Asian Avenue magazine - December 2016

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asian avenue Connecting Cultures Linking Lives

Architect Edward Suzuki visits denver students

December 2016 Volume 11 Issue 12

TOP Asian movies of 2016

How Christmas is celebrated around the world Restaurant peekS Sunflower Asian Cafe Blue Ocean

Dear Asian Avenue readers,

asian avenue magazine

Christmas is around the corner and we want to send our best wishes to everyone. In this issue, our staff writer Mary Jeneverre Schultz shares how Christmas is celebrated all around the world, interviewing individuals about their family traditions. We provide two 20-minute recipes that will be delicious to prepare during the holidays.

You will also find our recommendations for the top Asian movies of 2016, as well as stories on Southeastern traditional costumes and civil rights activist Minoru Yasui. On Oct. 23, the community celebrated what would have been “Min” Yasui’s 100th birthday with a Colorado Centennial Celebration on the Auraria Campus. Learn more about the Minoru Yasui Legacy Project at www.minoruyasuilegacyproject.com.

As we say goodbye to 2016, let’s welcome 2017 with open arms and open minds. We had an exciting year, celebrating our 10th anniversary by receiving the Mayor’s Diversity Award this year. We are looking forward to 2017 with new goals for Asian Avenue and continuing to serve and advance the Asian American Pacific Islander community in Colorado. Thank you to all of our readers for supporting the magazine.

staff & support Publisher & Founder: Christina Yutai Guo President: Annie Guo Senior Designer: C.G. Yao Copy Editor: Jaime Marston Cook Marketing Manager: Samantha Quee Marketing Coordinator: Chun Guo Staff Writer: Joie Ha Staff Writer: Patricia Kaowthumrong Staff Writer: Mary Jeneverre Schultz Photographer: Trang Luong

contributing writers Wayne Chan, Ruth Folkerts, Rodger Hara, Erha “Agi” Oseth, Tom Shieh, Sarah Shirazi, Dr. Robin Yasui

contributing photographers Sarah Shirazi

on the cover

Regardless of your successes or challenges in 2016, we wish you good health and happiness in 2017 as we start anew.

The Christmas holiday is celebrated all over the world with stories of Old Saint Nick or Santa Claus and eating holiday feasts with family and friends.

Happy holidays to you and your family! We will see you next year!

Photo of Hakata Station during Christmas time in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Japan.

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December 2016 | Publisher’s Note

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Published by Asian Avenue Magazine, Inc. P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 Tel: 303.937.6888 | info@asianavemag.com

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CONTENTS

december2016

EVENTS

8

Event calendar

9

Event Recap: Aki No Neiro: Tone Colors of Autumn

CULTURAL TIDBITS

10

15

Southeast Asian traditional costumes

SPOTLIGHT

11

12

Renowned Japanese architect Edward Suzuki influences architect students of Denver Denver’s A Taste of the Philippines chef Kathy Poland appears on Chopped reality tv show

Inside Story

14

Minoru Yasui Legacy Project celebrates civil rights activist’s 100th birthday with Colorado Centennial celebration

Christmas and religious traditions are celebrated around the world in various ways during the month of December.

COVER STORY

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How christmas is

celebrated all over the world

CHEF’S MENU

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20-Minute Recipes for Christmas: Chinese Spiced Duck Salad Pear Soup

RESTAURANT PEEKS

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Sunflower Asian Cafe presents unique Chinese tastes and flavors Blue Ocean is the first and only restaurant in Colorado with real-time hand-pulled noodles

BETTER LIVING

27

Who are we comparing with?

FEATURE

28

Top 5 Asian movies of 2016

TAIWAN UPDATE

30

Interpol is not complete without Taiwan’s participation

22

HUMOR COLUMN

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25

A Pillow Rebellion

BOOK REVIEW

26

The Wangs vs. The World

Asian Avenue Magazine, Inc. P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 | Tel: 303.937.6888 E-mail: info@asianavemag.com | www.asianavemag.com 6

December 2016 | Table of Contents

Find us @AsianAveMag

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CONNECTING PEOPLE AND CULTURES THROUGH LANGUAGE

Interpretation | Translation | Transcription Medical Interpreter Training | Over 80 Languages Available

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE QUOTE! 303.923.2945 1537 Alton Street Aurora, CO 80010 Tel: 303.923.2945 Fax: 303.923.2951 www.coloradolanguageconnection.org

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events upcoming Ukulele Sing & Strum-a-Longs

some silent auction items on display and can’t wait to share with you our upcoming season, donor opportunities, and exciting new initiatives.

Wednesday evenings in December 5:30pm to 6pm

Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, 2121 Children’s Museum Drive, Denver, CO 80211 For more info, visit www.swallowhillmusic.org.

Filipino-American Community of Colorado Christmas Party Saturday, Dec. 17, 6pm to 9pm

Strum, tap, sing and dance along with Swallow Hill Music as they teach families to play the ukulele. They

1900 Harlan Street, Edgewater, CO 80214 For more info, visit www.coloradofilipinos.org.

Come and join FACC as they celebrate Christmas!

Santa Claus will be in the building to say hello and take pictures! FACC is also currently taking monetary donations or any unopened and/ or new toys. Please drop off at the FACC by December 11.

will have the whole family playing a song in just 30 minutes! Activities included with general Museum admission and instruments are provided.

Denver Zoolights

Friday, Dec. 2 - Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017

Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St. Denver, CO 80205 For more info, visit www.denverzoo.org.

Zoo Lights will span through 70 acres of Denver Zoo’s campus, with nightly entertainment, animal encounters, Santa meet-and-greets and, of course, illuminated animal sculptures that swing through trees, jump across lawns hide in bushes and appear in places where they are least expected.

2016 Jingle Bell Run Denver Sunday, Dec. 11

Washington Park & South High School Cost: $25-$40 For more info, visit www.jbr.org.

Two Great Traditions: Japanese Ceramics and the Art of Tea Wednesday, Dec. 14, 12pm to 1pm

Denver Art Museum 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204 Cost: Asian Art Association members Free; Students/ Teachers $5; DAM members $7; General Public $10 For more info, call 720-913-0040 or e-mail blittle@denverartmuseum.org.

Since at least the 1500s Japanese ceramics have been heavily influenced by the custom of formalized tea drinking often referred to as “the tea ceremony.”

While not in a fact a ceremony, the discipline of chanoyu does use choreographed movement and planning, enabling participants to focus on the aesthetics and feelings particular to an event. As utensils for the making and drinking of tea, ceramics play an important role in chanoyu, reflecting the focus on providing a unique experience at each gathering. This lecture will explore the influence of tea on Japanese ceramics over the past 400 years.

Nan Desu Kan New Years Eve Saturday, Dec. 31, 7pm to 2am

Renaissance Denver Hotel 3801 Quebec St, Denver, CO 80207 For more info, visit ndkdenver.org/nye.

Ready to say good-bye to 2016 and welcome 2017 in style? Join NDK as they count down to the Year of the Monkey with costumes, photos by CG Photography, dancing, music by DJ Bullock, food, cash bar, games, Royalty, and friends!

Theatre Esprit Asia Annual Celebration Saturday, Dec. 17, 5pm to 7pm

The Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run is a fun way to get out, get moving and raise funds and awareness to cure America’s #1 cause of disability. In communities nationwide, this annual event brings together people from all walks of life to shout “Yes, we will live life to its fullest while searching for a cure!” As a Champion of Yes, kick off your holidays by helping conquer arthritis once and for all!

SAVE THE DATES

Lunar New Year is around the corner!

