magazine
asian avenue Connecting Cultures Linking Lives
December 2017 Volume 12 Issue 12
parol lanterns in the philippines
An iconic symbol for the holidays
Kevin leung
interview with producer of film:
gook
Restaurant peek
Sonoda Ramen Sushi Grill
joins douglas county school board
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Dear Asian Avenue readers,
magazine
While putting together the last issue of each year, we are always reflective upon how far we’ve come since printing our very first issue in July 2006. We are grateful to all of you for continuing to flip through these pages and provide so many levels of support to keep Asian Avenue magazine going. We are looking forward to 2018 and celebrating the year of the dog with all of you! We have confirmed our Lunar New Year Dinner for Friday, February 9 at Kings Land Seafood Restaurant. Hope to see you there! Congratulations to Kevin Leung for winning the election as Douglas County School Board Director. We hope his story will inspire other Asian Americans to run for office and get involved in civic engagement. As Kevin begins his four-year term, we are confident he will make a difference for the students and school staff in Douglas County. In this issue, our staff writer Joie Ha interviews local spoken word artist Meta Sarmiento, as well as Los Angeles’ movie producer James J. Yi. Both speak about the inspiration behind their work. James produced the film Gook that released in August. Highly recommend watching this film to get a deeper look of the racial tensions during the L.A. riots. In time for Christmas, the cover story explains the meaning behind the parol lantern, which is commonly seen throughout the Philippines during this time of year. The starshaped lantern is not only representative of the holidays, but it also symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and the Filipinos’ hope and goodwill during the Christmas season. Make your own at home! Read about the materials you need or stores you can purchase a parol to hang up this month. Christina Yutai Guo, Publisher Asian Avenue magazine | www.asianavemag.com
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December 2017 | Publisher’s Note
asian avenue staff & support Publisher & Founder: Christina Yutai Guo President: Annie Guo VanDan Senior Designer: C.G. Yao Copy Editor: Jaime Marston Cook Editorial Director: Samantha Quee Marketing Manager: Joie Ha Staff Writer: Patricia Kaowthumrong Staff Writer: Mary Jeneverre Schultz Photographer: Trang Luong
contributing writers Wayne Chan, Kate Liu, Peggy Moore, Tom Shieh
contributing photographers Aurora History Museum, Dane Hillard Photography, Jeannette Herreria, Julian Johnson, Sarah Shirazi
on the cover The parol lantern is seen hanging throughout the Philippines as an iconic symbol of Christmas and the holidays. It is meant to serve as a guiding light towards a more productive life.
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CONTENTS
december 2017
EVENTS
8
Event calendar
SPOTLIGHT
10
Spoken word artist and creative writer Meta Sarmiento shares how his identity inspired his passion for spoken word
16
12
Kevin Leung becomes newly elected Douglas County School Board Director
A Symbol of Christmas Spirit: Find parol lanterns hanging up throughout the Philippines that symbolize the victory of light over darkness and the Filipinos’ hope and goodwill during the Christmas season.
Feature
14
Asian Student Achievement organization launches job board to support young professionals
Restaurant peek
20
Sonoda Ramen Sushi Grill expands menu offerings
FILM REVIEW
22
Interview with James J. Yi, producer of the film Gook which released on August 18, 2016
BOOK REVIEWs
24
Where the Past Begins by Amy Tan
25
The Fortunes by Peter Ho Davies
On Scene
26
27
12
CU Denver event speaks to opportunities when working the millennial generation
HUMOR COLUMN
30
If someone could come up with a matzo ball dim sum restaurant, we’d all be set
20
Asian Chamber of Commerce celebrates 2017 at annual gala
Better living
28
How Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion applies to the new year
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 2017 | Table of Contents
Find us @AsianAveMag
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upcoming events
Tibetan Singing Bowls Concert
Saturday, Dec. 9, 12:30 - 2pm Saturday, Dec. 16, 9:30 - 11am, 1 - 2:30pm Sunday, Dec. 17, 12:30 - 2pm Denver Botanic Gardens 1007 York St, Denver, CO 80206 Cost: $15 general | $12 member For tickets and more info: www.botanicgardens.org
Relax and get away from all of the holiday stress. Tibetan singing bowls are musical instruments that have been used for thousands of years to promote healing. Bring your yoga mat, a blanket and your cluttered mind for a relaxing night of sound healing. Denver yoga instructor and sound healer Chris Anne Coviello and her husband Jason Coviello perform together.
Sake Tasting
Saturday, Dec. 9, 4pm - 6pm
Uncle Joe’s Hong Kong Bistro 891 14th St #100, Denver CO 80202 Cost: $50 online | $60 at the door For tickets and more info: www.thirstysamurai.org
Linking Asian Exhibition
Dec. 17, 2017 through Apr. 1, 2018
Denver Art Museum 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204 Cost: Exhibit included in general admission For tickets and more info: www.denverartmuseum.org
Explore how trade routes inspired and influenced art over time and across the Asian continent. Linking Asia: Art, Trade, and Devotion will feature approximately 150 sculptures, ceramics, textiles, scrolls, and other multi-dimensional works from 20 countries that span 2,000 years. Presented by the Pacific Cultural Exchange, enjoy an afternoon of sake tasting with 30 varieties of sake including three local sakes. The event will include a barrel breaking ceremony and Japanese drum performance by Mirai Daiko. Hong Kong style hors d’oeuvres will be served and you will get to bring home your sake tasting cup! Proceeds from the event will go to the Asian Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund. The tasting is sponsored by Uncle Joe’s Hong Kong Bistro, SG, JFC International, Gaujin 24886 and the Asian Chamber of Commerce.
Linking Asia will dive deeper into the exchange of ideas, beliefs, and techniques along the Silk Road trade routes, which profoundly affected the development of Asian art. The presentation will consider themes such as artistic inspiration and cross-cultural hybridization of styles, trade by land and sea, ink art trends in East Asia, and religious links before the twentieth century.
