As I’ve mentioned before about alleged regional stereotypes between the West and East Coast here in the United States (see “East vs. West Coast Asian-Americans), it seems that there exist differences between the North and the South in Asian countries as well.

Imagine you’re filling out a survey and you come to the question that tells you to check off your race and/or ethnicity. Usually if the form is specific, we see these options “Asian” (usually applies if you’re from China, Japan, Thailand, etc.) and the separate option for “South Asian” ( associated with India, Pakistan, Nepal, etc.). Of course, then there’s the apparent split between North and South Korea (don’t forget Vietnam).

Regarding stereotypes, I’ve heard a few that appear to exist almost everywhere in relation to the northern and southern regions. For example, “Southern Indians are darker”, or “Those in southern Japan speak slower.” This is what I’ve managed to find on Wikipedia, distinguishing northern and southern China. Keeping in mind that these are after all, stereotypes, and that my research is coming from a questionable source (I admit, Wikipedia is convenient for research, but dangerously unreliable), I’ve taken all of this information with a grain of salt. However, having read the “Stereotypes” section on that webpage, I can see how a Chinese Northerner “eats more noodles, dumplings, and wheat-based foods rather than rice-based foods”.

Once again, when we attempt to classify a region, do the stereotypes work for or against us? Between the North and the South, can we co-exist with no boundaries-yet maintain a unique identity?

We hope to hear your responses and discussions because this will help clear up why people are so dissonant even though they are from the same countries and cultures.

It’s about that time again! This years’ Lunar New Years festivities will wrap up on the 15th of February, which means the largest celebrations known to Asian people (with Han-Chinese connection) will be going on as well. Join us today on SAPL as we share a bit about Asia’s answer to the Super Bowl and NBA All Star Game, (which is coming up this Sunday if you didn’t know).

To begin, Lunar New Years/Chinese New Years/Spring Festival/Seollal (Korea)/Losar (Tibet and Bhutan)/Tsagaan Sar (Mongolia)/Tết (Vietnam)/Oshogatsu (for the Japanese before 1873) is arguably the most important time of the year for all of Asia. Starting February 1st, a countdown full of deity welcoming, married daughters meeting their mothers, getting into arguments, and wonderful food preparation begins.

This is followed by a customary New Years Dinner (which is as important as Christmas Dinner in America), house cleaning for good luck throughout the year, clothes shopping, haircuts, and best of all …

… Red Envelopes! After wishing their elders and parents heartfelt blessings of good health, Asians also receive Red Envelopes with money or gift cards today. These can range from crisp cut 2 dollar bills to 20 dollars for the average person; and 100-500 dollars per envelop for wealthier Asian families. In the end, the money shouldn’t really matter.

Lunar New Years is a time of rebirth and beginnings. Asians are expected to forget their burdens and forgive their loved ones for past wrongs. It’s a time where extended families come together to fellowship with one another, teach children about respect, and celebrate their culture even though they are so far removed from their physical homes.

For more information on Lunar New Years, check out the Wikipedia page.

Please share your New Years Traditions with the SAPL family in the comments section of this post. We’d love to hear about your experiences, memories, and traditions in all of your cultures (not just Asian).

I am proud to have been invited as a prominent Asian blogger to Coca-Cola and Target’s inaugural Community Reception for the Year of the Tiger 2010. It shows how much of a voice we have given you, our readers, in the past 3 years. Before, there was no site that focused on dismantling and disseminating Asian stereotypes and explaining them in a way that sheds light into the culture and people that have these so-called “habits.”

In 2010, we at Asian Central and Stuff Asian People Like would like our readers, subscribers, and writers that we truly care about the Asian Community at large. We want to give Asians a voice because they are usually outspoken or too timid in today’s society. We are followers. This website was what Asian Americans needed because prior– they had no voice. We encourage you to voice your opinions so that people do not continue misunderstanding your cultures– our cultures. But there I go again– off on tangents about Community Values and Culture…

… so without Further Adieu– Let’s go to a quick recap of the night’s events:

The night started out like every other– light rain and a 25 minute BART ride across (or should I say underneath) the San Francisco Bay.

It ended in San Francisco, where my friend Nick and I (he loves Coca-Cola) walked about 30 minutes to 1AM on Howard Street (the site of the Community Reception).

The welcoming committee ushered us in at around 5:45 and executives from Coca-Cola and Target gave speeches about how Asian American populations are very important to their plans for future growth.

They then introduced two artists from the area who created artwork pieces that made it into the Year of the Tiger Calendar (only available at select Targets).