Contact Peter Trinh at petertrinhtea@gmail.com or TEA Board of Directors if interested in attending.

For more info, visit www.teatheatre.org.

Join us for an evening of food, drink, friendship, and thanks, as we celebrate of TEA’s accomplishments. In lieu of our annual fundraising event, we’re inviting you to enjoy a bite and a drink, on us. We’ll have

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December 2016 | Upcoming Events

Nathan Yip Foundation’s Chinese New Year Celebration on Sat. January 21 Asian Avenue magazine’s Lunar New Year Dinner on Sat. January 28 Asian Pacific Development Center’s Asian New Year Celebration on Sat. February 11

g

Aki No Neiro:

Tone Colors of Autumn Japanese music fills the air at Swallow Hill Music Center

By Rodger Hara

The shakuhachi is a flute that was originally introduced from China into Japan in the 7th century and like many things was adapted and refined by the Japanese. Traditionally made of the root end of a bamboo culm (the hollow stem of a grass or cereal plant), it was first used by the monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism in the practice of suizen or blowing meditation.

Shakuhachi are one of the world’s most versatile instruments.

Skilled artists are able to produce an incredible range of pitches for a vast array of styles from the traditional Zen forms up to and including jazz, folk and symphonic music.

The subtle variations in the shape and colors of the tones that can be produced by a shakuhachi come from the skill of the player and the design of the instrument. The sound is produced by blowing air across the opening at the top called utaguchi (lit.: song mouth), a sharp edge installed in the top of the shakuhachi against which the player blows. This allows the player to change the blowing angle and through breath control and shape of his lips, affect the timbre of the sound.

There are four holes in the front and one on the back and the degree to which the holes are covered combined with the blowing angle permit a nearly infinite range of combinations of pitch, tone and color across the instrument’s almost three octaves range. As with the recorder and Irish tin whistle, the length of the instrument determines the key in which the sound is produced; the longer the lower and vice versa.

On Nov. 4, a small audience in Denver was able to appreciate that subtlety firsthand and were held in rapt silence by masters of the art at a concert in Daniels Hall at the Swallow Hill Music Center.

Titled “Aki No Neiro: Tone Colors of Autumn,” Furuya Teruo, Matama Kazushi and Kakizakai Kaoru presented an evening of music that ranged from traditional Zen meditation pieces to modern arrangements with jazzy overtones.

Produced by KSK-NA, the North American branch of the Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshukan based in Japan and founded by shakuhachi Grand Master Yokoyama Katsuya, the Denver show was the third stop on the US tour following concerts in Seattle and Portland before moving on to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The three artists are the closest disciples of Yokoyama and masters in their own rights, teaching and performing around the

world together in traditional and non-traditional settings like Salzburg Music Festival and with the NHK Symphony Orchestra.

One of the founders of KSK-NA, Brazilian-born Matheus Ferreira, began taking shakuhachi lessons in 2003, lived, and studied in Japan for many years and in 2010 founded the Suizen Shakuhachi Dojo in São Paulo, Brazil, an organization dedicated to the promotion of the shakuhachi culture. Trained in the Yokoyama style, Ferreira played emcee and stage hand for the show and ably introduced each piece played.

The audience was warmly welcomed by Consul General Makoto Ito who thanked Matheus for his work in bringing the show to Denver and the Japan Foundation for their sponsorship.

Joined on stage by Denver resident Miwa Sasaki Steuben on the koto, the trio played together, in duet, solo and solo with the koto.

One piece, Shika no Tone, a descriptive scene duet, featured Furuya Teruo on stage and Kakizakai Kaoru coming from the rear of the hall in a call and response arrangement. Another piece written in 2012 was inspired by the works of a painter and had a jazz beat and feel in a duet with koto and shakuhachi.

The next day, the visiting masters conducted workshops for shakuhachi students at Swallow Hill.

The concert was a rare treat for Denver. For more information about future concerts and to buy music, go to www.kskna.com or contact Matheus Ferreira in Denver through matheus@kskna.com.

Event Recap | asian avenue magazine

9

Southeast Asian

Traditional Costumes

By Samantha Quee

As the world becomes more and more westernized and modernized, traditional costumes of various communities in Southeast Asia are not as commonly seen today as they were in the past. Though mostly worn during ceremonial events, such as weddings and new year celebrations, some locals still wear their traditional dress in daily life. Try spotting these costumes if you get a chance to visit the following countries!

Indonesia: The Batik and the Kebaya

The most widely recognized Indonesian national costumes are the Batik and the Kebaya. Batik is both an art and a craft, which is becoming more popular in the West as a creative medium. The art of decorating cloth using wax and dye has been practiced for centuries. In Java, Indonesia, Batik is part of an ancient tradition, and some of the finest Batik cloth in the world is still made there.

Kebaya is more accurately described as the traditional dress of the Javanese, Sundanese and Balinese people. The Kebaya is a delicately woven blouse worn over various different items of clothing.

Cambodia: The Sampot

The traditional Cambodian dress is called the Sampot. For women, it consists of a long skirt with a fold or pleat in the front and worn with a modest shirt or blouse. On special occasions, Cambodian women will wear a Sampot that matches the traditional color for that day.

The style for Cambodian men is very similar. They typically wear cotton or silk shirts with short or long sleeves.

The shirt sits over the Sampot, under which they wear cotton trousers.

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December 2016 | Cultural Tidbits

Vietnam: The Ao Dai

Thailand: The Chut Thai

Pronounced “Ow Yai,” this is arguably the most elegant of all Southeast Asian tradition dress. The Ao Dai is a Vietnamese national costume, now most commonly worn by women. In its current form, it is a tight-fitting silk tunic worn over pants.

Traditional Thai clothing is called Chut Thai, which literally means “Thai outfit.” Chut Thai for women usually consists of a pha nung or a chong kraben, a blouse, and a sabai. Chut Thai for men includes a chong kraben or pants, a Raj pattern shirt, with optional knee-length white socks and a sabai.

The most popular style of Ao Dai fits tightly around the wearer’s upper torso, emphasizing her bust and curves. Although the dress covers the entire body, it is thought to be provocative, especially when it is made of thin fabric. An old Vietnamese saying sums it up perfectly, “The Ao Dai covers everything, but hides nothing.”

A Pha nung is is a long, rectangular cloth worn around the lower body. It can be draped and folded in several different ways.

Chong kraken is also a lower-body, wrap-around cloth that resembles pants more than a skirt. It is worn by wrapping the fabric around the waist, stretching it away from the body, twisting the ends together then pulling the twisted fabric between the legs and tucking it in the back of the waist. The Sabai is a long piece of silk, draped diagonally around the chest by covering one shoulder with its end dropping behind the back.

Malaysia: the baju Melayu and Baju Kurung

Baju Melayu, worn by Malaysian men, is a simple long sleeved shirt which has a raised collar known as the “Cekak Musang” collar. This translates literally as fox’s leash. Long trousers made from the same material complete the ensemble.

Malaysian women wear a more demure costume known as Baju Kurung, which translates to “enclosed dress.” There are two popular versions of the costume: the Baju Kurung Teluk Belanga style has no collar and the neckline is stitched in a style known as Tulang Belut, meaning eel bones, and the Baju Kurung Cekak Musang has a collar.

So wherever life takes you on your adventures, keep your eyes peeled for local people wearing traditional clothing. When you come across someone in traditional dress anywhere in the world, remember to be respectful and smile. This is potentially an opportunity to start a conversation, meet someone new, and learn something different and personal about the country and the culture.

