Feature
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The Mooncake: the unexpected snack of revolution
Submitted by Grace Zhang One of the most beloved traditional pastries in East and Southeast Asia, mooncakes are often synonymous with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Celebrated on the full moon of the eighth lunar month, the festival is marked by family reunions, get-togethers with friends, and of course, lots of special foods. While people can usually identify this sweet delicacy with its intricate patterns and delicious lotus seed paste filling, many are not familiar with the centuries old history behind the mooncake. Here is the story of how one innocuous pastry played a pivotal role in the downfall of an entire dynasty. Like many Chinese customs, the origins of the mooncake…
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Mid-Autumn Festival: A Heart filled of Longing
Submitted by Jehleen Zheng What do you do when you miss someone? Whether it be a family member, aloved one, or a friend, what do you do to express your wish that they were by yourside? The Mid-Autumn Festival carries a deeper sense of purpose rather than just themooncake feasting traditions. The festival is also about reuniting with family members,gazing at the moon and engaging in festivities together. It’s only during thesehomecoming festivals that people are able to truly reflect on how much they miss theirloved ones. In Chinese culture, the bond between parents and children is regarded as one ofthe most noble feelings ever existed in the social system.…
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WOMEN IN MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL AMID COVID-19: A “BREAK” FROM TRADITION
Submitted by Maeve Nguyen Ten months into 2020 and we still need to remind ourselves on a daily basis that this is an unprecedented time in the history of human beings. Never before have any of us imagined that we would spend most of our celebrations, festivals, and parties, if there is any, alone or with just a few close family members. With no more big gatherings, what is the purpose of festivities? More importantly, what do we do now? The Mid-Autumn Festival, otherwise known as the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival, is one of the most important and age-old festivals in East and South Asia, dating back to…
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Jimmy O Yang: Good Deal Review
Written by Jamie Wen Weiner “Where my Asians at? We out here representing!” An enthusiastic, yet non-overbearing Asian male comedian calls out to his audience. Standing at 5 foot 5 (and repeatedly drawing attention to his short stature), wearing a simple burgundy button-up shirt, dark pair of chinos, a silver watch revealed by his rolled up sleeves (probably purchased as a “good deal”), shoulder length hair, and big round glasses, Jimmy O. Yang makes his presence known to his live, eager audience. Perhaps it’s his natural grace at telling jokes and stories as he saunters across the stage, keeping a friendly, childish smile and exuding modest confidence. He has stories…
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Editor’s Note: Grace Zhang
This year has certainly been surreal, to say the least. In a matter of months, I have watched the world grind to a sudden halt. Our universities have shut down, millions of people suddenly are finding themselves jobless, and quarantine has become the necessary means for survival. This is our new reality: one that can be characterized with overwhelming loneliness and anxiety at times. But like with every crisis, we learn and we adapt. For me, and perhaps also the rest of the world, this tumultuous time has truly taught us the importance of appreciating the smaller beauties in life that we have so often passed by without a second…
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Senior Spotlight: Winnie Wong
Hi everyone! My name is Winnie Wong and I am a graduating senior. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Growing up, I had a passion for the sciences, especially in chemistry when I was first introduced to it in high school. I thoroughly enjoyed how such complicated processes could be intertwined neatly together. I pursued an Honors Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry at the University of Delaware. To gain experience in my field, I turned to internship and undergraduate research opportunities. I was secretary of the university’s Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) chapter, reaching out to students from Asian minority backgrounds to engage them…
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Senior Spotlight: John Vo
Hey! My name is John Vo and I’m a graduating senior who majored in Biology. I’m planning on going to Temple University to pursue my PharmD in September, but enough about my academics. I will never remember college by the classes that I took—and I prefer it that way. No, when I think about UD, I think about all the RSOs that I was a part of: SASE, VSA, Pre-Pharmacy Society, AAPC, just to name a few. To me, these clubs didn’t just represent my heritage and interests. They represented people: people that had the same goal as me. Growing up in a predominantly white population, I’ve always felt like…
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Holidays: Chinese New Years and Eid Al-Fitr
Submitted by Winnie Wong Chinese New Year is one of the most famous Asian holidays known to the Western hemisphere. The holiday falls on the early days of the 12th lunar month. In preparation for the New Year, people will clean up and decorate their houses. However, it is crucial not to clean on the actual holiday due to the belief that in doing so, one may sweep away the good luck. Flowers are adorned in the house and Chinese paintings are placed on the door panels. Chinese posters are also hung up with a “副” written on it as a sign of good fortune. Family members from all over…
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Journaling at UD
Submitted by Grace Zhang My sneakers squeaked against the worn linoleum floor as I made my way to the first class of the day. As a trepidatious freshman navigating the sprawling campus of the University of Delaware, I was careful to organize my schedule so I arrived exactly five minutes before each class began—enough time to ensure I would not be labeled as an overachieving nerd that I have come to expect with my physical appearance. When I trekked to the Caesar Rodney Dining Hall, I made it my life mission to find at least one friend to sit with. After all, nothing in my mind could be worse than…
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Appropriation in Asian Culture
How do these images make you feel? (Need Images referenced in the article) When it comes to the topic of “cultural appropriation,” many people come to a mixed consensus of what it is and whether or not if it is offensive. Before heading into any form of debates, let’s all define what this term means. Cultural appropriation is the adoption of elements from a minority culture that’s being used by a dominant culture. This often comes with the theme of “colonialism” and power imbalance. That does not mean that this is the same as cultural exchange, where people educate one another on their respective cultures in a non-mocking fashion. …
