meL in progress

bringing in 2012

2012-01-01T23:54:00.009-05:00

On New Years Eve, Pete, Sei-Wook, and I drove up to Storm King State Park in the Hudson Valley. It was Pete's idea (this is why I married him) to do a hike on this abnormally warm last day of 2012. The trail started off with a one-mile very steep climb to the summit where we had gorgeous 360 degree views of the valley. The rest of the trail was moderate to easy, with even better views of Breakneck Ridge and Newburgh/Beacon. We passed several groups of hikers, also commemorating the end of 2011 (and one very energetic dog). I love this whole region (known as the Hudson Highlands; the hills are over 1 billion years old and formed by a glacier, which left giant boulders along the trail, the same that are found in Central Park). What a great way to end the year. This could turn into a resolution....

And keeping with our mustache spirit, Pete and I stayed in for the New Years Eve countdown. I bought crab and filet mignon for a special dinner (okay, not as mustache, but it's once a year) and cooked a three course meal. For appetizer, I made crab salad on toast, bacon wrapped gorgonzola stuffed dates, beet and orange bites. For entree, the filet mignon was accompanied by roasted garlic heads, creamed spinach, and potato gratin. And for dessert, I made buttermilk panna cotta, Riesling poached pears, and a blackberry syrup from the poaching liquid. Our New Year's Day brunch included a crab hash and a chocolate waffle with strawberry compote and leftover fresh-whipped cream. Feast your eyes! It was delicious (and this is why Pete married me).

christmas 2011

2011-12-30T22:33:00.003-05:00

Another Christmas Eve party (our annual extended family get-together) in the books--in a few more years, there might be more kids than adults! Gabriel's grown so much in just a couple of months. He's walking now (like a drunk little man, slow but not so steady) and looks just like my sister. All my nieces and nephews are adorable.

Christmas morning, the kids patiently waited for Uncle Peter and A-Gong to wake up (counting, recounting, sorting, piling everyone's gifts together, judging the biggest, smallest, skinniest, fattest present...). Then, we ate turkey congee, played lots of Spot It, and watched Kung Fu Panda 2 again. Good times!

All the cousins, smiling Gabriel, Hadynn photobombing my brother's family picture, and Christmas morning.

This past Thursday, my sister-in-law brought Jordan and Devin into New York City for the day. I met them at Grand Central, and then we ate at Patsy's, stopped by Dylan's Candy Bar, window-shopped, and visited Rockefeller Center. The kids were a little overwhelmed by the crowds (I was too, actually), but we had a great time walking Fifth Avenue and touring the Lego store. Later that night, Devin called to say I love you and good night (he melts my heart).

Playing with their food at Patsy's.

Spot Darth Vader! Devin in front of the Millennium Falcon.

A too big Jordan in the stroller holding our hot chocolates.

fall 2011

2011-12-19T18:47:00.016-05:00

It's winter. It's official, not because we're almost at Christmas, but because I've finally busted out my long puffy coat. It's been a strangely, alarmingly warm winter so far. Hopefully that makes this post less late than it really is? (Update on 12/22/11: it was 57 degrees today. What is happening!?)

Pete and I started this fall by taking a quick trip to Portland at the end of September to visit our college friends Annie and Vivek. Pete's been to Portland before, but this was my first trip to the Pacific Northwest. Brooklyn and Portland are frenemies. I feel like these cities are in constant competition with one another: who has the better localvore/slowfood restaurants, the hipper indie population, and the cooler small independent boutiques? Needless to say, I loved Portland.

On our first full day, Pete and I drove to Silver Falls, a state park known for having over ten waterfalls (one you can walk behind too, so cool). The second day I toured the Columbia Valley Gorge, driving along its historic highway and ending at the famed Multnomah Falls (Pete was visiting digital media companies). Just gorge-ous. Later, we rented bikes and rode along the Willamette River. And all three days, we ate ourselves silly: Rogue brewery, Tasty and Sons brunch, and food trucks. Burp.

Silver Falls, Multnomah, and view of the Columbia River Gorge.

Biking up and down the Willamette River.

Famous Powell's Books (where we breaked), eats and drink.

With Annie and Viv, and the best part of the trip: Meeting Rosie the most adorable dog!

A few milestones happened this fall. My brother turned 40, and his son Devin turned 5. Both birthdays kind of kicked me in the head. Crazy how quickly time flies.

Pete has been reading Mr. Money Mustache, a blog about saving money and early retirement. And so we haven't gone out to brunch in months, and we've been eating in much more. Honestly, I'm enjoying all the cooking. Pete's enjoying all the dishwashing (not really, but he's making a few dishes of his own like kimchi fried rice below).

And finally, you know it's fall when trees look like they're on fire and when daylight savings arrives (and I leave for work before sunrise). Good bye to my favorite season. Now for the holidays!

calvin & hobbes tribute

2011-12-18T12:12:00.004-05:00

Happy Holidays! (For those who grew up with Calvin and his deranged snowmen.) This makes me so happy:

cannot wait

2011-11-14T22:46:00.001-05:00

venice

2011-11-06T19:01:00.014-05:00

How does a place like Venice exist? What an amazing city: no cars, zero mopeds, and not a bicycle. The island is one giant pedestrian maze of alleys, bridges, and squares. Our only choices for transportation were boat and our own two feet. After traveling half a day from Cinque Terre, we spent a lovely, relaxing last three days exploring this very romantic, very fun city.

Day 12: arrived in Venice, first cicchetti bar hop
Day 13: the lagoon and Murano/Burano, second cicchetti bar hop
Day 14: city walking tour, Piazza San Marco and Doges Palace, one last nice dinner
Day 15: departed Venice, home sweet home in Brooklyn

Among our many friends and family who have visited (and honeymooned in) Italy, Venice was hotly debated. One friend compared it to Disney World; another claimed the city was smelly (not so in late July, at least) and overrun with tourists (yes, but we're included); several told us not to spend more than a day there. Others raved about Venice, and now so do we. Of course the city was crowded with tourists, but after sunset, we were often by ourselves--wandering around and soaking in the mysteries of Venice. And the food! We loved Venice's various cicchetti bars (delicious snacks, paired with Venetian spritzes) and ate very well (and on the cheap) two nights in a row.

Venice was a romantic last stop for us, making it very hard for us to say good bye. We are so fortunate to have had two weeks to honeymoon in Italy. Every part of the country we visited was incredibly memorable, historic, and breathtaking. I hope we can go back one day to retrace some of our steps--perhaps when both of us have a little more gray in our hair and money in our pocket. Ciao, Italia! Baci!

The view from our Airbnb apartment. We watched The Comfort of Strangers, a movie set in Venice and realized a scene was filmed in the restaurant across from our window!

Views of the lagoon from Doges Palace and cheerfully colored Burano.

Lost. All signs point to...

Piazza San Marco.

On the Rialto Bridge. "What news on the Rialto (Market)?"

Delicious cicchetti and spritz. Seafood risotto at historic Trattoria da Romano on Burano. A historic cicchetti bar near Rialto Bridge (gondoliers on a quick break).

Venice by night.

cinque terre

2011-10-29T14:25:00.005-05:00

"Did you go to Cinque Terre?" is the question Pete and I are asked most when people hear we honeymooned in Italy. Everyone raves about the region (or mourns that they weren't able to visit). Cinque Terre's scenery is surreal: tiny villages dot the coast, leading uphill to cliffside homes and alleys that dead end into jaw-dropping views of the Mediterranean. The five villages of Cinque Terre are part of the Italian Riviera, in the Liguria region in the northwest. The topography and architecture reminded us of the Amalfi Coast, but we found Cinque Terre to be slower paced, less commercial, and more homey.

Day 10: arrived in Cinque Terre, settled into Manarola
Day 11: some hiking, sunned in Monterosso al Mare, dined in Vernazza
Day 12: train to Venice

A local train and a famous hiking trail connect the villages. We stayed in Manarola, the second village (counting from the east), and the oldest and smallest of the five (Pete was astounded that our inn and the town square had no wifi to be found). The five towns go back to the Roman era--remnants of Ligurian wine pottery were found in Pompeii--and like Amalfi, the towns were plundered by pirates in the Medieval Ages. Walking around Manorola after our arrival, the village felt empty (just a handful of tourists and nonnos and nonnas), as if only ours to explore. Later, after a very memorable dinner of seafood antipasti and squid-ink pasta, we watched one of the most amazing sunsets I'm sure I'll ever see.

On our second day, we hiked through Lover's Pass (a short hike to Riomaggiore where we had breakfast), lunched and sunbathed in Monterosso, and had dinner at the top of Vernazza. Both nights, we were in bed by 10:00, not long after the entire town closed shop and turned off their lights.

(Unfortunately, a recent flood, compounded by overdevelopment, caused deadly mudslides that nearly wiped out two of the towns. I hope they recover soon.)

The view from our balcony. Walking around Manarola; the town square.

Lover's Pass (locals and visitors leave locks and love notes on the wire fences), Manarola, the setting sun over the town.

Vernazza.

florence and tuscany

2011-10-23T14:39:00.013-05:00

The first two pictures are for my friend Kaity. She was appalled that I packed for our honeymoon in a backpack and that we did our own laundry midway. We were moving around so much, it just made sense!

If I were to live in one of the three cities we visited, it would be Florence. The city had a younger sensibility (without the ancient Roman sites, I suppose?), felt calmer and quainter, and is just an hour away from breathtaking Tuscan countryside.

Day 6: arrived in Florence, had the best pizza in town
Day 7: toured the Uffizi, the Duomo square, the market, and Galleria Academia (where David resides)
Day 8: toured Sienna, San Gimignano, and Pisa
Day 9: bike tour through the hills of Tuscany
Day 10: departed for Cinque Terre

In Florence, we stayed in Oltarno, a neighborhood west of the Arno River. I enjoyed crossing the bridge to and from the city center every day. The river flows east to west, so the sunset views were gorgeous. Even more so than Rome, art is integrated into every part of the city. Renaissance sculpture is everywhere, but what I also found interesting were the buildings decorated in graffiti (not the spray painted NYC kind) and the street art.

Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel (in Rome) and statue of David are so famous and so revered, that I thought we might actually be let down seeing both in person. Not so. The sheer size and detail of David (the eyes and hands especially) are awe-inspiring. Walking up to David, you also pass Michelangelo's Unfinished Slaves, figures in various stages of the sculpting process. Seeing them made us appreciate David even more. Between the Sistine Chapel, the Uffizi, and the Academia, I think Pete and I saw the first half of our Survey on Western Art course in college.

The most affordable option for us to see Tuscany was to join a bus tour (renting a car is exorbitant). The tour stopped in Siena first, home of Italy's largest piazza (famous for its horse race) and oldest bank. Our guide took us through the different districts of Siena (each represented by a different animal--the race is a competition among them) and into what might have been the most beautiful cathedral we visited in Italy. From Siena, we had lunch in a winery and olive oil farm, with a view of San Gimignano's famed towers. Later in San Gimignano, we had gelato and rested under olive trees at the top of a fort. Our last stop was Pisa, where we took silly pictures and relaxed in the grass. Many people told us to skip Pisa, but I think the Field of Miracles was well worth the visit. The entire trip was a whirlwind through Tuscany, but I'm glad we had the chance to see all three.

The following day was more relaxing. We joined a bike tour that began in a duchess's castle (not as rare as it sounds) about 45 minutes out of Florence. It was cold and misty for the first half of the ride, but after lunch the sun came out, and the second half was lovely (except for the 19 degree hill waiting for us at the end).

I can't imagine anywhere else on earth having the scenery that we saw in Tuscany. I'm so happy we were able to spend four nights in Florence. And yes, on one of those nights, we watched Under the Tuscan Sun in the comfort of our room after eating a meal of delicious bisteca and antipasti, washed down with vino rosso. La bella vita.

Arriving in Florence and laundry; our first night in Florence, Ponte Vecchio by night and day.

The Duomo, near the Uffizi; the Academia; street art (empty frames were hung on walled scaffolding, various artists filled them with their work) and graffiti.

Siena. Piazza del Campo, the exterior and interior of the Duomo.

Lunch on a farm and San Gimignano.

Pisa and the Field of Miracles.

Biking the hills of Tuscany.

