press of my real-life friends together with my virtual friends, not to mention hearing about the conversations they had because of my virtual introductions.
click on link for more: Showing off our many local treasures, the power of sharing our ideas - NAM EthnoBlog
It was a little surreal seeing a photograph in the Detroit Free Press of my real-life friends together with my virtual friends, not to mention hearing about the conversations they had because of my virtual introductions.
click on link for more: Showing off our many local treasures, the power of sharing our ideas - NAM EthnoBlog
Sunday, August 28, 2011
AML: Showing off our many local treasures, the power of sharing our ideas | annarbor.com
The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) National Convention was held in Detroit this month. I really wanted to attend, since it was home, but unfortunately I was not able to make it. Still, I watched from afar via Twitter, I saw my friends smiling in Twitpix, I connected people to each other via Facebook and email, I read newspaper articles online, and I even received a cellphone call that would have allowed me to listen in on one of the panels (if only I had not been driving at the time).
It was a little surreal seeing a photograph in the Detroit Free Press of my real-life friends together with my virtual friends, not to mention hearing about the conversations they had because of my virtual introductions.
click on link for more: Showing off our many local treasures, the power of sharing our ideas
It was a little surreal seeing a photograph in the Detroit Free Press of my real-life friends together with my virtual friends, not to mention hearing about the conversations they had because of my virtual introductions.
click on link for more: Showing off our many local treasures, the power of sharing our ideas
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Chicago is the World » From Band Camp to Ramadan – finding strength, skinniness and similarities | Adventures in Multicultural Living
At the annual Band Camp concert at Interlochen a few years ago, my friend Shih-yi joked, “This would be a good day to rob Ann Arbor. Half the town is here.”
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » From Band Camp to Ramadan – finding strength, skinniness and similarities | Adventures in Multicultural Living
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » From Band Camp to Ramadan – finding strength, skinniness and similarities | Adventures in Multicultural Living
Monday, August 22, 2011
From Band Camp to Ramadan - finding strength, skinniness and similarities - NAM EthnoBlog
At the annual Band Camp concert at Interlochen a few years ago, my friend Shih-yi joked, “This would be a good day to rob Ann Arbor. Half the town is here.”
click on link for more: From Band Camp to Ramadan - finding strength, skinniness and similarities - NAM EthnoBlog
click on link for more: From Band Camp to Ramadan - finding strength, skinniness and similarities - NAM EthnoBlog
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Adventures in Multicultural Living: From Band Camp to Ramadan - finding strength, skinniness and similarities | annarbor.com
t the annual Band Camp concert at Interlochen a few years ago, my friend Shih-yi joked, “This would be a good day to rob Ann Arbor. Half the town is here.”
After a summer of family time, it is quite the plunge back into the cold refreshing waters of school life up at Interlochen where (some configuration of) the Huron, Pioneer and Skyline bands, orchestras, and choirs perform every year after a week of band/orchestra/choir camp — not only for the children who are summoned by the bugle call at 6:30 every morning, but also for the parents and siblings who have not seen all the other parents and siblings all summer.
The Huron Music Association has a bus for folks to ride up to Interlochen so that we do not all have to drive, but I sort of like the drive. I load up Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra songs in my CD player or iPod and I sing at the top of my lungs for four hours up and four hours back.
Driving long distances alone makes me nervous (I am always — justifiably — worried that my car is not going to make it), but once I manage to make it there and back successfully, I find that I am recharged, revitalized, renewed.
There is something about going someplace new to see things from a new perspective.
click on link for more: From Band Camp to Ramadan - finding strength, skinniness and similarities
After a summer of family time, it is quite the plunge back into the cold refreshing waters of school life up at Interlochen where (some configuration of) the Huron, Pioneer and Skyline bands, orchestras, and choirs perform every year after a week of band/orchestra/choir camp — not only for the children who are summoned by the bugle call at 6:30 every morning, but also for the parents and siblings who have not seen all the other parents and siblings all summer.
The Huron Music Association has a bus for folks to ride up to Interlochen so that we do not all have to drive, but I sort of like the drive. I load up Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra songs in my CD player or iPod and I sing at the top of my lungs for four hours up and four hours back.
Driving long distances alone makes me nervous (I am always — justifiably — worried that my car is not going to make it), but once I manage to make it there and back successfully, I find that I am recharged, revitalized, renewed.
There is something about going someplace new to see things from a new perspective.
click on link for more: From Band Camp to Ramadan - finding strength, skinniness and similarities
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Chicago is the World » Finally finding time for church/temple in the space of summer | Adventures in Multicultural Living
A girlfriend who attends St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church once told me how invaluable that one hour a week every Sunday morning was for her, to sit, reflect, pray, and be alone.
To hear her describe it, I wanted to go, too.
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Finally finding time for church/temple in the space of summer | Adventures in Multicultural Living
To hear her describe it, I wanted to go, too.
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Finally finding time for church/temple in the space of summer | Adventures in Multicultural Living
Monday, August 15, 2011
AML Finally finding time for church/temple in the space of summer - NAM EthnoBlog
A girlfriend who attends St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church once told me how invaluable that one hour a week every Sunday morning was for her, to sit, reflect, pray, and be alone. To hear her describe it, I wanted to go, too.
(I remember when my children were babies, the only time I was ever alone was three precious minutes a day in the shower — only the first half of the shower, mind you — before they invariably poked their heads in looking for me again.)
However, during the school year, I often find that temple is simply one thing too many for me to manage. During the school year, the children and I are so exhausted all the time, the roads are so long, the snow is so deep — that we never quite make it all the way across town to temple.
click on link for more: Finally finding time for church/temple in the space of summer - NAM EthnoBlog
(I remember when my children were babies, the only time I was ever alone was three precious minutes a day in the shower — only the first half of the shower, mind you — before they invariably poked their heads in looking for me again.)
However, during the school year, I often find that temple is simply one thing too many for me to manage. During the school year, the children and I are so exhausted all the time, the roads are so long, the snow is so deep — that we never quite make it all the way across town to temple.
click on link for more: Finally finding time for church/temple in the space of summer - NAM EthnoBlog
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Adventures in Multicultural Living: Finally finding time for church/temple in the space of summer | annarbor.com
A girlfriend who attends St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church once told me how invaluable that one hour a week every Sunday morning was for her, to sit, reflect, pray, and be alone.
To hear her describe it, I wanted to go, too.
(I remember when my children were babies, the only time I was ever alone was three precious minutes a day in the shower — only the first half of the shower, mind you — before they invariably poked their heads in looking for me again.)
However, during the school year, I often find that temple is simply one thing too many for me to manage. During the school year, the children and I are so exhausted all the time, the roads are so long, the snow is so deep — that we never quite make it all the way across town to temple.
I know, I know, if I were a better person, I would find time to do it year-round like normal people. If it were higher on my priority list, I would make time for it like everyone else. Going to temple only once or twice year on holy days only (and late at that) is flimsy, tenuous, lame.
click on link for more: Finally finding time for church/temple in the space of summer
To hear her describe it, I wanted to go, too.
(I remember when my children were babies, the only time I was ever alone was three precious minutes a day in the shower — only the first half of the shower, mind you — before they invariably poked their heads in looking for me again.)
However, during the school year, I often find that temple is simply one thing too many for me to manage. During the school year, the children and I are so exhausted all the time, the roads are so long, the snow is so deep — that we never quite make it all the way across town to temple.
