China's gold investors undeterred by high prices - Reuters.

Key points from the article I did not realize is China is the biggest producer and user of gold.

Gold is big in Chinese Culture and seen as a hedge when times are tough. The is also the speculation factor. My daughter when she was born was given a solid gold charm by a cousin. We did the same thing for a friends daughter. And when giving gold, 24k is best. Gold is also the color of luck, so inside Chinese restaurants writing will be in gold and names will also often be printed in Gold colored ink on business cards.

The above on gold is what I have picked up during my marriage.

A great book that I need to check out on this when I get back to the office on Chinese Symbolism is Good Luck Life: The Essential Guide To Chinese American Celebrations And Culture

Labels: Chinese Culture

Here's an interesting site that you and your family might like to browse over for everybody to see how China was in the olden years. It also has other photographs that show old Taiwan, Chinese in San Francisco and many more treasures.

The impressive collection is offered by Thomas H. Hahn. He is a lecturer at Cornell, author and undoubtedly very passionate about the Chinese culture.

Here is a sample photo I borrowed from his site :


1892 pic of Chinese in San Francisco
from Thomas H.Hahn Docu-Images

Thomas says he has more pictures that are not featured in the site, so you can just email him to ask if has any that you are interested to see. You can also share if you have old, treasured photos you want others to see.

Here is the url of his website: http://hahn.zenfolio.com/f240852810


Please also check out our Chinese history books for kids too.

Hope you have fun looking at the pictures. :-)

Labels: Chinese Culture, Chinese History

I saw this article on the NBC News Blog, asking if Beijing can possibly be the new New York?

The writer says there are the usual social problems of unemployment, a slow down of economic activity and recently, even internet-censorship. However, looking at the arts and culture scene, it can be said that Beijing is in some kind of renaissance.

The article reviews several people's opinions of Beijing's openness to new ideas and opportunity, not only in the arts but in other industries as well, such as the food industry. One curator who lived in New York and London during the arts-inspired 70's and 80's, sees the similiarities in present Beijing and thinks for himself that "...Beijing is the new New York."

Readers of the blog post have invited an uproar of replies that vehemently disagree with comparing the 2 cities. The censorship and approval needed for art to move forward in China is the main barrier to let art express itself in the city.

How about you, what do you think? Arts-wise, can Beijing have a fair chance to be the New New York?

Labels: Chinese Culture

An article about him in the NY Times, I think the LA Times also had one. A Prodigy, A Piano, Hardship, Stardom; Dreams Comes True For Lang

Previous post I wrote on Lang Lang, 35 million kids learning piano in china and for background on Piano playing in the Chinese community - music lessons and chinese americans

Labels: Chinese Culture, piano

At my wife's site, Free Chinese Wedding Coloring Pages that are Printable! . Very well done. My marriage was a mixture of Chinese and American traditions and I have been at a couple of Chinese Weddings, but the Chinese Wedding Coloring Pages has some things I did not know about before. There is so much symbolism in any wedding, be it American or Chinese, and people usually when you ask them why, say that's how we have always done it. Which for the Engineer types like me, is not a great answer ;-) The book Good Luck Life: The Essential Guide To Chinese American Celebrations And Culture helped a lot on explaining the why.

Labels: Chinese Culture, free coloring pictures

The 2008 Olympics opening ceremony was a fascinating showcase of China’s culture. The thematic unity of the program featured on China’s biggest contributions to human kind. But for this post, since we are a bookstore, we remember China’s monumental contributions to the development of books.

In 105 AD, Tsai Lun invented paper as we know it. However, there are archaeological excavations in China that prove paper was already used in the 2nd century BC. These papers were mostly used to wrap or pad items. It was only in the 3rd century that paper was accepted as a main and convenient medium to write on.

In 305 AD the first wooden printing press was invented. The symbols were carved on wooden blocks. The earliest woodblock prints that survived are of silk printed with flowers in three colours from the Han dynasty (before 220 CE).