Facing west at sunset.

for subway history enthusiasts

2011-10-20T16:52:00.007-05:00

I love trains and subway history. If you do too, read this thread on Reddit! A patient subway conductor answers dozens of questions, ranging from how conductors are hired, why MTA is always broke, crazy stories, the best way to get out of the track if you fall in, everything. All with very thoughtful and well-written answers--fascinating stuff. I also love this site, which organizes photos of abandoned subway stations. (Did you know there's a whole other level to the Times Square station?!)

Beautiful, abandoned station below City Hall.

sorrento and the amalfi coast

2011-10-16T07:59:00.012-05:00

On our fourth day in Italy, Pete and I took an early morning bus from Rome to Sorrento, a beautiful resort town just south of Naples. We went from a city of 2.7 million to a town of 20,000. As we approached the Bay of Naples, the scenery changed dramatically, and in front of us were gorgeous ocean views, lemon and orange orchards, and colorful homes perched on cliffs. In Sorrento, we stayed in a spacious B&B right on Marina Piccola; from our room, we had a view of the bay and Mount Vesuvius.

Day 4: arrival in Sorrento, nap, Capri
Day 5: touring the Amalfi Coast
Day 6: quick trip to Pompeii, train from Naples to Florence

From Sorrento, we visited Capri (who knew it was pronounced like cat pee?), famous for being the playground of Roman emperors. It is now a shopper's playground, filled with luxury stores like Prada and Miu Miu. We steered clear, getting lost in a residential neighborhood.

The next day, we took the public SITA bus (after waiting quite a bit in line; there are only 2 buses every hour) to the Amalfi Coast, stopping in Positano for lunch, skipping Amalfi, and ending our day in Ravello. The bus stop in Positano left us at the top of the cliff, and we found our way down to the harbor via narrow, winding steps (which doubled as door steps and alleys).

We probably could have spent the entire day exploring Positano, but we decided to take the bus onwards to Ravello. The town sits up in the hills and is the only Amalfi coast town not on the water. We loved Ravello. It was far less crowded than Positano, with sweeping views of the entire coast and many more of backyard vineyards and orchards.

Our entire trip, we were lucky with transportation. Had we spent one more day in Rome, we would have coincided with a bus strike (preventing us from seeing the Amalfi coast) and a train strike (delaying our trip to Florence). Tugging along a tired Pete the next morning, we stopped in Pompeii on our way to Naples. Pompeii is an enormous site--I had no idea! We got badly lost (Rick Steves failed us), and I got sunburned. Seeing this preserved city (with Mt. Vesuvius looming in the background) was memorable, but not entirely enjoyable (quite a few exhibits were closed and we were cranky; lucky for us there's a Pompeii exhibit in NYC right now).

After Pompeii, we took a train to Naples, and then a high speed train to Florence. The ride back north revealed new scenery: Tuscany. Fields after fields of sunflowers and hill top castles kept me awake (Pete? Not so much).

The bus ride into Sorrento.

Our hotel in Sorrento and Capri. Sadly, we missed the famed Blue Grotto.

Capri town and Sorrento; how these homes exist on cliffsides, I have no idea.

Catching the SITA bus from Positano (we barely squeezed on!), a harbor between Amalfi and Ravello.

Scenes from Ravello. The statue and terrace are from Villa Cimbrone, where we saw preparations for a wedding. Can you imagine?!

Pompeii: the main forum, a fast food counter, and the remains of temples.

Garibaldi Station in Naples; sunflower fields.

rome

2011-10-10T13:10:00.014-05:00

At the end of July, Peter and I were lucky to have had two full weeks in Italy for our honeymoon. Neither of us have been, and I planned a busy itinerary, probably pushing Pete to see more than he would have on his own or with his buddies. Overall, I think we struck a nice balance between site-seeing and relaxing (though Pete might say differently...). I booked all of our accommodations through Airbnb or Tripadvisor recommendations. Pete compiled a list of suggested restaurants before going, and we relied heavily on Rick Steves' Italy for tours and self-guided walks. It was a DIY vacation that went surprisingly smooth.

Day 1: arrived late morning, Borghese Gallery and nap, then the Spanish Steps
Day 2: bike tour of Rome and Trastevere
Day 3: the Roman Forum and Vatican

I'm glad we started in Rome. It was hectic, crowded, and rowdy. There were more tourists in Rome than anywhere else we visited, and the stores and restaurants were the most hawkish--Rome was the only place we were scammed (at a restaurant we should have walked away from). That said, the crowds and opportunism are understood. Rome was incredible: the ancient Roman Forum and Colosseum, Vatican City, the Pantheon, historic churches and monuments around every corner, sweeping vistas at the end of busy roadways. "All roads lead to Rome" has new meaning for me now.

Pete and I stayed in a neighborhood slightly outside of the city center, near the Borghese Gallery. I'm proud to say we didn't take one taxi our entire stay in Italy. We learned to navigate the *practically* free bus systems and trains. We grew to love the espresso machines that all our hotels/apartments included.

We both enjoyed Rome's energy, feeling at home in a big city away from our own. The best part of Rome may have been the public, delicious, naturally cold water brought into the city by ancient aqueducts. Amazing.

Pete found a bike tour for us our second day in Rome. He's taught me to love biking, and we bike every place we visit. We cover so much more ground, and you really get a feel for the lay of the land. Biking past Victor Emmanuel and Castel Sant'Angelo (the pope's fortress).

Walking through the Roman Forum and the Colosseum were highlights for me. I have a much better understanding of history now (the end of Rome --> the rise of Christianity). Our tour of the Vatican and St. Peter's was exceptional--this is why I love traveling. Pete's blog post here.

Mosaic that looks like painting, and painting that creates the illusion of 3D.

Photos and more photos. Pete used his iPhone camera the entire trip. He has a bunch of photos like the one above, not realizing the camera is facing him (usually under too bright sun). Too funny!

glee and being elmo

2011-09-22T17:19:00.002-05:00

So awesome.

empire state of mind

2011-09-11T14:24:00.004-05:00

Directed by Spike Lee.

annual lee family tour

2011-08-30T10:40:00.012-05:00

One month out of my summer vacation, I embark on what Pete has termed the Lee Family Tour, where I visit my brother in upstate NY, my sister in Baltimore, and my parents in southeastern PA, and stay a night or more at each. Combined with three weddings, August was a very busy month.

My nieces and nephews are growing up so fast. Jordan, my oldest, will be in first grade next week. Her little brother Devin will be riding the bus with her now that he's in kindergarten. She'll protect him, although he has a pretty good karate kick and punch of his own. The tooth fairy also paid a visit to Jordan this summer, leaving her wide eyed at the glitter on her window sill. Devin is turning out to be the more loquacious of the two. As soon as I got to my brother's house, he narrated the entire Star Wars visual encyclopedia to me: Admiral Ackbar to Yoda. He pretty much died and went to heaven at Star Wars Weekend at Disney World earlier this summer. I love these pictures, especially of Darth Vader signing Jordan's princess book and Darth Maul surprising Devin (and a very amused Darth Jordan afterwards).

My sister's daughter Hadynn is adorable and so precocious; I swear she has adult conversations with me in her three year old voice.

"Would you like some juice?"

"Sure, I would like some mango juice. Thank you so much!"

"You're very welcome."

"Where's Uncle Pee?"

"He's with Chocolate."

"Oh. Chocolate and Uncle Pee are at your home. Please tell them I said hello. I think I'll go put on some music now and dance. The hokey pokey, if you well."

And Gabriel, the baby, is cruising and will be walking any minute. When he wants out of his high chair, he bounces up and down until he's pushed his chair three feet away from the table. And then he sits there amazed at what he's done. I've never seen a baby transition from a cry to a smile so quickly. He'll be one very soon!

wedding: video & photo preview

2011-08-07T12:12:00.012-05:00

They're here! Peter and I have been anticipating the video and photography from our wedding. Our videographers Full Frame are from Nashville, and we first saw their work on Style Me Pretty, a wedding blog. They are exceptional and make every wedding they film look absolutely beautiful.

Our photographers Josh and Amber Finsel (Amber was in her third trimester during our wedding!) are based out of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, and we clicked with them immediately. They were amazing to work with (laid back, considerate, and so kind), and we were especially impressed with their candid, journalistic shots.

Both our videographers and photographers tell a story through their work, and that's what impressed Pete and me the most. We splurged on documenting our wedding. Pete felt it was one of the more important expenditure (he says it shapes how you remember the event), and I couldn't agree more. We're thrilled!

The slideshow is first; our wedding trailer is second.

first wedding photos: slideshow

2011-07-13T22:01:00.015-05:00

A couple of days before the wedding, I said to a few friends: "If I could do it all over again, I'd plan a big party at a restaurant in NYC and then a banquet back in Philly for my parents and family." After our wedding, I take all those words back.

Planning our wedding was a lot of work for many people, and I tend to veer towards what's uncomplicated and easiest for everyone. But after our wedding, I wouldn't have changed a thing. I'm so happy to be married to Peter, and I'm thankful to have had a more formal, weekend-long wedding celebration of our marriage with family and friends. Looking through the first photos I have so far, I'm so appreciative to have had a beautiful wedding with only one hitch (an opportunely timed thunderstorm--no one got soaked) and lots of laughter and love.

I decided to create a new, simple slideshow out of the photos my brother-in-law Newman and sister-in-law Vivian took (Newman's original slideshow file got corrupted when I transferred it over to my computer). May I suggest you play your favorite John Legend song in the background as you watch? Enjoy!

wedding gift

2011-07-10T16:31:00.009-05:00

The video below is an incredible wedding gift from our friend Ken, who Peter went to high school with. Ken enlisted his good friend Xiaonan Sun to create this timelapse portrait of us. A big thank you to Ken! I had a slideshow created by my brother in law Newman up, but it had a few bugs in it. I'll repost it when I get the chance!

married.

2011-07-04T22:22:00.002-05:00

nawlins

2011-06-21T22:39:00.011-05:00

Earlier in June, my four bridesmaids and I took a quick weekend trip to New Orleans for my bachelorette (my sister who is my maid of honor and a mother of two, reluctantly declined...).The five of us ate every four hours (rich, buttery, slow-cooked food like red beans and rice, jambalaya, gumbo, eggs benedict,...), drank hurricanes and Abita, and took in the Big Easy. New Orleans is unlike any other city I've visited in the U.S. The French Quarter reminded me, oddly, of Hanoi and Laos, which makes sense but would never have occurred to me without seeing it all in person. Visiting NOLA feels like visiting the past (the Mississippi River and levees, Jackson Square, plantation homes, music, and did I mention the food?), and its historical, cultural, and culinary significance will keep me coming back to this city again and again.

Despite the intended debauchery, our trip was actually relaxing. I was with fantastic company. Though my girlfriends didn't know each other very well before this trip (they span high school, college, and teaching), I realize why they're my closest friends. They share the same sense of humor (dry, witty, sarcastic), are amazingly generous (especially in spirit), and are all straight shooters. Together, we bonded and had a great time laughing, eating, and drinking our way through Nawlins. A big thanks to Michelle, Kaity, Karin, and Sally for making one of my last few weekends as a (technically) single lady memorable! XOXO, y'all.

Jackson Square and Sally making a few extra bucks.

Eating. And eating some more. My four lovely bridesmaids.

Eating and touring our way through the French Quarter and Uptown.

Night out #1 and #2.

Music on Frenchmen Street to start, Bourbon Street to end.

wedding planning

2011-06-04T10:06:00.002-05:00

My six-year old niece is helping Pete and me plan our wedding attire.

Men's (notice the bow-tie, tie, and boutonniere)

Ladies' (notice the purse, birdcage, bouquet, and hair pin)

We'll have to save these for when she's wedding planning herself!

brunch, meet waffle

2011-05-30T21:24:00.007-05:00

Brunch, for yuppies, is a NYC institution. For my girlfriends and me, it's our meal of choice on a lazy weekend afternoon. For restaurants, it's a giant money-maker (since ingredients cost much less). But for Pete and me, we've now opted to cook at home, brew our own coffee, and save the $35 we would have easily spent for the same (or worse) meal. And I have to say, I'm perfecting our at-home brunch menu (Pete calls my would-be brunch spot Kitty's Corner).

