Blogging the News

What’s a commute without rush hour in New York City? Between the hours of 6am and 9am hundreds of New Yorkers fill the buses and subways heading to Various destinations. Amongst these many passengers are the commuter students; an experience … Continue reading →

What’s a commute without rush hour in New York City? Between the hours of 6am and 9am hundreds of New Yorkers fill the buses and subways heading to Various destinations. Amongst these many passengers are the commuter students; an experience … Continue reading →

“The location is interesting to say the least. We cater to many different types of people. On some days, we get a lot of international tourists, on others, we get a lot of second, third, even fourth generation Chinese Americans.” –Lauren Nechamkin, MOCA Education Manager

Located in the cross of Chinatown, Little Italy, and Soho, the Museum of Chinese in America began as a Chinatown History Project to promote a better understanding if the Chinese American experience. As an institution designed to preserve Chinese American culture, I visited the MOCA to find out more about what they were doing to attract millennial Asian New Yorkers.

According to Ms. Nechamkin, the museum is doing a great deal to reach out to the millennial population. From discounted memberships for students to special educational programs to movie screenings at Columbus Park, MOCA has increased their efforts to inform the millennial generation about the Asian American Experience. Some of these special education programs include a walking tour around Chinatown, one of New York City’s oldest neighborhoods, and workshops that address where stereotypes come from. When asked what some of the most common misconceptions were, I was told there is this false impression that there are certain stereotypes of Chinese Americans which MOCA intends to remedy.

If you are interested about in learning more about your heritage, here are some things you’ll find at MOCA:

• Memory Prints by Mid-west artist Phillip Chen: is an exhibit where individuals can learn the basics of relief printing, an old printmaking process which consists of etching a printing surface, as well as experience the emotional landscape of an Chinese American family. These haunting prints explore the relationships between objects and images, history and memories.

• MOCAEATS: is one of MOCA’s new program series on food and culture. MOCAEATS in particular is a conversation about food culture and family businesses where individuals can learn more about how Jason Wang of Xi’an Famous Foods and Lou Di Palo of Di Palo Selects succeeded in making their businesses thrive in New York City’s oldest and most famous neighborhood, Chinatown. This discussion will be followed by a sampling of their delicious dishes and treats.This event is free and open to the public.

“The location is interesting to say the least. We cater to many different types of people. On some days, we get a lot of international tourists, on others, we get a lot of second, third, even fourth generation Chinese Americans.” –Lauren Nechamkin, MOCA Education Manager

Located in the cross of Chinatown, Little Italy, and Soho, the Museum of Chinese in America began as a Chinatown History Project to promote a better understanding if the Chinese American experience. As an institution designed to preserve Chinese American culture, I visited the MOCA to find out more about what they were doing to attract millennial Asian New Yorkers.

According to Ms. Nechamkin, the museum is doing a great deal to reach out to the millennial population. From discounted memberships for students to special educational programs to movie screenings at Columbus Park, MOCA has increased their efforts to inform the millennial generation about the Asian American Experience. Some of these special education programs include a walking tour around Chinatown, one of New York City’s oldest neighborhoods, and workshops that address where stereotypes come from. When asked what some of the most common misconceptions were, I was told there is this false impression that there are certain stereotypes of Chinese Americans which MOCA intends to remedy.

If you are interested about in learning more about your heritage, here are some things you’ll find at MOCA:

• Memory Prints by Mid-west artist Phillip Chen: is an exhibit where individuals can learn the basics of relief printing, an old printmaking process which consists of etching a printing surface, as well as experience the emotional landscape of an Chinese American family. These haunting prints explore the relationships between objects and images, history and memories.

• MOCAEATS: is one of MOCA’s new program series on food and culture. MOCAEATS in particular is a conversation about food culture and family businesses where individuals can learn more about how Jason Wang of Xi’an Famous Foods and Lou Di Palo of Di Palo Selects succeeded in making their businesses thrive in New York City’s oldest and most famous neighborhood, Chinatown. This discussion will be followed by a sampling of their delicious dishes and treats.This event is free and open to the public.

James Wong, a 20-year-old international business major at Baruch College, hopes in his career to explore many different cultures aside from his own personal background. As a team member of AIESEC, a global ambassador, and an Asian American, Wong has found a way to express his heritage while traveling across Eastern Europe and experiencing different cultures.