In 1049, printing technology was further advanced when alchemist Pi Sheng invented the movable type using clay blocks. Later on, in 1313, a magistrate named Wang Chen commissioned the carving of 60,000 movable type blocks to print a treatise on Chinese technology.

Both kinds of printing technology were not followed up in China. It could be because there are thousands of Chinese characters needed to print a material. Western alphabet, on the other hand, uses about 26.

It was Johannes Gutenberg who would later revolutionize printing in the Western World. The deluge of printed materials that followed thereafter opened pathways of ideas from diverse peoples of different places.

Also, we can't deny that the ChildBook products we enjoy today can be attributed to the genius of Chinese visionaries who lived long ago.

Labels: Chinese Culture, Chinese History

A friend of mine, Chinese, is dating a white guy. A concern of her friend may be Chinese Culture. So I was thinking, what does Chinese Culture mean? She's a strong Christian, so her belief of right and wrong is rock solid. And what I see of Chinese Culture after 20 years with my wife is more a traditional way of doing things. Respect your parents, education, and strive to have your kids do great. Subareas are a love of food. What's not to like about this?

Superstitions such as not having a bunch of 4's in your phone number or address can be frustrating. Some of it's common sense like not buying a house at the end of a cul-de-sac (unless you like drunk drivers in your living room - the house diagonal from where I grew up was at the end of a street. The Chinese superstition reason is ghosts go in straight lines). The one of not having a stairway go out straight from your front door can be frustrating (if yes, the ghost thing which you can safeguard with a mirror, but also the luck will flow out of your house). Feng Shui is what this type of knowledge is called. This is a great reference on a lot of the Chinese Culture (slight Cantonese slant) Good Luck Life: The Essential Guide To Chinese American Celebrations And Culture and of course for Chinese Food Fortune Cookie Chronicles - Adventures in the World of Chinese Food by Jennifer Lee

Labels: Chinese Culture

I was talking to a person who used to work for me about their experience working for somebody who just had zero respect for him. Treated him like dirt. I have seen this across many cultures, where a person thinks he is so high status he does not need to get his hands dirty.

Another story. A tenant of ours while we had moved out of area temporarily, when my Father-in-law went to fix a garage spring treated him badly. My Father-in-law did not say anything to the person. The problem was the person judged a book by it's cover, they should have looked in his garage at what type of car he has there...

Today I was helping out at a trade show booth for a friend and it was so refreshing to see the owner of a large Chinese company helping to put together his product. I really respect a person who is not afraid to get his hands dirty.

One of my favorite memories of my Father in law, was one time I was helping him out with his garden and the shovel broke. He fixed it with a nail and some tape, and it worked perfectly fine. It's something I would have never thought of. He is an amazing person and I just shake my head at the former tenant who showed him little respect. That was the same tenant where after we moved back, a lady came and dropped off an envelope... It had a newspaper clipping in it. That is an interesting story...

Labels: Chinese Culture

From an economic viewpoint girl's historically in China have been of less value. This is because when the daughter marries, she becomes part of the son's family. I still see this even in the US, where sons of the family will get an inheritance, and the daughter's nothing. This is probably part of the reason that China has the highest suicide rate for women.

Two sad quotes from the article on suicide:

"In a woman's lifetime, she does not have any family love from the day she is born," said Song, who has carried out in-depth journalistic research into the phenomenon.

Opportunities for personal development and education were also lacking, Song found. "Girls are not sent to school, either," she said. "My impression is that in rural areas, a woman's whole life only revolves around others as long as she lives. There is not a single day that she thinks about herself."

article from the Washington Post.

China will have an issue that will grow, is boys who will not be able to marry because of a shortage of women. China has the greatest imbalance of boys to girls, 120 to 100. And the women who are there may put off marriage due to career reasons. The reasons for the imbalance are cheap ultrasound machines, 1 child policy, and abortions that are legal to the 9th month. Korea and India have similar issues with an imblance of males to females.

