May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and while I hate to only think about or talk about my Asian American heritage during one month of the year, it does present an opportunity to share a small piece of my history with you.

Chinese Americans

I’m either a first or second generation Chinese American, depending on how you look at it. Here’s the short story of what that means.

My mom’s mom was born here in the United States, but then went to China after she got married. By the time she came back, with several kids in tow, the US had already enacted the 1924 Immigration Act, barring immigration and denying citizenship to all Asians. So her birthright US citizenship was taken away and she wasn’t allowed to come home without a fight.

Eventually, and with the help of some influential people, my grandmother was allowed back on US soil and she settled down in California, and eventually, my grandfather and my aunts back in China came, too, and the whole family was together again.

Writer, Teacher, Collector

My grandma was a teacher and ahead of her time. Born in 1899, she not only was the first Chinese woman to attend Oberlin College in Ohio, but she was one of only a few women with professional careers during that time. She taught middle school science along with English literature and grammar. In 1979, she won an essay contest for her story about fleeing the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and she was always willing to share her stories with others.

Listen to my grandma tell her story about fleeing the fires after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

She also collected things. Lots of things. Perhaps it was because she lived through many wars and hard times when you never knew if you’d ever be able to get something again. Perhaps it was her way of preserving her memories.

When she passed away, my mom and my aunts tackled the piles in her house as best they could, but it wasn’t easy. We were all enlisted to help, and on one of my cleaning missions to her house, I found this photo album. My mom and my aunts were only too happy to have me keep it since it meant that it would be one more thing out of the way.

Snapshots from the past

That photo album held more than just pictures. The pictures told a story of China’s history and my family’s connection to it. My mom and my aunt’s think it belonged to one of my grandma’s older sisters, Mancy, who grew up here in the United States, but took these pictures after living for a time in Nanking, China. So, are these an early glimpse of a Chinese American woman getting in touch with her heritage?

Whatever they are, they’re beautiful, carefully arranged, and they were thoughtfully & poetically captioned, in handwriting very much like my grandma’s. I treasure them for the link they provide me with my own history and how they tell a different story of China than the one we hear in the media these days.

Here are a few of my favorites …

 

The next few photos capture the Ming Tombs – burial ground to 13 of the 16 Ming Dynasty emperors. Now a huge tourist site, the album shows what it was like before the tombs were restored and readied for visitors – when the land had all but reclaimed the emperors and their final resting place. Compare these to what tourists see now here and here.

 

There are so many more cherished photos in this album. Too many to share without losing some of the magic. But they’re part of my story – a glimpse into the past and a China that has been lost to more modern landscapes and images. With the rise of the communist-capitalist machine, my parents’ era – and their parents’ and our ancestors’ for generations past – has been largely overshadowed and forgotten by those of us in America. That’s why I hope I’ll always have these snapshots to treasure and pass on to future generations. They remind me of what my heritage is. It’s not the ruthless and deceptive China that we hear about on the news. Rather it is a rich culture, full of personal, human stories of struggle and hardship and tradition and wonder.

Do you have glimpses of your past hidden somewhere? What can you share to honor your heritage? I’d love to hear or see your stories!

 

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Can a chocolate cake tell a story? Can any recipe? I think food can tell a lot about someone. We whisk together good times, lovingly stir tradition into our favorite dishes and mix up quick and delicious meals on busy weeknights. Food speaks to me and tells me things about myself and my family and friends that help us all grow together – hopefully not too much around the middle, but more in the sense of connection and shared experiences.

A Little Story

My friend, Sara, shared this recipe on Facebook a while ago. We met years ago while we were training to be volunteer naturalists for the Tucson Audubon Society. A few of us from the class would get together to hike and enjoy the birds and wildlife around us. Those were good times!

But then life started to get busy. My job changed, I moved to the other side of town, eventually stopped volunteering, and I lost touch with my naturalist friends. Thankfully, I’ve found them again on Facebook! For all its faults, Facebook IS great for reconnecting with friends.

