NU Asian Magazine Fall 2013 by NU Asian Magazine

ISSUE 10, VOL. 1 FALL 2013

SIAN PI ALPHA PHI Have you met the brothers?

STAFF

Photography Director: Hannah Lin

Editor-in-Chief: Cheryl Wang

Assistant Photography Directors: Swasti Bajoria Lucy Wang

Managing Editor: Tony Kim Print Editors: Heather Budimulia Jeanne Kim Kevin Luong Denise Zou Writers: Austen Bhayani Rosalie Chan Chen Cheong Crystal Kim Elizabeth Kim Tony Kim Rohan Zhou-Lee Angela Lin Justina Lin Kay Liu Augustine Santillan Jeremy Seah Melissa Shin Xindi Song Nancy Wang Creative Director: Joanne Lee Design Team: Kay Liu Lisa Rhee

Special Thanks to the International Studies Department and Generation Progress

Photography Team: Lydia Chen Rosalie Chan Astrid Goh Katherine Yao Business Director: Emily Park Business Team: Saya Han Stacy Ni Susan Zha Jaclyn Zhou Denise Zou Web Director: Priyanka Mody Bloggers: Tony Kim Priyanka Mody Cheryl Wang Nancy Wang Denise Zou Publicity Director: Nancy Wang Publicity Team: Lydia Chen

SCHOOL Ani Ajith on comfort zone shock, mental health and toasted bagels • 2, 3 Tones and Tunes • 4, 5 Ni Hao, Yo Hablo spanol • 6, 7 Ethnic at Heart • 8 Volunteer in Chicago • 9 Brothers • 10, 11, 12, 13 INTERNATIONAL Hidden Citizens of Korea • 14, 15 Need Not Apply • 16, 17 From the Other Side of the Wall • 18, 19 Goodbye, Dad • 20, 21 POP CULTURE Evolution of the Beat • 22, 23 Ten Fantastic Films about Family • 24, 25 Serangoon Road: The World on One Street • 26, 27

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOOD Which Wing is King? • 28, 29 The Eight Tastes • 30, 31 Asian Cooking for the College Kid • 32, 33

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader, This issue marks the tenth anniversary of NU Asian’s creation. Beyond the physical copies of NU Asian’s older issues, I have very little evidence to give me a picture of the organization and its staff in years past. But in the three years I have personally been involved in NU Asian, I’ve seen it change as much as a real kid does between the ages of seven to ten. There have been growing pains—more than once, NU Asian has had to throw everything we thought we knew about being a student publication out the window and start over on our own terms. We have decided to create a magazine that is not just a few dozen pages of glossy paper but rather a process and a community fueled by relationships and mutual learning. And as much as I have been a part of creating NU Asian, NU Asian has also been creating me. I thought I was helping tell people’s stories, but as I have discovered, my role is actually to listen. I am the one who has had to have my assumptions lampooned, my judgements overturned and cut down to size. I am the one who has been taught to care about Northwestern through this publication. I’m sure I am not the only one NU Asian has touched this way. As we remember our beginnings and look back on how far we’ve come, we also celebrate the beginning of the Pi Alpha Phi fraternity, the focus of this issue’s cover story (Brothers, P. 10). Just as the members of NU Asian have pledged ourselves to each other and this publication, the members of Pi Alpha Phi have decided to commit to each other in brotherhood and have opened themselves up to the growth that comes with investing in others. Cheers to them, and may they find themselves rich with experience and wiser for the wear on their own tenth anniversary. As always, thanks to all the staff, contributors, and readers who keep this publication alive. Cheryl Wang Editor-in-Chief

Photos by Lucy Wang

ANI AJITH

Q&A WITH NU’S ASG PRESIDENT

on comfort zone shock, mental health and toasted bagels By Angela Lin

• How did you get involved in Associated Student Government (ASG)? One of the things that I was interested in coming into Northwestern was finding a community to call my own, not within Northwestern, but making Northwestern that community. I moved around a lot as a kid—I was born in India, spent some time in Vietnam, moved back to India, came back to US, moved back to India and came back to the US in 2002, so I really wanted a place, a home, to call my own when I came to Northwestern. I saw ASG as a way to get more involved in the NU community. I saw it as a way to connect with students across campus and to do what I was passionate about, which was making sure people around me had an amazing experience. I started as a senator representing CRC, ISRC and Jones. I saw my 100 peers getting involved in plays, a cappella groups, making movies, and my first thought was, I wanted to support them on these talents. I don’t necessarily have these talents, but I could advocate for them and speak on their behalf in front of other students, administrators, faculty and improve their Northwestern experience so they could in turn enrich mine. My way of contributing was by representing them. • How has your Asian-American background affected your goals and intentions as ASG president? I think [it’s had] a huge impact. Everyone’s background does. You see their pasts and experiences translated into what they do today, and that’s been an important part of my role as ASG president—understanding where my peers are coming from while never forgetting where I came from, where I come from. My experiences as an Indian have really affected my campaign—our tagline is “linking perspectives.” The point of that isn’t to come out and take a whole bunch of stances on culture and opinions, but it’s about understanding. It’s about going beyond tolerance and getting to actual compassion. Going beyond skin color and understanding how culture translates into a person’s way of life and their Northwestern experience. If we can have equal respect for others’ experiences and perspectives, then it will enrich our experiences too. I wouldn’t categorize myself as an Asian-American, but really Asian and American. Anybody can claim to be American—when you embrace these core American ideals, then you’re considered American. But, that said, my Indian citizenship is a testament that Northwestern is an international school. I really feel I have cultural facets that tie in with the school. But really, the things that we are receiving at NU are coming from each other: faculty, friends and administration. We have to understand cultural nuances and ask ourselves how we can we broaden our perspectives to include others.

Reaching out to international students is also incredibly important to me: making sure to include them in the Northwestern experience, and making sure that their Northwestern experience overlaps with everyone else’s. It’s more than just an educational transition for them. It’s a cultural transition. • How did you deal with the culture shock when you moved to America? It’s more about comfort zone shock, not culture shock. There were so funny anecdotes on this though. For example: Homecoming. It took me awhile to understand who was coming home. Why are we having a football game? Who’s in this parade? These things were so foreign to me. I didn’t understand it. At the time, I didn’t really listen to that much American music. I did my own thing, read my own books, didn’t watch American TV. I remember asking myself, “Why should I be going to the football game?” However, for someone who hasn’t been raised around football culture, understanding what role that plays in someone’s life is important. It’s been a journey, this type of assimilation. It’s really about asking, “How do I understand these aspects without losing my own culture?” For example, there’s no Thanksgiving in India, but how do I make Thanksgiving part of my life here without losing touch of traditional Indian festivals at the same time? How do we celebrate the culture here while also embracing and immersing ourselves in other people’s cultures? • What does a typical day look like to you? Well, ideally it starts out with bagels, chocolate chip with honey-almond schmear, toasted, followed by meetings with students, ASG members, and meeting with administration—anywhere from 5-10 meetings a day, plus classes somewhere along the way. What’s important though is that ASG is only as busy as we want to be. I enjoy what I do. Alex, the [Executive] Vice President, enjoys what he does. There’s a personal and professional satisfaction. • What’s an issue that ASG is paying particular attention to this year? Mental health is extremely important. It goes beyond mental illness. It’s about resilience, health, taking care of each other, yourself, while maintaining diversity and inclusiveness. It’s about asking, “How do we interact with and understand people that are fighting different battles from us?” We’re all fighting a battle, but how do we include everyone who might be struggling with different things that we’re struggling with? • What are your goals after college? I just want to absorb, learn and understand as a 21-yearold. I’m not a highly skilled individual, I just have a potential and some skills. I plan to continue with serving the public, serving each other.