I have already seen where Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese will go to other countries, such as Vietnam to marry. Taiwanese men will often go to China to find a bride.
Conference on the subject


China's women in cities are getting better. An example is the richest Chinese is a woman, worth $3.4 Billion dollars.

Two books I like for self esteem are:

Empress of China (about the first empress)


The Seven Chinese Sisters

Labels: Chinese Culture

NY Times review of Ni Hao Kai Lan and the Nickelodeon Page. Cartoons are based on Karen Chao's experiences growing up with the Chinese and US culture. Her goal is Kai-lan “to be a Chinese-American role model, to be independent, to have a voice, to take the initiative and to not always have to follow others.”

The show is especially for the 60,000 children adopted from China and the 100,000 children learning Chinese.

A couple of books that deal with the challenge of mixing cultures are by Lensey Namioka, Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear, Half And Half, and Yang the Third and the impossible family. For learning English, I Hate English by Ellen Levine is a wonderful book.

Labels: Chinese Culture

Wall Street Journal today has a page one article titled - Youth in a Bottle. About how the Chinese Leadership all dye their hair black when needed, so you don't see any white hairs. I have seen this among a lot of ethnic Chinese in the US and I would say it's fairly widespread. On why this is done - my 2 cents is age discrimination does live, unfortunately.

I disagree on the author that it's a China only thing because of the majority of the Chinese in China are below 39, since I have also seen this with Taiwanese. I have also seen an increase in red accents in hair in ethnic Chinese women of all ages.

I guess I am lucky my daughter naturally has a slight red tinge to her hair, from my Mother's side that had some redheads.

Labels: Chinese Culture

1. Blue, Green, and Red (their political parties). People have definite opinions on them, even people who have immigrated to the US.
2. President of Taiwan, Mayor of Taipei, etc.
3. Use of the name Taiwan vs. ROC
4. Taiwan independence
5. Taiwan being part of China (easy way to start a fight).
6. Forty Niner (no, it's does not refer to the California forty niners).
7. Chiang K'ai-shek
8. Taiwan Culture (this leads into the Taiwan independence discussion).
9. Pinyin vs. what is used in Taiwan for Romanization (it's not consistent).
10. Use of local dialects in Taiwan, commonly called Taiwanese (Fukien dialect).

I was speaking with an author and the author mentioned the controversy how in one book they mentioned China's leaders which included Mao and Chiang K'ai-shek so I thought this would be an interesting blog entry. Especially for non-Taiwanese and subjects to be careful around people from Taiwan.

Labels: Chinese Culture

Casinos gamble Asian clients are a good investment shows how Atlantic City is targeting Asian gamblers. Same thing is happening in Las Vegas as they have targeted both people from China, as well as the local Asian population. There is a cheap bus that goes from Rowland Heights to Las Vegas everyday (meets in front of 99 Market on Nogales). Las Vegas even has a Chinatown now! US gambling companies have also invested in Macao. The positive for me is if you go to casinos in the US, at least the Chinese food has improved.

Labels: Chinese Culture

I saw this list via E-Mail and found a version on the web at a neat site, yellowbridge.com. Most of the ways them are pretty good.

• Fifty ways to know if you are Chinese

I like number 18 - You fight over who pays the dinner bill. I would comment on this more - but my wife does read this blog :-)

• You must be Chinese if..

Longer list including: You buy soy sauce by the gallon. The Costco near my house in Rowland Heights (actually Industry) sells Soy Sauce by the Gallon btw.

I belong to a humor toastmaster club and I volunteered to do a speech tomorrow, so I am not sure if I will do one using the lists above explaining what it means, or my Chinese American Marriage Tips. None of the Chinese Children Books I am stocking are one I can use for a speech. Monkey King is a possibility as a Tall Tail (great read).

Labels: Chinese Culture, Humor

LA Times article, China: A future nation of bachelors? By Joshua Kurlantzick The country's love of male children may create a dangerous underclass and prematurely gray the population.