So Sara shared this recipe for a cake that her mom used to make. And although it was just a post about cake, it was clear that it was so much more. It was a post about memories and family and relationships and love. That simple post told a story and it meant something important to my friend.

Not Just a Chocolate Cake

Last week was super busy, and if you read my post about it, you know that we also had a guest visiting from out-of-town. I wanted to do something nice to welcome him, but it had to be ultra simple, so I found the recipe from Sara to see if this cake would fit the bill. I had all the ingredients in the panty and it didn’t require anything more than the pan, so I made the cake.

It’s super simple to make, and boy is it delicious! My son wanted to decorate, so we melted some chocolate chips, added a little half and half to thin it out to a nice consistency, then drizzled it over the top. Well, he got impatient with drizzling, so he did more of a slather. Then he sprinkled every color of sprinkles we had over the top, and the result was a beautifully messy chocolate cake that you could tell was made with love.

The cake, itself, has a rich chocolate flavor, but it’s not too sweet. It’s moist with the perfect texture that’s not too dense but perfectly bouncy. Sara’s mom used to call it “snack cake” and it does seem perfectly suited to snack on – not too fancy, not too heavy, but deliciously satisfying and easy enough for any day, no matter how busy.

More importantly, it’s a piece of Sara’s mom that she has graciously allowed me to share. In her words, “sharing that recipe is an awesome way for me to keep my mom’s sweet and giving nature alive!” I didn’t know Sara’s mom, but I have to agree. This cake oozes love and generosity and simple, sweet goodness. And if Sara’s mom was anything like Sara, I’m sure the cake is an accurate reflection of her.

Enough Storytelling, I Want Cake!

As I said, the recipe is super simple. All it takes is a 9″ x 9″ cake pan, but if you want to make it in a bundt pan, like I did, you’ll want to double the recipe. Mix it up right in the pan, or mix it in a bowl and pour the batter in. Then pop it in the oven and enjoy! And to help you connect with Sara and her mom, here’s the handwritten recipe – because nothing can make you feel closer to the cook than the handwritten notes that come with perfecting a recipe over time. (The printable version is also provided below.)

Is this a recipe you would enjoy? Let me know if you try it. I’d love to let Sara know that her mom’s legacy lives on!

 

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To say this has been a busy week is an understatement. Unfortunately, this lovely blog hasn’t gotten the attention it needs. Well, sort of.  I’ve actually put together a scrumptious post about an out-of-this-world restaurant {yay!}, but I’m having trouble getting the pictures to load {boo!}, so it’s on hold for now. Hopefully you’ll see that one soon.

I’ve also been writing up a storm. I’ve branched out a little and you can now see some of my stuff in other places.

Staying Busy with MapQuest’s Parachute

In honor of Earth Day (today), I had a simple piece published on Parachute, MapQuest’s online travel magazine. You can read about how to celebrate Earth Day in Tucson here. The stories I write for Parachute usually highlight fun things to do in Tucson from various different angles. If you’re interested, click to find my other Parachute stories. And I hope, by the time you get to their site, my latest submission will also be published. They’re definitely keeping me busy, as I’ve got another story in the works for them.

Discovering Medium

Do you blog? Are you a writer? Even sometimes? Then get yourself over to Medium, and check it out. Medium offers a free platform where anyone can write. Post a blog post (even one you’ve already published), respond to stories you read, and follow publications, topics and people that interest you. What I love about Medium is that at the top of every story, it tells you how long it will take to read it. You can pick and choose what you read by the time you have, and if something really catches your eye and it’s longer than you have, you know you can always come back to it. It’s perfect for busy people! It’s also a clean platform, free of ads, which makes it a really nice reading experience.

One of my favorite places to read on Medium right now is the publication, The Coffeelicious. The editors note on their About page says,

Home to some of the best stories on medium. Look around, relax and enjoy one with a sip of coffee.