I know, I know, if I were a better person, I would find time to do it year-round like normal people. If it were higher on my priority list, I would make time for it like everyone else. Going to temple only once or twice year on holy days only (and late at that) is flimsy, tenuous, lame.
click on link for more: Finally finding time for church/temple in the space of summer
Friday, August 12, 2011
American Citizens for Justice: What people are saing at AAJA – Detroit, Michigan
The Asian American Journalists Association Convention takes place this week in Detroit. Here's what people are saying about the Vincent Chin case:
American Citizens for Justice: What people are saing at AAJA – Detroit, Michigan
AAJA, Detroit remember Vincent Chin « AAJA Voices 2011 – Detroit, Michigan
check out this picture of the panel from JozJozJoz Wang http://twitpic.com/64kscc
check out this picture of Helen Zia from Betty Ming Liu http://twitpic.com/64h3il
and here are some interesting resources about the Vincent Chin case from June: American Citizens for Justice: On the 29th anniversary of the murder of Vincent Chin
American Citizens for Justice: What people are saing at AAJA – Detroit, Michigan
AAJA, Detroit remember Vincent Chin « AAJA Voices 2011 – Detroit, Michigan
check out this picture of the panel from JozJozJoz Wang http://twitpic.com/64kscc
check out this picture of Helen Zia from Betty Ming Liu http://twitpic.com/64h3il
and here are some interesting resources about the Vincent Chin case from June: American Citizens for Justice: On the 29th anniversary of the murder of Vincent Chin
Thursday, August 11, 2011
AAJA : Programs : 22nd Annual National Convention:
August 10-13, 2011 : Community Programming : In Retrospect: "Who Killed Vincent Chin?"
Tonight at the Asian American Journalists Convention! Richard Lui, Christine Choy, Roland Hwang, Ti-Hua Chang, Helen Zia
AAJA : Programs : 22nd Annual National Convention: August 10-13, 2011 : Community Programming : In Retrospect: "Who Killed Vincent Chin?"
Saturday at Chinese Community Center: Corky Lee, Curtis Chin, Vincent Who?
AAJA : Programs : 22nd Annual National Convention: August 10-13, 2011 : Community Programming : Through the Lens: Vincent Chin
AAJA : Programs : 22nd Annual National Convention: August 10-13, 2011 : Community Programming : In Retrospect: "Who Killed Vincent Chin?"
Saturday at Chinese Community Center: Corky Lee, Curtis Chin, Vincent Who?
AAJA : Programs : 22nd Annual National Convention: August 10-13, 2011 : Community Programming : Through the Lens: Vincent Chin
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Rhythms of the Season | InCultureParent
After a long trip away from home, one of the first things I always do upon our return is take all the kids to buy groceries at our favorite Chinese grocery store. I love watching them zip around, squealing as they load up our basket, “Ooooh! It’s been so long since we’ve had cong you bing!” “Xiao long bao! I want xiao long bao!” and “I haven’t seen this kind of zhu rou gan in soooooo long!”
At Tsai Grocery, the kids and I all know what and where everything is. There is none of the uncertainty that comes with travel and being in new and unfamiliar environs. Our tested and favorite brands are there where they always are. We recall our favorite dishes that we have missed all summer. We find comfort and grounding here among the steamed buns. We have not really come home until we replenish our pantry and cook our first meal together.
click here for more: Rhythms of the Season | InCultureParent
At Tsai Grocery, the kids and I all know what and where everything is. There is none of the uncertainty that comes with travel and being in new and unfamiliar environs. Our tested and favorite brands are there where they always are. We recall our favorite dishes that we have missed all summer. We find comfort and grounding here among the steamed buns. We have not really come home until we replenish our pantry and cook our first meal together.
click here for more: Rhythms of the Season | InCultureParent
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Chicago is the World » Thinking of peace at the Buddhist Toro Nagashi after the terrorist attack in Norway
Two weeks after the Obon Festival, a Buddhist holiday to remember and celebrate one’s ancestors, during which spirits are said to come home to visit the family for two weeks, comes the Toro Nagashi, a Buddhist ritual to send our visiting ancestors back on their way to the realm of the spirits.
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Thinking of peace at the Buddhist Toro Nagashi after the terrorist attack in Norway
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Thinking of peace at the Buddhist Toro Nagashi after the terrorist attack in Norway
Monday, August 8, 2011
AML Thinking of peace at the Buddhist Toro Nagashi after the terrorist attack in Norway - NAM EthnoBlog
Two weeks after the Obon Festival, a Buddhist holiday to remember and celebrate one’s ancestors, during which spirits are said to come home to visit the family for two weeks, comes the Toro Nagashi, a Buddhist ritual to send our visiting ancestors back on their way to the realm of the spirits.
It is a beautiful ceremony, held at sunset at water’s edge, with Japanese American ladies in purple robes chanting, a Buddhist priest saying prayers, younger folks performing taiko drumming and song. Individual paper lanterns are dedicated to family members, lit, then towed out to sea by a small boat.
The ancestors who have been home visiting their families in the world of the living follow the bobbing lanterns down the river and out to sea, which helps them find their way back to the land of the spirits.
One could make a bad joke here that although we all like our relatives to visit, we do not like them to stay too long.
click on link for more: Thinking of peace at the Buddhist Toro Nagashi after the terrorist attack in Norway - NAM EthnoBlog
It is a beautiful ceremony, held at sunset at water’s edge, with Japanese American ladies in purple robes chanting, a Buddhist priest saying prayers, younger folks performing taiko drumming and song. Individual paper lanterns are dedicated to family members, lit, then towed out to sea by a small boat.
The ancestors who have been home visiting their families in the world of the living follow the bobbing lanterns down the river and out to sea, which helps them find their way back to the land of the spirits.
One could make a bad joke here that although we all like our relatives to visit, we do not like them to stay too long.
click on link for more: Thinking of peace at the Buddhist Toro Nagashi after the terrorist attack in Norway - NAM EthnoBlog
Sunday, August 7, 2011
AML Thinking of peace at the Buddhist Toro Nagashi after the terrorist attack in Norway
Two weeks after the Obon Festival, a Buddhist holiday to remember and celebrate one’s ancestors, during which spirits are said to come home to visit the family for two weeks, comes the Toro Nagashi, a Buddhist ritual to send our visiting ancestors back on their way to the realm of the spirits.
It is a beautiful ceremony, held at sunset at water’s edge, with Japanese American ladies in purple robes chanting, a Buddhist priest saying prayers, younger folks performing taiko drumming and song. Individual paper lanterns are dedicated to family members, lit, then towed out to sea by a small boat.
The ancestors who have been home visiting their families in the world of the living follow the bobbing lanterns down the river and out to sea, which helps them find their way back to the land of the spirits.
One could make a bad joke here that although we all like our relatives to visit, we do not like them to stay too long.
click here for more: Thinking of peace at the Buddhist Toro Nagashi after the terrorist attack in Norway:
It is a beautiful ceremony, held at sunset at water’s edge, with Japanese American ladies in purple robes chanting, a Buddhist priest saying prayers, younger folks performing taiko drumming and song. Individual paper lanterns are dedicated to family members, lit, then towed out to sea by a small boat.
The ancestors who have been home visiting their families in the world of the living follow the bobbing lanterns down the river and out to sea, which helps them find their way back to the land of the spirits.
