asian avenue
magazine
Connecting Cultures Linking Lives
April 2019 Volume 14 Issue 4
Denver’s
JAPANESE HAWAIIAN WEDDING SAKE
Fil-Am Property Connections builds communities
TASTING IV celebrates all things sake
The Confucius Institute at
Community College of Denver The Confucius Institute at Community College of Denver is a Chinese language and cultural learning center, established in 2007 with the support of the Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), to promote Chinese language training and intercultural understanding. Our programs and services include: n Noncredit Chinese language and cultural workshops n Private Chinese language tutoring n Chinese language proficiency testing n Scholarships to study in China n China summer camps n Seasonal Chinese cultural events n Seasonal professional development training for Colorado K-12 Mandarin teachers n An educational resource center For more information about the Confucius Institute, contact: Jane Lim Jane.Lim@ccd.edu n 303-352-6510 CCD.edu/ci
2019 PLATFORM WORKSHOPS
DO YOU WANT TO CREATE VIDEOS BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START?
platform4women.org
MAY
Are you interested in making your community more equitable and inclusive? Do you want to increase your selfawareness and understanding of your community to be ADD SUBHEADING more effective? This series of workshops is designed to help passionate and visionary participants become more self-aware as they learn to navigate themselves in the social impact sector.
ENVISION THE CHANGE SELF-DISCOVERY
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Reflect on your journey, strengths, core values, and passions to better serve others.
8:30AM-4:30PM
$125
RSVP @ https://capturevideo.eventbrite.com
$25/person space is limited!
Aditi Children's Hospital
Caran Iliff
TARGET COMMUNITY
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Identify your community, its assets, and opportunities to better actualize your role in the social impact sector
8:30AM-4:30PM
$125
Zonya APDC
Maria Ignacia COLOR
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INTERSECTIONALITY Explore intersectionality to find common ground with other marginalized groups.
8:30AM-4:30PM
$125
Jessica Jess Ayden Li
Brenda In.Visible Paradigm
LOCATION: ILIFF SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY, 2323 E. ILIFF AVE. DENVER, CO 80210
AKI Asian Hotpot ALL YOU CAN EAT
醉香鍋
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
Sun - Thur: 11:30am – 9:30pm Fri - Sat: 11am – 10pm
12303 E Mississippi Ave Unit 127, Aurora, CO 80012 | Tel: 720.638.3193
What is Chinese Hotpot?
WINE & LIQUOR AVAILABLE!
Chinese hotpot is a communal eating experience, in which you order different ingredients to boil inside a simmering pot of broth. Think of it as Asian fondue where everyone at the table cooks their own food!
How to eat Hotpot?
At Aki, first choose your soup base (do you dig hot and spicy? Or are you more into herbal broths?). From there, choose your meats and seafoods ranging from beef slices, pork belly and meatballs to squid, fish fillets, shrimps and clams. Throw in your veggies: mushrooms, cabbage, spinach, sprouts, or boy choy, and the list goes on with over 20 options. Lastly, add your noodles and tofus, and don’t forget the dipping sauces! And the best part is that it is ALL YOU CAN EAT!
Kids age 3 and under: FREE Ages 4-6: $6.99 Ages 7-9: $10.99 Ages 10-12: $12.99 Seniors: $17.99
Adults: $19.99
MEET DENVER’S NEWEST SUPER DENTIST Local dentist Dr. Linda M. Nguyen has been practicing dentistry at Barotz Dental since 2017. Her impressive background and experience has afforded her an incredibly advanced dental skillset, enabling her to deliver life-changing dentistry for her patients. Dr. Nguyen says if she had to pinpoint a particular experience that motivated her to become a dentist, it would be her mission trip to Honduras. “At CU Boulder, I joined the Global Dental Brigades. We raised funds and supplies to set up mobile dental clinics in Honduras,” says Dr. Nguyen. She assisted in dental procedures as well as demonstrated flossing and brushing techniques for hundreds of people lined up waiting to receive care. “Seeing hundreds of villagers entering with a mouthful of pain and transforming those moments to pain relief and gratitude was something I couldn’t shake.” “Once I felt that calling, I couldn’t look back. The more I delved in, the more I loved it, and it’s a feeling that continues to resonate today.” Dr. Nguyen graduated magna cum laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in Chemistry before earning her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. Following dental school, Dr. Nguyen was selected to one of the nation’s
Dr. Linda Nguyen
most prestigious and intensive residency programs with the South Texas Veteran’s Healthcare System Advanced Education in General Dentistry. There, she provided superior care by marrying cutting-edge techniques with traditional evidence-based research. Born and raised in Denver, Dr. Nguyen’s wide array of skills includes dental implantology, advanced periodontics, endodontics and orthodontics. She is a constant learner and continually adds to her repertoire to better serve her patients. She acknowledges that dentistry is ever-changing, and as such it is impossible to solely use the same techniques over and over again. “It’s about narrowing down what works, what’s predictable, doing what’s right—while also being keen to what new developments are out there. In order to help my patients to the greatest extent possible, I am diligent about expanding my skillset and learning the right techniques.” As the Associate Doctor at Barotz Dental, Dr. Nguyen is excited for the opportunity to provide world-class dentistry in a unique, personal setting. She says, “At Barotz Dental, we offer Total Dental Solutions, which gives me the ability to take care of my patients from A- to-Z. You won’t be referred from one doctor to another because we can handle all aspects of your care in one convenient location.”
“We are also unique in that we take the time to know our patients on a personal and professional level, ensuring we help them achieve their dental goals by working together to achieve a lifetime of dental health.” She advises patients not to wait until they have a problem before seeing a dentist. “Don’t wait until you have pain and a problem occurs before making an appointment. Tooth problems are largely preventable, so take the time to find a trustworthy, clinically excellent dentist who gets to know you and is an advocate for your overall health.” Dr. Nguyen is passionate about giving back. She has provided dentistry abroad for the less fortunate and helped rebuild shelters for battered victims. In her free time, she enjoys trying new food, hiking, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.
303 16th St Mall, Suite 250 Denver, CO 80202 303-595-4994
www.DenverDentist.com
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
SUSHI RAMEN RICE BOWLS 5355 WADSWORTH BYPASS ARVADA, CO 80002
2390 S. Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80222
303-432-0600 303-692-8752
WWW.KOKORORESTAURANTS.COM
APRIL 2019 in this issue EVENTS
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Event calendar Visit Las Vegas: Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens celebrates Japan with vibrant Spring display through June 15
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Denver Production: “Other Desert Cities” debuts in Cherry Creek
For Akemi and Kendall’s wedding, an origami mosaic artist, arranged over 1,000 cranes (a task called senbazuru which is said to bestow fortune and loyalty on a marriage) into a frame of the Kunitake and Tsutsui family crests linked together like a chain.