TONES AND TUNES David Harris’ Journey from McCormick to the Stages of China’s Biggest Singing Competitions To most people, the pairing of engineering and Chinese might not come to mind as readily as mac and cheese or peanut butter and jelly. However, for David Harris, a senior who has taken many Chinese classes despite being an industrial engineering major, the choice made sense, especially as China’s growing presence in the world has made learning Chinese a useful skill to have. “Definitely the reason that I get hired is because of my engineering background, but the reason why people take a second look is because of my language background,” Harris said. The first time Harris studied abroad in the summer of 2012, he worked part-time as an energy analyst intern at the US Department of Energy with the US Embassy in Beijing. For the most part, he researched different topics in the field of energy and their applications for both China and the U.S. While the job mostly relied on his technical background as an engineer, he was also able to use some of his Chinese skills when conducting his research. In the spring of 2013, Harris’ Chinese language skills came in handy again while working for General Electric (GE). Although he was based in Houston, Harris was able to work on projects that involved Chinese companies due to his Chinese-language back-

Harris gets ready with hair and makeup before heading on stage. ground, benefiting both GE and the Chinese companies. “I chose Chinese because [China’s economy] is growing incredibly fast and it’s a really important relationship for the US [to have],” Harris said. “But also, I really enjoy languages. While I wanted to study engineering, which is a hard skill, I

also wanted to do something that was fun, and that was Chinese.” David has certainly had his share of fun breaking into the entertainment industry in China. Harris has made appearances on multiple Chinese TV shows, speaking and singing in Chinese. Just this October, he traveled back

to China to compete on the China Central Television (CCTV) show Xing Guang Da Dao (or Avenue of Stars), an “American Idol”-like show. The first time Harris auditioned for a show was a year ago. His neighbor was auditioning and asked him to go for moral support. “I didn’t really know what to expect, but there were thousands of people there…and we ended up making it, which was crazy. It was a one-in-a-million chance, or one in 1.4-billion [chance],” he jokingly corrects. “I was just having fun; I didn’t actually expect to make it.” In total, Harris has traveled to Mainland China three times and to Hong Kong and Taiwan once each. The extent of his Chinese studies is the equivalent of four and a half years of formal study, including both classes at Northwestern and

studying abroad. In 2012, Harris studied abroad with a language-intensive program at Beijing Foreign Studies University. This summer, he returned to China on the Critical Language Scholarship to study advanced Chinese in Qingdao, China. Furthermore, unlike many tourists who go to foreign countries, Harris spent some time living with a host family, the same family of the friend with whom he auditioned for Xing Guang Da Dao, learning more about their lifestyle. The family consisted of Harris’ friend, his mother and father, who lived in a modest, two-room house in Beijing. The four of them spent every day together: Harris helped the family with their food vending stand, played guitar with his friend and ate meals together with the family. “We would just do everything together. It was so cool to become

integrated in their family life like that…to become part of the family and see what their day-to-day life [was] like,” Harris said. From jobs and internships to spots on the biggest stages in China’s entertainment industry, learning a new language and culture has provided Harris with many opportunities. He said,“When you actually start learning the language and dive deep in the culture and have to know what’s going on behind the scenes, the structure [of the world] you had, the way you organized the world around you, just gets blown apart and you have to build something completely new because everything that you see is so different.” By Kay Liu

Harris demonstrates his newly learned culinary skills from living with his Chinese family on air.

Photos courtsey of David Harris

“

Hi, I’m Asian. I have an Asian face, an Asian name, and the reason I’m teaching you Spanish is because I grew up in Honduras.”

你好,

yo hab lo espa ñol By Melissa Shin

THIS ASIAN PROFESSOR MAY BE THE BEST SPANISH TEACHER YOU’VE EVER HAD Cringing with embarrassment, Chyi Chung was forced to change her sushi order a total of three times because her husband just couldn’t make up his mind about what kind of fish he was craving for dinner. Exasperated by the fickleness of the customer, the Mexican sushi chef said a few choice words in his native language. What the chef did not expect was for this petite Asian lady to understand exactly what he had just said. The extremely awkward moment when he realized this, he profusely stammered out his apologies. However, Chung kindly brushed his harsh words off,

HELLO 6

and the two began a friendly chitchat about Mexico. Just as the sushi chef came to realize, there’s more to Chyi Chung, a Spanish professor at Northwestern, than meets the eye. “I always say that in me, the East meets the West,” she said while explaining her unusual upbringing. At four years old she moved from Taiwan to Honduras when her dad secured a job as a diplomat. She only returned to Taiwan twelve years later because her parents discovered Chung had started to identify herself as a Honduran rather than as a Taiwanese.

你好 nǐ hǎo

By then, Spanish had already wormed its way into a very special place in Chung’s heart. She chose to study the language as an undergraduate at Tamkang University, located in Taiwan. She then made up her mind to move to Spain to further study the language. She had everything ready when her then boyfriend, now husband, muddled up her carefully constructed plans. He needed to serve two years in the military, so he hoped Chung would study in Taiwan and wait for him. They met their freshman year of college, and after four years of dating, he wasn’t willing to let her

HOLA

out of his grasp. She agreed to patiently wait for him. She obtained her master’s degree in Latin American Studies at the same university with the full intention of going to Spain to obtain her Ph.D when her boyfriend returned only to jumble up her plans again. He asked, “How about you marry me and we go to the U.S. for a honeymoon instead?” Chung jokingly explained how they’ve been here for 20 years now, still on their “honeymoon.” Chung then attended Loyola University for another master’s degree before she applied to teach at Northwestern. Teaching has now become routine for Chung; every first day of class, she introduces herself: “Hi, I’m Asian. I have an

Asian face, an Asian name, and the reason I’m teaching you Spanish is because I grew up in Honduras.” She doesn’t think her students are concerned that an Asian is teaching them the Spanish language, thanks to her great evaluations on CTECs. Personally, Chung said she believes her background benefits her teaching. In Honduras, she had been stuck in a classroom filled with people speaking an unfamiliar language, so she truly understands when her students express how difficult it is to learn another language. She therefore tries to make the learning experience engaging by using innovative teaching methods like incorporating iPads into the coursework. She says she is al-

ways looking for ways to improve because teaching is her passion. Chung loves to tell her students, “Learning a language is only the beginning to the whole package behind that; it’s like opening another door, not only to another culture but to new people, so you can feel like you’re one of them.” She knows a lot of her students are there to fulfill requirements, but she works hard to convey the wonders of learning a language to them. She constantly reminds them that the benefits of learning Spanish include gaining 400 million friends. For Chung, influencing even just one person to fall in love with her native language is the most rewarding aspect of teaching at Northwestern.

Photo by Hannah Lin

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY ASIAN ETHNIC SPECIFIC CLUBS AT NU? The subdivision of the Asian community on campus line and said in his Q&A speech that a “Pan-Asian identihas long been an unstated fact, and the numbers are tell- ty is a very American-centric notion.” Similarly, Podlipni ing: there are 12 Asian and Asian-American ethnic inter- pointed towards an expectation of identification present est groups at NU, counting strictly undergraduate groups in American culture which might not fit the personally dedicated to a specific ethnicity without any additional fo- formed identities of Northwestern’s students. cus (Greek, performance-based, religious, etc). Compare Certain aspects of communities based on ethnicity may this number to only one African-American ethnic specific better cater to students’ identities and experiences. Cinthya interest group, no Hispanic ethnic specific interest groups Rodríguez, a Weinberg sophomore and Alianza’s first ever and five Caucasian ethnic specific interest groups, and activism coordinator, joined as soon as she got to camthe emphasis on ethnic identity within the Northwestern pus to continue making a difference for Chicago Latinos Asian community becomes apparent. through community organization. Along the way, she has As the outreach chair of Asian Pacific American Co- observed the inherent challenges of bringing so many difalition (APAC), Northwestern’s Asian political organiza- ferent cultures and ethnicities under one umbrella. tion, Kenny Mok, a Weinberg sophomore, is tasked with “It’s hard because the Latino community comes from so bringing the numerous Asian interest groups on campus many different parts of the country and so many different together and has started off his tenure by attending the backgrounds and experiences… we have differences and general meetings of each group to raise awareness we want to celebrate them, so it’s been a struggle for differabout APAC. When asked why there are ent groups. In Alianza, everyone has their own so many ethnic specific Asian groups, background, so who on the board is from Mok replied, “The core of it is that where affects programming and what students identify themselves with countries are we talking about when their ethnicity first (Chinese, we have events. Right now, there’s By Augustine Santillan Taiwanese, Filipino) instead no specific organization for each of as Asian-American first. country, and that’s definitely difThe quality of the cultural ferent from the Asian commugroups here are great, and nity.” they really provide a sense However, these struggles of community and home aside, Cinthya noted, “What’s to a lot of students. Howevmade me stay in Alianza is the er, there’s a lack of identity importance of building comas Asian-American in this munity in general. That’s a form country and the social and of organizing and activism, and political obstacles that we face, through the social, cultural and there’s kind of a lack of awareness educational programming we put on, on this campus.” there’s an important need to build comPeter Podlipni (SESP ‘15), the presimunity and have relationships with each dent of NU’s Polish American Students Assoother. Alianza is a place where we’re able to build ciation (PASA), has a similar relationship to his ethnic community with each other and other groups as well.” identity. His story is a familiar one: having grown up in a Mok is in agreement with Cinthya about the imporPolish neighborhood of Chicago, he joined PASA in order tance of a larger, overarching sense of community and sees to continue that connection to his home culture and stayed potential benefits in cultivating this community among with the group because of the unique sense of community Asian-Americans through their respective groups. APAC and shared experience found among fellow Polish-Amer- began in 1991 as a literal umbrella organization under the icans. name Asian American Advisory Board, and Mok cites A recent PASA discussion allowed Podlipni to contem- a desire to return to that level of togetherness as one of plate the meaning of whiteness and Polishness in the con- APAC’s top priorities moving forward. text of modern America, and he noted that checking the Mok views collaborative events as one of the biggest arbox as white or Asian means a lot more here in America eas of both current improvement and future potential, and than it does in Europe, where people are more careful to asserts, “True collaboration does not mean a collaborative identify different individual ethnicities—just as Asians do event: it means forming relationships. Doing an event can both here and back in their homelands. be really collaborative if it’s something both groups think Rohan Zhou-Lee, an alumnus who won APAC’s 2013 through and care about and have a real goal of what they’re Mr. Panasia pageant and talent show, spoke along the same trying to achieve on campus together.”

