by James Y. Shih When I was 3, my ahgong (grandpa) brought me to Taiwan from California to visit our old family home in the historic town of Lukang (鹿港). The home was and still is a narrow, two story, brick and wood building off the main road. There, my great aunt, whom I affectionately called “yaba,” lived with my ahma (grandma). At that age, I didn’t know calling her just yaba (啞吧), which means “deaf mute”, was rude (it is). I thought it was her name. Those early memories…
During the second full week of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month each May, we proudly recognize and celebrate Taiwanese American Heritage Week! In the past decade, more than a handful of authors, writers, creatives, and poets have emerged to write the many stories of our patchwork community into being. Below, we have compiled a list of nearly 50 titles from this talented pool. Many of the authors themselves are Taiwanese Americans or have ties to Taiwan. Some of these books have Taiwanese…
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1050"] Book of Cord coverage in World Journal, article by Emily Lin, book photography by Tinfish Press, family portrait by Andy Kuno[/caption] Leona Chen is the author of Book of Cord, her debut poetry collection from Tinfish Press. The poems tackle family, culture, language, migration and history in a non-prescriptive way, relying instead on emotions embedded in precise, culturally coded details--quotidian (but not ordinary) objects such as tiger balm,…
Please join Taiwanese American author, Marijane, for an author event at Gatsby Books in Long Beach to celebrate the launch of her new book, Beyond Two Worlds! What if your life story wasn’t what you thought? Experience a true story about two worlds and a woman’s search for truth, forgiveness, and love. About the Book: Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Marijane was adopted by an American military family at four months old. She grew up in a middle class neighborhood where hers was the only Asian…
Our annual "Passport to Taiwan" (P2TW) Festival is held in May for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, as well as to align with Taiwanese American Heritage Week. Now approaching our 16th year, the festival has become the largest Taiwanese event in the United States. Most importantly, our event has evolved into a celebration of diversity, highlighting how the United States is indeed a melting pot of many beautiful cultures. Please join us for a day of festivities! More information can be found…
For the 15th year, the annual Passport to Taiwan Festival will kick off its celebration on Sunday, May 22nd in Union Square Park North from 12pm-5pm! Passport to Taiwan Festival is the largest outdoor event in the United States celebrating the Taiwanese American Heritage Week designated by the Congress in 1999. The festival features world famous Taiwanese night market foods, the flavorful tea selection, unique Taiwanese crafts and the Taiwanese aboriginal music and dance. On top of it all, it’s…
The Intercollegiate Taiwanese American Students Association (ITASA) 2016 West Coast Conference will be hosted by the Taiwanese Cultural Society, and will take place from March 31st to April 3rd at Stanford University. The purpose of this conference is to connect Taiwanese American students with each other; inspire by inviting leaders in the Taiwanese American that live interesting and unique life trajectories to speak and share; empower change and action by entrusting a sense of purpose and social…
The Taiwanese American community is proud to present “Passport to Taiwan” Festival that celebrates Taiwanese American Heritage Week designated by the Congress in 1999. New Yorkers who are not traveling out of town during the Memorial Day Weekend are encouraged to take the Subway for a trip to Taiwan! Since the initiation of the “Passport to Taiwan” festival in 2002, it has become the most important event for the Taiwanese American and the Mandarin Speaking community in the New York Tri-State…
