Asian Avenue magazine - November 2016

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asian avenue November 2016 Volume 11 Issue 11

Connecting Cultures Linking Lives

bollywood: where Bombay MEETS hollywood

mayor’s diversity award goes to

asian avenue The History of

Wat Buddhawararam

DENVER’s Thai Temple

Learning a NEW LANGUAGE IS IN REACH Restaurant peek Soban Korean Restaurant

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Dear Asian Avenue readers,

asian avenue magazine

In the blink of an eye, 2016 is almost coming to an end! As we marvel at the beautiful fall foliage in Colorado, it is also the season to welcome comfy sweaters, hearty meals and the holidays. In this time of giving thanks, we hope that everyone will enjoy their holiday with friends and families.

In this month’s cover story, our staff writer Samantha Quee shares with the various tips to learning a new language. Contrary to popular belief, it does not get harder to pick up a new language as we get older. In fact, adults have certain traits that are proven to be more of an advantage compared to children! Samantha also introduces some mobile applications that are simple and convenient to use while learning a new language on the go!

On Oct. 6, Asian Avenue magazine received the 2016 Mayor’s Diversity and Inclusion Award from Mayor of Denver Michael Hancock. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the City of Denver’s Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships and Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission for selecting us for this award. It has been a great honor serving Colorado’s AAPI community and we are thrilled to continue sharing the important news and events about the Asian community! We share this event with under the “On Scene” section of this issue.

To fans of Korean cuisines, we introduce Soban, a new Korean restaurant located in Aurora. Soban’s owner previously ran a similar authentic Korean eatery in LA, which was highly recommended by restaurant critic Jonathan Gold. We are so lucky to welcome Soban to Colorado! Last but not the least, if you love to cook, I am sure you will enjoy the Chinese turkey steamed bun recipe we share this month! We wish everyone a great Thanksgiving season as we stuff ourselves with sumptuous food and awesome company with our loved ones!

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

advisors group General Counsel: Michael C. Song Patty Coutts, Donna LaVigne, Nestor J. Mercado, Sum C. Nguyen, Alok Sarwal, Tom Shieh, John Yee, Nai-Li Yee, George N. Yoshida

contributing writers Wayne Chan, Shohini Ghosh, Minister Ying-Yuan Lee, Paul Maruyama

contributing photographers Glenn Asakawa, Jamie Jennings

on the cover Whether you are visiting a different country or building up a new skill for your resume, it is never too late to learn a new language.

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Christina Yutai Guo, Publisher Asian Avenue magazine | www.asianavemag.com

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November 2016 | Publisher’s Note

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Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 1932-1449) reserves all copyrights to this issue. No parts of this edition can be reproduced in any manner without written permission. The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of Asian Avenue magazine. Authors may have consulting or other business relationships with the companies they discuss.

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

november2016

EVENTS

8

Event calendar

INSIDE STORY

9

Denver’s Thai temple practices Theravada Buddhism

16

CULTURAL TIDBITS

10

Bollywood dance has health benefits

BOOK REVIEWS

12

13

The Explosion Chronicles by Yan Lianke Double Cup Love by Eddie Huang

CHEF’S MENU

ART

15

Local artist and sculptor Shohini Ghosh invited to create sculpture at Ubon International Wax Festival

COVER STORY

16

It is never too late to learn a new language. With all of the new classes, apps and tools available, learning languages is right at our fingertips.

LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE IS WORTH THE EFFORT

22

Chinese Turkey Steamed Bun

RESTAURANT PEEK

23

The popular Soban Korean restaurant in Los Angeles opens in Aurora, Colo.

TAIWAN UPDATE

24

29

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver held 105th National Day Celebration

Happy Living Adult Daycare Center celebrates grand opening

30 NATIONAL NEWS

Taiwan seeks to join fight against global warming

HUMOR COLUMN

25

The Dumpling Complex

ON SCENE

26

10

Friends of ENCA Farm fundraises for farmers in the Philipppines

Japanese Festival and Bazaar held at University of Colorado in Colorado Springs

27

28

Denver Taiko hosts spectacular 40th anniversary shows Asian Avenue Magazine awarded Mayor’s Diversity & Inclusion Award

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

November 2016 | Table of Contents

23 Find us @AsianAveMag

#AsianAveMag

events upcoming Denver Film Society’s 39th Annual Denver Film Festival

Asian Chamber of Commerce, Business After Hours

November 2-13

Multiple locations For more info, visit denverfilmfestival.denverfilm.org.

The Denver Film Festival (DFF), produced by Denver Film Society (DFS) is in its 39th edition this year. Recognized as one of the nation’s premier film events, DFF attracts nearly 55,000 filmgoers and is widely recognized for presenting Academy Award and Independent Spirit Award-winning films, such as The Great Beauty, The Artist, Black Swan, Brokeback Mountain, Nebraska, No Country For Old Men, Son Of Saul and Silver Linings Playbook – well before their collective accolades.

The year-round home of DFS, the Sie FilmCenter will serve as the anchor venue for the festival with all Red Carpet Presentations at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Screenings will also happen at venues around the city including the UA Denver Pavilions on the 16th Street Mall.

Tone Colors of Autumn: Shakuhachi Concert

Friday, November 4, 7pm to 9pm

Daniels Hall, 71 E. Yale Avenue, Denver, CO 80210 Cost: $34-$36 For more info, visit swallowhillmusic.org.

Wednesday, November 16, 6pm to 7:30pm 3190 S. Wadsworth Blvd. Suite 240 Lakewood, CO 80227 Cost: $10 members, $15 non-members For more info, visit acccolorado.org/events.

Take a trip around the world to learn about some of Denver’s sister cities! For more info or to make a reservation, contact akureyri@denversistercities.org.

Training on Coalition Building and Collaborations Thursday, November 10, 8:30am to 4pm University of Colorado Denver Lawrence Street Center, Room LW-648 1380 Lawrence St. Denver, CO 80204 For more info, contact helly.lee@ed.gov.

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) Regional Network (RN), in partnership with the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) are partnering to hold an all-day training on Nov. 10, 2016.

APIAHF will lead training on coalition building and collaborations. Lunch will be provided.

“Be Beautiful Be Yourself” Fashion Show

Saturday, November 12, 5pm to 10pm

Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center 650 15th Street, Denver, CO 80202 Cost: $500 per ticket For more info, visit bebeautifulbeyourself.org.

The Shades of Autumn concert features three masters of the shakuhachi, or ancient Japanese zen bamboo flute. Furuya Teruo, Matama Kazushi & Kakizakai Kaoru, perform together around the globe and were taught by the grand master of Japanese shakuhachi, Yokoyama Katsuya. This is a very rare and special performance for the Denver audience to experience as not many performers of traditional Japanese music are routed through the area.

The shakuhachi is known as a testament to the elegance of the Japanese culture and produces a sound that is said to replicate the full range of natural life on earth. The performance will include honkyoku (original music of the zen shakuhachi), sankyoku (chamber music), and gendaikyoku (contemporary music).

Joining the mshakuhachi masters will be Miwa Sasaki Steuben on the koto. This concert is sponsored by Westaff, Japan Foundation, and KSK North America.

Denver Sister Cities International: Home Educators Fair Saturday, November 5, Begins at 10am DSCI Offices at Geotech 2650 E. 40th Avenue, Denver, CO 80205

8

November 2016 | Upcoming Events

“Be Beautiful Be Yourself” Fashion Show is the largest fundraiser for Down syndrome in the nation attracting more than 1,200 guests each year. It has raised $7.6 million for Down syndrome research, medical care, advocacy and education. Equally important, it has raised major awareness regarding the shocking disparity of funding for people with Down syndrome, while successfully emphasizing their abilities.

Food for Thought: Black Lives Matter Tuesday, November 15, 12:30pm to 1:45pm University of Colorado Denver Student Commons 2000 1380 Lawrence Street, Denver, CO 80204

Join the University of Colorado Denver ‘s Asian American Student Services (AASS) in a conversation on how Asian American Pacific Islander can show solidarity with Black Lives Matter Movement. The speaker for the event is Dr. Faye Caronan, an assistant professor of ethnic studies at the University. She is the author of Legitimate Empire: Filipino American and U.S Puerto Rican Cultural Critique.

