Spring 2009 Vol XXII Issue 3
Asian Outlook Summer Edition
Vacation Spots in Asia:
Featuring Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taipei!
Mouth Watering Recipes:
Learn how to make and enjoy Shanghainese-style Shao Mai, Cassava Cake, and Daikon Cake!
Setting The Record Straight:
Learn the Truth Behind the Racist Incidents in the Student Association...
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...And Much More Inside!
Letter from the Editor... Dear Readers, As we reflect on our 20th year we made a concerted effort to return to our roots in advocacy, and from standing behind the Vice President of Multicultural Affairs to fighting against racist remarks made by members of the SA, we feel that it is our obligation to advocate for all marginalized minorities—our friends in RPU and WSU included. In the future, we look to continue our work on making this campus a place that is open and welcome to all students. To our loyal readers, we understand your concerns about this magazine becoming too political, but do not fear because a quick look at the table of contents will show that we have revived other, non-political sections. For this issue, we have brought back sections such as recipes and travel; given the approach of summer, we have decided to feature vacation spots in Asia. You will find interesting articles about fascinating places that our writers have either lived in or visited. However, it’s probably also important to reinforce our editorial policy. Following a harsh rebuttal to Robert Menje, one of two editors-in-chief of Binghamton Review, that was printed in our previous issue, Menje thought it would be wise to avoid talking to us about it and instead bully an Asian-American member of the Student Administration. It really is a cowardly and despicable thing to walk into someone’s office and tell them that you “hate their people,” all because Asian Outlook Magazine criticized your poorly written and inflammatory article about minorities on campus. If you take issue with anything printed in the magazine, either write to the editor or leave other students out of it. Lastly we would like to thank everyone that supported us at the Spring Fling rally. The number was small but the message was loud and clear. Please remember, dear readers, that an intolerant remark directed at one person is an attack on an entire community and we should not stand for this. We cannot expect to change society over night, but we can make it a little better one person at a time. And lastly, many thanks, congratulations, and felicitations to all our graduating seniors. Your hard work over the years has made AO into what it is today. Good luck to all of you, whatever roads you may take, and may we meet again, be it in this life or the next. Best of luck on finals, and have a safe and productive Summer Break. Until we meet again, Calvin Prashad Co-Editor-in-Chief Elect Asian Outlook Will To Co-Editor in Chief Asian Outlook PS: Among other things… Apologies to Takuro Johnny Hotta, who, despite contributing to our regular column “Asianese”, was not acknowledged for his help. Sorry, and thanks for the hard work Johnny! Editorial Policy Asian Outlook is the art, literary, and news magazine of the Asian Student Union of SUNY’s Binghamton University. Originally conceived and created to challenge, redefine, re-imagine and revolutionize images and perceptions associated with Asians and Asian-Americans; further, Asian Outlook serves to protect the voice of those in the minority, whether by ethnicity, gender, and/or political orintation. All matter contained within these beautiful pages do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Asian Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions and publish work as deemed appropriate. Prospective contributors are encouraged to discuss their work with the editors prior to submission. Articles may be submitted as an e-mail attachment to ao.editor@gmail.com, all artistic and literary pieces may be submitted to aoconscience@gmail.com. Contact Policy Uninvited contact with writers and contributors is forbidden under pain of punishment. Please direct all questions, comments, and complaints to ao.editor@gmail.com.
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Quasi Moda is a dance crew that showcases different dance styles from hip-hop, to breaking, to ballroom. The group has grown from a core of eight original members to thirteen within six months. The crew is not only talented but also diverse, as its members are of Filipino, Chinese, and French descent, to name a few. Last semester, the Philippine American League needed an act for their fall banquet and asked Destrie Monis, Erwin Seguia, and Andre Croxton to choreograph a dance. From there, they asked their close friends if they would participate. Since most of them were already dedicated dancers in other organizations (e.g Ballroom, International Flag Dancers, Nervous Breakdown, and Barrio Fiesta), this PAL performance allowed them to freely explore and use their creativity. Due to the overwhelming, positive response from audience members, they then decided to form Quasi dance crew. Quasi has performed for numerous shows, charities, and organizations such as Asian Night, Binghamton’s Got Talent, and Ballroom Showcase. They will also be performing at this year’s Spring Fling. They’ve hosted dance workshops for fraternities, sororities and ResLife. Their next big event will be two workshops to be taught by SoRealCru, as featured on MTV’s America’s Next Best Dance Crew. Members Brian Puspos and Andrew Baterina will be teaching these workshops come May 15th. -Alyssa Alimurung
SPOTLIGHT: QUASI MODA
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C O N T E N Columns...T S Asianese 28 Compiled by Lali Ha, Fan Chen, Victor Chan, and Takuro Johnny Hotta
Conscience... pages 29-39
Featuring the creative works of... Emil Carlo Rafol Kari Tam Eric Siu Dennis Chen Devek Singh Kaming Cheung Fan Chen Anonymous...whoever you may be Sean Beharry Front Cover Design by Will To Picture from http://farm1.static.flickr. com/7/8407566_8f816b32ab.jpg 4
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Features...
The One Child Policy: A Policy That Kills... 6 Diane Wong A Tale of Two Giants: China and America in the Global Arena... 8 Wilson Chen Thailand’s Political Turmoil and Uncertain Future 11 Jarucha Jiradacharoen Studying Abroad in Shanghai: Part II 12 Jennifer Fang The Case for an Asian Pacific Islander Mental Health Awareness Month 13 Calvin Prashad Cultural Heritage for Sale: How the West Still Exploits the East... 14 Calvin Prashad Remembrance...and Redemption 16 Kelvin Chan Setting the Record Straight: The Truth Behind the Racist Incidents that Occurred at the SA 18 Will To
Recipes
A Taste of Shanghai 20 Diane Wong Cassava Cake 21 Andrea Randrup and Alyssa Alimurung Daikon Cake; Luo Buo Gao 22 Sophia Lin Back Cover Design by Stephanie Huan
Review...
Gran Torino: A Review 23 Clara Kittrell
Travel...
Island in the Sun: Travels in Malaysia and Indonesia 24 Nurfizny Ramdhani
26 Inside a Taiwanese Night Market...
Jewel of Taiwan: Taipei City 26 Sophia Lin
Thanks to All Our Contributors!
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The 20th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Incident...
Editor-in-Chief Will To Treasurer Wilson Chen Secretary Alyssa Alimurung
Staff...
