March 11, 2010 by Adam.

Tonight, Woo Ching White Crane helped the U.S. Kung fu Federation host its annual New Year banquet. We performed first as host, followed by Wah Lum and Darin Yee’s School from Plymouth. I would like to thank these schools and the individuals that are part of them for showing support to the Federation.

Before I stopped working, I always wondered why older people in the community like Henry Yee seemed to enjoy running things like these banquets, even though they didn’t turn a profit. “Shouldn’t they just be relaxing?” I would think. I used to find such banquets somewhat of a hassle, but now that events like this banquet are one of my few contacts with the outside world, they are social opportunities that seem to keep me sane.  A few of the members of our group who are restaurant workers who had days off stayed very late too and seem to find the banquet relaxing. They rarely get to see anything but the back of the kitchen, so this was also a social gathering for them that proved to themselves that that they are human, as opposed to just workers. Quite a few people that come to the U.S. from China actually do crack mentally from the lifestyle. Either that or become extremely addicted to gambling, which is a form of mental break down that can ruin whole families.

When I got home I started watching a program on PBS called “Brain Fitness.” it was talking about PTSD, inter-generational learning and Alzheimer’s, and various therapies for other mental health issues. It showed the benefits of elderly people teaching young kids to read or interacting with them in general, as well as the importance of elderly remaining active in the community. It showed how the elderly keeping active physically and mentally in the community, benefited the individual’s health but also society as a whole. Then I started to think about my Sifu and other old Chinese men that are not English speakers. Well, if kids don’t read Chinese, then story telling from a book is out. So essentially a Chinese School like Kwong Kow protect our traditions but also the health of the community.  If kids only know how to speak Chinese well we can still have inter-generational learning through Kung Fu and Story telling. The program mentioned how kids with ADHD would sit still for 45 minutes listening a old person talk about some life experience, even if every time they come back the old person tells the same story. I used to lose patience when my Sifu told some stories repeatedly, but I see now it is as important to the health of a family or community, as the physical practice is.

I may try to reach out to the free After School program  run by Haravrd’s Phillips Brooks House that is across from us to see if they will work with me on this. In the past, when I taught a Lion Dance workshop for them the kids were shocked that I spoke to them in Chinese. Not because I am white, but because they were told that they were not allowed to speak Chinese in that after school program. I understand  why they would do something like that, but I think Chinese Americans seem to catch up pretty well by College in terms of English and may do better on average than many White Americans. The kids should really be learning Chinese, not only for their benefit, but for the benefit of the elderly in our community who cannot learn English.  I wish Phillips Brooks House would work with Kwong Kow, because now even though they are providing a free program that supervises children doing homework, ultimately they are working against Kwong Kow, a by income, affordable after school programs that has many programs including Chinese Classes. Kwong Kow loses out because those kids would have gone to Kwong Kow’s program instead, which even if it is not free, is by income. If my mother could afford it working at the A and P, then families with two parents should be able to afford Kwong Kow.

The kids lose out for not keeping up with Chinese. Their parents, grandparents and relatives in China lose out for not being able to communicate with them. If they were being offered other enrichment programs like at Red Oak that would be different but they are just watching the kids do homework. The program means well, but I disagree with the no Chinese Policy very strongly as it will ultimately further damage inter generational communication in the community.

Kung Fu and Lion Dance is another medium through which the old people in Chinatown can interact with youth. Many of the older people learned or are slightly familiar with these traditions, from when they learned as children from older members in the village, or at a school, if they lived in a city. All the Young Children should not just be learning these arts, but being taught by the elderly in the Community. This keeps the elderly active mentally and Physically, allowing them to tell their life experience to children, passing on the culture and oral history. If this could somehow be put into the curriculum that gets kids to read Chinese it might make these stories and reading lessons more relevant exciting to the children who have a hard time paying attention in Chinese School.