Usual points brought up: 120 boys for every 100 girls born due to cheap ultrasound. One child policy. Same thing is happening in India, Korea, and Taiwan. In Taiwan and Korea, there are advertisements to go Vietnam to get a wife. In Taiwan, many men go to China to get a wife. Article did not mention that boys are a form of Social Security and when women marry, they are seen as becoming part of the groom's family.

What was new:
Nien Rebellion - happened about same time as Taiping rebellion, and the article suggests that part of the reason was the imbalance of men to women. Book that mentioned this issue is Bare Branches: The Security Implications of Asia's Surplus Male Population Excerpt from the book:

Population dynamics have a way of catching people unaware, and sometimes producing havoc. The worldwide baby boomers, born between 1945 and 1965, began coming of age in the late 1960s and produced an equally worldwide epidemic of violence. From the anti-Vietnam War movements to the Chinese Cultural Revolution, it was the great surge of young people taking to the streets who produced the violence. More recently, population aging has caught the attention...

Peter Drucker commented that you could look at the average age of a society, and it could tell you a lot about it. Peter's example I remember from one lecture was in the 1960's in the US, there was a lower average age that led to a lot of changes (Baby Boomers). Now America is growing older that is leading to less changes.

For those interested in related products for Children, hmmm, The Mouse Bride Cute book about a mouse and her suitors.

Labels: Chinese Culture, Chinese Demographics

The above is very broad generalizations of common elements of Chinese American housing I have noticed. I could not find any similar pages and when I look at Feng Shui, I get really confused:

1. In California, carpet is often replaced with tile (granite, marble, or ceramic) for hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, and eating area. There is a new trend towards wood floors. The living room stays carpeted along with bedrooms.

2. Stairs never point directly out the front door. The idea being here that the luck flows out of the house. There is often a mirror at the first bend of a stairway. You also often see mirrors above the door.

3. There is no direct path from the front door to the back door.

4. Lots of light is preferred. So the house inside is usually painted lighter color white.

5. Houses usually don't have 4's in them (sound of four in Mandarin and Japanese is same as death, which is why in Japan you can get a discount on an apartment with a 4 in it). Preferred numbers are 2, 6, and 8 for Mandarin. Cantonese is a little different.

6. Often there is a fish tank/aquiariam inside. They supposedly increase luck/wealth. You will also notice this in Chinese owned businesses.

7. Often there will be a small cabinet just inside to place your shoes to change into sandals for use on the tiled areas. On the carpeted area, the sandals are removed.

8. AMETHYST cathedral's area often found. They are big rocks with purple crystals inside them. Big as in I have seen them a couple of feet high.

9. Kitchen will often have saran wrap over the stove. Why - due to cooking via wok that throws out a lot of oil. Kitchen will often have a high powered fan above the stove due to the smoke generated. There may even be a high power gas burner that I have seen outside to get the high heat needed in traditional Chinese cooking.

10. Bottled Water - probably more of a first generation issue.

11. Rice Cooker

12. Italian or European style furniture. Either lighter in color or leather. Japanese style is often found, as for example a wooden bed.

13. Vegetable Gardens - Cute book, The Ugly Vegetables by Graced Lin, that is so true! With Chinese vegetables.

14. New houses are preferred.

15. Depending on the religion of the owner, you may find a bowl of Tangerines and oranges that symbolize good luck before a Buddhist figure.

16. For families with kids, a trophy/achievement wall with all the awards their kids have achieved. Education is super important in most Chinese families.

17. Usually in the bedroom there will be post size wedding picture above the bed.

18. Houses are usually not at the end of a street/cul de sac. Idea that ghosts go in straight lines. And so do drunk drivers is a more modern reason :-)

19. Good school district Focus on giving children the best education possible.

20. If kids, usually some musical instrument around. Piano, Violin, Cello, etc.

Kinda related book and Good Luck Life: The Essential Guide To Chinese American Celebrations And Culture Good Luck Life is so full of little tidbits about the Chinese Culture.