ETHNIC AT HEART

VOLUNTEER IN CHICAGO Get involved in ethnic community centers around the city

Vietnamese Association of Illinois ESL Program— Students participating in the Adult ESL/Literacy Program will be mainly working with Vietnamese refugees and immigrants who have limited English speaking skills. Developing their English skills will help students, most of whom are first-generation refugees or immigrants, to become economically independent as their education and occupations depend on these skills. A Vietnamese Association of Illinois Required Skills/Commitment: Adult ESL/Literacy P • Fluency in English 5110 N. Broadway Ave. P • Attend 12-hour ESL training & On-going training Chicago, Il 60640 Contact: 773-728-3700 • Commitment of two hours/week L

Email: sarah.themel@hnvi.org

Chinese-American Museum of Chicago Museum Committees: Volunteer opportunities include exhibit preparation, event planning, translation and transcribing services, and gallery sitting. The museum is currently running numerous projects to promote the culture and history of Chinese-Americans in the Midwest. Required Skills/Commitment: Contact: Anita Luk (312-949-1000) Email: office@ccamuseum.org • Fluency in English and Chinese for translation/transcription services

Chinese Mutual Aid Association ESL Volunteering: The DEWD literacy program includes tutoring an adult immigrant in English one-on-one. Required Skills/Commitment: • 12-hour training (paid by agency) Contact: Connie (773-784-2900) Email: Volunteer@chinesemutualaid.org • 2 hours per week; 6 months minimum commitment

Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago Volunteer Opportunities: Some of the volunteer opportunities include fundraising, marketing and public relations. FAHSC is a cultural institution aiming to promote Filipino American history and Philippine heritage. No Requirements Listed Contact: 773-947-8689

Email: fahschicago@gmail.com

Japanese American Service Committee Adult Day Services: Volunteers will help out with and occasionally lead activities such as Bingo, arts and crafts and physical exercise for the elderly. Other services could include just having a conversation with them. Required Skills/Commitment: Contact: Adult Day Services Coordinator • Times for volunteering: Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. (773-275-7212 ext. 39)

Indo-American Center Aid for Immigrants: Some volunteer opportunities include aiding limited English speakers, job seekers and people applying for citizenship. Required Skills/Commitment: Contact: 773-973-4444 Email: info@indoamerican.org • Fluency in English

Korean American Resource and Cultural Center Volunteer Opportunities: Some of these opportunities include administration assistance, fundraising activity, outreach and network, youth program assistances, cultural program assistance, non-partisan election activities, citizenship workshop and adult English class assistance. www.chicagokrcc.org/en/volunteers.htm Required Skills/Commitments: • Fluency in English • Fluency in Korean (for some volunteer work) By Tony Kim

BROTH Northwestern finally has an Asian-American fraternity on campus again. 10

HERS Photo by Lucy Wang

NU PI ALPHA PHI SUPERLATIVES MICHAEL CHEN KEVIN HUANG Most Bromantic

Most likely to save the world

DING WANG Ladies’ man

uring Weinberg junior Michael Choi’s freshman year, he and many of his friends initially considered the existing Greek life on campus a rich element of the Northwestern community. However, after getting involved in the Interfraternity Council (IFC) scene both fall and winter quarter, Choi did not find the present system satisfying. “I felt I wouldn’t fit in as well,” Choi said. “I thought that I would have the better opportunity to grow as an individual and mature more, develop more personal skills if I try something new.” Little did Choi know back then that this spark would lead him to become part of a group of students who chartered a new chapter of an Asian-American interest fraternity, Pi Alpha Phi. Ever since the Northwestern chapter of Lambda Phi Epsilon—the only Asian-American interest fraternity on campus at the time—was suspended for four years in 2007 due to hazing rule violations, the lack of Asian-American males participating in the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) was overlooked. Even in the spring of 2011, another group of freshmen tried to start a chapter of Pi Delta Psi, but the initiation process proved to be too challenging. However, after finding 12 other freshmen Asian students who shared similar experiences with Greek life, Choi and his friends decided to take up the challenge. “We thought this was a great opportunity for us to expand and do something awesome,” Choi said.“Maybe even leave a legacy.”

By the end of the 2012 winter quarter, the 13 freshmen went out of their way to research various Asian-American interest Greek organizations in the nation. They realized they wanted to look for a fraternity that would not only be a good fit for them but also for the Northwestern community, and this is how they decided to contact the national board of Pi Alpha Phi, an Asian-American interest fraternity founded in 1929. “Compared to other fraternities, there was a huge emphasis on brotherhood and the bettering of raising Asian culture awareness in Pi Alpha Phi,” Choi said. “We really liked that and it was something we wanted to bring to Northwestern.” The process of initiation was a yearlong procedure involving joint effort from different interest groups, Northwestern University Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life (OFSL) and the national board of Pi Alpha Phi. Although the process took longer than they had anticipated, the brothers were grateful for the end result. “The national board of Pi Alpha Phi was very helpful,” said Weinberg junior Chen Lu, Pi Alpha Phi’s recruitment chair. “We had three to four alumni in the Chicago area came to interview us. We were also connected to chapters in the Midwest.” The Northwestern chapter of Pi Alpha Phi was officially established in the spring of 2013 with nine founding brothers. “We went through a lot of struggles fall of sophomore year,” said Weinberg junior Alan Ge, president

MIKE CHOI Most charismatic

SAEROME KIM Toughest ALAN GE Toughest

CHEN LU

“Most” athletic & “Best” body

BRYAN HUANG Most likely to make you laugh in a serious moment

Photos by Lucy Wang

By Nancy Wang of Pi Alpha Phi. “We weren’t sure Pi Alpha Phi was going to follow through.” “The hardest thing was believing in the cause,” said Choi, the vice president of the chapter. “Is an Asian interest fraternity necessary? Does it bring anything different than any different organizations on campus whether it’s culture groups or such? When it isn’t clear, you started asking yourself is it worth it?” With 46 chapters of fraternities and sororities prior to Pi Alpha Phi’s establishment— eight of which were Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) chapters— students had questioned whether it was necessary to establish an Asian-American interest fraternity. According to statistics from Greek councils, MGC chapters, which usually maintain between 4 to 20 active members, are smaller compared to IFC chapters, which have up to 124 members. Lu said he found it more difficult to be close to everyone in a fraternity with up to 100 members. “It’s much easier to get to know all the brothers and come together as a community,” Ge said of Pi Alpha Phi. “You really feel that level of trust, loyalty and companionship.” Promoting the values of brotherhood, the charter class has spread its influence into various realms of the Asian-American community on campus, hoping to unite the fragmented Asian-American community. “I think all these student culture groups are very localized in terms of ethnicity instead of a broader, larger Asian mindset,” said Weinberg sophomore

Ding Wang, who is Pi Alphi Phi’s philanthropy chair, NUSAF’s social chair and one of TASC’s freshmen executive. “I think it is important that there is solidarity within the Asian community itself.” Coming from four different Asian and Asian-American cultures—Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and Singaporean—and being actively involved in more than six cultural groups including the Chinese Student Association (CSA), Korean American Student Association (KASA) and the Taiwanese American Student Club (TASC), the brothers hoped to bring a different dynamic to the Asian-American culture on campus. To achieve the idea of bringing the Asian-American community together, Pi Alpha Phi has participated in several initiatives on campus this year including a joint event with Asian Pacific American Coalition, Kappa Phi Lambda and Sigma Psi Zeta. The event included a screening of “Vincent Who?”, a documentary on the controversial murder of 27-year-old Chinese-American Vincent Chin, and a talk with the director afterwards. According to the president, Pi Alpha Phi is in the process of bringing similar events and philanthropy activities to campus. “We hope to establish a long lasting relationship with an Asian-American interest nonprofit organization very soon,” said Ge, who is hopeful about growing a strong and influential chapter at Northwestern. “We are here to do philanthropy and bring brotherhood. We made Pi Alpha Phi to bridge the connections and benefit the community as a whole.”

