November 2020
Volume 15 | Issue 11
ski resorts open with safety precautions
stylist
Samantha Dawn empowers lives with style
restaurant peeks
Kyu ramen | BG Dough food truck
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PRESIDENT’s NOTE To our Asian Avenue readers, As COVID numbers are on the rise heading into these winter months, we hope you all continue to take care of yourselves and your families. In this issue, we provide a recap on how the pandemic has affected Coloradans over the past eight months—specifically in regards to number of cases, unemployment, and housing. Our cover story highlights the opening of ski resorts with safety precautions this month. This season may look slightly different with face mask requirements, social distancing reminders, touchless payment options, and limits on the numbers of visitors in the resorts, restaurants and other open areas. Dining facilities that were formerly indoors will also move outside into the open air, or have limited distanced seating inside. We are all adapting, while still trying to enjoy the activities Colorado has to offer. Our restaurant peeks share how two businesses are working hard to overcome the setbacks of COVID. BG Dough Food Truck opened at the onset of COVID earlier this year. Its owner Guo Wei has worked hard to grow the business and expand his menu, which specializes in Chinese egg pancakes. Kyu Ramen has also had to make adjustments in order to meet the safety requirements set by the city of Denver, which recently moved to stricter guideilnes of only 25% capacity in restaurants. Lastly, Asian Americans across the nation have lost their jobs at record rates. If you need assistance finding a job, especially due to the pandemic, learn more about Asian Student Achievement and visit their diversity job board to see what may be available. Please check our website asianavemag.com and social media @asianavemag this month to vote for the Best of 2020 edition (our annual December issue). Thank you and take care! Annie Guo VanDan, President | Asian Avenue magazine | www.asianavemag.com
President’s Note | asian avenue magazine
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NOV 2020 5
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COMMUNITY: Winter Items Donation Drive for Asian Seniors
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SPOTLIGHT: Samantha Dawn is a more than a personal stylist
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FEATURE: How COVID-19 has impacted Colorado since March
21
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COVER STORY: Ski resorts open this month with added safety precautions
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FEATURE: Asian Student Achievement provides diversity job board
RESTAURANT PEEK: BG Dough Food Truck RESTAURANT PEEK: Kyu Ramen FEATURE: How Thanksgiving is celebrated around the world
ON SCENE: Kevin Leung receives school board award
ON SCENE: Taiwan’s Double Tenth celebration goes virtual
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TAIWAN: Support Taiwan’s inclusion in the global public health network
17 Asian Avenue Magazine
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November 2020 | Table of Contents
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President Annie Guo VanDan Editorial Director Mary Jeneverre Schultz Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO Web Designer JASON ZHANG Marketing Manager Joie Ha Marketing Coordinator LINA ZHU Staff Writer Patricia Kaowthumrong Staff Writer Jessalyn Herreria Langevin
on the cover Jamie Chong snowboards in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada in February 2020 before COVID-19 restrictions began. 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.
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Winter Drive for Colorado’s Asian Seniors
Due to COVID, Asian seniors in Colorado have been isolated at home as they are high risk, don’t speak English or are unable to drive. Asian seniors, especially those living alone, are experiencing high rates of mental illness including anxiety, depression and loneliness. This winter, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network, Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado, and Asian Roundtable of Colorado are teaming up to organize gifts bags and winter care packages to be delivered to 200+ seniors across the Denver metro area.
DONATIONS NEEDED:
If you are interested in giving a monetary donation or volunteering to package and/or deliver, please e-mail cacendenver@gmail.com
Winter items: gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, coats, socks Blankets: heated blankets or throw blankets Activities: coloring books, sudoku, rubik’s cube, etc. Food: Asian snacks or non-perishable items Please drop off donations to Happy Living Adult Daycare Center, 12201 E. Mississippi Ave #101, Aurora, CO 80012 (weekdays 10am to 3pm), in the month of November. Packages will be organized and delivered the first week of December.
Photos from Happy Living Adult Daycare in Aurora, Colo.
Winter Drive for Asian Seniors | asian avenue magazine
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my feedback when it comes to styling and the overall look, but I always ask what the client feels and if they feel good in what they’re wearing. At the end of the day, they’re wearing the outfits and they need to genuinely feel great in them.
Samantha Dawn Eugenio, founder of By Samantha Dawn, is a Filipina, Denver-based personal stylist and work at home mom.
