This is the 13th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. "It suddenly dawns on me what this is. This is a charade, for which you are indirectly involved, Pammy. No wonder you switch from Team Chrysanthemum to Team Lau. No … Continue reading The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 13)
Month: July 2023
The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 12)
This is the 12th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. It's another weekend. Pammy, Dodo, and I are sitting at the Paris Baguette for its delicious rice donuts and coconut croissant. Our conversation lingers on its new store opening in New … Continue reading The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 12)
The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 11)
This is the 11th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. The news of Lau's heart attack spread among the restaurant patrons and throughout the Asian community, inevitably provoking a debate between Team Lau and Team Chrysanthemum--should the money from the Korean businessman … Continue reading The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 11)
The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 10)
This is the 10th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. That night, Lau and Chrysanthemum have their biggest fight over it. "He gave the money to me, for the sole purpose of fighting bad wives like you. He deliberately said that it was … Continue reading The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 10)
The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 9)
This is the 9th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Everybody has her defining event (or moment) in her life. For Chrysanthemum, this defining event didn't come until she ran away with Chow. Before this, she was a good girl, a silent partner who … Continue reading The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 9)
Trivial Differences
It is not easy to write about cultural differences. It is very significant in your own mind. However once you write it and spell it out, it sounds so trivial that it makes you think it doesn't matter one way or the other. I don't know how it makes the undesirable transition from interesting to … Continue reading Trivial Differences
Quote of The Day: Want Everything And Nothing (Part 4)
Image by Freepik This is the 4th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3. When Assia Wevill and David Wevill became their neighbor, Assia and Ted started an affair quickly and openly, much to Sylvia Plath's anguish and dismay. Ted had up to that point tried to be very respectful … Continue reading Quote of The Day: Want Everything And Nothing (Part 4)
Education In A Form Of Madness (Part 5)
This is the 5th part of the post. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3,4. Family Life I've known several families, which have the good luck of sending their kids to top colleges. They all live in this area. I have to say the aspiration of getting their kids into better colleges takes a … Continue reading Education In A Form Of Madness (Part 5)
Quote of The Day: Want Everything And Nothing (Part 3)
Image by Freepik This is the 3nd part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1 and 2. At Cambridge, Plath was astonished by the women in the university. This was the end of 1950s and it is said the university only started to accept women into their campus several years earlier. And all … Continue reading Quote of The Day: Want Everything And Nothing (Part 3)
The Robot Translator (Flash Fiction Part 13)
Image by kiquebg from Pixaba This is the 13th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. "Can you believe it? Last week Tram bought this all-in-one multi-layer electric cooking machine, that can make dough, bake bread, churn ice cream, grill meat, … Continue reading The Robot Translator (Flash Fiction Part 13)
Monday’s Meandering Mind
Be Positive It is hard to stay positive when one has to deal with a negative person. It makes one dream of the days when things will come to an end and the obligation of service is no longer there. For the time being, it is what it is and one has to endure it. … Continue reading Monday’s Meandering Mind
Education In A Form Of Madness (Part 4)
This is the 4rd part of the post. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3. Choices and More Choices I just watched an online video of a young Asian guy coming to the evening news of two weeks ago to defend his conservative Asian organization and its lawsuit, which precipitated the termination of affirmative … Continue reading Education In A Form Of Madness (Part 4)
The Robot Translator (Flash Fiction Part 12)
Image by kiquebg from Pixaba This is the 12th part of the story. The previous 11 parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. The annual office dinner is usually held at a mid-town restaurant with white table cloths, liquor license, and spotless counters, which is very different from … Continue reading The Robot Translator (Flash Fiction Part 12)
The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 8)
This is the 8th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. "If Chrysanthemum had rejected Chow's proposed runaway many times before, why did she accept the one to go to the West Coast for a marijuana farm? Why this proposal? Why this time? I mean her … Continue reading The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 8)
Education In A Form Of Madness (Part 3)
This is the 3rd part of the post. The 1st and 2nd part are here and here. Insecurity And Not Belonging For most of the Asian immigrant families, insecurity and not belonging is an overwhelming feeling. The parents of the families, usually the first generation immigrants, live in the enclave of their own communities and … Continue reading Education In A Form Of Madness (Part 3)
The Sunday Morning News
As I was doing laundry today, I listened to some news from several Asian channels on YouTube. And I just couldn't believe my ears. This is what I heard. It was about this well known woman--it really didn't matter she was well known or not since it could happen to anybody. She was married in … Continue reading The Sunday Morning News
My Miracle Sauces For Vegan Food
In order to be an "almost vegan", one has to have one or two miracle sauces, which can add flavor to any dishes. The most bland, unpromising, flavorless food can be transformed instantly when such sauces are added, sometimes just one tablespoon. And my miracle sauces are Brown Braising Sauce from Lee Kum Kee and … Continue reading My Miracle Sauces For Vegan Food
Education In A Form Of Madness (Continued)
This is the 2nd part of the post. The 1st part is here. In the 1st part of the post, I wrote a little about the recent termination of affirmative action in college admission. It is regrettable to see that Asians have played a central part in this event. I am not surprised since the … Continue reading Education In A Form Of Madness (Continued)
The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 7)
This is the 7th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. I wrote the last part of the story really badly, but I hope this part is better than the last one. Anyway, Chrysanthemums and Chow disappeared, together with two stashes of cash in two safety deposit … Continue reading The Dim Sum Drama (Flash Fiction Part 7)
Food And Tradition
When I was in high school and stayed with my maternal grandparents for a weekend, I watched them eating a fisherman's delicacy--raw crab pickled in alcohol. My grandparents had grown up in a fishing village. Even if they had moved to a big city later on, away from their traditional life, they enjoyed all kinds … Continue reading Food And Tradition
Quote of The Day: Want Everything And Nothing (Continued)
Image by Freepik This is the 2nd part of the story. The 1st part is here. I finally finished the two books "The Red Comet" and "The Silent Woman". And now let's proceed to continue the book review. In college, Plath got a chance to become an intern at the Mademoiselle magazine headquarter in New … Continue reading Quote of The Day: Want Everything And Nothing (Continued)
Education In A Form Of Madness
Education is a form of madness in the Asian community here in New Jersey. It has been this way for years, and every year it becomes a little crazier than the year before. And sometimes it seems to me that there is no limit to this craze and the intensity can just go up and … Continue reading Education In A Form Of Madness
Haoyan Do 