It’s like having your favorite magazine come to life on your computer screen. I love it so much, I decided to submit something I wrote for publication in The Coffeelicious, and they accepted it! It’s a personal piece that doesn’t quite fit on the blog, so I’m glad to have found it a home. And, it’s getting good feedback, which is good for my delicate writer’s ego. Read it here. I’m going to get busy writing more for The Coffeelicious and taking advantage of Medium’s platform and audience, so look for more in the future.

Keeping up with Life

So beyond lots of writing in other places, my family has kept me busy this week. The pets have created more work than usual for me with my particular favorite being the lake of cooking oil that greeted me Wednesday morning after taking my kids to school. Apparently the dog decided to open the door to the secondary pantry, somehow unscrew the lid to the 3 liter jug of canola oil and knock it over. Seriously, the doors were closed, and the lid was on when I left for school. Then the doors were open and the lid was removed from the jug, with no damage to it! Either we have a gremlin or my dog is smarter than I give him credit for.

Anyway, it was probably about a 3 ft x 5 ft area of the floor that was completely covered in oil. Painstakingly cleaned that up, then the dog started throwing up, apparently from consuming some of the oil and turning his insides into a slippery tummy ache. (If anyone has any tips on how to get copious amounts of oil out of cushions, please let me know!) The good news … the dog seems fine. The bad news … the clean-up still continues since getting grease out of anything requires constant vigilance and lots of repetition.

Meanwhile, my husband is away with our oldest and an out-of-town friend. So, I’ve also been flying solo as I’ve handled our home-grown Exxon Valdez oil spill, plus I fielded the electrician appointment, a trip to the vet and our ever-diligent, yet slightly annoying pool guy’s weekly need for human contact. All this and the normal weekly tasks of making sure everyone is fed, clothed and off to school on time. I even squeezed in some girl time with friends, which was lovely! Only one brief lapse in grace, when I lost it with my 7-year-old, makes me think I’m actually doing okay this week. Thankfully, the grandparents’ weekly school pick-up has been a great help.

So, it’s finally Friday. I’m seriously proud of the work I’ve done that has been published by someone other than me, and I promise, to the best of my ability, that I will post some great stuff on the blog next week. But it’s been a crazy – full moon kind of crazy – busy week. And since my in-laws are picking the kids up from school today, I’m off to clean the toilets, un-earth the kitchen counter and make the house presentable before my husband returns home with a house guest for the rest of the weekend. Wish me luck!

Have you had weeks like this? Please comment let me know I’m not alone! And share with others so they know they’re not alone either!

 

 

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Today is kind of a hard day – today I’m thinking of Dad. It’s been eight years since my dad passed, and his loss left a hole in my life that hasn’t quite closed. Perhaps it never will. Certainly, it’s not as hard to be without him after all this time, but I miss him all the same. And so does my mom. And my sisters and their kids.

My kids are a different story. Our two oldest are my husband’s kids from his first marriage. They met my dad but didn’t have much of a chance to get to know him. My little one … well, I got pregnant eight years ago at almost the exact moment that my dad died. At least that’s the way I like to think of it. Thinking of Dad being somehow connected to my son makes sense to me. Like a part of him is in my kid, so he’ll always be with us.

Although they’ll never know each other in this world, somehow I think they know each other. First, in my entire family, there are nothing but girls. My boy is the first and only boy child in the family. I know I could explain this through a simple look at X and Y chromosomes and how chance determined the gender of my child. But I think it was my dad. How he would have loved having a little boy in the family!

From my son’s earliest days, I would show him pictures of family members who lived far away, including my mom and sisters and nieces and brothers-in-law. I wanted him to know them, especially since he didn’t have the chance to see them very often. My dad’s picture was in there, too, and from the very start, while he would guess at who the others were, he always knew my dad. Somehow, without being taught, he even called him by the Chinese word for grandpa. I didn’t even know he was doing this until I was talking to my mom on the phone one night and told her what he called him (because I thought it was cute), and, without missing a beat, she told me what it meant.

