#repaapihm

[apiasfrepresent]

By: Pauline Dong, APIASF/GMS Scholar

On May 19, 2016, I conducted a research presentation about Vietnamese American history in Little Saigon, California at the Undergraduate History Conference at UC Irvine. When I submitted my proposal, I did not realize that the presentation would occur during AAPIHM, so I’m very happy about that now and would like to share a few thoughts about this with you all.

My presentation was titled Nostalgia for a Living Past: The Vietnam War Memorial in Westminster, California.  I had written this research paper for an Asian American Studies course at UC Irvine. I essentially discussed how the memorial embodies the political identity of the Vietnamese American community in Little Saigon, particularly that of the first generation. I examined how the Vietnam War Memorial in Westminster, California honors the Vietnamese American identity as a manifestation of the first generation’s collective nostalgia for their homeland, history, and heritage. 

The most important takeaway from this research for me is how Vietnamese American history, though only about 40 years in the making, is also a living history. Typically, Western humanities studies utilizes dissertations, books, and ancient primary source artifacts to construct and legitimize research. However, primary sources created relatively recently can also be used to build academic studies. In essence, every component of the community’s development from the 1970s till now, also matters.

So I’m thankful that my parents kept all of their memorabilia, which can now be considered as ephemeral artifacts for my future studies. I’m proud to be Vietnamese American, Southeast Asian American, and Asian American. 

In the spirit of Asian American Studies research, here are some links to archives dedicated to Southeast Asian American Studies for anyone who also loves history as much as I do: 

Vietnamese American Oral History Project (VAOHP): http://sites.uci.edu/vaohp/

Orange County & Southeast Asian Archives: http://ocseaa.lib.uci.edu

SEAAdoc (research tool): http://seaadoc.lib.uci.edu

[apiasfrepresent]

By: Pauline Dong, APIASF/GMS Scholar

The OC & SEAA at the University of California Irvine is one-of-a-kind and allows students to conduct research related to Southeast Asian American experiences through the use of paintings, photos, ephemera, dissertations, and etc. It’s been valuable to my own research and through my own journey to understanding more about my own family and community histories.

That being said, this painting is titled The Thirst of Children, which was created from 1989-1991 in a Vietnamese refugee camp. More of these paintings and historical artifacts can be found through the SEAAdoc, an educational resource/search tool of the OC & SEAA. Follow the links below to learn more:

OC & SEAA: http://ocseaa.lib.uci.edu

SEAAdoc: http://seaadoc.lib.uci.edu

The Thirst of Children (original link): http://seaadoc.lib.uci.edu/display_image.php?ID=hb6290070c

Pauline Dong is a GMS/APIASF Scholar c/o 2011. She is dedicated to learning more about the histories of underrepresented minorities and plans to be an educator in the future. 

[apiasfrepresent]

may 3/ greetings

By: Willa Kurland; APIASF/GMS Scholar

Greetings from the end of Week 6, Spring Quarter 2016 here at UC Davis. Sadly I couldn’t quite squeeze in a post every day this week…I knew this would happen, time to play catch up! (You can find may 2/ celebrate here) 

On Tuesday I had no idea what I would write about for may 3/ greetings. But then it dawned on me…the fact that I do not know how to greet or respond to people in Chinese is quite telling of how I sometimes (actually, often) feel as part of the AAPI community. I know that I’m not alone in this, but I cannot count the number of times I’ve been addressed in Chinese…with no words to respond.

From the Ukiah Savings Bank parking lot when an older white man felt he needed to speak in Chinese from his car as I walked by, to the Bart rides in San Francisco, meals in many Chinese restaurants wherever I go, and walking through the streets of Beijing, Paris, and Spain–I have never known how to reply. Sure, I could reply with a simple “nǐ hǎo”. I’ve always known how to say that. But, it’s not comfortable. Instead I’ve done everything from giving blank/confused looks, to replying in English, or pretending I didn’t hear them.

I’ve always wondered why it happens so often… in most cases, I don’t think these people actually want to talk to me. Maybe they do? I guess it depends on the situation and context… Anyways, as I prepare for my summer trip to China (more on this later), I know I need and want to figure it out. What do I say? Why does it make me so uncomfortable? While I’ve had the chance to learn Chinese, it’s truthfully never been a priority or something I’ve wanted to do–so I haven’t. But I think that’s changing.

So here’s to trying to figure out the proper (and commonly used) greetings in Chinese, as well as moving forward in trip planning!

[apiasfrepresent]

May 8/ where I’m from

By: Charity Phillip, APIASF Scholar

“No matter where you end up in life; never forget where you came from.”

#LoveYourRoots

[apiasfrepresent]

By: Jean Abac, APIASF Scholar

Celebrating the accomplishment from the recent sixteen weeks brought a newer light to the upcoming adventures ahead. I had no idea how challenging nursing school could possibly be until I completed this past semester’s requirements ending at 10:59 AM after hitting the “Submit” button for our electronic Final Exam this morning.

I will never forget how one of my professors always told my classmates and I, “nursing school is supposed to be hard, you’re dealing with people’s lives.”

In the past few months, many things had to be put on hold. As if a “Pause” button on everything else unarguably less important than learning how to be in charge of another’s well-being at a hospital’s bedside has been automatically pressed. Excuses, complaints, and tantrums had no seats to our grand performances as student nurses. We were fully booked, show after show, week after week. A marathon for the brains, body, and heart, nursing school has taught me to be even more grateful for being granted the power to make an impact on other people’s lives.