One could make a bad joke here that although we all like our relatives to visit, we do not like them to stay too long.
click here for more: Thinking of peace at the Buddhist Toro Nagashi after the terrorist attack in Norway:
Monday, August 1, 2011
AML Facing the terror of sports culture far outside my comfort zone in Recreational Paddling class - NAM EthnoBlog
When my teenage daughter, Hao Hao, started rowing crew for Huron High School, the president of the crew parents’ group recommended that we parents also get involved by rowing with the Ann Arbor Rowing Club. I thought he was nuts.
click on link for more: Facing the terror of sports culture far outside my comfort zone in Recreational Paddling class - NAM EthnoBlog
click on link for more: Facing the terror of sports culture far outside my comfort zone in Recreational Paddling class - NAM EthnoBlog
Chicago is the World » Facing the terror of sports culture far outside my comfort zone in Recreational Paddling class
When my teenage daughter, Hao Hao, started rowing crew for Huron High School, the president of the crew parents’ group recommended that we parents also get involved by rowing with the Ann Arbor Rowing Club. I thought he was nuts.
Hard enough to take a child to and from five crew practices a week, how was I supposed to find time to add in my own practices as well? Still, the group of parents who also rowed looked pretty cool at 5 a.m., dressed in their own red and black spandex outfits, unloading the boats alongside the kids.
Yet here I am, climbing into an outrigger canoe at 7:15 in the morning.
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Facing the terror of sports culture far outside my comfort zone in Recreational Paddling class
Hard enough to take a child to and from five crew practices a week, how was I supposed to find time to add in my own practices as well? Still, the group of parents who also rowed looked pretty cool at 5 a.m., dressed in their own red and black spandex outfits, unloading the boats alongside the kids.
Yet here I am, climbing into an outrigger canoe at 7:15 in the morning.
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Facing the terror of sports culture far outside my comfort zone in Recreational Paddling class
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Adventures in Multicultural Living: Facing the terror of sports culture far outside my comfort zone in Recreational Paddling class | AnnArbor.com
When my teenage daughter, Hao Hao, started rowing crew for Huron High School, the president of the crew parents’ group recommended that we parents also get involved by rowing with the Ann Arbor Rowing Club. I thought he was nuts.
Hard enough to take a child to and from five crew practices a week, how was I supposed to find time to add in my own practices as well? Still, the group of parents who also rowed looked pretty cool at 5 a.m., dressed in their own red and black spandex outfits, unloading the boats alongside the kids.
Yet here I am, climbing into an outrigger canoe at 7:15 in the morning.
Hao Hao took a course called “Recreational Paddling” last summer, and I happily drove her down every morning, watched the canoes take off, then sat in the car writing on my laptop until they returned. A bad shoulder saved me from all the friendly, “Why don’t you join us?”
Unfortunately, my shoulder got better.
click on link for more: Facing the terror of sports culture far outside my comfort zone in Recreational Paddling class
Hard enough to take a child to and from five crew practices a week, how was I supposed to find time to add in my own practices as well? Still, the group of parents who also rowed looked pretty cool at 5 a.m., dressed in their own red and black spandex outfits, unloading the boats alongside the kids.
Yet here I am, climbing into an outrigger canoe at 7:15 in the morning.
Hao Hao took a course called “Recreational Paddling” last summer, and I happily drove her down every morning, watched the canoes take off, then sat in the car writing on my laptop until they returned. A bad shoulder saved me from all the friendly, “Why don’t you join us?”
Unfortunately, my shoulder got better.
click on link for more: Facing the terror of sports culture far outside my comfort zone in Recreational Paddling class
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Chicago is the World » Borders: Our home away from home, finding Ann Arbor wherever we go
A few years ago at Ann Arbor Art Fair, the police had gotten tipped off that our most notorious photographer, Harvey, (who has also photographed Chicago) was planning a big photo shoot of several nudes in front of the State Theater. The police were waiting when Harvey arrived with his models. Harvey and the crowd were indignant, shouting, “It’s tradition!” (for Harvey to take a photo every year during Art Fair).
The police were unimpressed with their protests.
This year, the news that comes in with Art Fair is that Borders is really closing. Not just bankruptcy, which we had convinced ourselves was a temporary legal maneuver, but it is really closing. Liquidating. Even the downtown store is up for lease.
When I read the news about Borders, my 15-year-old daughter Hao Hao shouted, “NOOOOOO!” pause, “I have to post it on Facebook.”"
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Borders: Our home away from home, finding Ann Arbor wherever we go
The police were unimpressed with their protests.
This year, the news that comes in with Art Fair is that Borders is really closing. Not just bankruptcy, which we had convinced ourselves was a temporary legal maneuver, but it is really closing. Liquidating. Even the downtown store is up for lease.
When I read the news about Borders, my 15-year-old daughter Hao Hao shouted, “NOOOOOO!” pause, “I have to post it on Facebook.”"
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Borders: Our home away from home, finding Ann Arbor wherever we go
Monday, July 25, 2011
AML Borders: Our home away from home, finding Ann Arbor wherever we go - NAM EthnoBlog
A few years ago at Ann Arbor Art Fair, the police had gotten tipped off that our most notorious photographer, Harvey, was planning a big photo shoot of several nudes in front of the State Theater. The police were waiting when Harvey arrived with his models. Harvey and the crowd were indignant, shouting, “It’s tradition!” (for Harvey to take a photo every year during Art Fair).
The police were unimpressed with their protests.
This year, the news that comes in with Art Fair is that Borders is really closing. Not just bankruptcy, which we had convinced ourselves was a temporary legal maneuver, but it is really closing.
click on link for more: Borders: Our home away from home, finding Ann Arbor wherever we go - NAM EthnoBlog
The police were unimpressed with their protests.
This year, the news that comes in with Art Fair is that Borders is really closing. Not just bankruptcy, which we had convinced ourselves was a temporary legal maneuver, but it is really closing.
click on link for more: Borders: Our home away from home, finding Ann Arbor wherever we go - NAM EthnoBlog
Sunday, July 24, 2011
AML Unstructured summer fun and discovery versus Tiger Mothering | AnnArbor.com
Eleven-year-old Niu Niu and 7-year-old Little Brother are trying to build a raft with papyrus stems, like ancient times, in case they ever have to escape a war by crossing a rushing river in the dead of night by strapping together logs they fell on the side of the river.
After struggling for some time roping the “logs” together with string, Niu Niu declares, “String is too hard, this would be easier with duct tape.”
Off to the garage she goes. Back she comes with a roll of duct tape on her arm. Raft completed in two minutes. It floats!
So much for figuring out ancient skills.
click on link for more: Unstructured summer fun and discovery versus Tiger Mothering
After struggling for some time roping the “logs” together with string, Niu Niu declares, “String is too hard, this would be easier with duct tape.”
Off to the garage she goes. Back she comes with a roll of duct tape on her arm. Raft completed in two minutes. It floats!
So much for figuring out ancient skills.
click on link for more: Unstructured summer fun and discovery versus Tiger Mothering
Thursday, July 21, 2011
AML Borders: Our home away from home, finding Ann Arbor wherever we go
A few years ago at Ann Arbor Art Fair, the police had gotten tipped off that our most notorious photographer, Harvey, was planning a big photo shoot of several nudes in front of the State Theater. The police were waiting when Harvey arrived with his models. Harvey and the crowd were indignant, shouting, “It’s tradition!” (for Harvey to take a photo every year during Art Fair).