Blueberry pancakes, leftover roasted beet salad; hash brown (which my dad taught me to cook), kale salad, and soft scrambled eggs

And our newest game changer is the waffle maker, a bridal shower gift from my cousins. These are good times. Behold the glorious griddled goodness:

Sour cream, cheddar, jalapeno waffle with mango salsa; whole wheat waffle with sauteed bananas

happy mother's day

2011-05-09T22:55:00.004-05:00

A bittersweet salute to mothers. This is the story of so many of my students' parents. I'm a softy, granted, but just try not to shed a tear.

pre-wedding photos

2011-04-21T22:00:00.011-05:00

Peter and I have been engaged for almost a year and a half, so these photos are our "pre-wedding" pictures. We procrastinated. I'm not sure why we waited so long, but I think we both feel awkward having our photos taken (with just the two us) and being the wide-open center of attention (hello, wedding day!).

We took our photos in Prospect Park and really lucked out with the weather after a rainy week. Our photographers, Josh Finsel and Amber Breiner (a husband and wife team--four big cameras on four shoulders), helped put at us ease. They're laid-back, we're laid-back: perfect. (We saw another couple taking photos. Their photographer asked the woman to gracefully hold a cherry tree branch while looking lovingly into her future husband's eyes. Thankfully, Josh and Amber didn't have us do that.) I think half our pictures are us making silly faces because we felt so awkward and goofy. So far, here are two we like (from a preview Amber sent us):

And the two of us being goof-balls:

(Anticipating stubble; Pete pushing me into a pillar)

video chatting

2011-04-10T16:36:00.003-05:00

Technology is awesome.

chocolate washington

2011-03-30T20:21:00.004-05:00

Pete took this picture one weekend morning. Chocolate is wearing a sweater Halmuni knitted for him. Immediately, we thought of portraits of George Washington. It's just something about Chocolate's ears when they're overgrown. And below are pics of him post-groom. He always reminds me of a baby deer with short hair.

work

2011-03-29T19:40:00.009-05:00

I took on too much this semester at school. I'm teaching three periods of a brand new course for me (economics, which has been super fun), an after-school course offered by our local community college (college reading), teaching one period of an elective that I've had to entirely revamp (International Relations), and still teaching one period of ESL (currently reading The Things They Carried, one of my favorite novels). I love every minute while I'm in class, but the prep and the grading have left me exhausted. This is the first time I've ever had more than 100 students (and 4 preps). I've spent way too many 12 hour days at school these past few months. Hence, I've barely written in my blog. (And by the way, the talking heads on TV who say teachers leave at 3 PM, work only 10 months out of the year, and should be paid LESS, can kiss my $@#).

The janitor for the 5th floor and I have become good friends. I've discovered the custodians occasionally put on funk music through the building-wide PA system in the after hours. I've gotten to know a few students who have reverse curfews (they're not allowed home until a certain hour, for whatever reason). And some students get to school early and sleep in the classrooms. It's funny what you wouldn't have observed otherwise.

So, I'm tired. Brain-dead tired when I get home. But you know, I don't think I've ever been a more effective teacher. And every day is rewarding (even if I tanked that day).

When I get the look ("Why are you a teacher...didn't you go to Columbia?"), all I can say is that there's no other job like teaching. And that's the honest truth. ("You wish you could do what I do, as well as I do.")

happy baby

2011-02-13T15:57:00.006-05:00

Gabriel is almost four months old. He looks just like my sister. The trend is undeniable. My nephews resemble their moms, and my nieces resemble their fathers. And all of them are too cute!

no more, please

2011-01-26T23:29:00.014-05:00

Really? No, I'm fine. You'll see, I can pee just fine inside. When? When you're asleep.

You're dreaming. Me frolic in snow? Think grimy paws and salt-burns. Think me dirtying your coat when you have to pick me up. Guess what? I actually don't like this jacket as much as you think I do.

Can't sniff anything out there anyways.

You're really taking me outside? Really. Fine, I'm not wagging.

just incredible

2011-01-21T00:24:00.003-05:00

I'm completely amazed by this, and it's just the trailer.

This especially because I'm in my pajamas, nestled in the comfort of my bed in a Brooklyn apartment.

an F express?

2011-01-12T19:03:00.005-05:00

Update: Boy, was I wrong! The platform will only be temporary, allowing MTA to repair the side platform. No express train...yet.

There's been talk for a while now about opening up an F express train in Brooklyn. Logically, an F express would stop at my closest station, 9th Street-Fourth Avenue, since there's a popular transfer there to the R line. But how to connect the inaccessible express tracks in the middle of the elevated station to the local platforms on the sides?

Amazingly, over the past couple of weeks, MTA workers have not only built a platform but a staircase that will (I'm guessing) eventually connect to at least one of the local platforms. Construction has been super fast, and I'm excited to see the final result and how they'll eventually connect the two platforms. It's pretty incredible how a subway system more than 100 years old continues to breathe and evolve.

And one more fun NYC trivia tidbit (which I love), the elevated 4th Ave. station is actually lower than the underground 7th Ave. station (the next stop). Who knew the incline between 4th and 7th Avenues was so steep? This makes perfect sense now, but I had always assumed I was further underground at the 7th Ave. stop than I actually was. Fascinating.

chinese parenting

2011-01-09T20:39:00.011-05:00

Amy Chua, author of World on Fire and a new book titled Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, wrote a controversial essay in this weekend's Wall Street Journal (over 1,400 comments, many cringe-inducing and racist), "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior."

I remember reading World on Fire in a seminar on Globalization in college. Like her article, I found it provocative, but more concerned with being inflammatory than thoughtful. Her article in WSJ argues that western parents (I'm not clear who she actually means here) are overly concerned with maintaining their children's self-esteem. They over-praise and allow their children to give up too easily. They offer their children too much freedom and choice. Chinese parents, on the other hand, give praise sparingly and dish out harsh criticism when high expectations, which they dictate, are not met.

Chua's own examples (raising her two daughters) sound self-righteous, self-congratulatory, and flippantly unconcerned with the stereotypes about Asians she is perpetuating (particularly Asian women--how is a tiger mother different from a dragon lady?). Her definition of success is likewise narrow (she singularly focuses on her children's A grades and musical accomplishments). Her poor writing aside, I do agree with what I optimistically gather are her overall arguments:

- today's American parents (not necessarily white and inclusive of Asians) overpraise--I see this all the time as a teacher.
- today's American parents have lower expectations for their children (usually to protect their children and themselves from failure and disappointment)
- today's American parents allow their children too much choice, giving way too entitlement

Talking with my mom about this article, she argues that she was not the kind of parent that Chua makes herself out to be. And she wasn't. I was allowed sleepovers. I played outside with neighbors, often till dinner time, without their supervision. My parents encouraged me to speak up, to be active in school activities, and to be well-rounded. That said, my parents also called me "stupid" and "bad" in Hakka when I didn't perform or behave to standard (though my mom adamantly argues that these words are not as harsh as they sound in English). They had high expectations for me (my dad more so than my mom), which I appropriated for myself. My mom and I had knock-down brawls over practicing piano (to this day, I still have a complex about playing piano in public, though I can comfortably give a speech to hundreds of people). I'm thankful for how hard my parents pushed me (including learning piano, which I sometimes enjoy playing on my own now).

I wish Chua's article was better-written. I think she raises some interesting questions. But her tone, argument, and anecdotal support instantly put both "western" parents (My kids are well-rounded! Your kids are robots!) and "eastern" parents (I don't call my kids "garbage!" And even if I did, your kids are too entitled anyways!) on the defensive. I also wish her daughters had more of a voice in the article, but that may be representative of Chua's argument itself.

2010 in review

2010-12-31T17:57:00.015-05:00

Happy New Year! Tomorrow begins a new decade, which is just incredible. Does time pass exponentially faster as one gets older? Ten years ago, I was in high school. Holy moly.

I haven't written much in the past few months. Most of my posts have been captions for photos or video. It's been hard to write. I either have too little to say or too much to process (and then I just give up and go to bed). I'm happy to have had a few days to think about the year and an excuse to write short paragraphs about multiple, various topics.

On Family

This year, my father turned 70. He doesn't look 70, and most people are surprised he even collects social security. In my mind, when I picture my father, I see him as an amalgam of multiple ages (65, 70, 52, etc.) all at once. It's as if I've developed Platonic ideals of who my father and mother are. There are certain photographs (my parents on their wedding day) and memories (my father holding any one of his grandchildren as infants) that are imprinted so clearly. And when I think of my parents, I see a combination of all those images. I spent the past two days at home, and when I see my mom and dad, I wonder if I really see them for who they are in the present. I think it must be the same when they think of us. Already, I find myself being surprised every time I see Jordan.

On Schools

The second week of December was a bad week for New York City schools. In the news were the following stories: a teacher miscarried after attempting to break up a fight, hundreds of students rioted at Murry Bergtraum HS (down by City Hall), and a student punched a teacher in the eye. And the previous week, the NYC Department of Education announced they were closing twelve schools. The first school I ever taught at is on the list. I googled the principal's name and found that last year, he left to be the principal at the only other all boys public high school in the city. I wonder why he left, or rather, when he realized the school he started (back in 2003) was failing. I feel badly for the school's students and teachers, and wonder what could have been done differently (and what couldn't be done at all). To top it off, the last school I taught at received a D, just a few points shy of an F. I'm thankful to be teaching in a good school now, and I know I'm lucky. But what makes my school good? The students? The teachers? The principal? Would our school still be an A-school if we served a different population? I'd like to think so, but I don't know. The question is probably moot. Regardless, I'm proud of what my school does for the population it serves, but I know that its success is, most likely, outside the greater context.

On Books

I read twelve books this year. It's a sad number. Reading more is one of my new year's resolution (Pete has set a goal of 40, I'm going to try the same.) Happily, many of the books from this year were inspiring. I was introduced to V.S. Naipul and loved both Miguel Street (short stories) and A House for Mr. Biswas. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson was another memorable, beautifully quiet novel. The prose, pace, and narrative points of view for both authors were all so thoughtful, controlled, and challenging (for the reader). I will be reading more from both authors in the new year. This was also a year of great nonfiction for me. Better by Atul Gawande and Dreams from My Father by Pres. Obama both resonated with me: Better about what professionalism means, Dreams about dual and reconciled identities. I suppose I made up for quantity with quality (which is ultimately a good thing).

On Near and Far

I'm so fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit Southeast Asia, especially Cambodia. There are unforgettable landscapes (rice paddies into the horizon, temples at dawn, floating villages) in that country that I think about almost every day. And similarly, Bannerman Island, up the Hudson River, is another memorable trip for an entirely different reason (just the perfect day trip with Peter).

On Peter, Chocolate, and Halmuni

This was a banner year for Peter and his company Barrel. I still remember when Barrel was out of our apartment in Astoria (Wook bounding in on weekend mornings, in his last year of college, to work with Peter in the third bedroom). How long ago that seems, especially after this year (which Pete recaps in the link above). I'm so proud of Peter. And Chocolate? He's balding (there's a little spot on his back that's thinning), but he's keeping warm in custom-made sweaters by Halmuni, who is still with us, knitting and cooking away with Korean soap operas (older men with younger wives seems to be the year's big theme) playing in the background. This is my little family in Brooklyn.

Looking Forward to 2011
Peter and I are getting married! And we just bought tickets for a two week honeymoon in Italy. We've both never been. I might be more excited for Italy than the actual wedding (half kidding, mom). Wishing everyone a healthy and happy new year!

nor'easter

2010-12-27T09:05:00.004-05:00

About 18 inches of snow fell in less than 24 hours here in Brooklyn. I tried to take Chocolate out this morning, but he wasn't having it. The snow was taller than him, so I carried him to the road, which was the only space that's been plowed or shoveled so far. For a dog that's supposedly from Vermont, he doesn't have an ounce of VT in him. It was a quick trip to the loo for him.

The wind is still pretty fierce, and it's too cold to melt the snow. I can hear the scrape of the shovels and the buzz of snowblowers outside our window (but where to put the snow?). Every major form of public transportation is suspended or delayed, but somehow, coffeeshops, laundromats, and delis are slowly but surely opening up for business. I don't think the 24-hour deli across the street closed its doors last night. New York always amazes me.

happy holidays!

2010-12-26T18:57:00.006-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

My Aunt Silvia and Uncle Jon hosted our extended family's annual Christmas Eve party. It was a full house with twenty-three adults, five kids, and one baby. Our family is only getting bigger and bigger. Next year, there will be another baby girl in the house, and pretty soon, the couch won't be able to hold all the grandkids.