QA
was over, I just couldn’t go back to work. COVID-19 was still fresh and I wanted to be present with my baby. So I resigned. I told myself, well - I
AA: How has being a mom been challenging or rewarding while building up your business? My supportive partner and I have been together for 12 years. We have a Shiba Inu and our baby is now eight months old! As a first-time mom, every-
of doing so many things if I put my mind to it. I became really present with my son. I now spend the days with him and when he’s sleeping I dedicate that time to work. I opened up a whole business while raising a new baby. Womxn are incredible. AA: What do you love about being an entrepreneur? I love how sky’s the limit. I can be creative in my own way. No one from corporate can deny me of what I am capable of doing. When I have a vision of something that can help
&
Asian Avenue: What inspired your business? Giving birth to my son was actually what pushed me to start my business. I knew I liked styling people for fun. People always messaged me asking for styling advice, whether it was about outfits or closet organization. I like the psychology behind styling and how I have the capability of building someone’s confidence through style and in turn resulting in positive impacts throughout their life. When I saw there was an opportunity to get certified in personal styling, I did it! When my maternity leave
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November 2020 | Spotlight
could either find another job eventually or do something that I love. I did the latter. I built everything from scratch, educated myself on opening up my own business and made the scariest leap by being an official business owner. AA: What can clients expect from working with you? Clients can expect that they will be developing more than just their wardrobe. I challenge my clients to dig deeper beyond their wardrobe and get really psychological about it. My services are meant to elevate how you feel about yourself and in turn elevate your life. Looking great in the clothes is just a bonus. I really try to make it a learning experience so my client understands why they are doing the things I make them do. I assign some homework like style exercises, journaling, success manifestation, etc. Also expect that the client makes the final choices. I give
thing just changes. I would have mom guilt for catching myself wanting to work whenever I was taking care of the baby. It became really rewarding once I learned how to manage my time better. Being a mom taught me more about myself that I had no idea about. I discovered I’m capable
someone with their personal style, I can make it happen. I also love the flexibility of time. I can be with my family whenever I want and then when it’s time for business, I focus and get things done. See Samantha’s services at bysamanthadawn.com.
Breaking Down the Impacts of COVID-19 IN COLORADO By Lina Zhu
It has been eight months since the COVID-19 lockdown in Colorado. As we have all learned to live in this new normal, lets take a look at the latest statistics of how the coronavirus has impacted our Colorado communities. Latest COVID-19 Statistics COVID-19 cases are surging across the country as well as the state. According to the executive director of the state health department Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Colorado is in the “third wave” of COVID-19 as hospitalizations reach the highest level since May. Public health officials are concerned about a greater spread over the holidays. In mid-October, health officials announced that Colorado has more active COVID-19 outbreaks now than any time since the pandemic began. In Colorado, an “active COVID-19 outbreak” is measured by two or more cases occurring in the same place or in the same event within two weeks. If there are no new cases within four weeks, the outbreak is considered over. On Oct. 27, Mayor Michael Hancock confirmed that the City and County of Denver, which had been at Safer at Home
Level 2 (Concern) on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s dial for COVID-19 restrictions, has been moved to Safer at Home Level 3 (High Risk) because of the worsening number of positive cases. This means restaurants, retail businesses and offices that are currently operating at 50 percent capacity must reduce that to 25 percent, and indoor events must implement a 25-person cap, with a 75-person maximum for events taking place outside. Most of the recent outbreaks have accumulated at universities, such as the University of Colorado at Boulder, where there were 1,711 confirmed cases as of Oct. 15. Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 cases in Colorado hit a record high in mid-October. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported 6,722 COVID-19 cases in the week ending on Oct. 18. The total number of cases this week was the highest in the state since reliable data were available, but a lack of testing could mean more cases went undetected in March and April. However, the number of confirmed cas-
es and deaths from the latest outbreak is decreasing. According to data on Oct. 13, there have been 119 new cases, with an average of 11 cases and fewer than one death.
Job Loss/Unemployment In Colorado The COVID-19 outbreak is having a devastating impact on the U.S. economy and jobs. According to the University of Colorado Business School of Leeds, COVID-19 has ended a decade of job growth in Colorado. Since mid-March, 558,625 people have applied for formal unemployment benefits in Colorado, with 718,666 including federal PUA benefits as of Sept. 24, The Denver Post reported. Although the outbreak claimed millions of jobs in March and April, the latest data show that some of those jobs are slowly coming back.
COVID-19 in Colorado | asian avenue magazine
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The number of people continuing to receive unemployment benefits nationwide fell to 11 million, according to the Labor Department report Oct 8. The number of people seeking continuing unemployment assistance in Colorado has continued its slow and uneven decline, dating back to its peak in mid-June when nearly 450,000 people sought to continue assistance. In the week ending on Sept. 26, 218,292 Coloradans continued to file for unemployment benefitsa. Of these, approximately 126,000 are supported by the traditional national unemployment scheme and 64,500 are enrolled in the PUA program. That number has fallen steadily over the past few months, reflecting the fact that some of the unemployed workers have found work again. Tourism is believed to be the last part of the recovery. The researchers found that large cities like Denver and Boulder recovered faster. Once it’s safe, economists said that Coloradans will be encouraged to take vacations in the state to support local entrepreneurs. Unemployment among Asian Americans skyrockets nationally Marlene Kim, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts, fears that misinformation could exacerbate the financial situation. “Unfortunately, if people continue to believe these myths that Asians are more
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November 2020 | Cover Story