The police were unimpressed with their protests.
This year, the news that comes in with Art Fair is that Borders is really closing. Not just bankruptcy, which we had convinced ourselves was a temporary legal maneuver, but it is really closing. Liquidating. Even the downtown store is up for lease.
When I read the news about Borders, my 15-year-old daughter Hao Hao shouted, “NOOOOOO!” pause, “I have to post it on Facebook.”
She cannot imagine an Ann Arbor without Borders — it’s tradition — but the Michigan economy is equally unimpressed with her protests.
When I first moved to Ann Arbor, there was only one cafe (Espresso Royale on State Street, and Borders was only one store.
But what a store it was.
click on link for more: Borders: Our home away from home, finding Ann Arbor wherever we go
The police were unimpressed with their protests.
This year, the news that comes in with Art Fair is that Borders is really closing. Not just bankruptcy, which we had convinced ourselves was a temporary legal maneuver, but it is really closing. Liquidating. Even the downtown store is up for lease.
When I read the news about Borders, my 15-year-old daughter Hao Hao shouted, “NOOOOOO!” pause, “I have to post it on Facebook.”
She cannot imagine an Ann Arbor without Borders — it’s tradition — but the Michigan economy is equally unimpressed with her protests.
When I first moved to Ann Arbor, there was only one cafe (Espresso Royale on State Street, and Borders was only one store.
But what a store it was.
click on link for more: Borders: Our home away from home, finding Ann Arbor wherever we go
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
AML Dancing to summer music outdoors and for the Japanese American Obon festiv - NAM EthnoBlog
My daughter Hao Hao and I were at an outdoor music festival when she first spied the little girl. About 3 years old, in a pink Hello Kitty dress, and one long brown curly ponytail, the little girl was dancing and twirling and hopping and flopping along with the music in front of the stage. “Awww, so cute.” “That was you, not too long ago.” (Then the little girl tried to climb onto the stage for her adoring fans, “That was definitely you.”)
I love listening to music at big outdoor summer events like Madcat Ruth at Ann Arbor Summer Festival's Top of the Park or George Bedard and the Kingpins at Grillin’ for Food Gatherers.
click on link for more: Dancing to summer music outdoors and for the Japanese American Obon festiv - NAM EthnoBlog
I love listening to music at big outdoor summer events like Madcat Ruth at Ann Arbor Summer Festival's Top of the Park or George Bedard and the Kingpins at Grillin’ for Food Gatherers.
click on link for more: Dancing to summer music outdoors and for the Japanese American Obon festiv - NAM EthnoBlog
Monday, July 18, 2011
AML Dancing to summer music outdoors and for the Japanese American Obon festiv - NAM EthnoBlog
My daughter Hao Hao and I were at an outdoor music festival when she first spied the little girl. About 3 years old, in a pink Hello Kitty dress, and one long brown curly ponytail, the little girl was dancing and twirling and hopping and flopping along with the music in front of the stage. “Awww, so cute.” “That was you, not too long ago.” (Then the little girl tried to climb onto the stage for her adoring fans, “That was definitely you.”)
I love listening to music at big outdoor summer events like Madcat Ruth at Ann Arbor Summer Festival's Top of the Park or George Bedard and the Kingpins at Grillin’ for Food Gatherers.
click on link for more: Dancing to summer music outdoors and for the Japanese American Obon festiv - NAM EthnoBlog
I love listening to music at big outdoor summer events like Madcat Ruth at Ann Arbor Summer Festival's Top of the Park or George Bedard and the Kingpins at Grillin’ for Food Gatherers.
click on link for more: Dancing to summer music outdoors and for the Japanese American Obon festiv - NAM EthnoBlog
Sunday, July 17, 2011
AML Dancing to summer music outdoors and for the Japanese American Obon festival
My daughter Hao Hao and I were at an outdoor music festival when she first spied the little girl. About 3 years old, in a pink Hello Kitty dress, and one long brown curly ponytail, the little girl was dancing and twirling and hopping and flopping along with the music in front of the stage. “Awww, so cute.”
“That was you, not too long ago.”
(Then the little girl tried to climb onto the stage for her adoring fans, “That was definitely you.”)
I love listening to music at big outdoor summer events like Madcat Ruth at Ann Arbor Summer Festival's Top of the Park or George Bedard and the Kingpins at Grillin’ for Food Gatherers.
There is always an older couple dancing close on the side, cute little kids in sandals hopping all around. Perhaps the Internet has ruined my ability to concentrate for long periods of time, but I like the openness, the casualness, the fresh breeze ruffling the leaves on the trees.
click on link for more: Dancing to summer music outdoors and for the Japanese American Obon festival
“That was you, not too long ago.”
(Then the little girl tried to climb onto the stage for her adoring fans, “That was definitely you.”)
I love listening to music at big outdoor summer events like Madcat Ruth at Ann Arbor Summer Festival's Top of the Park or George Bedard and the Kingpins at Grillin’ for Food Gatherers.
There is always an older couple dancing close on the side, cute little kids in sandals hopping all around. Perhaps the Internet has ruined my ability to concentrate for long periods of time, but I like the openness, the casualness, the fresh breeze ruffling the leaves on the trees.
click on link for more: Dancing to summer music outdoors and for the Japanese American Obon festival
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Blog: Affirmative action's still kicking, but so is its nemesis, Ward Connerly - AALDEF
from Emil Guillermo on AALDEF's blog on Proposal 2 ruling: Blog: Affirmative action's still kicking, but so is its nemesis, Ward Connerly - AALDEF
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Ten rules for writing fiction | Books | guardian.co.uk
I don't normally share writing advice, but this is too good not to share:
Ten rules for writing fiction | Books | guardian.co.uk
Get an accountant, abstain from sex and similes, cut, rewrite, then cut and rewrite again – if all else fails, pray. Inspire by Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing, we asked authors for their personal…
Ten rules for writing fiction | Books | guardian.co.uk
Ten rules for writing fiction(part two) | Books | guardian.co.uk
Some fabulous advice from Lee and Low Books' Tu Books Editorial Director, Stacy Whitman, on writing cross-culturally (good for living cross-culturally too)
Stacy Whitman's Grimoire » Beyond Orcs and Elves, part 3
if your kids have already finished all the reading programs at the library and all the bookstores, here's a diversity YA reading challenge, with a chance to win a huge pack of great books
Diversify Your Reading Challenge Prizes | Diversity in YA www.diversityinya.com
All this introspection is inspired by the surprising amount of commentary generated by my most recent article. I never expected folks would be so attached to Mickey Rooney.
Reading light summer romance without Asians, Asian Americans, or people of color
Ten rules for writing fiction | Books | guardian.co.uk
Get an accountant, abstain from sex and similes, cut, rewrite, then cut and rewrite again – if all else fails, pray. Inspire by Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing, we asked authors for their personal…
Ten rules for writing fiction | Books | guardian.co.uk
Ten rules for writing fiction(part two) | Books | guardian.co.uk
Some fabulous advice from Lee and Low Books' Tu Books Editorial Director, Stacy Whitman, on writing cross-culturally (good for living cross-culturally too)
Stacy Whitman's Grimoire » Beyond Orcs and Elves, part 3
if your kids have already finished all the reading programs at the library and all the bookstores, here's a diversity YA reading challenge, with a chance to win a huge pack of great books
Diversify Your Reading Challenge Prizes | Diversity in YA www.diversityinya.com
All this introspection is inspired by the surprising amount of commentary generated by my most recent article. I never expected folks would be so attached to Mickey Rooney.