FEATURE
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How data disaggregation matters for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
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COVER STORY
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Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake reflects on how she and her husband Kendall Kunitake incorporated Japanese and Hawaiian cultural elements to their Denver wedding
OP-ED
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Realtor Aurelia Grinstead celebrates the fifth anniversary of Fil-Am Property Connections
FEATURE Specialty bookstore focuses on Filipino authors and heritage: Philippine Expressions Bookshop
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News across the nation
BOOK REVIEW
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The Milk Lady of Bangalore: An Unexpected Adventure by Shoba Narayan
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Q&A interview with the author
ON SCENE
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April 2019 | Table of Contents
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ASIAN AMERICAN NEWS
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Celebrating Losar, the new year, with the Tibetan community in Boulder Simpson United Methodist Church hosts master potters from Japan Sake tasting IV at Uncle Joe’s highlights all things sake
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NAAAP Colorado launches in 2019
Author Lisa See visits Castle Rock for book signing
ASIAN AVENUE MAGAZINE P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 Tel: 303.937.6888 E-mail: info@asianavemag.com www.asianavemag.com
Find us @AsianAveMag
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Dear Asian Avenue readers, Being a newlywed myself (married for less than two years), I greatly enjoyed learning about Akemi and Kendall’s Japanese-Hawaiian wedding. Wow! They did such an incredible job incorporating aspects of their culture, family and religion to their big day. If you need any ideas on how to do this, consider these things: who you hire as vendors, the attire you will wear, and even your cake topper! Get inspired by the creativity of the Kunitake couple’s Tri-State/ Denver Buddhist Temple wedding. Also in this issue, Aurelia Grinstead of Fil-Am Property Connections shares her personal story of struggle and triumph. As she celebrates her fifth anniversary as a realtor, she remembers how life wasn’t always easy for her and her family. That is why she is determined now to help other families build wealth and get into the homes of their dreams. In the month of May, we will again be celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by honoring the 2019 Asian American Heroes of Colorado. We invite you to join us and celebrate this year’s honorees on Saturday, May 18 at Empress Seafood Restaurant for a dim sum brunch. The event recognizes deserving individuals in our local community who are making a real difference in the lives of others. Check out our May issue for stories about each hero! Annie Guo VanDan, President Asian Avenue magazine | www.asianavemag.com 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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magazine
asian avenue Publisher & Founder CHRISTINA YUTAI GUO
Marketing Manager JOIE HA
President ANNIE GUO VANDAN
Staff Writer PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG
Senior Designer C.G. YAO
Staff Writer AMY NG
Editorial Director MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ
Intern MANTING YUAN
on the cover
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From switching champagne to sake and incorporating meditation beads and Lunar zodiac signs, Akemi and Kendall made sure elements of their culture and heritage were present throughout their wedding. Photo provided by: Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake
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contributing writers Aurelia Grinstead, Jessalyn Herreria Langevin, Jules Nadeau, Kari Palazzari, Pok Sergent, Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake
contributing photographers Jessalyn Herreria Langevin, Jessica Oppenheim, Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 19321449) 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.
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President’s Note | asian avenue magazine
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upcoming events Apex-4 Conference Journey to New Heights April 5-7 Radisson Hotel Denver-Aurora 3155 S. Vaughn Way, Aurora More info: fb.com/swuvsa
Apex-4 is a three-day leadership conference open to anyone 18 years+, who is looking to expand their network and wanting to connect with Southwest UVSA (Union of Vietnamese Student Associations). The conference will include performances, speakers and a gala event. 40th Anniversary of Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning Tuesday, April 9 3:30pm to 5pm The Spring Café 1373 Grant Street, Denver More info: springinstitute.org
Join the Spring Institute at their 40th Birthday Bash and Fundraiser! Meet the many Faces of Spring and contribute to the nonprofit’s mission of providing language access and career development. There will be live music, storytelling, and of course, birthday cake!
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April 2019 | Upcoming Events
AAPI Through the Lens Wednesday, April 10 3pm to 6pm CU Denver Asian American Student Services 1201 Larimer St, Denver For more info, e-mail: soyon.bueno@ucdenver.edu Screening of “First They Killed my Father”: From a childhood survivor of the Cambodian genocide under the regime of Pol Pot, this is a riveting narrative of war crimes and desperate actions, the unnerving strength of a small girl and her family, and their triumph of spirit.
“Materialis” Show by Artist Taiko Chandler Friday, April 12 Saturday, May 25 Space Gallery 400 Santa Fe Drive, Denver More info: taikochandler.com The exhibit will show several of Taiko Chandler’s latest prints and a large installation work. The work reflects her recent experiences. There will be a showing of her combined installation work, consisting of one Tyvek piece and another one made using heat manipulated organza.
Send community events to info@asianavemag.com.
An Ancient Night Under Hoi An Lights Saturday, April 13 Begins at 6:30pm Queen of Vietnamese Martyrs 4695 N Harlan St, Wheat Ridge Tickets: $40 Find event on Facebook
The Vietnamese Student Association at the University of Colorado Denver cordially invite you to their 6th Annual Gala for a full night of food and amazing performances. Proceeds from the event will go to the nonprofit organization Children of Vietnam, focused on building bright futures for Vietnamese kids. Nate’s Night Benefit Concert Thursday, April 18 5pm Dinner | 9pm Concert Ophelia’s Electric Soap Box 1215 20th St., Denver Tickets: $20 Get tickets: natesnight.org
Nate’s Night is an annual music event by friends of Nathan Yip and the Future Arts Foundation, aimed to provide funding for projects related to music education. The concert will feature Adam Aijala and Ben Kaufmann of Yonder Mountain String Band. Dinner at Ophelia’s will start at 5pm.
Javanese Gamelan Music with The Ramayana Ballet Sunday, April 28 11am to 11:30am Denver Arts Museum, Sharp Auditorium, Lower Level 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver Free admission More info: arcinda.org Join ARCINDA (The Arts & Culture of Indonesia) for an evening of music and dance with guest artist Muryanto, a gamelan professor from Washington DC and guest dancer Baghawan Ciptoning from Los Angeles.
Capture the Moment Video Workshop Sunday, April 28 | 3pm to 5pm Sakura Square Mezzanine 1255 19th St, Denver Ticket: $25 More info and get tickets at: DO YOU WANT TO CREATE capturevideo.eventbrite.com
VID BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE TO STA
For anyone interested in a hands-on workshop taking you through the stages of video creation. From shooting and getting footage off your device, to editing and sharing with the world, instructors Keiko Ozaki RSVP and Shannon @ https://capturevideo.eventbr Umetani will get you started. $25/p
space is lim
65,000 FRESH FLOWERS. In Las Vegas, Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens celebrates Japan with vibrant spring display through June 15
Celebrating the exquisite beauty and tradition of Japan, Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens unveils its stunning spring display, on view through June 15, featuring for the first time an intricate replica of the Osaka Castle, one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks. The Conservatory takes guests on a cultural journey through many of the most vibrant elements associated with the Land of the Rising Sun, including delicate cherry blossoms, elegant butterflies and thousands of fresh tulips, calla lilies and chrysanthemums. The spring display, featuring 65,000 fresh flowers, honors nature’s awakening and the bloom of a new season with Japanese influences around every turn. Butterflies, a sign of good luck in love in Japanese culture, are found flitting throughout the display, while a traditional tea house honors the grace, etiquette and hospitality of the age-old Japanese tea ceremony.
