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TaiwaneseAmerican.org

Home
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Stories
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Parenting Resources
Contact

When You Wish Upon a Lantern Cover

Posted on Friday, February 3rd, 2023 at 7:44 am.

Written by Leona

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"My Taiwanese upbringing was actually key to all o

POV: When you were a child, you performed onstage

POV: When you were a child, you performed onstage every May at the Taiwanese American Cultural Festival @tafestival , then hosted by first-generation Taiwanese Americans like your grandparents, and one year you bought a copy of @pacylin Grace Lin’s “Year of the Dog” with the 🧧 you got afterwards. In its pages, you met a Taiwanese American protagonist— a little girl, just like you, for the first time. You never forgot how profoundly that book changed your life and relationship with literature. 20 years later, you’re organizing a Taiwanese American book fair exhibit at the same festival, now expanded and stewarded by second-generation Taiwanese Americans @tapsf like yourself, with a dozen of your favorite local writers and illustrators. Your booth draws grandparents, babies, best friends. Everyone finds something precious to connect with among the books, just as you did and continue to do. This community has been over 20 years in the making. We have been volunteer-run since the very beginning, energized by passionate, kind, thoughtful people like you. You and your stories are always welcome here 💖
Happy Taiwanese American Heritage Week!

It’s the best time of the year!! We were so thri

It’s the best time of the year!! We were so thrilled to spend a sunny day with @tapsf @tafestival with the Taiwanese American Book Fair, featuring our awesome book sale partners @onwaverly and a stunning lineup of almost a dozen writers and illustrators ❤️ Twenty years ago, the Taiwanese American literary catalog was a few precious, hard-won stories contained on a single foldout table. Look how far we’ve come. Thank you to everyone who holds the door open, who adds another chair, who makes all of those possible for the next and the next and the next. This exhibit is a love letter to you, our community. We are so grateful!

Nearly four years ago, filmmaker Anne Hu spoke wit

Nearly four years ago, filmmaker Anne Hu spoke with TaiwaneseAmerican.org as she was crowdfunding to make “Lunchbox,”, a dramatic, three-part coming-of-age short drama about regret, healing, and honoring the people we love. In the film, when a Taiwanese American woman prepares lunches from her childhood, she struggles to forgive herself for pushing away her immigrant mother. ⁠
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Hu had written Lunchbox in 2017, when a Facebook video appeared on her feed, capturing the experiences of Asian Americans who had been bullied for their homemade lunches. “My mother passed away when I was 20,” she told Lynch then. “As I watched the Asian Americans in the video express their love and gratitude for their parents, I desperately wished I could tell my mother how much I love her and how thankful I am for her. But I’ll never be able to do that. Overwhelmed with emotion, all I could do was sit down and write ‘Lunchbox.’”⁠
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In this new conversation with Cindy Lee @genesandtonic, Anne shares more about the process of making this “love letter to her mother” and how it has deepened her ties to her communities.⁠
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Don’t miss LUNCHBOX, a moving short film years in the making and a treasure for generations to come.⁠
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🎥 Streaming for a limited time:⁠
📍@omeleto on May 7⁠
📍@taiwanplus on May 8⁠
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Link to Q&A here and in bio: https://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2025/05/lunchbox-anne-hu-release/⁠
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#aapiheritagemonth #youtube #taiwanplus #omeleto

“My earliest memories are in Mandarin—pop ball

“My earliest memories are in Mandarin—pop ballads echoing from the kitchen, historical dramas playing softly in the background. It was my first language, my heart language… and one I lost touch with.” ⁠
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Now a mother of two, Jennifer shares how parenthood reignited her desire to relearn Mandarin—not just for her kids, but for herself. Read how she found purpose, empowerment, and Real You Mandarin @realyoumandarin along the way.⁠
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🎧 Real You Mandarin offers online Mandarin courses and resources tailor-made for ABTs, ABCs, and advanced learners ready to talk about real topics—dating, identity, mental health, and more.⁠
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✨ Just launched for AAPI Heritage Month: Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression, with its first module "Expressing Your Feelings"—covering everything from joy to jealousy.⁠
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💥 Get 10% off with code taiwaneseamerican10⁠
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📖 Read Jennifer’s story now -- linked here and in bio: https://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2025/05/rediscovering-my-heart-language-real-you-mandarin/⁠
🧡 Featuring @realyoumandarin
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#TaiwaneseAmerican #AsianAmericanMoms #BilingualParenting #母語 #AAPIHeritageMonth