likely to have the virus, that they’re bringing the virus, certainly Asians will have a more difficult time, especially Asian businesses in Asian areas like Chinatowns I think will continue to suffer,” Kim says. “And we’ve seen a number of businesses already close in Asian areas of the country.” The pandemic has taken a heavy economic toll on Asian Americans nationally, who’ve experienced unemployment rates spike by more than 450%, from 2.5% in February to 13.8% in June, according to the U.S Department of Labor. “It’s the worst I’ve seen in decades,” Kim says. “Asians typically have among the lowest unemployment rates, and it really shot up during COVID.” Asian American business owners push forward In Denver, Simon Tran moves forward with his plans to open his restaurant. “To be honest, the only thing COVID has done for me was give me a chance to finally run my own place. COVID has given a lot of younger operators the opportunity to finally get a business moving,” he said, while acknowledging that long-standing restaurants are closing in Denver. Tran’s restaurant Botellón Spanish Tapas & Wine will open the last week of October. While he is unsure how his restaurant’s opening will do during the third wave of the pandemic, he believes that “a large portion of the market has been cooped
up and is eager to experience new foods, even if it is in the form of take-out.” Back in January, Guo Wei was also making plans to open his food truck business
Botellón 1618 17th Avenue, Denver, CO 80218 botellondenver.com BG Dough. When COVID hit, he initially halted his plans but then decided he needed to get out there. BG Dough which specializes in Chinese egg filled pancakes is available at breweries across downtown Denver (see restaurant peek). Business owners like Tran and Guo are making the best of their situations—and some Asian restaurants are thriving more than ever due to the high volume of to-go orders. The housing market continues to climb Despite the volatility being experienced in many sectors, Colorado is witnessing one of the hottest real estate markets during the pandemic. Home sales are exploding in all regions
of the country, led by northeastern and western Colorado, The Denver Post reported. The U.S. home sales surged an unprecedented 24.7 percent in July. The median single-family home sale price in metro Denver rose 12.1% in August from a year earlier. In addition, the average sale price of a home in the Denver metropolitan area exceeded $600,000 for the first time in August. One reason for these record numbers is that there are fewer properties on the market to buy and more buyers. Last August, for example, only half as many single-family homes were available for sale, compared with August 2019. During the pandemic, lower availability drove market prices higher. Denver is booming as it is considered a destination for tech workers fleeing the pricey Bay Area and for metropolitan East Coasters looking for more expansive outdoor space. The new work-from-anywhere culture of the coronavirus pandemic is one of the top reasons Denver is experiencing its most competitive housing market in history. According to local real estate agent,
Jennifer Seo: “There are a number of factors that buyers consider when purchasing a home but during this pandemic, record low mortgage rates was definitely a factor that assisted buyers to pull the trigger if they were on the fence. And a lot of homeowners who lost their jobs were able to stay afloat and keep their homes with loan forbearance keeping the inventory tight.” So many are wondering if this is a good time to buy a home due to the low interest mortgage rates? Yes, historically low mortgage rates may be one of the strong motivations for homebuyers across the country. But in the Denver metropolitan area, rising home prices may have wiped out the benefits of low mortgage rates. At Denver’s current rate of home price appreciation, the savings from lower interest rates have all but disappeared says Ali Wolf, chief economist at Meyers Research. Prospective buyers face a squeeze on affordability. Seo with Colorado Realty Pros notes that her Asian clients are waiting. She says, “I can’t speak for the entire Asian
Sources for this article: The Denver Post, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
community but with my Asian clients, particularly those in the older generation, they are more conservative and holding off on purchasing and selling as there is a lot of uncertainty in the air.” “Commercial loans have become harder to obtain, so plans to expand or to invest are also on hold. The older generations
Jennifer Seo, Broker Associate Colorado Realty Pros (303) 968-6489 are unphased by the low mortgage rates and more concerned with the bottom line,” she said. Many are waiting until after the election and into 2021 to make any moves.
COVID-19 in Colorado | asian avenue magazine
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Go Skiing in Colorado This Winter! How to safely enjoy skiing and snowboarding this winter: See the latest updates on Colorado ski resorts’ opening dates, policies, and prices. By Lina Zhu
Skiing in Colorado As head into the winter season, Colorado ski resorts are slowly reopening for some semblance of business, implemented with new regulations and policies. Colorado has many of America’s best ski resorts, making Colorado the nation’s No. 1 ski and snowboard destination in the U.S. and North America. Colorado’s 28 ski and snowboard resorts offer the best slopes, views, and accommodations. You just have to choose which one is right for you. Colorado has the highest altitude lift-served terrain in the country, which contributes to massive amounts of our famous, incredibly dry, fluffy snow. Colorado ski slopes not only offer some of the most epic trails and thrilling rides you’ll find in North America, but also many family-friendly amenities and plenty of space to perfect your skills. No matter your skill level, budget, or desire for adventure, Colorado has a downhill ski, snowboard, or cross-country route to suit your every need this ski season. Find the ski area that fits your group’s desires and plan the best ski trip ever—just be sure to wash your hands and stay with those in your group!
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November 2020 | Cover Story
COVID-19 Impact With the impact of COVID-19, Colorado ski resorts have implemented new regulations and policies in order to let visitors enjoy their time at the resorts while also keeping them safe. These new regulations and policies include limited dining capacity, face coverings, social distancing, touchless payments, and hand sanitizing stations. Asian Avenue organized the latest opening dates with COVID-19 updates from some of the most popular ski resorts at Colorado. Plan your next ski trip based on the information in the following tables.
Photo Credit: Jamie Chong
Night Activities NIGHT SKIING Keystone Ski Resort rocks and rolls with 15 trails and 243 acres lit beneath the starry sky, including the A51 terrain park, which is the largest in Colorado to be lighted at night. All this space means the slopes are typically wide open, allowing for a relaxing and freeing atmosphere to the experience. Ski Granby Ranch, a long-time family favorite, keeps a handful of runs and three terrain parks fully lit for night skiing and snowboarding on select Fridays and Saturdays. The resort’s lift-served tubing hill is additionally open for under-the-lights merriment. Steamboat offers night skiing on select runs, and Powderhorn has two special nights of night skiing each February. ULLR NIGHTS There’s a new event under the lights every Friday night from late December to late March at Aspen/Snowmass. In honor of the Norse God of Snow, Ullr, Elk Camp at Snowmass is transformed into a cozily lit, winter wonderland. Visitors can tour Ullr’s snow castle, slide down the Viking sledding hill or indulge in s’mores and hot chocolate by the bonfire.