Amazingly, we're all looking forward and not blinking (and sort of at the same camera).

Gabriel and Hadynn--cuter than ever.

Hadynn, Lucas, Karina, Devin, and Jordan.

thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-28T20:19:00.005-05:00

My parents hosted Thanksgiving, and the new count includes eight adults, four kids, and two dogs. A five, four, two-year-old, and baby make for a very festive holiday (and a not so easy family picture). This was our first time seeing Gabriel since his birth, and happily, he is doing well--healthy, cute, and chubby. Pete managed to baby-sit all three in one shot with his iPad (while waiting for dinner). Dinner was delicious (hello turkey and stuffing, meet japchae and kimchi) and was quickly followed by food coma. Another successful Thanksgiving has passed much too quickly.

monster snl

2010-11-23T20:22:00.003-05:00

Figures that Sesame Street does SNL better than SNL.

autumn in brooklyn

2010-11-07T21:16:00.004-05:00

Since we moved into our apartment in Brooklyn three years ago, the New York Marathon has been a tradition for Pete and me. I love how our neighborhood comes out to watch and cheer (we're close to Mile 6), with kids and dogs in tow. The last few years have been sunny, beautiful days. Daylight savings gave us an extra hour of sleep, so we took advantage of the rest of the day to bike in Prospect Park (the trees are gorgeous right now), make apple pie and dinner, and watch football (Chocolate included). All in, a great autumn Sunday.

bumble bee

2010-11-06T08:08:00.003-05:00

She is too cute.

Is it weird that I enjoy Halloween more and more as I get older? New York City on Halloween weekend is a giant, wonderful crazy town. And what's better than my little nieces and nephews in costume?

watch what happens

2010-11-03T20:40:00.001-05:00

Loved this.

apples and pumpkins

2010-11-01T20:27:00.005-05:00

Fall 2010 is going by too quickly. It's cold out there now! I am not looking forward to 5:00 sunsets, but I do love Thanksgiving and the holidays. Here are some photos I've been meaning to publish.

Apple and pumpkin picking with Hadynn and Gabriel in tummy. More pics to come of Hadynn as a bumble bee.

Jordan and Devin celebrating Halloween (dragon and fairy).

happy halloween!

2010-10-31T19:10:00.004-05:00

Pete and I were swiss cheese covered in rats and mice we bought from Ikea. Despite being cute and stuffed with friendly stitched eyes, they were still gross-looking. After I cut them off our shirts, I almost gagged when I stuffed them all in a bag for possible future Halloween use (seeing all those long rat tails). Rats just have that visceral reaction, huh?

his and hers

2010-10-21T19:16:00.004-05:00

Last weekend, I went with my mom to a jewelry show to look at nuptial bling. Given the opportunity to celebrate our love with matching his and her wedding rings,...

Pete declined. I'm not sure how I should feel about this.

the newest baby sund

2010-10-11T16:07:00.006-05:00

Welcome to the world, Gabriel Lucas Sund!

Congratulations to my sister and her husband! Vivian gave birth this morning at 5:38 AM. The delivery went smoothly, and mom and baby boy are doing well. Hadynn is now a big sister!

Apparently, I have a way with second babies or baby nephews. My presence induced the labor of both Devin and this little one (that's my story, at least). But thankfully, I was there both times to baby-sit my little nieces as they became big sisters (unbeknownst to them).

What am I going to do with this peanut?

saying good bye

2010-10-03T21:41:00.004-05:00

This weekend was The New Yorker Festival, and Pete and I bought tickets to The Social Network (so good! And we were lucky to hear Justin Timberlake, Jesse Eisenberg, and Aaron Sorkin speak afterwards) and talks by Atul Gawande and Malcolm Gladwell, two writers for the magazine whose books we also enjoy. Atul Gawande writes fascinating articles about medicine and healthcare, in addition to being a renowned surgeon. The title of his talk was "How to Live When You Have to Die," and much of it was based on his article from the August 2nd issue of the magazine.

I knew his talk would bring back memories of my grandmother's passing , but I didn't think his discussion would mirror her situation so deeply. My grandmother fell ill when I was living in Taiwan. She was in her mid-nineties then, healthy and still sharp despite her old age. Her decline came suddenly. She felt ill, had flu-like symptoms, and before we knew it, she was in the ICU. For the next eight months, three months after I arrived in Taiwan, she lived in a hospital, attached to a respirator, feeding tube, catheter, was undergoing dialysis, unable to speak, and in and out of consciousness.

I was not close with my grandmother. Distance and language kept us from having a more intimate relationship. Still, I felt an enormous responsibility on behalf of my mother, who was very close to her but halfway around the world. That year, I experienced a bout of depression that my roommates recognized, but I did not (till many months later). And when I returned to the States, I briefly relapsed, having had to say good bye, knowing that I would never see her again. She passed away about five months later.

Listening to Gawande's talk, a rush of emotions came back to me. In particular is the anger and frustration I felt about her condition. There was zero chance of recovery. Few of her organs functioned on their own. And yet, she remained in the hospital for a year. Medical technology makes this possible. Dying is no longer measured in hours or days, but in months and years. Meanwhile, as Gawande explained, the patient often sacrifices significant quality of life in the present (the ability to move, eat, or breathe with any measure of ease) for the possibility of added time later.

Doctors do not like to tell their patients that there is nothing left to do. In reality, Gawande says, there's always something more to do. And many times, according to his analogy, people are simply purchasing a one in a million lottery ticket that they or their loved ones will be that miracle winning recovery. The price of that ticket is often pain and suffering, for both patient and family.

Because I was on the other side of the island, I only visited my grandmother in the hospital about twice a month. She was usually asleep. Occasionally, she would stare at me blankly as I would helplessly update her about my mom, the rest of my family, and myself. But once, when I was helping her live-in nurse bathe her, she woke up and looked at me with such lucidity that I was startled. She looked startled too, confused to see me, and then embarrassed that I was doing something so intimate. Maybe I read far more into her expression than was actually there. But regardless, I will remember that moment vividly for the rest of my life, with no small amount of sadness. And at the same time, I know that these moments of consciousness were what my eldest uncle held onto, and what prevented him from agreeing to let her go much sooner.

I think about my grandmother almost every day. I wish my memories were fonder. More than anything I wish someone had asked my grandmother what she wanted, how much she would have been willing to suffer, and how she would have liked to pass. Gawande argues that these difficult discussions are essential. And yet, 2 out of 3 terminal cancer patients have not had an end-of-life conversation with their oncologist.

The talk ended with a comment from an audience member. The woman, who looked not much older than me, had lost her husband. He had been diagnosed with cancer just before the birth of their first child. He was given two years. Her husband decided not to pursue treatment. Tearfully, she described how happy they were for those two years, how they had time to discuss things like how he would like her to raise their child and how she got to say to him that she would not have asked for a better marriage. She ended, and the talk ended, by saying that she wished what she had for everyone else.

nieces and nephew

2010-09-28T18:52:00.011-05:00

She's a little bubba. I can't believe she'll be two in a few more days.

I can't believe this guy turned four.

And I really can't believe this little lady rides a school bus. My brother be warned. She's going to be breaking a lot of hearts. They are all growing up so fast.

bannerman's and dia:beacon

2010-09-26T13:14:00.011-05:00

If you've ever taken the northbound Metro North train up to Poughkeepsie, then you've probably seen Bannerman Island and Castle just before entering Breakneck Tunnel. It is a romantic structure that looks completely out of place in the middle of the Hudson River. Pete indulged my fascination with New York history and drove up to Beacon (a dock and quaint town easily accessible via Metro North) with me. From there, we took a boat to the 6-acre island. After landing, we were given a one-hour group tour by our wonderfully charming volunteer-guide Gary. (Retired tour-guide could be my future).

The island has a long history, dating back to Dutch colonization. In the early 1900s, the Bannerman family took over the island, using it as a storage facility for their used-arsenal business (they were booted out of Brooklyn, fearing an accidental explosion from the weapons being stored there) and summer home. The island's castle was actually the main warehouse, complete with chicken coops on the top floors, used to feed the workers living on the island. Bannerman built his business from the resale of used-military goods after the Civil War and later became the largest (and possibly first?) arms-dealer in the world (even supplying used weapons to the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese War).

Preservation for the island is woefully underfunded. Last winter, a large part of the castle crumbled under the weight of ice and snow. Please visit the island if you live in the area ($15 from your boat ticket goes to the trust). In mid-October, the island and the Hudson highlands will be even more gorgeous in reds and yellows.

Bannerman Castle and the Bannerman residence (bottom two).

After Bannerman Island, Pete and I visited Dia:Beacon, a contemporary art museum not far from the train station. The museum is housed in an amazing space (an old box factory) and the surrounding gardens were designed by Robert Irwin. The space is filled with huge installations that would never have had a place in the cramped museums of New York City. Out of all the exhibits, I enjoyed Sol LeWitt's Drawing Series, walls of deceptively simple line-drawings in pencil that play with geometry, scale, and color.

And back in Brooklyn, we had a delicious dinner at Grocery in Carroll Gardens. We couldn't have had a better autumn Saturday date.

waiting for superman

2010-09-17T16:29:00.009-05:00

Last Thursday (while two tornadoes were hitting Brooklyn), Pete and I were in Manhattan watching a screening of Waiting for Superman, a new documentary by the same film-makers behind An Inconvenient Truth. I cannot tell you how infuriating, frustrated, and overwhelming this movie is, especially as a NYC public school teacher. The screening was held at the Ford Foundation, and following the movie was a brief panel discussion, which included the movie's producer Lesley Chilcott.

The movie centers around five families (four impoverished and one upper-middle class) who hope to win entry into charter schools. Entry is by lottery, a heart-wrenching event that serves as the film's climax. While the movie advocates for successful charters (like KIPP-LA and Harlem Children's Zone), the lottery is a larger metaphor for our nation's failure to educate our children. As Chilcott explained after the movie, parents and their young children (who, at less than ten years old, recognize the inequality around them), hope to "win" a great education. These charters have become their ticket out of a failed system that begins at elementary and ends in high school "drop out factories."

Why urban schools are failing (the economic, historical, and systemic reasons) is not addressed, and this has been a major criticism of the movie. What is addressed is what the film-makers say works: longer school days, great teachers, and accountability. All three are difficult to accomplish in our nation's school systems. Major impediments the movie cites are large state and city bureaucracies, the powerful teacher's union, and a lack of political will. (Soon to be out-going DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee figures prominently in the film. However, in my opinion, her scorched earth philosophy of doing business, despite how innovative her ideas are, will not win people to her side. And those people include parents and dedicated, long-time professional educators.)

I agree with the movie. Bad teachers need to go (if you work in a school, one always, immediately comes to mind). Great teachers are hard to develop (Geoffrey Canada, HCZ's founder, says it takes no less than five years to be a master teacher. In New York City, 1 in 4 teachers leaves after two years). Long school days (my students uncommonly have at least 9 periods, sometimes 10 or 11) work and are necessary given how much catch-up is needed. And accountability is a buzz-word that is important, but difficult to define and measure.

In the end, the movie does not offer any more solutions than this. But that's not the purpose. The movie is designed to raise awareness to a gut-checking level, to simultaneously outrage and inspire.

By the end, I bawled, openly and uncontrollably. "ALL children deserve a GREAT education." And in my head was a revolving carousel of every student I've ever had that the education system I work in has failed.

Please see the movie.

i don't watch basketball...

2010-09-15T23:55:00.008-05:00

but I'm going to have to start (at least the Golden State Warriors, if Taiwanese-American Jeremy Lin plays)!

From gchat:
Me: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/sports/basketball/15nba.html?_r=1
Pete: jeremy lin?
Me: yah
Pete: hmph
Me: what, aren't you proud?
Pete: i guess, not korean
Me: hehehehe
Pete: hmph
Me: sorry he's not an actor or singer

Pete's so jealous.

It's hard to describe the feeling, but it's just so exciting to see an Asian-American (Taiwanese-American like me) getting signed by the NBA. From the NYTimes:

Through five games at 19 minutes a game, [Lin] played creditably. Then, in the final game, Dallas was facing Washington and John Wall, the No. 1 draft choice, when another Mavericks guard was injured.