Reading light summer romance without Asians, Asian Americans, or people of color
AML: Reading light summer romance without Asians, Asian Americans, or people of color - NAM EthnoBlog
While looking for light reading material for a recent airplane ride, I grabbed a pink book with a naked male torso that I vaguely recalled picking up at the King School Book Fair for 50 cents. I read the back cover, I read the first page, I randomly flipped through the book, and I could conjure up no memory of actually having read the book, so I stuck it into my carry-on, well within my 22-pound limit.
Although I usually prefer writers like Richard Rodriguez and Andrew Lam, not to mention Literature with a capital L, it’s summer, it’s an airplane, and I want something light and easy and with a happy ending. I have an equally embarrassing secret weakness for watching bad romantic comedies on the plane this time of year, too. (I was sorely disappointed to realize at 35,000 feet that I had indeed read this book before, but it was so terrible that I could not remember how it turned out, so I had to read it all the way to the end a second painful time).
Summer is the season for light romantic comedies, and because there typically are no Asians cast or written into these stories, I can, ironically, go “off-duty” regarding race and culture for a moment and indulge myself in the great American illusion that the white experience is “universal.” It can actually be extra-hurtful to accidentally encounter an "Asian" character (like Mickey Rooney's character in "Breakfast at Tiffany's") when I am in this mode because I thought I was safe.
click on link for more: Reading light summer romance without Asians, Asian Americans, or people of color - NAM EthnoBlog
Although I usually prefer writers like Richard Rodriguez and Andrew Lam, not to mention Literature with a capital L, it’s summer, it’s an airplane, and I want something light and easy and with a happy ending. I have an equally embarrassing secret weakness for watching bad romantic comedies on the plane this time of year, too. (I was sorely disappointed to realize at 35,000 feet that I had indeed read this book before, but it was so terrible that I could not remember how it turned out, so I had to read it all the way to the end a second painful time).
Summer is the season for light romantic comedies, and because there typically are no Asians cast or written into these stories, I can, ironically, go “off-duty” regarding race and culture for a moment and indulge myself in the great American illusion that the white experience is “universal.” It can actually be extra-hurtful to accidentally encounter an "Asian" character (like Mickey Rooney's character in "Breakfast at Tiffany's") when I am in this mode because I thought I was safe.
click on link for more: Reading light summer romance without Asians, Asian Americans, or people of color - NAM EthnoBlog
Sunday, July 10, 2011
AML: Reading light summer romance without Asians, Asian Americans, or people of color | AnnArbor.com
While looking for light reading material for a recent airplane ride, I grabbed a pink book with a naked male torso that I vaguely recalled picking up at the King School Book Fair for 50 cents. I read the back cover, I read the first page, I randomly flipped through the book, and I could conjure up no memory of actually having read the book, so I stuck it into my carry-on, well within my 22-pound limit.
Although I usually prefer writers like Richard Rodriguez and Andrew Lam, not to mention Literature with a capital L, it’s summer, it’s an airplane, and I want something light and easy and with a happy ending. I have an equally embarrassing secret weakness for watching bad romantic comedies on the plane this time of year, too.
(I was sorely disappointed to realize at 35,000 feet that I had indeed read this book before, but it was so terrible that I could not remember how it turned out, so I had to read it all the way to the end a second painful time).
Summer is the season for light romantic comedies, and because there typically are no Asians cast or written into these stories, I can, ironically, go “off-duty” regarding race and culture for a moment and indulge myself in the great American illusion that the white experience is “universal.” It can actually be extra-hurtful to accidentally encounter an "Asian" character (like Mickey Rooney's character in "Breakfast at Tiffany's") when I am in this mode because I thought I was safe.
click on link for more: Reading light summer romance without Asians, Asian Americans, or people of color
Although I usually prefer writers like Richard Rodriguez and Andrew Lam, not to mention Literature with a capital L, it’s summer, it’s an airplane, and I want something light and easy and with a happy ending. I have an equally embarrassing secret weakness for watching bad romantic comedies on the plane this time of year, too.
(I was sorely disappointed to realize at 35,000 feet that I had indeed read this book before, but it was so terrible that I could not remember how it turned out, so I had to read it all the way to the end a second painful time).
Summer is the season for light romantic comedies, and because there typically are no Asians cast or written into these stories, I can, ironically, go “off-duty” regarding race and culture for a moment and indulge myself in the great American illusion that the white experience is “universal.” It can actually be extra-hurtful to accidentally encounter an "Asian" character (like Mickey Rooney's character in "Breakfast at Tiffany's") when I am in this mode because I thought I was safe.
click on link for more: Reading light summer romance without Asians, Asian Americans, or people of color
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Celebrating Japanese Culture with the Obon Dance | InCultureParent
We went to the Obon Dance at the Puna Hongwanji tonight. I love first walking up to the temple grounds, totally transformed by the strings of lanterns glowing in the night, the tall yagura platform calling everyone’s attention to the circle.
It is always great watching the elegant old ladies from the Japanese dance schools in their matching kimonos and perfectly coifed hair lead the way, their hands so graceful, their faces so calm. (Calm because they know that they know all the steps!) The little girls, of course, in their pink and red and Hello Kitty yukata with the big chiffon bows and their hair all full of flowers and curls are utterly meltingly adorable. The energy of the rambunctious Dharma School boys is infectious, with their matching Dharma School hapi coats and headbands, as they half dance half kung fu each other, the flashing red lights in their shoes syncopating their best moves. The YBA teens in tank tops and cut-off jeans move in packs, either gossiping and squealing by the food booths or running and jumping right into the middle of the circle, the boys energetically showing off for the girls. The favorite dances are obvious, the crowd surges when those start, everyone shouting chorus and response.
click on link for more: Celebrating Japanese Culture with the Obon Dance | InCultureParent
It is always great watching the elegant old ladies from the Japanese dance schools in their matching kimonos and perfectly coifed hair lead the way, their hands so graceful, their faces so calm. (Calm because they know that they know all the steps!) The little girls, of course, in their pink and red and Hello Kitty yukata with the big chiffon bows and their hair all full of flowers and curls are utterly meltingly adorable. The energy of the rambunctious Dharma School boys is infectious, with their matching Dharma School hapi coats and headbands, as they half dance half kung fu each other, the flashing red lights in their shoes syncopating their best moves. The YBA teens in tank tops and cut-off jeans move in packs, either gossiping and squealing by the food booths or running and jumping right into the middle of the circle, the boys energetically showing off for the girls. The favorite dances are obvious, the crowd surges when those start, everyone shouting chorus and response.
click on link for more: Celebrating Japanese Culture with the Obon Dance | InCultureParent
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Chicago is the World » Adventures in Multicultural Living: Bollywood flash mob dance performance surprises Ann Arbor Summer Festival
My mom once emailed me a link to the most amazing YouTube video —A Random Act of Culture sponsored by the Knight Foundation: Handel’s Messiah unexpectedly and apparently spontaneously performed by 650 opera singers disguised as normal people in a beautiful Christmas setting in Philadelphia.