Join the Asian Chamber of Commerce in welcoming one of their newest ACC members - Vivian Danh, owner of CO Laser Clinique! Vivian works with a number of clients in the Denver Metro area and helps juveniles with tattoo laser removal. See the latest tools and equipment and learn more about their work!

Japan America Society of Colorado Annual Fundraising Gala Thursday, November 17, Begins at 5pm

Denver Art Museum 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204 Cost: $175 members, $200 non-members For more info, visit jascolorado.org or e-mail Claudine Locascio at claudine@jascolorado.org JASC’s annual fundraising gala will be held with the goal of highlighting innovative Japanese companies in the Denver metro region. Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company President Jim Doyle and Terumo BCT Executive Vice President of Innovation Dr. Palani Palaniappan will be the featured speakers.

The theme of this year’s event will be “Moving Towards Tomorrow’s City”. In addition to representatives from the featured companies, Denver Mayor Michael J. Hancock and Consul General of Japan in Denver Mr. Makoto Ito are expected to attend. The gala will feature a silent auction and a multi-cultural culinary experience prepared by Kevin Taylor Catering. Complimentary welcome cocktail is being prepared by Leopold Bros.

Japanese American Resource Center of Colorado: All Things Japanese Sale November 19 and 20, 11am to 4pm

Sakura Square Mezzanine 1255 19th Street, Denver, CO 80202 For more info, contact Gail Ida at gailann.ida@gmail.com or 303-466-6937 Buy and sell gently used Japanese items. These items include ceramics, textiles, kimono, books, dolls, purses and more! If you are interested to sell, please note that all items must be priced and 35% of the profit goes to Japanese American Resource Center of Colorado as a donation.

g

Denver’s first Theravada Buddhist Temple was builT in 1976

By Samantha Quee

Wat Buddhawararam

4801 Julian Street, Denver, CO 80221 Tel: 303-433-1826 E-mail: watthaidenver@msn.com Website: www.watbuddhawararam.org

Established in 1976 (2519 B.E.), Wat Buddhawararam of Denver is the first Theravada Buddhist temple in Colorado. The word “Wat” means ‘temple’ in Thai and the name ‘Buddhawararam’ means “The dwelling place of the Buddha.”

Eed P. Cefkin, an elected board member of the temple’s Board of Directors, shares the history of the temple and how it has served the Thai community in Denver for the past 40 years.

According to Cefkin, the temple started when a group of local Thai people living in the Denver metro area raised money for and then purchased a building that was up for sale from the Salvation Army. The building was a former Greek Orthodox Church that passed into the hands of the Salvation Army and was being used as a storage depot for donated goods.

At Wat Buddhawararam, the aim is to provide a facility where temple members can gather for social functions and peace of mind. It is a space for meditation classes and also a residence for Buddhist monks, novices and nuns. There are currently about six monks in residence.

“Ultimately, we hope that it can serve as a Southeast Asian cultural center,” Cefkin says.

Cefkin has been on the Educational Executive Committee for several years. She mentions that along with professional teachers from Thailand, the temple offers a summer school for children, teaching them Thai language and culture. Since 1979, the temple has had a Sunday school teaching Thai language and culture, as well as the basic principles of Buddhism to Thai-American children and to the general public.

Cefkin says, “All through the year, Thai volunteer teachers are here to teach our children and adults Thai classical music and dance. My children have benefited from those language and cultural classes.”

Today, the temple has a large number of members from the Denver metro area and throughout Colorado and neighboring states. The temple operates its formal functions through a Board of Directors and different Executive Committees. Members volunteer at regular religious holidays and Thai cultural holidays.

Cefkin and her family moved to Denver in 1993 and have since attended regular Buddhist ceremonies and Thai cultural holidays at the temple.

“In Thailand, people gather at temples for all kinds of activities - not only for Buddhist ceremonies but also cultural activities.

Living in Denver, I feel fortunate and proud that this temple exists.

I also include my extended family and friends from multi-cultural backgrounds to this beautiful place for special events.”

Loy Krathong Festival Each year, Wat Buddhawararam hosts a full-moon floating festival called “Loy Krathong.” The event includes religious ceremonies, a Thai food fair, Thai classical music, dances, a pageant and more.

Inside Story | asian avenue magazine

9

By Samantha Quee

BOLLYWOOD DANCE

The term “Bollywood” conjures images of two things that appeal to almost everyone: a good movie and great dancing. Bollywood films are mostly musicals featuring love interests, comedy and action thrills. The plots are usually melodramatic and often feature star-crossed lovers, corrupt politicians, dramatic reversals of fortune, and convenient coincidences.

The term “Bollywood” comes from a combination of Bombay, the Indian city now known as Mumbai, and Hollywood, the Californian city where movie stars are made. Bollywood filmmaking is based in Mumbai and is currently the world’s largest film industry producing more than 1000 films each year, compared to the fewer than 500 movies that come out of Hollywood in the same time.

In the late 1950s & 1960s, group dances began to evolve in Bollywood films and choreographers started managing larger groups of dancers, with some influences from Western culture.

Today, the term ‘Bollywood’ in dance refers to any style of dance featured in these extravagant musical movies. Some of the numerous styles of traditional Indian dance featured in films include Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Garba and Bhangra.

Kathak is one of the ten major forms of Indian classical dance. The origin of Kathak is traditionally attributed to the traveling bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathakars, or storytellers. The Kathak dance form emphasizes rhythmic foot movements, adorned with small bells and the movement harmonized to the music.

Bharatanatyam is a major genre of Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu and neighboring regions. This dance style is noted for its fixed upper torso, bent legs or knees flexed out combined with spectacular footwork, a sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on gestures of hands, eyes and face muscles.

Odissi is traditionally a dance-drama genre of performance art, where the artist and musicians play out a mythical story, a spiritual message or devotional poem from the Hindu texts. The dance uses symbolic costumes, body movement, expressions, gestures and sign language set out in ancient Sanskrit literature.

10

November 2016 | Cultural Tidbits

What is unique about Bollywood dance?

In Denver, Bella Diva is a dance studio offering weekly Bollywood dancing classes for adults and children for the past 2 years.

Caitlin Brozna-Smith, founder and artistic director of Bella Diva, shares with us why Bollywood dance is unique and distinctive from other dances.

Caitlin says, “Bollywood itself is not actually a dance form but rather refers to many different dance styles performed within the Bollywood film industry, including classical Indian dance infused with more modern and western forms of dances such as hip-hop and jazz. So, what makes it unique is that Bollywood is a fusion of different dance styles blending East and West which leaves it open to much creativity and interpretation!”

At Bella Diva Dance, teachers spend an entire month teaching original choreography taken from famous Bollywood songs.

The teachers will break the song into 4 or 5 weekly sections, and students will then perform the entire routine at the end of the month. The first 20 minutes of class is used as a vigorous warmup blending different feet and hand drills to complement Indian dance styles and to prepare the body for dancing.

“The teachers at Bella Diva are specifically trained in Bollywood Dance. I myself trained under the tutelage of Renu Gupta and perform professionally with her dance company, Bollywood West, for five years. I also studied in Chennai in 2001 during my travels,” says Caitlin.

6 health benefits of Bollywood dancing

1

Boosts coordination and rhythm

Bollywood dancing requires the dancers to fully immerse themselves in the musical beats. From tapping your feet to quick rhythms to shrugging your shoulders in slow, rich movements, Bollywood dancing helps develop the body’s natural rhythm, and strengthens coordination skills and balance.

2 3

Kathak

TONES THE BODY

The outgoing and expressive beats of Bollywood dance music can’t help but get your body moving quickly. Each motion helps tone key muscle groups such as the calves and the core, making Bollywood dancing a fun way to get lean.