Conscience Editor Kari Tam Publicity Linda Su Kaming Cheung Webmaster Sophia Lin
Alyssa Alimurung Emil Carlo Rafol, aka Shift the MC Andrea Randup Takuro Johnny Hotta Calvin Prashad Chris Lu Kaming Cheung Dennis Chen Kelvin Chan Clara Kittrell Diane Wong Nurfizny Ramdhani Jennifer Fang Stpehanie Huan Sean Beharry Assistant Editors Victor Chan Jarucha Jiradacharoen Karina Rodrigues Devek Singh Layout Editors Lali Ha Fan Chen Elliot Won
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One Child Policy: By Diane Wong
“You don’t have any more room for maneuver, we’ll carry you if we have to,” a government official said. Liang Yage and his wife Wei Linrong had one child, and thought that they could pay a fine and keep their second baby. Wei was already seven months pregnant when family planning officials came knocking on her home. The officials told Wei that she had to have an abortion; afterwards, the couple was taken to a nearby maternity hospital. The hospital was full of pregnant women who’d been brought in forcibly. Women were being pulled one by one into crammed rooms for forced abortions and sterilizations. After coerced into signing a consent agreement, the officials gave Wei three injections in the lower abdomen. After two days, her child was stillborn. “I asked the doctor if it was a boy or girl,” It was a boy. The baby’s body was completely black and limp. The nurse wrapped the baby up in a plastic bag, and threw it in the trash. This story of Wei is only one out of millions in China. These horror stories have emerged only after the Chinese government introduced the one child policy in 1979. This was not always the case. Beginning in the Mao era and lasting through the Cultural Revolution, Chinese women were encouraged to bear as many children as they could care for. The idea was that more children would eventually produce a larger workforce, which in turn, would help China’s economy develop faster. Families were rewarded with benefits for having more children and mothers who bore up to a dozen children were referred to as ‘Golden Mothers.’ Not until 1979 did China decide to implement the one child policy. The policy goal was simple: one couple, one child. It was put
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forth in order to alleviate social, economic and environmental problems in China caused by overpopulation. There were some unintended consequences. Instead, the policy lead to a dramatic increase in practices like female infanticide, sex selective abortions, forced abortions against pregnant women and concealment of female births. China has had an extensive history of violating the rights of women. Chinese women have suffered from unlawful arranged marriages, domestic violence, trafficking and prostitution, foot binding and workplace discrimination. The one child policy is the most pervasive source of women’s rights violations in China today. There are countless human rights violations that the one child policy has brought against women in China and these violations paved the way for larger human rights concerns such as gendericide and trafficking of young girls. China has ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention against Torture, the Inter-
national Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Form of Discrimination Against Women and when all of these documents can’t protect the safety and rights of women, something is terribly wrong. The Cairo Programme of Action which was adopted in 1994 at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo became the first international policy to define reproductive rights for women. The document stated that these rights include the fundamental rights of women to decide freely on matters related to sexuality which includes sexual and reproductive health, free of discrimination and coercion. China has been an active participant during Cairo and Beijing Conferences concerning women’s rights. Yet, hundreds of Chinese women continue to be forced, by physical coercion, psychological torture methods and economic penalties, to have abortions or sterilizations. The policy alone has prevented over 400 million births from its imple-
A Policy that Kills mentation since 1979. Women who were as far along as eight or nine months pregnant such as Ms. Wei have been forced to abort by injection of saline solution into the fetuses. Or even worse, women who were already in labor have had their babies killed while still in the birth canal or immediately after birth. When the Chinese government denies women of these reproductive rights, their human rights are denied as well. Forced abortions are only one aspect of the onechild policy that women have to suffer from. Ever since the policy has been implemented, the rates of sex-selected abortions have sky rocketed. Ever since the Confucian era, there has been a sense of male dominance in China. Men have been favored over women because they are the providers of the household and can carry on the family name. This belief is still highly prevalent today and many Chinese families would prefer to have sons over daughters. The policy has resulted in there being 60 million more males in China than females or in other words, while the average worldwide ratio of male to female newborns is 105/100, Chinese government statistics show that the ratio in China is 125/100 and may be higher in some provinces. One 1999 report on the International Planned Parenthood Federation Website says that between 500,000 and 750,000 unborn Chinese girls are aborted every year after sex screening. Although determination of gender during ultrasound scans has been officially outlawed by the Chinese government, many physicians continue the practice, especially in rural China. Those families who choose to take the risk and keep the female infant; most often do not register the child to the government in order to make room for the possible birth of a male child in compliance with the policy. Without any legal existence, these females grow up to have difficulty going to school or receiving medical care or other state services.
Due to the one child policy, a widespread and arguably systematic disappearance and death of female children has created a serious scarcity for women in China today. A man desperately seeking a woman for marriage often will resort to the purchase of a trafficked woman. The woman shortage in China has caused an increase in prostitution, forced prostitution, and trafficking of women. Each year, a minimum of 10,000 to 20,000 victims are trafficked in and out of China’s boarders and nearly ninety percent of the trafficked victims are women. For decades, thousands of people living in China have been embroiled in an uproar about the one child policy through riots and rallies. The Chinese officials have an ironic solution to stop these protests by implementing even more punishments upon the civilians. It is important to look at the issue of the policy as a whole. It is incorrect to place blame solely on the Chinese government since factors akin to cultural standards and the expectations of society have greatly assisted the widespread support of the policy. It is impossible to alter customs of the Chinese culture, the most we can do as individuals is to stop living in the dark and to start becoming more aware of the gendericide occurring in China. h t t p : / / w w w. d i y i n v i t a t i o n s e n s a t i o n . com/images/baby_clipart_5_rr20.jpg h t t p : / / w w w. j e s u s b e w i t h . u s / ? p = 1 2 8 http://www.islamic-world.net/papers/pic/abortion.jpg
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A Tale of Two
GIANTS
China and America in the Global Arena By Wilson Chen
O
bserve Specimen A. Its reddishyellow color is the result of years of healthy growth, but it has faltered at times, struggling with rapid change. Even under our powerful microscope, it’s difficult to see the inner workings of the specimen. Yes, I’m talking about the world’s most populous
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country: the People’s Republic of China. The idea of China getting so much attention is old hat. But with the hangover from the Western world’s financial crisis grinding Western economies to a halt, China’s change into an economic and political dynamo means that even the most blasé observer can’t ignore the
1.3 billion people in East Asia who are Chinese. Bear in mind, Chinese peasants were encouraged to smelt iron in their backyard at one point. With that, it’s astonishing to recognize the breadth of industrial development that China has
undergone. And here lies the predicament that American foreign policy makers face: how to placate the growing Chinese appetite for a larger role in international affairs without threatening American interests. Many American officials would like to push for democratic reforms -without the mess of another Tiananmen
Hillary Clinton was derided when she declared that issues such as human rights “can’t interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crises” in China Square -- and more transparency in its political affairs. But alas, the Chinese are cognizant of the fact that the party of superpower nations has grown to two again, the United States and China. Giving in to American demands probably isn’t very high on the Chinese to-do list right now.
Instead, the Chinese government has attempted to improve their economy through strong investments in technology and science, giving their business sector preferential treatment -- sometimes at the cost of its peasants -- and spending heavily on their armed forces. In the last twenty years, China has grown increasingly independent, asserting its right to govern its internal affairs without international censure (i.e. suppressing the Tibet protests) and to exercise its foreign policy as it sees fit. This brings to mind the critiques of those who decry continuing Chinese relations with Sudan (which mostly revolve around oil), and the current situation with North Korea and its nuclear weapon ambitions. Clearly, China is positioned to bolster human rights in Darfur and rid an unstable dictator of his weapons. However, petrol is needed for its growing economy, while Kim Jong Il’s acting out could be useful in distracting American diplomats.
In a recent annual report
submitted to Congressional leaders by the Department of Defense, the motive behind the Chinese military’s spending growth was called into question. It stated that “much uncertainty surrounds China’s future course, particularly regarding how its expanding military power might be used” because there are few countries that would rush into a conflict with the world’s largest military. The technological growth of the military has led military analysts to speculate that it is in the process of becoming more adept to confront high-tech foes. Last year, Time magazine reported on a group of Chinese hackers who were loosely affiliated with the Chinese military, leading cyber attacks on American government computers. There were also reports in the NY Times about a computer spy system that looted files, including those from the office of the Dalai Lama). Its purported origination from China raised many questions about the ulterior motives of those hackers if they weren’t working for the Chinese government. Naturally, the Chinese government -particularly the Communist Party -- has been defensive about so much speculation concerning
Managing future relations with a strong, rapidly growing China is a multifaceted, delicate balancing act.
its intentions. Coming through the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party, is an official line about outsiders crying for transparency: “Chinese military transparency is bound to derive from one’s respect for China’s peaceful development.” It implies that one needs to strongly weigh the economic and political achievements of China before turning a suspicious eye to the Chinese military. Of course,
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there are real threats the Chinese military currently fights, including operations against Somali pirates off the African coast and against Muslim extremists in its northwestern provinces. However, they’re not exactly high-tech foes.
are, reality is complicated. China is on track to overtake the US in greenhouse emissions, and holds trillions of dollars in US government debt. It is also
Given the history between China and Taiwan, along with the desire to have Taiwan rejoin China, foreign policy makers have inserted a military invasion of Taiwan as an awful and extreme -- but distantly possible -- scenario unfolding within China. With such an uncertain picture of how events could unfold, the tone of American policies have to provide enough military deterrents, trade, and economic incentive to a Taiwan invasion costly in all regards. Recently, Defense Secretary Robert Gates promised to
difficult to argue the value of freedom and democracy. However, State Secretary Clinton has indicated that America’s priority will be to get environmentally on track while being civil to the American government’s biggest creditor, China. There are hopes to reconcile American attitudes with Chinese actions. They begin with President Barack Obama’s Cabinet officials. Firstly, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has a unique background for tackling Asian policy: he holds a graduate degree in international history and East Asian studies. Between his education and work during the Asian Financial crisis in the late 1990’s, he seems to be a good fit for handling relations with China at an advanced level. His predecessor, Henry Paulson, was known for his high-level trade talks with the Chinese leadership before the financial crisis hit its crescendo last fall. Across the other walks of Obama’s cabinet, his presidency includes the most Asian-Americans under one president: Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and Commerce Secretary Eric Locke. Secretary Locke is actually known for his professional and personal ties to China. He is part of a larger group of professional AsianAmericans who can serve as valuable facilitators in these connections because “on the individual, community, and institutional levels, we still have strong ties and networks to Asian countries,” as one Asian-American blogger put it. The duality of being Asian-American is an asset for American foreign policy seeking to maintain
... the only countries that begin to fit this profile are European countries, In fact, the only countries that the United States and begin to fit this profile are European Taiwan. countries, the United States and Taiwan.