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December 2017 | Event Calendar
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Spoken word artist META and creative writer: Sarmiento By Joie Ha
“Don’t ever forget, the depth of your fighting spirit cannot be caged by the measurements of man.” - Meta Sarmiento, Finding strength in a world obsessed with size, TedXMileHigh It’s hard not to talk to Meta for hours. He’s the type of person that you want to hear all about. He is one of those rare individuals that are unabashedly themselves, exuding a type of sincerity that you don’t often see. There are no false pretenses, no facades, just Meta. Winner of multiple spoken word competitions, these awards and accolades are incredibly impressive, but the best thing about Meta is his authenticity and honesty. After talking to him for a few moments, you feel like you’ve been friends for decades. Meta Sarmiento was born in Guam, a small island in the Pacific that is an unincorporated territory of the United States. Growing up as a Filipino American on a small island, he often had to negotiate his identity between these intersectionalities. He found himself often questioning whether he was Filipino or American- and what it meant to be from Guam, a place that many people knew nothing about. Poetry ended up being one of the tools Meta used to negotiate this identity and accept it in all of its intricacies. In 2007, Meta was pulled out of his chemistry class to listen to spoken word activists in his high school library. He had read poetry before—things like Shakespeare and Robert Frost. But this was something different. Intrigued, Meta went to a poetry slam and his eyes were opened to the multitude of creative ways poetry could be used. He heard crazy poems, erotic poems, poems of every kind and from that moment forward, Meta knew he found his niche. Although it started as a hobby, it became a tool for Meta to make sense of the world we live in. Whenever he is confused, angry, or sad, writing allows him an outlet to express himself and understand his emotions. It’s not always about writing an amazing poem, but about
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December 2017 | Spotlight
the personal, spiritual, and emotional process of writing. Since that fateful moment in the library, Meta has been consistently writing and performing poems of international renown. In 2015, he was a winner for the Global Call for Climate Action’s Spoken Word for the World contest. He was flown out to Paris, France to the United Nations Climate Negotiations to perform his piece regarding the connection between hyper militarization in the Pacific region and climate change. Hyper militarization has an incredibly large carbon footprint and Meta brought attention to the environmental damage that it propagated. Interestingly, the poem was initially uploaded on YouTube but was taken down promptly two weeks after its posting. Meta remarks with a smirk that maybe his poem about the military was a tad bit too political- that maybe if he stuck with deforestation and melting glaciers then it would still be playing. The accomplishments that Meta has achieved are numerous, from being a TEDx Speaker to the first Guam rap artist to be selected for TeamBackPack’s contests to a Creative Writing teacher, Meta’s experiences span literally around the world. However, when asked about his proudest accomplishments, he doesn’t speak about any of these experiences. Instead he talks about his personal growth and the moments when he’s brave enough to admit his mistakes. The moments that resonate most with him surprisingly aren’t on stage in the spotlight in front of an audience, but instead are in those quiet unspoken moments alone when his writing helps him discover more about himself. In these moments, Meta pens down his journey in hopes that others will be able to relate to his experiences and not make the same mistakes that he did. Meta’s poems often take his audience on an emotional journey where they can not only relate to the many bittersweet moments that he shares, but also learn ways to navigate their own personal challenges. One of Meta’s recent poems called “Momma’s Boy” refers to his masculinity and how much of how he learned to love is shaped by brave brown women. Growing up in a gang culture, Meta had
internalized schemas of toxic masculinity. The poem allows him to reconcile this piece of himself, dismantling the patriarchy that he learnt. During the climax of the poem, Meta is escorted home by a police officer. When his mother is asked if Meta was her son, she simply replied no, she didn’t recognize him. At that moment, he realized how much he hurt someone he loved. Momma’s Boy explores masculinity, by closely following Meta’s relationship with his mother. At the end of my time with Meta, I realized that we had spent several hours talking about politics, art, and nothing in particular. Similar to the way Meta speaks with an audience, he was a way of pulling you in and getting you interested. His performances are both familiar and thought provoking, more of a shared journey and dialogue than a one-sided speech. Since moving to Denver in 2016, Meta has continued to hit the ground running. He released a self-published book of poems titled “Tie Your Shoes Kid,” a collection of pieces that explore childhood, family, migration, and love. Additionally, Meta has released a rap album, “Apt 207,” that is available on Spotify and iTunes. To learn more about Meta, catch him at his next performance, or see more of his work visit www. reachmeta.com. Meta Sarmiento | asian avenue magazine
11
New Douglas County School Board Director elected: Kevin Leung By Annie Guo VanDan
Kevin Leung, local business owner and father of three, was recently elected as the new Douglas County School Board Director by a margin of 58% to 42%. Last month, he was sworn into office to serve a four-year term. He will be the only first generation Asian American elected official in Colorado. Leung grew up in Hong Kong with parents that were illiterate. He says, “I hope my election will bring in more Asian Americans to participate in the political process. If I can win an election in a county of 90% Caucasian voters with over 52,000 votes, so can others.” “It also proves that we live in a great country where one can achieve the ‘American Dream’ through hard work and great education if he/she believes in themselves and run to do good for society.” For years, he worked in the IT profession in the private sector and taught IT graduate courses at Regis University. He has two Master’s degrees from the University of Colorado. He was also a civilian contractor for the US army and is now a successful local business owner. He has lived in Douglas County (DougCo) for over 26 years with his wife and three children, two who have graduated from the county’s public schools and a third who is in a DougCo middle school. Douglas County School District (DCSD) is Colorado’s third largest school district and has over 68,000 students and 8,700 employees with budget over 600 million dollars. Leung moved to the US from Hong Kong for the best education. When he first came to Douglas County, he said the schools were top-rated for academic achievement. That’s no longer the case. “In the past eight years, the district has had
12
December 2017 | Spotlight
huge fights from the so-called reformers instead of focusing on local issues, such as how to educate in the best way.” He also raised concerns about teacher and principal turnover, both of which are higher than the state average. And he pointed out that despite the county’s population growth, not one new school has been built since 2010, and the district has a huge repair bill for schools coming due. Leung has volunteered on a number of accountability groups, both for the county school district and at the statewide level. He is the only DougCo parent on the State Advisory Council for Parent Involvement in Education, a group mandated by state law run by the Colorado Department of Education. Why was this race so important and one of the most watched in the US? KL: The Douglas County School Board race in 2017 was the most watched election in the US because of the issue of school vouchers. After the Colorado Supreme Court ruled against DCSD’s voucher program, the defender appealed to the US Supreme Court. The US Supreme Court has returned the case back to the Colorado Supreme Court for reconsideration. For those who support privatization of public education, they believe the current US Supreme Court will ultimately rule in its favor because of its current conservative make-up. Thus, the so-called Blaine Amendment, which appears in 37 state constitutions, is likely to be overturned allowing public money to be used to fund tuition for private religious schools in the entire country. That is reason why so much money was spent here to retain the pro-voucher board majority.
