You dread seeing them and when you do, you feel like a warm body. Is it normal to not like your parents? Friday dinner at their house, Sunday morning Dim Sum, having your parents over at your place… How does it feel thinking about those things? Frustrated? Burdened? Dread? Like Read more…
From baby boomers to Generations x, y, z, can we really understand one another? My parents’ generation was more traditional. They were more conservative. Their parents were more strict. The didn’t grow up with screens and they didn’t raise us with screens. They didn’t have instant access to information at Read more…
Two important life lessons I learned from spending an hour at the local Starbucks with my dad. A Chinese Canadian story that crosses 4 generations, spanning from Hong Kong to Canada. It’s Friday morning and I’m at my parents’ house working on my blog. My dad’s downstairs doing his thing. Read more…
Growing up as an Asian Canadian, I often felt I needed to prove my English skills worthy to the white folks. “Your English is pretty good for a Chinese person.” “Are you sure you don’t want to participate in the school’s ESL (English as a Second Language) program?” “Do you Read more…
I’ve been on the receiving end of racism and cultural insensitivity. And the worst came from someone who shared the same ethnicity and many aspects of my culture as me. “You can’t use those words to describe that culture unless you belong to that culture…because then you can use whatever Read more…
From Healthy Jane To Authentic Energy: An interview with Jane Fang, Wellness Coach, Authentic Energy Those stubborn 5-10 pounds, that unsightly muffin top, non-existent thigh gap, saggy butt or flabby arms… When we step out of the shower, catch ourselves in the mirror, and see our bodies in raw form, Read more…
When you want your kid to grow up tough enough to face the world but you don’t want to become your parents…What do you do? “Suck it up.” “Stop crying.” “Toughen up.” “What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” Asian Values Around Hard Work and Perseverance Growing up with Read more…
EPISODE 16: WHY I NAMED MY BLOG SUM ON SLEEVE “WTF is Sum on Sleeve?” Like does that mean you have something on your sleeve? Why is Sum spelled that way? Why am I here?Where am I?Who am I? Maybe not that question unless you’re having an existential crisis…but perhaps Read more…
Remember those shows where they would show clips from old episodes? I loved them because it was like reliving the best parts of the season. With over 60 posts, it’s been an incredible journey and I’m so grateful to all my readers. Every story told, every word read, every sentence digested Read more…
The quiet, submissive Japanese businesswoman; the self-sacrificing, man-pleasing Chinese wife; the docile, needy Korean female international student. Whenever I hear these stereotypes, I first cringe in disgust knowing that these are some people’s fantasies; then, a wave of anger hits me like a ton of bricks, mad about the misperception Read more…