HIDDEN CITIZENS OF KOREA

By Rohan Zhou-Lee

Uncovering the LGBT community in South Korea In the Itaewon neighborhood of South Korea, fashion and art thrive together during the day. In the nighttime, many men travel there in secret and a series of bars transform into Gay Hill. An LGBT lifestyle, previously untenable in public South Korea, is gaining in social acceptance. “Gay life has a history of secrecy,” says Sunny Kang, a Medill senior and an ally to the LGBT community. “Korea is socially and culturally conservative… [Being openly gay] can even prevent you from getting a job.” Yet the growing visibility of LGBT issues in popular media has pushed many South Koreans to explore their sexual identities. Investigating this large yet hidden part of the Korean community, Kang was viewed with distrust as she went to Gay Hill to research this issue. “They’re afraid of exposure,” Kang explained. “Bad press as well. Documentaries have been made, but in a bad light.” “It’s just really well hidden,” agrees Unni Kim, who keeps her queer identity a secret from her Korean friends. “Korea is more like a huge conservative country. Sex was really taboo so we just never question it, but then suddenly you have these representations, more or less incorrect: gay characters

in the media and you like see these LGBT issues abroad, usually in the U.S.… you realize the gay community is actually bigger than you think it’d be in Korea.” In September of this year, Director Kim Jho Gwang-soo, known for his LGBT films, took a bold step by marrying his male partner of nine years, Kim Seung-hwan, in a public ceremony in Gwanghwamun, a financial district and popular tourist destination. With broadcasts across the world, the two-hour ceremony included a red carpet, 1000 guests and citizens, a vocal duet between the two, lots of applause and unfortunately, lots of protest. During the process, many conservative groups had appeared—a man even forced his way onstage, proclaiming that what they were doing was sin, and another threw feces at them. The couple is developing a human rights center with the congratulatory wedding money given them. Their marriage, however, still remains unrecognized by the government. Controversial media coverage of the wedding follows a trend in greater LGBT publicity. In the news, a Ugandan was granted asylum into South Korea in May 2013, although her petition was

initially denied in 2011; she had fled her homeland when neighbors killed her family because of her sexuality. In regards to film, A Frozen Flower (2008) dramatizes the life of King Gongmin of ancient Goryeo, who took a male bodyguard for a lover during the Koryo dynasty from 918-1392. Likewise, No Regret (2006) has become a staple in LGBT Korean cinema, which tells a love story between a male art student-turned high end sex worker and a businessman. Political support for LGBT rights is growing as well. In a recent 2013 poll, approximately 39 percent of Koreans supported same sex marriage, although most of the support came from the youth. However, there is constant pressure on younger generations to conform, deterring the youth from expressing their support for LGBT couples because family approval is a large part of Korean

identity. “You’re more a part of society. Your family is important [and] self-identity is community based,” says Kang. “They discourage [LGBT people] from being different. My mom even told me being normal is the best thing.” Despite pressure to be normal, the Kims have created media coverage that was somewhat positive for the first time, something that Korean news has “never experienced,” according to Kang. With increasingly positive publicity for LGBT Koreans, the newlyweds have sparked discussion that may one day welcome people like the men of Gay Hill into the rest of the community. “All I want for Korea is for people to understand that differences are fine,” says Kang. “[But] people are afraid to be different… [to be] the nail sticking out of the norm.”

*Unni Kim is a pseudonym.

Photo by Lucy Wang

NEED NOT is very different than in Thailand. We don’t really put emphasis on networking, and people don’t aggressively look for jobs until they actually graduate.” Ruchirawat further explained, “I think it’s fair that they have more restrictions on us. I mean they would want their citizens to have jobs before they support internationals.” Regardless of the U.S. job market, incentives to work in Asia are increasing in their own right. Motasem Kalaji, an NU alumnus and international student from Jordan, said, “I work in Doha, Qatar. There is more money [in Qatar] and more opportunities for recent graduates.” Ruchirawat added, “Personally, I’m more interested in Asia. I see more growing opportunities in the emerging markets.” Throughout the global economic crisis, Asian markets have still flourished economically. Despite a slowdown in growth, the World Bank demonstrates that Asia contributes to 40 percent of world growth, and searching for employment in Asian countries is an alluring alternative to the disadvantages for international students of the American job market. Kalaji asserted, “It’s not that good of an idea, of course, [to work in America] as unemployment is high there and there is high competition for jobs.” With all the negativity surrounding the U.S. job market, why do international students decide to stay? As an international student looking for employ“I do think working here will give me a lot of good ment outside America, Nicha Ruchirawat said, “It’s a experiences to apply [for jobs],” Ruchirawat said, relittle confusing and intimidating because the process flecting on American job opportunities. “I think peoWhile the job hunt is difficult for many college graduates, the struggle to enter the U.S. work force may be even harder for international students. For U.S. citizens the application process involves presenting a driver’s license and a social security number. For international students, however, employers have fill out the Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, and companies could potentially spend thousands of dollars to support their non-immigrant visa sponsorship. Hanchen Wang, recently hired by Goldman Sachs, explains that to hire non-U.S. citizens, companies must sponsor them for a visa. By this measure, these companies may spend $10,000 a year for immigration and law support, which is significant for two reasons. Firstly, Wang believes that these extra requirements set the bar a lot higher for international students because the employers will screen them more stringently to guarantee that they are getting the most out of their hire. Secondly, he explained that obtaining internships is also more difficult. “Our negotiating power is certainly limited by the fact that, for us, our priority is the authorization to work,” Wang said. “There is very little way for us to say, ‘No.’ We can’t really negotiate for pay, and we don’t have much power in negotiating for compensation and benefits.”

•

APPLY

Why the American Dream isn’t for international students

Photo by Hannah Lin

ple here are very capable and very good to learn from.” Kalaji said, “I see myself moving [to America] sometime in the future to pursue post graduate education. The field I am interested in—research, academia and media—is more developed [in the U.S.] than here [in Jordan].” Wang further stated, “Opportunities are much

more available once you get a job in the states.” For some non-U.S. citizens, like Wang, work awaits them after graduation. However, the U.S. might be inadvertently harming its own economy by creating barriers to hiring international students and turning away talented individuals. By Rohan Zhou-Lee

Top10

Culture Shocks By Justina Lin

FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL

1.35 billion people. 250 dialects and languages. 56 ethnic groups. With an area encompassing over 9,569,901 sq km of area, China is a vast and diverse country with a myriad of cultures and people groups. As with any country, people traveling to China for the first time often arrive with their own ideas about what they will encounter, only to be soundly surprised. Weinberg senior Samuel Ide encountered this first-hand during his one-year stay in China. In the course of the year, Ide visited over 13 provinces, traveling and exploring various cultures. In the process of meeting people and living with them, he was able to test, prove and even debunk some of his personal preconceptions about the culture. Here are his top ten:

1 2 3 18

All of China is polluted. (FALSE) Beijing and Shanghai are definitely polluted, but I traveled to a lot of places that weren’t and saw some really beautiful natural scenery. Zhangjiajie National Park in Hunan province, the city of Kunming in Yunnan province, anywhere in Tibet or Xinjiang and pretty much any rural area have so much natural beauty.