What are the top issues you plan to address in the Douglas County School District? KL: Douglas County schools must recruit and retain high-quality teachers. Besides having lower teacher pay than neighboring districts, the current board installed an unpopular and unjust pay for performance system to evaluate teachers in the Fall of 2012. That, among other issues, has led to an increase in teacher turnover from 10% to 20% at DCSD over 5 years. My second goal is to improve students’ academic achievement. Our district lost the state’s highest level of rating, Accredited with Distinction, in 2010. Going forward, we must serve ALL students better and improve performance by providing adequate resource. I also ran for the school board to restore trust and accountability in our community. Our district spent at least $16 million to develop a software package with little oversight, while at the same time cutting school budgets. The “reform” board also attempted to give public money to private schools with its Choice Scholarship Program in 2011, which I sued to stop. Our teachers have received a 2% raise in the 2017-2018 budget, while central office administrators received 10% retention bonuses. Our spending priorities must change. Together, as a community, we must do better and that is why I ran.
lence for our kids, and restore trust and accountability in our community. What other organizations are you involved with? KL: I chair the Town of Parker’s Reinvestment Authority Advisory Committee. I am also a member of the State Advisory Council for Parent Involvement in Education, and Colorado Department of Education’s Accountability Work Group. In addition, I am appointed to the Advisor position in the Overseas Community Affairs Council of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and am elected to the Chair of the Hop Sing Benevolent Association (Denver). I have served in many other US and Asian-American ethnic organizations as an officer in the past two decades.
Why did you want to run for the school board? KL: I wanted all Douglas County students to have the same opportunities that I had to live the American dream through quality education and hard work. I wanted to serve to help recruit and retain the best teachers, bring back education excel-
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Kevin Leung | asian avenue magazine
13
Asian Student Achievement launches job board By Kate Liu
For student Michael Nguyen, college was a place to grow not only intellectually but also professionally. But like many of his fellow students, he spent significant time deciding how to align his passion for entrepreneurship, mentorship, and advocacy on behalf of Asian and Asian American students. While serving as treasurer for the 2012 Midwest Asian American Student Union (MAASU) Conference, Michael and Shane Carlin shared their first experience working together. At the time, Carlin was serving on the board of advisors for MAASU and would later become Nguyen’s mentor, friend and business partner. Building mentoring relationships like this became inspiration for Carlin to start his own company, Asian Student Achievement (ASA), a vision he had aspired to fulfill in order to coach individuals with the same level of guidance he provided to Nguyen. Having mentored many college students and young professionals since 1995, Carlin had too often experienced the professional needs of Asian and Asian American students go unaddressed. Wanting to bolster the number of Asian and Asian American candidates through the pipeline for leadership, Carlin founded Asian Student Achievement to arm students and early professionals with useful skills, such as professional networking, branding oneself, and job interviewing.
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December 2017 | Feature
The company was built on the foundations of East-meets-West culture and aim to become our community’s main ladder and professional resource through interactive workshops and oneon-one coaching sessions. ASA covers a broad range of topics designed with the individual’s personal goals and cultural upbringing in mind -- Carlin himself is a Korean-American adoptee. In developing these services and offerings, ASA has been able to reach universities and organizations across the nation, hosting workshops and speaking engagements for organizations including Miami University, UniPro (Pilipino American Unity for Progress), ITASA (Intercollegiate Taiwanese American Students Association), and FACT (Filipino Americans Coming Together). ASA’s workshop at Miami University this past fall was the second year partnering with the Asian American Association (AAA) and the International Student Advisory Council (ISAC) on campus. After featuring an interactive networking workshop in 2016, ASA and Miami decided to host a professionalism and etiquette dinner. The event focused on professional dining, workplace diversity, and networking, while incorporating a lively dinner with students of the two organizations for a night of discussion and fun. One of ASA’s international students from Thailand, Hathaipat Arayangkul, participated in a customized workshop held between ASA and the executive board of Asian American Asso-
ciation. “After participating in Shane’s workshop, I learned more about myself and my executive team members. Now knowing my strengths and weaknesses, I want to improve my weaknesses while at the same time improve on my strengths to become a better me when working with my Asian American Association executive team.” Hearing praise and critique from many different students has helped to innovate ASA’s business. As the team is always looking to equip the next generation of Asian and Asian American professionals with the means they need to succeed, we recently launched a job board. Through this platform, we focus on connecting our job seekers with diversity-driven employers. The job board remains one of the few in the US specializing in Asian and Asian Americans and connected to coaching, ensuring that job seekers who we’ve personally coached are the same individuals who have created profiles on our Job Board. “In other professional so-
cial platforms and job boards, the pool of people is very general and it’s hard to find who you want,” said student Michelle Lee, a sophomore at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “But being able to show that there are Asian leaders present in our general public, it’d be great for job seekers and recruiters to be able to have one place where it’s easy to distinguish who is the best of the best.” After graduating, ASA students continue to apply the skills and perspectives they gained from ASA events. University of Illinois graduate and engineer DJ Mascarenas reflected on our growth as seen through his numerous photographs he’s taken at our events: “Having had Shane as a mentor in the past, I can personally attest to the immense value of his professional experience, networking prowess, and keen personal insight [through ASA].” “I look forward to seeing how they grow and what impact they will have on the next generation of professionals.”