In the fourth quarter, Lin forced a jump ball with Wall, made a steal, tore a rebound from a 7-footer, hit a 3-pointer and made a rousing spin move that drew a charging call, dredging boos from the crowd. In the days that followed, the phones rang. Lin chose Golden State.

se asia: cambodia

2010-09-13T23:09:00.004-05:00

Cambodia is unlike any country I've ever visited. We spent too few days there, but between our bus ride to Phnom Penh from Saigon, our day in the capital, and our few days in Siem Reap, I can say the country is breathtakingly, undeniably beautiful. Around Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, the land is pancake flat, filled with rice paddies that extend to the horizon.

Rice paddies for miles and the heart of Phnom Penh.

During our very brief stay in Phnom Penh, we visited Choeung Ek, one of the most notorious Khmer Rouge killing fields, only 17 km outside of Phnom Penh. A visit to Choeung Ek, where more than 17,000 Cambodians (including entire families from grandparent to grandchild) were executed in a span of four years, is a somber, memorable experience. Disguised and hidden in a former Chinese cemetery, the Khmer Rouge dug graves so shallow that bones and clothing are visible in the ground, brought to the surface by seasonal rains. It has been just over thirty years since the Vietnamese army defeated the Khmer Rouge in 1979 (the Khmer people did not regain control of their own country until the early 1990s). You would never know this as a traveler in Cambodia. The Khmer people, only a generation away from civil war, are optimistically, endlessly resilient.

Shallow graves and the memorial stupa, filled with remnants from Cheoung Ek's victims.

Angkor is considered the largest temple complex in the world, of which Angkor Wat is only one of scores of remarkable temples. The Khmer Empire dates back to 800 AD (ruling all of Indochina), and Angkor was built over several centuries, up until the 1200s. Our tour guide Sok Som, who is a friend of a friend who used to live in Southeast Asia, created an itinerary for us that included a 4:30 AM trip to Bayon, a temple with 54 towers, each with four faces in each direction. We literally had this temple to ourselves, a rarity in Angkor, and the smells, sights, and sounds of that early morning are unforgettable.

Sok Som, Bayon's uppermost level, and our group of 7 behind the temple.

The entire time touring Angkor, I felt like a little kid again. Growing up, I loved crawling over rocks and climbing trees, and at almost 27, I got to relive my childhood in Cambodia. The country is incredibly poor, and we saw many, many impoverished children, but in my own nostalgic daydreams, I envy the little boys and girls who have these temples and ruins to play on.

Pictures from Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat is the largest and the most well-reconstructed temple in the complex. It is the temple rebuilt closest to its intended, original appearance. Nature has not been kind to Angkor (and neither has man or civil war), but she sure has incorporated her own brand of beauty into these structures. Silver-barked trees (called sprung) grow elegantly on top of Angkor's carved stones, and roots stubbornly grow in their seams. The day after visiting Bayon, Angkor Wat, and Ta Prom (where Tomb Raider was filmed), Sok Som took us to a seldom-visited site, discovered only three years ago in 2007 and accessible only by private road. Over ten thousand landmines were found in and around the site, and only recently has it been opened to the public. I could have spent all day exploring, climbing over and under the temple's huge, fallen stones.

Sok Som and our impromptu 12-year old tour guide.

Sok Som's pride and appreciation for the Khmer civilization, Angkor's architecture and natural beauty (as well as his country's reconstruction efforts) were palpable and contagious. His serene smile is as memorable as any of the temples we visited. I'm thankful to have met him.

I fell in love with Cambodia. Of all the countries I've visited, I will be back to this one.

everyone poos

2010-09-02T12:22:00.007-05:00

This might be my new favorite children's book. The author is Japanese, so this is the translated version. I especially enjoy his joke about camel poo. The book is very funny (and is often used to potty train). Here is a very important page with a very important message:

Giraffe, lion, gorilla, zebra, pelican, pig, and little boy poo.

And here's my niece Hadynn reading (this is the best part!):

se asia: the mighty mekong

2010-08-27T17:25:00.010-05:00

There are no rivers comparable to the Mekong in the northeast. The Hudson and the Delaware Rivers (the two I've lived nearest), are beautiful but only a fraction the size of the Mekong. On our three week trip, four out of the seven cities we visited were located on the Mekong: Saigon, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Luang Prabang.

Our route.

We began our trip in Saigon, Vietnam's largest city, located not far from where the Mekong empties out into the South China Sea. From there, we drove three hours to Vinh Long (a tourist port and wholesale floating market) in the heart of the Mekong Delta. There, we got into a sampan and toured the river's canals and large islands (the river was more than 5 miles wide there). Stilt houses lined the river's edge, boats doubled as houses and stores, and small diesel-motor-powered boats were the primary source of transportation. Saigon was our first introduction to life on the water.

Vinh Long, house boats, and the Mekong in the rain (not a b&w photo!)

In Cambodia, we visited Siem Reap after a quick stop in Phnom Penh (more on the capital later). Siem Reap is located not far from Tongle Sap, Southeast Asia's largest lake and the country's most important water system. In dry season, the lake flows into the Mekong, but in rainy season, the water level overwhelms the river and causes the flow to reverse back into the lake. The lake grows to five times its size (16,000 sq. km). An 8,000+ community of fishermen lives year around on the lake. We saw floating schools (and little canoe "school buses"), restaurants, crocodile and duck farms, and even a floating basketball court. The view was unforgettable. (Our Lonely Planet guidebook actually recommended skipping the visit to Tongle Sap!)

Floating school and school bus, a view of the village.

Our last stop along the Mekong was Luang Prabang, a UNESCO protected city on a peninsula formed by the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers. The small city is filled with old palaces (Luang Prabang was once the royal capital of Laos), French colonial architecture, and Buddhist temples and monasteries (one of the more interesting/touristy things to do is to watch the morning procession of marigold-wearing monks take alms). In the middle of the city is a large hill that offers incredible views.

On top of Phousi Hill, the morning procession, and laundry.

It's good to be home, but I miss traveling already. Maybe the Mississippi River will be next (I hear its widest point is 7 miles long!)?

the mosque controversy

2010-08-23T21:36:00.009-05:00

Back from my trip (where I barely kept up with US news), I cannot believe how much the Lower Manhattan mosque "controversy" has taken off. It scares me how much blatant, unabashed racism is being publicly voiced in the name of anti-terrorism. Catching up with a few blogs, I watched these videos:

- A black man walking through the anti-mosque demonstration (to get to his job at Ground Zero where he's a carpenter) is mistaken for a Muslim (you can skip 2:15 to 3:30). Gawker's tongue-in-cheek account here.

- Laura Ingraham sounding off on why Pres. Obama is a closet Muslim. (Who is this woman and why on earth does she have a mike? Apparently, if I don't go to church on Christmas and I talk with Muslims, I'm Muslim.)

- Then, I saw this clip where Colbert brilliantly criticizes Ingraham by reading aloud her own (painfully corny and racist) writing, which made me feel better (but again, why is her book a #1 bestseller at all?). Colbert goes at it at about 1:45.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Laura Ingraham

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

2010 Election

Fox News

Thankfully, there was Frank Rich's editorial in the NYTimes this past Sunday about how the controversy, as propagated by Fox News, actually hurts the US's counter-terrorism efforts. You can always count on him (but then again, who among the crazed anti-Islam demagogues and their followers are reading his article?):

Were McCain in the White House, Fox and friends would have kept ignoring Park51. But it’s an irresistible target in our current election year because it revives the most insidious anti-Obama narrative of the many Fox promoted in the previous election year: Obama the closet Muslim and secret madrassa alumnus. In the much discussed latest Pew poll, a record number of Americans (nearing 20 percent) said that our Christian president practices Islam. And they do not see that as a good thing. Existing or proposed American mosques hundreds and even thousands of miles from ground zero, from Tennessee to Wisconsin to California, are now under siege.

After 9/11, President Bush praised Islam as a religion of peace and asked for tolerance for Muslims not necessarily because he was a humanitarian or knew much about Islam but because national security demanded it. An America at war with Islam plays right into Al Qaeda’s recruitment spiel. This month’s incessant and indiscriminate orgy of Muslim-bashing is a national security disaster for that reason — Osama bin Laden’s “next video script has just written itself,” as the former F.B.I. terrorist interrogator Ali Soufan put it — but not just for that reason. America’s Muslim partners, those our troops are fighting and dying for, are collateral damage. If the cleric behind Park51 — a man who has participated in events with Condoleezza Rice and Karen Hughes, for heaven’s sake — is labeled a closet terrorist sympathizer and a Nazi by some of the loudest and most powerful conservative voices in America, which Muslims are not?

This whole controversy scares me. I thought Obama's presidency meant a new stage in American race politics, but now I just realize it's brought out a no holds barred racism that questions the American identity of any non-white.

what i missed

2010-08-15T18:18:00.009-05:00

Though I can't complain since I was gallivanting around Southeast Asia, I'm sad I missed two big events:

(1) Pete, his company Barrel, and a host of volunteers embarked on a 24-hour challenge to redesign the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition website. BARC is a no-kill shelter in Williamsburg that has been operating since 1987 (please consider donating!). The new site is a huge improvement and will hopefully attract more dog and cat would-be adopters. I'm super proud of Pete and Barrel's quick work, especially when it helps such a great, local non-profit (BARC is where our good friend Andy found his adorable poodle-spaniel mix Milo). While in Vietnam, I was able to check-in on their progress through the blog they set up for the event. It's pretty cool to see the design-process documented (and to see what happens when Barrel goes without sleep).

(2) The first week of August, my parents and my sister-in law joined my sister for a week at Rehoboth Beach. Jordan, Devin, and Hadynn were all there together and had a great time playing in the water and getting dizzy on rides on the boardwalk. I'll be seeing both my nieces and nephew in the coming weeks, but it's especially fun to see them all interact together. I'm sorry to have missed family time!

More on Southeast Asia to come.

my blog turns five

2010-07-19T13:57:00.011-05:00

According to Professor Zimbardo in this interesting and fun RSA Animate video below, a person's outlook on life (health, work, leisure, and so on) is oriented by one of six different perspectives on time. Some people are motivated by the past (by regret or by nostalgia), others are motivated by the present (by hedonism or by fatalism), and most are motivated by the future (a belief that individual choice always produces individual consequence). I'm future-oriented, but I'm also what Zimbardo calls "past-negative," which means I tend to dwell on past regrets and failure.

You probably wouldn't have guessed this about me by reading my blog. The greater part of my blog is filled with warm memories and happy milestones. How I've approached this blog has changed over the years, and now, it really is a medium for me to document my life and all the important and pleasantly mundane moments within it (and to share this with friends and family). These are things I need to be reminded of, and when I have nothing to do, I read through some of my old posts and am inevitably surprised by what I've forgotten in my past-negativity (and am therefore happily reminded of). I have a lot to be thankful for.

I'm proud to being going on five years with this blog (389 posts). A big thank you to all my friends and family who have given me something to write about, and a big thank you to everyone who continues to read my blog and has encouraged me to keep with it!

P.S. I leave for Southeast Asia tomorrow for three long weeks in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. I'll try to post from there. Otherwise, I'll be back to write about it in mid-August. Cheers!

miscommunication

2010-07-18T16:19:00.007-05:00

After a small argument about something neither of us can remember, my mom said to me, "You and me have a lot of miscommunication." I jokingly replied, "That's because we talk too much." Looking at me quizzically, my mom asked, "What do you mean?"

My relationships with my mom and my grandmother, and now Pete's halmuni, have been largely defined by our language barrier. With Pete's halmuni staying with us, I've been thinking about this more and more. The two of us communicate by using a few key Korean words, writing numbers with our fingers, and gestures. Talking with her requires my full attention, and often, we have to demonstrate the most basic of things to get our point across. I'd be lying if I said our lack of communication hasn't been frustrating. I'm sure she thinks so too. And that's why we both come alive when Pete comes home, not just because we can then communicate with each other but also because it just feels good to be heard as we intended.

With my own grandmother, we struggled to communicate in Hakka. This is the language that feels second-most natural to me, but my vocabulary is limited to mundane household topics: eating, sleeping, bathing, and chores. It is the not the language my family would use for deep or serious conversations, which is what I wanted to have with my grandmother. I wanted to know what my mother, aunts, and uncles were like when they were my age. What was my grandfather like? What was Japanese occupation like? Has she felt lonely since A-gong passed?

