I launched this blog in 2008. My mini-me.

Categories

What my inner child wants: Let me out!

April 15, 2018

Eighteen months ago, I wrote a letter to my inner child. Come into my life more, I said. Well, she took up the invitation. Now, she wants to take over. She […]

Read More

Accepting my dad for who he is

June 18, 2016

This year, I’m giving my dad a very special Father’s Day gift: unconditional love. So what if he’s been dead for 41 years. Remember, parents never really die. Besides, it’s […]

Read More

Why Chinese American women gain weight

February 21, 2016

Ugh, I have to lose 16 pounds. Doctors’ orders. Otherwise, diabetes and achy knees will ruin my future. But here’s my other problem: Chinese American women gain weight for specific […]

Read More

Who is first- and second-generation American?

Are you first- or second-generation American?

September 30, 2015

I am SO ANNOYED. When will people get this straight??! If you’re an immigrant to this country, then you’re first generation. If your kids are born here, then they are […]

Read More

5 reasons why being in a Chinese family is murder & ways to break the cycle

August 1, 2015

Jennifer Pan’s parents pushed her to be the perfect daughter. But once she grew up, she hired hit men to kill them. Her story is about more than girl gone […]

Read More

Chuang Yen Monastery — a giant Buddha in the Hudson Valley

May 6, 2015

With the older folks in my family dying off, I’m going to a lot of funerals. They’ve become affectionate occasions to catch up with relatives. The latest gathering surprised me […]

Read More

My money story on NPR: Chinese family vs. personal happiness

March 15, 2015

As a huge fan of National Public Radio, I’m THRILLED to be featured on Marketplace. The NPR show, which is about personal finance and business, wanted to know how my immigrant […]

Read More