Traditional Costumes | asian avenue magazine

11

Renowned Japanese architect influences architect students of Denver

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz Architect Edward Suzuki visited CU Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning to share his experience and insights about the architectural world.

About 80 students, faculty affiliates and architects attended Suzuki’s lecture about his works and discussed good design on Nov. 2.

During the presentation, Suzuki highlighted good design through his past and current collaborations with global companies in both Japan and the United States.

In a packed room of architect students, Suzuki impressed his ideas about good design through architecture, engineering, science and philosophy. He indicated his initial designs from his early days as a starting architect and how it evolved to his current thinking of the field.

Highlights of his presentation include before and after photos of some of Suzuki’s past and current works. He designed the Eddi House and Daiwa Houses. Contemporary, sleek and modern describes his work as he shares how his style of design incorporates the environment from outside, including materials from local areas.

His career included attending Harvard University on a Fulbright scholarship, making him a self-proclaimed student of life, regularly contemplating the structure of the atom, the environment, philosophy and the metaphysical. His work has taken him to as far away as Kenya and China. His recent award is the prestigious “Green Good Design Award 2011” from Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design for a house he designed in Shimogamo, Kyoto.

Corporations aren’t his only designs. He has designed residences, condominiums, villas, rail & highway stations, schools, religious and carehouses, factories, studios, hotels, and restaurants.

He enjoyed his visit to Colorado and plans to return soon. Don’t miss a chance to meet greatness!

Follow Mary Jeneverre Schultz on Instagram and Twitter @Jeneverre.

Here are some links to his presentations: youtu.be/AWliwQvK75g youtu.be/TSc7lE4pwJY youtu.be/z0DmibNLBO0 youtu.be/BNt5SZg86DY

Prefabricated House: EDDI’s Prefab House by Edward Suzuki Associates in Japan

The design concept is “go in to go out,” meaning that the house has an outside patio at the center of the house onto which each and every room looks out.

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December 2016 | Spotlight

Denver resident appears on reality food show

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz Filipino chef Kathy Poland appeared on the Food Network’s reality television show, “Chopped” on Nov. 8.

Producers of Chopped invited Poland, owner of A Taste of the Philippines food cart in Denver, to participate as one of the four chefs to turn a selection of unusual ingredients into an extraordinary three-course meal. Divided into three rounds, the chefs are given a basket of four unrelated ingredients, and the dish each competitor prepares must contain all of them.

In exchange for appearing on Chopped, Poland received a free, round-trip to New York for the taping of the segment. She shared how the experience has expanded her popularity in Colorado.

“Being on Chopped (and Cutthroat Kitchen) has opened up so many doors for me,” Poland said. “I’ve gotten a lot of exposure and being on the show just makes it more fun and interesting for my clients.”

The first round was the appetizer, followed by the entrée in the second round. The competition ends with the third round of desserts. In an hour-long segment, the show highlights the chefs, judges and host Ted Allen. Each round includes the three-judge team’s criti-

cisms and even compliments to what each of the four chefs prepare in each round. After each round, a chef is eliminated down to two chefs for the dessert round.

Her favorite part of taping was the crew. “They were so funny and made me feel so comfortable,” said Poland, who opened her cart in downtown Denver back in 2012.

An episode of Chopped takes about 12 hours to tape, with deliberations after each round, taking 90 minutes.

Poland admits taping of the television show is accurate.

“There are a lot of things going on and a lot of talking in between filming,” she said.

This is the third time for Poland to appear on national television. She appeared on the Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, in seasons 8 and 11. Even with the national exposure, Poland exhibits her humble demeanor by sharing she doesn’t think herself as a “celebrity chef.”

Although she admits recognition has occurred in odd places. Just recently, a fan of Chopped recognized Poland walking through Costco in Denver. Then, another spotting happened during one of her weekend catering jobs. “It’s a little awkward, but it’s kind of nice, too,” said Poland.

Connect with Poland via her social media at: • Instagram - @atasteofthephilippinesneverstops • Facebook - @tasteofthephilippines • Twitter - @FilipinoCart Find her cart at Finn’s Manor (2927 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80205) or secure a catering event with her.

Visit her website at www.atasteofthephilippines.com.

Mary Jeneverre Schultz hunts down Filipino cuisine in Colorado. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @Jeneverre.

Spotlight | asian avenue magazine

13

Minoru Yasui Legacy Project celebrates civil rights activist’s 100th birthday with Colorado Centennial celebration

By Dr. Robin Yasui Nine months in solitary confinement, two years in Minidoka internment camp, and a lifetime of fighting for social justice for all; that is the short version of Minoru Yasui’s legacy.

On Oct. 23, the community celebrated what would have been “Min” Yasui’s 100th birthday with a Colorado Centennial Celebration on the Auraria Campus.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, war hysteria and fear led to the racial profiling of Japanese Americans and their immigrant families, branding them as “potential enemy aliens.”

By the spring of 1942, over 120,000 Japanese immigrants and Japanese American U.S. citizens were removed from their homes, loaded onto trains, and herded into bleak, dust choked internment camps scattered across the American West.

Min Yasui, a 26-year-old lawyer, decried this act as blatantly racist and unconstitutional, challenging the U.S. government in a legal battle that made it all the way to the Supreme Court.

While he initially lost this battle, it was appealed and re-examined for 40 years, helping to pave the way for the signing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.

But Min is known in Denver not just for his work for Japanese American rights, but for his dedication to fighting for the civil rights, social equality and human rights for all. After the war, he spent the next 40 years of his life in Denver as part of the Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships, working for local, state and national concerns.

In November 2015, Min’s was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his lifelong work. The Oct. 23 Centennial Celebration was Denver’s opportunity to honor him as well.

The Minoru Yasui Tribute Project was established to honor and reflect upon the contributions of Minoru Yasui in “making the world a better place,” culminating in the 100th anniversary of his birth. The celebration featured a symposium titled Colorado’s Struggle for Social Justice and an evening gala.

Other projects include a documentary film, Never Give Up! Minoru Yasui and the Fight for Justice, readings of theatrical pieces including Citizen Min; developing Minoru Yasui school curricula; and the creation of a Minoru Yasui exhibit from materials gathered for the film.

Visit www.minoruyasuilegacyproject.com for more information and photos of the event and news about upcoming projects.

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Mummies: New Secrets from the Tombs was developed by The Field Museum, Chicago. Photos: © 2015 The Field Museum, A115214d_035B, photographer John Weinstein; CT scan composite, © 2015 Field Museum, Katarina Kaspari

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December 2016 |Inside Story

How Christmas is celebrated around the world

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz Merry Christmas and happy holidays are familiar greetings in December. While religious and Christian followers might attend midnight mass or holiday service, others practice their favorite annual traditions.

Let’s take a look around the world at how most people practice their holiday traditions. In Asia, countries that were evangelized as Christian or Catholicism, celebrate religious traditions.

Asia Philippines The Philippines is renowned for celebrating Christmas the longest, from 12 days before Christmas into the first week of January, the tradition of Three Kings.

“Among Catholics, the religious celebration begins a dozen days before the 25th of December when at pre-dawn, congregants attend mass, known as Misa de Gallo,’ translated as mass when the cock crows,” said Jaime A. Yrastorza, author and community activist for Filipino Americans in Colorado.

Formal Christmas celebrations begin December 16, when many Catholics attend the first of nine, pre-dawn or early morning mass, ending on Christmas Day. Before Filipinos ad-

opted the American tradition of opening gifts on Christmas Day, presents were handed out on Three Kings, the first Sunday of January.