Upon entering the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the stunning 30-foothigh Osaka Castle replica stands in the center of the West Bed. Recreated in precise detail, the Edo-era landmark features shining golden trim and is flanked by two Japanese-style stone lanterns, illuminating the path to the castle. Colorful butterflies flutter throughout the bed which includes intricate topiaries made up of 2,000 fresh-cut carnations. Just below the castle, a waterfall flows into a wide pond accented by three lively fountains, a nod to Bellagio’s world-renowned water feature along the Las Vegas Strip. To ensure the display accurately conveyed the historical and cultural significance of the iconic Osaka Castle, designer Ed Libby and Bellagio’s horticulture team collaborated with Japan-based producer Noriko Minai and her team at Dentsu Live Inc. to bring the vision to life with a precise combination of colors and flow-
ers. The creative process included several months of reviewing detailed visual assets and models of the castle to create a masterpiece that was true to life and also uniquely Bellagio. With more than 19 million residents, Osaka is the second largest city in Japan. The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is complimentary to the public. Bellagio’s spring Conservatory reflects MGM Resorts International’s commitment to celebrating Japanese culture with visitors from around the world. Also featured at the resort are two installations by internationally celebrated artist Yayoi Kusama, Infinity Mirrored Room: Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity and Narcissus Garden, both on display at Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art through June 30. Learn more about the conservatory and gallery at Bellagio by visiting bellagio.com. Visit Las Vegas | asian avenue magazine
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Director, cast make company debuts in Cherry Creek Theatre’s “Other Desert Cities” Other Desert Cities By Jon Robin Baitz Directed by Sheila Ivy Traister
March 28–April 28, 2019
Thursdays–Saturdays, 7:00pm; Sundays, 2:00pm (No performances April 18–21)
Pluss Theatre Mizel Arts & Culture Center 350 S. Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80246
Tickets start at $33 cherrycreektheatre.org
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April 2019 | Denver Production
Cherry Creek Theatre (CCT) welcomes Asian-American director Sheila Ivy Traister and a cast of newcomers to the company for “Other Desert Cities.” CCT’s second production of their all-female-directed season opened March 28 and will run through April 28 at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center. Traister is an award-winning actress with 39 years as an actor, director, writer and educator in film, television and theatre. She recently directed For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf (5280 Artist Co-Op) and Arabian Nights (The Aurora Fox). Award-winning playwright Jon Robin Baitz’s family drama centers around Brooke Wyeth (Lilia Vassileva), who is still struggling to move on from a decades-old family trauma, but her soon-to-be-published memoir offers hope of finding closure. During a visit to her parents’ home in Palm Springs, Wyeth reveals her new memoir exposes a dark family secret — but her parents (Abby Apple Boes and Michael McNeill) are not ready to dig up the past. “As a director, you wish for three things: great material, a reputable company, and for the right actors to walk through your doors at the audition,” said Traister about her first production with CCT. “Check, check, check.” Vassileva (“Angels in America” at DCPA Education), Apple Boes (Henry Award nominee for “August: Osage County”), and McNeill (Curious Theatre company member) are joined by Pamela Clifton (Arvada Center, Avenue Theatre) and Chas Lederer (Denver Center, BDT Stage), who complete the cast of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Drama. The creative team includes scenic design by M. Curtis Grittner; costume design by Kelly Gregson; lighting design by Karalyn Star Pytel; and sound design by Morgan McCauley. Stage Manager is Lexi Holtzer, and the production is produced by Susie Snodgrass. Tickets start at $33 and are available by calling the box office at 303-800-6578 or visiting cherrycreektheatre.org.
What was the experience like directing this story of a conservative, white-American family as an Asian-American woman? about family dynamics and the often challenging problems that exist between parents and their children, mothers and daughters and sibling rivalry. Add to that different worldviews and a bevy of secrets and it’s a hot pot waiting to explode! My own multicultural upbringing taught me to be aware of divergent views and to be careful about the assumptions we make of others. This play explores those very issues and regardless of race, culture and political leanings, it’s the humanity of these characters that draws us in and provides a glimpse into the worlds we all inhabit. Regardless of your cultural background, anyone who sees this Pulitzer Prize finalist play, “Other Desert Cities” will be able to identify with at least one, if not all the characters for their humanity.
tor
y Tra i s t er
How has being Asian-American affected or influenced your career as an actress/director? My career began in the early 80’s and from that time to the present, my ethnicity and how I look, as a person of color, have factored heavily into how I’m perceived and the work I can garner. As an Asian-American actress I would, on average get 5-10% of the number of auditions as my Caucasian counterparts. Depending on the medium, whether it was television, film or commercials it could be less. In theatre, outside of college that number floats more around 1.5-3%... these numbers are true today even for Broadway. Over time my personal odds would improve as my resume and reputation grew, but even talent and experience isn’t always enough to get the work as a person of color. On a number of occasions I was told by directors or producers that I was their first choice for a role, but they wouldn’t cast me because I made it an ‘interracial couple’, or I looked too exotic or... and yes this actually happened... that the commercial was going to play in the Midwest and therefore
Direc
Iv eila Sh
The experience has been terrific! It is no different for me than directing anything else, because I’m always looking for the humanity in the piece and that’s universal and knows no racial or cultural boundaries. The parents, Polly and Lyman Wyeth, are white-Americans and old school Republicans; while Polly’s alcoholic sister who lives with them, and their two children Brooke and Wyeth, who are home for the holidays, range on the scale of liberalism. Their divergent political views are merely a backdrop for more pressing issues when Brooke, the central character, chooses to write a memoir about a troubling and dramatic event in the families’ history. The struggles, as to whether or not she should publish the book and when, reveals deeper issues
“no-one” would be able to identify with me. For decades, few theaters entertained the idea of casting multi-racial casts if it wasn’t justified in the script. Or wouldn’t cast a classic with actors of color. The opportunities just weren’t there or were few and far between. As a director, I think being a woman is the tougher issue even over ethnicity; which is why Cherry Creek Theatre’s vision to hire all female directors for their 2019 season is such a stellar move. This isn’t progressive, it is proactive! It’s putting thought into action and I’m so honored that they sought me out to be a part of it. They are visionaries! The entertainment industry has made huge strides from when I started and our unions make sure to negotiate in the best interest of all their performers with protections against discriminatory practices and a goal to educate on inclusive ones. It’s just time on this planet that we see each other for our humanity, that we honor each other for our differences yet, not define each other by them. Other Desert Cities | asian avenue magazine
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HOW DATA DISAGGREGATION MATTERS FOR ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS When it comes to economic success in the U.S., Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are often considered the exemplary achievers, or more stereotypically, the “model minorities.” However, this narrative that all the members of the AAPI population are relatively ho-
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April 2019 | Feature
mogenous and successful puts many of the ethnic communities, such as Hmong Americans, at substantial risk of being underserved by local, state, and federal governments. For example, when examining school discipline disparities, data con-
sistently show that Asian-American students, compared to other racial and ethnic groups, have the lowest rates of suspensions and expulsions. However, last month, a study of K-12 Asian students showed that discipline outcomes varied considerably among Asian and Pacific Islander subgroups. The research focused on Washington state because it is the only state that requires schools to break out data by Asian and Pacific Islander subgroups. Students from Southeast Asian countries, like Laos and Cambodia, had suspension and expulsion rates that were 2 to 3 times higher than those from China, Korea and other East Asian countries. One explanation for these results may be that students from Southeast Asia are far more likely than their East Asian counterparts to come from families who came to the U.S. as refugees and live in low-income communities. Southeast Asian students “have higher rates of trauma and instability due to the refugee trauma…they live in poor communities and their parents often don’t speak English,” said Pedro Noguera, one of the study’s co-authors and director of UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools. “That is why generalizing about different groups is so unhelpful.” A long-held stereotype of Asian as well as Pacific Islander students is they are smarter and work harder than whites and other racial and ethnic groups and they are also non-confrontational. This “monolithic” view of
Asians and Pacific Islanders is both inaccurate and harmful, the researchers say. While data show that some Asian and Pacific Islander groups are consistently high-achieving academically, others are far less so. For example, the high school graduation rate among Japanese and Taiwanese students is around 95 percent, the report stated. But it’s below 70 percent for Cambodian and Laotian students. Yet, these disparities often go unnoticed by school officials and schoolbased health and mental health providers and the underlying issues that these students face are not addressed, the authors wrote. According to the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, March 5, 2019 was Asian American Pacific Islander Women’s Equal Pay Day - the day when AAPI women’s average pay catches up with what white men made last year. On average, AAPI women made 85 cents for every dollar white men took
home in 2017. This pay gap is even larger for many AAPI ethnic groups. Vietnamese women earn $.64, Hmong women earn $.57, and Burmese women earn only $.50, making them some of the lowest paid people in the nation. The breakdown shows the disparities from Burmese women to Indian and Taiwanese women (who make more than the average white man). Bills have passed in California, Minnesota and Rhode Island, calling for the disaggregation of data related to Asians. But while researchers and legislators are pushing for this breakdown to be required, there is some opposition. In regards to asking students to identify their ethnicities, some believe that this “granular disaggregation” — breaking up data on Asians to reflect the particular countries from which they come — would be divisive, intrusive and alienating. In Connecticut, hundreds of Asians turned out to support a bill prohibit-
For every dollar the average white, non-hispanic man makes, Asian American and Pacific Islander women are paid on average $0.85.