Interactive workshops focused on a number of topics, including: • Public speaking • Professional networking simulation • Mock interviews • Resume and cover letters • Asian American issues, overcoming discrimination, etc. • Business dining etiquette • Leadership skills in student organizations and at your office • Asian American adoptee • Customized topic Request an event today! For more details, contact: asa@learnasa.com.
For more information, visit www.learnasa.com.
Asian Student Achievement | asian avenue magazine
15
Parols of the Philippines The parol is a lantern in the shape of a star that has traditionally become a standard fixture in every Filipino house during Christmas celebration. By Mary Jeneverre Schultz Photos by Jeannette Herreria Dotted across the countryside of the Philippines, lanterns also known as parols, are found all over the islands. Parols symbolize Christmas, representing hope. Filipinos believe the parol is more than just Christmas. “The parol has become a symbol of a guiding light for all of us, old and young, to enable us achieve our respective goals in life,” said Robert “Bobby” DeDios, president of the Philippine American Society of Colorado (PASCO). Other Filipinos agree on the importance of the parol in the Philippines during the longest holiday of the year. “Parol lanterns not only hold significance in the essence of welcoming the Christmas season in the Philippines, they also symbolize the true spirit of Christmas in every Filipino,” said Jonabelle Moraga-Papellero Siton Mwamba, one of the board of di-
rectors of The Filipino-American Community of Colorado (FACC), who teaches conversational Tagalog. “Christmas is not complete without the parol. History Every year, the Aurora History Museum schedules its parol-making workshop around November, so shoppers and those with tight holiday schedules can participate in this hands-on activity for the whole family. The collaboration between Aurora History Museum and PASCO has continued for the last six years, including last November 4, 2017. Metropolitan cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York offer these parol building classes in their community centers to expose the younger generations about their culture and traditions. The origins traced back to the days of Bethlehem. “The star-shaped lanterns
In the country side of Camiguin Island, Philippines, a colorful parol hangs just inside the doorway of a Filipino hut.
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December 2017 | Cover Story
Local Filipinos and neighbors pose with their parol creations they created in November at the Aurora History Museum. Photo credit: Aurora History Museum that we build signify the bright shining star that guided the three wise men who paid homage to the baby Jesus Christ who was born in a manger in Bethlehem.” DeDios said. “We teach the class to pass our cultural heritage to the youth of our community about the common practice during the Christmas holiday seasons in the Philippines. Handed down from generation to generation, parol-making is a family tradition between grandparents and grandchildren. Mwamba confirms this tradition by sharing her personal family story. “My grandmother taught me how to make the lantern when I was in elementary school, and it was always a tradition between me and her,” Mwamba said. “It was somehow that deep connection that we built every time we made the parol lanterns.” Material The parol lanterns come in different shapes and sizes, but the star is the common product. It comes in colorful
array of intricate designs and bright colors. It is made of bamboo sticks, shaped as a start and covered with paper or transparent cellophane, decorated with papier. Some lanterns show two tails hanging from the bottom that adds the unique structure. To light up the lanterns, a candle or coconut oil lamp is used for illumination. Simple materials include: • Transparent, colored paper • Bamboo, wooden Sticks • Glue designed to hold together wood • String Other parols contained colored beads, pearl shells, string of paper ribbons. However, DeDios said current trends indicate use of “recycled materials” such as empty plastic bottles. Where can you buy it? Retailers in the U.S. are capitalizing on the diverse populations such as the Philippines. Stores include: World Market, Pier One and Michael’s. Parols - Symbols of Christmas | asian avenue magazine
17
If you are avoiding stores, and rather shop from the comfort of your computer, visit these websites: • Ebay - www.ebay.com • Amazon - www.amazon.com • PangBahay - www.pangbahay.com Prices vary from $20 to $100, depending on the material and availability. One website (www.pangbahay.com), specializing in selling parols, already have sold out on popular versions back in early November. PangBahay started their small business back in 2009. The owners searched for Filipino Christmas décor in the San Francisco Bay area but couldn’t find these parols. “That was a huge surprise to us since there is a large Filipino population here,” said Mitone, owner of PangBahay. “We also realized that if it isn’t easy for us to find it, imagine how more difficult for other Filipinos in other parts of the US and Canada. Most of the website’s products are capiz parols. The Internet company, who contracts with small-cottage, local artisans’, purchase the products directly from Pampanga, a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines.
Outside St. Joseph Parish Church in Las Pinas City, Philippines, white parols are visible to all church-goers. This church has the oldest, bamboo organ in the world.
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December 2017 | Cover Story
“We are proud of the contribution we make to their livelihood,” Mitone said. Part of the Filipino household In addition to a supply of rice, several rice cookers, life-size wooden utensils of spoon and fork, the parol is found in most Filipino-American households throughout the United States, no matter what religion. PASCO’s president confirms this reality. “Although this has some religious connotation, the truth is the parol, which is a lantern in the shape of a star has traditionally become a standard fixture in every Filipino house during Christmas celebration,” DeDios said. “The symbolism of the parol lantern has evolved into a guiding light that will always enable all of us, especially the youth in our society to traverse a clear path to a more productive and meaningful life.” The Christmas parol is the universal, iconic symbol for the holidays. ------------------------------------------Mary Jeneverre Schultz loves Christmas. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @Jeneverre.
At this kiosk in Baguio, Philippines, the parol lures Filipinos to buy dessert treats of sticky rice inserted in bamboo also known as Puto Bumbong, normally made during the holiday season.
