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Final Thoughts

This class was broke almost every single one of my expectations. I went in to it thinking that it was just gonna be a typical class, but it wasn’t. From the very first day it was wild. It was definitely one of my favorite classes so far and I really wish I could’ve gone through it fully and not online. I really enjoyed the first half of the semester and it was very memorable. It also really taught me the importance of knowing and understanding our past and the cultures of our ancestors that came to America to understand more about us as people. I loved learning so much about Asian American culture and how it’s played a role though American history. It was really cool to understand and gain knowledge on what this country was really built on and how minorities are the base for this country. It really inspired me to want to learn more about my own history and the history of my own people in America, this class allowed me to understand more and more about how important representation, unity and culture are to our identity as individuals. It taught me much about history of civil rights for Asian Americans specifically but also made it fun along the way. It was truly memorable and I made friends in this class that I definitely connected with, it also brought me out of my comfort zone in many instances. I truly feel like I’ve grown a lot throughout this semester and one of the reasons why was because of this class, and for that Thank You.

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Stop AAPI Hate

Due to our current situation we had to cancel our P.O.P event, so instead we get to create different graphics to bring awareness to the increase in racist crimes against the Asian American community because of COVID-19.

Reading all the different reports the first time I was truly shocked to see the way that people have treated other, and I really like the idea of spreading awareness through these graphics on social media so I really wanted to make something that caught peoples eye so that they may be made aware of how important it is to stop these racist acts, because of that I was inspired to make something with the same feel of civil rights posters and flyers of the 60s civil rights movements as well as my favorite art piece Signs by Robert Rauschenberg

With that inspiration in mind, I wasn’t too sure on what I wanted to do and I made multiple different graphics but I wasn’t satisfied with any of them, and with that it was the Tuesday of the week that the graphics were due and I had nothing in mind, and while looking for pictures to use in my graphic, I found a picture of a protest that took place on March 12, 2020 in Boston, and I knew that’s what I wanted to use. Also because my original motto was very similar to one displayed in one of the posters of the protest. the original was “My Race is not a Virus” but I changed it too “My Ethnicity is Not the Virus” to match the poster. 

Here are my graphics...

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Taste of Home

I’ve moved time and time again

Memories of different places

Some more detailed than the others

Some in places I’ll never see again

Some with people who’ve passed away

Happy and Sad memories

It all feels bittersweet to remember

The country that it once was

I can’t go back too again

It’ll be there

But not the same

There's one thing that follows me along 

The fluffy toasted bolillo with olive oil and flakes of chile 

Fresh cheeses and beans

With a side of warm coffee and honey.

All this during a rainy day.

It makes me miss my childhood home, 

but also make new memories

With family and friends surrounding me

That’s Home during a rainy day.

I remember writing this when we had to write this blog, but I never posted it, To be honest I didn’t really wanna look at it because one, it's not a masterpiece, but most importantly it made me really sad, but I think looking back at it now after a month or two, I started coming more to terms with my life as an immigrant. I think I came here at a time in my life where I thought that even if I went to visit my childhood home it will always be the same, but the older I get I feel like the more that I realize that visiting places like those won’t feel the same. Honestly it's true, food really brings a piece of home with us, and for me specifically it was a simple bean torta (haha typical mexican dish), it definitely was a simple dish that really reminded me of home and reminded my mom of home as well, there are many dishes that I grew up eating with my grandma that my mom still makes today but this one dish specifically  I so vividly remember having really happy memories with my grandma and great grandparents. To clarify, I came to the states at the age of 11, about to turn 12, My grandma basically raised me while my mom came to the US when I was about 4. My mom still makes tortas for us during rainy days or sometimes in cold winter mornings because it also reminds my mom about home that she left when she was so young (she came when she was about to turn 20), sometimes when eating them we just talk about home and the things we remembers so it’s good bonding time in a way. I remember how happy I would get when my grandma would make some in a rainy morning and we would sit down to watch morning cartoons, I think I was so happy and unaware at the fact that the tortas having queso fresco (fresh cheese) was a luxury because we were really really poor at the time hence why the tortas had beans instead of beans ham and lettuce. We were poor but happy. I think that dish is one of those things that will stay the same no matter how much I move from place to place or how different it is when I go to visit my grandma in Mexico, that will always stick with me.