ing the disaggregation of some ethnic data in schools. Sen. Tony Hwang, one of the legislators proposing the bill, said he would be concerned about any “registry that singles out a specific racial group. Any concerns people have raised about it is a reflection of history and distrust in how data and registries would be used to their disadvantage.” That distrust of registries and concerns about discrimination dates back to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and continues through recent concerns that students of Asian descent have been the subject of discrimination by elite institutions, such as Harvard, as they attempt to create a diverse student body. In 2017, about 250,530 Asian Americans were estimated to be living in Colorado. Counties with the highest population of Asian Americans include: Arapahoe, Denver, El Paso, Adams, Jefferson, Douglas, and Boulder. In Colorado, 14% of Asian Americans have less than a high school education. While the breakdown of educational attainment is not available for Colorado specifically, on a national level, educational attainment of Hmong, Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese Americans are lowest among Asian American ethnic groups. When Southeast Asian Americans get grouped into the stereotypical category of “Asians”, they are not able to receive the necessary support needed because societal expectations propose that all Asian Americans are more than capable of graduating high school and college. For example, Southeast Asian Americans are denied access to financial and academic support because they have checked the “Asian” category box. Due to the model minority myth, people assume that they are the top academic performing of all races. The myth suggests that Asian Americans are universally successful due to hard work and good cultural values, so other racial minority groups need only follow if they want to be successful too. However, this is not true.
Disaggregation Matters | asian avenue magazine
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O
n June 2, 2018 my husband Kendall and I were wed at the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple. I hadn’t envisioned ever getting married until I met and began dating Kendall. However, I do love things that involve pageantry, extensive preparation, and displays of culture, so planning our wedding was quite fun! We aimed to incorporate elements of our Japanese heritage, Kendall’s background from growing up in Hawaii and things that just “felt right” to us. Although Kendall and I are both fourth generation, our families fall into different realms of the Japanese American experience. My family worked as fishermen in California prior to the World War II incarceration camps and settled in Denver after the war. Kendall is originally from Kona, Hawaii where he grew up in the coffee
The wedding ceremony was followed by a Japanese buffet.
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April 2019 | Cover Story
Celebrating family and heritage on our big day Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake reflects on how she and her husband Kendall Kunitake incorporated Japanese and Hawaiian cultural elements to their Denver wedding.
farming traditions of his family. Jodo Shinshu is one of the most widely practiced branches of Buddhism in Japan and travelled with Japanese immigrants to where they settled - including Hawaii and Colorado! As both Jodo Shinshu Buddhists, Kendall and I met at the Tri-State/ Denver Buddhist Temple in late 2014 and began dating in 2015 with both of us traveling back and forth to Hawaii, Colorado and even Japan to see one another. The wedding began with a hectic rehearsal the night before the wedding, with out of town guests arriving and some gender confusion in regards to the wedding party. We had groomsmaids, bridesmen and a flower boy but hey, it’s the 21st century! The rehearsal was followed by a dinner at Star Kitchen, because let’s face it, many mainland Japanese Americans
love Chinese food and associate it with community gatherings. If you aren’t aware of this concept, I recommend the Nikkei View article by Gil Asakawa, “Japanese Americans, Chinese Food and Our Sense of Community.” The next morning, we got ready for the ceremony at the temple. Kendall wore a tuxedo with an obi (traditional sash) fabric bow tie which we had gotten along with my jewelry in Kyoto. My gown was made by Maggie Burns of Marie Margot Couture who worked to convert an uchikake (traditional wedding kimono) into a modern silhouette with a bow at the back to resemble the obi knot. My bouquet had lilies, chrysanthemums, roses and pine, some of which was foliage depicted in the pattern of the uchikake to symbolize fidelity and longevity. The ceremony began with Jake
Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake and her husband Kendall were married at the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple.
In Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, a wedding is viewed similarly to a funeral as it honors the death of the couple as children of their parents and sees them reborn in their roles as life partners. Shimabukuro ukulele processional music and a chanting of Shishin-rai. Kendall and I exchanged Buddhist vows before placing our rings upon one another’s fingers and received ojuzu (meditation beads) from the Reverend. The Reverend then pronounced us as a married couple and we performed the sake ceremony, sansan-kudo, with our parents to join our families. Much of the ceremony consisted of recognizing Kendall and I as a couple and our new roles as husband and wife. In Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, we see life and life events as occurring in a cycle of birth and death. A wedding is viewed similarly to a funeral as it honors the death of the couple as children of their parents and sees them reborn in their roles as life partners. The ceremony was followed by a Japanese buffet, speeches and danc-
ing in the temple auditorium. We wanted to really glam up the auditorium to harken back to the post-war days at the temple where the Japanese American community used to host dances. To do this we draped and uplit the whole room and hung lanterns and twinkle lights. My late grandma’s favorite candy, Werthers, gave the guest tables a golden sparkle and we utilized the temple’s zabuton (sitting cushions) to give the room a pop of color. There were very few restaurants and caterers who even knew how to cook the food we wanted, but we were very happy with Sushi Den who catered osuimono (clear soup), miso cod, teriyaki steak, chirashizushi (“scattered sushi”), dashi stewed vegetables and osekihan (celebratory red bean rice). Our families and wedding party
The Tsutsui and Kunitake family crests were displayed at the temple during the wedding.
gave emotional speeches that were toasted not with champagne, but sparkling sake. We also served Coors and Kona Brewing Company to nod to our Colorado and Hawaii origins, while the children enjoyed ramune (Japanese marble soda). As one of his few requests, Kendall wanted to serve Hawaiian chantilly cake—a milk chocolate cake with condensed milk frosting. After we danced to “Come What May” from Moulin Rouge, my mom wheeled the cake out, topped with a dog and rabbit I had sculpted and painted to correspond to our Lunar zodiac signs (if zodiac horoscopes are true, we were meant for each other!). We finished the night out jamming to the tunes of 80s and 90s nostalgia with Whitney Houston and Selena Quintanilla leading the helm.
Akemi and Kendall exchanged vows before receiving ojuzu or meditation beads from the Reverend.
Our Japanese-Hawaiian-American Wedding | asian avenue magazine
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The evening’s toasts were not with champagne, but sparkling sake.
Throughout the wedding process we tried to source our vendors through personal connections in the Japanese American community. The Buddhist Women’s Association helped with food service, while photographer, Glenn Asakawa, and videographer, Keiko Ozaki, captured the celebration. Mia Tsuchimoto, an origami mosaic artist from Brighton, worked to arrange over 1,000 cranes I had folded (a task called senbazuru which is said to bestow fortune and loyalty on a marriage) into a frame of the Kunitake and Tsutsui family crests linked together like a chain.
The favors were coordinated by Kendall and included packages of Kona coffee from his family’s farm, Country Samurai Coffee Company, and an anpan (a red bean paste filled Japanese sweet bread) from Punalu’u Bake Shop, where Kendall had proposed. Our wedding was made memorable by the joining of our cultures and families in every aspect of the event. Much like a marriage is the union of two people, the elements in our wedding were a confluence of our Hawaii and mainland Japanese American backgrounds in a way that we felt was true to who we are as a couple.
The elements in our wedding were a confluence of our Hawaii and mainland Japanese American backgrounds in a way that we felt was true to who we are as a couple. 16
April 2019 | Cover Story
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tinyurl.com/aahc19 This program is presented by the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network in collaboration with several APA organizations in Colorado.
Aurelia and Kevin Grinstead with their three children
BUILDING COMMUNITIES ONE FAMILY AT A TIME
Real estate is not just about selling houses or helping people find their dream homes. It’s about living the “American Dream.” For the last five years, I have built a career helping others bring their dreams of home ownership and all that it symbolizes to life. I have the privilege of educating others on how to build wealth through real estate, helping them transition between communities, and most importantly, establishing the legacies they will leave for their families. Many people come to me and assume they cannot afford to purchase a home—a feeling I empathize with as I was once in their shoes. With the right professionals by your side, buying a home in Denver is not challenging! Fil-Am Property Connections help you every step of the way from improving and establishing good credit to money saving strategies and budgeting, to guiding you through every step of the buying or selling process.