Chinese people will understand my Chinese. (FALSE) Going to China you realize how important tones are when speaking Chinese! I would say the right words but not use the right tones, so it took me awhile to adjust to this.

I’ve had Chinese food in America, so I’ve had Chinese food. (FALSE) Chinese food in actual China is a lot different from Chinese food in America, and it is so good! I don’t know whether it’s a difference in ingredients or preparation, but even Chinese food in America made by Chinese immigrants doesn’t quite taste the same to me as Chinese food in China.

4 5

You can’t go on Facebook or Google. (FALSE)

6 7 8

Chinese people don’t play sports. (FALSE)

Chinese people don’t speak English (DEPENDS)

Virtual Private Network (VPN) is beautiful and not terribly difficult to access in China. I would constantly get Facebook chats from people asking, “How are you on Facebook? Are you back in America?” Nope, I just connected to the Internet, like most foreigners in China.

Foreigners stick out everywhere, all the time. (MOSTLY TRUE) In 98 percent of China, foreigners definitely stick out, and in some places they are actually marveled at. But Beijing (and Shanghai from what I’ve heard) has a large enough population of Lǎowài 老外 (foreigners) that I wasn’t constantly gawked at when going about my daily life. Admittedly around tourist sites and outside of Beijing, I was definitely a big deal (so many cell phone paparazzi).

As a tall, somewhat athletic young person, I cannot begin to describe how humbling it was to be thoroughly beaten in badminton by an old guy with gray hair and a bad back.

You’re on your own if you want a taste of home. (FALSE) There are many KFCs, McDonalds and even Starbucks throughout China. Even in less urban cities, the chances of seeing a KFC are high.

My Chinese is good for a foreigner. (FALSE) My Chinese is good compared to students who only study it in the U.S. for a similar amount of time as myself. At Northwestern I studied Chinese my first two years, and also focused my political science major towards studying China and the broader Asia region. Junior year I studied abroad the entire year. First was during the summer on the IPD Northwestern-Peking University “Beijing: Political and Economic development” program. Then I stayed for the academic year at Beijing Foreign Studies University on the IES Beijing: Language Intensive program. However, meeting foreigners in China who have lived or worked in China for an extended amount of time, I realized that my Chinese had so much farther to go, but also could reach an incredibly high level.

I heard very mixed things about Chinese speaking English before I went to China. Chinese students have to learn English as part of the entrance exam (gaokao) and start to learn it at a young age. In my experience though, some Chinese university students will be able to speak a little bit of English, and some of my Chinese friends had astoundingly good English. Usually the older the Chinese person, the less likely he or she is to speak English. This also depends on whether you’re in a large urban area with universities, where there are more people fluent in Chinese, or in rural areas.

Chinese people have a low alcohol tolerance. (FALSE) One word: baijiu.

Ide studied at Peking University in June of 2012 and continued his Chinese language studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University that following semester.

GOODBYE, The not so uncommon Korean phenomenon of growing up without a father By Elizabeth Kim

When I was eight years old, my family moved from Korea to Canada where my mother was a visiting professor at a university hospital. What had originally started as a six-month stay extended into one year, three years and then finally six years. During these six years, my mother, brother and I lived comfortably in Canada, while my father remained in Seoul, Korea to work. He split his time between the one-room apartment in the city and our home in Canada thousands of miles and dollars away. In other words, he was a “goose father.” “Goose father” describes a dad who sends his children and wife abroad while he remains in Korea to work. The goose analogy comes from the father’s act of flying back

and forth between Korea and the family’s new home, much like geese migrating during the autumn and spring. Over 200,000 goose fathers live in Korea today, typically earning most of the household income. The majority of parents make this difficult decision in order for their children to receive a higher education in foreign countries. The phenomenon arose over the past few years due to the dramatic increase of Korean immigrants in America, Canada, New Zealand, England, Australia, and more recently, China, Singapore and Hong Kong. Different terms have sprung out of the original “goose father” to fit the variations of family circumstances. The first is the “eagle dad,” who is able to travel between

the two countries frequently. Like the eagle, the eagle dad is powerful and has money. In comparison, the “penguin dad” cannot afford to visit his family often due to limited finances and is restrained to Korea like a penguin that cannot fly. Within Korea also exists “sparrow dads,” fathers who send their families to small studio apartments in Gangnam because they cannot afford to send them abroad. The fathers who rent out apartments in Daechi-dong, where the famous elementary schools are located, are called “daejeondong dads.” Countless South Korean families are impacted by this phenomenon. Each experience varies by individual, depending on the length of the experience, personal emo-

DAD tions and individual circumstances. I cannot speak for all the children of goose fathers; however, I can offer my perspective. Having a goose father at such a young age was definitely not a positive experience, and I can remember feeling the loneliness and confusion each time my father came and went. The six years created irreversible distances within my family. My father became a visitor, albeit a most welcome guest, in his own home and among his own family members. Even now, with my family reunited in Korea, I still feel the emotional separation stemming from my experience with my goose father, and I remain silent, unable to communicate freely with my very own parent. On the other hand, having a goose father taught me to cherish every single moment with my family. I was fortunate enough to have my fa-

ther visit often, and we would take family trips around Canada and down to the United States. With each trip, I became more cognizant of how precious having the entire family together was and tried to preserve the warmth within my heart of seeing my family function as one unit. Still, family remains a puzzle to me, as I am sure it does for many others. Even now, when I know how rare it is for my family to be together, physically and emotionally, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop myself from acting immaturely around them and complaining to my parents. In a way, I am trying to make up for all the lost emotions of my childhood. I wanted my father to be there when I was struggling in school and to come to my recitals with my mother and brother. I wanted my father to mediate the tense moments within my family, like when my brother and I fought. I wanted my fa-

ther to give me a sense of direction in times when I questioned my identity. Overall the goose father experience was a bittersweet one that taught me to genuinely value family through times of hardship. Up to now, goose fathers have primarily been a South Korean phenomenon. However, the phenomenon is spreading to other cultures around the world, and I am certain goose fathers and goose mothers exist all over the globe. I do not intend to discourage goose fathers from working worlds apart to allow their children to pursue higher education in a foreign country; the intentions are noble enough. The goose father phenomenon is like a magnet; it can push and pull your family in all sorts of directions; but when the charges align, the family comes together in perfect harmony.

Photo by Jamie Taylor

EVOLUTION OF THE

BEAT

By Austen Bhayani

The rise of Japanese Hip-Hop

Hip-hop. It has moved from sidewalk corners to million dollar arenas, transforming from an underground movement to the dominant genre in contemporary music. From the corners of African-American communities to center stage in the American music world, hip-hop has even made its way to Japan. Hip-hop moved to Japan through hit American songs and movies that were exported around the world. Professor Ian Condry, an M.I.T. professor of Cultural Studies with a focus on Japanese culture, said, “Hit songs, like Rapper’s Delight in 1979, [were played] in discos and clubs where [the] Japanese got to hear rap music.” Along with the influence of hip-hop music came the spread of hip-hop culture: break-dancing, graffiti art, rapping and deejaying.