The technological growth of the military has led military analysts to speculate that it is in the process of becoming more adept to confront high-tech foes trim bloated Pentagon budgets for high-tech weapons programs that fail to deliver results against the terrorist (lowtech) threats that the military faces now. Secretary Gates is right for wanting to axe non-performative programs. But there still needs to be a balance between having enough tools to fight low-tech terrorism now, and deterring future threats from larger nations with advanced, high-tech weaponry. Earlier this year, State Secretary Hillary Clinton was derided when she declared that issues such as human rights “can’t interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crises” in China. Human Rights Watch, a freedom advocacy group, retorted by issuing a statement that found human rights advancement inseparable from progress in each of the key areas mentioned. True as their claims
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communication with China and to prevent a war of words from becoming more dangerous. Managing future relations with a strong, rapidly growing China is a multifaceted, delicate balancing act. As the balance of power shifts away from America, there are vast economic, environmental and military implications to consider. Just as the world would have been a better place if the two superpowers of the post-World War II world had worked together, there are boundless opportunities for progress in cooperation if cool judgement prevails between the US and China. Sourceshttp://www.asian-nation.org/headlines/2009/03/ gary-locke-future-asian-american-identity/” http:// www.asian-nation.org/headlines/2009/03/gary-lockefuture-asian-american-identity/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/human-rightswatch/clinton-remarks-undermine_b_168689. html” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/humanrights-watch/clinton-remarks-undermine_b_168689. html http://www.cfr.org/publication/18943/annual_report_ to_congress.html?breadcrumb=%2Fregion%2F2 71%2Fchina” \t “_blank” http://www.cfr.org/ publication/18943/annual_report_to_congress.html?b readcrumb=%2Fregion%2F271%2Fchina http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory. cfm?story_id=13326082” \t “_blank” http://www. economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_ id=13326082 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/ technology/29spy.html?_r=1&hp” \t “_ blank” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/ technology/29spy.html?_r=1&hp http://english.people.com.cn/90002/96417/6616921. html” \t “_blank” http://english.people.com. cn/90002/96417/6616921.html http://english.people.com. cn/90001/90780/91342/6581050.html” \t “_blank” http://english.people.com. cn/90001/90780/91342/6581050.html
Thailand’s Political Turmoil and Uncertain Future By Jarucha Jiradacharoen
I
n the past year, Thailand has been gaining negative attention in the international news circuit for its political instability. After the coup d’état in 2006 caused former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party to flee to London, the situation in Thailand has been a shaky one. This situation did not just occur overnight. Suspicion rose regarding Thaksin’s corruption which caused the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to demand that Thaksin resigned. While Thai Rak Thai is supported by the rural poor, the People’s Alliance for Democracy consists mostly of the middle and upper-class, as well as those that live in Bangkok and the South. PAD wants the army and monarchy to play a greater role in politics. Unrest continues to plague Thailand, demonstrated in late August of 2008 through protests that led to the occupation of Bangkok’s Don Muang International Airport by 30,000 PAD members who wanted to oust the People Power Party, which was basically the new version of the TRT party. It seems that political turmoil will continue, since Thaksin’s supporters continue to call for Abhisit Vejjajiva, of the Democratic Party, to step down as prime minister. Prior to this, there were problems in the government before stemming from Thailand’s conversion from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1932. Now, there is a clash between the Red Shirts who make up the TRT party and the Yellow Shirts of the PAD party. Sadly, the situation has worsened. Violence continues to mount as the military and Red Shirt protesters fought in Bangkok on April 13, 2009. Two lives were lost and more than a hundred people were hurt. Now, Abhisit Vejjajiva has declared a state of emergency. Even worse is the fact that the violence occurred in April during the
Songkran, or Thai Lunar New Year. Songkran is supposed to be a happy time when people throw water at each other on the streets and go to wat (temple) to pay respects. Instead, blood was shed this year. Thailand’s economy is inevitably affected by the chaos, with the value of the baht dropping in recent years. Tourism, long a considerable source of Thailand’s gross domestic product, has taken a downturn. Foreigners who want to come to Thailand are now deterred by the never-ending images of violence and unrest. Ironically, Thailand is
Khan Kluay should serve as a reminder to the Thai people how their ancestors shed blood, sweat, and tears to protect their country from invaders
known as the “Land of Smiles,” but given the recent situation, that does not seem to apply any longer. Although I do not fully understand Thai politics, it is upsetting to see my birth country being torn apart between two sides. After watching Khan Kluay, which traces the life of an elephant in the Ayutthaya era who became the war elephant for King Naresuan, it is not surprising to feel a sense of pride for the sacrifices that people have made to fight for their land. Khan Kluay, released in 2006, is the first Thai 3-D animated film and eventually became the highest-grossing Thai film of that year. Khan Kluay (which means banana stalk) was able to garner courage to beat the giant elephant with fiery eyes who had killed his father and help King Naresuan win the battle against the Burmese. The huge success has inspired the releases of an Indian version, Jumbo, and an American version, The Blue Elephant, in 2008. However, The Blue
Elephant is a poor reflection of the original film since American voices were dubbed to replace their Thai counterparts. A sequel, Khan Kluay II, was released in March 26, 2009 and topped the box office as the number one Thai film that week. Khan Kluay should serve as a reminder to the Thai people how their ancestors shed blood, sweat, and tears to protect their country from invaders. With its beautiful colors, realistic movements of nature, and use of Thai instruments as background music, the film is a good stepping stone for future Thai animation. Hopefully, the Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts will realize that they share a common past as Thai people and use peace talks in order to resolve their conflicts instead of resorting to the use of weapons.
Sources: http://www.khankluay-themovie.com/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/ hi/asia-pacific/8004306.st http://www.npr.org/templates/story/ story.php?storyId=103050193&ft=1&f=1004 http://www. nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/04/14/2009-04-14_ thailand_protest_leaders_call_for_cessation_to_demonstrations_ several_taken_into.html http://thaifilmjournal.blogspot. com/2006/05/review-khan-kluay.html http://thaifilmjournal. blogspot.com/2009/04/elephants-cannibalism-and-romance-at. html Picture sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index. html?curid=5205432 http://thaifilmjournal.blogspot. com/2006/05/review-khan-kluay.html http://news.bbc. co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7996312.stm http://www.nytimes. com/2009/04/09/world/asia/09thai.html?_r=1&fta=y
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S
STUDYING ABROAD in
上海 (Shang Hai)
H A N G
H A I 12
by Jennifer Fang I have been in Shanghai for a month and I am currently attending Shanghai Normal University, which is affiliated with SUNY Oswego. Studying abroad in China has been quite an experience for me. Many people may be unwilling to leave their comfort zone to go to a completely foreign country, so those who do must have a lot of courage, especially if you go by yourself. Shanghai, China is very different from America. The most obvious distinction would be the language. I took five semesters of Chinese at Binghamton University and I felt it was sufficient enough to survive in China for a couple of months. I’ve always thought my Chinese was satisfactory, until I came to Shanghai and was surrounded by people who spoke Chinese only. I was able to understand most of what is spoken to me but it was difficult for me to speak. My tones were not completely accurate and it was hard for me to translate my thoughts into Chinese. However, this was one of the main reasons why I decided to study abroad in Shanghai. My goal is to improve my Chinese in the short couple of months that I have in China. Chinese classes are separated into elementary, intermediate, and advanced, each of which is also separated into different levels. Even after taking one semester of Advanced Chinese at Binghamton University, I was placed in the Intermediate
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class. After taking a placement test, I was placed into Intermediate II. Studying Chinese in Shanghai is definitely very different than at Binghamton. I have about 14 hours of Chinese classes each week, which is separated into Listening, Speaking, etc. Those who are in Elementary Chinese take intensive classes with a lot more hours per week. My teachers rarely use English, most of the time using Chinese to explain vocabulary or grammar. When asked to answer questions, we were expected to use Chinese as well. I feel that this type of learning environment was much more effective. At first, I was a bit frightened and lost. But after becoming more familiar with my surroundings, I started to make friends. I was shocked when I found out there weren’t much
“... by interacting with people who don’t speak English, I am forced to communicate in Chinese, enabling me to practice and sharpen my communication skills” Americans who were studying abroad at Shanghai Normal University. Up to this point, I’ve met only three. To my surprise, there were people from many different countries. I’ve met people from Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey, France, England, and more. While some spoke a little English, everyone was able to speak Chinese. Instead of staying together with one group of nationality like some people might do when they study abroad, I was able to branch out and meet many different kinds of people. I’m not only learning about Chinese culture, but many other cultures as well. Also by interacting with people who don’t speak English, I am forced to communicate in Chinese, enabling me to practice and sharpen my communication skills. After all, this was the main reason why I decided to study abroad in China. It’s been only a month since I’ve been in Shanghai and I already felt like I’ve learned a lot. However, I feel that there is still much to learn. I still have a little less than four months left in Shanghai and I hope to make the best out of it. Source: http://www.officehu.net/bookpic/200710/20071024113944.jpg
The Case for an Asian Pacific Islander Mental Health Awareness Month
By Calvin Prashad
W
e always could count on our parents to take care of our health. Healthy food, constant visits to the doctor, braces when we needed them, you certainly can’t fault our parents for wanting to take the best care of us. However, in the area of mental health, we find that there is a huge stigma attached to those that outwardly suffer from it in the API community. Mental illness is not merely just dangerous ailments such as schizophrenia but also more benign disorders such as bulimia and depression. For too long, people in our community have suffered in silence. Families have chosen to ignore the problem and put off seeking help. For this reason, an Asian Pacific Islander Mental Health Awareness Month is needed. Such a month would entail the distribution of bilingual materials in heavily Asian-American communities as well as talks given by experts and psychologists. Testimony from individuals will also be important to convincing others that mental illness is not a shameful thing and those individuals (and their families) should seek counseling. The people that suffer in our community are varied in age, status and gender by they can be helped by concerned individuals. The suicide rate among AsianAmerican students is particularly high. Under sometimes suffocating pressure from family to succeed, these students turn to drastic means to deal with failure. Exacerbating this problem is the fact that traditional families shun psychological treatment for problems and choose to either ignore the problem or punish it as a sign of weakness or imperfection.