The Journey to Fil-Am Property Connections The last five years of my life have been the best yet. I have seen places I only saw on TV growing up. I have felt things that I only used to touch on magazines and now I get to see myself and read my own story in a magazine. Growing up destitute in the Philippines, I have the greatest appreciation for everything that I have achieved and accomplished. I am living the American Dream. I grew up in a house that didn’t have electricity or running water, a house with broken doors, missing windows and a leaking ceiling when it rained. I remember eating plain rice with only water and salt to taste. We were lucky if we had soy sauce or cooking oil as an alternative. I even remember my dad would say, “go to sleep but make sure to sleep in so you don’t have to eat breakfast.” The idea
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April 2019 | Op-Ed
was to skip breakfast and have brunch instead so that we saved a meal. I walked about five miles every day to go to school, sometimes under the sun and other times braving the rain and flood waters. I remember waiting until midnight to steal water from our neighbors in order to bathe and the feeling of my grumbling stomach from hunger. I did not escape poverty coming to the United States. My husband Kevin and I worked two or three jobs at a time to make it. We did not own a car and lived in my in-laws’ basement. Things did not start to change until we got into real estate. That, however, is all part of my past and I am grateful for the person those experiences helped me become. I’m even more grateful that my husband and I have been able to provide an amazing life for our children because of real estate that they will never have to experience such poverty, except through my stories. I am blessed to have the support of my amazing family, who always believed in me and my mom who taught me the importance of perseverance and hard work. I am grateful to my mentors and my coaches who removed the cap of my limitations. I am grateful for the person who got me into real estate and gave me the opportunity to make an impact on other people’s lives. I am grateful for real estate itself because it changed our lives and for all our clients who made our dreams a reality. I am blessed to be with Keller Williams, a company which I also attribute my success and personal growth. Keller Williams not only has the best training and technology, the company also instills the best culture. We value integrity, communication and creativity. We honor our commitment to our customers and we believe in the power of teamwork, trust and success. It’s win-win or no deal.
Aurelia finishes the 2018 Spartan Race
Kevin and Aurelia at the Keller Williams Regional Awards Night in New Orleans
Their mission to “build careers worth having, businesses worth owning, lives worth living, and experiences worth giving” has been my reality. Pursuing the Dream In the past five years, Fil-Am Propoerty Connections has closed 75 transactions and nearly $30 million in volume. Great business partners, such as our friend John Barry of Houz Mortgage, help make all of this possible. We have been awarded two bronze and two silver plaques from Keller Williams, 2019 Denver Metro Realtors
Serving you is our mission, helping you is our passion, and real estate is our profession. filampc.com
Service Excellence Award, and four consecutive years of being in the top tier realtors in our office of 280 agents. And our team is still growing! We are looking for people who are highly motivated and have BIG WHY’s. Our goal this year is to help 45 families buy and sell homes or invest in real estate. Are you one of them? Is there someone that you know? Call us at 720.979.3049 or 720.612.9286 because serving you is our passion and we are here to build a stronger community because we are a part of it.
AURELIA J. GRINSTEAD aureliag@kw.com | www.filampc.com
TESTIMONIAL
Founder and Team Leader of Fil-Am Property Connections Co-Founder of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce of Colorado Agent Leadership Council Keller Williams Preferred Realty 2014-2016 Director of Membership National Federation of Filipino American Associations Region V
“Kevin and Aurelia did very well coaching us throughout our first time home buyer’s experience. This step in our lives was always a scary thought and felt very out of reach, especially for living in Colorado and for being a young couple. Kevin educated us throughout the process and kept things seamless. We felt like we were making the right decision in the end. We were looking in Fort Collins and surrounding area and he was always willing to make the trip to show us a home in the middle of the week or after our work day was over. Originally, we thought maybe this process would happen over 1-2 years. Kevin was patient and understood that we may need to save more money. To our surprise, the whole process took only months and we’re now living in the perfect first home and loving it!”
FUN FACTS ABOUT AURELIA Spartan Race finisher Loves to play the guitar Aspiring life coach Hate snakes but love spiders
- Kim and Joe Peterson Fil-Am Property Connections | asian avenue magazine
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By Mary Jeneverre Schultz Follow her on Instagram @Jeneverre
Specialty bookstore focuses on Filipino authors and heritage:
PHILIPPINE EXPRESSIONS BOOKSHOP Imagine finding Filipino authors such as Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Jessica Hagedorn, Carlos Bulosan, F. Sionil Jose, and Nick Joaquin, all in one place. There is such a place—a bookstore specializing in selling books about the Philippines and written by Filipino authors. The Philippine Expressions Bookshop is found in downtown San Pedro, Calif. Founder and owner Linda Nietes-Little opened the shop in 1984, first starting as a mail-order business. “The bookshop carries about 4,800 titles by Filipinos and Filipino American authors,” said Nietes-Little, adding her favorite genre is World War II works. Nietes-Little began this bookstore by dedicating it to Filipino Americans tracing their roots, even before the popularity of the genealogy company Ancestry. Due to its specific niche, the bookshop can go up against mega stores like Barnes & Noble and online retailers such as Amazon. In fact, independent book stores such
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April 2019 | Feature
the Philippine Expressions Bookshop are flourishing despite the growing competition. Retail sales at U.S. bookstores were up by 10 percent in November 2018 compared to November 2017, according to
preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census. As of Feb. 13, year-to-date sales among the American Booksellers Association’s (ABA) member stores, as reported to the
Owner Linda Nietes-Little opened Philippine Expressions Bookshop in San Pedro, Calif. in 1984.
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I just want to share our culture with the mainstream. - Linda Nietes-Little
For more information, on upcoming events, visit philippinebookshop.com.
weekly Indie Bestseller Lists, are up nearly two percent over 2018. For 2018, sales have also increased nearly five percent over 2017 among ABA member stores. The Census Bureau reported that November 2018 bookstore sales are estimated at $729 million, compared to sales of $663 million for the same period the previous year. By November 2018, e-book sales slipped 3.9 percent last year, according to the Association of American Publishers. Hardback and paperback book sales grew 6.2 percent and 2.2 percent respectively. During the first nine months of 2018, hardback and paperback sales were at $4 billion combined, while e-book sales were at $770.9 million. The ABA, a nonprofit trade organization for indie (independent) book shops, reported that its membership grew in 2018 for the ninth year in a row. The association’s members operate more than 2,400 locations in the U.S. The number of independent booksellers increased by 35 percent from 2009 to 2015, according to the ABA. Shared community is how this bookstore is thriving. Any bookstore can sell Michelle Obama’s new book, Becoming, but this bookstore can sell anything related to Filipino culture. What distinguishes this new wave of specialty bookstores is that their individual personalities shine through the commonalities for the bookstore’s visitors. Specialty bookshops, such as Philippine Expressions Bookshop, fills a distinct and different niche that brings its audience together. For example, if an individual needs to research information about Filipino libations, Nietes-Little can identify three to five books you can purchase on the spot. Curious about faith healers in the Filipino community? She can refer you to several authors, who wrote about this unique
subject. Through social media feeds, such as Facebook, Nietes-Little markets her unique store. “I just want to share our culture with the mainstream,” adding that her authors’ events are attended by non-Filipinos. In her early 80s, Nietes-Little continues to be a strong advocate of all things Filipino. She enjoys hosting author events and book presentations at the shop. Nietes-Little enjoys meeting all the authors from southern California. She won’t admit which is her favorite, but she did mentioned female authors such as M. Evelina Galang (mevelinagalang.com) from Florida and Gina Apostol of New York (ginaapostol.com). Other authors she shared included: Leny Mendoza Strobel (lenystrobel.com), Cecila M. Brainard of Los Angeles (ceciliabrainard.com), and Marivi Soliven of San Diego (marivisoliven.com). In addition to managing her bookstore, in a small space next door, Nietes-Little also showcases a small gallery of Filipino textile. She confesses in owning more than 100 artifacts of textiles collected during her travels throughout the Philippines. But she hopes to find a home for her beautiful collection that includes a variety of different ethnic and cultural communities. By appointment, Nietes-Little is available to show the colorful and vivid collection to interested students, collectors or archaeologists who want learn more about Filipino artistry. Just last year, she hosted a two-part exhibit called “Strands.” Her gallery encompasses works from the ancestral weaving traditions of various indigenous tribes spanning the Philippines Archipelago. Last February, the bookstore hosted an event called Book Talks by Filipino American Authors.