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CE Blog: Week 13 Check-In

I really can’t with our president anymore, I don’t think anyone can

This pandemic has really opened the eyes of many people to the fact that no matter how “American” one is, under the circumstances race will always be a dividing factor. It’s truly unfair that someone who has lived here their whole lives can be chased around and harassed just because of their looks and because the comments that Trump makes just enable all this hate and racism towards Asian Americans. It’s like no matter what the fact that we are minorities will always be there to affect us in some sort of way, I could only wish for there to be a time where race in America is not a dividing factor but sometimes it feels like that's just impossible, maybe in 100 years that could be reality but I truly doubt it, specially with how any situation at this point can cause people to turn on others because of the color of their skin or the way they look, I think we are truly far away from being at a point where race doesn't matter in America.

The fact that people in the Asian American community have to call each other to “be careful because they may face hate if they step outside” is absurd, it's like we’re back to the 50s. Then the fact the president of this country just keeps on enabling racism and xenophobia is just shows another low that this country has hit, and the way that he constantly tries to shift the blame onto other people for his own mess ups is just stupid. I really can’t with the US anymore, we’ve hit another low as a country and the fact that the Asian American community has to suffer because of it is really upsetting.

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CE Blog: Claudia Kishi Club

The short documentary talked about the way that the character from the YA book series The Baby-Sitters Club, Claudia Kishi made a big impact on young Asian American girls lives by being a form of representation for Asian American people in the media and not portraying the typical Asian stereotypes that the media constantly keep on pushing. To be honest I had never heard of The Baby-Sitters Club until now, maybe it just slipped my generation, but from the way that the artists featured in the documentary talked about the series, they seemed very interesting to me. Also I might just add the artwork for the whole documentary was just beautiful and so creative. I think this documentary really showed the importance of representation in the media, and the way that it can really impact someone's lives when growing up, the way that representation in the media really inspires people to pursue their dreams and that their dreams can be accomplished. I think that's a very important idea to be taught when one is young, because that kind of idea will stick with you for life since that’s the age of development. I think this documentary really opened my eyes on how important being represented in the media correctly (as in not according to stereotypes) is to young children growing up, I never really understood that idea growing up because representation was always played along with stereotypes and what everyone would tell me was that “that's just how the world is, the best we can do is just go along with it”. After finishing this documentary I found that representation is extremely important because it helps children understand that you can be more than what everyone makes you out to be, for example the part about Claudia’s most vivid memory and how she drew a butterfly for her self portrait, and how it symbolizes that you are more than what people see, there’s more to someone than just the color of their skin and physical features. I think that’s very important, also the fact that she wasn’t just a form of Asian American representation, but also a girl I feel like that helped a lot of young Asian girls really feel like they were capable of being cool and capable of pursuing and achieving their dreams, very much like the way that Claudia Kishi inspired the people of different professions featured in the documentary.

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BLOG #12: P.O.P. + Semester Recap

Due to the pandemic and the stay at home order, our Producing Our Power event has been transfigured into something that we could take part in while we are quarantined within the walls of our homes. For P.O.P., we had to design three social media graphics for the campaign #StopAAPIHate.

Since March 19th, the CAA has received about 1,500 reported incidents of coronavirus-related discrimination. The pandemic fueled anti-Asian American sentiments all over the country, and a lot of innocent Asian Americans are being hated upon for the things that they did not do.

For the Inform part of my design, I used the Data Analysis presented by the CAA/A3PCON STOP AAPI HATE website in order to highlight an important statistic from the reports that have been submitted to them over the past few months.

"Out of the 1,497 reports of hate submitted on the CAA/A3PCON STOP AAPI HATE website from March 19 - April 15, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, 89.8% of those reports involved racial discrimination." The photo also features a parking lot vandalized with a "No Asian Parking" sentiment as a reflection of one of the accounts that I have read while scrolling through the data that they have presented.