A rather old but still relevant study by Stanley and David Sue explored the relationship between Asians and their families and how it relates to suicides in the community. The results were not surprising. Not only is there a punishing stigma attached to mental illness (noted by the words used for such people in their native languages), but if AsianAmericans actually do attempt to find help, they look to friends and family first rather than institutions that could better provide for their needs. This is still relevant more than 20 years later. New generation, but old issues still remain. The fact that little progress has been made in this area is something that needs further review. Additionally, academic pressure applied by the family lead students to despair over less than perfect grades and look for destructive outlets to vent. So are our families killing us? Well not really. As I said before, the family unit is very important to Asian-Americans. The legacy of saving and sacrificing for future generations is the reason why many of us are in college right now. This is why I believe that we need to work at breaking the stigma on mental illness in our community. When these people that suffer laash out violently, they not only hurt themselves, but also their families. In fact, there are many tragic cases of depressed individuals killing their spouses and children due to money and family troubles. Sadly, as we look at the writing of Jiverly Wong the shooter in the Binghamton massacre, we see very clear signs of illness. Paranoia, delusions of grandeur, the letter is filled with a laundry list of disorders. Could this man have gotten help?
Could his parents known the warning signs and intervened? We will never know, but if we can we encourage just one student to seek counseling, or one depressed individual that there is a better way, then this exercise will not be one of futility. For this and other blog posts, visit http:// www.apaforprogress.org/
Article Source: Sue, David and Stanley. Cultural factors in the clinical assessment of Asian Americans. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1987 Picture Source: c a p t . b224f17237ee4b5a98642fcb48ea616c. binghamton_shootings_nymg106.jpg
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Summer 2009 13
Cultural Heritage for Sale!!
Guangzhou) but were repulsed by Chinese forces at Dagu. In 1860, the British (with the aid of the French) returned with 60 ships and 16,000 troops. These troops captured Beijing and proceeded to ransack the Summer Palace or 圆明 园as retribution for the killing of Western diplomats. The Palace was reduced to smoking pillars and countless artifacts were looted by the soldiers. French author Victor Hugo described the scene as “’Two robbers breaking into a museum, devastating, looting and burning, leaving laughing hand-in-hand with their bags full of treasures; one of the robbers is called France and the other Britain.” Let’s fast forward to modern day. A few weeks ago items belonging to the late by Calvin Prashad fashion designer Yves St. Laurent were put up for auction. Among these items were two bronze statues looted from While the era of colonialism and impe- what they did best; they started a war. the Palace. Despite the protests of the rialism may be over, even today, the na- After the Chinese seizure of the Ar- Chinese governments, St Laurent’s parttions and peoples of Europe are giving row, an opium smuggler flying the Eng- ner Pierre Berge and the auction house the former victims of imperial atrocities lish flag, the English found the pretext Christie’s agreed to proceed with auction. the short end of The Chinese the “big stick”. government Last month, in felt paying for March, the atthe sculptures tempted aucwould be tioning of two tantamount bronze Chinese to paying sculptures from ransom for a “private” what rightly French collecbelongs to tion is indicative them. Chiof this. Why all nese art colthe uproar over lector Cai a pair of sculpMinghao lattures? Let’s er sabotaged start with a histhe auction tory lesson. by placing In the afterthe winning math of the bid—but reFirst Opium fusing to pay. War, the British As a result, found themPierre Berge selves dissatisis now offerfied with the ing to return harsh terms they had imposed on the they needed and declared war. It was the statues to China—in exchange for Chinese. They wanted access to more the prevailing mood in London that an- China granting independence to Tibet. ports to unload their opium, and disliked other war with the Chinese would be This offer is emblematic of Western arthe current leadership. When attempts “beneficial”—at least to the British econ- rogance toward Eastern nations. Not at treaty revisions failed, the British did omy. The British seized Canton (now unlike their forefathers that colonized
How the West still exploits the East
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and subjected China, India and other Asian states, these people believe they can delegate and dictate policy to an “inferior people”. Yet this isn’t the only example of profiteering of Asian cultural heritage. “Peace activist” James Otis put up some of the personal possessions of Mohandas Gandhi, including his eyeglasses and the bowl he had his final meal in—despite the fact that Gandhi himself was not a materialistic person in the first place, and would likely have not put any stock into his belongings. Initially, Otis claimed that he would donate the earning to non-violent causes. However, he soon had a change of heart and tried to stop the auction. The auction house decided to go ahead with the sale anyway, with the winning bid totaling 1.8 million dollars to an Indian businessman. Did Mr. Otis stop the auction because he realized the error of his ways? Nope. Rather he decided to offer the items to the Indian government on one condition: the Indian government would have to increase aid to the poor to 5% of its GDP (coming out to about 50 billion dollars). It takes a certain brand of arrogance to use priceless cultural artifacts to force a personal agenda on a sovereign government. As we speak, James Otis is on a 23 day “fast” to consider his actions. What is this Western obsession with superiority of over Asia? The theory of Orientalism dictates that the West has always viewed the East as inferior
and uncivilized especially from colonial times to the present. While some may argue that this thinking has diminished with the emergence of China, Japan , India and others as modern states I believe that this thinking is alive and well. In fact, any time someone claims to know what is “best” for Asians, they are falling into this pattern of thought. The actions of James Otis and Pierre Berge are perfect examples of this. While I realize that these items are being sold by private citizens and not the governments that looted them, why are auction houses agreeing to host these auctions? These auction houses should realize that the cultural heritage of Asia is not for sale and that they themselves should not be party to such a farce. Undoubtedly, in a few years from now, we will likely see artifacts looted from the Iraqi museums up for sale. Hopefully by then, auction houses such as Christie’s will learn to do the right thing.