I had to get Ivan’s autograph and interview him a bit. Here’s his art piece if you were wondering!

The other pieces were awe-inspiring as well.

It was a wonderful experience meeting people that deeply cared for the Asian American Community.

Local News reporters were also on hand.

Let’s not forget the goodies we received…

All in all, I want to thank the people at IW Group for the invitation and setting up this event. You did a great job in such a short amount of time. Have a safe trip back to SoCal!

Hopefully, Asian Central and Stuff Asian People Like will attend this event for years to come.

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Here’s the entire night’s recap in Photos!

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In other news:

This week, we also launched Asian Central 4, a community driven by Asian people who strive and look for deeper connections to their roots by meeting people who are very well versed on the subject. The community is still very much alive and active, a place where you can make friends that understand who you actually are (or learn about their cultures).

Stuff Asian People Like was also updated recently to include nested comments and email notifications (to foster better communication). It is all in an effort to create a large website community where Asians can be themselves and learn not to disconnect from their roots.

Thank you for your devotion and support!

Sincerely,
Peter Nguyen
AC/SAPL Staff

Vannie says: I’d like to re-iterate the question that Shakespeare’s Juliet asked Romeo: “What’s in a name?”

Secretly, I like to think that having a second alias makes me sort of an undercover agent, which functions as the “James Bond” link to my identity. As a first-generation Asian-American (born here in the United States to immigrant parents), my genes (hypothetically speaking) make me a hybrid of both cultures. Yet, I’m more known to my family and acquaintances by my American pseudonym. Although my Chinese name holds more meaning (each character translates separately), ironically it means less to me since I identify with “Vannie” more (whereas “Vannie” is just…”Vannie”.) In addition, I’ve tended to notice that most Asian-Americans I know introduce themselves as “common” names (Christine, Jonathan, etc.) while the international students I meet simply flip their names- stating their last, then their first.

Upon their attempt to settle in this country, my parents changed their names so that they sound more “Americanized”; their explanation is that it’s easier to pronounce for foreigners. I know that they’re not the only ones (at least, I hope not), so why do we do this? Is it because when we are mandated to make ourselves known- such as filing tax returns or even simply filling out a raffle form, we’re automatically profiled? (Once again, this relates to my previous entry on racial profiling) Through this act of assimilation, why do we consciously conceal our identities? And besides, once our last names are revealed, the jig is up anyway.

As double agents, it’s typical behavior to avoid being discovered for who we are. But should we have reason to be afraid?

How did this come about, though?

In 1665, the first ever account of “Lamian” consumption was made by Japanese Feudal Lord Tokugawa Mitsukuni. From the late 19th to 20th centuries, spurred by imperial aspirations, technological advances, and a post-WWII food shortage; Lamian became an instant (pun intended) hit in Japan.

Quick Japanese 101: Lamian, Lamen, and Ramen are the same thing. There is no distinction between the “L” and “R” sounds. Lamian is Japanese for “stretched, pulled, or elongated noodles.” Thus, we now call Lamian, Ramen.

Soldiers and lay people alike could have been found slurping Ramen noodles (much like college students today) during the Meiji Period because they were a great source of calories, easily portable, and provided warmth (did I mention they were extremely cheap?). Thus, the Japanese transformed a Chinese peasant meal into a cultural symbol.

Only in the past 60 years has Ramen become an international and (and Asian) sensation. Momofuku Ando of Nissin Foods is responsible for the globalization and westernization of Ramen. In 1958, he invented our modern day “instant cup noodles.” In 1972, these noodles came across the Pacific Ocean (and all over the world) under the guise of “Top Ramen (Maruchan)” and “Oodles of Noodles.”

Today, Asians and people around the world consume over 85 billion Ramen meals a year. That amounts to about $10 billion dollars worth of Ramen purchases — more than the nominal GDPs of over 67 countries worldwide (Cambodia grosses 10.82 billion dollars a year and is ranked 123 in the world). Thus, Ramen could very easily be the answer to both feeding and sustaining third-world countries for years to come (though we all know Asians are far too stingy with money to let that happen).

Instant Ramen flavors ranging from classic beef, chicken, and pork; to more bizarre flavors such as “salsa picante shrimp” are becoming available every day. If you want more authentic taste, we here at SAPL recommend a visit to Maru Ichi.

If you want to be immersed in Ramen history, you can see the Ramen Museum in Shin-Yokohama, Japan. You will definitely be blown away by the wheat, mineral water, salt, and mineral water that go into every meal. =)

With that said: Due to innovation in the face of adversity, the Japanese have turned Ramen noodles into a worldwide Asian phenomenon. That’s why, SAPL readers, #130 Ramen Noodles are Stuff Asian People Like.

