Rice Paper - Fall 2009

Rice Paper

A semi-annual publication of Indiana University’s Asian Culture Center

Fall 2009 Issue

Spring Semester Brings Two Headlining Events to IU Bloomington Midwestern Association of Filipino Americans Conference

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ilipino pride has been on the rise in the States recently. With boxing champion Manny Pacquiao’s many victories and Typhoon Ondoy’s call for compassion and aid, the Philippines has received a great deal of attention both from the media and advocacy groups.

On a more local level, every Spring, approximately 500 Filipino-American students from about 15 universities across the Midwestern United States, gather for one weekend to attend a conference based on issues regarding the Philippines, as well as topics and values relevant to Filipino-Americans.

On February 26-28, 2010, the Filipino Student Association is pleased to host the Midwestern Association of Filipino Americans, (MAFA) at Indiana University, Bloomington. The conference will begin with a number of workshops ranging from current cultural issues and traditional Filipino themes, to modern dance and networking. The focus of the conference will be on diversity and knowing that every part of the Philippines has their own unique experiences, “Children of the Sun: Different Stories United By The 8-Point Sun.” Information and registration for this year’s conference can be found at: www.midwestfilipinos.org/ The Filipino Student Association of Indiana University is offering special deals and exclusive materials for its members. For more information on FSA’s events and membership information please visit: www.indiana. edu/~fsa

Raas Royalty Raas Competition

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he Raas Royalty Roundtable is proud to present the first ever Raas Royalty Raas competition on February 13th, 2010!

Originating in the Indian region of Gujarat, Raas is a traditional form of dance rooted in Hindu celebrations. Raas is traditionally performed during the nine day festival of Navaratri and this form of devotional dance uses sticks called ‘dandia’. Raas is partner-oriented to the beat of the dhol drum and the pace gradually quickens as the celebration progresses. In recent years, choreographed Raas has become increasingly popular at colleges and universities across the country, as competitions provide an outlet to showcase the talent and creative spin put on a timeless tradition.

Taking place on campus in Bloomington, Indiana, Raas Royalty was created to further spread culture, community, and philanthropy associated with an inter-collegiate dance competition. Raas Royalty will welcome ten teams from around the country to compete for cash prizes and a bid to Raas Nationals in Dallas, Texas. The show will be held at the IU Auditorium and is free of charge so make sure to tell friends! Check out our website for more information and remember to save the date!

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Note From the ACC Director: Keeping In Touch!

Melanie Castillo-Cullather

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t is gratifying to see students we have worked with graduate and become successful in their endeavors, and even more rewarding to hear from them. In recent months, we’ve heard from many ACC alumni, some by postcards, but most via facebook and email. And there are ACC alumni who make a special trip to Bloomington to see us. Julia Goh, who used to work on our Rice Paper, is now the senior editor of Mother & Baby magazine in Singapore. She and her husband Winston, also a graduate of IU were in Chicago for a conference. Both were happy to squeeze in time to drive to Bloomington. Madeline Leung who handled most of our children’s outreach activities and who volunteered at Middle Way House while working at the ACC also surprised us with a visit. Madeline just finished her stint with AmeriCorps as a teacher in one of the inner-city schools in New York. This summer, former chair of the Asian Student Union, Chris Chan and former ASU treasurer, Angel Lai took time off from their busy work in Hong Kong and spent their vacation touring the Midwest. Bloomington was of course their destination. While they were excited to visit the ACC, the chicken barbecue wings at Yogis topped their list as well.

It was great to hear our alumni’s individual stories about their families, careers, new passions and interests.

And in the midst of their busy lives, they make time to let us know how much they appreciated their time at IU. Our alumni are scattered all over the world, but despite the distance and the years that have gone by after graduating, they continue to drop a note or email us. It is our hope that the Center’s dual roles as an advocacy and a cultural resource have somehow made an impact during their brief stay on campus. It is only when a student experiences the meaning of the activities that we do that they can feel connected even after they have left I.U. Cecilia is one of those who are glad to keep in touch.