Philippine Expression Bookshop | asian avenue magazine
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AsAm Supreme Court upholds federal power to detain and deport immigrants for long-past crimes
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divided Supreme Court on March 18 bolstered the Trump administration’s power to arrest and indefinitely jail legal immigrants who committed past crimes that could trigger deportation, including those who completed their sentences years ago or were convicted of minor drug offenses. The ruling comes at a time Southeast Asian refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia have been increasingly detained
“This decision in favor of the government’s sweeping interpretation of the law goes far beyond Congress’ original intent and marks a serious threat to civil liberties in this country,” she said. “As a result, thousands of immigrants will be subject to mandatory imprisonment without the fundamental due process protections that form the backbone of our nation’s ideals and justice system.”
Immigrant Asian American Women may face higher risk for breast cancer
Study finds Asian Americans lead in support of same-sex marriage and LGBT rights
ccording to the Cancer Prevention Institute of California, breast cancer rates have declined or held steady for all other racial groups except for Asian Americans. A new study, published in the medical journal Preventing Chronic Disease, shows preliminary evidence that immigrant Asian American women who were born outside of the U.S. may have a higher risk of breast cancer than U.S.-born counterparts, reports NBC News. Results showed that Asian American women who immigrated and lived more than 50% of their lives in the U.S. were on average three times more likely to have breast cancer. Immigrant Asian American women who resided in the U.S. for less than 50% of their lives were 2.46 times more likely to get breast cancer. These findings also highlighted the need for clinical approaches specific to immigrant Asian American women, including addressing barriers they face like language and cultural differences.
sian Americans demonstrated the highest level of support for same-sex marriages and laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination in a new survey. The results were part of a survey of more than 40,000 Americans’ views on LGBT issues conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute. The survey found that 75 percent of Asian Americans respondents supported same-sex marriage. The group with the second highest amount of support was the group of respondents who identified as another race or mixed race (68 percent). About 73 percent of Asian American respondents supported laws that would protect LGBT people from discrimination in jobs, public accommodations, and housing. That number was four percent above the national average. Education might explain why those percentages are slightly higher compared to other racial groups. The survey found a strong correlation between education and support for LGBT rights. Asian Americans were more likely than other Americans surveyed to have a four-year degree.
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for past crimes committed when they were youths. In recent months, many have been deported back to Cambodia and Vietnam. Aarti Kohli, Executive Director of Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus, said the ruling “blatantly ignores the language of the 1996 mandatory detention law and grossly expands the government’s ability to detain without due process.”
April 2019 | National News
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Source: asamnews.com
NEWS Two Asian Americans become favorites on singing competitions: American Idol and The Voice
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n March 3, U.S. audiences were introduced to highschooler Myra Tran on ABC’s American Idol. Tran, whose full name is Trần Minh Như, moved to the U.S. from Vietnam just a year ago to pursue her dream of becoming a singer in America. “I [moved] here so I can follow my dream,” she explained in the premiere episode. “[It’s] the best way to follow my dream.” For her audition, Tran covered Jennifer Hudson’s “One Night Only.” She impressed the judges when they
began high-fiving each other midway through her audition. Jej Vinson, a former South Dakotan performing on The Voice, has continued to find success on the show after advancing past the battle rounds, which aired on March 25. Vinson, who lived in Flandreau for about three years after his family immigrated from the Phillipines, joined Team Kelly Clarkson after his four-chair turnaround blind audition of “Passionfruit” by
Drake. The 22-year-old lives in Los Angeles now and is pursuing an education in music. There has never been an Asian American winning singer on either of these shows. It’s very early in their competitions and there will be pitfalls along the way but representation matters. In both shows, there comes a point when the audience votes for the singers, so get your phones and computers ready to support them!
Nathan Chen wins second World Figure Skating title
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efending champion Nathan Chen delivered a spectacular free skate on March 23 to win the gold medal again at the figure skating world championships. It was the first time an American man captured consecutive world titles since Scott Hamilton won his fourth in a row in 1984. ”It feels amazing,” said 19-year-old Chen, the U.S. national champion and a full-time student at Yale. “This is my second world title and it means a lot to me. It is really reassuring that I’ve been able to pull everything together for the second time.” Chen opened with a quad lutz and followed with a quad flip. He then added two quad toeloops, one in combination, to solidify his lead. AsAm News | asian avenue magazine
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BOOK REVIEW
The Milk Lady of Bangalore: An Unexpected Adventure A vividly colorful and cultural novel about the humorous quirks of India and its sacred cows
Author: Shoba Narayan ISBN: 9781616206154 Pages: 272 | Price: $24.95 Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing Website: shobanarayan.com
Connect with Shoba on Social: youtube.com/user/ShobaNarayan shobanarayan.tumblr.com twitter.com/shobanarayan facebook.com/narayanshoba
Are you a bovine lover? In plain English, maybe it’s better to ask, do you love cows? In this humorous and light-hearted book, author and journalist Shoba Narayan talks about how cows are revered all over India. She goes into detail about her personal adventure, especially her relationship with her neighbors and their cows. “Think of India and certain images come to mind,” Narayan said. “Spicy food, sprawling slums, saris, gorgeously colored fabrics, beggars in street corners, Bollywood music, bazaars, tigers, elephants, color, chaos, traffic, and the Taj Mahal. There is one Indian icon, however, that hasn’t been explored very much. It is obvious and unseen. It plays into the global food debate about nutrition and what to eat. It is a beloved animal, and the source of what we give our children every morning. It is, of course, the cow.” When Narayan moved back home to India after living in Manhattan for many years, the last thing she expected to see in her modern, high-rise apartment building was a cow in the elevator. This is where the story begins to delight those who enjoy milk or those who are critical about the origins of their milk and dairy products. Narayan meets Sarala, the milk lady. After this surprising encounter,
Narayan’s life becomes an adventure after adventure as she and the milk lady, now an unexpected friend and wise mentor, set off on a quest to buy a new milk cow. The Milk Lady of Bangalore: An Unexpected Adventure offers a spirited, inspiring and often funny true story of how two strong women from very different background bond over not only cows, but also family, food, and life. Through her personal stories, Narayan talks about adjusting to India after living in New York for many years. She struggles with owning expensive saris, while the rest of India only owns a few in their closet. Even for those who aren’t from India, readers can immediately start laughing at the jokes about living in the U.S., especially New Yorkers. Narayan lived in the U.S. for 20 years before moving to India to be closer to family. In Bangalore (officially called Bengaluru), she found a city where five thousand years of tradition meet 21st century. Adjusting to life in India, Narayan grows to appreciate how the cow stands as a cultural touchstone to understanding everything in this country, such as food, politics, economics, spirituality and class. It’s a great book that explores how the cow has become an integral part of our lives.
Reviewed by: Mary Jeneverre Schultz Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @Jeneverre 24
April 2019 | Book Review
Q&A with Shoba Narayan
fitness. The trick is to the find the right one for a book.