Colorado Ski Resorts 2020/2021 Season Opening Dates Breckenridge Opening Date
COVID Related Update
Aspen Steamboat Snowmass Springs
Vail
Keystone
Beaver Creek
Arapahoe Basin
Winter Park
Nov. 13
Nov. 23
Nov. 23
Nov. 20
Nov. 6
Nov. 25
Oct. 19
Nov. 18
Reservations will be required, and pass holders will get priority access. Face coverings will be required to access the mountain, including in lift lines and while loading, unloading and riding on chair lifts and gondolas.
Wear a face covering when you cannot maintain 6 feet of physical distancing outdoors, in designated areas and when inside Aspen Snowmass buildings. Adhere to Pitkin County social distancing regulations.
Advanced reservations systems for mountain access when necessary. Contactless ordering and payment at our restaurants and retail outlets. Reconfiguration of lift access along with maze management. Expanded outdoor dining options.
Guests will be required to wear face coverings in certain areas. This includes in lines, when loading and unloading chairlifts, when loading and riding our gondolas and in indoor resort facilities.
Capacity of lifts and gondolas will be reduced to allow for physical distancing. Guests will only be allowed on lifts with travelers in their party. All transactions will be cashless. Hand sanitizing stations will be provided throughout the resort.
Face coverings will be required to access the mountain, including in lift lines and while loading, unloading and riding on chairlifts and gondolas. To maintain physical distancing on our chairlifts and gondolas, we will only be seating related parties.
Lift lines have been re-designed to keep people 6 feet apart. No one will not be permitted to ride the lift with anyone not in their immediate party for scenic chairlift rides. All check-in procedures happen outside. Physical distancing will be enforced.
Town of Winter Park mandates all visitors over the age of two must wear a face covering while indoors, in lines, loading, unloading, and riding lifts, and when outside and 6 ft. of distance cannot be maintained.
Ski Resorts | asian avenue magazine
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“
I got an Epic pass. I think with the discounts in place from last year, it’s more logical to stay with the passes you purchased last year. What I love most about snowboarding is the feeling it gives me. There are some views you experience only from snowboarding and skiing. It’s a sport and hobby that really helps me clear my mind and reminds me what a privilege it is to enjoy nature.
Multi-Mountain 2020/2021 Season Passes Multi-Mountain Seasonal Pass
Ikon Pass
$1,049 (ages 23+) Renewal Price: $949
Ikon Base Pass
$749 (ages 23+) Renewal Price: $699
Ikon Base Pass Plus
$429 (ages 23+)
Mountain Collective
$489 (Adult) $149 (Youth)
Power Pass
Epic Pass
Jamie Chong, 30, Denver
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November 2020 | Cover Story
Price
Epic Local Pass
$499-849 (Adult) $399 (Youth) $979(Adult, ages 13+) $499 (Child, ages 4-12)
Resorts Included
Unlimited access to Steamboat, Copper Mountain, Winter Park & Eldora with limited access to Arapahoe Basin and Aspen Snowmass. Also includes out of state ski areas for a total of 41 destinations Unlimited access to Copper Mountain, Winter Park & Eldora with limited access to Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Snowmass, and Steamboat. Also includes out of state ski areas for a total of 41 destinations. Unlimited access to Copper Mountain, Winter Park & Eldora with limited access to Arapahoe Basin and Steamboat. 2 days access at 22 resorts including Aspen Snowmass and Arapahoe Basin along with other out-of-state resorts. Unlimited access to Purgatory and Hesperus. Also includes access to other out-of-state resorts. Unlimited access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, and other out-of-state resorts. Also includes access to other out-of-state resorts.
$729 (Adult, ages 19+) Unlimited access to Breckenridge, Keystone, $589 (Teen, ages 13-18) Crested Butte, and other out-of-state resorts. Also $379 (Child, ages 5-12) includes access to other out-of-state resorts.
Night Activities cont’d. NIGHT SKI BIKING Vail offers a ski-biking experience as an activity at its popular Adventure Ridge. Offered to intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders, the tours run from 4:45pm to 7pm (reservations recommended). Winter Park Resort also has a ski-biking night adventure from late December to late March. Riders throw on headlamps, get instruction and safety tips, and then head out for three hours of guided slip sliding down the slopes. NIGHT ICE SKATING Feel like a star as you swirl around Beaver Creek Village’s ice-skating rink under the lights until 9pm. The fire pits that surround the rink are a cozy place for hot cocoa; and on Monday and Friday nights, disco skate night fills the village with festive music and a light show. Photo Credit: Jamie Chong
Season Passes to Individual Colorado Ski Country USA Member Resorts Resorts
Prices
More Info
Aspen Snowmass
Aspen Snowmass Premier Pass: $1,999 Adult (ages 18-64) with a complimentary Ikon Base Pass $1,479 Senior (ages 65-69) - with a complimentary Ikon Base Pass) $539 Silver (ages 70+) $699 Child/Teen (ages 7-17) $699 College (ages 18-24) $1,999 Parent
All Premier Passes are fully refundable through November 20, 2020.