📚✨ ONE WEEK AWAY! ✨📚⁠ Join us at our T

📚✨ ONE WEEK AWAY! ✨📚⁠
Join us at our Taiwanese American Book Fair at the @tafestival in San Francisco’s Union Square on May 10!⁠
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We’re bringing back our beloved exhibit of books by Taiwanese American authors—plus a special meet & greet with local writers you won’t want to miss. Come browse a handpicked selection of titles across all genres and discover your next favorite read! 💛⁠
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This year, we’re proud to partner with @onwaverly, an AAPI-centered shop + creative space in Chinatown, who will be donating 10% of book sale proceeds to us, TaiwaneseAmerican.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit amplifying Taiwanese American voices. 🛍️📖⁠
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Can’t make it in person? Visit On Waverly year-round at 162 Waverly Place or shop online anytime at bookshop.org/shop/taiwaneseam_org to support indie bookstores.⁠
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Let’s celebrate the flourishing canon of Taiwanese American literature, connect through stories, and build community together. Come say hi—we can’t wait to meet you!⁠!!! 🥰😍❤️
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Photos by Anna Wu Photography @annawuphoto

One of the most exciting times of the year is here

One of the most exciting times of the year is here!
TaiwaneseAmerican.org is proud to be a community partner for the following fantastic selection at CAAMFest 2025: A BRIGHTER SUMMER DAY FOR THE LADY AVENGERS - dir. Birdy Wei-Ting Hung
May 11 @ 12 pm, Roxie theater (Promo code: CPSHORTS)
Taiwan, 1980s. On a hot summer day, a teenage girl navigates her sexual awakening through celluloid fantasies and watermelon juice. Shot on 16mm. GOD & BUDDHA ARE FRIENDS - dir. Anthony Ma
May 10 @ 3 pm, AMC Kabuki (Promo code: CHILDREN)
Inspired by a true story, “God & Buddha are Friends” is a comedic drama filled with a lot of heart that follows a young Taiwanese American boy who falls into an existential crisis when a charismatic Christian pastor comes between him and his overprotective Buddhist mother. THE GROCERY LIST SHOW
May 11 @ 2:30 pm, AMC Kabuki (Promo code: CR258Z)
Hosted by former TOP CHEF contender Chrissy Camba, THE GROCERY LIST SHOW is a cooking docu-series that celebrates cultural grocery stores across the U.S. Each episode takes you on a flavorful journey as Chrissy shops with friends and special guests, diving into the ingredients, stories, and communities. Get tickets to these shorts and more at CAAMFest.com!

In “Change in Atmosphere,” Evelyn Wu captures

In “Change in Atmosphere,” Evelyn Wu captures the quiet tremble of displacement and the slow, stunning process of finding home. From a Covid-era move from the U.S. to Taiwan, to the steep climb into a new school system, language, and identity, this creative nonfiction piece is both a coming-of-age and a coming-into-language. ⁠
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Read the full piece now at link in bio and here: https://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2025/04/change-in-atmosphere-creative-non-fiction-by-evelyn-wu/