What inspired you to write this book? The cow, actually. Observing the cow, being drawn to these animals, and then encountering the milk lady. I grew up with cows roaming the streets in India. That said, I think a particular set of circumstances had to come together, almost as if the universe was conspiring to bring them to me, in order for this book to happen. What do you want readers to walk away with after reading the book? I hope that they will gain an understanding of Indian culture with all its complications and chaos. I hope that they will enjoy human interest stories that spring up in the oddest places. I hope that they will read about, enjoy, and respect my milk lady for the amazing person that she is. I hope that they will love animals as much as I do. And I hope that they start seeing cows as the sentient beings they are. What are your future projects? I am working on a few ideas with my agent and publisher. There are many themes which resonate with me in the areas of spirituality, healing, and
What do you want to tell your new fan base? This is a good question, an important question. I hope that readers will embrace, indeed seek encounters with people who are different from them. This is possible in every city. In New York or San Francisco, you have the Indian merchant who sells in your neighborhood, the Korean deli that you visit every day, the meat packer down the road, the doorman in your building. All of these people potentially have strange and fantastic lives that you can learn about and enjoy. They have great stories. You can become their friends. I know that many Americans do this. I just happened to write a book about this. What are you hobbies and interests? I am an avid bird watcher. In fact, I have a Bird Podcast (birdpodcast. com). I am also into butterflies, moths, and insects. I love nature and seek it everyday. I am into wine. To me, bread, olives, wine and cheese are enough for a great meal. I love aromatic, floral wines from Alsace. And the great biodynamic wines being made in Napa. I have been to Oregon and love their Pinot Noirs. So
many wines to taste, so little time. I love cool gizmos and I’m always looking for the next one. I am into fitness shortcuts. I read a lot. Currently rereading Marquez. I love eating out at restaurants and I am into food trends and trivia in general. What else would you like to share? I want to invite your readers to visit India and see the book in action. You will see the book come to life. You will see scenes from the book being played out in rural and urban India. And you will get a lot of joy and a lot of laughs from it. The Milk Lady of Bangalore is filled with fascinating legends and myths about cows. Were most of these stories you learned growing up in India or did you do a lot research for the book? A bit of both. I listened to a lot of stories from Hindu mythology while growing up in India. And they form part of my subconscious. What surprised me while researching the book was how central the cow was to Hindu mythology and faith -- I wasn’t aware of that while growing up. As for now, well, you know how it is: once you start researching something, you see it everywhere. These days cows infuse my dreams and the stories that I tell my children. Q&A with Author | asian avenue magazine
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Q&A with Shoba Narayan
You describe Bangalore (or Bengaluru) as a city with thousands of years of tradition mixed with cutting-edge technology, where high-rises are built alongside slums and Uber drivers share the road with cows. How does this affect the day-to-day of the people living there? Living in India, for me, is like magic realism. It is like being in some sort of fantastic circus where you never know what is going to happen. I think this is partly because India is teeming with life and nature, even in the most urban of environments. It’s common to see camels on highways, cows on the roads, parakeets on electrical lines. It may have something to do with the Hindu faith. Hindus don’t pesticide their neighbors in the natural world out of existence. In my modern high-rise apartment in Bangalore, for example, a lizard is hanging on my ceiling as we speak. It has delivered babies. I have baby lizards running across my ceiling. But this is supposed to be good luck, according to Hindu mythology. And so I enjoy these lizards sharing my home. Why did you decide to chronicle your friendship with Sarala, the milk lady? How did Sarala and her family feel about your writing about them?
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April 2019 | Q&A with Author
Knowing Sarala and her family has been a great privilege. She has taught me so much about living in the present, about dealing with adversity. I think any writer would see that Sarala is a wonderful character, too --she’s strong, opinionated, passionate about her family and her cows. I have to admit that though she was happy for me to write about her, she doesn’t read English and she was not all that interested in the result! Your book serves as a window into Indian and Hindu culture for those unfamiliar. What do you most want readers to take away from this vantage point? Cultures are different. They contain contradictions. And humans contain multitudes. We ought to celebrate these differences. Enjoy them. And yet... underneath all these differences, humans are the same. We are bound by love of family, country, and (unless you are an atheist) God. We may be tribal in our proclivities, but scratch the surface and we have the same fears and fantasies, the same ambitions and anxieties. It is these two seemingly paradoxical ideas that I would like to convey through my book. You lived in the U.S. for 20 years before returning to India. What inspired your decision to move back home? In 2005, my husband and I were living in New York City with our two daughters, both born in America, but India was pulling on us, too, and it was tricky seesawing between two identities. India as a culture values closeness and pays no heed to privacy. Amer-
ica is about giving space and setting boundaries. Indian weddings are noisy, chaotic, messy, and not streamlined. American weddings have rehearsals. What is that about? Why would you need to rehearse a once-in-a-lifetime sacred act? Indian children sleep in their parents’ bed and bedroom for a long time. My American pediatrician encouraged independence from infancy. I was getting two contradictory messages -- one from my mother, who encouraged co-sleeping, and the opposite from my pediatrician in NYC. After all those years living in New York, what American ways did you and your family take with you back to India (besides a preference for pasteurized milk)? I came to America as a tabula rasa. I was a young college student from a sheltered family who hadn’t the space or time to think about things. America taught me independence, feminism, and instilled a spirit of adventure and enterprise. I am who I am because of this country and I love America and its people for that reason. Beyond that, we carried back lots of memories. Fall in New England. My first snowfall. Summer in Memphis, Tenn. Driving beside the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean on Highway One. The farms of Portland and Seattle, where we bought an picnicked on organic food. The honesty of the people in the Midwest, who are probably the inspiration for the acronym WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). What else? Bagels, pizza, artisanal bread --- the list could go on and on.
Celebrating Losar with the Tibetan By Jules Nadeau Community in Boulder
The crowd of 300 people included people of all backgrounds.
Tsering Lhazom Elmblad, President of the Tibetan Association of Colorado
Some of the youths were born in India and Nepal
Celebrating Losar, a Tibetan new year’s festival, is a wonderful way to mingle with hundreds of Tibetans. Boulder is the ideal place to enjoy the New Year event as it was selected as the twin-sister city of Lhasa in 1986. The Rocky Mountains are the base of the small Himalayan community of some 400 people eager to share culture and traditional wisdom. According to the Gregorian calendar, Tibetan New Year 2146 began on February 5, 2019. Losar is the most widely celebrated of all Tibetan festivals and represents a time for all things to be purified and renewed. The celebration in Boulder started with scores of proud children singing and dancing on the stage decorated with a large poster of the sacred Potala Palace. Dressed in her green traditional chupa, Dekyi Dolkar, director of the Tibetan Cultural School, explained in two languages the main features of the lively performances. The youths mastered and performed Bollywood-style dances; and since many of them were born in India, they speak Hindi. However, mastering their mother tongue in an English speaking environment is rather challenging. After the show, a few Americans,
French and Canadians lined up with the rest of the hungry crowd to collect plates filled with Tibetan food, like tingmos (small steamed buns) and noodles. 25 years ago, the first pioneers of the diaspora initiated their resettlement on high altitudes of the American West known to be vast with blue skies. Today, there are ambitious plans to build a space for the Tibetan community. President of the Tibetan Association of Colorado Tsering Lhazom Elmblad hopes her compatriots can soon have their own multipurpose cultural center for gatherings, educational purposes and cross-cultural activities. My good friend Samten Tharchin drove me to the celebration. He was born in Nepal, lived in Toronto and has two occupations; he is both a restaurant chef and a salesperson at a family handicraft store in Downtown Denver. At the event, I was fortunate to chat with Dolma Kyab, who grew up in the Tibetan region of Amdo. He received degrees in Tibetan literature and Chinese law, and taught grammar, history, and literature in his homeland for many years. We met in 2017 at the book launch for University of Colorado geography professor Emily T. Yeh’s book, Taming Tibet. Happy Losar to all! On Scene | asian avenue magazine
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Jomon pottery are among the oldest in the world and their impressed decoration, which resembles rope, is the origin of the word jomon, meaning ‘cord pattern’.