The most meaningful conversation I had with her consisted of three lines. She once asked me about Peter, "Is he the best for you?" I said, "I think so." And she nodded, "That's all that matters." I would get better as we would speak more, picking up words that I rarely used with my own parents. And most times, I would just sit next to her in her bedroom. She would be in her armchair, I would be on the edge of her bed, and we would just sit there, silent.

I'm close to my mother, and we talk at least once a week if not two or three times a week. I speak a strange mix of Hakka, Mandarin, and English with her that only she can understand. And even with our unique mix of languages, there are so many misused prepositions, missing commas, mispronounced and misheard words that make us angry and frustrated. Often, we insist that what we say is the right way to say it, to the point that we forget what we were trying to say to begin with. In the end, we laugh about our miscommunication more often than not. But still, I feel a tinge of sadness when I see my friends talk so freely with their parents and grandparents. My experiences are common to second generation children, and they've given me a perspective on language and family that I value. As I watch my sister and brother with their children, and how barrier-free their communication is, I wonder how, if at all possible, my nieces and nephews and my own children might have the same perspective and appreciation.

chocolate update and dogs 101

2010-07-12T21:07:00.010-05:00

It's been a while since I wrote Chocolate updates:

- Halmuni has been keeping Chocolate company. He is rarely home alone anymore and hasn't had any real anxiety issues since.
- He is getting older; Pete thinks I'm silly/paranoid for thinking he's slowing down, but I do.
- He has been enjoying our apartment A/C, often passing out not long after it's been turned on.
- For some reason, he likes to wedge himself into the creases of our sofa.
- He likes licking feet and the backs of our calves and knees, usually right after Pete and I get home.
- He has a new bed (the bright red one above) that fits his body better. It also takes up less room on the couch.
- He likes pretty much every ingredient in nachos: tortilla chips, cheese, and sour cream. (That's my dog! No salsa for him though because he can't eat onion.)
- My second favorite dog is my brother's dog Hanlon (an expressive, intelligent pointer setter/border collie mix). He chases after frogs (he's posing above to say, "Frog!") Chocolate does not follow suit.

And for the dog lovers out there: Animal Planet online features about 45 short videos (3-5 minutes long) about a variety of dog breeds from its Dogs 101 series. I've watched a fair share of season one already. I'm hoping next season features shiba inus, pointer setters, and brussels griffins (the last dog is surprisingly popular in my neighborhood). Below is a pic from the poodle episode: did you know poodles are the only breed that comes in three sizes? Learned that on Dogs 101. Pete and I would love one of each some day (and we're not totally kidding).

two boats two weeks

2010-07-05T17:10:00.011-05:00

This sounds strange, but sometimes I forget Manhattan is an island (and that we here in Brooklyn are on the western-most point of Long Island). I think it has something to do with growing up next to a river but inland (in southeast Pennsylvania). I get confused.

These past two weeks, I've been fortunate to go on two boat rides: one long yacht ride, one short ferry ride. The yacht took us all the way up to the edge of the Bronx near the RFK Memorial Bridge (aka the Triborough Bridge), back down the East River, and around the bend of Lower Manhattan into the Hudson River to see the sunset. Small islands (most no longer than two miles) dot the East River, and they are filled with history: old sanitariums, abandoned prisons, defunct factories, military posts, etc. Being obsessed with old things, I was in heaven.

The fancy yacht ride (discounted courtesy of a friend's health club membership) celebrated my friend Kaity's departure for a summer long study abroad program in Shanghai (I'll be meeting her and a few other teacher-friends in Vietnam later this month!) and to celebrate the end of the school year (though I'm teaching summer school, which will help pay for my Southeast Asia vacation).

Looking glam, 59th St. Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, Renwick Ruin on Roosevelt Island, the old Domino Sugar factory in Brooklyn, and Lady Liberty.

The second boat ride was a short, free ferry ride to Governor's Island, where Pete, our friend Jay, and I spent the Fourth of July. Governor's Island is a 2.2-mile-long island that was formally a coast guard and naval base, dating back to as early as the Revolutionary War. A recent urban planning success, it is now open as a public park (almost rivaling Central Park in my opinion). After picnicking, we rented a quadcycle to bike around. Unfortunately only a small three-seater was available, so Pete and Jay pedaled me around the island on the steaming hot day (lucky me!).

There is nothing like seeing Manhattan and Brooklyn from the vantage point of a boat on the East River. If I ever have visitors to the city, a boat ride is a must (even if it's just a free ferry). I have a lot of city pride, but these past few weeks of summer, I've really fallen in love with NYC all over again.

Another ferry pulling out of the Battery-Maritime terminal, Lower Manhattan, and Pete and Jay.

my dad is...

2010-06-26T21:09:00.006-05:00

...50, 60, or 70? Guess! It's hard to tell (I may have more gray hair than he does). People are always surprised when they discover my father's age. He looks much younger than his years. I hope my sister, brother, and I inherit his aging genes (we all inherited his eyebrows, so it's possible).

Last weekend, the whole family went home to celebrate my father's birthday and Father's Day. It was a milestone birthday, and I think my father was happy that we were all there to eat Japanese food (plus a delicious fruit tart and a giant tub of green tea ice cream at home). Now that our family includes 11 people (with another one on the way), it's difficult to get all of us in one place.

With three little ones, it's not easy taking family pictures, so I especially love the two group pictures below.

My dad getting help from his grandchildren.

And a few extra pics of Pete. Behold the power of the iPad.

selena gets married

2010-06-14T21:54:00.007-05:00

I remember visiting my college friend Selena back in summer 2006. I had just finished my year of teaching in Taiwan (a very tame life) and went to visit her in Beijing, where she was living. That was one crazy week to say the least-- her life and the people around her were a soap opera! With her permission, I came back to the States ready to write a super successful chick-lit novel about a recent college graduate's exploits in China's capital (fictional, of course).

And then not more than a week or two after I left, Selena met Dominic. Who knew?! Four years later and half way around the globe, they were married this past weekend in Rockport, Maine on a beautiful blue afternoon. I don't have a picture from the wedding where Selena isn't smiling. She is a gorgeous girl, and she was absolutely glowing. I can't imagine Selena happier or more content (or with a better guy than Dominic). Congratulations to the lovely couple!

Selena and Dominic just married! Their first dance, college friends, and me and Pete.

After the wedding, Pete and I visited nearby Camden State Park (where we could see Acadia), ate a delicious meal from Red's Eats (apparently famous for their lobster rolls, for good reason!), watched the US v. England game in a bar in Portland, and slept over my brother and sister's summer house in Kennebunk, where I saw my niece and nephew. A packed, fun weekend.

new template

2010-06-13T20:32:00.002-05:00

It feels great to update the look of my blog! This is only the third or fourth time I've made a significant change to the design (usually whenever Blogger updates its templates, like now). I like the cleaner look of this new template. My picture thumbnails are also bigger. I may be playing around with font and color in the next few posts. Let me know what you think!

five years later

2010-06-13T20:03:00.009-05:00

Columbia is in the opposite corner of New York City from our Brooklyn apartment, so I rarely visit my old college campus (which has two brand new buildings, new sculptures, and community gardens!). This is the first reunion Peter and I have attended, and it was fun to attend a Contemporary Civilization lecture (a class from the old core, taught by my former professor. We were among the youngest alumni there. I was also one of the few females; I'd forgotten Columbia was all-male until 1983.). We also attended a wine tasting for all alumni and our class dinner (where I saw a lot of familiar faces and met new old classmates).

My sister and her husband graduated ten years before us, so it's a lot of fun to attend all the major reunions together. Five years ago, Pete and I were just starting to date. And Jordan was just born. It was easier to imagine where I'd be five years from graduation back in 2005. Five years from now? I have no idea. And that's the first time I can really say that!

quick trip to la

2010-06-09T17:31:00.001-05:00

On Memorial Day weekend, Pete and I flew out to L.A. for a mini-vacation and to attend my friend Maggie's wedding. On Saturday, our friend Jay took us on a quick and easy hike up to the Griffith Observatory (which has really interesting mini-exhibits on astronomy). Up the hill to the observatory, we had a great view of L.A. and the Hollywood sign. In the afternoon, we visited our friend Brandon, who was having a get together with his cousins (who are all within a few years apart). It was incredible to be around such an extended, close-knit, fun family (with impressive BBQing skills too). I love this picture of Brandon (the patriarch, godfather, aka oldest cousin. Pete has more pics on his posterous.

On Sunday, Pete and I biked around a busy Santa Monica beach. We stopped by the skate park along the bike path and saw these crazy four year olds doing jumps on their skateboards.

And then it was time for Maggie and Kevin's wedding! The ceremony was gorgeous, overlooking the downtown marina. Maggie was beautiful, of course, and the ceremony was very heartwarming (both Mags and Kevin walked down the aisle with their mothers and grandmothers). She and Kevin hosted a fabulous wedding that included karaoke, dancing, a dress change, and a photo booth. And of course, a beautiful sunset cruise.

Getting together again with FF 2004.

letter to the editor

2010-06-04T19:57:00.006-05:00

After reading May 23rd's NYTimes Magazine article about teachers unions, school reform, and Obama's Race to the Top competitive funding, I wrote a letter to the editor. I actually agree with the need for greater teacher accountability (how to implement standardized measures is the tough part); however, I take issue with one key assumption that all these articles about school reform make: that school leaders (namely principals) are competent. In my opinion, principals have one of the most difficult jobs in the world. But there are levels of professionalism and pedagogical expertise necessary to effectively manage a school. I am lucky to be at a school where I respect my administrators.

My letter was actually accepted (it's near the bottom), which was a big surprise considering how much feedback the article received. What is published was heavily cut from what I originally sent in. So here is what I emailed initially:

Nowhere in Steven Brill's article is principal accountability mentioned. As a current New York City public school teacher, I strongly believe there is no bigger factor in teacher effectiveness than the quality of school leadership. A good principal establishes a strong and tangible school culture, high expectations for both teachers and students, and a code of conduct that is both transparent and enforced for all members of the school. This is often the foundation of high-performing charter schools. The research shows that strong classroom teachers are the main contributors to student achievement. More often than not, good teachers have good principals behind them. As a teacher who fits the article's profile of the prestige college graduate who did not have an undergraduate education degree, I too am compelled by the challenges of urban schools and believe in teacher accountability based on standardized measures. However, I find it disturbing that in the abundant discussion about school reform, seldom is principal accountability considered. It is a misguided assumption to believe that principals, who evaluate the effectiveness of their teachers, are effective themselves.

halmuni turns 79

2010-05-31T21:29:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday, Halmuni!

I wish I had her genes--if Pete lives to be as strong and healthy as his halmuni is at 79, that will be a great blessing (especially because he can take care of 79-year-old me)!

Pete and I got back from L.A. this afternoon. More on our lovely, short vacation later. Tonight, we celebrated Halmuni's birthday in our own small, little way. I think she was happy.

bridal shower with horse

2010-05-23T18:13:00.005-05:00

My good friend Selena is getting married in June (to a fantastic guy she met while living in Beijing). Yesterday, her family threw her a bridal shower unlike any bridal shower I've ever been to: her future husband arrived on a white horse (per Indian custom), they sat under a beautiful DIY tent, her little cousins performed an adorable dance, we ate delicious Trinidadian-Indian food, a duo of musicians played traditional Arabic music, and later, an incredible band played Lady Gaga while we danced. What more could you ask for?

Selena's family is the perfect mixture of spontaneity, Caribbean-cool, and pure warmth and love. Selena is going to be a gorgeous bride, and I'm so happy for her and Dominic. I can't wait for the wedding!

UPDATE 06/01/2010: Selena's bridal shower was featured in her local newspaper!

Dominic's arrival, the lovely couple, and college girlfriends. (I got to wear my sari again!)

sunday afternoon

2010-05-17T19:33:00.008-05:00

Reason#114 Why I'm Marrying Peter: He gets me off my lazy butt on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and makes me go on a 12 mile bike ride with him.

Reasons #34 and 201 Why I Love Brooklyn: Riverside parks and cute neighborhoods like Greenpoint with their own unique look and feel.

East Ferry Park (which used to connect Grand Street in Brooklyn to Grand Street in Manhattan), East River State Park in Williamsburg, Anella Restaurant's back garden and pizza.

unbelievable.