We don’t have a ton of pictures of my dad around the house, but he’s here. My little guy asks about him frequently. He wants to know what he liked to do, what his favorite foods were and what I remember about him. We talk about him like a close and familiar friend, not like a mysterious stranger who lurks about in books and pictures. That’s what amazes me. I never knew either of my grandpas, and they always seemed mysterious to me. To my son, Grandpa is just Grandpa, as if he’s known him all his life. He even asks me when was the last time we saw him. Because, in his seven-year-old mind, he knows that he’s seen him.

I see my dad in my kid all the time. Sometimes it’s an expression on his face or a simple gesture that’s just like him. Sometimes I’ll post a picture and one of my sisters will comment that “he looks just like Dad” in this one. Sometimes, he throws his head back when he laughs, with mouth open and eyes full of mischief, just like my dad. He’s smart and likes a good joke just as much as he is particular about how he wants things exactly the way he left them. Just like Dad.

As we were talking last night before bed, I told my son that we were coming up on eight years since Grandpa died. I asked him, if he could hear you, what would you want to tell him? Here’s what he said …

I’m sorry you died, Grandpa. I hope that it wasn’t painful. I’m sad that I never got to meet you, but Mom tells me about you. I hope you’re having a good life now and that you can be happy and not sick anymore. I miss you, and I love you.

So, yes, today I’m thinking of Dad. There’s so much more that I could say, but I think I’ll just leave it at that.

 

 

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This Spring Break, my family and I decided to visit the Universal Orlando Resort theme parks. While I love theme parks and the ability to lose myself in a world of fun and adventure, I want to be able to enjoy the escape from reality as much as possible and NOT have my trip ruined by the nauseating feelings that come with motion sickness. But alas, I am one of those unfortunate creatures who suffers from this condition. Boats turn me green, planes require thoughtful Zen meditation, and cars can even turn me queasy depending on who’s driving and what the conditions are like.

Of all the websites I visited while researching Universal Orlando, I found very few that addressed the motion sickness potential of the rides, so I decided to err on the side of caution and start each day with some motion sickness medicine to try to pre-empt any nausea that may arrive, uninvited, to the party. For the most part, this worked, but I thought I would write about my experiences for others out there who are prone to the dizzying, tummy-turning, head-spinning hell that is motion sickness. (For another good guide to Universal Orlando with some motion sickness advice and other great tips, see Theme Park Insider.)

What to Know About the Rides

As expected from a film production company, the rides at the Universal Orlando theme parks feature stunning film action that creates a “live” effect for guests. In other words, the films will surround you and you will feel like you’re in the middle of the action. The effect is amazing when combined with the motion of the rides themselves. But it can feel a bit unsteady, especially when the film scenes flash by quickly and have you falling or swinging or tumbling or swooping. In most cases, closing your eyes can help dispel the discomfort. You’ll miss part of the action, but your brain will be able to “recover” for a few seconds.

If you know where I’m coming from, you’ll understand why you won’t see the more extreme rides on here – the giant roller coasters that turn you upside down and drop you from ridiculous heights. I couldn’t look at them without feeling mildly ill, but I’ll do my best to describe those I did experience, either from riding them myself or sending my brave family members (usually my husband and our fearless 7-year-old daredevil). So, without further ado, here is my guide to rides at Universal Orlando’s two theme parks – Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure.

Universal Studios

Enter Universal Orlando’s Universal Studios park, and you’ll be immediately enchanted by the animated favorites every kid loves. Head straight into the park and get in line!

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

This is a motion-based ride, but in an auditorium-style setting. Your row of seats will move as you go through simulated minion training. The 3-D effects and surrounding film action will make you feel like you’re actually running, jumping & tumbling with the adorable minions. It’s quick and mildly jerky, but it won’t turn your stomach. If you DO start to feel a little woozy, just look at the other rows of seats, you’ll see the other people moving and won’t feel like you’re in the film action so much. This ride encompasses all the charm of the minions and is super fun!

Shrek 4-D

Another auditorium-style experience, this ride starts with a story then takes you on a journey with Shrek. The seats move and you’ll feel effects like wind, sprinkles of water and other fun 4-D elements. This one is super mild as far a motion goes. The story is delightful, as you would expect from Shrek and Donkey. You’ll be laughing and smiling throughout. Everyone should be able to enjoy this ride with no problem.

