Books, Movies, and Chinese Food

As May is coming to a close, we're beginning to wrap things up on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. I hope you've enjoyed the posts throughout the month. If you haven't already, be sure to click on the picture above to enter the contest for one of the 5 sets of 5 books by Asian American authors. Today we have a guest blog from Jean from Disciplines of Culture sharing what it's like being part of two different worlds. I love my upbringing and the access to a wide variety of cultures being Taiwanese but born in the United States has afforded me. But I will suffer an identity crisis for the rest of my life. I was born and raised in the Midwest. But the year before high school, I moved to Taiwan with my family. My parents still live there so when people hear my parents live there they think I moved here recently. I spent 3 years in Taiwan over a decade ago. I remember this particular incident vividly and it summarizes how I felt in Taiwan. I was out shopping with so...

Our local PBS station has been airing several shows this month about Asian American Pacific month. I'm sad that I somehow mi ssed two very interesting sounding programs: American Masters: Hollywood Chinese From the first Chinese-American film produced in 191 6 to Ang Lee’s triumphant Brokeback Mountain nine decades later, “Hollywood Chinese” brings together a fascinating group of actors, writers, directors — and iconic film images — to examine how Chinese people have contributed to and been portrayed in an industry that was often ignorant about and dismissive of race. The Slanted Screen From silent film star Sessue Hayakawa to Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, this program explores the portrayals of Asian men in American cinema, chronicling the experiences of actors who have had to struggle against ethnic stereotyping and limiting roles. Through a parade of 50 film clips spanning a century, the film presents a critical examination of Hollywood's image-making machine. I...

Another thing that's great about Asian American Month, is learning from people who are Americans who have been able to experience true Asian culture first hand. Today we have a guest blog from Amy from My Friend Amy who talks about her trip to Japan (I've been in the Tokyo airport on a layover to Malaysia) Moving to Japan wasn't my first choice, but at the time, it was my best choice. I had really wanted to move to France, something that was and has remained impossible for me. So when I arrived in Tokyo in the heat of summer, the humidity thick and my apartment without air conditioning, I did wish it was a different place. And that's how I started my brief stay in Asia. Add to that, I was suddenly rendered illiterate. Since reading has always come easy to me, I usually get my information through reading. That was no longer an option. I couldn't speak, I couldn't read. Did I mention it was hot? I was teaching English, adjusting to life with two Australian...

(this is more of bunch of random thoughts today) (me and my books at young age, even back then I had TBR piles! btw i swear every Asian kid has that same exact bowl haircut style with the bangs from the age of 1-3) Growing up Asian American has been difficult at times. I was one of the very few AA kids in my grade, and throughout my entire 13 years in public school, I can remember probably less than 75 kids all together who were Asian. Therefore if you were Asian, you stood out. I would get teased constantly about my eyes, all the way up to middle school. People would come up to me and pull their eyes and go "Chinese, Japanese, Siamese" at me. I seriously do NOT get the point at that. So my eyes are a little bit more squintier than Caucasian eyes. It does not mean I see less than they do. I also was the barometer for being tan in high school. People would hold their arm up to me and compare th eir skin with mine. There would always be exclamations of "I'm almost...

Throughout the month, I've been discussing about the importance, significance and other items that relate to Asian American Heritage Month. For the next few days, I'm going to talk about my own personal experiences about being Asian American. I get this question all the time "So where are you from?" I reply "Well I live in No. Va now, I grew up in Hampton Roads, but I was born in Roanoke, VA". Their re sponse is "No, I mean where are you REALLY from?" I reply again "um...the US?" The response to that is "No, wha t is your background, your ancestors?" It's like they're not satisfied until I admit that my family is not from the US. I also have been told I speak really good English. Um...why wouldn't I ? So to satisfy anyone out there who has been asking, my mother is from Malaysia but her family is Chinese. My father is from Burma (Myanmar) and is part of the Chin ethnic group. We call ourselves Burmese-Chinese but ...

Another thing that's great about Asian American Month, is learning from people who are Americans who have been able to experience true Asian culture first hand. Today we have a guest blog from Shannan from Shannan Loves Books who talks about her trip to South Korea (I've never been before, so jealous!) My trip to Korea started with a 16 hr trip form Atlanta to Incheon. After arriving at the airport my husband met me and we took a bus back to Tonducheon, where he was staying. Tonducheon was quite different from what I was accustomed too in the states. As we pulled up to the gate at Camp Casey I got my first experience of being in a foreign country as the security guards came to the car and started checking ID cards all the while speaking Hongul (Korean). After getting on post my husband took me to his quarters and there I saw how he had been living for the previous six months. I expected worse but it wasn't that bad being that he had TV, Fridge, stove and bathroom. T...

Today I'm just focusing on some of my favorite Asian food. No commentary needed. Just enjoy.

Today I'm focusing on Asian Americans Artists, Musicians and Media. Info taken from Wikipedia Connie Chung is an American journalist who has been an anchor and reporter for several U.S. television news networks. In 1993 when she became the co-anchor of the " CBS Evening News ," she was the first Asian American and the second woman ever to be named to the coveted post of nightly news anchor at a major network. Ann Curry is an American television news journalist and news anchor on NBC's morning television program Today since May 1997 and host of Dateline NBC since May 2005. Along with Lester Holt , she is the primary substitute for Brian Williams on NBC Nightly News . Yo-Yo Ma is a French -born Chinese-American virtuoso cellist and composer and winner of multiple Grammy Awards . He is one of the most revered cello players of the 20th and 21st centuries. He is also a highly accomplished musician on the piano , viola , and violin . Don Ho was a Hawaiian ...

Today I'm focusing on Asian Americans politics. There have been quite a number of Asian Americans in politics over the last half century. The numbers are growing which is great. Note: I'm not endorsing anyone on this list. I'm just showcasing Asian Americans in politics. Info taken from Wikipedia Dalip Saund was a member of the United States House of Representatives . He served the 29th district of the state of California from January 3, 1957–January 3, 1963. He was the first Asian American , Indian American and Sikh member of the United States Congress . He is to date the only Sikh to have served in Congress. Hiram Leong Fong was an American businessman and politician from Hawaii . He is most notable for his service as Republican United States Senator from 1959 to 1977, and for being the first Asian American and Chinese American to be elected as such. In 1964, Fong became the first Asian American to run for his party's nomination for President of the Unit...

Today we're lightening things up a bit and throwing in some humor. A few years ago, my sister sent me this forward which we all found insanely funny. Why? Because it pretty much described our family. We didn't find it offensive because it's sadly mostly true. I've chosen the ones that perfectly describe my family to a tee. I'm not sure how sad this that we fit this many. And lol please don't think we are weird when you read some of these!!! If you're Chinese (or any other Asian) how many of these are true for you? You Know You're Chinese (or Burmese too) When.... You unwrap Christmas gifts very carefully, so you can save and reuse the wrapping and especially those bows) next year. You only buy Christmas cards after Christmas, when they are 50% off. When there is a sale on toilet paper, you buy 100 rolls and store them in your closet or in the bedroom of an adult child who has moved out. You have a vinyl table cloth on your kitchen table. You...