📚💘 “I remember being in Target a few years

📚💘 “I remember being in Target a few years ago and looking at all the books they had on display. In the mass market (smaller paperbacks for wide distribution) romance section, many of the books had real people/models on the cover, and maybe two or three featured people of color, but not a single book had both people being Asian. I decided that day to set a goal of publishing a mass market romance novel with just that: two Asians on the cover..” — Kristi Hong, author of “The Teacher’s Match”⁠ @kristihongwriter @harlequinbooks
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Author Michelle Young @michelleyoungwriter (“The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland”) sat down with Kristi, a Taiwanese American author writing under a pen name, to talk about love stories, representation, Michigan, and her Harlequin debut.⁠
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In “The Teacher’s Match,” ⁠Joanna Lin is determined to avoid her mother’s matchmaking. With a new career as an art teacher at a Mandarin immersion school, Joanna refuses to let anything or anyone distract her. Especially her charming new colleague Jack Sun. His kindness and passion for teaching—not to mention those dimples!—are practically irresistible. But anything beyond friendship is impossible, especially when Jack’s moving to Taiwan at the end of the school year. But as spring—and the school’s Dragon Boat Festival—draws closer, love might send all of their careful plans tumbling overboard.⁠
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🎤 Interview now up on TaiwaneseAmerican.org — link in bio and here: https://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2025/04/kristi-hong-the-teachers-match/

📖 Gathering Taiwanese American Writers at AWP 2

📖 Gathering Taiwanese American Writers at AWP 2025 ✨⁠
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“This has become a tradition.” For the third year in a row, we hosted a Taiwanese American Writers’ Dinner during the AWP Conference—this time at Pine & Crane DTLA, where conversations started in the long line and carried on over shared plates (and mandatory seat rotations 😆).⁠
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Our small world can sometimes feel like a string of coincidences, but we prefer to see it as a web of meaningfully cultivated connections.⁠
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We hope you take some time to read more from these writers, whose bios and published works are linked in the article. These dinners, and all that occurs in between them, remind us that art, though often an individual pursuit, is inextricable from community-building and mutual care. We better resist the temptation to divide ourselves in ceaseless competition when we remember what is possible when we 幫對方夾菜, when we serve others knowing that they’ve got our back, too. ⁠🍜🥢❤️
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Full article linked here and in bio: https://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2025/03/taiwanese-american-writers-awp-2025/

Looking to get involved with the Taiwanese America

Looking to get involved with the Taiwanese American community near you? 🇹🇼 These organizations all over the country might just be your chance! 🫵🏻😊 TACL-LYF, TAF, and TANG are looking for staff members and their applications close soon so don’t miss out! ➡️ Swipe to learn more 🙂 🚨 Apply now to join the community! 🚨 @tacllyf: Taiwanese American Citizens League - Leading Youth Forward (TACL-LYF)
📍 Alliance Redwoods Conference Grounds (Transportation provided from Fremont, California)
🗓️ July 13th - July 20th, 2025
Staff App Deadline: March 21st, 2025
@tafagram: Taiwanese American Foundation (TAF)
📍Manchester University in Indiana
🗓️ July 26th, 2025 - August 3rd, 2025
Staff App Deadline: April 4th, 2025 @tangeneration: Taiwanese American Next Generation (TANG)
📍 West Chester University of Pennsylvania
🗓️ July 1st - July 6th, 2025
Staff App Deadline: April 15th, 2025 💓 Check the links in their bios for the application links to these amazing opportunities! 🌟

📢 Calling all Taiwanese American Writers! ✍️
TaiwaneseAmerican.org is excited to announce the 2025 Betty L. Yu and Jin C. Yu Creative Writing Prizes! 🎉 Open to writers of Taiwanese heritage or those with significant ties to Taiwan, this prize celebrates creativity across fiction, poetry, personal essays, and creative nonfiction. 🏆 Prizes:
💰 Grand Prize: $500 (one per age category)
💰 Finalists: $200 (three per age category)
💰 Honorable Mention: $75 (at judges’ discretion) 📌 Categories:
📖 Middle School (6th-8th grade)
📖 High School
📖 College
📖 Adult (beyond college)
✨ Winners & finalists will be published online. All participants will also be invited to a virtual group session with the judges! 👩‍⚖️ Meet Our 2025 Judges:
📚 Charles Yu (National Book Award winner, Interior Chinatown) – College & Adult categories
📚 Grace Loh Prasad (The Translator’s Daughter) – High School category
📚 Alvina Ling (VP & Editor-in-Chief, Little, Brown Books) – Middle School category
📝 Submit your work by April 18, 2025 (11:59 PM PT): https://bit.ly/2025-ta-writing-prize Full announcement & guidelines: https://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2025/03/2025-creative-writing-prize/ We can’t wait to read your stories! 💙 #TaiwaneseAmerican #CreativeWriting #WritingContest #taiwanesediaspora