“The tradition it substituted was a custom in the spirit of the Three Kings, who traveled in search of and finding the newborn Jesus, which is celebrated as the Epiphany,” Yrastorza said.

“The gifts they gave the baby born Jesus set the Filipino gift-giving tradition. Just as a solitary star had guided the Three Kings, homes throughout the cities and rural communities, even today, are decorated with colorful paper stars, framed by bamboo sticks, lighted by candles and hung prominently outside open windows.

On Christmas Eve, Filipinos parade through the streets, both urban and countryside, carrying colorful star-shaped lanterns called parols.

Holiday dishes, traditionally eaten during “noche buena” or “midnight feast” include: lechon or roasted pig, ham, fruit salad, bibingka or coconut cake, and puto bumbong or rice cakes.

Hong Kong In Cantonese, Father Christmas is known as “Sing Daan Lou

Christmas in the Philippines Christmas Around the World | asian avenue magazine

15

Christmas in Hong Kong Yan (translated as Christmas Old Man). In Mandarin, “Sheng Dan Lo Ren” is another way to say Father Christmas. Hong Kong prepares for the annual Winterfest and is famous for its New Year’s Countdown display of lights and fireworks.

However, Eugene Hung of Feminist Asian Dad, shares his favorite and revered family traditions are the ones that build up to Christmas, such as a weekly Advent wreath reading, family gatherings, visiting Christmas lights, enjoying Christmas tea, exchanging white elephant gifts, attending church on Christmas Day, and watching A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Japan The Japanese has adopted Western tradition of sending holiday cards while couples view Christmas Day as a romantic tradition, exchanging presents with each other.

In the food category, Christmas cakes and fried chicken are popular culinary delights. Denver resident Junko Shigeta confirms making both holiday cakes and chickens as part of the holidays.

“On the eve, mother and I made a big Christmas cake and roasted chicken for dinner, “ Shigeta said.

Worldwide fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) hustles with business on Christmas Day. “One very unique aspect of Christmas in Japan is that KFC chicken dinners are now a very popular “traditional” Christmas meal, with order starting to come in starting in fall,” said Gil Asakawa, author and manager of student media at University of Colorado. “Woe is the salaryman (or housewife) who forgets to place an order and has to run around on Christmas day trying to find a KFC that still has chicken available.”

Laos As most of the population from Laos settled into the United States, the families adopt Western tradition of exchanging gifts as a token of appreciation and spending quality time with families.

“The traditions that stand out from the rest that we’ve created over the years are opening presents in the morning with the family, and taking a ton of pictures,” said Denver resident Dollar Lee. Within the Hmong community, a population without a country, Christmas is not the traditional holiday. But the community does celebrate a festive New Year’s.

“This is a time for which to rest from the long year of work and to celebrate the passing of the old and the welcoming of

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December 2016 | Cover Story

Nativity scene on Camiguin Island (Philippines) the New Year,” said former Denver resident Pakou Xiong. “Traditionally we celebrate through wearing our best traditional Hmong outfits and gathering with the community to catch up.

For young men and women of marriage appropriate age, this is a time for courtship and eventually ending in marriage at the beginning of the New Year.”

South Korea Big-box retailers and department stores drum up consumer business by big displays of decorations. The city is lit with lights, especially the bridges. Koreans add a little mix into holiday gifts by giving money, a popular present for children. Rather than using the traditional name of Santa Claus, Korean children refer to him as Santa Grandfather.

Vietnam This southeast country is not a Christian one. However, the Vietnamese celebrate midnight mass and confetti is a big deal during the celebration.

The Christmas Eve meal is referred to as “reveillon,” a tradition originating from the French when they colonized this country.

Chicken soup is common among the poor and middle class.

Turkey and Christmas pudding is popular among the elite.

Buche de Noel, a popular dessert, is a chocolate cake in the shape of a log.

India/Sri Lanka Celebrating in the tropical weather does not allow for pine trees. So, these populations decorate their mango and banana trees in festive, holiday colors.

Midnight mass in both countries remain an important cultural religious event within the Christian communities, according to Father Walter Fernando of Sri Lanka. In southern India, Christians place small oil burning clay Lampson the flat roofs of their homes to show neighbors that Jesus is the light of the world.

Father Christmas or Santa Claus is seen in displays as delivering presents from a horse and car. Both countries feature massive feast of different curries.

Europe Italy The feast of Three Kings is celebrated more than Christmas Day. Instead of a Santa Claus, it is a good witch, known as La Befana, who is a childless women. Legends say the Three Kings asked her for directions but she was too busy cleaning so she

Christmas in Germany

sent them away. After she realized her mistake, La Befana searches for the Baby Jesus. To this day, she is still searching by visiting house to house on Epiphany (first Sunday of January), leaving a gift for good children.

Pelzebock. This helper is equipped with a sack on his back and a rod of swetches in his hand. Saint Nicholas hands out gifts to good children while the bad children are punished with a few hits of the switch.

Russia Babouska shares a similar fate to the Italian La Befana. However, in this legend, Babouska declines the offer of traveling with the Three Wise Men on their journey to Bethlehem. Realizing her mistake on the eve of Epiphany, Babouska attempt unsuccessfully to find them, while handing out presents to children on her journey to the infant Jesus.

Sweden Santa Claus is known by these names: Jultometen, Julemanden or Julenisse. Dressed in red attire, this German Santa Claus carries a sack as depicted in most Norman Rockwell holiday art work. Close to the American version, Santa Claus flies in his sleigh by the Julbocker, the goats of Thor. The elves, also known as Juul Nisse, hide in the attics of families throughout the year, waiting to help him on Christmas Eve. In exchange for the gifts, children leave bowls of milk or rice pudding in the attic for the elves, hoping they will be empty in the morning.

France Children await for the coming of Father Christmas or in French, Pere Noel, who brings them gifts.

Holland As said earlier in Indonesia, the children refer to Santa Claus as “Old Bishop Sinterklass.” Christmas comes a little earlier for the Dutch children as Sinterklass arrives on December 6 in his red bishop’s attire on top of a white horse. Sinterklass depends on “Black Peter” to tell him which child has been good or bad.

Good children receive a gift from the Bishop while the bad children may be carried away in Black Peter’s sack. An old wives’ tale use to make the children behave during the rest of the year.

Germany Saint Nicholas follows the same traditions as in Holland. He also relies on a helper, known as Kneccht Ruprect, Krampus or

Austria/Switzerland Instead of Santa Claus, the holiday persona is known as Christkindl or the Christ Child, who bear gifts to the children.

Some country towns showcase a beautiful female angel, who descends to earth from heaven bearing gifts.

England Rather than a jolly Saint Nick, the English version of Santa Claus is thinner and leaner. Children call him Father Christmas and he is seen wearing long, red robs with sprigs of holly in his hair.

South America Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico Christmas Around the World | asian avenue magazine

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Christmas Traditions in Indonesia Contributed by: Ruth Folkerts & Erha “Agi” Oseth

celebrate with our Christian brothers and sisters.

Over the next several days, we would visit other friends who were also celebrating Christmas. It was the time of laughter -- and eating lots cookies. In the city where I live, it is very common for non-Christians to visit those who are celebrating Christmas and join in the festivities.

How the Javanese family celebrates Christmas Christmas is all about family. We celebrate the holiday with the entire family, from grandparents and aunts and uncles to second and third cousins.

Typically, family members gather and stay for a few nights at the grandparents’ house.

Family members prepare and help each other make Christmas dishes. Cooking together allows everyone to chat with relatives that they have not seen for a long time. While cooking, they share old stories and tell jokes, and even poke fun at each other.