Labels: Chinese Culture, feng shui

Chinese Associations, often called Tongs go back in the US till the Gold Rush. In a recent article in the LA Times on a high amount of Fundraising in NY Chinatown for Hillary Clinton among Fujianese immigrants, the term Chinese Associations came up. The article in summary said a large amount of Fujianese immigrants of low income (dishwashers making $500/week giving $1000 donation) gave money to the Hilliary Clinton Presidential campaign. The reasons giving in 20 interviews ranged from the ability to have a picture taken with Senator Clinton and send it back to relatives to they were asked by as a favor (by a Chinese Association) and they would lose face if they did not. On a policy side on an NPR interview with the LA Times writer, the writer mentioned that Senator Clinton has spoken of the need to reunite families divided due to immigration issues and is seen as immigrant friendly in her policies.

The province of Fujian traditionally has produced a large amount of immigrants. The local dialect is what is called Taiwanese in Taiwan. I was surprised when a person from the Philphines and my in-laws were talking to each other, and what language would you guess - yes, Taiwanese/Fukienese . Why the difference in spelling between Fukienese and Fujianese - Pinyin. Like Peking and Beijing.

The immigrants to the US have been both legal and illegal. The going price was $50,000 (14 years ago it was $20,000) and it takes 3-5 years paying back the cost. This is often done by working in Chinese restaurants as waiters, waitresses, and cooks. Women also find work as nannies. Figuring out the size of this population is challenging, but the total estimate for illegal immigrants is 7 to 20 Million. And if you estimate 5% is Chinese, thats a large number. Especially when the Legal population for ethnic Chinese in the US is 2.7 Million per the 2000 Census. Snakeheads are the smugglers and Tongs/Chinese Gangs used this as a major source of revenue. More profitable than drugs and less of a risk of prison time. Here is a recent article on a person in a tong.

Labels: chinatown, Chinese Associations, Chinese Culture

I have noticed the emergence of huge houses in many cities where there are a lot of Chinese. Typically they have tiny yards, two stories, usually some type of pillar in the front, stucco, tile room, good school districts, and are much bigger than the original housing, usually ranch style in the area. Places I have seen this are Cupertino, Arcadia, Temple City, San Marino, etc. I thought of this when I cam across an article in the WSJ The Mega-Mansion Comes to Beijing that mentioned this was happening also in China with the super rich. What has happened in California cities, is an older house is bought, then torn down and replaced with a mega mansion. To appease city codes (that have been getting smarter), often one wall of the old place is kept so it is not a new construction, but just a remodel (on steroids). I was looking for articles about this, but could not find any. New areas don't have these issues since there are often new developments in gated communities with monster houses. I can think of one in Rowland Heights (Balan and Fairways).

Here is the only article I could find: Building Ethnoburbia: The Emergence and Manifestation of the Chinese Ethnoburb in Los Angeles' San Gabriel Valley that requires a username/password or a visit to a subscribing library.

No wait, another mention (just have to use the right keywords) that has a nice definition - mostly:

The San Marino area has coined the phrase "mansionization" to reflect the desire of Asian residents to construct large homes that overwhelm surrounding buildings in both size and design. For Asians, this is a means of accommodating their extended families and a reaction to the limited housing space available to them in their native countries.


I am not sure I agree with the sentence I highlighted in red. To me that has nothing to do with it. Extended families - yes, that makes sense. Limited housing in their native countries - no, it's more about what they can afford in the US, which has to do with cost of housing, not availability.

Labels: Chinese Culture, Chinese Demographics, Chinese Housing

I am in a mixed marriage that spans two cultures. My wife is from Taiwan and I am American. Parts of my side go back to before the revolution - Scots Irish farmers among others (Scottish, German, may be American Indian, French Canadian, etc), and ancestors of mine have been around California since the Gold Rush. There is a lot of differences in culture between an ethnic Chinese who's family has been here since the Gold Rush, and a first generation immigrant.

Chinese American Marriage Statistics:
Chinese marry non-Chinese in the US is 15%. The inter-marriage for Chinese Women is higher than men.

