By James Tabafunda
Northwest Asian Weekly
 Multicultural representative of APIC Bettie Luke (left) and AJC Director Wendy Rosen (Photos by James Tabafunda/NWAW) |
To many U.S. citizens of Japanese ancestry, the use of the term “Jap” is considered a racial slur with a hate-filled history going all the way back to World War II. Read the full story
By Tiffany Ran
Northwest Asian Weekly
 Members of KIMWA, an association of Korean women married to non-Koreans, came together for their 6th annual conference in Seattle. (Photo provided by Chung-Tae Kim) |
As a first generation Korean American married to a non-Korean man, Lea Armstrong had to overcome challenges uncommon in other marriages, including cultural and language barriers with her husband. Read the full story
By Chinami Tajika
Northwest Asian Weekly
 Image by Chinami Tajika/NWAW |
It’s said that fireworks were invented more than 2,000 years ago in China. But the fireworks in those days were quite different from the fireworks of today. Read the full story
By Chinami Tajika
Northwest Asian Weekly
For our Fourth of July issue, we want to look beyond the fireworks and picnics to offer a more poignant look at the thoughts and worries that international students and immigrants have about life in America. Though many are looking at an uncertain future, their time in the United States is tinged with good memories. Read the full story
The weekend before Father’s Day, kids and their dads made the most of the good weather and hit the great outdoors. Some went running, some rode bikes, others went for a swim. In talking to people, we noticed something about the fathers and their children — their appreciation for one another extends beyond Father’s Day.
Photos by Jocelyn Chui/NWAW
By James Tabafunda
Northwest Asian Weekly
 Hal Seike, 83, standing on a bridge in the Seike Japanese Garden. (Photos by James Tabafunda/NWAW) |
A new wrought iron fence and security camera at the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden are being installed to protect it from vandalism. Many of its stone lanterns are either missing or damaged. Read the full story
By Deepti Hajela
The Associated Press
 The Nickelodeon animated series is known as having an Asian-based cast. (Photo provided by Nickelodeon) |
NEW YORK (AP) — The hopes of many are resting on the shoulders of 12-year-old Aang. Read the full story
By Vivian Nguyen
Northwest Asian Weekly
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It’s been many years since Wendy Leung’s parents last struck her with a bamboo stick, but the memories remain with her today. Read the full story
On May 2, thousands of people congregated at the Seattle Center House to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month through song, dance, music, art, and displays. There were lion dances, youth drill teams, taiko drummers, and artists from all over the state. The event was presented by the Asian-Pacific Directors Coalition.
Photos by Jared Chang/NWAW
By Jocelyn Chui
Northwest Asian Weekly
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Rat mom (1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972)
Rat mom is quick-witted, inquisitive, and hardworking. She is an opportunist and always pays attention to small details. Though she may be looking for sales and the best prices, she is generous to her loved ones and may have the tendency to over-indulge her kids (not a bad trait at all). Read the full story
Recently, my niece, whose married name is Kelly Kwon, held a sparkling Cinderella wedding in Austin. The venue had a smashing view of a lake and golf course. It was a well-organized event, with the help of meticulously detailed pages recorded on a spreadsheet. What a contrast to the wedding of my brother (her father) decades ago.
My brother got married in the late 1970s; it was a small, low-budget ceremony. Everything was self-made, from the bridal dress to the wedding reception. I volunteered for the task of preparing the bridal veil for my sister-in-law. I wasn’t an expert veil-maker, but I got stuck with the job because it was only a few days before the wedding and a veil had still not been procured. A friend of my brother made all the food himself at home for a reception of 50 guests. During the reception, I was asked to emcee at the last minute.
A simple wedding was not exactly what our parents had in mind. The elderly like to show off to their relatives. They want to show what a good family their kids are marrying into, so that they don’t lose face.
My brother and I belong to the generation of baby boomers. We work hard to give everything to the “baby busters,” as my son calls his generation. My peers and I assume that we will pay, not only for our sons’ educations, but their weddings, too. It doesn’t matter that wedding expenses in this country are normally the bride and her family’s responsibility.
An exceptional organizer, my niece Kelly was creative and superb in planning her big day. The couple had two receptions that blended three cultures — American, Chinese, and Korean — nicely. More than 500 guests in total, one in Austin and the other one in San Francisco, where Kelly and her husband, Jay, will live.
Many of my friends’ kids hold two receptions because the bride and groom grow up in two different cities, and sometimes, two different countries.
To the contrary, my husband and I had one reception, for the purpose of saving money.
In style, my nieces’s wedding was an integration of the couple’s personalities.
Green was the theme color. Everything, including the centerpieces, lanterns, ceiling, bridesmaids’ dresses, mothers’ gowns, custom-made invitations, and programs were beautifully done in the same color scheme. Read the full story