Because my grandmother has Dutch heritage, our Christmas cuisine is often a combination of Indonesian traditional dishes and western fare. Brenenbon soup, which consists of red beans, pork meat, carrots, potatoes, and cloves, is our staple Christmas meal. Macaroni schotel, which is a type of macaroni casserole dish influenced by Dutch cuisine, is another dish we have for Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, our family gathers and prays together. Older members lead the prayer and discuss Bible verses that reflect the spirit of Christmas. Everyone then sings Christmas carols, and some play musical instruments. Some popular Christmas tunes in Indonesia are the translation of western Christmas songs such as Malam Kudus (Silent Night) and Alam Raya (Joy to the World). Sometimes the evening’s program includes family games. Everyone wants to stay awake until midnight.

At midnight, everyone shares kisses and hugs, and many drink a toast to a Merry Christmas. Then, all go to bed to get ready for the big day.

On Christmas morning, the family gathers in the living room to open presents that had been placed under the Christmas tree. Then, everyone gets ready to go to church together. Upon returning from church, the family enjoys the feast that they cooked together the day before. It is customary for relatives who are married or have a job to give cash gifts in an envelope to younger relatives.

In the final traditional activity, which is the peak of Christmas celebration, family members apply white powder, usually cosmetic face powder, to each other’s face. This activity is called “mandi mandi” and symbolizes forgiveness of mistakes and sins and the fresh start of a brand new year together.

Singing Christmas carols in Indonesia Indonesia has the fourth largest population in the world and is home to hundreds of ethnic groups that have unique cultures, speak different dialects, and are spread throughout the country. These different cultures greatly influence how people celebrate their religious holidays. For example, families from the island of Sumatra in western Indonesia might have very different Christmas traditions than people from the island of Java.

We would like to share a glimpse of Christmas traditions followed by two families of different ethnicities. The first family is Sumatran-Chinese, who reside in Sumatra, and the other family is Javanese with Dutch ancestry.

Although the dominant religion in Indonesia is Islam, Indonesian society is very tolerant of religious diversity, and Christian traditions like Christmas are widely honored and celebrated. On Christmas Day, Indonesian people commonly wish each other “Selamat Hari Natal” which means “Merry Christmas”.

Every Indonesian family, depending on which region they are from, has its own way of celebrating Christmas. Our country is very large, and practices vary from place to place and family to family.

How the Chinese-Sumatran family celebrates Christmas My favorite Christmas experience was Christmas Eve, when we would go to church and then go caroling in groups with other members of the congregation. Each group had about 20-30 people and would visit eight to ten families. We rode in a bus together. The leader of the group would distribute a bag for us to collect gifts or food from the families we were visiting. Approaching the neighborhood we had chosen to visit, we would stop and light a candle. Then we walked towards the homes, singing Christmas carols. At each house, we shared the Good News with the families and prayed for them.

As a kid, I especially enjoyed receiving gifts or delicious treats at those short visitations. My siblings and I always went with different groups so that, at the end of caroling at midnight, we could compare what we had received.

Early in the morning, we would go to church together and

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December 2016 | Cover Story

The Three Kings or Wise Men are traditional figures of Christmas.

These countries follow Western influences. “Spending time with my family, taking a family drive in the evening and admiring Christmas lights and opening presents as a family on Christmas Day,” said Ruben Chavez, business diversity outreach program coordinator at Denver Public Schools.

Holiday cuisine include tamales and Mexican pozole, also known as hominy, a traditional soup or stew from Mexico.

Africa Carolers and Christmas dinners are familiar themes throughout this large continent. Since December falls in their summer season, it is peak season for their vacation by the beach or mountains with no inclement climates. Pine branches are part of the holiday décor in private residences.

Boxing Day is also a proclaimed public holiday usually spent in the open air. It falls on December 26 and is a day of real relaxation.

Holiday cuisines include: turkey, roast beef, mince pies, suckling pig, yellow rice with raisins, vegetables, and plum pudding.

North America United States A majority of the holiday customs celebrated in the U.S. is similar to those traditions in England, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland.

Other popular traditions include using popcorn threaded on strip to decorate Christmas trees. Like everywhere in the world, Christmas cards are popular ways to keep in touch with loved ones.

Mary Jeneverre Schultz, Filipino American, loves Christmas. Follow her on Instagram @Jeneverre.

Children anticipate the arrival of Santa Clause

“Merry Christmas” around the world Afrikaner (Afrikaans) ~ “Geseënde Kersfees” Argentine ~ “Felices Pascuas” Bohemian ~ “Vesele Vanoce” Brazilian ~ “Boas Festas” Chinese (Cantonese) ~ “Saint Dan Fai Lok” Chinese (Mandarin) ~ “Sheng Dan Kuai Le” Danish ~ “Glædelig Jul” Dutch ~ “Vrolijk Kerstfeest” English ~ “Merry Christmas” Filipino (Tagalog) ~ “Maligayang Pasko” Finnish ~ “Hyvaa Joulua” French ~ “Joyeux Noël” German ~ “Froehliche Weihnachten” Greek ~ “Kala Christouyenna” Hawaiian ~ “Mele Kalikimaka” Hebrew ~ “Mo’adim Lesimkha” Icelandic ~ “Gledileg Jol”

Indonesian ~ “Selamat Hari Natal” Irish ~ “Nollaig Shona Dhuit” Italian ~ “Buone Feste Natalizie” Japanese ~ “Kurisumasu Omedeto” Korean ~ “Sung Tan Chuk Ha” Lithuanian ~ “Linksmu Kaledu” Malay ~ “Selamat Hari Natal” Maori ~ “Meri Kirihimete” Norwegian ~ “God Jul” – Jul i Norge Romanian ~ “Craciun Fericit” Peruvian ~ “Felices Fiestas” Portugese ~ “Boas Festas” Sri Lankan (Sinhala) ~ “Suba Naththalak Wewa Slovakian ~ “Vesele Vianoce” Spanish ~ “Feliz Navidad” Swedish ~ “God Jul” – Jul i Sverige Welsh ~ “Nadolig Llawen” Christmas Around the World | asian avenue magazine

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20-Minute Recipes for Christmas

T

he season to celebrate is finally here! Most people are looking forward to the end of year festivities, though the preparation for a massive feast might be intimidating to some. Here are two quick 20-minute recipes for a salad and a soup that will please any guest!

Chinese Spiced Duck Salad

1 Place the duck breasts in a zip lock bag or bowl and

add the Chinese duck marinade and Chinese five spice blend. Mix together well.

2

Heat the oven to 400°F. Place the duck breasts (include the marinade) skin side down on a roasting tray. Turn the heat down to 350°F. as soon as they go into the oven. Roast for 20 minutes.

Ingredients

3

Meanwhile, start preparing the salad. In a large salad bowl add the lettuce, cucumber, pomegranate, spring onions and optional avocado. Toss in a little olive oil and a little salt and pepper.

• Chinese duck marinade

• 3 spring onions, sliced finely • Chinese five spice blend • Small cucumber, sliced

• Hoisin sauce • 100g pomegranate seeds

• 2 duck breasts • Olive oil • 2 heads of baby gem lettuce, • Salt and pepper leaves washed and chopped • 1 ripe avocado

Pear Soup 1

Peel, halve and core the pears. In a large bowl, toss pears with lemon juice to prevent oxidization.

2

Melt butter in a frying pan over medium-low heat. Add sage to butter, and allow it to caramelize. Add brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Add pears to mixture, and roll them around to coat thoroughly.

3

Cook pears in frying pan, stirring occasionally, until pears are light brown, about 15 minutes.