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Adventures in Multicultural Living: Bollywood flash mob dance performance surprises Ann Arbor Summer Festival
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Adventures in Multicultural Living: Bollywood flash mob dance performance surprises Ann Arbor Summer Festival
Sunday, July 3, 2011
AML Balancing old and new traditions for family and community at Fourth of July and Ann Arbor Summer Festival
When my seven-year-old son, Little Brother, came home from school and said that his first grade class would be talking about family traditions the next day, his older sisters all simultaneously said, “Uh oh.”
Because our family talks about traditions a lot more than “normal” people, his sisters jokingly call a lot of things “tradition” that are not really traditions in the normal sense. However, because Little Brother is so little, he cannot always tell when his sisters are joking. What if he thinks these are real traditions and tells his classmates about them?
For example, whenever Hao Hao does anything that bothers her older sister M — including going into her room and sitting on her bed and reading her books, she insists that she has to do it because, “It’s tradition!” Whenever anyone breaks out into song and dance, the stated reason is always because, “It’s tradition!”
Every Friday night we have dumplings for dinner before Chinese School. Is it because Mommy is too tired to cook on Friday nights? No, it is because, “It’s tradition!”
M always argues back, “It’s not a tradition just because you say it is.”
click on link for more: Balancing old and new traditions for family and community at Fourth of July and Ann Arbor Summer Festival
Because our family talks about traditions a lot more than “normal” people, his sisters jokingly call a lot of things “tradition” that are not really traditions in the normal sense. However, because Little Brother is so little, he cannot always tell when his sisters are joking. What if he thinks these are real traditions and tells his classmates about them?
For example, whenever Hao Hao does anything that bothers her older sister M — including going into her room and sitting on her bed and reading her books, she insists that she has to do it because, “It’s tradition!” Whenever anyone breaks out into song and dance, the stated reason is always because, “It’s tradition!”
Every Friday night we have dumplings for dinner before Chinese School. Is it because Mommy is too tired to cook on Friday nights? No, it is because, “It’s tradition!”
M always argues back, “It’s not a tradition just because you say it is.”
click on link for more: Balancing old and new traditions for family and community at Fourth of July and Ann Arbor Summer Festival
Friday, July 1, 2011
“East Asian Celebration: Kites & Characters” at Top of the Park Tuesday
From our friends at the University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies and Center for Japanese Studies and Confucius Institute:
Please join us for language and cultural activities at “East Asian Celebration: Kites & Characters” at Top of the Park! The event details are listed below. Please see the attached flyer for more information, and feel free to pass along to families who may be interested.
“East Asian Celebration: Kites & Characters”
Tuesday, July 5th, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
KidZone Activity Tent at Top of the Park
Kids of all ages welcome!
Note: Top of the Park is located at Ingall’s Mall (on Washington between S. Thayer & Fletcher) on UM’s Central Campus, Ann Arbor. The KidZone tent is located nearest the Michigan League.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Chicago is the World » Adventures in Multicultural Living: End of the school year brings summer travels, moving away and international friendships
As the fifth graders processed into the auditorium under the brightly colored pink, blue, orange and green arches (swimming noodles held aloft) for the final end-of-school assembly, the whole school applauded. Congratulations! Fifth grade graduation!
So heartbroken by the other big goodbye we were also facing this day, goodbye to a much-beloved principal being transferred to another school, I had actually forgotten that today was a day of celebration. I was there to see the going-away video the teachers and students had made for him, sad, so sad, to see him go.
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Adventures in Multicultural Living: End of the school year brings summer travels, moving away and international friendships:
So heartbroken by the other big goodbye we were also facing this day, goodbye to a much-beloved principal being transferred to another school, I had actually forgotten that today was a day of celebration. I was there to see the going-away video the teachers and students had made for him, sad, so sad, to see him go.
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » Adventures in Multicultural Living: End of the school year brings summer travels, moving away and international friendships:
Monday, June 27, 2011
Frances Wang and Emil Guillermo on WORT Radio Tuesday
I'm going to be on the radio, WORT 89.9 FM in Madison, Wisconsin, "A Public Affair," Tuesday at 12:00 with journalist Emil Guillermo (emilamok.com) and host Cynthia Lin talking about the Vincent Chin case (including Emil's recent phone call to Ronald Ebens). listen live and email in questions.
WORT 89.9FM Community Radio Station: Madison, Wisconsin
www.wort-fm.org
Update: They played Bao Phi's "Brother" during the show. Cool!
WORT 89.9FM Community Radio Station: Madison, Wisconsin
www.wort-fm.org
Update: They played Bao Phi's "Brother" during the show. Cool!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
AML End of the school year - summer travels, moving away and international (and cross-country) friendships | AnnArbor.com
As the fifth graders processed into the auditorium under the brightly colored pink, blue, orange and green arches (swimming noodles held aloft) for the final end-of-school assembly, the whole school applauded. Congratulations! Fifth grade graduation!
So heartbroken by the other big goodbye we were also facing this day, goodbye to a much-beloved principal being transferred to another school, I had actually forgotten that today was a day of celebration. I was there to see the going-away video the teachers and students had made for him, sad, so sad, to see him go.
It was a relief to watch him wind up the year by asking all the kids to close their eyes and raise their hands if they had tried their best in reading and math this year, and it was heartening to hear the fifth grade graduation speaker reflect on the many lessons learned in his long years here.
It is the end of the school year, and everyone is beginning to leave for the summer, especially many international families I know. Summer is the time to go “home” to visit parents and grandparents, time to attend weddings and family reunions, time for kids to hone their language skills while playing with cousins, time for study abroad and “Loveboat” trips for the teenagers and college-aged.
The end of the school year is also the time we suddenly discover that friends are moving away, sometimes for a year or two, sometimes for forever. Every day the children and I attend another going-away party, birthday party, end of the school year party, barbeque, ice cream social, picnic.
click on link for more: End of the school year - summer travels, moving away and international (and cross-country) friendships
So heartbroken by the other big goodbye we were also facing this day, goodbye to a much-beloved principal being transferred to another school, I had actually forgotten that today was a day of celebration. I was there to see the going-away video the teachers and students had made for him, sad, so sad, to see him go.
It was a relief to watch him wind up the year by asking all the kids to close their eyes and raise their hands if they had tried their best in reading and math this year, and it was heartening to hear the fifth grade graduation speaker reflect on the many lessons learned in his long years here.
It is the end of the school year, and everyone is beginning to leave for the summer, especially many international families I know. Summer is the time to go “home” to visit parents and grandparents, time to attend weddings and family reunions, time for kids to hone their language skills while playing with cousins, time for study abroad and “Loveboat” trips for the teenagers and college-aged.
The end of the school year is also the time we suddenly discover that friends are moving away, sometimes for a year or two, sometimes for forever. Every day the children and I attend another going-away party, birthday party, end of the school year party, barbeque, ice cream social, picnic.
click on link for more: End of the school year - summer travels, moving away and international (and cross-country) friendships
Saturday, June 25, 2011
AML Resisting 'Slacktivism,' Remembering Vincent Chin, and Singing with Joe Reilly - NAM EthnoBlog
I recently interviewed for a job launching a new online literary magazine about literature and social justice activism. (The interview did not go so well, but...) What a great idea to link the glamour of novelists and poets with the purpose of social justice activism. This gives literature more weight and meaning, and gives activism more color and style.
Otherwise, social justice activism can be such a downer sometimes.
Don’t get me wrong. I am on the Advisory Board of American Citizens for Justice, the original Asian American civil rights nonprofit formed after the baseball beating death of Vincent Chin 29 years ago today.
click on link for more: Resisting 'Slacktivism,' Remembering Vincent Chin, and Singing with Joe Reilly - NAM EthnoBlog
Otherwise, social justice activism can be such a downer sometimes.
