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Superstitions My Asian Parents Told Me
Growing up in both South Korea and the United States, I have heard a fair share of superstitions from both countries, some even overlapping due to similarities. For as long as I remember, I avoided stepping on cracks, held my breath as I drove past graveyards, and never opened an umbrella indoors. People may not notice, but popular, silly superstitions such as these control our basic lives. Whether you believe in superstitions or not, you often think about them as you approach a sidewalk crack or a black cat in an alleyway. I grew up hearing about many superstitions from my parents, and oftentimes they would try to pass it…
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How Food Became Offerings
The act of food consumption and eating behaviors is a quality that all humans share in order to survive. The act of food offerings goes back to the era of hunters and gatherers as their means of survival. Over time, along with the increased complexity of food that has developed, the act of sharing and offering different food has become a common theme across all cultures—particularly in Asian culture.
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Unlearning Colorism
I think every Filipino girl has their fair share of horror stories about Titas who were much too grown and much too busy to have the time to be commenting on the appearance of girls who aren’t even theirs. To no fault but their own toxic upbringing, they judged anything and everything that caught their attention. Weight gain, weight loss, academics—the list goes on and on. However, there was one thing in particular that they would point out about without fail. Even more outside of my control than my fluctuating weight and static height—it was my skin color. Brown and so unlike the porcelain white skin that they believed to…
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Am I Becoming a Karen Like My Asian Parents?
Growing up in a strict Asian family, I always told myself that I wanted to be different from my parents. When they said to do chores everyday or week, I wanted to do them whenever I saw fit. When they said to do what you need to right away, I wanted to do it later. When they said to get what you paid for, no matter the price, I wanted to not care. When they said bad dad jokes, I didn’t want to be near to hear them. When they asked me if I ate yet or if I wanted to eat more, I wanted them to stop asking...
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Asian Comfort Food
After a long semester, it is time for winter break. For many, this means coming home and being around the ones you love. There is no better feeling than being able to finally relax and unwind with friends and family. Additionally, there is the excitement of the holiday season. But out of all the joys of being back, I mostly look forward to home cooking. While away at school, I often long for the delicious meals my family or I create. It is the best when you get to come back and make the foods that you love eating. Here are a few of my favorite dishes to eat during…
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A Mother-Daughter’s Unbreakable Bond
For many, a mother is a role model, best friend, and pillar of strength for her daughter. A mother comforts her daughter during moments of weakness. A mother gives advice to her daughter on how to dress. A mother warns her daughter about boys. A mother, most importantly, loves her daughter unconditionally, as they emotionally understand their daughter the best. It is widely believed that the relationship between mothers and daughters is the strongest of all parent-child bonds, and although I disagreed with this belief for a long time, I now understand the truth.
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An Ate/Kuya Ading Reflection: Meet Two of UDFSA’s Newest Pairings!
Every year, the University of Delaware’s Filipino Student Association hosts an annual big/little event known as the Ate/Kuya Ading program. Ate is Tagalog for big sister and kuya translates to big brother, while an ading is a little sibling. This program serves to promote fellowship in the FSA community and give new members mentor figures to guide them through the new school year with advice, hangouts, etc. Come hear from two of our brand new pairings, featuring UDFSA’s Event Coordinator, Herissa Monsalud, and Philanthropy Chair, Matthew Ebron!
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Breaking the Pattern: Intergenerational Trauma
In many Asian cultures, mental health is swept under the rug. It is not an excuse to not be okay as it is seen as a sign of weakness. Those who are similar in age to my parents strongly believe this as they were taught to do so by their mothers and fathers. Unfortunately, this is a dilemma that many younger generations and first generation kids continue to experience.
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A Moment Captured
A heart-warming and inspiring story by Julia Lanzona about her father immigrating to the States.
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How I Felt Moving Away from my Asian Parents
Today is September 20th, 2022, almost a month since I left home. It’s been a while since I moved away and I miss it, but at the time I don’t miss it at all. Before this, I had never lived away from my parents. Heck, I haven’t ever even had a sleepover with anyone other than my cousin. I’ve never gone more than two day without seeing my parents. I’m a junior now, but before this I commuted from home to school and then back home again. I saw my parents everyday, and I have a good relationship with them. Sometimes it could feel a little suffocating, but at the…