4

Puree pears and brown butter mixture in a blender until smooth.

5

Pour into room temperature soup bowls and serve with blue cheese bruschetta. If preparing ahead of time, refrigerate and reheat slightly before serving.

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December 2016 | Chef’s Menu

4

Take the duck out of the oven and allow it to rest for a minute or two on a chopping board. Then slice each breast thinly and mix through the bowl of salad.

5

Divide the salad among bowls per number of guests and drizzle the hoisin sauce on top just before serving.

Ingredients • 6 pears • 40g unsalted butter • 3 Tbsp lemon juice

• 1 Tbsp minced fresh sage leaves • 100g light brown sugar • Sea salt

By Samantha Quee

Sunflower Asian Café SAMPLE MENU

Shredded Pork with Chives, $13.95 Kung Pao Chicken, $11.95 Pot stickers, $6.95 Scallion Beef with Onion, $12.95 Baby Bok Choy Meat Ball Soup, $8.95 Cantonese Roast Duck, $14.95 Cumin Beef, $13.95

91 W. Mineral Ave. #100 Littleton, CO 80120 Tel: 303-798-0700 “The most exciting aspect of cooking is to make good use of ordinary ingredients and turn them into extraordinary meals,” says Mr. Wen Hu Xue, owner and head chef of Sunflower Asian Café. The café strives to serve delicious and authentic Chinese food to every one of its patrons.

With more than 30 years of culinary experience under his belt, Mr. Xue spent nearly 20 years as a chef in Yangzhou, China before relocating to Colorado. Mr. Xue spent the next ten years learning and refining his skills at other restaurants in Colorado before venturing out on his own with the Sunflower Asian Café. He now specializes in Huaiyang and Szechuan cuisines.

When Mr. Xue bought the Sunflower Asian Café, he chose to keep the name and interior design the same but revamped the entire menu. The café officially started operation in July 2016.

“Most people in Colorado are unfamiliar with Huaiyang food,” says Xue, “but it is traditionally regarded as one of the four major cuisines in China.” Huaiyang food originates from the Jiangsu province in China, and is traditionally known for its

22

December 2016 | Restaurant Peek

light and subtle tastes.

Mr. Xue introduced us to the Yangzhou Style bean curd strips and Yangzhou Chowder, two iconic dishes from the Huaiyang cuisine. He showcased his impeccable knife skills, a quality of a topnotch chef in Chinese cooking, cutting the bean curd into strips of equal size and shape, and tossing it with their secret ginger and coriander sauce.

The Yangzhou Chowder consisted of more than ten ingredients, braised slowly to bring out the unique flavors. I especially love the fish maw, with just the right crunchiness and taste as it absorbs the essence of the other ingredients. It is no wonder that this dish is commonly served during wedding and birthday banquets in the Jiangsu region of China.

Fried rice is often considered one of the most difficult dishes for a chef to prepare; one must make sure that the grains are separated from each other and yet have the same soft consistency.

Sunflower Asian Café’s Jade Fried Rice is a true testament of Mr. Xue’s outstanding culinary skills. Named for the rich green and white hues of the vegetable leaves

chopped into the rice, the dish is simple, delicious, and fulfilling.

Complementing the light flavors of Huaiyang cuisine, the café also serves Szechuan food. My personal favorite is the Boiled Beef with Szechuan Spicy Sauce.

The spiciness of the sauce is a perfect match with the tenderness of the beef.

Mr. Xue presented the Sweet Osmanthus Chinese Yam Soup as a final course. Osmanthus, also known as Devilwood, is a flowering plant native to eastern Asia with a scent and flavor similar to apricot or peach. When mixed with Chinese yams, both are highly nutritious and blend well together, providing a refreshing taste that revitalizes the taste buds after a hearty meal. Considered a dessert, this soup is also very healthy many Asian women consume it as part of their beauty regime!

Mr. Xue’s extensive experience, coupled with his undying passion for cooking has created a heaven for patrons looking for authentic Chinese food. The Sunflower Asian Café is a great place to visit with friends or family and warm up this time of year!

Blue Ocean

New B Noodle

Article and Photos by Sarah Shirazi

8101 E Belleview Ave A-90, Denver, CO 80237 www.blueoceanasian.com | Tel: 303-220-0577

Located in the heart of the Denver Tech Center, Blue Ocean has gained a solid reputation as a popular spot to gather with friends for Chinese hot pot.

For just $25.99 per person you can enjoy an all you can eat platter of meats and veggies to cook in warm broth, a perfect meal and activity to boot for the cold winter months that lie ahead.

Now under new management, Blue Ocean offers the same hot pot and traditional Chinese favorites, in addition to an extensive menu of non-traditional dishes such as sesame chicken and the like, which are popular among the DTC lunch rush crowd during the weekdays. New menu additions include a slate of freshly prepared noodle dishes dubbed as the “New B Noodles.”

We recommend trying the hand pulled noodles, also known as lamian. The noodles are prepared to order, table side by owner and chef Jack Ling. Ling learned the art of preparing lamain noodles in Lanzhou, the capital and largest city of the Gansu Province in Northwest China. To prepare the

noodles Lanzhou style, Ling aggressively works the dough, pulls it straight, and tugs at the dough, regularly slamming it against the prep table to ensure even stretching and uniform thickness.

The noodles are then added to a bowl of flavorful beef broth that has simmered for twelve hours, then the dish is finished with medium thick slices of flank steak, and topped with cilantro. The flavors of the soup are simple which allow for the quality and freshness of the ingredients to sing.

Trust us when we say that the Lanzhou soup is worth a special trip to Blue Ocean.

For those of you that like to share family style, you can’t go wrong with the lengthy list of dumplings and dipping sauces. Also recommended are the bao buns, baked daily and stuffed with generous portions of lamb, pork, or beef.

The final say: the atmosphere is comfortable and the food is delicious. It’s worth the visit, especially for the Lanzhou soup, but hurry up and get there before everyone else finds out about Blue Ocean—this rare gem will soon become a Denver favorite.

Sample MeNU Special Handmade Items Lanzhou authentic hand pulled noodle, $12.99

Knife-shaved noodle, $12.99 Sauteed hand pulled noodle, $13.99 Lamb braised noodle, $14.99 Lobster seafood ramen, $16.99

Vegetable Entrees

Stir-Fried tofu in hot sauce, $11.99 Savory hot shredded dried tofu, $11.99

Entrees

Crispy duck, $15.99 Sauteed fish with pickled cabbage, $14.99 Black bean fish fillet, $13.99

menu Highlights

Dumplings

www.blueoceanasian.com

Lobster seafood ramen

Lanzhou handmade pulled noodle Restaurant Peek | asian avenue magazine

23

Golden Shanghai Asian Restaurant

● The Best Chinese Restaurant by 710 AM Restaurant Show ● The Best Chinese Restaurant by the 1430 KEZW Restaurant Show ● Voted 2007 Top 100 Chinese Restaurant in the US

1412 S. Parker Rd. A-134 Denver, CO 80231 (303) 743-7666 (303)743-9079 (303)743-8210

The Pillow Rebellion

By Wayne Chan

It’s been a good run. Heck, it’s been a great run.

For 22 blissful years, I’ve avoided the bane of many married men’s existence.

I’m sure if you’re a married man, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about decorative bed throw pillows.

You know the ones. They’re decorative.

They are thrown off the bed before you go to sleep. That’s why they are called “Throw” pillows. They serve no purpose except to exist.