Sources: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/06/nyregion/06gandhi.html?_ r=1&ref=nyregion http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090305/ap_on_re_us/as_india_gandhi_auction http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/26/ xin_332020626083404601881.JPG
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E X P L O I T A T I O N
Summer 2009 15
Remembrance ... ... and Redemption by Kelvin Chan In the preface ofto his novel “Beijing Coma,” Ma Jian states, “Tthere is a strong resilient person who remembers, and only memory can help people regain the brightness of freedom.” AtIn the dizzying pace at which the Chinese economy is developing, it is all too easy for one people to abandon neglect political opinions and commitments in pursuitpursue of personal wealth and comfort. TFor the June Fourth Incident, what onceonce was a symbol of totalitarian oppression but now is now but a distant taboo in China. It has been, reduced to the photograph of a man in front of four tanks and a date that pings the back of people’s mind like the date of an acquaintance’sa friend’s birthday, if that. Last year, three editors for a regional newspaper were fired for carrying an advertisement remembering the “mothers of June 4.” It; turns out the young clerk that who approved the ad did not even know the significance of the date, much less the event. As the generation of Chinese that either did not yet existed onpre-dated were too young to remember the events of June 4, 1989, or had lived through it only to hear it mentioned much later in life,, it is our responsibility to not just fully learn aboutof what happened not just on that fateful day, but all the turmoil and dissent that led to it. And Tthis year happens to beis the perfect time to do so., as 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the June Fourth Incident;, in addition, as well as the 10th anniversary of the banning of Falun Gong, the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising, the 90th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement, and the 60th birthday for the People’s
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Republic of China. It is the perfect stormmaelstrom for of the remembrance of past events that have drastically shaped China and, its relations with its own people and with the world. If this does not even stir dormant emotionsthe dormant and rouse the repressed, then we Chinese really have atrophied into sheep –, meek and dutiful under the nose of the government. The young clerk hads the excuse of the strict censorship enforced in China, but nothing prevents us from realizing the truth. For one, Jeff Widener’s photograph of the man in front of the tanks was taken on June fifth, not the fourth, when the tanks were leaving the square. It was quite possibly the dissident’s last attempt in coercing the government for a democratic reform, but it only symbolizes the many attempts before it. The weeks- long hunger strike, the separate protests in Shanghai and in dozens of other cities, and the bloodshed that covers it all in the end, all have went undocumented by the media, existing onlyretained only in the memories of those who were there and survived. Through personal recounts and whispered words of interviews, you find the congregation gathered initially to mourn for the death of Hu Yaobang, and . Wwhile they protested and petitioned for different causes, they were unified by their dissatisfaction of theirthe government. For the last two decades, the Chinese has been largely silent. Under the order of Deng Xiaoping, tThe brutal crackdown of all opposition, under the order of Deng Xiaoping, has shocked the citizens into grim speechlessness. Adding
to the pace of the recent economic development, everyone has been preoccupied in the race against with India to becomebe the superpower of Asia. The world has become so dependent on China as their factoryfor manufacturing that they cannot afford to reprimand the PRC for its actions. It’s not the same as Cuba. So Therefore, China gets a slap on the wrist and a bit of scolding, but like with everything else, the world moves on to deal with their own problems, and China gets a “get out of jail free” card, scoring another point for totalitarianism. The Sichuan earthquake of last year has softensoftened people’s the world’s opinion ofon China. The Many national flags were lowered to half-staff in honor of the victims., This is the first time this has been done in commemoration of civilians, proving that the PRC is capable of showing regard to humanity. human emotions. The rescue effort had people leaving behind their cut-throat individualistic ways of making money to unify in compassion, helping out fellow countrymen in need. The last time something like this happened
was during June Fourth, when students sickened by the hunger strike werewas carried out of the square, and later on, rickshaw drivers would dive into the line of fire between the army and the students to transport the wounded out of the square. Now that we are in a new millennium, Deng Xiaoping is long dead, and people’s rights have been steadily increasing recently, what does China have to lose to apologizewith an apology? Not one bit. To admit to a wrongdoing is one of the fundamental steps in human interactions. It’s, and it is one of the first things that are’s taught in elementary playgroundsclassrooms. Refusing to acknowledge ithist, like itwhich is what the government has done for has for two decades, (and even longer for the Tibetans), is simply childish and naive. China has amassed a considerable death toll., and Iit does not need any more turmoil now, especially in this economic hemorrhage. This year is not just the perfect time for us to learn the truth, but it is’s also ideal for China to issue an official apology. Such an action would gain the respect it so desperately needs from the world, and would also provide long-need closure for the victim’s’ families towould have closure at last. And for those with political opinions, it is’s better to ask for nothing much more than an acknowledgement of the events.; Nnobody wants to see another June Fourth. If China is ready for the road to redemption, I’d be satisfied just with baby steps. I just want to see the flags at half- staff on June Fourth. Sources: http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12758848 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/world/asia/10china.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/world/asia/05hong.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/books/review/Row-t.html http://www.lilith-ezine.com/articles/politics/Tiananmen-Square.html
Quick Facts: • The May Fourth Incident in 1919 was a result of three corrupted officials handing over the region of Shandong to Japan under the table. It was reported that the Communications Minister, Cao Rulin, was “dragged into the street and then mauled in the dust until past recognition”. All things Japanese werewas rejected by the Chinese. It was also one of the reasons why Chinese have such distaste for the Japanese (which were labeled as “Eastern dwarves”) an enmity which continues to the present day. • Started as an anti-Chinese and anti-Communist revolt, the Tibetan uprising, with Tibetan guerrillas trained by the CIA and supplied by the US, resulted in 86,000 Tibetan deaths. • In Confucian tradition, 60th birthdays are particularly significant. • Falun Gong boasts 100 million practitioners in more than 80 countries, and is considered more of a 氣 功 cultivation system” rather than a religion, similar to Tai Chi. asian outlook
Summer 2009 17
, e c i d u j e r P , m s i c a R the e c i t s u j n I & , s a i B Record A S e h t in Straight Setting
by Will To If anyone needs any more proof that the representatives of the Student Assembly have overstepped their powers and can get away with nearly anything they desire, then one needs only to look at the events of April 26 and April 27, 2009. In both incidents, not only was Vice President for Finance, Alice Liou, verbally harassed with racial slurs, she was consistently singled out for and targeted on the basis of both her race and gender. Indeed, these incidents demonstrate a clear pattern of harassment against minorities and women in the student government—and show to readers exactly what sort of environment one can expect here at Binghamton University. Apparently, despite being an institute of higher education, Binghamton’s Student Association is populated by those who sport less-than-enlightened views.
“When she told Mike Lombardi, a College-in-theWoods representative, to calm down, he told her to ‘shut the fuck up and eat a fucking dog...’” The first verbal assault took place on Sunday, April 26, 2009, following a successful attempt by several student groups to file grievances against Financial Vice President Alice Liou; readers should note that none of the Big Four Cultural groups were informed of this hearing, and consequently none of them were present. At any rate, after the hearing, Liou happened upon Peter Spaet, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Elahd Bar-Shai, then a Student Assembly representative, but now the Assembly
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chair-elect. She then proceeded to tell them to leave the office, as it was after hours. When neither of them listened, an argument broke out, and when Liou made a quip about BarShai’s thinning hair, he responded with a racial comment, replying that he was surprised she could see it, especially with “her squinty eyes”. At this point, Liou left the room rather than deal with either of them. The second attack was considerably more public, taking place immediately after the election of Elahd Bar-Shai as assembly chair for the 2009-2010 academic year. After Bar-Shai was elected, many of those who voted for him decided to leave— putting the total number of representatives in the room under the minimum number that is required to take care of business. At this point, Vice President for Programming Aaron Butler confronted them, ordering them to return to the room. As he puts it, “I just wanted them to finish what we needed to do. Did I overreact? Yes. But I was just angry because everyone left—not because Elahd was elected Assembly chair.” At this point, Alice Liou exited the room as well, to see for herself what was happening. When she told Mike Lombardi, a College-in-the-Woods representative, to calm down, he told her to “shut the fuck up and eat a fucking dog”; simultaneously, according to both Aaron Butler and Phil Calderon, an Off Campus College rep, Lombardi attempted to swing at Liou, though fortunately, his blow did not connect. Alice retaliated by telling him to “shut up you white bastard.” Shortly afterwards, the various warring parties were pulled apart by onlookers, and police were called in. While it is certainly the case that Liou did, in fact, call
Lombardi a “white bastard”, it is also a fact that Liou only retaliated AFTER Mike Lombardi racially insulted her AND attempted to hit her. Further, there was nothing inherently racial about “white”, as well as “bastard”; however, Lombardi’s comments clearly carried derogatory racial connotations (Asians as dog-eaters is a common stereotype). Hopefully, readers will notice the difference between calling someone “white”, and calling someone a dogeater; had Liou used something more derogatory, like “cracker”, then perhaps Lombardi and Bar-Shai’s camp would be justified in calling her racist. As of Wednesday, April 29, 2009, Alice Liou and Mike Lombardi have been referred to Judicial Affairs. In its Tuesday, April 28, 2009 release, Pipe Dream, Binghamton’s campus newspaper, did cover the incident briefly and inadequately. Not only did Pipe Dream ignore the first incident entirely, they also led readers to believe that the second event resulted from the election of Elahd Bar-Shai as Assembly chair—and that Alice Liou was the instigator of this event. Part of this confusion was probably due to the fact that writer (and Pipe Dream editor-in-chief) Evan Drellich separated those involved into two camps: those who supported Bar-Shai for assembly chair, and those who supported Josh Berk for the position. Additionally, Pipe Dream rushed their article to press—thereby leaving out Liou’s testimony, all for the sake of getting their news to print. Indeed, their “feature”, titled “Assembly Meeting Ends with Police”, is more of an opinionated, one-sided editorial than anything else, highlighting the views of representative Yadin Herzel and even Adam Shamah, editor-in-chief of Binghamton Review—all at the expense of Alice Liou.