Relieves stress

4

Bollywood dancing provides a happy and fun version of traditional Indian dance. Because of how fun it is and the exercise involved, Bollywood dancing is great way to help you forget your worries, with dance routines refreshing the mind, keeping the body in motion as you sweat out your worries.

Aerobic Exercise

Bollywood dance for fitness is like other aerobic exercises, requiring commitment, consistency and progression. It can be an excellent substitute for your cardio needs in your workout and helps build stamina and endurance.

5 6

Bharatanatyam

Full body workout

Being a high-intensity dance form with fast and upbeat movements, Bollywood dancing helps shed extra weight fast. The full-body movements help in working both the upper and the lower body at the same time while toning the core muscles.

Fun

ODISSI

Bollywood dance is a fantastic workout with a feel-good factor. It’s upbeat and energetic. It’s a great way to make new friends and socialize as you meet other dancers.

Bollywood | asian avenue magazine

11

The Explosion Chronicles Reviewed by Samantha Quee

The post-Mao era in China has always been an interesting case study of how Communism has affected millions of Chinese people, as well as the influence it has had on their culture, attitude and outlook of life. Yan Lianke’s The Explosion Chronicles , offers an iconic commentary on China’s rapid expansion during the Reform and Opening Up Movement in the post-Mao period. Lianke is also the 2014 winner of the international literary award, the Franz Kafka Prize.

A fantastical satire, Yan Lianke uses The Explosion Chronicles to relay the history of the community of Explosion, located in the same Balou Mountain region of Henan province in which Yan has set many of his other fictional works.

Yan was born in the central Henan province in 1958.

This strongly poetic novel surveys more than a thousand years of Explosion’s history, but devotes the most detailed attention to the post-1949 era, and particularly to the post-Mao period. Two years after Mao Zedong’s death in 1976, his successor Deng Xiaoping launched the Reform and Opening Up Movement, which generated a long period of economic expansion.

Behind this rapid expansion are several important characters: the Kong brothers, Zhu Ying, and the daughter of the former village leader who starts out as a secretary and goes on to become a powerful political figure. Linked together by a complex web of madness and greed, they transform their hometown into a modern Babylon - an unrivaled urban superpower built on lies, sex, and thievery.

Recognized as one of China’s most controversial novelists and satirists, Yan’s works have been translated and honored abroad. The author has also won two of China’s top literary awards, the Lu Xun Literary Prize and the Lao She Literary Award.

Yan shares his motivation behind this novel, “Contemporary China is currently hurtling past a series of economic and developmental milestones that it took Europe over two centuries to achieve, and in the process all relevant rules and procedures have been displaced by their respective objectives.

Shortcuts and unscrupulous methods have become a path to success and prosperity, while power and money have colluded to steal people’s souls. The result has been a constant string of terrifying incidents wherein beauty and ugliness, good and evil, substance and emptiness value and meaninglessness, all become inextricably jumbled together.”

The Explosion Chronicles is truly a powerful masterpiece in which the author explores the high stakes of passion and power, the consequences of corruption and greed, and the seemingly boundless excesses of capitalist culture.

ke an Li

bookreview

Ya n

About the Author: Yan Lianke is a Chinese writer of novels and short stories based in Beijing. His work is highly satirical, which has resulted in some of his most renowned works being banned. He started writing in 1978. He has also published more than ten volumes of short stories.

Title: The Explosion Chronicles Author:Yan Lianke Pages: 464 pages Published on October 4, 2016 Available on Amazon and Hardcover

EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

Standing beneath the burning sky, each of them was parched with thirst. As they were about to lean down and drink directly from the river, a curious Vietnamese boy ran over from a smoldering house. Then there was a loud explosion, as the young boy stepped on a mine. A lifelike rubber arm flew into the air and landed right in front of the American who was bending over to drink some water.

The entire river quickly turned bloodred, and the American who was drinking from the river broke out in a cold sweat and quickly rejoined the rest of the group.Next, they proceeded up the river, with Kong Mingliang leading the way like a Vietnamese peasant in wartime, crossing back and forth from one side of the river to the other, standing in the middle of that jungle made from plastic foam, wire, and pigment, then returning to a rope bridge over the river and standing there for a while.

12

November 2016 | Book Review

bookreview

DOUBLE CUP LOVE

On the Trail of Family, Food, and Broken Hearts in China

EDD IE

Reviewed by Mary Jeneverre Schultz

NG UA H

About the Author: Edwyn Charles “Eddie” Huang is an American restaurateur, chef, food personality, writer, and attorney. He owns BaoHaus, a Baozi restaurant in the East Village of Manhattan. Huang’s autobiography, Fresh Off the Boat: A Memoir, was later adapted into a television series of the same name, which airs on ABC. Title: Double Cup Love: On the Trail of Family, Food, and Broken Hearts in China Author: Eddie Huang Pages: 240 pages Published on May 31, 2016 Available on Amazon, Hardback/Paperback Follow him on Twitter: @MrEddieHuang

After Eddie Huang’s debut memoir, Fresh Off the Boat, fans knew there would be more to come. In his new book, Double Cup Love, Huang shares insights and questions about his life as a chef, restaurant owner, author, and television personality.

Heading over to his ancestral country of Taiwan, Huang’s intention is to determine if Chinese people would like his cooking. Like most dual identities, Eddie attempts to figure what has been Americanized and what is truly Asian.

Huang even brings his two little brothers along on the adventure. In an interview, the author reveals that one of his two brothers has settled in Taiwan and opened a restaurant of his own.

If you’ve seen Eddie Huang in an interview, such as HBO series Real Time with Bill Maher, you’ll know that he tosses out pop culture references and slang like candy. The footnotes in the book are also indicative of his hip hop-like street jargon.

The book reads a bit like a love letter to his fiancée. Huang includes an inside view of his struggles with her American-ness, his thoughts about their relationship, his family’s perspective, his experience of asking her father for her hand in marriage, and ultimately, the proposal in Taiwan.

The book also functions as a memoir of Huang’s food discoveries in Taiwan. He shares the quirkiness of the culture, making the reader feel like they are looking over his shoulder as he tries out each new entrée. It’s a quick weekend read and could potentially become representative of hiphop culture among Asian Americans.

Also worth noting is Eddie Huang’s YouTube program, Huang’s World. It is featured via Viceland, and shows Huang as a very likeable personality, sharing insights about the cultures within the “melting pot” of America.

With three seasons and forty-two episodes, Huang’s World provides a fun opportunity to binge-watch his travel adventures.

Follow Mary Jeneverre Schultz on Instagram @Jeneverre.

EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK Nothing encapsulates the over-­reduced Chinese-­American mind better than Yelp. We aren’t quiet, we aren’t devoid of opinion—­ we’re an extremely passive-­aggressive, tribal, prescriptive people who can’t agree on how we feel about Indians. But it’s extremely East Asian to even ask these questions, i.e., how we should feel about Indians as a group, as a race, but not as individuals? Other Asians—­like Filipinos—­are much better about these things and much more liberal in their acceptance and understanding of life in general, but if we keep it to the Dogmatic Three—­China, Korea, and Japan—­every opinion was reductive and authoritarian.

Book Review | asian avenue magazine

13

Sculpture and travel brings cultures together

By Shohini Ghosh

In July, I was invited by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) work of carving and smoothening wax helped perfect the final to participate in the 10th Ubon International Wax Symposium sculpture. The wax was interesting as it was soft when hot, but 2016. I represented the U.S. as one of seven international artists. hard as rock when cooled. The uniqueness was in its color. My It is prestigious for a sculptor to be invited. Other artists were final sculpture stood 12.5 feet tall. It looked stunning and imMikhail Sobolev (Russia), Lorena Olivares (Chile), Karlis LIe (Lat- posing once finished. via), Manuel Diaz Castedo (Spain), Julia Huang (Taiwan), Vinh The whole process from start to finish took 16 days. The Ubon Nguyen (Vietnam).