Steamboat
Arapahoe Basin
Outdoor Asian Colorado members share: Stephanie Vu
“We are doing a Loveland Pass and two of my Arapahoe Basin days and 3 of my Steamboat days rolled over from last year when I had bought multi-day passes.”
Anna Kerr
“I got an Arapahoe Basin pass! Cheaper, no reservations, local feel. I’m also in school right now so don’t have enough time to make the bigger passes worth it.”
Steamboat seasoning pass: $1299 Adult (ages 18+) $1049 Teen (ages 13-17) $699 Child (ages 5-12+) $49 4 or under
The Steamboat Season Pass is available at the Steamboat Ticket Office or by calling Steamboat Central Reservations.
Arapahoe Basin Seasoning pass: $449 Adult (ages 19-69) $309 Youth (ages 15-18) $199 Child (ages 6-14) $179 Senior (ages 70+) $179 Military $349 Renewal (with a season pass last year
Unlimited days at Arapahoe Basin, plus three days at Monarch Mountain, Taos Ski Valley, and one day at Silverton.
Leo Tsuo
“I got the Epic and am reluctantly optimistic about the reservation system. I’ve always got my splitboard and snowmobile too so I’m not putting all my snowballs in one basket.” Join the group and head to the slopes together at: fb.com/groups/ outdoorasiancolorado
Ski Resorts | asian avenue magazine
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Navigating the Job Market During a Pandemic as an Asian Pacific Islander American By Asian Student Achievement, LLC www.learnasa.com
Entering the year 2020, we could not have fathomed this pandemic to be crawling behind us. As Asian Pacific Islander Americans (APIAs), we are forced to deal with the cards we are dealt: we are labeled to be submissive, academic overachievers, but those stereotypes are a myth. Our company, Asian Student Achievement, LLC provides a Diversity-Driven Job Board and coaching service seeking to diversify the workplace and help move Asian and Asian Americans through the pipeline to leadership. We reached out to professionals in recruiting, diversity, and inclusion to guide this conversation and offer tips on navigating jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who We Are as APIA The cultural practice of “respecting your elders” runs deep through the APIA community. Ning Zulaf, a Global Recruiting Strategist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, voices that “We all need to be aware of the imposter syndrome. We are taught that our parents and grandparents worked so hard for us and we need to be the best”. Embedded in our cultural roots is this external pressure that we “owe” it to our elders to work hard, follow their path, and be obedient. We continue to work hard, hoping to gain approval from our elders by finding a “good job”. From there, we enter the workforce and realize the struggles we may face as APIAs. Kevin Zhao, a Global Executive Compensation Specialist at
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November 2020 | Feature
Boeing, mentions “it’s hard being Asian American in Boeing because the employees are tenured Caucasian Americans”. After a couple years, we become more comfortable and are eager to look at opportunities for leadership and career advancement. How do we begin asking for this opportunity? Kevin Bradley, a Senior Advisor for Global Inclusion & Diversity at Zebra Technologies, remarks, “We never brag about ourselves. Culturally we haven’t been good at that”. Having been raised to be compliant is a predicament we may face as APIAs in the workforce. However, there are methods we can use to maneuver around the professional world without losing our APIA character.
Job Searching as an APIA With the current political, social, and economic conditions, the job search process has become more challenging for APIAs. Echo Yang, a Talent Acquisition Specialist at The Nature Conservancy, recommends to “remember [as an Asian community our strength is to] bring different things to the table, don’t be afraid to reveal your identity... data shows that diverse workplaces have higher innovation and employee engagement [further] improving profits”. It is imperative to embrace our cultural identity and utilize our diverse backgrounds and experiences as an advantage rather than a barrier. We need to put ourselves out there through network-
ing. Alan Guevarra, a Talent Strategy Manager at Hunt Club, said, “Filling job roles really comes down to networking and knowing your specific group”. To advance forward, we need to put ourselves in uncomfortable situations. Bradley highlighted that “Asians need to ask for more...we spend so much time being polite and thanking higher-ups”. As APIAs, we need to do a better job in embracing our differences, portraying our talents, networking with others, and asking for more. It may be uncomfortable - however, taking steps outside of the box can create more opportunities for growth.