Transformers: The Ride 3-D

Definitely an immersive film-ride experience, this simulated adventure ride is loud, full of action and complete with cool special effects. In a ride car, you’ll be conveyed into the experience on a track, then be engulfed by sets and combined film-motion sequences and feel like you’re on an adventure with the Transformers. It can be jerky and fast with a few pitching and spinning elements. This one is a little more intense but totally manageable. Remember, close your eyes if you need to.

Men in Black™ Alien Attack™

No loose articles are allowed on this ride, so that tells you that it’s fast enough that they don’t want random things flying out of your car. If you’ve been to Disney and ridden the Buzz Lightyear ride, you’ll be familiar with the concept of Men in Black. You travel through the city shooting aliens. All the while, your car is moving and spinning, and if the car on the opposite side of the track shoots at you, you spin faster. If you don’t like spinning, this might not be for you. But I didn’t find it uncomfortable because I could see everything around me and it didn’t feel claustrophobic. It also combines the spinning with forward action and lots of stationary elements to focus your attention on.

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, this ride is a must for the complete Wizarding World of Harry Potter experience (stay tuned for another post exclusively on the Wizarding World that resides in both of the Universal Orlando parks). You will be transported into the depths of Gringotts bank in a ride car with full motion and 3-D film effects. There is one roller-coaster-style drop at the beginning, but it’s not too steep and most motion sensitive folks should be able to handle it well. The film elements and sets are absolutely amazing but they flash by quickly as your car moves through the vaults under the bank. The car will pitch, spin and take some shallow dives, so take care if these motions bother you. I handled it well, partly because I was so immersed in the story, which you won’t find in any of the Harry Potter books, partly because it was surprising and fun enough that the motion didn’t bother me.

Hogwarts™ Express

Make sure you have a park-to-park ticket to ride this attraction, then enter the Hogwarts Express through King’s Cross Station outside of Diagon Alley. You’ll immediately feel like you’re in the London tube station. Take in your surroundings, and don’t forget to notice the entrance to Platform 9 ¾ where you’ll see your fellow passengers passing through the barrier. The train ride, itself, is totally mild, and you’ll feel like you’re riding through the English landscape on your way to Hogwarts Castle. The ride is pleasant enough for even the most sensitive.

 

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

If you ride the Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios, you end up in Hogsmeade Village – the other side of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – in Islands of Adventure. Once you enjoy all that this park has to offer, be sure to ride the Hogwarts Express back to Diagon Alley – it’s a totally different experience and well worth the return trip.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™

Another must-do for Harry Potter fans, this attraction takes you through Hogwarts Castle as you wait for the ride to begin. Be sure to take in all the fantastic details they put into making the castle truly magical (and look for my other post, coming soon, for more on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter). On the ride, itself, you’ll be transported on an adventure with Harry and friends that will involve soaring on a broomstick over the Quidditch pitch and escaping a fire-breathing dragon. Once again, the film effects in combination with the ride motion make you feel like you’re really flying. But, for me, the motion elements of flipping upside down and back again, being tossed back and forth and zigzagging in and out of the castle were a little too much for my motion-challenged self. While I loved the new and exciting story, and I wouldn’t have missed the ride for the world, I did find myself wishing the ride would end. When it finally did, I stumbled out of the castle to find a cool drink and a place to sit down. While I didn’t lose my lunch – which I do NOT recommend eating right before this ride – I did feel quite unsteady for a while after the ride was over. Would I do this one again? Yes, because the effects were amazing and I’m a crazy HP fan, but I would definitely take another preventative Bonine before doing it. If you don’t want to risk it, you also have the option of just touring the castle through the line for the ride, then hop out of the line before everyone boards the ride cars and exit the castle.