“Named the greatest “made in Japan” invention of the 20th century, in front of the karaoke and headphone stereos, in a Japanese poll made by the The Fuji Research Institute Corporation, instant ramen became a Japanese cultural icon,” adds Ramenlicious.

Sources: Kei’s Kitchen (2008) and The Daily Orange.

On another note, if you want some Ramen in the comfort of your home, check out what our friends at RamenBox.com are doing. Have you ever wished that you didn’t have to buy Ramen in bulk? Their service offers Ramen like never before– combining the largest selection of Ramen and convenience into a box (literally). You can choose from their huge database of Ramen flavors, healthy alternatives, and have suggested flavors sent to your email (if you’re feeling adventurous).

Your own customized RamenBox is then sent to your home. With every RamenBox order, you get everything you need to eat your Ramen as well. Napkins, Chopsticks, even Chili Sauce are included for “the best noodle experience ever.”

Gone are the days of looking for utensils in the middle of the night when you have a paper due the next morning. Plus– how awesome would it be if your friends came over and saw a custom box of Ramen on your counter? If you really want to be Asian, we here in the SAPL family  suggest you give RamenBox a try.

SAPL EXCLUSIVE: Our friends at RamenBox have offered a 10% discount code for Stuff Asian People Like Readers! Just type “stuffasianslike” as your discount code, and 10% will be taken off your order. If you’ve already ordered, 10% is being taken off your order as we speak.

Today, we were informed that “Pop rock group Tim Be Told [would be] embarking on a audacious national tour and are hitting everywhere they can!“

This is a great testament to their resiliency and persistence as a group. They are truly doing what they love while being positive influences for Asian Americans everywhere. If you haven’t checked them out, here is one of their hit songs, Analyze:

Tour dates:
Jan 12 2010 White Rock Coffee Dallas, Texas
Jan 14 2010 Kick Butt Coffee Austin, Texas
Jan 15 2010 Fort Bend Community Church Missouri City, Texas
Jan 16 2010 Houston Chinese Church Houston, Texas
Jan 17 2010 Fort Bend Community Church Missouri City, Texas
Jan 18 2010 Private Show Los Angeles, California
Jan 19 2010 The Living Room Los Angeles, California
Jan 20 2010 University of California Irvine Irvine, California
Jan 22 2010 Hollow Body @ TRiP Santa Monica, California
Jan 23 2010 Stanford University Palo Alto, California
Jan 24 2010 South Bay Sa Rang Community Church Torrance, California
Jan 28 2010 Livingwater Church Berkeley, California
Jan 31 2010 Bay Area Chinese Bible Church San Leandro, California

Feb 3 2010 Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon
Feb 4 2010 Skagit Valley College Oak Harbor, Washington
Feb 5 2010 Ethnic Cultural Theatre w/New Heights Seattle, Washington
Feb 6 2010 Evangelical Chinese Church Seattle, Washington
Feb 9 2010 University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, Colorado
Feb 10 2010 Chinese Evangelical Church of Denver Denver, Colorado
Feb 12 2010 The Chapel w/Fundamental Elements St. Louis, Missouri
Feb 15 2010 Elbo Room w/Lucrezio Chicago, Illinois
Feb 17 2010 The Canopy Club w/ guests Urbana, Illinois
Feb 18 2010 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio
Feb 20 2010 Ishan Gala Benefit Concert Charlottesville, Virginia

This is not a paid advertisement. We have a great time whenever we go to their concerts or listen to their songs because they inspire change, much like we did with SAPL. Tim and the guys are some of the coolest entertainers on and off-stage as well.

They also performed at our non-profit service awareness concert, ServiceAsia, in June of 2009. If you live in (or near) their tour locations, check out their concert dates and be prepared for a great time.

-Peter

P.S. Nancy and I just got back from our China tour, so a highlight post is coming up very soon.  At this time, just enjoy the Holidays and New Years’ afterglow. Happy Holidays!

We hope to successfully debunk the world’s stereotypes and myths regarding Asians. We also hope to help the world understand all the Asian cultures and their various social and familial dynamics so that we can all understand one another.

Thanks again, and we’ll be releasing a very special post by guest writer Vannie Sung in the following days.

Peter Nguyen.
Stuff Asian People Like

From Wikipedia: In Western culture the White Stork is a symbol of childbirth. In Victorian times the details of human reproduction were difficult to approach, especially in reply to a younger child’s query of “Where did I come from?”; “The stork brought you to us” was the tactic used to avoid discussion of sex. The image of a stork bearing an infant wrapped in a sling held in its beak is common in popular culture.