Advice to Job Seekers We asked the esteemed professionals we interviewed to offer their advice. Here is their recommendation: • Be Assertive – “Recruiters like to be approached. Imagine fishes coming to your boat saying ‘I’m lean and delicious!’.” (Alan Guevarra) • Keep Learning – “For those out of the market, fill the gaps in your resume by learning new skills or gaining a certification.” (Echo Yang) • Mentorship – “Don’t only have Asian mentors. Expand and learn from [others].” (Kevin Bradley) Cruising the professional world as APIAs in the middle of this pandemic is not an impossible task. We hope these tips can be used as a compass to aid in your journey. If you are looking for a job or are an organization that wants to diversify your workforce, we encourage you to visit our Diversity-Driven Job Board by going to www. learnasa.com. For more information, please email asa@learnasa.com. Asian Student Achievement | asian avenue magazine
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A Taste of the Traditional
Chinese Guan Bing BG Dough is one of the newest Asian food trucks in town! Its specialty is the Chinese Guan Bing (Egg Filled Pancake or 鸡蛋灌饼), a traditional dish that originated in Xin Yang, Henan Province in China. This dish inspired its owner, Guo Wei, who is also from the Henan Province. Guo says, “ A guan bing is a wrap with different vegetables, meats, and eggs, and it is very similar to an egg pita in western countries.” BG Dough Food Truck actually first opened during the COVID-19 pandemic. After Guo purchased the food truck in January 2020, the pandemic hit. After staying at home for a few months, he decided that he could not just keep waiting home. “It was bad timing, but all I can do is give it a try and not give up,” Guo said. Guo immigrated to the U.S. to pursue a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and creative writing at the University of Iowa. After graduating in 2019, he wanted to start a business. Both of his parents’ families do business back in China. “I decided to start a business because I want-
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November 2020 | Restaurant Peek
ed to give it a try and see how far I could go. I suppose it’s also because it’s been a family tradition,” Guo said. The name BG Dough comes from his nickname. Growing up, there were two students with the name Guo in his high school. As the older one, he was often referred to as Big Guo, which was abbreviated to BG for the name of the food truck. Making a guan bing isn’t an easy process. The dough first needs to be rolled into a flat and long wrapper, then placed on the frying pan. The shortening added to the dough makes the dough inflate and creates space filled with air within the dough. Then Guo will poke a hole and drop the egg into the wrapper; this is where the word guan (灌) which means to “pour” comes from. Once the wrap is done, Guo wraps it with vegetables and meats. And finally, he adds his secret sauce which gives an added sweet flavor to the wrap. “The sauce is made from traditional Chinese soybean paste with a few special touches,” he said.
By Lina Zhu Photos by Lijin Zhao Their menu is simple. Start with the BGD Guanbing Basic, which includes one egg, lettuce, cucumbers, pickles, and tomatoes, and then add on. Customers can choose their own proteins such as ham, sausage, prosciutto, bacon, turkey breast, or smoked salmon. Guo is also planning to add new dishes to the food truck such as fried squid. BG Dough Food Truck does not have a regular location and business hours, but Guo works with many local brewing companies to set up in the parking lots of the bars. Here is the current schedule for BG Dough: • Fridays, 4pm - 10pm, River North Brewery: 3400 Blake Street, Denver, CO, 80205 • Sundays, 1pm - 9pm, Great Divide Brewing Company: 2201 Arapahoe Street, Denver, CO, 80205 Follow BG Dough on Instagram @bg_dough to see their schedule and locations. Connect with them on WeChat by adding @jason1491811481 to get the latest food truck schedule.
KYU RAMEN By Annie Guo VanDan Photos by Lijin Zhao
Exciting changes are coming for Kyu Ramen, the ramen shop located in Denver’s Capitol Hill off the bustling intersection of Colfax Avenue and Pearl Street. Starting this month (November 2020), the restaurant’s menu will focus on DIY (do-it-yourself) ramen bowls and authentic Japanese dishes, a shift from their current Asian fusion concept. Co-owner Chris Nielsen says the shift is to meet the needs of their customers. “Customers come in and want to make various changes to the menu items. If every bowl or plate has little changes, why not have an open choice where you can create everything on your own? This gives customers more options including bowls that are vegan and vegetarian friendly.” “We don’t want people to look at everything on the menu and don’t know what to eat here.” Recently, co-owner Saki Melius has also been working incorporating vegan products to create another type of ramen broth. Their broth recipes were inherited from the previous restaurant at this location, when they took over operations in September 2019, and renamed the restaurant Kyu Ramen. Kyu, pronounced like the letter “Q” means the number nine in Japanese. Since then, they have continued to adjust the recipes to
600 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203 Tel: 303-353-8497 kyuramendenver.com Instagram: @kyudenver Open Hours: 9AM to 9PM Daily Dine-in and Take-out
create their own unique tastes and improve the quality of the ingredients used. When the restaurant opened last fall, they would have never imagined a pandemic to strike the city—and country. This has meant having to limit their capacity these past months and use paper utensils instead of their nice kitchenwares. Their upstairs bar was open for private parties during the warmer months, and they are currently renovating this space to resemble a Japanese nightclub that can host events like engagement parties or wedding receptions. Melius and Nielsen come from different backgrounds. Originally from Japan, Melius lived in Colorado Springs for ten years before moving to Denver in 2013. She has worked in the restaurant industry for more than 17 years. Nielsen owns and operates a security company, in which he say the security guards love Kyu Ramen and are regular visitors. Kyu Ramen is one of the only Denver ramen shops to open at 9am. Nielsen says, “Even in the morning a hot ramen will warm you up. A lot of people enjoy grabbing a bowl of ramen on their way to work, which gets them ready for work.” “We may have seasonal menu options, especially as we head into the colder months.”
DO-IT-YOURSELF RAMEN $13 - includes one protein (add another protein for $2 STEP 1: Choose your broth 1 - Tonkotsu (creamy pork broth) 2 - Spicy Miso (pork) 3 - Udon (soy fish) 4 - Yasai (seaweed - vegetarian)
STEP 2: Choose your noodles 1 - Ramen (egg noodle) 2 - Udon (thick wheat noodle) 3 - Rice Noodle (gluten free) 4 - Kale Noodle (vegetarian)
STEP 3: Choose your protein Chashu (sliced pork belly) Chicken Spicy Chicken Bulgogi (sweet soy marinated beef) Shrimp Tofu (fried or steamed)
STEP 4: Choose your 3 toppings Egg (1/2), Bean Sprouts, Spinach, Kimchi, Green Onion, Corn, Carrots, Cilantro, Wakame (seaweed), Red Ginger
Restaurant Peek | asian avenue magazine
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Time to celebrate
Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Day is an American tradition that dates back to 1621, when European colonists held a harvest feast with Native Americans/ American Indians. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed late November, Thanksgiving. In the 1930s, President Franklin Roosevelt tried to bring the holiday forward by a few days, but in the face of widespread discontent, he finally agreed to make the fourth Thursday in November an official holiday. Over the years, special traditions and customs associated with the holiday have evolved, from watching an afternoon soccer game to marking the start of the holiday shopping season. The basic components of the holiday — celebrating food, the fall harvest, and giving thanks with family — have been preserved over time.
