Archive for the ‘Volume 37 No. 03’ Category

The Mating Game

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. – Aristotle Dating is hard enough as it is but dating in an Asian American context is made even more difficult because of our culture. Asians pride themselves on their marriages, families, children, and continuation of the family lineage. Despite this obsession on fostering marriage, [...]

Stories of Hard-Won Citizenship

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Yong Park holds up her citizenship certificate. In the background is a Korean armoire that Yong’s mother received for her wedding and a framed Chinese phrase that Yong’s father has had in the family for years. Photo credit: Vivian Luu.

Tran Tran is 75 years-old. He lives in Renton and enjoys shopping and visiting with friends in the Phuc Loc Tho mini-mall in Seattle. Tran emigrated from Vietnam in 2002 after his son sponsored him, but didn’t become a U.S. citizen until Jan. 5. Tran had been trying to become an American for three years. [...]

Free H1N1 Vaccinations

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Swine Flu

Did you know that flu season doesn’t officially end until May? That’s why the International District Housing Alliance (IDHA) is partnering with Public Health Seattle, King County (PHSKC) to hold a free H1N1 flu vaccination clinic for residents and employees who live and work in the International District community. Free H1N1 vaccinations will be given [...]

Moving on Up: Eastside Story

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Bellevue Skyline

Within the last decade, we have seen an increasing number of Asian Pacific Islanders move to the Eastside of Seattle, specifically the “eastside” of Lake Washington. According to the City of Bellevue, in 2000, the percentage of APIs living in Bellevue was at 17.4 percent. In 2006 – 2008, however, the percentage increased to 23.2 [...]

Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
china_urbanization

How should China’s economic transition from a central and government-controlled economy to a more capitalistic double-digit-growing juggernaut be correctly understood? According to Dr. Yasheng Huang of MIT, in “Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics”, the evidence would suggest that the release of entrepreneurial energies in the countryside in the 1980s was a critical and fundamental engine for [...]

My American Story: Hung van Phan

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Hung van Phan holds up his release form from prison after 5 years, 2 months, and 3 days. He kept the form with him for 30 years. Photo credit: Hien Dang.

Hung van Phan, (a pseudonym), entered the South Vietnamese army in the Year of the Monkey, April 1968. It was the year of the infamous events of Tet Mau Than when Northern forces breached the Tet holiday cease-fire agreement, marking an intense climax in the civil war with thousands of civilian deaths in the city [...]

Realizing a Dream: Olympic Ambition

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Predicted to be one of the most racially diverse US teams to compete in the history of the Winter Olympic games, the 2010 team has definitely seen a greater presence of API athletes going for the gold. This year the US has many API hopefuls to represent the nation in the highest caliber of competition [...]

Lunar New Year Celebration!

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
0127_SCTNewyear_IE

Year of the Tiger Horoscopes

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
zodiac

Also known as the Spring Festival, Lunar New Year is a two-week celebration that begins on the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar. This year, the festivities begin on Valentines’ Day (Feb. 14)! It celebrates family, the start of a new beginning, and hope for a prosperous New Year. A major [...]

New Year Festival Symbols

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Lai-See Envelopes: (Also called Hong-Bao) Money is placed in red envelopes and given to children and young adults during the Chinese New Years. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck and is supposed to ward off evil spirits. It is said that in China, during the Qing Dynasty, the elderly would thread coins [...]

Chinese Zodiac Origin Story

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
“The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac” by Dawn Casey and Anne Wilson.

We are all familiar with the animals of the Chinese zodiac, but few know the origins to order of its symbols. The most popular legend is the one of the Race to the Jade Emperor, where a final river crossing proved to be the determining factor. The Rat, known to be crafty and guile, convinced [...]

Take the Eye of the Tiger Quiz and test your Lunar New Year IQ!

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Questions Each correct answer equals 1 point. For how many days is Lunar New Years celebrated? When did Lunar New Years begin? What is the difference between the “Western New Years” and “Lunar New Years”? How many days are in a Lunar New Year? What are the five elements that are associated with the Chinese zodiac and [...]

Arts Etc. – 2/3/2010

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Highlights “Kurosawa-sensei” brings new prints of five classic films by master Japanese filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa. Includes “Seven Samurai” and “Stray Dog.” Feb. 5 – 15 at SIFF Cinema at 321 Mercer St. (206) 633-7151. “Farewell: A Fantastical Contemplation of America’s Relationship with China” features Donald Byrd’s Spectrum Dancers with a live score by composer Byron [...]

Mastering a Lost Art

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Shantala Shivalingappa poses in a traditional Indian dance.

The University of Washington again brings Indian dance to Seattle. Following a performance featuring the Kathak tradition in October, now comes Shantala Shivalingappa, who will present the Kuchipudi tradition of classical Indian dance. Previously in Seattle for three weeks in 2001 while touring “Hamlet” with the Peter Brook company, Shivalingappa returns with a sole focus [...]

Cutting for Stone

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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Dr. Abraham Verghese

Many readers know Abraham Verghese as the author of the memorable “My Own Country” about working as a doctor in eastern Tennessee. My Own Country was an NBCC finalist and 1994 best book for Time; his second work, “The Tennis Partner” was a New York Times Notable Book. “Cutting for Stone” is his first novel. [...]