Rachathani National Museum Grounds were then prepped for The sculpture symposium runs in the thousands to descend for viewing. conjunction with the traditional canThe event was opened by H.E. Kobkarn dle festival in Ubon Rachathani, ThaiWattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism land. International artists are invited to and Sports and had more than 60,000 Ubon and are given tools and skilled people in attendance. assistance to realize their sculptures in Thailand was a unique experience large scale using wax. for me. I cherish the fact that the land This unique symposium brings artand its culture were different, but oh so ists into a stimulating new work ensimilar. There is beauty in diversity. We vironment with new tools in a new all enjoy the same sun and same moon country. Sculptors work in the open, and the bounties of the land. so spectators enjoy this huge learning Travelling for my sculptures around experience watching in real time the the world I see that art is a great unificreation of a sculpture in seven differer. It speaks the language of the soul; ent ways by each artist. it connects people at a basic level irreThe 200-year-old candle festival is spective of race, color, gender or boardthe most elaborate festival held in er. It is a pure human language that Thailand, around the days of Asanha bridges people from east to west north Puja and Wan Kao Pansa, which is the to south together to revel in its beauty. start of the Buddhist Lent period.

I have been sculpting for more than This is a major event both for resi32 years, professionally creating public Shohini Ghosh’s sculture at the Ubon International Wax Symposium dents and for tourists: giant candles art sculptures in three continents inare paraded through the town, each cluding the U.S., China and India. My representing a local temple. They are works are presently on view at public decorated with scenes of Hindu and Buddhist mythology in spaces in cities like Gillette, WY; Sioux Falls, SD; Mason City, IA; wax. The candle carving starts months before the procession St. Paul, MN; Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada. In Colorado, I on Asanha Bucha Day. have artwork in Breckenridge and Littleton (at the Hudson GarNot only did my team and I sketch and plan the sculpture, we den). I launched a solo exhibition of my sculptures at the Littlewelded, laid wire on the armature, layered plaster and finally, ton Museum of Art this August. I also create in three-dimension loaded the wax tiles on my basic frame. After that, the tedious for public spaces.

Sculptor Shohini Ghosh joins the 10th Ubon International Wax Symposium.

An ornate float featured at the candle festival in Ubon Rachathani,Thailand.

Ghosh sits in front of her sculture made of wax.

Art | asian avenue magazine

15

Learning a new language may not be easy, but it is worth the effort!

By Samantha Quee

Learning a new language is always an exciting experience.

Like me, most people from Singapore speak English and another native language. Over the years, I have tried picking up other languages such as Korean, German, and French, but was not able to sustain my passion in learning them due to lack of practice and no specific motivation to use these languages in my daily life.

For many years, it was generally accepted that children could learn a second language to native-level much easier than adults. Children are believed to be more receptive to new learning and particularly to new languages.

Velda Khoo, a PhD student in Linguistics at the University of Colorado, Boulder says, “Psycholinguists have debated for a long time whether it gets more difficult to learn a new language as one gets older. The argument is that the older you are, the less flexible your brain is to pick up all the sounds in a second language.”

However in recent years, when linguists started studying the data, they found that the situation was not as clear-cut as had been previously thought.

Khoo says, “Most linguists now accept the idea that social context and motivation, among other factors, affect learning ability.”

Indeed, research now suggests that while young learners have certain advantages when adopting a language, the experience of maturing into adulthood gives older learners access to some tools and techniques not available to children.

While kids are more naturally adapted to learning new things, adults use their life experience to learn.

Ching Yen Chang is the owner and lead instructor at Hongtu Chinese Language Center, a language school based in Broomfield, Colorado. She taught Chinese at Providence University

16

November 2016 | Cover Story

in Taiwan and has attended courses on teaching Chinese as a second language in both Taiwan and China.

Hongtu teaches Chinese as a second language and has almost 20 years experience helping students from the West master Chinese. For Ching Yen, she feels that the largest challenge to learning a language is the same as developing any other skill, which takes time and consistent effort to master.

She says, “We find that students who study a little bit every day learn much faster, but it takes discipline to study every single day.”

Ching Yen also explains why it might be difficult for many who pick up Mandarin as a 2nd language.

“Chinese is a tonal language, which means that words spoken with an even or a rising tone will have a different meaning. English speakers often use tones to convey emotions and therefore some students find mastering the tones difficult. It can be hard to hear the tones at first and you have to memorize them to be able to speak properly.”

Not only is speaking Mandarin a challenging task to many, writing Chinese characters often prove to be a huge hurdle.

Ching Yen says, “Writing can be difficult. We often work with students who learn to read but never need to learn to write. With modern technology, students are able to type in Chinese without memorizing every stroke. Students who do learn to write find it easier than expected because the characters are made up of pieces called radicals. It really comes down to rote memorization.”

To make learning Mandarin interesting for their students, Hongtu has different formulas for their younger and older students. For their younger students, they try to ignite their interests through a variety of games. For adults, their secret formula is to approach it like a performance.

“Our instructor comes to class and pours energy into each and every student,” Ching Yen says. “We frequently hear that students arrive for class tired from work and leave energized ready to take on the world. That’s our goal. We also incorporate stories, information about the culture, Chinese history and the reason behind a specific grammar point. This context allows students to learn more quickly with the added benefit of making learning Chinese fun.”

Ching Yen also debunked the myth that it is easier for children to learn a language. She has found that adults with strong study skills and discipline are often able to learn the language faster than children.

“Children learn languages differently. We often hear that children learn languages faster than adults, but I see it in another way. I think children learn languages better. If they study

Ching Yen Chang teaches Chinese at Hongtu Chinese Language Center in Broomfield, CO. early in life, they can master the accent and truly sound Chinese. However, adults have often mastered the skill of studying independently. As a result, we find that adults who study regularly often learn more per hour spent in class.”

I also spoke with Jon Jaeger, a student at Hongtu, about his experience learning Mandarin.

Jon started learning Mandarin with the intention to learn more about Chinese artwork and specifically the writing that appears on many Chinese paintings.

“I find Chinese calligraphy to be an ancient and beautiful art form. I hope to spend time traveling in China and interacting with the locals,” Jaeger says.

Sharing about the challenges he faced, he revealed that one of the many challenges is being able to hear the inflections in a speaker’s voice.

“Speaking the language myself has also proved challenging. I find I need to memorize which tone is needed for a given word. I listen to a lot of Mandarin speaking podcasts and that really helps me to hear tones even if I do not understand everything that is being said.”

At the Japan America Society of Colorado (JASC), not only are Japanese classes conducted, conversation clubs are also set up.

They currently have ten students enrolled in their fall semester course, eight of them being Americans.

JASC Executive Director Claudine Locascio shared with us how JASC helps one to pick up the language quickly. She feels that it takes discipline to study every single day, and also to speak as often as one can.

Locascio says, “Our approach is based upon a limited engagement of only two hours per week for eight weeks. We try to offer as much exposure and understanding of the language as possible in this shorter time period. We also try to provide support for those working independently outside of the class.”

Conversation clubs, known as Kaiwa Clubs, provide an opportunity for people to casually practice speaking Japanese with people with shared interests.

“These conversation clubs are free and open to all people both non-native and native speakers of Japanese. We also hold Japanese cultural workshops.”

At the same time, JASC customizes its curriculum with an interesting and practical approach, using fun and useful topics.

These topics include: “Flying into Narita/Haneda/Traveling in Tokyo,” in which students are able to learn vocabulary related to airports, trains, buses and areas in and around Tokyo; “Japanese foods,” in which students get to role play and learn vocabulary related to food and restaurants; “Watching Japanese Television,” in which students get to watch commercials, newscasts and game shows; and finally, “General Conversational Phrases,” in which students get to do self-introduction and learn basis words and phrases to use in daily life.

Learning a new language does not necessarily get harder with age, it is just a different experience!

Learning Languages | asian avenue magazine

17

Top 5 Languages of the World

by Number of Native Speakers

Knowing more than one language is an invaluable asset. Not only can you build rapport with people around the world, countless business and career opportunities are presented when you are bilingual. Among the top 5 languages of the world, how many do you think are Asian languages?