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Life After IU in the Eyes of Sunghee (Cecilia) Oh

fter my graduation from IU last December, I returned to my home in South Korea early this year. I found that I missed Bloomington and IU, where I spent four years of my college life, but at the same time, I was excited about the next stage of my life in Korea, the beginning of my life in the “real world.” I found that living in the “real world” as one who has just left the safety of a university environment wasn’t easy. The first news I heard in Korea was the country was in the midst of an economic crisis, depression, and an increasing unemployment rate.

In Korea, when one obtains a position with a conglomerate such as Samsung or LG, you are considered quite a capable person. This is because these large companies are usually stable, even when there is an economic crisis, and their names are highly regarded in Korean society. I too, hoped to obtain a position with one of these large companies. However, those conglomerates were not related to my majors at IU, (International Studies and Spanish). Therefore, I wished to work for either NGOs or government organizations. Job openings in my field are rare so finding a position was quite difficult and took almost half a year to find one. I sent out about 30 resumes and had only 8 interviews. This period of unemployment was very stressful for me.

After six months had passed, I received a call from the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and after a successful interview I was given a position in the Latin America Department of the Ministry. I am very satisfied with my job and enjoying it. For me, the best is the many opportunities to meet with high ranking officers of other countries, such as presidents, foreign ministers, and ambassadors, and to visit many government agencies. Last week, I met with the Foreign Ministers of Argentina, Colombia, and Chile.

We all must face many challenges when we leave the university, however, it is true that we can never give up and we must go for our goal. Go! Hoosiers!!

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Rice Paper

A Fun Farewell to Dean McKaig

Conducted by: Priyanka Dube, Junior, Spanish Major, Biology Minor, Pre-Med Where are you from; can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was born and raised in Lafayette, Indiana. I did my undergrad at Ball State and doctorate from Indiana University. My entire life has revolved colleges - 40 years. 30 of those at Indiana University. Right now I have 4 grandchildren, and am spending time being a grandfather.

What were some of the challenges you faced when you were Dean?

The most difficult were the student tragedies due to student activities and accidents. This was a stressful time..

It was sad and difficult to deal with. I tend to be optimistic about student activities but when we encounter deaths due to them – it is very difficult – it even challenges the interaction with family.

to be an excellent school without diversity. In the next 10 years, IU needs to be diverse. Students should be actively involved in programs. There should be top notch faculty with the research they do. Keep emphasis on arts, which is great for people who live here and make it a special town to live in. Also, encourage study abroad, the hallmark of a quality institution are the overseas experiences.

When did you begin your affili ation with Indiana University?

I read an article in the IDS 1971. about getting “pied” in the

face? Could you tell us more You retired over the summer, about this? what made you decide that Student organizations sponsor you wanted to retire? many things, I try to be active Age related sort of things. I am through charities, and raise 65, the benefits from a retiremoney for student festivals. ment. I was working all the The dunk tanks “spirit of the time, I wanted to try something sport.” – these dunk tanks are different for some time. full of freezing water and once

I jammed my finger. It was terWhat do you miss about IU? ribly cold so I was never doing Dean McKaig with members of the IU Asian Alumni Association I miss the students first and that again. So I thought, What foremost. Interactions with students What is your fondest memory about about pies in the face? It was a good kept me up to date. I am thinking of Indiana University? relief from the dunk tank. The 1st and joining Twitter, I definitely miss the Whole composite of things. Pro- 2nd tasted pretty good, after awhile grams, celebrations. Speakers, con- they weren’t as great. interaction with students. certs, keep in touch with student

What do you miss about being Dean leaders. Students to come to IU are Seeing IU now, what can the ACC do generally motivated. Bloomington is to help improve the campus? of Indiana University?

The contact with students. Making a a small city but because of the school The ACC does so much already. I difference. Because of that I think for sports, there are now big time theaters would say to primarily increase the a few months I might do some vol- and art districts. I went to college and visibility, it is on the edge of campus unteering activities around campus. I never left. and sometimes a lot of students take it love helping others and volunteering for granted. There are a lot of student in the community. Free student din- Where would you like to see Indiana organizations/departments that serve ners were good too. People told you University (campus wise/academic Asian students. I would hope, as I what was going on around campus, wise etc..) in the next 10 years? said before, that we need to become without that interaction I feel out of I am impressed by the emphasis on one campus. We need more pay off, high quality education. Top quality and by this I mean I hope to see all the the loop sometimes. schools need to be diverse. It is hard Centers engage in this effort.