Back to the Banquet. For Our performance, I did a lot of the play by play for our forms in Chinese, which often have historical significance. Not all of my words were correct but as it turns out, one of my old Chinese School Teachers was in the audience, and she came up to congratulate me on at least being able to speak Chinese if not write it. (We were at odds when I was a student to say the least.) I learned Chinese from Kwong Kow, but I learned a lot of it from my Kung Fu School as well, and it was there that I was forced to speak and translate. I always knew that this was important to learn, for young people. But it also benefits the elderly to teach. My mind flashed back to me being at McDonald’s with my White mother, and all these Old Chinese men helping me with my Chinese Homework. I failed repeatedly but it was important for them to teach me, and I think in the long run I identify myself as Chinese because of the input of so many people reinforcing my cultural identity.

Our School already offers free Lion Dance Practice on Saturdays at 2pm when we don’t have an actual performance. Now I would like to somehow get our Kung Fu into a story telling and reading curriculum where my Sifu can benefit by having interested, Cantonese or Taishanese Speaking Children who will listen to Sifu talk about stories from China. I’ve even seen Sifu communicate with Mandarin speakers too. Though his Mandarin is limited, stories and experiences were exchanged, making both sides stronger and more knowledgeable. I see how his spirit rises when he has people around who he can talk to about Feng Shui,  Kung Fu, politics, or history. The next generation can benefit from hearing these things, in Chinese. And I know it is not just my Sifu who has so much knowledge to share, but many of the elderly in Chinatown. Some of these elderly have great English skills, and some do not. Chinatown needs this inter-generational learning in Chinese as well as English. Not enough of it is happening and as a consequence  part of our culture is dying out and our community is breaking down.  And don’t think “Oh well, at least it will survive in China.” Because much of the truly traditional arts left China and are in the United States. In fact old masters from America are only recently reopening schools in China. Yes China has many skilled people still, but a lot of the history, experiences, culture, and arts are in Chinese America because of the Cultural Revolution. These stories if told in a comfortable  setting can help the storyteller therapeutically by hashing out old issues and at the same  time educate our youth.

Storytelling, Kung Fu, and Lion Dance can really be used to make our community  stronger and healthier mentally and Physically. I hope we can start to take more advantage of this as soon as possible.

-Adam Cheung

Posted in AROUND C-TOWN, LIFE AND STORIES OF ASIAN AMERICANS, WORD ON THE STREET | Print | 1 Comment »

March 7, 2010 by Adam.

On Saturday Night our Lion Dance team, Woo Ching White Crane, performed at the China Pearl for the Asian Community Development Corporation banquet. One of our kids asked, “What is ACDC anyway” and that question is most easily answered here

www.asiancdc.org

When I met my contact she was wearing a tiger mask. She showed us the performers room and our teenagers hung out their with 6 year old dancing girls for about. It was fun and strange to see these kids, who I knew as 6 year olds, now having more adult conversations where we adults are now more on the sidelines.

As it turns out downstairs from the ACDC banquet was the Long Gong Association Banquet and we told them since we were doing a lion dance upstairs, we could give them one too, and we did, for a bargain.

This family association comprises Liu, Kwan, Cheung, Zhao and the other spellings. If anyone is familiar with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, or Dynasty Warriors, the tie between these four families comes right out of that Narrative. So even if you might be critical of whether Liu Bei, Kwan Gung, and Cheung Fei made an oath before Heaven and Earth on a Peach Farm to be brothers, and then later brought in Zhao Wun as their brother as well… just don’t be critical at this Family Association Banquet. Essentially they consider these four families to be one because of what happened between those four individuals nearing the end of the Han Dynasty and moving into the Three Kingdoms Period.  To explain a little bit about these Characters, Liu Bei was the newphew of the emperor who sold bamboo sandals and belts. Eventually he would have the Western Han Kingdom, with Cao Cao controlling the Wei Kingdom in the North, and then the Eastern Wu. He was considered the oldest brother.

Kwan Gung is probably the best known because most every Chinese owned business, Martial Arts School, Police Station , Association, and Organized Crime Meeting place bows to him as a God or Patron Saint of Justice and Loyalty. He is also known for being a great Warrior. as are the younger brothers, Zhang Fei( Cheung Fei) and Zhao Wun or Zhao Jilong. If you really want to know more about these characters and Chinese Culture in general, read an English translation of the Romance of the three Kingdoms, or watch the series.