Language

1 2 hindi

Mandarin chinese

3 spanish 4 english 5 arabic

Approx. number of speakers

Countries using it as an official language

NATIVE: 873 million SECOND: 178 million TOTAL: 1.051 billion

People’s Republic of China, Republic of China (Taiwan), Singapore

NATIVE: 370 million SECOND: 120 million TOTAL: 490 million

India, Fiji

NATIVE: 350 million SECOND: 70 million TOTAL: 420 million

Spain, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, etc.

NATIVE: 340 million SECOND: 170 million TOTAL: 510 million

United Kingdom, United States, Hong Kong (People’s Republic of China), India, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau etc.

NATIVE: 206 million SECOND: 24 million TOTAL: 230 million

Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Western Sahara, Yemen etc.

Data source: Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 15th ed. (2005) & Wikipedia.org.

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November 2016 | Cover Story

Chineasy: Breaking Down the Great Wall of Chinese Language

5 Tips and Tricks to

Learning a New Language 1 – Find a partner

Born in Taipei and now living in London, ShaoLan Hsueh is the creator and designer of Chineasy, a method of breaking down each Chinese character into individual blocks for easy learning.

Frustrated with her English-born children’s lack of interest in learning Mandarin, Hsueh tried several different methods of teaching them herself, including sending them to after-school clubs. Nothing worked.

Most of the systems are repetition and speaking-based, so the focus is on being able to say a few Chinese words rather than on recognizing the characters. Hsueh decided to create something that would engage her kids and that had a proper methodology.

ShaoLan takes thousands of characters, analyzes them and breaks them down. Many Chinese characters are actually built with similar elements. Therefore, one needs to know a few of those building blocks. Some of them are used much more frequently than others.

Finding a partner, such as a friend or a sibling, keeps you motivated. You will also have someone with whom you can practice.

Having a sibling to practice the language with you would be the best, since there is already much interaction at home.

However, if you are not able to get a sibling to join you on your language adventure, having any kind of partner will push you to try harder and stick with it. Remember, the best possible outcome of speaking a language is for people to speak back to you. Being able to have a simple conversation is a huge reward in itself.

2 – Talk to yourself

When you have no one else to speak to, there’s nothing wrong with talking to yourself! This can keep new words and phrases fresh in your mind and build up your confidence for the next time you speak with someone.

3 – Act like a child

The idea that children are inherently better language learners than adults is proving to be a myth. New research cannot find a direct link between age and the ability to learn. Therefore, the key to learning as quickly as a child may be to simply take on certain childlike attitudes. Try practicing lack of self-consciousness, a desire to play in the language, and willingness to make mistakes.

4 – Listen These pictograms use illustration to understand and memorize Chinese words

You must learn to listen before you can speak. Every language sounds strange the first time you hear it, but the more you expose yourself to it the more familiar it becomes, and the easier it is to speak it properly.

You must learn to listen and to visualize or imagine how certain words are supposed to be pronounced. For every sound there is a specific part of the mouth or throat that we use in order to achieve that sound.

5 - Have fun with it!

Chineasy pictograms help with memorization of more complex Chinese words.

Using your new language in any way is a creative act. Think of some fun ways to practice your new language: make a radio play with a friend, draw a comic strip, write a poem, or learn a new song. Making learning fun ensures that your new endeavor will be a lasting adventure!

Learning Languages | asian avenue magazine

19

Apps for Learning Languages

Mandarin:

JAPANESE:

AnkiMobile Flashcards Price: $24.99 for iOS, free for Android

Learn Japanese by Mindsnacks Free for both iOS and Android

Anki is a powerful and effective flashcard program that is free, multiplatform and open-source. Anki uses a spaced repetition program that is believed to greatly improve how you remember new words.

This app focuses mostly on building vocabulary, and is great for adults and children alike. The application provides over 800 words and phrases to study, and supports kana, kanji and romaji. The application is broken into different games where users can introduce new vocabulary while advancing to different levels.

You can download stacks of flashcards from Anki, or create your own deck.

KOREAN:

THAI:

Pop-Popping Korean Free for both iOS and Android

Learn Thai- Free Wordpower Free for both iOS and Android

A beginners-only app, Popping Korean mainly illustrates the pronunciation of the Korean alphabet through audio and animated demonstrations of mouth and tongue position.

Though the content of the app is rather limited, the animations are clever and clear with the added bonus of having a cute monster theme!

This app is developed for the ultrabusy, 21st century lifestyle. With this app you will be able to learn Thai words and phrases associated with the many things happening in daily life, including work, school and family.

The app can also act as a mini travel guide that has basic but practical Thai phrases that you can speak to the locals!

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

20

November 2016 | Cover Story

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

Chinese-style Roast Turkey Steamed Buns

T

hanksgiving season is here! Many people have become accustomed to eating roast turkey this season, so why not give this traditional dish a creative spin and add in some Asian elements? We will be using oriental seasonings for this Chinese-style roast turkey and serve with Chinese steamed buns. We bet you this dish will be a hao chi (delicious) one!

Ingredients

(serves 8-10)

• 1 whole turkey (12 to 14 pounds total) oil • 1 tablespoon vegetable

• Kosher salt • 1 tablespoon five spice powder • 12 whole scallions • 1 large section of ginger root, cut into 2 inch segments • 8 medium cloves garlic, smashed • 1/4 cup Shaoxing rice wine • 2 teaspoons soy sauce • 1 tablespoon oyster or hoisin sauce • 2 tablespoons sugar • 2 tablespoons Chinkiang or rice vinegar • 1 tablespoon sesame oil • 1 tablespoon roasted chili oil • 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper • 1 tablespoon fermented chili bean paste, or other chili paste, optional • 1/2 teaspoon toasted and ground Sichuan peppercorns, optional • 36 frozen steamed Chinese buns • 3 scallions, finely sliced • 2 large cucumbers, julienned • Picked cilantro leaves and tender stems • Spicy mayonnaise

Happy T hanksgiving!

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November 2016 | Chef’s Menu

1 Prepare to spatchcock (split open and grill) the turkey.

2 Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a broiler pan with aluminum foil. Place half of scallions, ginger, and garlic in bottom of pan. Place slotted broiler rack or wire rack directly on top of vegetables.

3 Pat turkey dry with paper towel and rub on 1 tablespoon

oil. Season liberally on all surfaces with salt and five spice powder. Tuck wing tips behind back. Place turkey on top of rack. Transfer turkey to oven and roast, rotating occasionally for about 80 minutes or until an inserted thermometer reads 150°F and the thighs register at least 165°F.

4

Place the neck, giblets, and turkey back in a sauté pan and add water to cover, about 1 ½ quarts. Add remaining ginger, scallions, and garlic, and Shaoxing wine. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until broth is rich and reduced significantly, about 1 hour. You should have 2 cups of broth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a medium bowl. Add soy sauce, hoisin, sugar, vinegar, sesame oil, roasted chili oil, white pepper and if desired, chili bean paste and Sichuan peppercorn.

5 When roasted turkey cools, remove skin and cut into strips.

Lay out all the strips of crispy skin onto a serving platter. Pick meat into large bite-sized chunks.

6

Add sauce to turkey and toss to mix. Adjust seasoning with more salt, soy sauce, sugar, or vinegar as desired. Transfer all the turkey meat onto a serving platter or bowl, pouring residual sauce onto the meat. Cover with foil to keep warm.

7 Reheat steamed buns according to package directions.

8 Place vegetables, garnishes, and sauces (such as soy sauce, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, or spicy mayo) onto plates and bowls for serving. Have guests assemble their own turkey buns, with meat, vegetables, sauce, and a piece of crispy skin. Enjoy!

Soban brings authentic Korean tastes from Los Angeles to Aurora As I spent the last few weekends binging on “Descendants of the Sun” on Netflix, I developed a craving for some good Korean food. Soban, a new Korean restaurant in Aurora that opened in May 2016, is the place to go. Owner Mr. Si Woo Yoo previously ran a similar authentic Korean eatery in Los Angeles for six years, known by the same name. Aurora is lucky to welcome Soban to Colorado.

