Justine Davis is at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, New York

Justine Davis
I see our cousin Justine only once every ten years because she moved to Kazakhstan when she was a kid.  But, she came back to the the U.S. for college, majored in musical theatre and graduated this year.  She is now working as an actress at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, a children's theatre in Auburn, New York.  (How cool is that!) Known as Broadway in the Finger Lakes, The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse is located in Emerson Park, in the old carousel building at 6877 East Lake Rd. (Rt. 38A) Auburn, NY 13021 www.merry-go-round.com. It has shows for youths from June through November each year. Catch a show this coming summer or fall if you are in the Syracuse, NY area. Justine has an awesome singing voice.  Good luck, Justine!

A Ho Ho Ho Christmas Eve Dinner

Had dinner with my parents' friends in the San Gabriel Valley on Christmas Eve and saw this blood curdling dish on the menu: (check out item No. 46) :

Now, intestine and blood cake sound nasty for sure, but what is the Ho sauce? Also, check out Item No. 53 on the menu: What is the Sour Cabbage with Pig Stoma? Maybe the menu sounds better in Chinese.

What? Now We Can't Admit That We're Asian?

I was always told that diversity a good thing for this country.  I also hear that schools should admit students based on merit.  As an Asian student, I can't help wondering how best to navigate the various schools admissions criteria.  In the K-12 magnet school system here in Los Angeles, I've been told that it is more advantageous to identifying myself as being "white" to gain a spot in the highly coveted magnet schools.  Now, I read that to apply to college, Asian students who have an option to identify themselves at either "white", "other", or "Asian," should avoid the "Asian" option to give themselves a better chance of being admitted to elite colleges.  This is because apparently, Asian students are victims of being too successful academically.  http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2011-12-03/asian-students-college-applications/51620236/1

In a few years, I'll be applying to college.  As an Asian student with an Asian sounding last name, who is not a super academic performer, and not an athlete, what ethnic box should I check on the college applications?

Chow Mein and Chopsticks: Celebrating Thanksgiving the Chinese Way

My teacher asked our class, "So what are you all planning to eat for Thanksgiving?"
While most of the students responded with the traditional turkey and mash and stuffing, my friend and I--the only two Asian kids in the class--exchanged a glance.  "Chow mein!"  He hollered. "Rice!" Said I.

Funny how eager the class was to believe us.

I'm not sure how it is in most Chinese families, but I know that our Thanksgiving was celebrated with the traditional turkey and gravy and stuffing and mashed potatoes.  We did, however, add our own Chinese twist: we feasted on our American meal with chopsticks, and for dessert we enjoyed a lovely baked mochi cake with red bean paste.

Truth be told, I don't know a single Chinese person who likes turkey.  I know I don't.  I'm terrified of the idea of eating turducken, tofurkey, or just plain turkey.  Mom and dad complain that rubbing that fifteen pound turkey with seasoning and butter felt like washing a baby in the sink.  Even they were grossed out.  But we all decided to get into the Thanksgiving spirit.  I admire my grandparents, who put up with the hearty (and heart-attack inducing) American meal, however much they disliked it.  Of course, they brought their side Chinese dish so they can at least enjoy part of their meal.

 
Happy Turducken break!