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SONODA
By Mary Jeneverre Schultz Photos by Sarah Shirazi
Japanese restaurant expands menu offerings
9623 E. County Line Road Centennial, CO 80112 Tel: 303-708-8800 sonodaparkmeadows.com www.facebook.com/sonodaparkmeadows Searching for the perfect gift at the mall requires mental and physical exertion. Taking a break during lunch or having an early dinner at Sonoda Ramen Sushi Grill at Park Meadows will re-energize you, your family or friends during a daylong, shopping excursion. Just north of Park Meadows in Centennial Promenade, the restaurant is found in the same complex as Toys “R” Us on County Line Road. To encourage shoppers, the restaurant is offering happy hour specials daily from 3 pm to 6 pm. The specials include 20 percent off the bill and buy one get one deals on beer, sake and wine. To reflect the restaurant’s name change, adding “ramen sushi grill,” owner “Kit” Agung Kurniawan has expanded the menu offerings beyond just sushi. “There’s more selection to the menu,” said Kurniawan. “We’ve included curry, ramen and grilled items.” With a capacity of 63 diners, it is advised to make reservations or call ahead of time but the restaurant will not turn away walk-in diners. Just expect a wait if no reservations were made. Calling one hour ahead of time might alleviate a long wait time. The new owner Kurniawan believes he can lure more diners, who enjoy Japanese cuisine. He took ownership of the restaurant last December 2016. His restaurant experience includes managing and training new employees at Genghis
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December 2017 | Restaurant Peek
Open Hours: Mon - Thurs: 11am - 3pm (lunch), 3pm - 9pm (dinner) Fri: 11am - 3pm (lunch), 3pm - 10pm (dinner) Sat: 11am - 9:30pm (all day dinner) Sun: 12pm - 9pm (all day dinner) Grill, just across the way from Sonoda Ramen Sushi Grill. During the weekend afternoon, employees take a break and prep for the dinner crowd. Kurniawan employs 12 fulltime and part-time kitchen, bar and wait staff to manage the Japanese restaurant. Walking into the mid-sized restaurant, the décor covers minimalist art with hanging lights and metal tables. It feels like a simple Japanese diner, with not too much fuss on wall art. The menu still offers a variety of sushi, from sashimi to bento boxes. All the usual rolls of rainbow, tempura and tuna are available to diners, who like to stay with their favorite and familiar Japanese options. Ordering a bento box would cover the whole range of Japanese cuisine from, chicken, beef, fish, rolls, rice and even a touch of tempura items. For the hardcore sushi lovers, the restaurant offers a Chirashi entrée, covering 14 pieces of sashimi. If you’re watching your weight, just order the sashimi items without the rice. The addition of noodle dishes includes udon and soba options. Udon is a type of thick, wheat flour noodle of Japanese cuisine, often served hot in its simplest form. Soba is the Japanese name for buckwheat. It usually refers to thin noodles made from buckwheat flour or a combination of buckwheat and wheat flours. Need just a quick bite for more energy? Consider one
of their many signature appetizers. The pork belly or roast chicken sliders is the perfect bite-size touch of soy sauce and crunch. Each appetizer, entrée and side dish are garnished with a swirl of orange carrots, edible purple flowers and slices of yellow lemon. The garnishes appeal to the sight as diners dig into each bite of the dish, whether it is an appetizer or entrée. Dressed with soy or ginger sauces, the palette of food tastes a little tart and sweet on most dishes, depending on selection. The wait staff is inviting and approachable. Tell your wait staff your favorites and they will assist in accommodating your preferences. As a hands-on owner, don’t be surprised if Kurniawan pays a visit to your table to check for your satisfaction as his guest. You can dine alone at the sushi bar or in a big family of six with tables to outfit any size for large parties. It’s easy to order, eat and be on your way after a healthy lunch or dinner. Because it’s in the middle of a large shopping complex, it’s the best location for a healthy meal. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mary Jeneverre Schultz loves her sushi. Follow her on Twitter @Jeneverre.
Don’t miss Happy Hour:
7 days a week 3pm-6pm 20 percent off the bill and buy one get one deals on beer, sake and wine Sonoda Ramen Sushi Grill | asian avenue magazine
21
gook Interview with producer James J. Yi
Interviewed by: Joie Ha, Asian Avenue magazine The film Gook, directed by and starring Justin Chon, follows two Korean American brothers and their unlikely friendship with a young black girl, Kamilla, during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. After the police officers that brutalized and murdered Rodney King were acquitted, the community was in an uproar. Protests turned to riots and Korean American businesses were disproportionately targeted. Gook shows different perspectives from the Korean and Black community, depicting an emotional and honest picture of that time. In one of the most moving moments of the film, the main character Eli finds himself in a position where he has to explain to Kamilla the meaning of the racial slur, gook. In the scene, Kamilla stares at Eli’s crudely graffitied car displaying the crooked letters GOOK, not truly understanding the reason behind the divide between the AAPI and African American community. Eli explains that Gook means ‘country’ in Korean. Han Guk means Korea, Jung Guk means China, but his favorite is Mi Guk. It means America. A poignant scene, Justin gestures to himself when he says Mi Guk, playing on the phonetic similarity between ‘mi’ and ‘me’. Gook does not endeavor to choose a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ side, instead it explores these intertwining journeys, creating a rich tapestry of stories that reflect the pain and hope of all communities involved. We were lucky to secure an interview with the producer, James J. Yi, who takes us behind the scenes in the making of Gook.
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December 2017 | Film Review
Watch trailer: www.samuelgoldwynfilms.com/gook Gook: 93% Rotten Tomatoes | 7.2/10 on IMDB Why did you get involved with Gook? I grew up in Lakeview, San Francisco in an all black neighborhood so it was very personal. Justin himself, his father owned a shoe store in Paramount, California. A lot of what he went through and what happened to his dad inspired the film, although the script itself was not a true story. He had originally pitched me the idea four or five years ago. Two years ago when we were approaching the 25th anniversary of the LA Uprising, he approached me and told me that this is the time to do it. If we don’t do it now, we’ll never do it. So we put a formal script together, went into production, played it at Sundance, and distributed the film. It happened really quickly. I noticed that you referred to the events as the LA Uprising, why is this? Because it wasn’t really a riot. It was an uprising. It was a backlash to the Rodney King verdict. It was an accumulation of social and political tensions, police abuse in South Central Compton and throughout the central LA area, and on top of that, a firestorm from Latasha Harlin’s case where a Korean merchant murdered a young black female. It was really the Black and Hispanic community backlashing against years of police abuse, oppression, and social disparity. It was a response from the inner city community to the struggles they faced socially, politically, and economically.
Gook follows two Korean American brothers, who run their late father’s shoe store in a predominantly African American community of Los Angeles during times of racial tension and the “infamous” L.A. riots.