In some of the comments people have asked for more of a history about Our school as well as other Kung Fu Schools in Chinatown. This Wednesday March 10th is the annual Kung Fu Federation Banquet. Many of the Kung Fu Schools in Chinatown come to it. The “ticket price” which is done in the Chinese way of not directly demanding the money but expecting it,  is $30.00 per person.

I will blog about that event and then perhaps blog about our school’s history and maybe a bit about the Federation as well. The other Schools have their own websites I believe, so if I list the name an interested reader can find it quite easily. Or, you could join our school, learn Chinese, and hear what the old people have to say about each school and you will know all the stories real and fake within about a week.

Posted in AROUND C-TOWN, WORD ON THE STREET | Print | No Comments »

March 5, 2010 by Chinatown Blogger.

“It’s really about a transformation of the Boston Public Library and how we deliver services most successfully.’’
Amy Ryan, Boston Public Library President
Boston Globe, March 5, 2010

On the heels of the very successful Chinatown Storefront Library, the Mayor proclaimed in major media outlets that potentially 10 branch libraries may see drastic cuts or closings to close the City’s budget gap. This does not bode well for the Chinatown community which has been advocating for a branch library  for almost 10 years. In 2001, a group of teenagers and youth in a summer program led by the Chinese Progressive Association surveyed their peers on what they wanted to see in Chinatown. The goal of this summer program was to encourage youth to take more of an active role in improving the community. From surveying and talking to their peers, this group of youth decided to campaign to bring a Chinatown branch library back.

A Chinatown branch library in the community would serve multiple roles — a library’s traditional role as a vehicle to increase knowledge, a safe space for gathering, and as a cultural center to promote the neighborhood’s history. This was the hidden power of what the Chinatown Storefront Library had unlocked. On the whole, Chinatown can be very divisive on certain issues and so traditionalist and pragmatic at times that there is no room for new or bold ideas.

The Chinatown Storefront Library showed what could be possible when the community unites behind a single goal and is driven to succeed. Led by Chinatown residents with support from community groups and students, they volunteered their time and energy and put together, for 3 months, a temporary storefront library that was once thought impossible. This group of dedicated volunteers provided innovative ideas and bold actions and through all of this, relied on their own source of funding and the community’s contributions.

In the 3 months that the Chinatown Storefront Library existed in what was an empty storefront space, 540 library cards were issued, 5,000 books donated, 1374 books were circulated with half the books in Chinese, 110 events organized and this was accomplished with 39 volunteers and 2 paid staff. As the City continues to talk about cutting 10 branch libraries, the irony is that if Chinatown had waited for our turn and did not “rock the boat”, a Chinatown branch library would never have happened, even if temporarily. The process to have an official BPL branch in Chinatown is rife with politics, red tape, and budget gaps. Even if the red tape can be cut, a site must be designated, capital expenditures set aside, and ongoing programming funds need to be set aside to ensure the library is open, which is all unlikely in the current economic environment.

What the Chinatown Storefront Library demonstrated is that there is high demand and interest for a library in Chinatown, whether it is run by the BPL or by storefront volunteers.  Perhaps what is needed are new ideas and re-evaluation of the role of the City’s public libraries. These new ideas can include a “hybrid”model. In the traditional model, the City pays for everything from the building down to hiring staff. If the community really wants a library, a hybrid model would share the responsibility in running and operating a library - the City could designate a site and provide the capital expenditures with assistance from grassroots fundraising, and the community could share the operating costs and similar to the Storefront Library, organize volunteers to assist with the operation.

Ten years ago, the City led the revitalization plan of Washington Street which has resulted in the Ritz-Carlton, the Loews Theater, Archstone, and the rehab of the old Paramount Theater. Whatever happens, this current Mayor has 4 years left to create another accomplishment in this neighborhood.

Posted in WORD ON THE STREET | Print | 4 Comments »

March 5, 2010 by Adam.

 Recently there have been a lot of robberies in Chinatown at varying hours of the day.