CHECK OUT 22

Early Pioneers of J-Rap DJ Crush Dabo

Underground J-Rappers

Shingo Nishinara Tha Blue Herb (Members: Ill-Bosstino aka Boss the M.C., O.N.O., DJ Dye)

Popular Japanese Rappers/Rap Groups

King Giddra (Members: Zeebra, K Dub Shine, DJ Oasis) Rhymester (Members: Mummy-D, Utamaru, DJ Jin) Rip Slyme (Members: Ryo-Z, Ilmari, Pes, Su, DJ Fumiya) Kick D Can Crew (Members: Kreva, MCU, Little, DJ Shuho) Hime

As hip-hop evolved in Japan, Japanese rappers had to talk about its own social issues. one extremely difficult obstacle to making the new Another theme in Japanese hip-hop is a discussion genre their own: Japanese is not a rhyming language. of inspiration versus imitation. While Japanese artists Professor Condry explains, “Japanese is normally an have struggled to create their own established genunstressed language; rhyming and accenting had to re of music, many have sampled or been inspired by be learned.” Japanese artists understood that the main the work of hip-hop artists in America. The hip-hop draw and power of hip-hop was the rhyming and the genre, while extremely popular in Japan, is still assobeats. Without a language that had its own innate flow ciated with being black. As such, many hip-hop fans and rhythm, rap artists began to transform Japanese, have adopted the styles of African-American artists as adding accents to the language and innovating their portrayed in music videos, “with the baseball caps and own rhyming schemes. In fact, after talking with Har- the baggy pants,” as Professor Condry states. Japanese uki Murakami, a renowned Japanese author, Professor hip-hop fans have even gone as far as wearing blackCondry relays Murakami’s findings that young Japa- face to assert their “blackness” or how cool they are. nese kids are rhyming and using the Japanese language The practice may seem racist to Americans, but many in innovative ways. In other words, one of the lasting Japanese see wearing blackface as a tribute to the origimpacts of hip-hop in Japan is to change the way Jap- inal creators of hip-hop culture. anese youth see their own language. They can adapt Japanese hip-hop artists have called out these pracit and transform it to blend with beats and rhyming tices as being disrespectful to African-American artschemes to create a unique genre. ists and to their own Japanese herAdditionally, Japanese artists itage. Artists like Rhymester have have taken hip-hop and used it as a explained that their fans need to un…see the themes of race, medium to express their own conderstand the history of hip-hop incerns about their culture and their art versus industry, the role of stead of seeing it as a fad or a way to country. While Japanese hip-hop be cool. Their Japanese fans should fans, masculinity versus femhas adopted some themes from not try to be African-American but ininity, sampling versus per- embrace their own heritage instead. American music, including drugs, parties and girls, it also deals with sonal expression; there are so They should assert the fact that they many of the social concerns of the are Japanese and create their own many themes you can explore younger generation. The nuclear expression and lifestyle, instead of through hip-hop.” meltdown and tsunami in March imitating American hip-hop cul2011 rocked Japan to its core, yet ture. The tremendous depth of these it inspired artists to reveal and splits in Japanese hip-hop culture is explain what happened through music. Rappers like what attracted Professor Condry to the field in the Zeebra have attacked Japanese cultural stereotypes, first place; “[you can] see themes of race, art versus especially during a Japanese recession in the mid- industry, the role of fans, masculinity versus feminin1990s. Zeebra is a Japanese rapper, who started his ca- ity, sampling versus personal expression; there are so reer as a member of the rap group King Giddra. many themes you can explore through hip-hop.” When the recession hit Japan, many educated JapHip-hop music has transformed into an extremeanese youth were unemployed. Zeebra’s music urged ly popular genre worldwide. While many Americans the youth to understand the problems with estab- may think of hip-hop in other countries as derivative, lished Japanese stereotypes and to speak out about each of these countries have taken the genre and dethem. Through their album “The Power of the Sky,” veloped it into something they own. Using the beats and especially in the song, “Bullet of Truth,” Zeebra and the lyrical potential of the genre to discuss social and King Giddra criticized the established belief that issues, hip-hop has become a global movement. It has doing well in school will allow you to get a good job. even leveled the playing field for many artists, and as Professor Condry added that themes of school and Professor Condry learned from a Japanese rapper, “If bullying are common in Japanese rap, showing how you can’t make music or if you are ugly, you can still Japan has taken hip-hop and applied it as a medium rap.”

“

FANTASTIC FILMS ABOUT FAMILY

This guide has you covered for your next movie night to nuasian.wordpress.com for the extended version of this article, *Go which has Crystalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full list of movie recommendations.

By Crystal Kim

Photo by Lucy Wang

OLD BOY (2003) Director: Chan-Wook Park

This suspense thriller focuses on a middle-aged man who is taken captive and held in a hotel room for 15 years without any explanation or clues. As abruptly and silently as Daesu is abducted, he is dropped off and set free. His anonymous captor challenges him to find out the reasons behind his abduction within five days. Daesu sets out determined for revenge, and absolute craziness ensues. This film is straight brilliant and captivating. The performances, dialogue, action and cinematography are all uniquely orchestrated. Know that there are many graphic images; if you are faint of heart, look away when things are intense but be sure to keep up with what is going on.

TAE GUK GI: THE BROTHERHOOD OF WAR (2004) Director: Je-kyu Kang

Two brothers are drafted into fighting the Korean War. The older brother endangers his life in order to receive a medal that will allow his little brother to be sent back home, and his risky behavior pains the younger brother. Their relationship is pushed to the brink as their beliefs diverge and the war rages on. Tae Guk Gi is filled with powerful statements about war, North and South Korean history and sacrificial love. The characters are engaging, and the plot immerses you into the situation. The psychology behind each character development under the pressure of war is well executed, and the film represents the personal pain and bonds in war well. Be ready to read between the lines and you will see profound themes within even the simplest moments.

SPEEDY SCANDAL (2008) Director: Hyeong-cheol Kang

A popular radio host is suddenly confronted by a young mother who claims to be his illegitimate daughter. The girl and her son move in with him, and he tries to keep them from interfering with his life while also attempting to keep them a secret. They eventually grow on him, and he learns what it means to truly love, even if it comes at a cost. This movie is a ton of fun in every moment! The character development and connection is wonderfully done, and you will sincerely care about each member of this strange but adorable trio. In addition to the lightheartedness, the story progresses well and highlights the idea of love and its selflessness.

DEPARTURES (2008) Director: Yojiro Takita

A cellist named Daigo Kobayashi seeks a new job after his unpopular orchestra is dissolved. He is then hired to help ceremoniously prepare the deceased for funerals but keeps it a secret. As people find this out, Daigo struggles to face his own issues with forgiveness and trust and learn to choose what is right and worthy of his efforts. This film makes beautiful statements about loss, reconciliation and peace. Even in the framework of Japanese traditional ceremony, the story orchestrates heart-breaking and hilarious moments in a very relatable manner. The entire cast acts superbly, and even the minor characters are multi-faceted and complex.

NOBODY KNOWS (2004) Director: Hirokazu Koreeda

Four children are left by their immature mother to fend for themselves in Tokyo. Akira, the oldest son, does his best to keep up the front that she will return. The siblings are forced to face cruel realities as they struggle to survive, keep their mother’s absence a secret and simply stay together. The opening of the film is brilliant, subtly hinting at the personalities of the characters, their pasts and current circumstances. The film holds its cards close to its vest, engaging the viewer to put the pieces together. Themes of the loss of innocence permeate the work, but it maintains the perspective and of childhood. Some of the film’s most powerful and revealing scenes are also its subtlest.

I WISH (2011) Director: Hirokazu Koreeda

Two brothers are separated, each having moved to different cities in Japan with one of their now-divorced parents. The older brother attempts to make a wish for his family to reunite at the exact moment two bullet trains pass each other, out of belief in a superstition. This film is beautifully shot and hilariously charming in its childlike perspective. Again, the acting is fantastic, and it is really interesting to know that the brothers of the story are actual brothers in real life.

KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM (2001) Director: Karan Johar

The older son of a rich Indian couple is an adoptee, a fact everyone in the family knows except for the younger son. The father disowns the adopted son after he marries a girl of lower social standing. The younger brother doesn’t find out the truth until ten years later and is determined to reunite his family. This film is beautifully and dynamically shot throughout and utilizes a uniquely lovely style of lighting. The comedic, extravagant flair coupled with sorrowful, intimate moments takes viewers on a wild ride with this fantastical story and its vibrant characters.

MONSOON WEDDING (2002) Director: Mira Nair

An Indian family is preparing an extravagant wedding, which their relatives and guests will travel from countries all over the world to attend. Things get complicated due to the clash of cultures, objectives and emotional baggage each character brings to the table. The mixing of languages in this film works particularly well. The stylized aesthetics go well with the fast paced editing and camera movement, which also match the events of the plot. Believable performances and great dialogue keep you drawn in throughout the whole film.

ILO ILO (2013) Director: Anthony Chen

A boy is unkind to a newly hired maid, but eventually, the two connect and care for each other. Tension builds as the mother feels threatened by the maid, the father loses his job and the state of the economy deteriorates. What seems like a basic setup for a family-themed film unravels into a surprisingly intricate plot between the characters. The beautiful camera work throughout will likely be an image to remain with you for quite some time.