The conclusion of the article, wherein Adam Shamah states that the actions of the Review are not to blame, is particularly unnecessary; why does his word count more than Liou’s, who, after all, was immediately involved in and directly hurt by this disgraceful event? All in all, the entire crisis was simply one big, sordid mess, complete with racism, biased, hasty reporting, and the nasty, bitter aftertaste of injustice. That both Elahd Bar-Shai and Mike Lombardi could get away with these remarks proves that, at Binghamton, students with power can criticize and impugn the racial backgrounds of others—without fear of any possible repercussions. Indeed, it is a pity that, in this day of technological and ideological progress, we still have those among us those whose views date back to the Stone Age.
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Summer 2009 19
A Taste of Shanghai
O
ne of the most popular dim sum dishes is Shao Mai, a traditional Chinese dumpling that features a filling (usually of meat) wrapped in a dumpling skin. You will find these delicate, openfaced, pleated dumplings on dim sum carts in most Cantonese restaurants around the world. However, what most people do not know is that there are several varieties of Shao Mai; due to the wide-ranging, far-flung Cantonese diaspora, most Westerners have only experienced the Cantonese version. Shanghainese-style Shao Mai, however, is filled with sticky rice cooked in soy sauce and flavored with mushrooms and carrots, rather than pork and shrimp, like in the Cantonese variety. Also, the wrapper of Shanghainese-style Shao Mai is larger and thicker than in Cantonese Shao Mai. Also, Shanghainese Shao Mai is incredibly easy to prepare and delicious. Here are the ingredients: 1 tablespoon soy sauce 2 teaspoons dry white wine 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 25 round dumpling wrappers ½ green onion 1 medium sized carrot 8 Chinese shitake mushrooms
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Surprisingly, such a visually appealing and appetizing dish can be made in ten simple steps: Step One: Steam half a pot of rice. Step Two: Dice the green onions and carrots and pan-fry all of it. Step Three: Boil mushroom in water for 10 minutes, rinse, squeeze dry, cut off and discard stems; then chop into small pieces. Add the mushroom to the pan-fry. Step Four: Add in ¼ tablespoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of freshly ground pepper. Step Five: Steam the vegetables for about five minutes, then put the cooked sticky rice and pork in the pot and pan-fry everything together. Step Six: Season the rice mixture with a tablespoon of soy sauce and two teaspoons of dry white wine. Step Seven: Make sure that the vegetables and the rice are evenly mixed and that the rice has a sticky texture. Scoop out the rice, wait for it to cool down a bit and roll them into little ping pong sized balls. Step Eight: Place a ball of rice on each dumpling skin and wrap the skin around the rice. In order to make sure the dumpling
by Diane Wong is secure, squeeze the top most part of the dumpling with your thumb and index finger. Step Nine: Steam the Shao Mai for about 5 -7 minutes. Step Ten: Enjoy!
Cassava Cake by Andrea Randrup and Alyssa Alimurung
Ingredients for Cake • 2 packets of grated cassava • 2 cups of coconut milk • 1 cup condensed milk (¾ can) • 1 cup sugar • ½ stick of butter • 2 eggs Ingredients for Topping • 1 egg yolk • ¼ can of condensed milk Tools • Small bowl • Big mixing bowl • Measuring cups • Spatula • Rectangular cake pan • Whisk (optional) 1. Pre-heat oven at 375 degrees 2. If frozen, thaw grated cassava packets and melt butter in microwave for 30 seconds 3. Mix thoroughly grated cassava, melted butter, coconut and condensed milk, sugar, butter, and eggs in big mixing bowl 4. Pour mixture in pan 5. Bake for about 30 minutes or until cake has solidified 6. In small bowl, mix topping ingredients 7. Take cake out and spread topping evenly then place cake back into oven 8. Watch oven carefully until top browns 9. Take out, let cool, and enjoy!
Picture Sources: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/191/507080953_3673fd994e.jpg
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Summer 2009 21
Daikon Cake- Luo Buo Gao By Sophia Lin
Ingredients
3 cups daikon, shredded 2 cups rice flour (NOT the glutinous rice flour) 1 Chinese sausage(lop chong), finely chopped 2 tablespoons small dried shrimp, finely chopped 2 dried shiitake mushrooms, finely chopped 2 cups of water
Directions Pour hot water halfway into two small bowls. Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in one and the small dried shrimp in the other. Mix the rice flour with 1 1/2 cup of water in a bowl and set aside. Grease a 9-inch diameter aluminum disposable baking pan with oil. Heat the oil in a skillet and stir fry the chinese sausage, now enlarged shrimp and shiitake mushrooms for about 3 minutes. Add the shredded daikon, a pinch of salt, 1/2 cup of water into the skillet. Bring to boil and remove from heat. Take a big pot that can fit the 9-inch diameter aluminum disposable baking pan leaving about 2-inches around it. Fill with about 1 1/2 cup of water. Place a metal rack inside; begin boiling the water. Stir the skillet’s contents into the rice flour and water mixture; pour out into greased pan. Place greased pan on top of the metal rack. Cover with lid and steam on medium heat for about 40 to 50 minutes, or until the cake is firm to touch. Occasionally add water to the pot as needed. Cool the cake in the pan outside for 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate daikon cake overnight. Remove daikon cake from pan onto cutting board. Cut cake into 1/2-inch thick slices and lengthwise into 2-inch long pieces. Heat the skillet with a 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Add several daikon cake slices into the skillet but leave enough room between each slice to prevent sticking. Heat for about 3-5 minutes on each side until light golden brown. Add more oil into the skillet for each batch until done. Serve with soy sauce or oyster sauce(hoisin sauce).
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Gran Torino: A Review
G
ran Torino directed by and starring Clint Eastwood is, in its rawest form, a story about bigotry—generational as well as racial. The movie centers on bigoted war veteran Walt Kowalski and the relationship that develops between him and his two young Hmong neighbors, siblings Thao and Sue. It all begins when Thao is pressured by his gang-banger cousin into stealing Walt’s Gran Torino. Walt catches him in the act, and Thao is forced to do work for Walt in repentance. Walt is at first harsh towards both Thao and his older sister Sue, but as he is forced to spend more time with the two of them, Walt’s soft heart is revealed. At the same time as his friendship with Thao and Sue is blossoming, Walt becomes more and more estranged from his sons and their families, who treat as useless and a burden now that he is old, though he is still very capable of living by himself. This is juxtaposed with the more traditional Hmong household where elders are held in high regard. In fact, Walt’s immediate family has no regard for his feelings, as they seem much more interested in what they will inherit from him after his death than in his situation right now. By the end of the movie, I found myself disgusted by Walt’s blood relatives for treating him the way that they
by Clara Kittrell
did, assuming that just because Walt was old, they could do whatever they want. As the movie goes on, Walt grows closer and closer to Thao and Sue, attending their family barbeques, helping Thao get a job, and defending them both from their cousin, who tries to force Thao to join a gang. I quickly fell in love with the dynamics of the relationship between the three of them, especially as quiet Thao and confident, friendly Sue help Walt heal some of the wounds on his psyche, as Walt in turn helps Thao to gain confidence in both himself and his dreams. The last half hour of the movie, which culminates in a confrontation between Walt and the gang that Thao’s cousin was in, had me on the edge of my seat. Overall, Gran Torino is, in my opinion, an amazing, well-done movie about the true nature of bigotry, as well as what a little bit of kindness and acceptance can do to help a person. Image from http://azraelsmerryland.blogspot. com/2009/02/gran-torino-my-movie-review.html
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Summer 2009 23
Islands in the Sun:
Malaysia and Indonesia
by Fiz Ramdhani
I
have just one question for you: got any plans for the summer? No? I guess not. That’s why I’m here to give you some ideas for traveling to these two separate-yet-very similar countries: Malaysia and Indonesia. For this article, I’m going to list my top destinations: Kuta Beach, Ubud, Bali, and Indonesia. Kuta and Ubud are totally different from one another. If you are the type of person that likes to be part of the crowd, then Kuta is the right place for you. There are a lot of things to do in Kuta, but with huge waves from the Pacific Ocean, surfing is the main attraction. If you can’t surf, you can just watch the professional surfing competition held almost all year there. Other than that, you can bungee jump, parasail, or simply enjoy the sun. Unlike Kuta, Ubud is quiet and cool. Tranquility -- as well as art and culture -- are what make Ubud special. You can find traditional Indonesian paintings, handmade accessories, and antique things there. And if you are not up for that, you can always sit and watch a traditional Balinese dance. How do you get to this wonderful place? If you arrived in Jakarta, you should take a domestic carrier from there. The flight will just be around one and a half hour, and cost around Rp. 400,000 to Rp. 775,000 (or, forty dollars to eighty dollars).