Asian Cultures have similar childbirth myths. Asians also have similar difficulty explaining the concept of the “Birds and the Bees” to their children (please refer to #102 Being Modest about ***). In lieu of the stork myth, asians have come up with other kinds of lies they tell their kids when the dreaded “Where did I come from?” question gets popped.

1) One common story that gets told is that the child was found in the garbage and the parents happened to be in the vicinity so they could adopt the kid. Nevermind that this doesn’t really ANSWER the question of “where did I come from?” All it really does is give the false impression that the child was previously abandoned and left in the garbage to die. But it usually satisfied the child’s queries and most of the time, they are not traumatized.

2) Another common story that gets told is that the child was found beneath a bridge and the parents happened to be in the vicinity so they could adopt the kid. Again, this just gives the child the false impression that they were previously abandoned and left under that bridge to die. Again, the child’s query is satisfied, and after many hours of crying, he accepts that he really isn’t part of the family and is only living in the household because of the sympathy his parents had for him when he was a baby.

HOWEVER, this is actually a clever play on words. In Korean, the word for Bridge, 다리, also happens to be a homonym for the word “legs.” So when the child finally learns the truth about ***, then the parents have some wiggle room. “Well yeah Johnny, we TOLD you that you came from under 다리. What do you think it meant? A bridge? LOL you must have thought you were abandoned.”

People from Western Cultures are often entitled to a sense of identity and uniqueness when they come into this world. In fact, in addition to a surname and a personal name, all Americans as assigned a unique number; a social security number, that stays with them for their entire lives, even after they die.

Asians, however, have held this number assigning concept for centuries and in fact, commonly use their numbers to identify themselves. Like the American social security number, an asian’s number also stays with them for their entire life, even after he/she dies.

If you are asian, you are assigned your number from birth. If you happen to be the oldest of your siblings, you will be referred to as brother (or sister) #2. All your younger siblings will refer to you as “#2″ and you will often times refer them by their numbers as well, be it #4 or #6. Why isn’t there a #1? No one knows. (no really, I kid you not; no one, and I mean NO ONE KNOWS)

As you get older and your generation has kids, then your nieces and nephews will also refer to you by your number. Whether you be uncle #2 or auntie #4.

Eventually, your family will get larger and larger and you will start having grandkids and grandnieces and nephews. However, they will always respect you and will never forget the love and generosity you displayed to your family as they grew from children and eventually to adults. And as a gesture of respect, they will lovingly refer to you as “Old Man #7,” even after you have left this world.

Viet Nguyen from PDX

Thanks Viet for your wonderful insight! Stay tuned for our next post around Christmas Time.

Happy Holidays!

Peter Nguyen,
Stuff Asian People Like

Giving Vitamins as Gifts, or giving gifts in general;  is very  especially important in Asian countries. Vitamins, shampoo and other “American” products are often used as gifts in this day and age because they are practical (to us) yet unnecessarily extravagant to our family members in developing countries.

Nowhere is this more prevalent than in Vietnam and China. In fact, we used to load years’ supplies of bar soap and shampoo for our family members in Vietnam when my grandparents would make their yearly visit so they could take them to our relatives. Why are these inherently “American” products to treasured in Asian cultures though?

In Vietnam, I’ve noticed a great deal of electronics named after American states; even donning stickers saying they were “made in a U.S.A.”  While they were probably not made in the United States, they certainly conjure images of American freedom and class mobility– but let’s save that for another post. In the same way, expensive clothing and toys will also make sure your Asian family and friends are happy this holiday season.

With that said, there are certain guidelines to Asian gift-giving that should be followed:

1. Knives and scissors symbolize severance in relationships.

2. Romantic gifts are generally avoided (Asia is already highly populated =P).

3. Clocks are considered a rude or unlucky gift in China because their word for “clock”  sounds like “funeral”.

4. In South Korea, Japan, and China, gifts having to do with the number Four (ie. sets of four) bring bad luck. The number 13 is bad luck in nearly every other Asian country.

5. Finally: As a rule of thumb, the larger the Asian country, the less they will care if you forget bringing them gifts. In Japan, gifts are very important because of the proximity and accountability of your immediate family and friends. The same goes for Taiwan and South Korea.

Thanks for the submission, Sophia!

Do you in the SAPL family have any Asian gift giving tips or stories about your parents giving (or receiving) Vitamins as gifts? What would you recommend as Asian gifts for yourself or family and friends?