A CELEBRATION OF JOMON Simpson United Methodist Church hosts master potters from Japan In March, world-famous Jomon artists – Ifurai, Genya Murakami, and Ryujiro Oyabu – visited Simpson United Methodist Church in Arvada as part of a month-long Celebration of Jomon organized by Studio Arts Boulder. The Jomon period is the earliest recorded era of Japanese history and lasted from 14,500 BCE to 300 BCE. “Jomon” means “cord mark” and describes the distinctive pattern of decoration on pots made during this time period. Artifacts excavated from Jomon sites are considered among the oldest pottery in the world. In the past decade, Jomon arts and culture have seen a revival worldwide, thanks in large part to the work of these three artists. After years restoring ancient Jomon artifacts, Ifurai began using traditional techniques to create new original works of art. The Jomon revival has now spread beyond ceramics to other modern art mediums such as 3D printing, murals and street graffiti, animation, and video game design. The month-long Celebration of Jomon this spring was a first-of-its-kind in the United States. Ifurai, Genya Murakami, and Ryujiro Oyabu travel worldwide to exhib-
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April 2019 | On Scene
By Kari Palazzari
it and educate about the arts of Jomon, including a brief visit to Colorado in 2015 for an exhibit at Denver International Airport. This time, the artists gave a series of lectures, demonstrations, and workshops that honor the historic roots as well as modern expressions of Jomon. They also performed the first Jomon Noyaki open-firing in the U.S. The visit was hosted and organized by Studio Arts Boulder and presented in partnership with the Boulder Public Library, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, CU Boulder’s Center for Asian Studies, Black Cat Farm, local high schools, and Simpson United Methodist Church in Arvada. Support was provided by the Nisei Veterans Heritage Foundation and the Japan Foundation. Simpson United Methodist Church is a multicultural congregation rooted deeply in the Japanese American culture and experience. Learn more at simpsonumc.com. Studio Arts Boulder is a nonprofit art education organization that provides high-quality ceramics programs at the Boulder Pottery Lab and partners with other studio arts organizations. Learn more at studioartsboulder.org.
Lawton Shinsato, founder and CEO of the Pacific Rim Cultural Exchange, serves sake during the Sake Tasting IV event at Uncle Joe’s Hong Kong Bistro.
On Saturday, March 16, the Pacific Rim Cultural Exchange hosted Sake Tasting IV at Uncle Joe’s Hong Kong Bistro across the street from the Denver Convention Center. Eighty attendees were given the opportunity to sample 15 varieties of sake, three sake cocktails and a handful of Hong Kong style hors d’oeuvres, including cha shao sliders with mango relish, potstickers and edamame. Upon walking into the restaurant, attendees were greeted and given a beautiful sake tasting cup. The selection of sake included umeshu, junmai, shochu, and a handful of others. Every five to ten minutes, another sake would be announced. The variety of sake available to taste was vast. One of the more unique sake included Ginkoubai Hannya Tou which was an umeshu, or Japanese plum wine, that started off sweet and ended with a spicy kick. Three sake cocktails were available at the sake bar: Uncle Joe’s HK Milk Tea and Shochu, Umeshu and Grapefruit Soda, or Oolong Tea and Potato Shochu. As the event progressed, attendees were able to taste any of the 15 different sakes. When not tasting sake or enjoying hors d’oeuvres, attendees learned more about sake through
trivia, enjoyed exciting taiko performances by Taiko with Toni and Lance, and talked with other attendees in the contemporary Asian setting of Uncle Joe’s HK Bistro. Throughout the afternoon, the sake enthusiasts heard from representatives of the various organizations involved with the event. Representatives from the Community College of Denver Foundation spoke about the work being done by the Pacific Rim Cultural Exchange. Dr. Dennis Law, founder of Uncle Joe’s HK Bistro, explained the presence of the life size Yoda in the restaurant and the garnishes and sauces that went with the hors d’oeuvres. Lawton Shinsato, founder and CEO of the Pacific Rim Cultural Exchange, encouraged attendees to taste sake with rattlesnake. When asked for sake tasting tips, Shinsato said, “Come with an open mind and try everything... Sake is rice.” And as we know, rice goes with everything. Lucky raffle winners walked away with souvenirs including sake bottles. Check Pacific Rim Cultural Exchange’s Facebook page (fb.com/PacificRimCulturalExchange) for Sake Tasting V. You don’t want to miss it!
SAKE TASTING IV AT UNCLE JOE’S Pacific Rim Cultural Exchange hosts fourth event featuring sake Article and Photos by Jessalyn Herreria Langevin Taiko with Toni and Lance performed Japanese drumming. On Scene | asian avenue magazine
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PROFESSIONAL GROUP LAUNCHES INTO 2019 By Pok Sergent Photo by Jessica Oppenheim
From left: Former President Roger Liu, Phatsany Pongphachanxay, and current NAAAP President Michid Baterdene
The National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) held its kickoff gathering at a networking event in downtown Denver on Feb. 28. Perched on the rooftop of Sakura Square, the evening event saw a gathering of over 60 participants, sponsors, and community leaders. The former NAAAP president Roger Liu delivered a message about community, diversity, and friendship, and he introduced several key leaders along with presented certificates of appreciation to various individuals. “Organizing such an event is a great opportunity to invite and join our friends from various cultures and backgrounds,” said Liu. “In the end, it is about unity. Denver’s a great city to live in, and NAAAP is a resource
for the Asian American professional!” There are several benefits to joining NAAAP: volunteer opportunities at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, career and professional development, Toastmasters for public speaking training, and more. Specifically, NAAAP offers an excellent opportunity for networking. If you are looking for leadership opportunities, then consider taking an active role at NAAP. It’s a fun way to add to your resume, and it will also benefit you personally and professionally. The next NAAAP event is a Sushi Social on April 3, where Networking 101 will be the special topic of interest. To learn more about NAAAP, visit naaapcolorado.org or e-mail info@ naaapcolorado.org.
LISA SEE HOSTS BOOK SIGNING Best-selling New York Times author Lisa See conducted a book signing event at the Douglas County Library to promote her newest book, The Island of Sea Women. On March 9, book clubs, fan clubs and readers in the Castle Rock area packed the library to listen to See talk about shaman, Japanese colonies, and the ring of fire in Asia. She also described the island known as the “Hawaii of Asia.” See shared the process of writing her book, including how she researched and gathered “intel.” Set largely on the remote Korean is-
land of Jeju, The Island of Sea Women follows Young-sook and Mi-ja, girls from strikingly different backgrounds who bond over their shared love of the sea. Working in their village’s all-female collective, the two friends come of age in a community where gender roles are anything but typical. Here, women are the primary breadwinners. “I found some of the sea women from colleagues, while I found some by luck,” See confessed during the talk. Known for her enthralling, elegant, and meticulously-researched fiction
about Asian characters and cultures, See’s previous books include: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Shanghai Girls and The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. Released by Scribner on March 5, 2019, The Island of Sea Women is the perfect book for some spring reading when you might be stuck in a Colorado snowstorm.
MIKE FOR MAYOR - BIRTHDAY FOR AURORA CANDIDATE Mike Coffman’s 64th birthday party last month was a fundraiser for his run for Aurora mayor. The distinguished military veteran and former U.S. congressman has also served in the Colorado Senate and as the state’s treasurer. Coffman grew up in Aurora and attended Aurora Public Schools and his family owned a small business. “Aurora is my home and my roots are deep,” said Coffman before the candles were blown out and cake was cut. “Whatever direction Aurora takes will impact the entire state.” Included in his focus for Aurora is being business friendly and dealing From left: Christina Yutai Guo, Alan Li, Mike Coffman, Lily Shen and Dr. Hai Bui. with revitalization.
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