2010-05-12T21:15:00.006-05:00

This entire video is just ridiculous and infuriating, but I especially love the condescension at 2:50. Could Bill O'Reilly and Sarah Palin be any more stupid? STUPID. Welcome to America, Asian Americans! I don't curse on my blog, but I'm thinking about it...

happy mother's day!

2010-05-09T18:06:00.006-05:00

Some Hadynn cuteness to celebrate Mother's Day! A big thank you to all the mothers out there (my sisters and my mother and Pete's halmuni especially).

Running, running, running, here.

and now she is 5

2010-05-02T14:16:00.006-05:00

How is it that five years have passed so quickly? Pete and I were seniors in college when Jordan was born. It will be our five-year reunion in June. And now, Jordan is a young lady who poses for photos, loves dresses and bows, won't eat foods mixed together, paints canvases, and voices her opinions (and displeasure). Incredible.

Click to see Devin's popsicle mess. Nothing like berry flavored pops on a hot day.

ppgs: new season new logo

2010-04-27T20:03:00.004-05:00

I love this! Barrel designed, of course. I can't wait for PPGS's new season. Homemade kimchi bacon and mango guacamole hot dogs? Caramelized onion cheeseburgers? Korean short ribs? Let the knee-high cookin' begin! All hail "grilling visionary" good, ol' Smokey Joe (lovingly depicted above the coat of arms)!

halmuni keeping busy

2010-04-21T20:05:00.008-05:00

Every day, I come home and discover something new. The first week, I found scallion ends planted next to a houseplant Halmuni had already repotted. These last two weeks, pots of shiso sprouts (I think that's what they are) have gradually filled our window sills. That, and my houseplants have never been greener.

homecooking

2010-04-14T19:10:00.006-05:00

After a long day at school, it's so nice to come home to a delicious, home-cooked (Korean) meal. Halmuni made bean sprout soup, kimchi, and pickled shiso. All with rice, fresh lettuce leaves, and ssamjang--yum.

spring is here

2010-04-12T19:49:00.005-05:00

Brooklyn is blooming! What a gorgeous spring this April is turning out to be. (Knock on wood! With the exception of this year, spring time has felt shorter and shorter.) This past weekend, Pete and I took Halmuni to Grand Army Plaza's Greenmarket and to Prospect Park. The park was packed: kite flyers, tee-ballers, picnickers, and plenty of running puppies. I hope this beautiful weather lasts till Memorial Day (or more realistically, the end of April). Happy spring!

Magnolia trees up top and a giant flowering tree on 7th Ave.

nybg orchid show

2010-04-05T20:24:00.016-05:00

My mom is an orchid enthusiast and has wanted to go to the New York Botanical Garden's annual orchid show for years. She has over 100 orchids, and they cover every inch of window sill in my parents' house (and take two days to water). She even won a blue ribbon at the Longwood Gardens Orchid Show this past week for her Cymbidium.

So, despite my dad just getting back from Taiwan a few days earlier, they made the trip up to Brooklyn. And then together with Halmuni, we drove up to the Bronx (amazingly communication was in Japanese--4 languages were spoken at lunch!). It was a gorgeous spring day, and the botanical garden is impressive (probably even more so when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom). The orchid show was crowded but still very enjoyable (especially since my mom's trained me well enough to actually know what I'm looking at).

This is my mom educating. She loves it. My dad even got into it: "Do you know what makes an orchid an orchid?" One of the conservatory's halls was styled completely in white orchids. Very romantic.

My mom actually has these orchids (or ones that look very similar). Click for the much larger image.

And these were orchids that stood out to me. The naturally blue flower below (not an orchid) looked as if it had been sitting in food coloring (like carnations). The last one is called Darwin's star (for a very interesting reason). It all makes me wish I had a green thumb like my mom (Halmuni has been resuscitating my house plants). Then again, my mom didn't actually help her father raise orchids either (she would just watch him as a child) and developed her expertise later in life. There's hope yet!

preparing for halmuni

2010-03-29T21:34:00.007-05:00

On Thursday, Pete's grandmother will be coming to stay with us for a few weeks. I am excited to have Halmuni here in Brooklyn and am *trying* to learn some basic Korean to prepare for her stay.

Pete likes to brag that Korean is "the most modern language in the world." When I ask him to elaborate, he usually just says, "It just is." And then he makes fun of Hakka, which is what my family speaks. "Hakka-wakka, Hakka-wakka," he says and then walks around like a muppet.

But he's right--the Korean writing system is incredibly utilitarian. Korean orthography is straightforward; the speech sounds are graphically represented in the writing system (for example: a short, additional mark to a vowel symbol indicates the addition of a y-diphthong). Even the consonant symbols are grouped into families based on where the sound originates in the mouth (fricative, alveolar, etc.). There are very few, if any, confusing "gh" or "sch" letter combinations like in English. If I hadn't taken linguistics at City College (thank you, Professor Stern), this would all probably be pretty meaningless. But understanding what "aspirated" and "voiced" means has been incredibly helpful. And super interesting!

thank you, frank rich

2010-03-28T17:35:00.003-05:00

Watching the health care debate and Tea Party protests on TV was unsettling. There is a not-so-subtle undertone of racism and xenophobia (the Birther movement for example) that make me uneasy. So, finally, an editorial by Frank Rich about what he surmises are the real reasons behind Tea Party anger:

That a tsunami of anger is gathering today is illogical, given that what the right calls “Obamacare” is less provocative than either the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or Medicare, an epic entitlement that actually did precipitate a government takeover of a sizable chunk of American health care. But the explanation is plain: the health care bill is not the main source of this anger and never has been. It’s merely a handy excuse. The real source of the over-the-top rage of 2010 is the same kind of national existential reordering that roiled America in 1964...

...The conjunction of a black president and a female speaker of the House — topped off by a wise Latina on the Supreme Court and a powerful gay Congressional committee chairman — would sow fears of disenfranchisement among a dwindling and threatened minority in the country no matter what policies were in play. It’s not happenstance that Frank, Lewis and Cleaver — none of them major Democratic players in the health care push — received a major share of last weekend’s abuse. When you hear demonstrators chant the slogan “Take our country back!,” these are the people they want to take the country back from.

They can’t. Demographics are avatars of a change bigger than any bill contemplated by Obama or Congress. The week before the health care vote, The Times reported that births to Asian, black and Hispanic women accounted for 48 percent of all births in America in the 12 months ending in July 2008. By 2012, the next presidential election year, non-Hispanic white births will be in the minority. The Tea Party movement is virtually all white. The Republicans haven’t had a single African-American in the Senate or the House since 2003 and have had only three in total since 1935. Their anxieties about a rapidly changing America are well-grounded.

obsessed: antique knob

2010-03-26T21:49:00.011-05:00

Update (3/31/10): Friends, do not let me become this person. How coincidental!

I stumbled across this door knob (for a little used door) last week and fell in love. Doing a little research, I discovered these brass knobs are circa 1899. My school building, Seward Park, was founded in 1905 across the street from the current building, which was built in 1923. I'm guessing this is an original taken from the first building (why would the city pay to replicate door knobs?), which actually makes this pretty valuable. My previous schools were built in the 1940s and the 1960s (just a guess to the latter as I can find zero information about it), so this is the first that I've seen. Am I a huge nerd if I smile every time I walk past it?

hadynn at almost 18 months

2010-03-22T20:14:00.007-05:00

Hadynn knows so many words now! She learned "rock" and "bug" while staying at my parents' house last week because, well, there are a lot of shiny rocks to play with and ladybugs to run away from at my parents' house. Somehow, my sister has also taught her signs for all the fruits she eats and animals like lion, bear, and bird. She is so delightfully communicative. With her hand turned out, she asks "Where?" and "What?" She bends down to stare at a bug and then fake shivers and runs away saying "no, no." She smiles and nods and kisses and leans her head against your cheek. She's one smart, adorable little lady.

Hadynn says, "Ikimasho!"

And on an unrelated note, (despite this week's rain) spring is here! Daffodils and crocuses and walking Chocolate in a t-shirt. Yay!

done.

2010-03-17T18:25:00.003-05:00

My first time. Feeling good!

I should probably explain more later. But until then, you can watch this (the full-length version is also available on YouTube):

nyc in miniature

2010-03-16T16:11:00.000-05:00

If you haven't seen this already (on Kottke), this is just amazing (and worth a second or third look if you already have). The video was shot using a tilt-shift lens. I love the scene at the dock and at the construction site, in Chinatown and at night around Flatiron. It's mind-boggling to see our big city look so small.

The Sandpit from Sam O'Hare on Vimeo.

jordan in nyc

2010-03-14T22:54:00.005-05:00

My sister-in-law Vivian and my niece Jordan visited NYC today on this rainy Sunday. Jordan went ice-skating at Chelsea Piers and then saw Mary Poppins on Broadway with her adorable friend, who got to bring one playmate (and picked Jordan, so cute!) with her to the show for her birthday. While they were at the matinee, Viv and I visited the MOMA. The museum was swamped with visitors to the Tim Burton and Marina Abramovic exhibits.

Afterward, I got to see my niece over dinner in Times Square. I like to think that in a few years, when Jordan and Devin are a little older, I'll get to take them around the city for a weekend. I still remember when my sister, who went to college in NYC, would take me to art museums and restaurants. I remember visiting the Whitney, eating sushi, and riding the subway. I felt like such a big kid with my big sister. I can't wait to do the same with my nieces and nephew. (I already have an itinerary in mind!)

day 28: two cents

2010-03-06T17:18:00.006-05:00

Our last meal.

Balance: $0.02

After buying a tomato, a lemon, and a head of garlic, Pete and I were left with two cents. Our friends Eric, Diana, and Sei-Wook were all well within their $100 by the end of the challenge--very impressive. Without having night classes to worry about, this year was infinitely easier than last year . I'd say Pete and I ate very well this month. Congrats to a month of cooking!

On Monday, March 1st, I rewarded myself in the morning and paid $4.75 for an extra twenty minutes of sleep. I splurged on a fresh bagel with veggie cream cheese and a large coffee. Since then though, I've brought my own breakfast and lunch to school and plan on continuing.

Six days into March, I've already eaten out three times and spent nearly our February budget. The expensive truth is that socializing in NYC revolves around the city's restaurant and bar culture. Apartments are often uncomfortably small (especially in Manhattan), and friends can live up to two hours away from each other by subway, so people tend to meet at restaurants that are convenient for everyone. Admittedly, on a weekday evening, Union Square is probably my limit for how far I'd be willing to venture after going back home to walk the dog.

Having people over for dinner or brunch is not easy, and that makes February an inherently anti-social month if you only have $100 to spend on food and drink. (Which is why the more friends doing Feb Challenge, the better! It was great fun having Diana and Eric join us, especially for our potluck meals. Who else is in next year?) For these first two weeks of March, I'm basically reconnecting with friends whom I haven't seen in a month. That and many of my friends have March birthdays. How ironic that March's dining expenses all but cancel out February's savings.

Money savings aside, I've (re)learned a lot about food, cooking, and my own health this month. You also realize how much you throw away (old containers of food in the fridge, forgotten produce that goes bad, tossing half a plate of food rather than saving it) and how easy and creative it can be to not be so wasteful.

Waste not, want not--words to live by as best you can.

My food expenses from October to February.

well-deserved bday dinner

2010-03-05T19:09:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was Pete's birthday, and I took him out to dinner at our favorite local sushi place. After a month of saving, months of planning for KAFFNY, moving offices, and working hard as usual, I was happy to take Pete out to a well-deserved dinner. After a nice walk home, Pete blew out candles I stuck in pastries from Almondine. Not the most exciting or glamorous birthday celebration--but that was just perfect for us.
<3

More on February to come soon!

day 26: snow day #2

2010-02-26T14:22:00.003-05:00

I really didn't think Bloomberg was going to call another snow day (two in one year is unheard of), but there the announcement was at 5:30 this morning. After sleeping in a few extra hours, I made a breakfast of congee and some traditional fix'ins. If cooked with soy sauce, spam sort of tastes like Chinese sausage.

This morning was terrible, but right now, at 2:45 pm, the sun's out!

Recap:
Day 25: Last night, I made a nice dinner for Pete and me since we won't be eating dinner together this weekend. The Korean American Film Festival of NY is this weekend (Pete is the coordinator for KAFFNY) and will be two days this year. Very exciting!
Day 24: Tupperware mishap.