Restaurant critic Jonathan Gold recommended Soban in his 2015 list of 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles. Naturally, I went into the Aurora restaurant with high expectations. Indeed, the atmosphere is welcoming and cozy, and the food served is of top-notch quality. Dishes are marinated to perfection, leave a tantalizing taste in your mouth, and make you craving more once you’re done!

Soban serves complimentary appetizers called banchan with every main dish ordered. These banchan may include simple bean curd, fermented kimchi, or dried shrimp or anchovies and are served by the dozen. I especially like the soft omelet slices that look and taste like Japanese tamago.

As Colorado transitions into the cooler seasons, diners might choose something comforting from the menu. A bowl of piping hot soft tofu soup with seafood,

By Samantha Quee

Haemul Soon Tofu, is a good choice. I like to pair the soup with a classic Korean dish such as Dolsut Bibimbap. Along with kimchi, bibimbap takes its place among the favored foods in Korean cuisine. Literally meaning ‘mixed rice,’ this is a popular meal consisting of white rice topped with vegetables, beef, a whole egg, and gochujang, or red chili pepper paste.

If I were to rank my favorite Korean food, Galbijjim would definitely made it to the top of my list. The melt-in-your-mouth tender beef ribs, coupled with the sweet and savory sauce makes it one of the best comfort foods. Even when all the ribs were gone, I savored every last drop of the remaining Galbijjim sauce by mixing the rice and sauce together.

Fans of hotpot will also fall in love with the Yuksu Bulgogi. This dish consists of thinly sliced marinated beef with vegetables and glass noodles in a tasty broth, perfect for sharing. It is very comforting to eat this together with friends and family, adding a warm ambience to a cold day.

It is clear that Soban, the latest addition to Korean eateries in Aurora, will gather a group of fanatic Korean cuisine fans, just like it did in Los Angeles. If you love K-drama, K-pop and especially K-food as much as I do, drop by and enjoy!

Restaurant Peek | asian avenue magazine

23

Taiwan seeks to join fight against global warming

Bringing the ramen culture to Denver!

RAMEN YAKITORI SUSHI Global warming and the El Niño phenomenon have contributed to record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather conditions around the world. In July this year, the global average temperatures were the highest for any month in 137 years. In June, the temperature in Taipei reached 38.7 degrees Celsius, the highest in a century. More and more evidence shows that climate change is already happening. If we don’t take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions now, we will end up paying much more later on.

Governments around the world realize this, and that’s why the landmark Paris Agreement was adopted in December 2015, bringing all nations together under a common cause that drives global mitigation actions with long-term goals. As a member of the international community, Taiwan cannot be a mere spectator to this problem and must come up with feasible solutions to live up to the name of Formosa, “beautiful island.”

We enacted the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act in July 2015, setting our long-term target to reduce our emissions by at least 50% below 2005 levels by the year 2050. Taiwan is among only a few countries in the world that have written into law a target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, we have also established under the Executive Yuan the Office of Energy and Carbon Reduction whose main task is to plan overall national energy policy and promote conversion to newer forms of energy as well as GHG reduction. The office coordinates efforts among government agencies and also establishes partnerships between the central and local governments to reduce carbon and develop clean energy.

In her inaugural address earlier this May, President Tsai Ing-Wen made it clear that Taiwan will not be absent from the global efforts to mitigate climate change and that our government will regularly review goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement.

Climate change is a global issue that transcends national boundaries, which requires not only national but global solutions.

I sincerely urge the international community to recognize and support Taiwan’s determination to gain meaningful participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and become part of the global climate network. We are willing to share our environmental protection experiences and contribute to international efforts. Together with friendly nations, we will join hands to safeguard a sustainable earth.

Minister Ying-Yuan Lee

Environmental Protection Administration Executive Yuan, R.O.C. (Taiwan)

24

November 2016 | Taiwan Update

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48 parking spots available behind the building!

2907 Huron St. Unit 103 | Denver, CO 80202 | Tel: 720.639.2911

www.mytokio.com

“What are you doing?”, I asked of my wife Maya, in a tone mixed between innocence and accusatory.

“I’m pan frying some dumplings for the party.”, she answered, matter of factly.

The “party”, she was referring to, was the bi-weekly neighborhood gathering we affectionately refer to as “Yappy Hour”, where a number of families around the block get together at one of the neighbors as a way of practicing neighborhood camaraderie. The host family supplies beer and wine, and all the guests bring an appetizer or snack to share with everyone.

We call it “Yappy Hour” because we all typically bring our dogs to the party, so that the dogs can have some fun and it gives us license to use the cutesy term, “Yappy Hour”. Before bringing the dogs, we used to bring our kids as an excuse to get together, but now, all our kids are either off to college or old enough to know that they wouldn’t be caught dead going to something as cutesy as “Yappy Hour”.

But getting back to the dumplings.

As I peered over her shoulder to confirm that she was indeed putting the finishing touches on a delectable pan-seared batch of dumplings, I nervously started asking some questions.

“What happened? Why aren’t we cooking up some of the mini egg rolls from the store?”

She says, “We were out of those.”

I said, “Well, what about the mini rolled up sausage pastries?”

She shook her head, to confirm that we were out of those too. I then started going through the list of items we usually bring to “Yappy Hour”.

What about the frozen chicken wings?

No. The meatballs from Costco?

Uh uhh.

The mini tacos we did last time?!?

No! As I started to blurt out, “What about the deep fried…”, Maya held up her hand, stopping me in mid-sentence, tilted her head,

By Wayne Chan

The Dumpling Complex looked me in the eye and said, “What’s wrong with making the dumplings?”

I looked at her with exasperation. Not knowing exactly what to say, my mind raced with ideas of driving out to get a pizza for the party, or better yet, rummaging through our pantry for some months old box of Girl Scout Cookies or a bag of half eaten cheese curls.

With my eyes darting the room, considering other options, Maya looks back at me hands on hips, and says, “Well???”.

Unable to come up with any better alternatives, and not knowing what else to say, I simply blurt out: These people aren’t dumpling worthy!!!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term, let me pro-

lacking. They’re mushy inside not enough meat, not enough shrimp. Whatever it is, they just don’t work.

But a few years ago, while I was in Los Angeles for a meeting, I stopped by a shop in Monterey Park that happened to sell dumplings. I went there at the suggestion of my Auntie, who lived in the area. Years before, I had mentioned to her that near our home, there were no good dumpling places. Only pretenders. You could only buy the dried up, mealy tasting dumplings you find at your local supermarket.

But when I walked into this shop, I knew something was different. In the corner, there was a table of older ladies, wrapping dumplings with amazing dexterity, while trading stories of the latest gossip they’d heard.

vide the following definition: Dumplingworthiness (adjective): deemed deserving of, or consumption of, astonishingly delectable wrapped morsel of the Gods.

Now, before you start tearing into me, let me explain. Having tried all the dumplings available for purchase here locally, I’ve found them all to be extremely

On the other side of the shop were large standing freezers, and peering over them – bags and bags of dumplings.

They sold them by the bag, 50 dumplings per bag. They were inexpensive, and wrapped in a way that should have included a disclaimer on them that said, “These dumplings are the real deal – beware of excessive savoriness.”

Driving home with my bag of frozen dumplings, I began to wonder. Could these dumplings be as good as they look? What if it’s all hype? What if they don’t measure up? What if I don’t experience excessive savoriness?

Coming home, I stealthily made my way to the kitchen, and before I could tell anyone I was home, the dumplings began to bubble on the frying pan.

And now, the moment of truth.

It was like having a marching band celebrating with a parade in your mouth. It was that good.

From then on, every three months or so, I would drive up to Los Angeles, through all the traffic and smog, make my way into the dumpling shop carrying a large cooler, walk over to the counter, pull out a wad of money and simply say, “Fill ‘er up.”

Now let me get to the whole “dumpling worthiness” thing. In the past, before the dumpling shop discovery, we’d have a bag of the factory-processed dumplings on hand, and we’d heat them up and bring them to the Yappy hour.

When we’d get there, dumplings in hand, we’d set the dumplings out for all our friends to try.