[apiasfrepresent]

Being different is cool

By: Anonymous

Being different was not an easy concept for me to grasp upon recalling my memories of high school and early adulthood. Whether it’s the color of my clothing; the way I parted my hair; the way I walked; the way I spoke tinged with an accent of mother-tongue’s dialect; the way I ate with a fork and a spoon simultaneously during nutrition and lunch; my separation from the word “cool” since I only knew it used for the temperature; or the way certain words spoken to me seem to just fly over my head as I feared the truth of my foreign ears not understanding what classmates just said; being different at the time felt like a disconnect, a dead end, a death of the possibility of being a part of something greater and larger than myself.

Emigrating from the Philippines at fifteen years old, I was horrified with the stigma I was bestowed upon in high school labeled with a capital F-O-B; FOB, pronounced /fɑːb/; or fresh off the boat. I despised this term. I felt so ashamed carrying it with me every day, day in and day out. From the moment I leave the doorsteps of our home, to my daily walks to the bus stop, to my bus rides filled with the reminder of how I am different as I saw everyone carrying other things with them (I was born here, I am an American citizen, I am part of a community, I am an individual thinking freely on my own), and up to my first seatings in first period synchronized to the bell ringing cringing my stomach, I felt burdened by this dilemma of being different as a resident of my new home country.

Fast-forward nine years later, after going through a great deal of assimilation and learning, I now find myself so grateful for being different. Knowing two languages is better than one. I am no longer limited to my choice of utensils—chopsticks, knives and forks, handle-less miso soup bowls, forks alone, spoons alone, hands—what a variety! Mother-tongue’s accent can be hidden or manifest—now it is a matter of “to speak or not to speak” with it. Saying “cool” has never been so liberating whether pertaining to the weather or trying to be nonchalant. And whether I catch what the speaker just said or not, I acquainted myself and became friends with honesty as I can now communicate: “I’m sorry. I did not quite get that. May I ask for you to repeat what you just said?” All the time I spent mourning a hypothetical death from feeling disconnected was remedied by simply learning that adaptation is all about learning. Hard work was also necessary in knowing the various tools (such as language) that one may use in being her own person in a new environment.

Today, reconnecting with old hurtful memories of culture shock has been a wonderful experience. I represent all the immigrants that come to this country who have gone through this process of cultural assimilation for adaptation and as a bonus, personal amelioration. Education is truly the key to freedom. I am happy to say that I was once fresh off the boat and at the same time say: I am Asian American, I am part of a community, and I am individual thinking freely on my own.

[apiasfrepresent]

/Present Voice of the Month: Radha Dahal

We are excited to announce Radha Dahal as our /present voice of the month for May 2016! Radha is a community leader that is passionate about health and giving back.  She has taken advantage of educational opportunities to better herself and others.  We are excited to highlight her this AAPI heritage month!  Here is Radha in her own words:

Tell us about yourself.

I am Radha Dahal, pursing my studies at Georgia State University to be a respiratory therapist. I am an APIASF scholarship recipient.  I will be graduating in Fall 2017.  I live in Atlanta, Georgia with my parents and siblings. I am Radha Dahal, pursing my studies at Georgia State University to be a respiratory therapist. I am an APIASF scholarship recipient.  I will be graduating in Fall 2017.  I live in Atlanta, Georgia with my parents and siblings.

Where are you from? Where are you now?

I was born in Bhutan, but became a refugee in my infancy. I spent 18 years in the refugee camp in Nepal studying under the trees and living in Bamboo huts. In 2008, I was relocated to the United State and I have been living here ever since.

Who or what do you re/present? And how?

I represent the millions of refugee youths who given a chance build themselves to be assets to humanity. I also represent the fist generation of Bhutanese American college-goers, especially the women who have deeply felt the importance of health and service for bettering the lives of their community members. With my studies to be a respiratory therapist I am gaining the required skills to serve better those who are suffering from respiratory diseases. I have also seen the difference between having an opportunity and not having one. Thus, I represent those people who make the best use of educational opportunities they get.

What has been the most significant event of your life thus far?

In 2008, I was resettled in the USA. It not only gave me a country but also a new life full of opportunities. The resettlement has made me realize how useful a human life can be to the world with opportunities like the one I got. If it had not been for this event, I would have just spent the rest of my life not being able to add value to it through my education and service with right skills to those in need.  

What superhero power would you want? And why?

I would like to be a magical healer who with a single touch could bring comfort and cure to those with acute medical conditions. I would want to be the one to bring smiles to all.

[apiasfrepresent]

may 1/ How I #repAAPIHM?

By: Willa Kurland, APIASF/GMS Scholar

I have followed the APIASF blog ever since I attended the GMS Freshman Leadership Conference way back in Fall of 2012…and submitting blog posts has continuously been on my “life things to-do list”. So anyways, here I am (I’ll be posting here on my personal blog as well). I hope this is one of those situations when late is better than never.

Here’s to a new month of new beginnings, and better documenting life happenings. If there’s anything I’ve learned these past four years, it’s the importance of reflecting and processing; especially as college quickly flies by. I hope to re/present myself and my community by engaging in conversation and critical thinking, living life fully, and further learning about the world around me!

may 1/ How I #repAAPIHM?

For me this is part of a bigger question, where do I fit in within the AAPI community?  I hope that by the end of the month I’ll have a better way of articulating my thoughts regarding this complex question. However, in this moment, I #repAAPIHM by committing myself to partake in the May 2016 #repAAPIHM blogging challenge!