Flight of the Hippogriff™

This kid-friendly roller coaster zooms around Hagrid’s cabin just outside of Hogwarts Castle and, while fast, is relatively mild for the motion sensitive. It is a traditional roller coaster, so you can expect a couple of drops and quick tilting, curving stretches. If you don’t do well on a regular roller coaster, you may want to sit this one out, but your kids will want to ride it, and it’s a short ride, so most should be able to manage it well. I really enjoyed this one.

Jurassic Park River Adventure®

Ready to get wet? This ride will take you into the world of Jurassic Park, right through the front gates and into the dinosaur habitats from the movie. It’s a mild river raft tour right up to the very end, where your raft will drop you down the waterfall. The drop will make your stomach travel a little further up your torso, but not quite all the way up to your throat. My family did this one twice. The first time everyone stayed relatively dry with only a few splashes to cool everyone down. The second time was significantly wetter. We were pretty soggy from shoulder to knee, but a little afternoon sun took care of that quite comfortably. The journey back into the prehistoric was worth it, and the single drop was just a small blip on the motion sickness meter.

Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls®

Bring a change of clothes for this one because you will get soaked. I changed my son into his swimsuit for the water rides, and after this one, I was very glad I did. This log ride moves pretty quickly with water sloshing in and out of the log boat throughout. The twists and turns through the ride come with a few ups and downs, but nothing to be too concerned about until the climactic drop at the end. The logs get launched down a water chute at high speed, and while that’s the worst of it, and it comes at the very end, it will make you gasp as your stomach leaps into your throat. Beware if that sensation makes you queasy. If you can handle the single, dramatic drop along with a quick pace – and aren’t afraid of a good drenching – go ahead and try this one.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man®

Like the Transformers ride in Universal Studios, this ride puts you in the middle of the action as Spider-Man tracks down villains and saves the city. Your car will move along a track as you travel through amazing sets amid the 3-D film adventure. The cars spin, dive and soar as if you’re part of the battle between good and evil. It’s a fast-paced ride with breathtaking effects – literally, some of the moves will take your breath away. Close your eyes if you need to, but you won’t want to miss this one, especially if you have any Spidey fans among you. The spinning and jerking will mess with your head a little, but not enough to bring on full-on motion sickness. We did this one twice with no problems.

Storm Force Accelatron®

Similar to the teacups at Disney, you control how fast your pod spins as it circles around the track. My husband and two youngest kids did this one twice and had a blast. I knew the pure spinning action of this one would definitely make me dizzy, so I sat this one out, but if you can handle the round-and-round, it’s a fun one.

Rides I Didn’t Get to But Definitely Will Next Time

Inevitably, there were a few things we didn’t get to do since we chose to go to Universal Orlando over Spring Break when the crowds are crazy. Our Express Passes (totally worth it) got us past many of the long lines, but there were some things that we just didn’t make it on. Here’s the rundown of our must-do’s for next time we’re in Orlando.

Pteranodon Flyers®

I hope my little one is still little enough to ride this the next time we make it to Universal Orlando. For this ride, a child who is between 36 and 56 inches tall must accompany all adults taller than 56 inches. It soars quietly above the Jurassic Park section of Islands of Adventure and looks like a peaceful yet exciting flying experience.

The Simpsons Ride™

Universal Studios has a whole Simpson’s world, and this ride is supposed to be fantastic. Again, with the combination of film and full motion, this carnival adventure with one of America’s favorite animated families gets great reviews and appears to be as motion-friendly as Spider-Man and Transformers.

Universal Orlando – Well Worth the Trip

So, there you have it! My incomplete, but hopefully helpful, guide to the rides at the Universal Orlando theme parks for the motion impaired visitor. As you can see, I rode a lot, didn’t get sick and enjoyed my trip immensely. There’s nothing worse than feeling ill to ruin a vacation, especially one where there’s so much to do and see and so little time. I hope this guide will help make your planning a little easier so you can enjoy a trip to this fabulous family destination as well.

If you use this guide, let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear if these tips hit the mark for you. And if you’ve been to Universal Orlando, I’d love your thoughts on this, too!

 

 

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