Every other part of the bed serves a unique, functional purpose. The mattress, the box frame, the sheets – they all make sense. Regular pillows – a cool, soft, support for your head – of course you need pillows.

For 22 years we’ve managed to survive without decorative throw pillows on our bed. Now we have them. Please…someone tell me what we’re supposed to do with them.

In a perfectly passive aggressive way, I’ve tried my best to convey my irritation with these useless interlopers who have invaded my bed.

Before I go to bed, I quickly fling these pillows off the bed, where they sit scattered around the bedroom until morning. Even if I wanted to neatly place them somewhere else in the room, there’s no where for them to go. We have no cabinets designated for “useless objects to be stored overnight”.

So, the pillows lay on the floor, perfectly positioned for me to trip over if and when I need to get up in the middle of the night.

In the morning, to continue with my passive aggressive protest, I will make the bed, putting everything in it’s proper place except for the pillows, which remain on the floor.

For a couple of days now, my wife Maya will look at me with a stern look on her face and say something like, “You didn’t make the bed.”, which is actually code for, “These pillows are now part of the bed making ritual. Get your act together and pick them up off the floor.”

When I go for the direct approach and express my displeasure over having these pillows in our lives now, particularly when they serve no real purpose, her response is, “They do serve a purpose. They look nice, like a painting.”

Baloney.

I don’t remember the last time I passed one of our paintings ever having to take the painting off the wall and fling it across the room and then put them back when I pass by them again.

Even if you could argue that the only function these pillows really need to provide is as a decoration or as a way to impress, I just don’t see it.

We’re not the type to try and show off anyways, but even if we were, what’s the likelihood that we would invite friends over and say, “After we show you our new pool and our brand new car, how’d you

guys like to check out the new decorative pillows sitting on the bed? Not interested? OK, you’re loss!”

The only purpose I’ve ever seen for decorative throw pillows on a bed is whenever you watch a movie where there’s an Arabian prince lounging about on his bed, he’s always surrounded by beautiful women either feeding him individual grapes or fanning him with a long palm leaf. Whenever I see that in a movie, yes, the bed has plenty of decorative throw pillows.

So, unless my wife is willing to feed me tortilla chips as I’m lounging about on the bed watching Sunday night football, I think these pillows have got to go.

Humor Column | asian avenue magazine

25

bookreview The Wangs

vs.

The World

Reviewed by Mary Jeneverre Schultz

26

December 2016 | Book Review

J

NG CHA DE A

As a riches to rags story about a wealthy Chinese-American family, this story is a never-ending book of laughs, snickers and big gasps.

For the fall season, publishing company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt released Jade Chang’s debut Novel, The Wangs Vs. The World. Chang, who covered arts and culture as a journalist and editor, is the recipient of a Sundance Fellowship for Arts Journalism, the AIGA/Winterhouse Award for Design Criticism, and the James D. Houston Memorial scholarship from the Squaw Valley Community of Writers.

Chang writes about Charles Wang as a brash, lovable immigrant businessman, who built a cosmetics empire and made a fortune, but lost his fortune through the financial crisis of 2008.

The book illustrates how Charles wants to get his kids safely stowed away so that he start anew in China. Charles pulls his son out of college, his daughter out of private school and together with his second wife, they all embark on a cross-country road trip from their foreclosed Bel-Air home to the upstate New York hideout of the eldest daughter, a disgraced art world it-girl.

“I wanted to write an immigrant novel that was kind of a rebellion against immigrant novels,” Chang said. “I wanted to illuminate a new take on belonging in America, with immigrants who don’t yearn for acceptance or struggle to fit in. Instead, they’re here to knock sh*t down and rebuild the country in their own image! It was that joy and that anger that I wanted to capture!”

Sometimes authors write from their experience. In this case, Chang took her experience from reporting in the beauty industry and integrated those information as part of this book.

“At my last magazine job I oversaw the beauty section, which was a very cush assignment because I was sent an endless stream of products and got haircuts and massages around

Title: The Wangs vs.The World Author: Jade Chang Pages: 368 Published on October 4, 2016 ISBN: 978-0-544-73409-8 Follow her on Twitter: @thejadechang or Facebook: www.facebook.com/jade.chang Website: www.thewangs.com

town so that I could put together a beauty special that came out once a year,” Chang said.

Chang did not want to illustrate “typical” struggling immigrant story. She wanted to move the needle further and show how Asians struggle over their ethnicity --- a story not shared by many in today’s mainstream books. “I’m also interested in depicting people of color occupying space in creative world without a lot of angst and, most importantly, without questions their own legitimacy,” she said.

Chang uses the character of Andrew, the comedian, and Saina, the pop artists, on what it means to struggle and succeed as Asian American artists in different mediums.

With an onslaught of magazine reviews, editors and critics are predicting this book as the “most anticipated book for 2016.” Pick it up at the library, buy it at your favorite book store or conduct a Kindle purchase to add to your list. It is a fun read! Hard to smother laughter while reading in a private place so read the book in a loud, obnoxious coffee shop or during a rainy day when no one is around to hear you laugh yourself silly, it’s worth seeing how one’s immigrant story isn’t just about struggle but how to ingrained your ethnicity on American people as the Wangs did throughout the story.

The Wangs Vs. The World is an entirely fresh look at what it means to belong in America, and the crazy ride that brings on family together in a way money never could.

Follow Mary Jeneverre Schultz on Twitter and Instagram @Jeneverre.

By Tom Shieh

Who are we comparing with?

As we wrap up another year and look forward to the upcoming one, many of us will spend time in reflection whether consciously or subconsciously. Naturally, a common way for us to evaluate things is to by comparison. But, comparison can be the greatest thief of joy.

Many, many years ago, a wise Chinese philosopher once said:

我們不要跟人家比較.因 為有一個人會驕傲, 另外 一個人會傷心。 Translated, it means “We shouldn’t ever compare with others. Because, one other person will become prideful; and, the other will become hurt.” That wise Chinese philosopher was actually my son, Emerik, at the age of 5.

Emerik is absolutely right. If you take inventory of your own emotions, you’ll realize that often times when we feel discouraged or down, we’re in comparison mode.

We’re comparing ourselves to another person (or the image of that person) that has something that we currently don’t have.

It’s so easy to fall into this trap and illusion. We compare another person’s highlight reel to our behind-the-scenes footage. We use another person’s yardstick to measure our worth, and we come up short. We compare our Chapter 1 with another person’s Chapter 20. We fail to realize that we are uniquely on our own great journey toward greatness.

My friend, may I remind you? You’re beautiful. You’re awesome. You’re unique.

You’re one of a kind. You’re outstanding.

Embrace your own greatness, quirkiness, and style. Take delight and joy in your special gifts and personality.

Who are you comparing yourself with today?

We all need role models and those who inspire us toward our goals. Nevertheless, the only person we should compare ourselves with is who we were yesterday.

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” – Ernest Hemingway Don’t waste any time during your time of reflection by gloating over others that lack what you have. Similarly, don’t spend any energy hurting yourself

Photo above:Tom Shieh with his son Emerik (age 5)

by constantly replaying in your mind all the areas that you aren’t where you want to be.

Instead, I encourage and challenge you to compete with yourself. Be a better person. Love a little more than you loved yesterday. Give more generously than you previously have given. Work a little harder than you did last year. Be a little more patient. Serve more than is expected. Be a little more romantic. Be a little more creative.

It’s in this constant area of growth and stretching that we will find satisfaction and fulfillment in our progress.