For the Educate part of my design, I chose to bring to light the steps that should be taken into consideration once an individual is experiencing hate. With the "When Experiencing Hate" Information link on ilearn, I have devised a way to remember that steps to take in order to get a hold of the situation at hand.

The illustration that I created is very self-explanatory. Just remember the word SAFE.

For the last part of my design, the Motivate part, it was quite hard to find a tagline that would stick. But I figured it out at the last minute and connected it in a way that brings a component of activism into the image. The call to action goes:

People should focus on how they could prevent themselves and others from being infected by the virus-- practice some empathy, consideration, and proper hygiene instead of focusing their negative energy into something that wouldn't exactly help with our current situation. I'd even argue that the anti-Asian American sentiments will probably keep us inside for longer. Remember, that hate will not lead us to a vaccine, nor flatten the curve of infection. I know we are a lot more sensible than that.

Semester Recap: Doing the P.O.P assignment was a great way to conclude the semester itself. Every blog, every creative project that I have done in this class has led me to become more aware of my roots and the socioeconomic injustices that minorities, just like Asian Americans, face on a daily basis within the United States. This class helped me to resonate better with the things that are occurring around me. I get distracted a lot with most of my biology and anatomy classes and seldom have the time to turn on the tv and watch the news online. This class has widened my consciousness about my culture and how much influence it had over the narrative that I have written for myself. I'm glad that I had the chance to experience such an amazing class with an amazing professor and an amazing group of people (especially my fruit salad peeps huhuhu). Even if we had to switch to remote instruction due to the pandemic, this class never failed to offer support and understanding throughout the semester. And to my fruit salad group mates, y'all are so supportive and super fantastic! I consider myself lucky to be in a group with you guys and I'll always treasure our fun times together! I hope you all stay safe and healthy! 🤗💞

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Blog#15: P.O.P +Semester Recap # StopAAPIHate. Please stop be racist. (Qiujun-Rachel)

In this particular period, I know that what we can do is very limited. None of us want to be treated as victims of racial discrimination. COVID-19 is a worldwide event.

I hope you can give up all stereotypes, rumors, conspiracy theories, etc., and wait patiently for the research of medical staff, medical scientists and scientists who are saving people's lives. Since I am a student from China, I hope that public opinion will not spread rumors, nor do I want international students to be attacked.

To be honest, I am also very worried about this. I appeal here to stop discrimination against Chinese, Chinese Americans, and Asian Americans. Hope everyone #StopAAPLHate.

Semester recap: I know that every student in this semester has been affected to varying degrees. Spiritually, academically. For me, I can't discuss our group assignments with the group face to face, which makes the group assignments in my professional class difficult. I was in a state of tension throughout the semester. I don't know if I can graduate successfully and then find an internship. My studies are also very affected. I often tell myself that everyone is affected, not just me. At this time, we should no longer pass negative energy. I choose to adjust my mood, and then try to find the most suitable way to learn at home. I think we should not pass more negative energy, we should believe that the world will get better. We should embrace each other, not discrimination and hostility.

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Asian American Film

According to the both movies, “Seoul Searching” and” Minding the Gap”, they both showing how the young suffering in the life while they are growing such as in the movie “Minding the Gap”, Keire has been bully his father when he still a kid. In the life that can be escapes to help they get out of those bad feeling. Also, in the movie “Seoul Searching” it shows the young people that playing around the bar, drinking, sneaking around the social and it also shows because of the relationship between to the family. However, both of the movies have to be related to “them” because of the different race, color or believe. What they have to do is be similar to the environment, if not, they will be isolated from other people.

      These two movies have been total show the cultural/generational gap because child want to escape from their parents because of the pressure, different thinking, old cultural against to the new thought. All the thing is happening around the world even thought in my home country. In the history of the U.S., because of the people are not boring in here, and most of them are coming from the immigrant or sneak in to the country. It creates lots of the “group”, those group can help their people to get better life and be stronger as a group. However, it also creates the discrimination against to the other “group” of the people because of the work are not done well, color of people, getting most of the things from other group of the people.