Don’t get me wrong. I am on the Advisory Board of American Citizens for Justice, the original Asian American civil rights nonprofit formed after the baseball beating death of Vincent Chin 29 years ago today.
click on link for more: Resisting 'Slacktivism,' Remembering Vincent Chin, and Singing with Joe Reilly - NAM EthnoBlog
Friday, June 24, 2011
Chicago is the World » How the Vincent Chin case continues to resonate after 29 years
Before I came to Michigan for graduate school, the only thing I knew about Michigan was that it was where Vincent Chin was killed. My parents’ Japanese-American neighbors warned me to sell my father’s Toyota 4Runner and buy a Ford Bronco. I asked about safety as much as I did about academics before I decided to come.
This year marks the 29th anniversary of the baseball bat beating that caused the death of Vincent Chin. Unfortunately, with the recession and rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, the case is even more relevant than ever.
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » How the Vincent Chin case continues to resonate after 29 years
This year marks the 29th anniversary of the baseball bat beating that caused the death of Vincent Chin. Unfortunately, with the recession and rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, the case is even more relevant than ever.
click on link for more: Chicago is the World » How the Vincent Chin case continues to resonate after 29 years
Thursday, June 23, 2011
On the 29th Anniversary of Vincent Chin’s Murder
Interesting links on the 29th anniversary of the baseball beating death of Vincent Chin:
How the Vincent Chin case continues to resonate after 29 years, by Frances Kai-Hwa Wang for Chicago is the World, June 23, 2011
http://chicagoistheworld.org/2011/06/how-the-vincent-chin-case-continues-to-resonate-after-29-years/
Crime Without Punishment: Why the Death of Vincent Chin Resonates Today by Frances Kai-Hwa Wang in InCultureParent.com
http://www.incultureparent.com/2011/05/5009/
Vincent Chin? Remembering Ronald Ebens-the guy who got away with murder by Emil Guillermo at Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund:
http://aaldef.org/blog/vincent-chin-remembering-ronald-ebens-the-guy-who-got-away-with-murder.html
On Anniversary of Vincent Chin’s Murder, CAPAC Members Denounce Explosion of Anti-Chinese Rhetoric in Campaign Ads
http://capac.chu.house.gov/news/press-releases/2011/06/on-anniversary-of-vincent-chins-murder-capac-members-denounce-explosion-of-anti-chinese-rhetoric-in.shtml
Vincent Who? goes online; limited time offer to view for free by Curtis Chin at APAs for Progress:
http://www.apaforprogress.org/vincent-who-goes-online-limited-time-offer-view-free
Remember Vincent Chin Vigil 6/23/11
http://remembervc.tumblr.com/
remember vincent chin vigil, june 23, on angryasianman.com
http://blog.angryasianman.com/2011/06/remember-vincent-chin-vigil-june-23.html
In Retrospect: Who Killed Vincent Chin? AAJA Conference Panel in Detroit, August 2011
http://www.aaja.org/programs/convention2011detroit/panels/
Advancing Justice Conference coming up in San Francisco, October 2011
http://www.advancingjustice.org/conference/2011/index.php
“Asian Pacifically New York,” a Photo Exhibit by Corky Lee
http://chapters.aaja.org/NewYork/?p=995
Vincent Chin by Model Minority on Channel APA Music
http://www.channelapa.com/2011/06/vincent-chin-by-model-minority.html
Edward Hong HanSarang Day 6: Remember Vincent Chin Poem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_dH-3-F5Lk
Plaque honoring murdered Asian man, Vincent Chin, unveiled in Ferndale
http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/oakland_county/plaque-honoring-murdered-man-unveiled-in-ferndale
"Groom-to-be clubbed to death" video by Richard Lui on CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/crime/2009/05/28/lui.vincent.chin.cnn.html
Remembering Vincent Chin, Detroit News Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68k0R3uJoRg
Adventures in Multicultural Living column: Resisting 'slacktivism,' remembering Vincent Chin, and singing with Joe Reilly by Frances Kai-Hwa Wang in annarbor.com and newamericamedia.org
http://annarbor.com/entertainment/parenting/resisting-slacktivism-remembering-vincent-chin-and-singing-with-joe-reillysocial-justice-and-environ/
Mark your calendars for the thirtieth anniversary next year with American Citizens for Justice, June 23, 2012, Chinese Community Center, Madison Heights, Michigan.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
AML Being Surprised by the Lunar Calendar, Dragon Boat Festival, and the Sudden Maturity of Our Children - NAM EthnoBlog
The tricky thing about using a lunar calendar is that if you are not paying attention — or if you have not properly aligned your lunar calendar with your regular planner — holidays and festivals can sneak up on you unawares. The big holidays are easy. Lunar New Year’s is usually in January or February. The Mid-Autumn Moon festival is in, well, autumn.
click on link for more: Being Surprised by the Lunar Calendar, Dragon Boat Festival, and the Sudden Maturity of Our Children - NAM EthnoBlog
click on link for more: Being Surprised by the Lunar Calendar, Dragon Boat Festival, and the Sudden Maturity of Our Children - NAM EthnoBlog
Sunday, June 19, 2011
AML Resisting "slacktivism," remembering Vincent Chin, and singing with Joe Reilly, social justice and environmental activism and the arts
I recently interviewed for a job launching a new online literary magazine about literature and social justice activism. (The interview did not go so well, but...) What a great idea to link the glamour of novelists and poets with the purpose of social justice activism. This gives literature more weight and meaning, and gives activism more color and style.
Otherwise, social justice activism can be such a downer sometimes.
Don’t get me wrong. I am on the Advisory Board of American Citizens for Justice, the original Asian American civil rights nonprofit formed after the baseball beating death of Vincent Chin 29 years ago today.
I am involved with many other nonprofit organizations. I lecture about civil rights and activism. I know this stuff is important.
However, I also get hundreds of emails in my inbox every day, thousands of tweets on my Twitter feed and more posts than I can deal with on Facebook and Linkedin. Sometimes I simply do not want to click on that link, open that email, read that news clip that I know is going to be bad news.
click on link for more: Resisting "slacktivism," remembering Vincent Chin, and singing with Joe Reilly, social justice and environmental activism and the arts
Otherwise, social justice activism can be such a downer sometimes.
Don’t get me wrong. I am on the Advisory Board of American Citizens for Justice, the original Asian American civil rights nonprofit formed after the baseball beating death of Vincent Chin 29 years ago today.
I am involved with many other nonprofit organizations. I lecture about civil rights and activism. I know this stuff is important.
However, I also get hundreds of emails in my inbox every day, thousands of tweets on my Twitter feed and more posts than I can deal with on Facebook and Linkedin. Sometimes I simply do not want to click on that link, open that email, read that news clip that I know is going to be bad news.
click on link for more: Resisting "slacktivism," remembering Vincent Chin, and singing with Joe Reilly, social justice and environmental activism and the arts
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Vincent Who? goes online; limited time offer to view for free | apaforprogress.org
from Curtis Chin and APAP:
Vincent Who? goes online; limited time offer to view for free | apaforprogress.org
To honor the 29th anniversary of the death of Vincent Chin (June 23, 2011), an online version of "Vincent Who?" can be viewed for free. This limited-time offer (until the end of July 2011) is brought to you by Asian Pacific Americans for Progress (APAP) and the producers of "Vincent Who?" via a new website: vincentwhomovie.com.