TOGETHER (2002) Director: Chen Kaige

A father realizes that his 13-year-old son is a violin prodigy, and they move from a small town in China to Beijing, hoping to find musical opportunities and success. The father is willing to humble and make a fool of himself in order to provide for them and eventually persuades two different professors to teach his son. Together features gorgeous cinematography, and it provides solid establishment of the space around which its characters move. Just with a couple quick lines of dialogue, you get a great sense as to the characters’ relationships to each other and the backstory of their communities. The impressive production design of Together displays itself in everything from set dressing to costumes in order to support the arc of the story and its characters.

SERANG SERANGO ROAD THE WORLD ON ONE STREET By Jeremy Seah

HBO has built up quite the reputation for producing blockbuster television hits; you may have heard of Sex and the City, True Blood and Game of Thrones, but now… Serangoon Road? That’s right, HBO Asia, the Asian arm of the American television broadcast company, has taken the big step to produce its first ever original television series. Having premiered on October 23, Serangoon Road is a 10-episode series that will broadcast across 23 different countries including China, India, Singapore and Australia. The most expensive single title that HBO Asia has invested in thus far, expect Serangoon Road to feature the same sensual, high-quality, high-octane drama that has become a hallmark of its American predecessors.

Set in Singapore during the tumultuous 1960s, Serangoon Road is a detective noir series that takes advantage of the racial tensions and political uncertainty shrouding Singapore to amp up the action and drama. As the country’s former British colonial masters prepare to leave Singapore and transfer power to Malaysia, communists and gang violence threaten the peace and stability of the nation. Centered on Serangoon Road, known for being a melting pot back in the sixties, main character Sam Gallaghan (acted by Don Hany) enters the dark underworld of ethnically Chinese secret-society gangs as he tries to solve a murder mystery. Along the way, he is caught up in the era’s racial and political turmoil, making both friends and enemies of British

officials, Singaporean merchants and Australian businessmen. One of the most notable features of Serangoon Road is its multiracial cast and plot. The star-studded cast features Australian actor Don Hany (Lucky Miles; White Collar Blue), Singaporean actor Chin Han (The Dark Knight; 2012), Chinese actress Joan Chen (The Last Emperor; Lust, Caution) and a host of other Indonesian and Malaysian stars. Choosing to set the drama in Singapore, the historical point of convergence for a plethora of cultures and peoples, brings broader regional and international appeal to dramas like Serangoon Road. This is a point Professor Peter Shen, who teaches film courses in the Northwestern University Asian Studies Department,

GOON OON

HBO TAKES ITS FIRST ATTEMPT AT TARGETING ASIAN AUDIENCES WITH SERANGOON ROAD agrees with. According to Professor Shen, Asia is seeing a notable increase in films and television shows that span transnational boundaries and feature a greater integration of cast, crew, and storylines from around the region. A good example of this would be the 2012 romance film Dangerous Liasons. An adaptation of a French novel set in Shanghai, it is directed by South Korean director Hur Jin-ho and stars both Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi and South Korean actor Jang Donggun. Even more recently, the 2013 sci-fi film Snowpiercer was based off a French graphic novel, directed by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, and features both Hollywood and South Korean actors such as Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton and Song Kangho.

While the economic benefits of being able to appeal to a larger audience is obvious, the big question remains as to whether this trend of film and television series spanning transnational boundaries signifies a greater acceptance of other cultures within Asia, or conversely, if this integration represents a homogenizing of styles and tastes within Asia and across the world. This, Professor Shen says, is an extremely hard question to answer and one that scholars in the field have no definitive conclusion on. Television shows such as Serangoon Road, which take uniquely local (in this case Singaporean) storylines and inject regional and international styles into the mix represent a new hybrid that films are moving towards. Combining various artis-

tic styles and technical methods is nothing new in the history of film, and audiences across the world can now be introduced to cultures they previously never had any contact with. Opportunities to break down barriers between people of different countries and cultures are opened while simultaneously embracing the unique characteristics of each culture. These shows reflect our increasingly connected world of the present while holding on to tradition of the past. No longer can our lives be purely set and defined by one country or one culture. Ironically, it takes a television show set in the sixties to reflect our world today. But who knows, next time you turn that dial to HBO, you just might be watching the latest episode of Serangoon Road.

WHICH WING IS KING?

A REVIEW OF THE HOTTEST CHICKEN WINGS IN CHICAGO There’s nothing quite like getting your hands stained with sauce as you eat spicy buffalo wings or honey barbeque wings dipped in ranch or blue cheese dressing. With a lively sports scene and plenty of restaurants to choose from, Chicago is the place to be when it comes to wings. However, if you’re tired of the usual flavors, why not try Asianstyle wings as you explore different Chicago neighborhoods? Asian wing flavors are heavily influenced by seasonings and ingredients found in Asian cooking, such as soy sauce and garlic. By Rosalie Chan

CRISP Phone number (773) 697-7610 Mon-Sun 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. 2940 N Broadway Ave Chicago, IL 60657

Neighborhood: Lakeview El stop: 0.5 miles from Wellington (purple/brown line) or 0.7 miles from Belmont (red line) Cost: Regular: $8.95 for five wings, $15.95 for 10 wings Boneless: $5.95 for three pieces, $10.95 for six pieces, $14.95 for nine pieces

Flavor: rrrr Tenderness: rrrr Juiciness: rrr Crispiness: rrrrr Overall: rrrr

Notes: The restaurant offers seven sauces including Plain Jane, Crisp BBQ, Seoul Sassy and Buffalo. For Asian-style wings, I recommend ordering a dish of half Seoul Sassy and half Crisp BBQ wings. Seoul Sassy, made with sesame seeds, ginger, soy, garlic and other spices, is sweet and spicy. Crisp BBQ wings are an American and Korean fusion dish made with herbs and spices. The Seoul Sassy wings have more sauce so they are messier to eat than the Crisp BBQ wings, which have a crisp, dry skin. Both wings have good flavors, but the Crisp BBQ wings are not as spicy as I thought they’d be and not BBQ-flavored like the name suggests. http://www.crisponline.com/crisp.aspx

Photo by Lucy Wang

DAK

Neighborhood: Edgewater El stop: next to Granville (red line)

Phone number (773) 754-0255 Tue-Sun 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. 1104 W Granville Ave Chicago, IL 60660

Cost: $9 for five wings, $17 for 10 wings

Flavor: rrr Tenderness: rrrrr Juiciness: rrrrr Crispiness: rrrr Overall: rrrr

Notes: The two flavors available are the Dak Sauce and the Spicy BBQ. I ordered wings with the Dak sauce, which is made with soy and garlic. The highlight of the wings was the texture: the meat was tender and juicy with perfectly crisp skin. Five pieces was a large portion because the wings were huge, making this a dish more suitable for two people to share. I felt full after eating two wings. Although the flavor was good, I wished there had been more of a kick. Also, the wings served at Dak come with bones and are very greasy. http://www.dakwings.com/

OIISTAR Phone number (773) 360-8791 Tue-Wed, Sun noon - 10 p.m. Thu-Sat noon - 11 p.m.

1385 N Milwaukee Ave Chicago, IL 60622

Neighborhood: Wicker Park Metra Stop: 1.5 miles from Clybourn El stop: 0.4 miles from Damen (blue line) Cost: $9 for a dish of wings (has about 7-10 wings)

Flavor: rrrrr Tenderness: rrrrr Juiciness: rrrr Crispiness: rrrrr Overall: rrrrr

Notes: Oiistar is a fusion restaurant in Wicker Park, a Chicago neighborhood known for its artistic and hipster vibe. In terms of wings, you can order either the sweet or sambal fried garlic chicken. I recommend the sambal fried garlic chicken, which is garnished with almonds, garlic and a slightly spicy sauce. The portion included a lot of wings, and it was definitely worth the $9. The dish includes regular and boneless chicken pieces, but comes with plenty of delicious sauce to complete the dish. http://www.oiistar.com/

THE EIGHT TASTES

By Xindi Song

THE EIGHT REGIONAL CUISINES OF AUTHENTIC CHINESE FOOD

Despite its prevalence, Chinese cuisine in the United States often fails to represent the vast variety of its native counterpart. Classical Chinese food boasts eight regional cuisines, each distinctive in its ingredients and cooking methods—fiercely defensive over its claim to taste-bud fame. A combination of historical significance and cooking caliber decides which regions belong to the canon of the “official” eight regions. Many well-known Chinese dishes in America and even contemporary cuisines, like those of Beijing and Shanghai, often do not stand authoritatively in conceptions of authentic regional food. Here’s a look at the cuisines that do: JIANGSU (SU) As the adage goes, “good things come to those who wait.” This holds true for Su cuisine, which combines meticulous slicing technique with slow cook times to create visually stunning dishes that are often sweet. To make the famous shi zi tou (Lion’s Head), from the region of Yangzhou, fatty pork is minced, balled with starch and spices and either steamed or stewed. Pork fat dissolves during the cooking process, leaving the meatball surface ragged like fur and giving it its distinctive name.