Crime Watch cannot patrol 24/7 neither can the police. I had an idea to have various night time community activities in the trouble spots to make it less likely that people will be robbed during that activity. This idea comes from my experience while I was on Crime Watch. One of the safest areas was Tai Tung Village because all the mothers were out there with their children.

To follow up on my idea in three weeks or so I will hold a free Kung Fu Class outside in Chinatown. I encourage dressing up as your favorite Kung Fu Character. (No Ninjas Please, bright colorful costumes only.) The idea is to have a fun activity that will attract an audience and participation among College Students and others who enjoy silly things like this.  I am communicating with Crime Watch about when the best time and place for the class would be. The time will probably be very early in the morning or very late at night, on a weekend.  This is when people are getting robbed a lot. Not exactly a convenient time, and the street is not necessarily a convenient place, but staying up all night drinking, partying, and then going on a streak isn’t convenient either. And yet people do it often.

Obviously one class will not change much, but my hope is that other groups will step forward with ideas for activities later, making Chinatown the place to be in terms of watching and participating in these events. This will mean more people, more business, and a safer Chinatown.  So please get the word out on the campuses and with anyone young or old who is interested in Free Kung Fu or if they have other ideas about an activity.

Have them contact me about when they would do a class too.  Some of the robberies happened at 7:30amso that could be a time for a class too.

Contact Me through this website or through my contact info below.

Adam Cheung

Woo Ching White Crane Instructor

Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association Building

90 Tyler ST. Suite 21

Boston, MA 02111

781-888-0631

acheung-whitecrane@hotmail.com

Posted in AROUND C-TOWN, CHINATOWN CALENDAR, WORD ON THE STREET | Print | No Comments »

February 28, 2010 by Adam.

Last night we, Woo Ching White Crane (a Kung Fu School/Clinic/Lion Dance Troupe) performed at the Oak Tin Association Banquet (s). Banquets because there were two banquets taking place at the same time, one at China Pearl and one at Empire garden. This family organization represents three last names which are supposed to actually be one family. Due to royal relatives being sent to the south and having to change their names so as to not have a bid for the throne… or something like that. Maybe I’ll write another article which more clearly describes this history.

Anyway, the three names are Chen (and all variations like Chin, Chan) Woo (Wu, Hu, etc.) and Yuan (I don’t actually know anyone by this name I don’t think. There are also the Vietnamese spellings of these names but I’m a bit unclear as to what matches up with what.) Most of the people in the organization are under the Chen category and if the fact that two restaurants are needed to hold the banquets doesn’t seem to show that this organization has some influence in Chinatown, then the fact that Deval Patrick, Thomas Menino, Mike Capuano, and Sonia Chang-Diaz came to the banquet should.

As for our performance,  though it was a bit hectic and we were cut short due to time constraints, we did a good job. More importantly I saw some effort from the kids that I haven’t seen recently. Many of our team is of the Woo, Hu, Wu category (we are Woo Ching White Crane after all.)   And so we were performing for family members as well as dignitaries. One of the kids was sweating buckets and I have never seen him sweat.

Most notable to me was the performance by Kelly Tang, who I think is in fourth or fifth grade. This is the little girl I had recently been unable to get to perform. But last night, her Luk Lik form was so fierce and ferocious that I think I could not have done a better job. And if you think I am biased, I saw Deval Patrick’s eyes light up as he craned his neck to get a  better view, while Sonia Chang-Diaz leaned forward to pay closer attention to this young girl.

I am actually not surprised that she performed better when politicians show up.  This is because to some degree I have thought for a long time that she possessed the tenacity and good features to have a successful career in politics. More importantly, she is more preoccupied with what is morally correct and fair than my other students and so I think she will not only be a successful leader but one that is good to the people. Her upbringing will make her appeal to the underclass, and her refined features and the fact that she will become a woman will mean that she will appeal to upper class women as well. If she continues with Kung Fu, well, upper class males will give her a vote and a campaign contribution for the coolness factor.

So you heard it here first. Kelly Tang for Mayor, Governor, Senator, or President. But right now she just has to study for the MCAS.

Posted in AROUND C-TOWN, WORD ON THE STREET | Print | 5 Comments »