Connect with Tom:

linkedin.com/in/tomshieh, facebook.com/tomshieh Better Living | asian avenue magazine

27

Top 5 Asian Movies of 2016

By Samantha Quee

Ip Man 3

I recently asked a friend of mine, a mother of two, when the last time was that she watched a movie in the theater. She replied, “I have no time for movies anymore! The only time I get to watch them is during long flights.” I share the same experience, though I do catch

some movies on Netflix at home from time to time.

As 2016 draws to an end, I would like to recap and recommend the Top Five Asian movies that I’ve watched this year, and also a blockbuster from Jackie Chan that will be released this December.

Director: Wilson Yip Country: China Released in the US: January 22, 2016 Genre: Action, Drama IMDB Rating: 7.2/10 The year is 1959, and Ip Man lives in Hong Kong with his wife and his younger son. Trouble arises when a corrupt property developer and his thugs terrorize the school that Ip Man’s son attends. Ip Man and his disciples have to help the police guard the school day and night. Ip Man also has to deal with his wife’s terminal sickness, and simultaneously faces a challenge from another Wing Chun fighter who ambitiously seeks to claim the Wing Chun Grandmaster title.

Train to Busan

Director: Sang-ho Yeon Country: Korea Released in the US: July 22, 2016 Genre: Horror IMDB Rating: 7.8/10 Sok-woo and his daughter Soo-ahn are on board the KTX, a fast train that will bring them from Seoul to Busan. During their journey, the train is infested with zombies that kill several train staff and passengers. While the KTX is on its way towards Busan, the passengers have to fight for their lives against the zombies.

Airlift

Director: Raja Menon Country: India Released in the US: January 22, 2016 Genre: History, Action, Drama IMDB Rating: 8.4/10 Ranjit Katiyal is an influential businessman in Kuwait who uses his contacts and familiarity with the land to organize a labor camp that shelters fleeing Indians during the 1990 war. He simultaneously negotiates with the Iraqi government and coordinates with the Indian government to enable the safe passage of the Indian refugees. The entire movement in real life took 488 Air India flights in 59 days and is the largest humanitarian evacuation in the world.

28

December 2016 | End of the Year Feature

The Magnificent Nine Director: Yoshihiro Kamaura Country: Japan Released in the US: May 14, 2016 Genre: Comedy IMDB Rating: 7.4/10

Local residents experience hardship due to the increasing amount of land tax and forced labor by the government. Nine people, including Juzaburo Koku, worry about the future of their town. The group therefore sets up an ambitious and dangerous plan to save the town and their future.

The plan is to lend large amounts of money to the estate of a warrior and distribute the interest annually to the residents. However, they might be killed once they are caught!

Long Long Time Ago Director: Jack Neo Country: Singapore Released in the US: Not yet released Genre: Comedy, Drama IMDB Rating: 7/10

After Singapore’s devastating floods in 1969, Zhao Di takes over her father’s family farm with the help of reformed gangster Ah Long. As the country’s economy begins to prosper again, the national mindset must also change with the times. Osman catches his teenage son, Ahmad, practicing with his rock band. As a conservative man, Osman believes rock music will have a negative influence on Ahmad. Father and son argue over their different opinions, causing Ahmad to run away. Meanwhile, Ah Hee and Rani decide to get married, but their traditional parents disapprove of their marriage. In 1977, the Government begins expropriating land for redevelopment, forcing villagers to leave their kampongs.

Coming this December!

Railroad Tigers

Director: Ding Sheng Country: China Released in the US: December 16, 2016 Congratulations to Jackie Chan for receiving an Honorary Oscar at the 2016 Governors Awards last month, after 56 years and 200 films!

Japan expands the occupation of its neighboring countries throughout Southeast Asia in 1941. Railroad worker Ma Yuan (Jackie Chan) leads a team of freedom fighters to sabotage the military transportation railroad.

For more information call 720-873-6243 or visit our website today at: www.ColoEggDonor.com William Schoolcraft, MD • Eric Surrey, MD • Debra Minjarez, MD Robert Gustofson, MD • Jennifer Brown, MD

Movies of 2016 | asian avenue magazine

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Interpol is not complete without Taiwan’s participation Growing internationalization underlines the urgent need for Taiwan’s involvement in the global fight against transnational crime.

The 2016 InterNations Expat Insider survey of more than 14,000 expatriates globally ranked Taiwan as the best destination in the world. About 34 percent of expats in Taiwan are extremely satisfied with their work environment, more than double the average ratio worldwide. With a population of 23 million, Taiwan is a major transportation hub and an important economic and trade center in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2014, it was listed second among the top-10 safest countries of the world.

However, in order to sustain a high level of public security at a time when cybercrime and terrorism continue to spread, it is imperative for Taiwan to participate in Interpol and work together with law enforcement agencies worldwide.

Taiwan’s absence in Interpol affects global security.

Taiwan became a member of Interpol in 1961 under the name the Republic of China, but was forced to withdraw in 1984 due to political factors. More than 30 years have passed since then, and at present only Taiwan and North Korea are excluded from the organization. However, Taiwan is vastly different from North Korea. The fact that Taiwan enjoys reciprocal visa waiver privileges with more than 100 other countries around the world indicates that the ROC passport might attract the attention of those engaged in transnational crime. Taiwan’s exclusion from Interpol—in effect denying it timely access to key intelligence as well as preventing it from participating in seminars and training workshops—creates a major loophole in the global security and counterterrorism network.

Taiwan requires Interpol assistance, while Interpol requires Taiwan to ensure a comprehensive security network.

Taiwan is ready and willing to participate in global police endeavors in fighting crime. Since 2009, Taiwan police agencies have collaborated with counterparts overseas to resolve 235 cases and arrest more than 12,000 suspects involved in organized fraud as well as transnational trafficking of drugs and persons, including children. Although Taiwan police have spared no effort in combating transnational crime, their requests for Interpol assistance have met with little support, as reflected in the fact that a response was received in only 27 of 90 enquiries made in the first nine months of 2016.

In a world shaped by globalization, an international security network that does not include Taiwan inevitably leads to higher law enforcement costs for all parties concerned. For example, only after Taiwan police had solved a US$2.2-million ATM heist perpetrated in the country by 22 foreign nationals in July 2016, did they realize that European nations were highly interested in the case when Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau was invited to discuss it at a special meeting convened by the European Police Office. However, Taiwan police were unable to promptly share information they had uncovered on more suspects in the upper echelons of the crime ring; nor were they able to gain access to intelligence they needed. As crime is no longer subject to geographical constraints, Taiwan’s exclusion from Interpol creates a major loophole in the prevention of international crime, becoming a cause of concern for countries worldwide.

Politics should not override public security; we urge you to support Taiwan’s participation in Interpol as an observer.

Taiwan’s police, as part of the global police community, have the obligation, responsibility, willingness, and capability to participate in Interpol and work jointly with other police forces around the world.

So as to avoid sensitive political issues, Taiwan is willing to attend the Interpol General Assembly as an observer. Although participation in this annual event would not lead to direct and prompt exchanges of intelligence with member countries, or access to their crime databases, Taiwan’s attendance at various meetings and events would facilitate interaction and compensate for the current lack of intelligence exchanges. This could serve as an initial step to meet basic needs for transnational law enforcement cooperation, without touching on political issues.

Fighting crime is the police’s mission and responsibility. As police officers, we should transcend geographical, ethnic, and political differences, so that the global police community can work in concert to ensure social justice. We urge you to speak up for Taiwan at relevant occasions and support its participation in Interpol.

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December 2016 | Taiwan Update

Liu Po-liang

Commissioner Criminal Investigation Bureau Republic of China (Taiwan) October 14, 2016

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