Gook released on August 18, 2017 and is still in theaters.The film is also available for download on iTunes. What are some messages in your film? We wanted the film to be a trigger point for AAPIs and Korean Americans to reflect about their place and voice in society, especially in relation to other POC (people of color) communities. I feel like Korean and Blacks lived side and side but had such a high degree of mistrust in the community. We hoped the film would be a way that the Korean American community can look outside of themselves and see other communities as neighbors and peers instead of enemies. The miscommunication and misunderstanding happened on all sides involved. In the film, we try to show that all of these members in the community were actually struggling side by side. What surprised you during the film? Everyone that we shared our project with loved it and came on board. We couldn’t have made it without them. All of the people in my crew were experienced professionals, but most everyone else was first time students and had never worked on a film before. They volunteered just because they believed in our project, what we were doing, and our story. And after we shot the film, we did a Kickstarter campaign and that was a huge success and that type of community support has been overwhelming and surprising. I hope that we did the story and the characters and community justice. We hope it’s thought provoking and helps you reflect in your lives and community and we hope that you share it if you believe in it. Why did you name the film Gook? We felt like there was no other appropriate title for it. Gook is a real word - a word that is actively used in the Korean community that means soup and country. We knew there would
be some controversy as it is viewed as a slur, but we also felt that this word has been misinterpreted and misconstrued by Caucasian society and we should reclaim and educate the world on its true meaning. The movie is filmed in black and white, what is the reason behind this? There’s multiple reasons - first being artistic. Justin’s main inspiration was La Haine, a French film about an Arab teenager that is beat to death by police and his friends in the slums protest and riot. It is a film that holds parallels to Gook. Because it is a period piece showcasing something from 25 years ago, we made it black and white to create a nostalgic and classic feel, taking the audience back in the time. Additionally, as an independent film we did not have a huge budget so we chose to film everything in black and white. What does this film mean for the AAPI community? It’s an urban film, a ghetto film showcasing a whole generation of AAPIs. There’s a whole generation of people like us who are working class, fluent English-speaking, and Westernized. We were not straight A students, we did not get scholarships, we didn’t become doctors and lawyers. We were street kids- we sold weed, we hustled, we went to juvie. There’s a whole generation of people like me that aren’t even represented in media, even within the AAPI community. For me, it is important to empower AAPIs and these stories. What would you say to aspiring AAPIs interested in film? Definitely be proactive and creative. If there’s not opportunity, create your own. Write scripts, make films, make shortsbe active. Make your own destiny. Film: Gook | asian avenue magazine
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bookreviews Where the Past Begins
A Writer’s Memoir Author: Amy Tan
Y TAN M A
400 pp. | Hard Cover: $28.99 ISBN: 978-0-06-231929-6 www.amytan.net Follow her: Facebook: @AuthorAmyTan Twitter and Instagram: @AmyTan Reviewed by Mary Jeneverre Schultz Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @Jeneverre
A memoir is a great way to learn more about the inPhoto ner workings of a sports star, Credit: celebrity or even a well-known, beJulian Johnson loved author. After writing nine books, Chinese American author Amy Tan finally wrote her personal memoir dedicated to her editor Daniel Halpern. She resisted writing this memoir for a long time. “Most editors would not have answered the rambling emails with such diplomacy and kindness when the obvious answer to each e-mail should have been a firm suggestion that I cease using my fingers to tap out e-mails and apply them to finishing my much-delayed novel,” said Tan during the introductory pages of the book. Released in October, the book describes her family memories of her father and brother contracting brain tumors, living in Europe, her head injuries and contracting Lyme disease. But not all is tragic when she discusses her creative process in the love of classical music and sketching nature scenes. While critics might think her memoir is a set of rambling, any of her fans would find it fascinating and revealing. Reading the book feels like you are in her intimate world of close-knit friends as she reveals her sorrows, confessions on struggling as a writer and musings between her and her mothers’ letters. Her mother continues to perplex even after intimate confessions between themselves. Tan discusses her mother’s last days on earth.
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December 2017 | Book Review
It is a revelatory book for those who want to know the inner workings of an author who tells stories of the struggles between her Chinese heritage and American upbringings. Most Asian American readers enjoy the peak into her life. Her office is a time capsule of her family history that includes passports, her mother’s notes and other items dear to her as she reminisces growing up under a single-parent household. The best part is when a boss from the corporate world damns Tan when she quits and makes the leap into freelance as an author. That boss curses her and berates by saying she will never become a good writer. Seven novels and two children’s’ books later, at 65 year old, she is an author most Asian and Asian American readers enjoy as she explores relationships between mothers and daughters in a traditional Chinese family. Joy Luck Club catapulted Tan into great success as the book has become into a movie. Her work has been translated in 35 languages, from Spanish, French, and Finnish to Chinese, Arabic, and Hebrew. Writing her memoir has not daunted her because she is working on her next project called The Memory of Desire. Of course, the next book is encouraged and supported by her friend and editor Dan Halpern. Tan’s memoir is a must-read for all fledging writers and aspiring novelists. It’s a great Christmas gift for the readers in your family. Mary Jeneverre Schultz hopes Ms. Tan will visit Denver soon. Follow her on Twitter @Jeneverre.