AISEC is an international student run organization that provides internship opportunities and professional experiences for students abroad while breeding global leaders and promoting cultural awareness. In over 125 countries and 2400 universities, AIESEC Baruch sends the most students abroad every year. As a team member, Wong acts as a guide who assists students as they prepare for their own travel abroad journey.

Here is a recap of our interview as Wong shares his views on how his heritage plays into his travel abroad experience.

James Wong, 20, Brooklyn, Student at Baruch, International Business Major

Wong interning abroad in Romania during the Spring 2013 semester.

Q: How do you identify yourself?
A: I am Malaysian and I identify myself as Asian American.

Q: What does being Asian American mean to you?
A: I don’t know what being an Asian American means to me. I don’t really categorize them into having any specific beliefs or traits, not myself at least.

Q: What is your role in AIESEC and how did you come to be involved with this organization?
A: I’m a team member and I became involved after going abroad to Romania. I loved the experience and wanted the opportunity to help others have the AIESEC experience.

Q: How does your background play into your role in AIESEC and affect your decision to go to certain countries?
A: It definitely contributes to the diversity of the organization. In terms of choosing countries, I’ve been to Malaysia and China before so I guess it made me want to see Europe, more so Eastern Europe because it is so much different than American culture.

Q: How does your Asian background influence your view of the world?
A:I think growing up in Brooklyn and around many Asian Americans, I had a lot of the view Asian Americans have such as when you grow up, you must go to college, do well in school, money is important. But my parents have a non-traditional background since they studied in the UK so I have mixed perception about things.

Q: Why do you think it is important to travel abroad and experience different cultures?
A: The world isn’t just where you live, and if you stay in the same place your whole life, you never realize a lot of things. Things like there’s more to life than money, there are beautiful places out there, different kinds of people, beliefs, and the world has a multitude of experiences to offer. It allows you to see things from a different perspective and realize that the world isn’t one dimensional. There’s no one answer to live life and that life is about your story and how you want to express it.

Q: How do you preserve your culture while still being a global citizen?
A: I don’t really have an answer to that. I don’t openly express my Asian culture. I guess it’s in the little things I do, how I dress, speak, say hi, give hugs, joke around. I don’t think of it as preserving. Oh, I celebrate Chinese New Year and get red envelopes.

Q: Where do you consider home?
A: America and I guess Malaysia.

Q: What do you wish you know about your culture?
A: I’m not looking to learn anything specific but I love diving into cultures and learning as much as I can about them to develop a better perception of the world.

James Wong, a 20-year-old international business major at Baruch College, hopes in his career to explore many different cultures aside from his own personal background. As a team member of AIESEC, a global ambassador, and an Asian American, Wong has found a way to express his heritage while traveling across Eastern Europe and experiencing different cultures.

AISEC is an international student run organization that provides internship opportunities and professional experiences for students abroad while breeding global leaders and promoting cultural awareness. In over 125 countries and 2400 universities, AIESEC Baruch sends the most students abroad every year. As a team member, Wong acts as a guide who assists students as they prepare for their own travel abroad journey.

Here is a recap of our interview as Wong shares his views on how his heritage plays into his travel abroad experience.

James Wong, 20, Brooklyn, Student at Baruch, International Business Major

Wong interning abroad in Romania during the Spring 2013 semester.

Q: How do you identify yourself?

A: I am Malaysian and I identify myself as Asian American.

Q: What does being Asian American mean to you?

A: I don’t know what being an Asian American means to me. I don’t really categorize them into having any specific beliefs or traits, not myself at least.

Q: What is your role in AIESEC and how did you come to be involved with this organization?

A: I’m a team member and I became involved after going abroad to Romania. I loved the experience and wanted the opportunity to help others have the AIESEC experience.

Q: How does your background play into your role in AIESEC and affect your decision to go to certain countries?

A: It definitely contributes to the diversity of the organization. In terms of choosing countries, I’ve been to Malaysia and China before so I guess it made me want to see Europe, more so Eastern Europe because it is so much different than American culture.

Q: How does your Asian background influence your view of the world?

A:I think growing up in Brooklyn and around many Asian Americans, I had a lot of the view Asian Americans have such as when you grow up, you must go to college, do well in school, money is important. But my parents have a non-traditional background since they studied in the UK so I have mixed perception about things.