Baduy, West Java, Indonesia
Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
Baduy is a tribe in West Java. Their history can be traced back from around 400 A.D. I personally like this place because I was able to really appreciate the nature and people there with their culture and way of life. This place is not for the spoiled or the faint of heart. There is no electricity, and you are not allowed to use your electronic gadgets. People bathe in the river, or on the foot of the mountain where there is running water. So if you go there, it is going to be a unique experience for you. To get there, you need to find someone that has been there before. Or, you can ask the hotel in which you stay in Jakarta for all the details. Food and lodging are not a problem, because you will be staying with the natives and food is provided by them. Most girls love this place. It is a city two hours away from Jakarta by a car or by bus. The reason girls love this city? They get to shop. Attractive clothes, shoes, and accessories are its main attractions, and they come with cheap prices too. Often, you can find international designer brands there, and still with cheap prices -- even with the standard of living for Indonesians. Food and lodging are fairly cheap. It costs around Rp. 400,000 to Rp. 500,000 (forty to fifty dollars) a night for a three-star hotel. You can take a bus from the airport in Jakarta to get there, which will cost you approximately Rp. 65,000 (six dollars and fifty-cents). If you are adventurous enough, you will want to try those delicious street foods, which will typically be around Rp. 5,000 to Rp. 10,000 (fifty cents to a dollar) for a full portion.
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Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia It’s amazing. I lived in this city for two years, yet only just realized fact that this city has so much to offer. There are a lot of activities that you can do here. If you are up to doing some outdoor activities, there is FRIM (Forest Research Institute of Malaysia) where you can jungle trek and camp. If you are up for a bargain, China Town will provide it for you; but if you are the type of person that just likes to chill, you would like Petaling Square, where you can sit, enjoy the food, chat with your friends, and smoke a good hookah that costs only four-fifty! But of course, your trip is not complete without visiting the Petronas Twin Towers. These twin towers are a source of pride to the Malaysians. They were the world’s tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004. And underneath the buildings is Malaysia’s most luxurious shopping complex, which is called Suria KLCC. The average price for a three-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur is fifty dollars a night, including breakfast. Food from local regular or small restaurants typically costs around a dollarfifty to three dollars.
Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia
Langkawi is an island near the north of Malaysia where you can relax and enjoy the sun. Just like at any other islands, you can do a whole lot of activities there: jungle tracking, hiking, scuba diving, snorkeling, and sailing, just to name a few. However, what I most like about this place is that it is tax-free! (Particularly for alcohol and tobacco). Thus, any type of alcohol and tobacco is much cheaper. It sure makes the people’s life better, doesn’t it? In order to get to the island, you have to take a domestic air carrier from Kuala Lumpur that costs USD 108. As it is a tourist attraction, lodging can be a little bit more expensive, ranging from seventy dollars to one-hundred and forty dollars. However, just like any other Malaysian city, food is fairly cheap, at around five dollars.
Is it just me, or do these vacation spots sound rather exciting? Finals are in less than three weeks, and we finally will have our holiday soon! Study hard, guys, and see you in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta -- I will definitely go there myself! An interesting fact about Indonesia: President Barack Obama lived in Jakarta for four years and went to the same elementary school that I did.
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Jewel of Taiwan: Taipei City by Sophia Lin Planning a trip to Taiwan? Not sure where to go or what to see? Why not spend a few days in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan? You can look around at the historical landmarks located in the city, shop in the commercial district and eat the delicious local food! There are a number of interesting places in Taipei City, and since buses are readily available and fare is quite cheap, it is very easy to travel to and from each different landmark. Enjoy your trip to Taipei!
Another historical landmark is the National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, which was built in memory of the founding father of the Republic of China. Inside the memorial hall is a vast library and five exhibition halls. These well-known historical landmarks are worth going to see and the beauty of the architecture is simply breathtaking. The Office of the President of the Republic of China is the headquarters of the current Taiwanese president. Tours are available. Located in the heart of the city is the famous Chiang KaiShek Memorial Hall, built in memory of President Chiang Kai-Shek. The memorial hall has numerous historical documents and photographs on display inside. The National Theater and National Concert Hall located here are the best two best-equipped and most prestigious venues in Taiwan, and has held a number of international and local performances. Pictures: Above, the Office Of the President of the Republic of China. Above Right, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Above Left, the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
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There are many places to go shopping in Taipei City, but be aware that no one has their shop open before noon. The newly built Taipei 101 tower has a shopping center spread out on five floors, banks and financial centers, numerous business offices, and a few high class restaurants. Surrounding Taipei 101 is the commercial Xinyi district featuring many well-known, multinational, brand name stores, unusual restaurants, nightclubs, movie theaters, department stores and other forms of entertainment. Ximending, another well known shopping area in Taipei City, attracts teenagers and young adults, featuring many of the same attractions that can be found in Xinyi, and Taiwanese celebrities are known to hold several events in this area. These two shopping areas are fairly large and can be easily reached either by bus or the MRT subway system.
When night falls and if you are not too tired, take a stroll at the Shilin Night Market. Night markets are a unique part of Taiwanese culture and feature a variety of carnival games, small shops and local food. There is a wide selection of local food such as stinky tofu, bubble tea, oyster silk noodles, and salt and pepper fried chicken. They all taste delicious, although the stinky tofu is an acquired taste. A great thing about night markets is that everything there is cheap and affordable, so you can go shopping and eat your fill without emptying out your wallet. Popular foods include oyster omelets, tempura, fried chicken steak, stinky tofu, and, of course, everyone’s favorite--bubble tea.
Pictures: Above, Ximending shopping district. Right, Shilin Night Market. Picture Sources
http://k41.pbase.com/v3/97/503997/2/48312636.DSC_5045a.jpg http://farm1.static.flickr.com/88/277179741_50d91d80dc.jpg http://afxafx.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/chiang_kaishek_memorial.jpg http://www.nmazca.com/taipei/ximending1111.jpg http://www.president.gov.tw/en/prog/desktop_theme/big_pic/pi c_1130400188_348_604b1e794670cfed.jpg
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asianese Is the Weather Too Hot for School? Are You Staying Up in Binghamton for Summer Classes? Stay Cool with Asianese! by Victor Chan Translated by Victor Chan, Takuro Johnny Hotta, & Lali Ha
Korean It’s too hot for clothes. K:
. Oat ipgi nuhmoo dupdah. C:太热了, 连衣服都不用了. Tài rè le, lián yī fu doū bù yòng le. J:服着るには暑すぎる。 Fuku kiru ni wa atsu sugiru.
I wish I was that towel you’re using. K: . Ji-gum nehgah seugo itnun towelyiyeut seumyun jot getda. C:如果我是你在用的毛巾就好了. Rú guǒ wǒ shì nǐ zài yòng de máo jīn jiù hǎo le. J:君の使ってるタオルになりた い。 Kimi no tsukatteru taoru ni naritai.
Picture Source: http://www.mlewallpapers.com/image.php/id/WavesLapping-on-the-Beach-343.jpg
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Hands off, lover boy. This isn’t the Titanic.”
Get out of the sun. You look like a rotisserie chicken.
? . Yuhgiga Titanic-injool ahni? Koomdo kooji mah. C:帅哥, 别碰我. 这不是“ 泰坦尼 克.” Shuài gē, bié pèng wǒ. Zhè bú shì Tài tǎn ní kè. J:放しな、ナンパ野郎。タイタニ ックじゃないんだ Hanasina, nanpa yarou. Taitanikku jyanainda.
K:
You have sand in your pants. K: . Baji-eh morae deuruh gatsuh. C:你的裤子有沙. Nǐ de kù zi yǒu shā. J:ズボンに砂付いてるぞ。 Zubon ni suna tsuiteruzo.
Are you drowning? I’ll save you!
K:
.
Hetbit piheh itnun-gae jot getsuh. Jungi tongdak gatah. C:别晒太阳了. 你好像一只烤鸡. Bié shài tài yang liǎo. Nǐ hǎo xiàng yī zhī kǎo jī. J:太陽からでな。鳥の丸焼きみた いだぞ。 Taiyou kara dena. Tori no maru yaki mitai dazo.