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November 2020 | Feature
How countries around the world celebrate their Thanksgiving holiday a time to be with family and reflect on what we are thankful for Germany’s Thanksgiving is known as Erntedankfest, which translates to “harvest thanksgiving festival.” It is mostly celebrated by rural, religious groups, and is an opportunity for these farmland cultures to give thanks and honor their harvest. It is celebrated in larger cities too but is more of a church service and not much like America’s Thanksgiving. There also isn’t any officially designated day for the celebration, and festivity dates vary
Israel
For over 30 years, the people of the island nation of Grenada have considered Oct. 25 their Thanksgiving Day – the tradition began in 1983 to commemorate the American and Caribbean intervention in Grenada. Grenada is known for its coastal towns and sandy beaches. Four years before the first-ever Grenadian Thanksgiving holiday, the country’s democratic government was overthrown in a coup led by an insurgent socialist dictatorship. President Ronald Reagan became increasingly invested in Grenada during this time particularly because there were
across the country. Usually, it is recommended to celebrate on the first Sunday in October. The holiday isn’t just exclusive to Germany — most German-speaking countries also take part in the festivities, like Austria and Switzerland. Unlike an American Thanksgiving where we stay at home with close friends and family, German communities take their festivities to the streets and town square for parades, music, dancing, and, of course, food.
Germany
As many countries celebrate some form of a harvest festival honoring the gift of food, Israel has their own as well, and it’s known as Sukkot or the Feast of the Tabernacles. Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the miraculous protection God provided for the children of Israel when they left Egypt. The celebration lasts for seven days and begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. When the celebration falls on the western calendar
varies, but Sukkot typically happens in October. Special prayers and psalms are read at different points during the seven-day celebration, and everyone is encouraged to spend as much time in their sukkah (a temporary hut) as possible. Sukkot is perhaps the Thanksgiving holiday that is most heavily influenced by religion, but it is nonetheless a celebration of the same central themes as all of these holidays and festivals: food, family, and thankfulness.
U.S. students and faculty attending medical school at St. George’s University in Grenada and a concern for a hostage situation there. On Oct. 25, Grenada was invaded by forces from the U.S., the Regional Security System, and Jamaica. After the invasion and with the American Thanksgiving holiday approaching, U.S. soldiers shared their traditions and customs with the locals. Grenadians, in an effort to show gratitude, invited soldiers to eat with them on Thanksgiving. There they prepared some of the island nation’s standard plates — which are still consumed on the holiday today.
Grenada
Thanksgiving | asian avenue magazine
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How Asian countries celebrate Thanksgiving? Many Asian countries celebrate Thanksgiving by way of honoring the harvest in the autumn season. A similar holiday in China would be the Mid-Autumn or the Moon Festival introduced in our last issue. The mid-autumn festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. The holiday’s roots can be traced back more than 2,500 years, long before Europeans ever set foot in the new world. Additionally, rather than Thanksgiving staple pumpkin pie, the favorite Chinese dessert is moon cake, a baked concoction filled with sesame seeds, ground lotus seeds, and duck eggs. Similarly in South Korea, Korea’s Thanksgiving holiday is known as Chuseok, which is celebrated on the same day that the Chinese and Vietnamese harvest festivals are.
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Japanese people celebrate their Labor Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 23 each year. But all government entities in Japan are closed on this day in celebration of the country’s industrial workers and progress. The origin of Japan’s Thanksgiving holiday dates back to the seventh century. It was originally known as Niinamesai, and the holiday celebrated the welcome of the harvest season. But as Japan progressed and evolved into an industrial
country rather than an agrarian one, the celebrations switched from honoring farmers to honoring workers. Many special events are held across the country in honor of the holiday. One of the biggest celebrations is the Nagano Labour Festival, which celebrates the environment, peace, and human rights. Nagano is also the city that hosted the Olympic Winter Games in 1998 and holds a special place in Japan’s history.
Japan
Malaysia
Another country that celebrates Thanksgiving by way of honoring the harvest is Malaysia. They observe the Kaamatan harvest festival, which is celebrated in the state of Sabah in Malaysia. It’s celebrated by the native ethnic Kadazan-Dusuns people for the month of May and culminates in a two-day public holiday that’s celebrated throughout the country. Rice is very important in the Kadazandusun communities, and as such rice is
the main ingredient in the dishes served during the festival. Rice wines are also made and widely consumed. There are numerous ritual ceremonies taken during the month-long festival. The closing ceremony for the festival, called the Humabot ceremony, takes place on the last day of the month-long celebration. It’s the liveliest ceremony filled with a ton of different games and activities, including traditional dance and song performances.