Vincent Who? goes online; limited time offer to view for free | apaforprogress.org
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
CAECC Spring Festival - A Chinese Nutcracker | Arborweb.com
Chinese New Year performance in April? I was confused, but Auntie Ning explained that the Chinese American Educational and Cultural Center (CAECC) Spring Festival event was going to be like a "Chinese Nutcracker," a showcase of different performances--dance, music, martial arts, yo-yo--organized around a storyline to meld various Chinese New Year rites, beliefs, customs, and traditions. This was going to be much more than an ordinary variety show or dance recital. This was going to be a story.
One of Ann Arbor's oldest Chinese cultural associations, CAECC, directed now by Chen-Oi Chin, is back on the scene after several years of quiet. Founded in 1976, it offers educational outreach and Chinese cultural classes like dance and martial arts to the community.
click on link for more: CAECC Spring Festival - A Chinese Nutcracker
One of Ann Arbor's oldest Chinese cultural associations, CAECC, directed now by Chen-Oi Chin, is back on the scene after several years of quiet. Founded in 1976, it offers educational outreach and Chinese cultural classes like dance and martial arts to the community.
click on link for more: CAECC Spring Festival - A Chinese Nutcracker
Sunday, June 12, 2011
AML: Pondering picnic food - 'normal' and not - and its power to bring us together | Annarbor.com
While cleaning up after our annual Memorial Day potluck picnic barbecue, my daughter Hao Hao asked, “Who brought the potato salad? That was random.”
A lifetime of mayonnaise angst flashed through my head and I explained, “Actually, potato salad is a pretty normal thing to bring to picnics.”
“Really?” She had never even noticed.
I think she associates potato salad with Easter, since that is the only time I ever make it. With four children, we always end up dying a lot of Easter eggs, so that translates into a lot of potato salad (inevitably multicolored) in the days following — usually so much that we cannot even bear to think about it again until the following Easter.
I recall the many family picnics we have had in Gallup Park and the fun of preparing Spam musubi, onigiri, inari sushi, edamame, teriyaki chicken. Watching for rain, I start cooking early in the morning, pack everything up into beautiful big bento boxes, throw in our much-loved Hello Kitty picnicware and our trusty Nepalese picnic blanket, and hop onto our bikes for a day at the park.
This isn’t what other people bring to picnics? What is normal picnic food?
click on link for more: Pondering picnic food - 'normal' and not - and its power to bring us together
A lifetime of mayonnaise angst flashed through my head and I explained, “Actually, potato salad is a pretty normal thing to bring to picnics.”
“Really?” She had never even noticed.
I think she associates potato salad with Easter, since that is the only time I ever make it. With four children, we always end up dying a lot of Easter eggs, so that translates into a lot of potato salad (inevitably multicolored) in the days following — usually so much that we cannot even bear to think about it again until the following Easter.
I recall the many family picnics we have had in Gallup Park and the fun of preparing Spam musubi, onigiri, inari sushi, edamame, teriyaki chicken. Watching for rain, I start cooking early in the morning, pack everything up into beautiful big bento boxes, throw in our much-loved Hello Kitty picnicware and our trusty Nepalese picnic blanket, and hop onto our bikes for a day at the park.
This isn’t what other people bring to picnics? What is normal picnic food?
click on link for more: Pondering picnic food - 'normal' and not - and its power to bring us together
Saturday, June 11, 2011
AML Lunar Calendar, Dragon Boat Festival, Graduation | RainbowKids.com
on voices of adoption at Rainbowkids.com:
Being surprised by the lunar calendar, dragon boat festival, and the sudden maturity of our children--Adventures in Multicultural Living
click on link for more: http://www.rainbowkids.com/ExpertArticleDetails.aspx?id=382&title=Being%20surprised%20by%20the%20lunar%20calendar,%20dragon%20boat%20festival,%20
Being surprised by the lunar calendar, dragon boat festival, and the sudden maturity of our children--Adventures in Multicultural Living
click on link for more: http://www.rainbowkids.com/ExpertArticleDetails.aspx?id=382&title=Being%20surprised%20by%20the%20lunar%20calendar,%20dragon%20boat%20festival,%20
Sunday, June 5, 2011
AML Being surprised by the lunar calendar, dragon boat festival, and the sudden maturity of our children | AnnArbor.com
The tricky thing about using a lunar calendar is that if you are not paying attention, or if you have not properly aligned your lunar calendar with your regular planner, holidays and festivals can sneak up on you unawares.
The big holidays are easy. Lunar New Year’s is usually in January or February. The Mid-Autumn Moon festival is in, well, autumn.
However, the secondary holidays, like duanwujie (dragon boat festival) which is sometime in June or July, I sometimes (ok, often) forget until suddenly I turn the corner and am unexpectedly awash in zongzi, those delicious pyramids of sticky rice bundled into ti leaves and tied with string), an unexpected seasonal delight. For a few miraculous days, zongzi appear on our doorstep, arrive as gifts, show up scrawled onto the Chinese menu, are sold as fundraisers.
click on link for more Being surprised by the lunar calendar, dragon boat festival, and the sudden maturity of our children
The big holidays are easy. Lunar New Year’s is usually in January or February. The Mid-Autumn Moon festival is in, well, autumn.
However, the secondary holidays, like duanwujie (dragon boat festival) which is sometime in June or July, I sometimes (ok, often) forget until suddenly I turn the corner and am unexpectedly awash in zongzi, those delicious pyramids of sticky rice bundled into ti leaves and tied with string), an unexpected seasonal delight. For a few miraculous days, zongzi appear on our doorstep, arrive as gifts, show up scrawled onto the Chinese menu, are sold as fundraisers.
click on link for more Being surprised by the lunar calendar, dragon boat festival, and the sudden maturity of our children
Friday, June 3, 2011
The Mini-Maker Faire - arborweb.com
The first time my children and I attended the Mini-Maker Faire, we were greeted at the entrance by two young men in silk vests and top hats. They doffed their hats and bowed with a flourish I have not seen since my last Renaissance fair a very long time ago.
As we walked further, we were greeted again by several robots--some that looked humanoid, others that did not, all blinking and beeping and talking and rolling around a large circle. One two-foot-high red robot was a real smart aleck, rolling right up to people, bumping into their shoes, and making wisecracks. The audience gathered close; the robot handlers stayed hidden in the crowd.
click on link for more The Mini-Maker Faire - arborweb.com
As we walked further, we were greeted again by several robots--some that looked humanoid, others that did not, all blinking and beeping and talking and rolling around a large circle. One two-foot-high red robot was a real smart aleck, rolling right up to people, bumping into their shoes, and making wisecracks. The audience gathered close; the robot handlers stayed hidden in the crowd.
click on link for more The Mini-Maker Faire - arborweb.com
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Chicago is the World » “Why I write for ethnic media,” Frances Kai-Hwa Wang
My column just got picked up by a Chicago new ethnic media blog thanks to Stephen Franklin who promises a box and a regular spot. Cool! I've sent him a better, less pixelated picture. Neat website. Check it out!
click on link to see: Chicago is the World » “Why I write for ethnic media,” Frances Kai-Hwa Wang
click on link to see: Chicago is the World » “Why I write for ethnic media,” Frances Kai-Hwa Wang
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