My observations/tips from my marriage and observing friends, family, etc:

1. Don't argue with your spouse in front of your in-laws or your parents. This includes raising your voice.
2. Chinese/Taiwanese/Korean are super focused on education and put a huge amount of pressure on their kids because they usually expect great results. They will sacrifice incredibly for their kids education. My daughter mentioned a friend who was in tears because she got I think it was a B on a test.
3. Expect to move to a good school district. This is usually done by looking at the test scores. For those who can afford it, private academies. In Southern California the school districts with a heavy Chinese population are San Marino, Arcadia, Walnut Valley/Diamond Bar, Rowland Heights, ABC Unified in Cerritos, Sunny Hills (more Korean there), etc.
4. If your Father-in-law offers you a drink, take it.
5. Don't be surprised if your in-laws move in with you. A recent trend I have seen is elder care, where the elderly are taken away during the day for activities.
6. Food - be adventuresome, and if your wife cooks it, eat it, or at least try it. Think of the Children's book, Green Eggs and Ham.
7. Politics dealing with China/Taiwan - usually a bad subject. Especially with other family or friends (lose lose topic usually).
8. Key term to learn - Soft Rice. Means you are being supported by your wife (babies are fed soft rice or gruel). Not a good term to hear.
9. Have a sense of humor and count to 10 or 100 as needed, for there will be a lot of surprises.
   
10. If your mate feels more comfortable communicating in Chinese with friends, just grin and bear it, especially if they have not seen each other for a while.
11. Ettiquette - I have noticed when friends are in the Chinese mode and eating they talk with their mouth open, just chat chat chat. When in the American mode, if you are talking while chewing with your mouth open or food in it, you get the look.
12. 12. First generation immigrants are often more achievement focused than second. So if you marry somebody first generation, they may be more focused on achievement than having a good time. Be aware of it after the initial puppy love wears off.
13. For buying a house, understand some basic Feng Shui. No houses with 4's in them (4's in Mandarin and Japanese has the same sound as death). 8's are great. This advice also goes for phone numbers. Don't be at the end of a street (which makes sense because Chinese Ghosts go in straight lines, and so can drunk drivers. The house diagonal from where I grew up from was up the street from the Elk's Lodge, and quite a few cars did not make the turn. Luckily they had this huge palm tree in the front). Never have a stair way from the 2nd floor that goes directly out to the front door (this lets out all the luck of the house).
14. Don't be surprised if your ethnic Chinese Spouse gets a heavy duty stove fan so they can do some real wok cooking. Most newer houses just are not made for cooking. Some houses in areas with large Chinese populations are actually putting in heavy duty gas burners and the heavy duty fans.
15. If your spouse is very frugal because they grew up poor, and are still penny pinching. Look at your own habits (like that morning cup of Starbucks).
16. Cars - Toyota, Honda, BMW, and Mercedes seem to be the preferred brands.
    
17. New is good for cars and houses. Usually they are not into used since who knows what spirits may be there. So if you are into old houses and fixing them up, you may want to have a serious talk with your spouse about this.
18. Child punishment. What may be acceptable to your spouse may be totally unacceptable to you. Like in some European countries, it's against the law to spank kids. In the US one spouse may view corporal punishment as fine, and another as criminal. And it's important to understand what is allowed by your states law anyway (like leaving Children alone at home at what age, corporal punishment, etc.).
19. Gifts - I suggest have the spouse of the culture of the giftee figure out what is acceptable. For example in Taiwan giving of clocks is not good (running out of time). English culture has a similar issue with giving of knives (the gift of a knife will sever the relationship). For Chinese weddings, red envelopes filled with money are appropriate.
    