All of our neighbors, as dear as they all are, know nothing about Chinese food. They may say they do, but they don’t.

How do I know this? One by one, they would pick up a dumpling, and begin dipping it into…sweet and sour sauce. Or ketchup. Or in one instance, heaven forbid – a packet of spicy mustard sauce.

So naturally, seeing Maya cook up a pan of my beloved dumplings for Yappy Hour was just too much to bear.

So after blurting out the whole “dumpling worthiness” thing, I think I followed it up with, “If you think I’m going to let those guys dip my beautiful dumplings in a bowl of Tzatziki sauce, you’re out of your mind!”

In the end, the dumplings were a hit, inappropriate dipping sauces notwithstanding. But I can tell you this – you can bet that I’ll always keep a small supply of frozen egg rolls in our freezer.

You can never be too careful.

Humor Column | asian avenue magazine

25

Friends of ENCA Farm reaches fundraising goals to continue the work of farmers in the Philipppines

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz

Executive Director Sherry Manning and Speaker Dennis Apuan

Attendees sample cuisine from the Philippines at the annual luncheon fundraiser.

More than 150 attended the 6th annual Friends of ENCA Farm Nourish Event on Oct. 22. Guest speaker Dennis Apuan, the first Filipino-American Colorado State Representative, shared his insights about the importance of the organization’s work through agriculture. Those in attendance were excited about the ongoing efforts of ENCA and it showed through the increase of donations.

“From my initial count, we grossed $14,655,” said Sherry Manning, executive director of Friends of ENCA Farm.

2016 figures were significantly higher than $6,000 from last year. The increase of fundraising efforts might come from the environmental hot spots, food justice and food safety.

“Food justice starts from the conviction that access to healthy food is a human rights issue and goes beyond advocacy and direct service,” Apuan said. “It calls for organized responses to food security problems, responses that are locally driven and owned.”

Friends of ENCA Farm’s education and advocacy programs ensure that indigenous Filipino farmers have access to organic seeds, education and training programs. Apuan shared 90 percent of food diversity in the last 40 years are lost, blaming the influx of synthetic seeds and industrial farmers. His prime example is rice, which used to have 98 percent varieties, now only two exist to the consumers.

Board President Charles Nicholas expressed his enthusiasm about the work of

Japanese Festival Held at University of Colorado in Colorado Springs Article by: Paul Maruyama | Photos by: Jamie Jennings Japan America Society of Southern Colorado (JASSC) held its annual Cultural Festival and Bazaar at the University Center on the campus of UCCS on Saturday, Oct. 15. The University Center was packed with shoppers all day long as they searched through the Japanese sales items that included kimonos, pottery, bonsai, books, housewares, craft items, stationery, and much more. Sushi, bento, senbei (rice crackers), and snack items kept shoppers from going hungry as many searched for Japanese presents in preparation for the holidays.

While JASSC’s major purpose and goal of the annual Cultural Festival and Bazaar is to raise funds to carry on its many free annual activities that introduce Japanese culture to the community, the Festival and Bazaar itself is designed to allow everyone to enjoy Japanese culture while shopping. Attendees had the opportunity to take a break from shopping to step into the theater to enjoy martial arts demonstrations, performances by Japanese songs and dances groups, and taiko drumming.

Funds raised from the Bazaar allows JASSC, a completely voluntary and self-funded organization, to offer annual events such as Kodomo-no-HI (Children’s Day Celebration), Mochitsuki (New Year’s Rice Cake Pounding), Fujiyoshida Sister City exchange activities, and other free events to the greater Pikes Peak area community.

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November 2016 | On Scene

Friends of ENCA Farm. “This isn’t just about a group of enlightened farmers in the Philippines saving seeds and practicing sustainable organic agriculture, although that’s critical to our mission,” he said. “This is about securing the future of our global food supply, independent of the transnational food production companies.”

Manning is headed to the Philippines to lead a training with farmers from several regions of the Philippines.

“Friends of ENCA Farm is excited to continue to engage and collaborate with the Asian-American, specifically the Filipino-American community in our critical work ensuring that small-scale farmers have access to the education training and seeds they need to be successful,” Manning said. “Each of these efforts not only build a more food secure and climate secure future but ensure that the power of farming is truly in the hands of those that know it best, the farmers.”

Learn more about Friends of ENCA Farm at www.encaorganicfarm.com or e-mail Sherry Manning at info@encaorganicfarm. com.

Article by Joie Ha Photos by Glenn Asakawa

Denver Taiko’s Spectacular 40th Anniversary Denver Taiko has been a staple of Japanese culture and art in Colorado for 40 years as of this month. Taiko is a Japanese style of drumming featuring multiple drums of various sizes and builds, complex rhythms, and deep percussive sounds that fill the entire room. In the past, Taiko was used in battle to intimidate enemies or by farmers to ward off evil spirits. More recently, Taiko has been used for religious ceremonies, festivals, and celebrations.

Denver Taiko has never failed to give energetic and enjoyable performances. However, beyond their amazing ability to perform, they have also offered a communal space for Japanese Americans or those interested in Japanese culture to convene, pay respects to their roots, and discover more about their Japanese identity. Kia Silverman, a third generation Japanese American, joined Denver Taiko 19 years ago to connect with carry on her culture. Denver Taiko has been active for 40 years and as a result, many of the original members have left. However, Kia Silverman remarks that the group remains strong and continues to bring in new members who, “bring their own style and personalities, yet preserve the true core central feelings, values, and culture of Denver Taiko.”

On Oct. 8 and 9, Denver Taiko performed at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts for their 40thAnniversary Concert. The two-night performance featured multiple guest artists such as Taiko with Toni, Junior Denver Taiko, Mudra Dancers, and Break and Keys. The program flowed smoothly with songs that ranged

from slow melodic dances to fast-paced and intricate group drumming. Denver Taiko truly integrated multiple styles and artists to show the flexibility of the Taiko drum. Taiko with Toni entertained the crowd with engaging and enthusiastic jazz-infused pieces, Mudra Dance showcased Indian dance styles with Taiko drumming, and Break and Keys combined contemporary piano, breakdancing, and Taiko percussion.

Denver Taiko made sure to pull out all stops and had performances that included a traditional dance, bellowing conch shells, and light-up drumsticks. At a certain point during a group piece, half of the drummers were lying partially on the ground straddling their drums in a show of strength and musicality.

They even brought back their well-known Ei Ya Sa Ta chant and encouraged the audience to join them in a delightful call and response.

The show would not have been complete without the original piece, Okage Sama De, written by Denver Taiko’s very own, Aiko Tagawa Kimura. Okage Sama De, roughly translating to Because of You or Thanks to You, is a melodic and meaningful piece that serves as a thank you to Aiko’s family and Denver Taiko’s supporters for their unconditional love and support. On behalf of the Colorado community, we would like to return the Okage Sama De back to Denver Taiko in thanking them for their contributions to our community and their unfailing ability to make others smile. Happy 40th anniversary!

Mile-High Happenings | asian avenue magazine

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ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE AWARDED MAYOR’S DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AWARD FOR 10 years of service and innovation Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Agency for Human Rights & Community Partnerships, along with members of his community commissions, honored 10 individuals who are Igniting through Inspiration, Innovation and Integration for Impact. The 2016 Mayor’s Diversity & Inclusion Awards were hosted by the Denver Strategic Partnerships Commission on Oct. 6.

“We are blessed in Denver to have so many diverse leaders making a tremendous difference in our community,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “Through their inspiration, innovation and work toward integration, they truly are having a positive impact on our city, and I’m excited to honor their contributions.”

This year, the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission (DAAPIC) selected Asian Avenue Magazine to receive the Innovation award.

Asian Avenue Magazine began serving the Denver area in July 2006. Since then it has built awareness, knowledge and understanding among the diverse Asian Pacific American communities and the general public through cultural insights, pop culture, news and information. It is the only English print publication in Colorado focused on the APA community and culture.