ANHUI (HUI) Hui cuisine benefits from many wild plant varieties that grow in mountainous regions and features braising and stewing rather than stir-frying. In particular, a homemade feel characterizes many Hui dishes: jiao hua ji (beggar’s chicken), which is traditionally coated in earth and roasted over a fire, can be made at home by coating a chicken with flour and baking in the oven.

NORTH

SHANDONG (LU) The oldest of the eight cuisines, Lu cuisine features a surprising blend of light fragrance and rich flavor. Staple ingredients include seafood, river fish and meat, often braised and flavored using a method named ‘pa’. This technique involves glazing the ingredients with broth-based sauces. One signature dish, cong shao hai shen (braised sea cucumber with scallion), uses a type of scallion from the region of Zhangqiu that occasionally grows to an astonishing height of five feet.

Photo by Lucy Wang

EAST

ZHEJIANG (ZHE) Zhe cuisine incorporates plenty of stir-frying, but also focuses on stewing and steaming. The region is known for its dried bamboo shoots, which complement the popular lao ya tang (old duck’s soup). Xi hu cu yu (West Lake vinegar fish), a course made from fish that live in the Xi lake in the city of Hangzhou, is first cooked in simmering water, then glazed with a vinegar-based sauce for a tender, full taste.

Photo by Hannah Lin

SOUTH

HUNAN (XIANG) Spiciness defines many Hunan dishes to an even greater extent than it does in Sichuan cuisine because the numbing Sichuan pepper isn’t used to moderate the spiciness. The pure heat of red chili peppers, with a liberal dose of oil and fresh vegetables, creates a robust flavor. Xiang cuisine also uses a variety of cured meats, including pork, duck and chicken. GUANGDONG (YUE) Yue cooking tempers flavors to harmonize with the hot climate. Along with fresh fish and chicken, wild game like snakes and frogs often appear in Yue dishes, which usually exhibit a light flavor and delicate sauces. Bai qie ji, or white-cut chicken, exemplifies Yue cuisine’s emphasis on lightness: the meat is boiled in broth or water, which creates a clear, pure taste.

WEST

SICHUAN (CHUAN) Aside from delivering a flavor punch, Sichuan cuisine’s unique spiciness helps generate perspiration to counteract the region’s hot, humid climate. Sichuan province is home to the Sichuan pepper, which produces a distinctive spiciness that numbs and tingles the mouth. The well-known mapo tofu (pockmarked woman’s tofu) uses this pepper along with chilies, bean curd, water chestnuts and vegetables. Another prominent course, yu xiang rou si (pork slices with fish fragrance), features thinly sliced pork cooked in a sauce that contains red chili, vinegar and sugar.

FUJIAN (MIN) Since northern settlers moved to the Fujian region during invasions and migrations, Min cuisine bears resemblances to Lu cuisine. Like Lu cuisine, Min cuisine favors braising and stewing, along with preparation of meats and fresh seafood. It also features a variety of soups and dishes containing mountain plants. Perhaps the most well-known dish from this area is fo tiao qiang (Buddha jumping over the wall), a sinful concoction composed chiefly of shark fin, lip and swim bladder. Tens of other ingredients, including savory ham, dried scallop, duck and pig trotter are combined with the shark and heated slowly in a jar to produce the perfect melding of flavors. Legend even has it that this dish exuded such a delightful aroma that a Buddhist monk scaled a wall to get a taste.

ASIAN COOKING FOR THE COLLEGE KID By Angela Lin Initially, the idea of preparing a “traditional Asian dish” in a college dorm might be daunting: Where does one buy dried kelp? Who even owns sesame oil? What’s a wok anyway? Regardless, don’t let atypical ingredients and unfamiliar methods deter you from experiencing home-cooked food beyond Crock Pot chicken and dumplings. The following recipes are three iconic dishes from three different Asian cultures purposely chosen for their ease and flexibility in ingredients. Although some of the essential ingredients are difficult to find in most American grocery stores, these recipes will give you a reason to visit Chicago to check out those exotic Asian markets.

DUKBOKKI

Photo by Lucy Wang

INGREDIENTS • 1 pound of dduk, or rice cakes (cylinder-shaped is traditional, but other shapes work as well) • 1/2 cup of gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste) • 1 and 1/2 tablespoon of sugar • 4 cups of water (use more if using additional ingredients) • Salt or soy sauce Optional: onions, green onions, fish cakes, ramen, or hard-boiled eggs.

Dukbokki is an accurate embodiment of Korean culture and food: brightly hued, spicy and traditional. At around 2500 Korean Won (a little over $2) on the average Korean street market, it’s easy to see why these chewy rice cakes have become so popular to Koreans old and new alike. Typically served in large vats displayed with a collection of other street foods, dukbokki is flavored with the Korean trademark gochujang (hot pepper paste) and is left to simmer in a thick, spicy sauce, ready for streetwalkers to come and eat as they please. With just three basic ingredients and one pot, these starchy cakes are easy to replicate and are perfect for those busy pre-midterm nights. The best part of this dish is that the measurements are rather arbitrary—feel free to adjust to whatever level of spiciness, sweetness or saltiness that you like. If you’re really feeling authentic, try using a Korean “stock” to boil the cakes by adding dried anchovies and kelp to the water. Dukbokki is also an innovative way to use up that Costco-sized pack of ramen—just throw the noodles in with the rice cakes! Directions 1. In a large saucepan, boil water, add anchovies and kelp, if desired. 2. Remove stock ingredients and add rice cakes. Boil on medium-high. In a separate pan, create the sauce using sugar, gochujang and the optional ingredients if desired. 3. Once the rice cakes become soft and the sauce is thick and shiny, combine the two. 4. Stir and season with more sugar, gochujang, salt or soy sauce if needed, and enjoy! (Makes 4 large servings) 32

CONG YOU BING INGREDIENTS • 1 cup of all-purpose flour • ½ cup or more of chopped green onions (only the green part) • 1 teaspoon of salt • ½ cup of boiling water • 1 teaspoon of oil (add more for frying) • Soy sauce or dipping sauce of choice to serve

Photo by Lucy Wang

Fried bread is the epitome of refined carbs and greasy goodness. Every culture has this food staple from parantha roti (Indian) to arepas (Venezuela), and even the classic doughnut. Here’s the simple, yet traditional, Chinese version. Cong you bing literally translates into scallion oil pancake. Don’t worry, it’s a lot more delicious than it sounds—kind of like fried, chewy naan! Directions 1. Combine flour and boiling water. When mixture is cool enough to touch, knead for 5 minutes. Add more flour if dough is too sticky. 2. Let dough rest for half an hour. Meanwhile, combine the green onions, salt and teaspoon of oil. 3. After dough has rested, divide into 3 balls and roll into an 8-inch-diameter round. Distribute 1/3 of green onion mixture onto the dough round and roll into a cigar shape. 4. Roll the “cigar” into a snail shape and roll back into an 8-inch-diameter round. Repeat with other dough balls. Steps 3 and 4 create flakey “layers” in the pancake. 5. Heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat, and fry the pancake on each side until golden brown. 6. Cut and serve hot with dipping sauce! (Makes 3 8-inch pancakes)

MANGO LASSI

Photo by Lucy Wang

INGREDIENTS • 2 cups of plain yogurt • 4 tablespoons of honey • 1 teaspoon of ground cardamom, star anise or cinnamon • 1 tablespoon of limejuice • 2 tablespoons of fresh mint • 1 large mango, peeled, seeded and diced

Lassi is a traditional Indian yogurt drink served on those stiflingly humid days. Although lassi is often savory and flavored with salt and cumin, fruit lassi is popular as well, employing equally exotic flavors such as mint and cardamom. Use whatever fruit you have on hand, and enjoy lassi as that perfect post-midterm treat. Directions 1. Blend all ingredients together and serve! 33

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