Made in the USA
Dear Ella, Thank you so much for inviting me to be interviewed for your 9th-grade oral history project about representation and what defines “American” from my perspective as a Burmese-American mother, artist, writer, teacher, and daughter of immigrants. I’m honored...
Denmark Vesey and the Heart’s Project
The heart’s constant project is to hold hopelessness and hope together. I recently visited Charleston, South Carolina, for the first time. The wonderful occasion was a reunion gathering of a beloved expat book club I was in during our three years living abroad in...
Never Have I Ever
My teenager walks in while I’m half-heartedly moving my legs on the elliptical, but mostly watching TV. He asks me if it’s weird that I am watching Never Have I Ever, a Netflix series created by Mindy Kaling and aimed at teenagers. It’s about a nerdy Indian-American...
Winging It
Lindsay, the peregrine falcon born at UC Berkeley in May 2022, was found dead in August. She was killed by a red-shouldered hawk. The news was heartbreaking because I’d been loosely following the dramatic story of the Cal Falcons–they have a loyal, global following,...
Where I’m From
I’m from wondering how to answer, “But where are you really from?” I’m from the question, “Are you Chinese or Japanese?” and my response, “Do I only get two options?” I’m from longyis and lahpet thoke, boo thee kyaw, and mac and cheese with curry powder I’m from a...