The Fortunes Author: Peter Ho Davies Pages: 289 ISBN: 978544263703 (Hardback) Publisher: Mariner Books http://peterhodavies.com/author Reviewed by Mary Jeneverre Schultz Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @Jeneverre
Photo Credit: Dane Hillard Photography
Readers are tempted to search the internet and check for facts, especially the story of Vincent Chin, who was killed senselessly and considered one of the first major hate crimes towards Asian Americans in the US. The story is told by an acquaintance, who spent his bachelor night with him, but ran away before the actual crime that occurred in the bar. It is a must-read book for those studying Asian-American history and literature or just curious about how Asian Americans became a part of the fabric of the United States. It’s hard to put down. The book has already won several awards: 2017 Chautauqua Prize and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for literature that confronts racism and examines diversity. Peter Ho Davies is the author of two novels, The Fortunes and The Welsh Girl (long-listed for the Man Booker Prize), and two short story collections, The Ugliest House in the World (winner of the John Llewelyn Rhys Prize) and Equal Love (New York Times Notable Book). His work has appeared in Harpers, The Atlantic, The Paris Review, The Guardian and Washington Post among others, and has been widely anthologized, including selections for Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. In 2003 Granta magazine named him among its Best of Young British Novelists. Davies is also a recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Born in Britain to Welsh and Chinese parents, he now makes his home in the US. He has taught at the University of Oregon and Emory University, and is currently on the faculty of the Helen Zell MFA Program in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
ter ho e P d
ies av
In a historical non-fiction setting, British-Chinese Peter Ho Davies provides fictional stories to key figures of Chinese Americans who migrated and lived in the US. The stories of railroad strike, Hollywood, racism in Detroit and biracial couple adopting a Chinese baby. These four separate stories are not blazed in the memories of Asian Americans living the United States. It takes a talented writer to create a fictional work of literature to share the thoughts of the Asian-American conscious. Never has another author brought up these historical stories of Chinese Americans. “The experience of being Chinese in America is the major theme of The Fortunes, a beautifully constructed novel told in four disparate though loosely-linked parts,” according to a recent review by NPR. The first story is about a valet to a white man’s family. He also operated a laundromat while overseeing railroad duties for his Caucasian boss. He eventually breaks free from his Caucasian boss and becomes a railroad worker. He struggled working as a Chinese man with fair skin during the frontier days of building the railroad. Hollywood becomes the second story. It’s only fitting, especially with all the uproar of unfair wages among Asian American recently on the popular series of Hawaii Five-0. Even the Chinese prominent parts are awarded to American actresses such as the movie The Good Earth. While the Chinese-American actress is relentless in pursing her craft and making a name for herself, it all comes down to nothing in her eyes and those of her parents. The story of Detroit shares the senseless violence of Chinese-American Vincent Chin, who was killed in a bar fight during his bachelor party. Two Caucasian men killed him because they were furious about the Japanese removing auto jobs. The worst part is these men considered him Japanese even though he was Chinese American. This murder incensed the fury of Asian Americans. The fourth and last story details the emotional pains of a biracial couple adopting a Chinese baby. Emotions run high as the childless couple could not conceive a child of their own and begin the adoption process to make sense of their lives together.
Book Review | asian avenue magazine
25
onscene
CU Denver event speaks to opportunities when working the millennial generation Article and Photos by: Mary Jeneverre Schultz
Erin Yoshimura, founder and CEO of Empowerful Changes, served as the event’s Mistress of Ceremonies.
T
he Korean American Community Foundation of Colorado and the University of Colorado Denver sponsored a leadership learning session entitled Emerging Leadership Event: The Millennial Generation-Overcoming Challenges and Seizing Opportunities to share insights from their peers and leaders on working collaboratively with those in the millenial age group. Keynote speaker and founder of IW Group Bill Imada challenged attendees to become life learners and fuel their passion. “Manage up, let people know what you are doing,” said Imada, who coined this as “reverse mentoring.” He also encouraged learning from every generation. “Enable others to elevate yourself by elevating others,” said Imada, who was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Erin Yoshimura, founder and CEO of Empowerful Changes, emceed the event, while Dr. Hamilton Bean moderated a speaker panel. He asked for insights on collaboration, understanding generations and technology. The panelists included: • Ryan Gedney, senior economist in the Labor Market Information office within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment • Ariana Nikmanesh, member of the National Millennial Community • Patrick Walton, manager of the Office of the President and CEO for Mile High United Way • Brian Young, new media buyer and content creator for the University of Colorado Denver
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December 2017 | On Scene
Bill Imada, founder and chairman of IW Group, was the keynote speaker at the 2017 Emerging Leadership Event at the University of Colorado Denver. Older attendees voiced their encouraging words by reaching out to mentors. Program organizers urged students and attendees to sign up for the organization’s mentoring program. The Korean American Community Foundation in Colorado enhances the Korean American community and beyond by fostering volunteerism, building young leadership, promoting philanthropy and partnering with inter-community bridge building for next generation advancement. Other sponsors included: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco; Asian Roundtable of Colorado; and Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnership (Peter Lee, Stella Yu). For more information on this program and upcoming events, visit kacfc.org or contact organizers at info@kacfc.org.
In a classroom setting, attendees included community leaders, students and those curious about millennial generation. Photo by: Mary Jeneverre Schultz
ACC Celebrates 2017 at Annual Gala By Peggy Moore
ACC President Clarence Low presents scholarship to CU Denver Vice Chancellor of Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Brenda J. Allen and students Tram Vo and HeaMi Yi.
T
he Asian Chamber of Commerce (ACC) hosted nearly 400 members of the community, corporate partners and distinguished guests for its annual dinner and gala on Friday, Nov. 3 at King’s Land Chinese Seafood Restaurant. This event provided funding for many of the Asian Chamber’s programs including its scholarship fund at the University of Colorado Denver, Scholars Program to Washington D.C. and their AAPI Diversity and Inclusion in Colorado presentation. Mayor Michael B. Hancock spoke about the changing landscape in Denver as one of the fastest growing cities in the nation and the role government and minority chambers play in the growth and employment. Consul General of the People’s Republic of China Hong Lei spoke of the trade opportunities between China and the U.S. Other dignitaries in attendance were Consul-General of Japan in Denver Hiroto Hirakoba, Mayor of Englewood Joe Jefferson, Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Colo-
Consul-General of Japan in Denver Hiroto Hirakoba, Asian Pacific Development Center Board Vice Chair Lily Shen and Mayor of Englewood Joe Jefferson. rado Denver Dr. Brenda J. Allen, President of Red Rocks Community College Dr. Michele Haney, Chair of Denver-Takayama Sister Cities Committee Steve Comstock and Chair of Denver-Kunming Sister Cities Committee Jeanie Johnson. The dinner highlighted the accomplishments of ACC in 2017 which included a trade delegation of ACC board members to Hong Kong and the launch of the AAPI Diversity and Inclusion in Colorado presentation. CU Denver students Tram Vo and HeaMi Yi were recognized as the 2017 scholarship recipients. Kelsey Fuchs was the recipient of the Scholars Program to Washington D.C. Networking, meeting new friends, catching up with old friends, and lots of food were on the agenda for the guests. Entertainment during dinner was provided by the Humu Humu Ukulele Group. Dinner concluded with a mango pudding in the shape of a carp and winners of the silent auction. For more information about the Asian Chamber of Commerce, visit www.acccolorado.org.