20. Watch the Joy Luck Club and don't be like the husband about the ice cream.
21. Eat Drink Man Woman - Great movie to understand about Chinese culture and food.
22. All you can eat Sushi places are places your spouse may really like (they may also bankrupt the place).
23. Just because something is Chinese related, does not mean your spouse will automatically be interested in it. For example a first generation immigrant may have no interest in the Chinese American experience during the Gold Rush (and vice versa).
24. Chinese have this habit of laughing at non-Chinese speaking Mandarin due to pronunciation issues. It's always a bad idea of make fun of somebody who is learning a foreign language (like your spouses English), but there seems to be a double standard here. Just be aware of it.
25. Never sign your name in red (Japanese, Taiwan, and Korean culture issue).
26. In marriage, in Chinese tradition the groom's family pays for everything. In American, the Bride pays. Most wedding receptions are at a Chinese Restaurant (usually a dim sum place that is a sea food place at night).
27. Don't expect your wife to be the world's greatest cook. She may have been so busy and focused on going to school that she never learned how to cook.
28. Learn tPublish Posto use chopsticks and let your kids learn also. When around the Chinese side of your family, it looks better for you.
    
29. Never stick your chopsticks straight up in a bowl of rice.
    
30. Always finish all the rice in a bowl.
    
31. When going out with your parents, in-laws, ethnic Chinese friends to restaurants always pay the bill. This can get really interesting when people start doing the trick of accidentally paying the bill on the way to the restroom, fighting for the check from the waiter/waitress, etc..

Labels: chinese american marriage, Chinese Culture, Chinese Etiquette, interracial marriage

I got a lot of positive feedback on the post about what my family has done to expose my daughter to Chinese Culture, so I made an article out of it on the site and expanded it. One of the people who emailed me with some nice feedback - there Grandfather actually went through Angel Island.

Chinese Culture- Teaching my daughter

Labels: Chinese Culture

My daughter is mixed, so she has interesting identity issues :-)

Exposing My Daughter to Chinese Culture
I have worked very hard to expose my daughter to Chinese in the US. For a project for 5th grade she did a Joss House Weaverville Model Project instead of the usual California Mission. She was graded on the landscaping (it took a lot more time than planned including my parents,
me, and my Father in law as well as blueprints we got and a video).

For another grade the project had to do with the Wyoming Massacre in Rock Springs where some 28 Chinese Miners were killed in 1885. She also got lots of the Lawrence Yep books (he does a great job for Middle Schoolers of writing of the Chinese American experience). Since my wife is from Taiwan, we also celebrate the Chinese Holidays. We also visited Angel Island and a few Chinese Museums in the US that should be on this page Chinatowns of the United States.

On vacation, we also visit the local Chinatowns which include so far London, NY, LA, SF, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Toronto, Washington DC, and Boston. Usually a good place to get a nice meal at a fair price, or at least a nice bakery :-) My family also goes to local festivals, which is part of the reasons I make up those lists of events for Chinese Festivals such as Moon Festival, Chinese New Year, DragoPublish Postn Boat Races, etc. because it's frustrating to find out the week after a local event.

Labels: Chinese Culture, Chinese History

Childbook teaches about the Chinese Language and Culture. So if I wanted to create a section on culture which products should I choose?

Here is two Definitions of Culture from M-W the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; also : the characteristic features of everyday existence.

So culture is not Chinese History, but ways of thinking. So I can think of four items right now.
Good Luck Life: The Essential Guide To Chinese American Celebrations And Culture (great book!).
Exploring Chinatown: A Children's Guide to Chinese Culture
Let's Go To School with Mei Mei 5

	Follow Jade - Let's Visit Chinese Kindergarten in DVD

Follow Jade! Learn Chinese: Let's Go to Market in China DVD

I did cheat a bit on the first two items, since I did a search on culture and was curious what came back. There is also a nice book on Chinese Poetry, A Thousand Peaks: Poems from China.

Time for a new section which I just created Chinese Culture Books and DVD's. It will be interesting to see which items sell. Personally, I like the Let's Go To School with Mei Mei 5 a lot because of the comparison I can do to US schools and the book is a great reference and read Good Luck Life: The Essential Guide To Chinese American Celebrations And Culture

Labels: Chinese Culture