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Asian Americans & Education

Asian American education is really funny. In different family have different expectation. For example, Chinese family will expect their child to get the higher grade, as least will not lower than other people. On the other hand, some of the family do not really care about the child grade, they would care about what they do and what they learn from school. In Asian Americans family especially Chinese Americans, they are not want their child too early to go to work because they think when to have money, and it will make them to not want to go to school. On the other hand, American family will encourage their child to find a part time job if they can.

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Final blog

I really like this class, if there do not have the virus to stop us grouping together, this class will have more fun then other class. This year is a bad year, everytihng we done and everything we do are working together until middle of the semester.

I hate the onling class because it give us more work and also hard to stude at home. I can’t study at home because I do not have the feeling that I need to study or I am in class. Overall, I can give my grade is B.

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BLOG #11: Asian American Rituals around Celebration (Coming of Age)

There is this traditional Filipino coming-of-age celebration that is orchestrated during a Filipino woman's 18 birthday (age of maturity in the Philippines). It is called a debut. Filipino Americans take part in it too sometimes.

My parents have been restless to give me my own debut months before I neared the age of 18. But due to me being financially concerned about the whole situation, I turned the offer down, even if they suggested that I could celebrate it back home in the Philippines. If they did set up a debut, it would have been a grand celebration (bye bye wallet, but I know it'll be out of the kindness of their hearts). A Filipino woman's debut consists of countless blessings showered upon the debutante. Usually, they entering a large hall and perform traditional dances with the guests, such as the "Grand Cotillion Dance." More or less, they would usually be dazzling in puffy intricate gowns the billow upon the marble floors as they take their steps. Here is an example of Danica Carmelina wearing her debut gown:

Pretty cool, right?

One of the most important parts of the celebration is the 18 roses dance, where the debutante dances with 18 males (that's just tradition, but it could be with anybody tbh) of their choice, after being presented with a rose. The last man as her partner: her father. Below is Claudia Barretto dancing with her father on her debut:

For my 18th birthday, I didn't experience any of these things. I could have had the chance to, but I wasn't just one for big celebrations. And though they may look spectacular in every way, I don't think it would have impacted me as much as my surprise birthday party did. After a shabu shabu night out with my cousins, my parents at 11 pm sang me a happy birthday in the comforts of my own home. With a fruit cake purchased from my favorite bakery, a helium balloon on my right hand, and my hands clasped together to wish for everybody and leave little for myself, it was a cherished moment that I wouldn't trade for anything else in the world.

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Blog#12 Anime in America

For a lack of a better work, anime is...Awesome. The storytelling, the charaters, the style of animation, its just amazing and influencial. Anime was introduced in the United States in the 1960s. Astro boy was the arguably the first anime to be introduced in the US. Since then anime has become popular over several years, with shows like Dragonball Z, Pokemon, Naruto, they’ve become apart everyone’s childhood. Personally I grew up with Yu-Gi-Oh, but thats another story. Anime has also influence a lot of western animated shows. Shows like Teen Titans and Avatar the Last Airbender, these shows have a distinct style that is almost similar to Japanese animation, including over the top facial expresstion. But it didn’t just inspire animation style, it also influence strong storytelling. Most anime shows tell a compelling story that tackles with mature subjects or themes in 2D animation. Some western animated shows like Steven Universe and Adventure Time has strong themes in their story like trauma, grief, addiction, etc. This is coming from a kids show that most kids show wouldn’t even address. I strongly belive that anime has influenced western animation from its style of animation to its storytelling. 

My top 3 anime are Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Black Lagoon, and Code Geass

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Blog#14: Asian American and K-pop music(Qiujun-Rachel)

About music. I am a kpop music lover. I think KPOP culture also accounts for a large proportion of the previous American culture. I like blackpink very much, especially Lisa. I feel that blackpink has attracted many fans in the United States, and I heard that in June they will collaborate with Mrs. Gaga on a song. I am very excited. Regarding kpop, I think it is attractive to some Americans. Most dances are simple and song melodies are easy to remember. Many people like kopo idols, as mentioned by my team member, his sister is a fan of BTS. He may not like BTS songs very much, he may be forced to listen too many times, hah. I like to learn BlackPink's dance. During this time, I learned Lisa's new dance, Mushroom Chocolate. This video is very high on YouTube because it is really sexy. Lisa's charm can spread everywhere, including the United States. And I uploaded a 15-second video to Tiktok, which is really interesting. Entertainment at home is also very necessary, and dance is a way of movement.