From cozy supper clubs to pop-ups to one of the mo

From cozy supper clubs to pop-ups to one of the most beloved Taiwanese restaurants in the Bay to, most recently, a well-attended and widely praised roadside banquet in Taiwan—Good to Eat’s Chef Tony Tung and GM Angie Lin have been tirelessly championing the depth and breadth of Taiwanese cuisine. 🥢✨⁠
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For nearly a decade, the wife-wife duo has crafted dishes that go beyond street food, honoring both night market classics and the rich, full-bodied flavors of Taiwanese cooking. From grilled whole squid 'Yi Yeh Gan' to clay pot rice soup, their menu is a love letter to Taiwan’s culinary traditions.⁠
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Our food features editor, Tiffany Ran, sits down with them to talk about their journey, the flavors they fight to preserve, and what’s next for Good to Eat. Read the full interview at the link in bio! #TaiwaneseCuisine #GoodToEat ⁠
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We also link their recent #TaiwanPlus feature, "Taiwan's Roadside Banquet Chefs: Keeping Tradition Alive." So in awe of you, Chef Tony and Angie! Thank you for sharing your story with Tiffany and our community. ⁠
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🔗: https://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2025/02/good-to-eat-owners-look-back-and-ahead-at-eight-years-of-sharing-taiwanese-cuisine/⁠
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🌞 Looking for a summer camp in the SoCal area f

🌞 Looking for a summer camp in the SoCal area for your child this summer? Look no further! TACL LID @lid_camp is making a comeback this year after a long hiatus and is holding their camp from June 26-29! 🧑🏻 Any child that has finished 5th grade and higher is eligible for registration.
💛 RSVP to a Virtual Parent Info Session, where they’ll be going over the logistics and details on the camp itself, as well as answer any questions you may have.
🎥 For those that miss the info session, there will be a recording available.
🔗 https://tr.ee/JtojAjXqO8

💕 “Ex” marks the perfect Valentine’s Day

💕 “Ex” marks the perfect Valentine’s Day read! 💕⁠
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We were so excited to chat with one of the most prolific Taiwanese American writers of our generation @gloriacchaowrites about her latest YA novel, Ex Marks the Spot—a heart-racing treasure hunt that unearths family secrets, Taiwanese heritage, and maybe even true love. ⁠
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We are always drawn to the depth and sincerity of Chao’s characters, particularly her female protagonists, who navigate complex romantic and familial relationships with nuance and heart. What moves us even more is how she seamlessly weaves entire families into each other’s schemes, dreams, and desires, creating stories that feel both intimate and expansive.⁠
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Ex Marks the Spot takes this a step further, adding even greater depth to each generation by threading together political trauma, migration, and an unexpected twist (no spoilers!) that binds grandparent, parent, and child. ⁠
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You'll love her clever pinyin puzzles (reader, we could not solve them on our own) and this exceptional love letter to Taiwan.⁠
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Check out our full interview (link in bio) 💌 #ExMarksTheSpot #GloriaChao #TaiwaneseAmerican #YALit #Bookstagram #OwnVoices⁠
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💌 https://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2025/02/gloria-chao-ex-marks-the-spot/

About

Founded in 2006, TaiwaneseAmerican.org is a web portal site highlighting many of the interesting people, events and organizations that make up Taiwanese America. It is both a volunteer-driven website and a non-profit organization that intends to connect and promote those who identify with the Taiwanese identity, heritage, or culture. By establishing our niche within the broader Asian Pacific American and mainstream communities, we hope to collectively contribute to the wonderful and diverse mosaic that America represents.

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