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Meet the Teachers and Volunteers Claire Chen

I find speaking and exchanging cultures as the highlights of teaching Mandarin. My advice for students who are interested in learning a new language is to practice, practice and practice.

Hsiao-Chun Huang

Doctoral student in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education I believe that providing an environment where my students will enjoy learning Chinese language and culture is the biggest challenge and the most important thing for them in successful learning.

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ur Goal: The purpose of the Asian Language Learning Program is to provide students and community members an opportunity to learn an Asian language and culture in an informal setting. Classes are free and each class meets once a week at the ACC. Students join the classes for many reasons: to supplement or enhance their formal language training, learn basic survival phrases (especially for those who plan to travel or stay for a longer period of time in Asia), or simply to brush up on their speaking skills.

William Bacad Lim, Jr.

Senior, Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance Teaching Filipino (Tagalog) allows me to gain greater appreciation of the language of my home country. One of the most memorable moments in my class was when I devised a way of teaching the students how to read phonetically in Filipino, helping them veer away temporarily from the very arbitrary nature of reading and speaking in English.

Michiko Owaki

Michiko is a stay at home Mom at the moment, formerly an assistant professor in English, Yokohama National University in Japan The focus of my classes is on speaking and listening skills. I always try to dedicate most of the class hours in doing exercises and lively interactions as much as possible.

In Japanese, we use two different kinds of letters (hiragana and katakana) as well as Kanjis (Chinese Characters). As many people know, there are countless numbers of Kanjis (the most frequently used are about 3,000). So I think the biggest hurdle for learners of Japanese language is mastering our writing system. Even when the primary focus is on speaking and listening, you need to be able to read with ease (in order to learn vocabulary, practice dialogue, etc.).

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of the Asian Language Learning Program

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n the Fall ‘09 semester, we are pleased to offer classes in Filipino, Japanese, Mandarin, and Korean. The classes are taught by six instructors, all of whom are volunteers. Since the Asian Language Learning Program has proven to be a significant service to our students and community members, our hope is that in the future, we will find a funding source to enable us to pay our instructors, and offer more classes to meet the different schedules of our clients.

Meet our dedicated volunteers.

Chris Magno

5th year Ph.D Candidate, Criminal Justice Teaching the language is a wonderful opportunity for me to share the soul (language) of my country while learning about the culture of my students.

Highlights are how easy for students to learn these Tagalog borrowed words.

TAGALOG means taga-ilog, meaning “from the river.” For example, CR (comfort room), TV (television), bolpen, iskol, and kompyuter; but then the students experience difficulty pronouncing the “nga”, “ng” “ngi” and ñ,. This is not surprising as these letters are missing entirely in the English alphabet.

Ju Young Jin

PhD Candidate, Comparative Literature/Associate Instructor I feel happy about the contribution I am making in teaching the Korean language and my students’ enthusiasm is very motivating. It is interesting for me to see how some students wish to study the language because of their interest in Korean popular culture.

Helena Cheun

Community Member and has been volunteering since 2000 My favorite part about teaching Korean is introducing the students to the country, and teaching the Korean language through lessons that incorporate the culture. Teaching Korean is difficult because it is so different from English. In particular, teaching pronunciation and the different sounds necessary to speak Korean is the greatest challenge. Language is a reflection of the culture that it represents. My greatest hope and advice to students learning a new language is first to make a connection with the country and culture, and always keep it in mind as they develop their skills. And of course, they should practice as much and as regularly as possible!

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A Visit From Anurag Mendekhar

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By: Mary Beth Roska, School of Informatics and Computing

late September day on campus posed quite a different setting for Distinguished Asian Pacific American Alumni Anurag Mendhekar, Ph.D, IU, ‘98. His late-night arrival from California landed him in a very soggy Bloomington, yet he faced it with characteristic aplomb. He rose early for a run on campus and began his day meeting with faculty familiar from his student days in Lindley Hall.

The rest of his day was devoted to meeting with students.

At lunch hosted by the School of Informatics and Computing he greeted eight undergraduates and graduates, all curious about his experience as one of the inventors of aspectoriented programming and as a serial entrepreneur. He is the founder of Blue Vector Systems in Mountain View, CA. Conversation flowed as he described the process of starting a company, collaborating with others, and deciding what ideas to pursue.