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Blog#13 Asian American and Game - Animal Crossing (Qiujun-Rachel)

About how to be happy at home:

I believe most people like me have never stayed at home for so long.

I have never been with my pets, roommates, and family as I do now. I was very lucky to find my recent hobby: Animal crossing New horizon. This is a new game launched by Nintendo's console. I believe many Asian Americans have been exposed to this game since they were very young. Now Nintendo's switch can be downloaded to it. I am very happy to live inside. I can decorate my island, study the genetics of flowers and hybridization projects in the game, and buy a variety of furniture and clothes. It's really interesting. In this game, my friends and I go online through the Internet every day and visit each other's homes. This is really interesting. Even if this is a magical period, we can't really go out, but we can make friends through the game. The lovely style of painting makes my mood relaxed and happy. I remember Andrew Chen once said in his speech that he is also one of the players of this game. I have heard that many Asian Americans are players of this game, it blends a lot of Asian cultures with the cultures of the world. It's really a good game. This is my design in this game as if I were traveling in Japan. I walked among bamboo forests in a kimono. If you are also a player of this game, you can add me as a friend ^ _ ^

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Blog#12 Iron Chef Blog (Qiujun-Rachel)

I miss our fruit salad group very much. In our IRON CHEF activities, we really showed a subtle teamwork. We did a lot of discussion for this event, held several meetings, and finally decided how to divide the work. Yanfei and Rain made this sweet and sour chicken dish. This is my first time learning how to make this dish. Yanfei prepared the ingredients the day before. Rain is very good at cooking. I am responsible for preparing the sauce and cutting the chicken. Our other team members took a very interesting video. I believe you all feel the vitality of our group. It's really interesting. The combination of sweet and sour chicken and waffles is really interesting. It can even save a restaurant (haha). Unfortunately, covid19 prevents us from continuing to discuss interesting things in class. I believe we can face the future with strength and courage. Me and my team members.

I am really miss you guys so much!!!

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Blog#11: What is home taste like? (Qiujun-Rachel)

What home is taste like

I think the taste at home is a dish. Because only my home can make this dish.

It smells sweet and familiar, and represents the mother's hard work and training.

This dish is a Chinese dish and it includes tomatoes and eggs, although it is simple. But only mom can make that taste. This taste is like sour and sweet, and sweet and salty. Like a family, there will always be sad things, unsuccessful things, things that exceed expectations, they are sour. However, parents often give you some surprises, such as a clean and tidy bedroom, because my bedroom is often messed up by me. My mother occasionally cleans it up for me, and it becomes very clean, which is very pleasant surprise. And my parents would drive to pick me up when I had to go home late. These are all very sweet. But I also have a lot of sadness that I endured silently. For example, my parents and grandparents are getting old. I can't tell them too much pressure, so they taste salty.

I am an international student and I can only go home during my long vacation. I love these times and they relax me. I love my home, it tastes like a dish-scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Sweet, sour and salty, I love it very much, just as I love my home.

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Blog#10: Cultural Energizer!APRIL 4...(COVID-19) Hate crimes against Asians on the rise in US (Qiujun -Rachel)

＃AAS218QiujunDong

 

After watching this video, I immediately felt angry. No one wants the Corona virus to happen, and no group wants to be treated unfairly. And the most annoying thing is that most people do not react when this happens. I don't understand that when a global disaster comes, people don't help each other but hurt each other. In a worldwide disaster, a huge injury is caused to everyone, not by any group. For me personally, I am very willing to help anyone, because my family is in China, and I have a lot of knowledge to share with you on how to protect yourself. However, what I was most worried about when I was studying in the United States was how not to be discriminated against and harmed by others, rather than worrying about the virus. I hope this behavior is criticized on social media, otherwise it will cause greater misunderstanding in the United States.