Balance: $1.53

day 22: never doubt hawaii

2010-02-22T19:22:00.009-05:00

Penny for penny, I don't think a better bite exists: tender shrimp, fresh pineapple, crisped-up spam, egg, and scallion. Hawaiians have been making this for years--how do I just now try this? This might be the best dish of the month (and there have been many good dishes).

We are down to the last week and to our last $6 and change. I splurged on a bunch of groceries today, but we should have enough food (I hope) to last us the rest of the challenge. Pete and I have spent the most out of everyone! Di, Wook, and Eric have more than quadruple the money we have left, and they only had $100 each!

PS. As far as I'm concerned, there is one--and only one--way to cook spam (which I normally can't stand): crispy. But then again, I could be wrong. I've heard there's such a thing as spam sushi (in Hawaii, of course).

Recap:
Day 19: Salmon cakes, black bean cakes, kale, and french fries
Day 20: Leftovers and a few heavenly bites of Shake Shack
Day 21: Stuffed poblano peppers, lemon-ricotta muffiny biscuits (so good, from Giada)

Balance: $6.62

day 19: eggs over rice

2010-02-19T12:13:00.006-05:00

I feel like every Asian American must know this meal from childhood. Your mom or grandmom is too tired or sick to make you a meal, so she quickly fries up an egg, puts it over rice, adds a little sesame oil and soy sauce, and lays out a side of leftover or jarred veggies. The whole meal takes less than five minutes to make.

I used to love this growing up. There's something so simply delicious about a gooey egg over rice, mixed with salty, savory soy sauce and sesame oil. Pete would usually eat this with kimchi. I would eat this with dried seaweed or soy-sauce pickled cucumbers. We made this for lunch last Sunday, and it made me feel like a kid again.

Other quick fixes and grocery purchases here.

Balance: $54.63

random cute

2010-02-18T14:23:00.006-05:00

A scholarly Chocolate, a staticky Hadynn, and a dancing Jordan.

day 14: happy valentine's!

2010-02-15T23:03:00.003-05:00

The price of love costs $10.52 (close to 50% above our average daily budget).

Braciole, creamed spinach, butternut squash, and banana pudding.

Balance: $89.86

day 13: happy new year!

2010-02-14T13:56:00.005-05:00

Happy Lunar New Year! 恭喜發財!

Two potlucks in two weekends--so much fun. Yesterday, Diana, Eric, and Sei-Wook came over to celebrate New Year's Eve. On our $100 budgets, we managed to make a fantastic meal. Diana brought sauteed garlicky veggies; Eric made Shanghainese shrimp, and Sei-Wook brought a pineapple that will have to be eaten later. My friend Kaity also joined us, bringing crispy roast chicken from Brooklyn's Chinatown (yum).

I contributed lionshead meatballs, turnip cakes (will have to try this again when I can properly steam them), red bean soup with rice balls, and carrot cupcakes. Everything was so delicious, and we were so full. It took us several hours of watching winter Olympics to digest.

And--I didn't have to buy any new groceries!
Recap: Day 12 (Mapo Doufu)
Balance: $117.75

day 10: snow day

2010-02-10T14:46:00.009-05:00

The Mayor called a snow day today, so I spent the better part of the afternoon cooking. I ventured out for a few essentials like eggs and butter. Thankfully, the closest grocery (a run down Met) had a nice sale on cage free eggs and butter. Not a good day to find a crack in my rubber boots (after the cold, wet fact).

These past few days, I've been on the phone with my mom, discussing how to cook some of my favorite dishes of hers for Lunar New Year. On Monday, I drove down to Sunset Park's Hong Kong Supermarket and picked up a bunch of ingredients to prepare for the weekend. Today, I made shizitou (which translates as "lion's head"--braised pork meatballs with napa cabbage). On Friday, I'll try my hand at luobogao (steamed turnip cakes) and on Saturday, hongdoutang with tangyuan (sweet red bean soup with chewy rice balls).

I don't know why, but this year I'm particularly excited for Lunar New Year. I think teaching in a school where most of the students and teachers celebrate the holiday makes me feel festive (and my family was never particularly festive growing up). Only four days till the New Year!

Recap:
Day 7: Superbowl Potluck (spinach-artichoke dip, twice baked potatoes, and bean dip)
Day 8 and 9: Spinach ricotta and sausage and peppers with pasta
Day 10: Mac 'n Cheese

Balance: $117.75

life through google

2010-02-09T19:37:00.004-05:00

Of all the fun Superbowl commercials, this was actually my favorite (though it wasn't so much funny as heartwarming):

Very true how much Google is now a part of our daily lives. I probably use Google 20+ times a day between work and home (maybe more).

blizzard in brooklyn...not.

2010-02-07T12:54:00.005-05:00

Funny how my brother lives in the Hudson Valley, Pete and I live in Brooklyn, and neither of us have gotten much snow this winter. My sister in Baltimore? A city that shuts down when there's a dusting of snow on the ground? More than two feet this time around.

Possibly the second most snow in B'more history. Here are pictures they took. My niece--not a fan of the white stuff.

day 6: brunch

2010-02-06T23:08:00.003-05:00

Weekend brunch might be my favorite meal. It usually follows a morning of sleeping-in and precedes an afternoon of lounging. However, it's a fairly expensive meal (for what you're eating--eggs and carbs). But who doesn't love breakfast food?

After eating store-bought bagels and cream cheese every day this week, it was a luxury to have a homemade brunch today. I made pancakes and cooked up some strawberry sauce and bacon from leftovers in the fridge. My good friend Michelle and her boyfriend Peter came over, bringing nutella, bananas, and apples for added deliciousness. Afterward, we went to the Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn (getting my fix of nerdy NYC history--lots of fun).

Tonight: veggie burgers and french fries. Yum.
Tomorrow: Superbowl potluck!

Balance: $168.13
Click here for the accounting, which includes other groceries.

day 3: stupid mug

2010-02-03T21:28:00.006-05:00

I walked two blocks this morning before I remembered my coffee mug. Then leaving school, I walked two blocks before, of course, I had to go back for my mug (I'm forgetful). These are the times when I'd say "oh well" and buy myself a cup of coffee for $1.50 at the nearby Chinese bakery. If I don't have coffee, it's not pretty. I'm probably a lot meaner to my students too.

Today, I made chicken fajitas and cookies. Thank goodness the lasagna is finished.

These past two days, I've been so tempted to snack (and I don't even snack that much normally). I saw a half-eaten, discarded bag of Cheetos on the street. Crave. (Gross, right?)

(By the way, Pete bought this mug for me. It's actually fantastic. It never spills, and the coffee stays warm for a good three hours or so.)

Money leftover: $184.83. Click the link for Day 3's accounting.

feb challenge year 2

2010-02-01T16:51:00.009-05:00

The Challenge
$100 per person for food and drink for 28 days! This year, Pete, Sei-Wook, and I will be joined by our friends Eric and Diana. Reggie, unfortunately, will not be participating (he toils away most of his day as a sous chef in Manhattan). $100 a day averages out to about $3.57 per person per day and $7.14 combined for Pete and me. You can check out our progress on our group's shared Posterous. To see last year's challenge, you can click on past pages there. To see my blog posts, click on 2009 > February.

The Rationale
Same as last year! Second to our rent, Pete and I spend most of our money on food and drink (far beyond mere sustenance in a very expensive city). Other sources of motivation: our car has an ominous clanking, I'm hoping to travel to Asia this summer, and we have a wedding in the distance.

The Strategy
Delicious, mostly home-cooked food the entire month. That way if we have to eat it five times in a row, it'll at least taste good every time. No freezer burned pork this year! Groceries will most likely be purchased at Hong Kong Supermarket and Fairway in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Meals to look forward to: Superbowl potluck and dumplings and red bean soup for Lunar New Year.

Day 1:
Breakfast: bagel and oatmeal (both stocked in our cupboard from a January sale at Fairway)
Lunch: leftover pasta from Friday that I left in the staff lounge fridge (kind of yuck)
Dinner: leftover white veggie lasagna, which we ate for dinner yesterday. Since I made a whole platter of lasagna, I'm taking out half of the cost from our budget.

Approximate day's total: $6.01 (zucchini, ricotta, mozzarella, lasagna noodles)
Money left over: $193.99

photo booth

2010-01-31T19:49:00.008-05:00

My whole family was in Baltimore this weekend visiting my sister and her family. These are the results of a very silly hour with my niece Jordan and my MacBook's Photo Booth application:

These first two had my niece in hysterics. Then Jordan got silly, then artsy, then silly again. The last one includes a cameo from her baby cousin Hadynn. Is there a better sound than my niece's laughter? I think not.

my dog's gaze...

2010-01-25T22:17:00.005-05:00

...raises my oxytocin level.

New York Magazine's cover story this week is called "The Rise of Dog Identity Politics," which makes it sound far more serious and divisive than it really is. The article explores some great questions: How has the identity of dogs changed (especially for urban apartment-living dogs)? How and why do dogs bond with their owners (and potentially feed into human narcissism)? Why do we (and should we) consider dogs a part of our family?

The article's author John Homans is a dog-owner himself and imparts a humorously ambivalent tone to the essay. "It's a must read for dog-lovers," says Chocolate, who is currently twitching next to me in deep doggy sleep.

Here is an excerpt:

Serpell [a researcher] is most excited about new studies on oxytocin and dog ownership. Oxytocin is the most important social-bonding hormone, present notably between mother and child but also in just about any interaction involving pair bonding, social affiliation, and trust. More specifically, it’s involved with the gaze between infants and mothers. Researchers at Azabu University in Japan found last year that the dog’s gaze at its owner increases the owner’s oxytocin level.

No one believes, in his conscious mind, that the dog is a person. But that may not matter. The oxytocin study, while providing the key to understanding the myriad health benefits of dog ownership—oxytocin is a serious stress reducer—also makes scientifically clear what’s obvious anecdotally: The dog is an honorary human, accorded many of the same considerations. It can be a surrogate child, brother in arms, solace of otherwise lonely urban lives.

babies

2010-01-24T22:20:00.006-05:00

Since my blog is 75% baby already...enjoy! I can't wait to see this in March. (Thanks to Kaity for the heads up!)

chocolate updates

2010-01-21T21:54:00.007-05:00

"What just happened!?" Pics of Chocolate before and after groom.

- I've been a bad owner. My groomer chastised me for letting his hair get so matted.
- I need to buy leave-in conditioner. His hair is more maintenance than mine.
- He loves all things cheese and potato. This makes him noxiously gassy.
- He hates the smell of citrus. No clementines for Chocolate.
- He has a sweet spot on his back, near both hind legs. If you scratch him there, he gives you his belly. It's 100% fail-proof.

AND If you're in the NYC area and you're interested in adopting an adorable 7 year old Pomeranian (a very sweet, mellow dog that needs a little bit of training), let me know! Louie had elderly owners who could no longer take care of him. He is currently being fostered by my groomer (who assures he's very close to being house-trained and is offering free grooming for life!). Louie needs a new forever home--please consider!

the shenandoah valley

2010-01-17T19:58:00.003-05:00

Pete, friends, and I rented a cabin in the Shenandoah Valley (Virginia) the last week of 2009. By day, we hiked (I embarrassingly didn't make it up the mountain--too cold and too much snow), drove along famed Skyline Drive, and visited Luray Caverns. By night, we had family dinners, played pool, drank beer, and watched a few movies.

When Pete was in high school, he and his family traveled to the Shenandoah Valley. Apparently, this is a common roadtrip for Korean American families on the east coast. According to Pete's mom, the Shenandoah mountains are reminiscent of mountains in Korea. On our last morning there, a low lying mist blanketed the valleys, and the view driving home was gorgeous.

The town of Luray is cheesy-fantastic and entirely built around the tourism the cavern, discovered in 1878, brings. But the cavern itself is incredible and well worth a visit. Around every bend was a new structure, column, or limestone waterfall or drapery. The most amazing site (in my opinion, cause there were so many) is Dream Lake--a shallow spring that dramatically reflects all the stalactites above it. The best part about the cavern is that it continues to change and grow as lime precipitation continues to form. So cool.

On a side note, our poor dog Chocolate got dragged up the mountain on our hike. We didn't realize the hike would be mostly in the snow (and that it'd be another two miles to the actual trail head). Our friends carried him in a jacket and backpack most of the way. Poor doggle. He survived.

Luray Caverns, Dream Lake

Dog in peril.