A recent New York Times article entitled, “Scorpions for Breakfast and Snails for Dinner” suggests that there’s no reason why kids should hate veggies, and that it’s even more absurd that parents have to resort to hiding veggies in junk food to get kids to eat healthy (think Jerry Seinfeld’s wife’s cookbook, Deceptively Delicious…)  

The proof? Kids in China (and all around Asia) eat “crazy” things like deep fried scorpions and duck necks all the time, and they never think it’s weird or disgusting. Even crazier, kids in Asia in general have no problems eating vegetables and tofu WITHOUT ceaseless hounding or coercion from parents…contrary to their Western counterparts.

The article offers a reason why Asian kids aren’t as picky: in poor [Asian] countries, it’s a privilege just to have food on the table, and people can’t afford to be picky with their food. Maybe this was the case in my Dad’s generation, but things are definitely different now, so this explanation is only half the story. Lots of Asian nations have risen above sustenance level and the people aren’t afraid of starving to death anymore.  Asian people eat everything – including vegetables – because they’re cooked in a totally DELICIOUS way! Maybe Asian kids are better at eating veggies because vegetables are just yummier, Asian-style.

As an immigrant Chinese kid, I truly didn’t understand why my American friends hated veggies….until I TASTED American-style veggies. Beans were flavorless and mushy, carrots and broccoli were flavorless and mushy, and the prevalent cooking method was to boil veggies till they turned to, well, mush. If I had to grow up on that, I’d throw hunger strikes every day.

If you grew up on ma-po tofu, gailan with oyster sauce, bibimbob, and veggie tempura on the other hand, how could you EVER view veggies as foe?

A short while ago, Premier Wen Jiabao’s profile page mysteriously appeared on Facebook. By yesterday, Premier Wen emerged as one of FB’s Top Ten Politicians, beating out the Terminator and Bush Junior. Wen is the only Asian politician in the top 30.

Nobody really knows who set up the FB page for Wen, but whatever the case, it’s still pretty cool. I became a supporter. Will you?

For those of you wondering who’s #1, it’s overwhelmingly Obama.

In a year that was meant to be prosperous, honorable, and filled with good fortune, China has gotten off to a bad start. Less than six months into 2008, the Middle Kingdom has already experienced significant natural disasters, mounting criticism over Tibet, intense condemnation over Sudan, and endless fallout from last year’s tainted food & drug scandal –  completely under the intense and unforgiving scrutiny of the global eye.

All the while, the communist government continues to be on the defensive, reacting to the bad publicity like an angry and confused goldfish fighting off a sea of piranhas.

It’s not that China isn’t used to negativity. It’s been taking relentless smack from the West since the 50’s.  But back then, it was okay, because the world was divided into two black and white spheres of influence – communism and capitalism. Depending on which side you talked to, one ideology was immaculate while the other was the reincarnation of Lucifer himself. Rhetorical name calling and back-and-forth viciousness was customary. 

Sixty years later, a lot has changed. The world has globalized, flattened, and has become more peaceful and cooperative. China has changed too, embracing capitalism, loosening its grip on freedoms, cleaning up government corruption, and improving infrastructure and social services on a large scale. Anyone who’s been to China recently can see this. And re: human rights  - it’s not just about free speech and religion. First and foremost, human rights is about providing people with fundamental necessities to stay alive, and China has done more for its citizens than any other country in terms of alleviating poverty and creating wealth.   

Consequently, China’s self-perception has changed. The country and its people now view themselves as progressive, upwardly-mobile, and enthusiastically striving for self-improvement. But there is still a vast gap between how China perceives itself and how the world perceives China.  

And that’s why, today, it hurts so much for China that the world is focusing on the bad when there actually is much good to report. From articles I’ve read over the past three years, it seems like the tone of the Chinese government has been of confusion, disappointment, and hurt rather than unyielding anger.

What do I think of the negative scrutiny? I think that criticism in general is very constructive, and is the basis of democratic principles. In America, our bipartisan system and protection of free speech enables all different perspectives – the good and the bad – to flourish.  And it’s these critical perspectives that keep our government and society in check.  In China however, the government has squashed critical voices within its borders for decades…so if China isn’t going to get doses of astute criticism internally, then it’s a great thing that it’s at least getting it externally.