Mile-High Happenings | asian avenue magazine
27
How Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion Applies to the New Year Over 300 years ago, Sir Isaac Newton transformed the world of physics with his theories on gravitation and his laws of motion. As we wrap up 2017 (even if you aren’t passionate about the topic of physics), these natural laws can help us all reflect upon this past year, and how we can set ourselves up for progress and success in 2018. Take a moment now to come up with some goals and outcomes for the next year. Stop and pause, even if it’s for 30 seconds to reflect and visualize what an ideal 2018 looks like before we proceed any further. Go ahead, do it now.
Newton’s First Law of Motion:
Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. In other words, an object at rest, tends to stay at rest. An object in motion, will stay in motion. Do you ever wonder why those that exercise continue to exercise? To those that are sedentary, they wonder how one can be so obsessed with working out and fitness. Once an action is repeated over and over, it becomes habitual and an identity. Similarly, as you work toward your ideals, if you stay consistent, the process becomes easier and easier. The “activation energy” to begin movement always takes more energy than to maintain the motion. Don’t get complacent in 2018. Move toward your goals! As you’re building momentum, be patient with the process and don’t quit. Stay in motion.
Newton’s Second Law of Motion:
The relationship between an object’s mass m, its acceleration a, and the applied force F is F = ma. In other words, to generate great force toward your goals, you need to increase your mass or acceleration, ideally both. Let’s say that your goal in 2018 is to earn more money. In financial terms, money is the force (F) or the value that you provide in your services to others. Let’s say you have a business which sells a widget. The mass (m) is the profitability that you earn from your client base, and the acceleration (a) is your ability to provide that transaction. It’s that simple. If you want to make more money if your business, get a larger client base (or make
28
December 2017 | Better Living
more per client) and accelerate the process in which you deliver them the goods. Too many people waste time on activity that are meaningless. I have friends who have told me about their business plans for years. Today, they are still working on busy work. Don’t confuse activity with productivity. In business or any other area of life, unless you’re increasing the mass or accelerating, don’t be surprised if you’re not getting the outcome you expect.
Newton’s Third Law of Motion:
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, your intentions and thoughts count. Every little thing matters. Walk around with a giant smile all day, and carefully observe how many more people smile back at you. We attract what we put out. This upcoming year, go BIG on the small things. Aristotle eloquently stated, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act but a habit.” Every food choice matters on a caloric and nutritional basis; will it nourish and strengthen us on a cellular level? Every word choice matters in our relationships and conversations; will we build others up with truth and encouragement? Every thought we entertain grows roots in our mind; will we mentally feast on sources of inspiration and wisdom, or merely feast on gossip and drama? Wishing you all a healthy, joyful, and prosperous 2018 filled with love and laughter.
- Tom Shieh
Connect with Tom at facebook.com/tom.shieh
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If Someone Could Come Up With A Matzo Ball Dim Sum Restaurant, We’d All Be Set
I
By Wayne Chan
ly did seem to know where all the best Chinese t’s interesting what one feels pride over. restaurants were. This wasn’t about the validity A few days ago, I was playing tennis with a of the answers, this was about who should be group of guys in our weekly tennis match. We’re PROVIDING the answers. been playing regularly for years now. As Rhett was calmly rattling off four or five ChiDuring a break in play, we started talking. It’s nese restaurants, I chimed in, somewhat indignever anything important – it could be about nantly. family. It could be about sports. It could be Excuse me? You’re asking Rhett about the best about making fun of what one of the guys was Chinese restaurant in town? What am I, chopped wearing. We almost make an effort to choose liver? As a matter of fact, if you were interested in topics of discussion that have no real significhopped liver, then you should ask Rhett! But for cance whatsoever. That’s what guys do. Chinese food, don’t you think you should be askBut in this instance, we began talking about ing me?!? something that’s very close to my heart. In fact, I wish I had been quick enough to have actuI can think of few other topics that would equal ally come up with that chopped liver line on the this one in importance. spot. Nevertheless, I made my point clear. What’s the best Chinese restaurant in town? Here’s the thing about pride. It doesn’t matFirst, a little background. In our group, except ter that I don’t own a Chifor me, our entire tennis group is white. Therefore, if my budFor some bizarre reason, nese restaurant, or that I wouldn’t be cooking any of dies would like a primer on my pride seemed to the Chinese food that my where to go for the best Chifriends wanted. For some nese food in town, they’ve dictate my belief that bizarre reason, my pride found the right guy to ask. Well, except they didn’t. my Chinese-ness made seemed to dictate my belief that my Chinese-ness They didn’t ask, “Wayne, me uniquely qualified to made me uniquely qualified where’s the best Chinese restaurant in town?” They authenticate the location to authenticate the location of the best Chinese restauasked, “Where’s the best of the best Chinese rants in town. Chinese restaurant in town, On the other hand, is that Rhett?” Rhett happens to be restaurants in town. really so strange? If the taJewish. bles were turned, and the guys asked where Now, I’ve heard all the jokes about how Jewish the best Jewish deli was in people know where all the best Chinese restautown and I immediaterants are. But when someone says something ly chimed in with, about it, my usual reaction is akin to gently tap“Let me tell you, ping a young boy on the top of their head afyou’ve got to try ter attempting to tell a joke, as if to say, “Nice the blini’s over try, young lad. Good for you for trying.” In other at Mortons words, I’m usually a little condescending. – they’re to But in this case, my reaction was downright die for,” I hostile. Why? Because these guys were askthink Rhett ing someone where the best Chinese restaurant might be was, and that someone wasn’t the Chinese guy a little standing in front of them. peeved. It doesn’t matter that my friend Rhett actual-
30
December 2017 | Humor Column
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