South India’s harvest festival is called Pongal, which is a four-day celebration. Each day brings its own traditional customs dedicated to specific gods. On the first day, families come together to give harvest offerings to Indra, the god of the rain, and the clouds. On the next day, Surya Pongal, families honor the sun god by making a sugarcane dish called sakkarai pongal. Mattu Pongal is the third day where
shepherds give thanks to their cows by painting them. The final day, Kanu Pongal, is when families travel to see their extended family and share food to give thanks for a good harvest. Pongal begins on the first day of the month of Thai, which is after the rainy month of Margazhi. It varies on the Gregorian calendar, but Pongal usually falls in mid-January.
November 2020 | Feature
South India
Board of Education Director at Douglas County School District Kevin Leung receives McGuffey Award According to the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB), school board members are ordinary people who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to our public schools. The CASB McGuffey Award honors unique board members who bring committed and passionate service to their board work. This year, Board of Education Director at Douglas County School District and past recipient of the Asian American Hero of Colorado Award Kevin Leung was honored
with the McGuffey Award. “I am ecstatic to be one of three winners for this year’s McGuffey Award from Region 5 of Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB),” he said. “I am honored to serve with a great team of dedicated public-school advocates in the Douglas County School District Board of Education.” “Together, I hope we can continue to create great opportunities for our students and to provide better working environment for our staff and teachers.”
首Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver hosts virtual celebration of Double Ten Day To celebrate Taiwan’s October 10 National Day 2020, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver Director General Jerry Chang shared a warm message and toast in an online celebration video, asking viewers to leave their greetings and comments. Double Ten Day commemorates the start of the Wuchang Uprising in China on Oct. 10, 1911, which led to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1636–1912) and the establishment of the Republic of China (ROC) on January 1, 1912. Chang said: “2020 is a year no one would have ever imagined. Thanks to the joint efforts of our people and government, Taiwan has effectively contained the spread
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of the coronavirus, and keeps providing assistance to other countries around the world, including the U.S. Furthermore, Taiwan has firmly defended the frontline of the democratic community against China’s expansion and supported the people of Hong Kong in pursuit of democracy and freedom.” “As we are getting the fatal coronavirus under control, my office will continue doing our very best to further strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in every field between the U.S. and Taiwan.” See the full video on the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver Facebook page: fb.com/tecodenver.
I feel so honored to have donated almost a million masks and many other critical supplies to Colorado and five Midwest states on behalf of my government. We are conveying a clear message that Taiwan is together with our friends through the global pandemic.
On Scene | asian avenue magazine
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Support Taiwan’s inclusion in the post-COVID-19 global public health network
Dr. Chen Shih-chung Minister of Health and Welfare Republic of China (Taiwan)
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have more than 40 million cases and more than one million deaths around the world. The virus has had an enormous impact on global politics, employment, economics, trade and financial systems, and significantly impacted the global efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Thanks to the united efforts of its entire people, Taiwan has responded to the threats posed by this pandemic through four principles: prudent action, rapid response, advance deployment, and openness and transparency. Adopting such strategies as the operation of specialized command systems, the implementation of meticulous border control measures, the production and distribution of adequate supplies of medical resources, the employment of home quarantine and isolation measures and related care services, the application of IT systems, the publishing of transparent and open information, and the execution of precise screening and testing, we have been fortunate enough to contain the virus. As of Oct. 7, Taiwan had had just 523 confirmed cases and seven deaths;
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November 2020 | Taiwan Update
meanwhile, life and work have continued much as normal for the majority of people. The global outbreak of COVID-19 has reminded the world that infectious diseases know no borders and do not discriminate along political, ethnic, religious, or cultural lines. Nations should work together to address the threat of emerging diseases. For this reason, once Taiwan had stabilized its containment of the virus and ensured that people had sufficient access to medical resources, we began to share our experience and exchange information on containing COVID-19 with global public health professionals and scholars through COVID-19-related forums, APEC’s High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy, the Global Cooperation Training Framework, and other virtual bilateral meetings. As of June 2020, Taiwan had held nearly 80 online conferences, sharing the Taiwan Model with experts from governments, hospitals, universities, and think tanks in 32 countries. Taiwan’s donations of medical equipment and antipandemic supplies to countries in need also continue. By June, we had donated 51 million surgical masks, 1.16 million N95 masks, 600,000 isolation gowns, and 35,000 forehead thermometers to more than 80 countries. To ensure access to vaccines, Taiwan has joined the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX) co-led by GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance; the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations; and the World Health Organization. And our government is actively assisting domestic manufacturers in hopes of accelerating the development and production of successful vaccines, bringing them to market as quickly as possible and putting an end to this pandemic. To prepare for a possible next wave of the pandemic as well as the approaching flu season, Taiwan is maintaining its strategies of encouraging citizens to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, and
strengthening border quarantine measures, community-based prevention, and medical preparedness. Furthermore, we are actively collaborating with domestic and international partners to obtain vaccines and develop optimal treatments and accurate diagnostic tools, jointly safeguarding global public health security. The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that Taiwan is an integral part of the global public health network and that Taiwan Model can help other countries combat the pandemic. To recover better, WHO needs Taiwan. We urge WHO and related parties to acknowledge Taiwan’s longstanding contributions to global public health, disease prevention, and the human right to health, and to firmly support Taiwan’s inclusion in WHO. Taiwan’s comprehensive participation in WHO meetings, mechanisms, and activities would allow us to work with the rest of the world in realizing the fundamental human right to health as stipulated in the WHO Constitution and the vision of leaving no one behind enshrined in the UN SDGs.
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