He later gathered with students at the Asian Culture Center for a Chai Tea Hour. During the informal hour he exchanged stories with students, clearly delighted to field their questions and hear their comments. His easy manner and genuine interest set the stage for a lively exchange, and at the end of the hour the room was still full.

While his discoveries and work regarding mobile computing are profoundly influential, Dr. Mendhekar’s connection with students is equally powerful. His visit to the Bloomington campus left a bright impression, reflecting his keen intellect, curious nature and warm spirit.

Left: Students participate in Freshman Orientation at the Asian Culture Center.

Below: A glance at the crowd lining up at the ACC tent at CultureFest.

Above: Students participate in the Multicultural Wedding event.

Right: IU student Ziying Yuan plays the guzheng at the Bloomington Multicultural Expo.

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Student Group Updates Hong Kong Students’ Association

Singapore Student Association

he Hong Kong Students’ Association had a very busy and exciting Fall semester, 2009, filled with fun and exciting activities. In September, they held a Fall Welcome Dinner, Mass Meeting, and BBQ Party. In October, HKSA collaborated with the IU Chinese Student Scholar Association for their annual Moon Festival, which was deemed to be a huge success! Later in October, they hosted a Paintball Game, Haunted House Visit, and Halloween Party. This year, HKSA won the first prize for booth presentation at the IU World’s Fare held on Nov. 11, 2009. Make sure to look for their next big event, Hong Kong Night Market, in the spring semester. You can find more information about HKSA at www.indiana. edu/~hongkong.

he Singapore Student Association held a very successful welcome back BBQ and laser tag event for this semester. They organized many exciting events, such as indoor go-karting, a farm trip, snow skiing, etc. Please visit SSA’s newly launched blog at iussa. multiply. com for more information on upcoming events!

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Kappa Gamma Delta

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n October 16, Kappa Gamma Delta Sorority held a date auction to raise money for their philanthropy, Breast Cancer Awareness. Other organizations that supported this event were the Asian American Association, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Lambda Upsilon Lambda and Theta Nu Xi. . The highest bidders were able to receive coupons to multiple restaurants and given a chance to know the person they bid for. This was a very successful event and KGD was able to raise more than $700 for the Susan G. Komen foundation.

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Asian American Association

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he Asian American Association (AAA) recently welcomed seven new members to its executive board. By holding both fall and spring elections, AAA provides the opportunity for new students to become leaders within the organization.

The new executive board has been hard at work to recruit and retain new members. In addition to kicking off the semester with a call-out meeting; a bubble tea and board games social; a barbeque; and a dinner and a movie social; AAA also took part in the Jill Behrman 5K Run/Walk. They also partnered with Kappa Gamma Delta, Theta Nu Xi and Sigma Phi Epsilon for a date auction in support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. AAA also successfully held its annual pumpkin carving event as well as its largest event of the semester, the Fashion Show, an event that displayed not only cultural clothing, but also featured cultural and student performances.

Rice Paper Indiana University Asian Culture Center 807 E. 10th Street Bloomington, IN 47408

Support the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Activities Though celebrated nationally in May, at IU we begin observing the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in April to allow our students to participate. With your kind financial support of: $25.00, $50.00, $75.00, or $100.00, we will be able to continue IU’s tradition of celebrating the rich and diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of people of Asian heritage in our community both on and off campus.

Your financial support will help fund the following events: • Annual Creative Writing Contest • Cultural activities such as Taste of Asia hosted by the Asian American Association • Discussion Programs such as Over a Cup of Tea, Monday Table Topic, and Who Are APA? Talk Series • Asian Cultures Around Campus such as Henna, calligraphy, and cooking demonstrations • Asianfest at the Bloomington’s Farmer’s Market • Asian Knowledge Bowl and many more!

You may write your check payable to IU Foundation, indicate Asian Culture Center in the memo, and mail to IU Foundation, PO Box #500 Bloomington, IN, 47402 or simply visit our website http://www.iub.edu/~acc and click the give button. Thank you and happy new 2010!

Layout and Design: Elise Magno Editor: Nita Levison

ACC Contact Information:

(812)856-5361 • acc@indiana.edu http://www.indiana.edu/~acc/