Q: Why do you think it is important to travel abroad and experience different cultures?

A: The world isn’t just where you live, and if you stay in the same place your whole life, you never realize a lot of things. Things like there’s more to life than money, there are beautiful places out there, different kinds of people, beliefs, and the world has a multitude of experiences to offer. It allows you to see things from a different perspective and realize that the world isn’t one dimensional. There’s no one answer to live life and that life is about your story and how you want to express it.

Q: How do you preserve your culture while still being a global citizen?

A: I don’t really have an answer to that. I don’t openly express my Asian culture. I guess it’s in the little things I do, how I dress, speak, say hi, give hugs, joke around. I don’t think of it as preserving. Oh, I celebrate Chinese New Year and get red envelopes.

Q: Where do you consider home?

A: America and I guess Malaysia.

Q: What do you wish you know about your culture?

A: I’m not looking to learn anything specific but I love diving into cultures and learning as much as I can about them to develop a better perception of the world.

https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/pedalstreets/

I got to briefly interview Masha about using Citi Bike’s in NYC, Masha is an SVA student and a designer. I got to ask a couple of questions as she was just parking a Citi Bike after running some errands.

1. Please share a little about yourself, and what do you do in NYC.

My name is Masha and I am a designer living in NYC. As a student at the School of Visual Arts I am very fortunate to be surrounded by so much opportunity.

2. Please share why you chose to be a cyclist in NYC?

Physical activity has always been a part of my life. I use cycling as an excuse to stay fit while running errands around Manhattan. It also exposes me to the history in New York City when I accidentally take a wrong turn.

3. What do you think could be done to enhance the cycling experience in NY ?. In your case with city bikes

Awareness needs to be brought to the attention of pedestrians about cyclist. They forget that bike riders now become vehicles and if they were more attentive to cyclist, it would create a safer environment for everybody.

I got to briefly interview Masha about using Citi Bike’s in NYC, Masha is an SVA student and a designer. I got to ask a couple of questions as she was just parking a Citi Bike after running some errands.

1. Please share a little about yourself, and what do you do in NYC.

My name is Masha and I am a designer living in NYC. As a student at the School of Visual Arts I am very fortunate to be surrounded by so much opportunity.

2. Please share why you chose to be a cyclist in NYC?

Physical activity has always been a part of my life. I use cycling as an excuse to stay fit while running errands around Manhattan. It also exposes me to the history in New York City when I accidentally take a wrong turn.

3. What do you think could be done to enhance the cycling experience in NY ?. In your case with city bikes

Awareness needs to be brought to the attention of pedestrians about cyclist. They forget that bike riders now become vehicles and if they were more attentive to cyclist, it would create a safer environment for everybody.

Steve with his beloved bike

“I think people are going to find the pink lock funny”

” the results of me constantly tweaking this bike”

I had the pleasure of chatting with cool, calm and collective biker by the name of Steve. Such a small world, it turns out that Steve and I at some point in our life both attended LaGuardia CC in Long Island City. We shared a common interest in photography, but the main conversation starter was Steve’s bike. Steve has been cycling in New York for about 8 years, so he knows his way around the city on a bike. I asked him a few questions about what it’s like being a cyclist in a crowded city of New York, and what might have lead to him being on a bike rather than the train, bus, or in a car. Steve mentioned that he just enjoyed the easy feel of biking, and he liked getting his hands dirty by building and fixing his bikes. As he moved to New York from Scotland, he felt that the best way to get to know the City was to get lost in it, “there’s no better way to get lost in the city than on a bike”. Steve studied photography at LaGuardia, so he takes a like into viewing the landscape of New York as he tours it on his bike. Aside from the fun part of cycling in New York, we also talked about some of its dangers. He laughed as he said this but I could actually relate a bit about this experience,” it almost feels like everyone hates bikers in New York”. Taxi drivers not respecting the bike lanes sometimes, being hated by pedestrian or drivers if you try to share the road. But    although New Yorkers are known to be rude, bike riders tend be actually nice to each other, by greeting with nods as they bike pass each other or giving bike compliments as they ride by, it’s a heart warming feeling, and it’s welcoming feeling, something that’s very rare in NY sometimes.