Annie Guo, President of Asian Avenue said, “Our hope is that Asian Avenue has inspired others in the community to have a greater impact. When we have shared inspiring stories of American families opening their homes and hearts to adopt Asian children—or Chinese parents that lost their son in a car accident, only to start an incredible foundation building schools in impoverished areas worldwide—or that Colorado’s dragon boat festival has become the largest in the nation—we hope that these stories encourage all of us as a community to come together in love, understanding and appreciation.”

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November 2016 | On Scene

Mayor Hancock, DAAPIC commissioners and supporters of Asian Avenue Magazine congratulate the Diversity & Inclusion Award receipients.

Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler, the evening’s emcee, celebrates with Annie Guo, President of Asian Avenue Magazine.

Top (Left to Right): Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Annie Guo (President of Asian Avenue), Christina Yutai Guo (Publisher of Asian Avenue), and Jennifer Nguyen (DAAPIC Commissioner).

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver held 105th National Day Celebration The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver held a reception in celebration of the 105th National Day of the Republic and China (Taiwan) on Oct. 6 at the Brown Palace Hotel. The event was hosted by Director General Jerry Chang and Mrs. Chang. Guests include U.S. Congressman Mike Coffman, Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams, members from both the Colorado Senate and House of Representatives, as well as many from local Taiwanese communities.

Director General Chang said in his opening remarks that Denver has a historic link with the founding of the Republic of China (R.O.C.), because its founding father Dr. Sun Yat-Sen was traveling across the United States to raise funds for the Chinese revolution 105 years ago. On the day of the victory Oct. 10, 1911, he was staying in the Brown Palace Hotel.

He added that now Taiwan has evolved into a mature democracy in the Asia Pacific region and shares the universal values of

democracy, freedom and human rights with the United States.

He also pointed out that this May marked Taiwan’s third peaceful transition of political power through an electoral process. Dr. Tsai Ing-wen, the first female president ever in Taiwan’s history was sworn into office.

He said Taiwanese people have once again shown the world that Taiwan is a vibrant democracy, and we are committed to the defense of our freedom and democracy as a way of life.

He emphasized that Taiwan has enjoyed a very close bilateral relationship with the United States over the past decades and his Office will continue working hard to deepen this good relationship, and to further promote exchanges and cooperation in every fields.

In addition, Congressman Coffman, Secretary of State Williams, and other dignitaries were invited to make remarks at the ceremony. They not only congratulated the

105th founding anniversary of R.O.C., but highly praised Taiwan’s democracy, economic achievements, and friendly U.S.-Taiwan bilateral relationship as well.

The City and County of Denver, Englewood and Greenwood Village also presented proclamations to Director General Chang to congratulate Taiwan on this auspicious occasion.

This Office also invited six U.S. veterans who served in Taiwan during 1955-1979 to the reception. Director General Chang presented the “U.S.-R.O.C. Mutual Defense Commemorative Badge” and “Honor Medal for 823 Bombardment” to them in honor of their service and contributions to Taiwan with deep appreciation.

The film “Lighting up Taiwan, Inspiring Asia” produced by the Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was played at the celebration to promote its national image. More than 400 guests enjoyed networking at the reception and expressed “Happy Birthday” for the country.

Happy Living Adult Daycare Center CELEBRATES Grand Opening

By Samantha Quee

Happy Living Adult Daycare celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 17. Distinguished guests spoke including U.S. Representative for Colorado’s 6th Congressional District Mike Coffman, City of Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan, Director General Jerry Chang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver and Aurora City Council Ward 3 Council member Marsha Berzins.

The center will provide day-time cultural and health-focused programs to seniors in

Colorado with educational activities, social events and nutritious meals that promote good health and well-being.

Congressman Mike Coffman mentioned that the adult daycare center serves as a wonderful facility for the elderly living in the area. He also wished the center great success and presented a congratulatory letter to CEO Christina Guo for her persistence and effort in making the center possible.

In his speech, Mayor Steve Hogan pointed

out the center’s strategic location. Based in Aurora, he mentioned that the center is located in one of the most diverse cities in the nation and such diversity, it is important that health services are provided with culturally appropriate care.

Director General Jerry Chang presented his speech in both English and Mandarin. He congratulated the center’s opening in English and proceeded to address the seniors present at the event in Mandarin. He hoped that the seniors would make good use of the center and live every day to the fullest.

The daycare center provides older adults an opportunity to get out of the house and receive both mental and social stimulation.

It also allows caregivers a much-needed break in which to attend to personal needs, or simply rest and relax.

Mile-High Happenings | asian avenue magazine

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Asian-Americans continue to drift away from the GOP but it’s a complicated story

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new report from the National Asian American Survey finds not only that Asian-Americans continue a steady drift away from the GOP, but that the party may be losing one of its most reliable ethnic groups.

One group stood out. Vietnamese-Americans were once considered a reliable Republican voting bloc. But since 2008, more voters identified as something other than Republican. Here’s what the survey found: ”In the past, Vietnamese Americans were the only Asian American group more likely to identify as Republican than Democrat. In 2008, 42% of Vietnamese American registered voters identified as Republican, compared to 23% in 2016. Among this group, non-partisan identifiers are growing. In 2008, 40% of Vietnamese registered voters identified as independent or claimed they did ‘not think in terms of political parties,’ but this number rose to 47% in 2016.”

Vietnamese-Americans, many of whom came to the U.S. as refugees after the Vietnam War. ”It’s so ironic and contradictory to their history as refugees,” said Linda Vo, a professor at the University of California, Irvine who has been trying to make sense of this inconsistency. “I’ve asked these individuals, ‘Why would you be supportive of a candidate [Trump] who is anti-refugee, anti-immigrant, when you yourself

came as one?’ “ Vo found that many of the Vietnamese-Americans she spoke with aren’t welcoming of refugees. They tend to agree with the view that Syrian refugees are dangerous, and they think of themselves as different.

Postwar refugees from Vietnam, Vosaid, considered the Republican Party to be more anti-Communist and, for the largely Catholic immigrants, more socially conservative, with values that aligned with their own. But second-generation

California Governor signs anti-bullying bill protecting Muslims and Sikhs

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alifornia’s Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill AB-2845, anti-bullying legislation also known as the Safe Place to Learn Act. Current anti-bullying laws that cite bullying due to race or ethnicity will now include bullying due to “religious affiliation” to the list of reasons bullying might occur. “[This bill] is very important to Muslim and Sikh children because both of our communities have seen a huge rise in the bullying of Muslim and perceived to be Muslim students,” Saad Sweilem, civil rights attorney at CAIR-Sacramento Valley (CAIR-SV), told NBC News.

“Students from both communities

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November 2016 | National News

played an instrumental role in getting this bill passed by testifying in front of Assemblymembers about their own personal experiences being bullied.”

The statistics reflect the national trend of growing Islamaphobia, encouraged by the heated rhetoric used by the Republican candidate for president Donald Trump and his followers.

“The right to attend public school free from bullying and discrimination is a civil right. AB 2845 will help ensure that no child has to compromise their faith or identity in California schools,” said Harjit Kaur, Community Development Manager for the Sikh Coalition.

Vietnamese-Americans, Vo said, tend to vote for Democratic candidates, as they voted for Barack Obama in 2012.

Janelle Wong, heads the Asian-American studies department at the University of Maryland, said, ”They’re shifting away from the Republican Party, but not yet ready to commit to Democrats. Many Vietnamese-Americans tend to be “big government people” supporting social services including Obamacare but aren’t necessarily comfortable with the label of ‘Democrat’.”

Protest held outside concert over anti-Chinese lyrics

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eople upset over what they considered the racist anti-Chinese lyrics of rapper YG protested outside his concert in Silver Spring, MD. The song Meet the Flockers talks about targeting Chinese families for robberies because they “don’t believe in banks accounts.”

“We are asking YG to apologize, to provide entertainment in a different format and change the lyrics,” said Cliff Li, secretary general for the New Civil Rights Alliance.

The song came out two years ago, but recently became the target of members of the Chinese community after a recent series of home invasions in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Sacramento, California.

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