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Posts Tagged ‘family’

By Tina Teng-Henson

Photo by Kar3nt

Continued from Part 1–>

L. asked us to start at her office. She described the things she’d noticed there – the turning of the chair towards the door or away from the desk in the morning, even though she’d leave it turned inward before going home at the end of the day. The way she’d sometimes be sitting there focusing on her activity plan for the building, and all of a sudden, the two doves hanging from slender strands of fishing line would start spinning around in circles. And so forth.

So we started there. The small closet had no windows, and felt overly full with a variety of props, packed to the gills with supplies, decor, memorabilia, photos, work. It felt stuffy, so a fan had been installed that was aimed over her desk to circulate the air. I asked her at some point whether there was another office space that could have been hers. Was there some lingering resentment about wanting to have another space? No, she wanted this room. That wasn’t it. 

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By Jerrica KF Ching

Photo by jeffjacobs1990

To reflect upon self-control around the busy holiday seasons is a privilege in my eyes, as it has allowed me to take careful stock upon what I prioritize during the final two months out of the year.  This year I planned further ahead than I typically would for holiday gifting.  Very similar to Melanie’s reflections of her family doing research before shopping, I had the idea to complete all of my holiday shopping at the beginning of November, to allow me to take presents with me to my family in person, rather than worry about shipping delays during holiday crunch time. 

While this was a success and I felt very content knowing that everyone had their presents accounted for, I forgot how much information we are inundated with no matter where we look during holiday shopping time!  Deal after deal can be found in ads on social media or websites, and we are flooded with daily discounts within our email inboxes.  Even when trying to stay off my phone, watching a video on a streaming platform on my television often includes ads for the latest and greatest gadget, gift, or holiday idea.  There are copious amounts of gift lists available for all budgets and for all the people in one’s life. 

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Photo by suedkollektiv

By Debbie Gin

“I want to go back home.  I want to go back HOME!” I remember screaming through sobs, while my mom—half bewildered, half understanding my deep sorrow—tried to console me.  It had only been a couple weeks since our move from the comforts of a burgeoning Koreatown, Los Angeles, to the then predominantly White Hacienda Heights.  (more…)

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Photo by Wonderlane

By Ajung Sojwal

It is quite something to think of myself, at this very moment, as the embodiment of several generations: a daughter, a granddaughter, a wife, a mother and hopefully one day, a grandmother. Every single generation that I bear within me has shaped me in ways that are too complex for me to understand. (more…)

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Photo by Dhinal Chheda

By Liz Chang

One of my favorite things about growing up in a Korean immigrant church was that the church community was my family’s extended family in America. As a kid, this meant that I could count on collecting gifts of money at church on Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Lunar New Year’s Day. At first, I would feel shy and grateful when receiving the gifts. Then, as a teenager, I would feel awkward but secretly happy to receive them. (more…)

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By Sarah D. Park

I have this idea for a book that I’ve been sitting on for some time. It’s inspired by my father and is in part, a dream of mine to publish some day, and in part, an attempt to develop empathy for my father. (more…)

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Photo by Raquel Abe

By Liz Chang

I am because I have been cared for.
I do because I care.

These cultivate internal motivation.

It is hard for me to recall much of my childhood, but I do remember the names of specific adults who cared for me in my youth. I remember specific moments when I felt loved by family. And, I have vivid memories of experiencing appreciation from friends. I am who I am today because I have been cared for. (more…)

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Photo by Craig Howell

Photo by Craig Howell

By Tina Teng-Henson

On my run this morning, I turned into the gateway of the Catholic convent in my neighborhood. As I jogged down the leafy pathway, this thought crossed my mind: “I could always just abandon my husband and kids and become a nun…then I could really focus on serving God.” I imagined Beatrice and Peter visiting me at the convent once a year, watching them grow up from afar. Then I imagined myself crying in anguish, after each visit would end — overwhelmed with regret and remorse for having made that decision. I would miss watching them grow up far too much. (more…)

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Photo by Lel4nd

Photo by Lel4nd

By Jerrica Ching

Last week I took advantage of a low-priced airfare special to fly back home to Hawaii for about six days.  It was a very short trip, yet with leafless trees, an earlier sunset, and temperatures gradually dropping, those six sunshine-filled days with my family and friends made it all worth it.  (more…)

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Photo by Ken Fong

Photo by Ken Fong

By Vivian Mabuni

I walk each day as an Asian American Christian woman drifting between four separate worlds (Asian. American. Christian. Woman.). These worlds often have opposing values that affect my mindset and how I respond and make decisions.

I grew up in Boulder, CO one of a handful of Asian Americans in a graduating class of 650. My dad was a producer and director for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. When I was nine years old, he directed Romeo and Juliet and I would accompany him to the rehearsals. He mentioned in passing that I would never play the lead role of Juliet because I was Chinese. (more…)

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