K: 물 ? . Mooreh pajutni? Neh-ga dowa julkeh C:诶, 你淹水了? 我来救你! È, nǐ yān shuǐ le? Wǒ lái jiù nǐ! J:溺れてるのか？俺が助けてや る。 Oboreteru no ka? Ore ga tasukete yaru.
Math Puzzle: The Traveling Bird Consider a road with two cars, at a distance of 100 kilometers, driving towards each other. The left car drives at a speed of forty kilometers per hour and the right car at a speed of sixty kilometers per hour. A bird starts at the same location as the right car and flies at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour. When it reaches the left car it turns its direction, and when it reaches the right car it turns its direction again to the opposite, etcetera.
Solution: If you have written down a full paper of mathematical formulas, you haven’t been thinking in the right direction.It is obvious that the two cars meet each other after one hour. On that moment, the bird has flown for one hour. Conclusion: The bird has flown 80 km/h × 1 h = 80 km.
Math puzzle answer: Problem 156 Solution Consider the triangle formed by the following points: (1) Where a touches the circle on either end. (2) The center of a (3) The center of the circle The angle at (1) is obviously 30 degrees. Simple trigonometry will show the sides to be of lengths 1, 1/2, and sqr(3)/2. From here it can be seen that a=1/2 and b=sqr(3). Matchstick Puzzle
must cross a river with the two animals and the cabbage. There is a small rowing-boat, in which he can take only one thing with him at a time. If, however, the wolf and the goat are left alone, the wolf will eat the goat. If the goat and the cabbage are left alone, the goat will eat the cabbage. The Question: How can the man get across the river with the two animals and the cabbage? Solution: First, the man takes the goat across, leaving the wolf with the cabbage. Then he goes back. Next, he takes the wolf across. Then the man goes back, taking the goat with him. After this, he takes the cabbage across. Then he goes back again, leaving the wolf with the cabbage. Finally, he takes the goat across.
Answers to last issue puzzle.
Logic Puzzle: The Wolf, the Goat, and the Cabbage A man has a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage. He
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ぼくかおれ 自分はどちらか これ知りません
梢音・ビハリ
Someone's Watching Over Me [Verse] www.youtube.com/SHIFTtheMC I know its been a while, since you and I have last spoken But I’ll keep carrying on, until my backs broken I can’t stop, I won’t stop until the end I can’t pretend, this is the hardest that its ever been I’ve been waiting on my spaceship to land soon So I can board the shuttle, man the command booth Cuz once I’m strapped in, all set for blasting off This is your captain speaking and we're about to launch So start the countdown, everybody’s eyes on me I’m shooting past the stars, and that’s fine with me So come fly with me, the world is very scary You gotta face adversity, very necessary By Emil Carlo Rafol
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Worth The squeak the glass made with its own kind was deafening. It gave chills down his sweaty body, soaked in the product of nervousness, anticipation, and hope. His tale was to start here as he tapped his rubber soled foot upon the faded tiles that were once brilliantly colored white. He waved her over and she smiled, serving him another glass. Finally, the bastard came. Sporting a similar outfit to him, the bastard carried a cylindrical blue metal along with a clipboard of white papers wrecked with three holes, colored with red and blue lines. It seemed to tell his future, to laugh at his predicament, to enslave him to the decisions of the bastard. The bastard stuck out a dry hand, and smiled with the plastic mold of a Ken doll. The bastard gave a firm grip to him as if challenging his ability to use his other hand to form a fist across the bastard’s face. His heartbeat doubled tripled quadrupled exploded despite the dim quiet meeting place the bastard had chose for the torture. He gulped his drink, condensation washing the sweat off his hands, while thoughts stomped in an angry protest on his soft bulging brain ready to burst. “HELLO! Nice to meet... you...� barely broke the silence of the soft jazzy tempo in the background as his volume decreased to that squeak the glass made with its own kind. By Eric Siu
Buddha Photograph by Kari
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Kids and we shout, and our words crash against the frames of our houses, built with shifting bones from our parents’ backyard graveyards.
By Devek Singh
Red Wing Trail Photograph by Dennis Chen
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P**** [Verse] www.youtube.com/SHIFTtheMC I stay on beat cuz im keeping it fresh to death Plus im repping for the east till my very last breath I got love for New York and its 5 boroughs Live my life for today, we aren’t promised tomorrow Gotta keep the flow sharp or I might get cut so I push a black coupe where the hatch goes up I like to live the fast life, so I whip the ride Plus the tints so dark, can’t even see me inside I got the bass bumpin, and the speakers on blast For you hating mutherfuckas, y’all can kiss my ass I know you haters talk shit, and it makes me glad I must be doing something right, I got the gift of gab My crew stays stuntin, while everybody else just stays frontin 9-8-5 on this track, man it ain’t nothing Fuck the diamonds and jewels gimme a mic I can spit these flows cold, man just gimme a mic I love hip hop, already spit my soul on “Empty” Remember the name, they call me SHIFT the MC Forget the garbage sounds that you heard from other artists I bomb the hardest, all their yapping disregard it When I learned to drive stick I never burned the clutch But Ive been known to burn kids with every mic I clutch Cuz everytime I step on stage man I get this rush I’m addicted to this rap game, so pass the dutch Let’s blaze it up, hands in the air, tear the roof off You’ve never rocked crowd like me, you just get booed off You’ve never heard a sound like me, my rhymes are sleek Above the average kid, man just check the technique this shit is science, I kick it in the lab all day just formulating flows to make you bastards pay attention, im up like ascension Follow my lead, im coming back with a vengeance I used to be off course in the wrong direction So I went straight when I hit the intersection The path less traveled is where I spend my life Do or Die and Kanye West, I already “Paid The Price” By Emil Carlo Rafol asian outlook
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Photograph by Dennis Chen
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Photograph by Dennis Chen
Parting Gift From in-between places I will call up your face as it had been lit by distant dim artificial miniature stars I’ll see it as it was: as the drizzle ending a season of clouds It will unravel the tangled sky and cleave through grief just as ink slices paths across pages And I’ll continue to dream, as you should dream Because our dreams are not like limbs; where one is lost, a new one springs up Even the lost ones float on like dandelions’ seeds adrift on your breezes! By Devek Singh
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Photograph by Dennis Chen
Amazing [Verse] www.youtube.com/SHIFTtheMC I’m amazing, remarkable, astonishing Undervalued for growth, I’m where to put your dollars in Invest in me, SHIFT the MC Catch me sinking all the shots from the top of the key I’m just tryin to do me, so keep on doing what you gotta do You can look me up my flows defined next to phenomenal The odds are against me, but now I’m here to take that edge away I’ve been counting my cards, I’m betting that I’m here to stay Cuz I’m a king and all I need is an ace to play I put my money down, call it strategic paper chase I know my place; I’m telling you I’m unstoppable NONE of you are killing my dreams, IMPOSSIBLE
By Emil Carlo Rafol
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Photograph by Dennis Chen
Remember The Name www.youtube.com/SHIFTtheMC [Hook] Zip zilch nada, not a thing Comes close to the shit that we bring, it’s got a ring to it Meanwhile we’re unsigned, we gotta keep moving It’s just a matter of time before they see Who’s next in line, who’s next to shine Who’s tracks are fire, you can bet your life It’s SHIFT the MC remember the name So you can park that shit up on memory lane [Verse] You muthafuckas know me, better protect ya neck I slice words and twist minds the way my lines connect Y’all ain’t ready, I stay on beat and rhyme steady I’ve been trying to flood the streets, so I’m breaking the levies
And let the water flush you rodents out, drown the rats and vermin I grabbed the game by the throat, and now the game’s choking I’m done with playing these games, believe that I ain’t jokin I’m on my way to the top; I got a plan in motion Until I run these streets, I’m workin overtime My minds a fully loaded clip, ready to empty rhymes I’ll keep on making these hits until I’m signed and blow I’ll keep on rocking the mic and keep on rocking shows I don’t believe it fate, this is my destiny With every rhyme I write, I give the best of me My soul bleeds through the pen, I know y’all envy me Cuz I was born to rip mics, this is my pedigree
By Emil Carlo Rafol
April Showers Photograph by Dennis Chen
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Drawing by Fan Chen
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No limitation Today I soar Soar as high as I can To the beyond There is no limit I can be what I want So as I please and no on can Stop me but me. Anonymous
Taughannock Photograph by Kaming Cheung
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Much Love and Best of Luck to all the Graduating Seniors!!
Have a Great Vacation!!