Having said that, I also think that there’s a fine line between constructive criticism and verbal flogging. Too much criticism is often counter-productive, and I don’t think it’s possible to shame China into submission. Instead, we should focus on peacefully integrating China into the developed world. Whether we like it or not, China will become a major global player. Whether or not China becomes a cooperative player, rather than an alienated, bitter rival, depends on how the outside world treats them now.

Which means one thing – it’s travel season! If you’re Asian, maybe you’re making a pilgrimage to the mothership. Even if you’re not Asian, you still might be headed to Shanghai, Bangkok, or some other place where the plagued U.S. dollar would actually buy more than cheap keychain souvenirs and white bread for breakfast.

But before you embark, here are some things to watch out for when traveling in Asia:

1. Getting ripped off. In Asia, haggling is not merely an art-form, but a life and death battle of epic proportions between customers (you) and the vendors (vultures). When shopping in an atmosphere where it’s customary to bargain down a price, aim to pay 1/3 of the initial asking price if you look Asian, and 1/8 of the asking price if you look non-Asian. THEN you might actually get a good deal.

2. Deciphering translated signs that don’t make sense. If you can’t read the native language, be prepared to rely on some funkily translated signs. Here are some pictures from my recent trip to China to illustrate:

3. Getting mowed down when taking public transportation. Lines are different in the East. Look below (From the Stuff Asian People Like Blog):

The image on the left shows how people line up to take a bus in the West. The right side depicts how people line up to take that same bus in Asia. It’s CHAOS.

So sharpen your elbows, squash any ounce of courtesy you have, and be prepared to kick some ass for a 4-block bus ride… because if you don’t, the granny standing behind you will be the first to beat you down for a seat.

Those are my tips for the time being. Feel free to contribute more.

Bubble tea came to the U.S. from Taiwan in the 80’s and slowly emerged to become one of the biggest cultural and lifestyle sensations in the API community. The “Cult of Boba” has been invincible for the past decade, but as I look around Chinatown in Houston, I can’t help but think… could we be approaching the end of an era?

Like all trends, boba will inevitably be replaced someday by the next best thing. Already in Asian communities across the nation, I’m seeing evidence of just that. Instead of heading to the tea house, kids nowadays are opting for even cooler and tastier treat-serving hangouts.

Here are my top 3 picks for Boba’s Most Menacing Challengers:

1) Fro-Yo! (Frozen Yogurt, Asian style) – Once dominated by the likes of TCBY, frozen yogurt recently got a HUGE make-over… by Koreans. The new version is more fresh, tart, and healthy, and features truly delectable fruit toppings. And the Asian influence is undeniable. You can tell from its selection of lychee & pomegranate toppings and mango & green tea flavors.

While vendors including LA-based Pinkberry have paved the way for fro-yo (garnering celebrity-style press coverage from big-name media) other promising branches like OrangeCup are blazing the trail for this trend, bringing the yummy yogurt to big cities in Texas.

2) Crepes – The first time I had a crepe was not in Paris, but at Crepe In The Grip in Alhambra, California. Who would have thought that some of America’s best creperies were in LA’s Asian hood?

What gives this snack potential is that these new Asian creperies aren’t just grab-and-go-one-stop-shops. They’re actual Saturday-night hangouts that provide free wireless connection, playing cards, and even board games so that people can chill, eat crepes, and hang out into the wee hours of the night. I smell a new lifestyle trend here…

3) Shaved Ice – A much, much more AWESOME version of the familiar convenient store Icee. For years, shaved ice has hid in boba’s shadows, but more and more, people are now giving respect to shaved ice (topped with condensed milk, red bean, and chunks of fresh fruit). And because portions are usually humongous, shaved ice makes for a great social/date snack. Just ask for extra spoons and share the love.

BOBA – PUT ON YOUR BOXING GLOVES!

No, she’s not Utada. It’s not Ayumi either. I’m talking about the famous Miss Hello Kitty.

In the current issue of the Japanese edition of Vogue magazine, Hello Kitty gets decked out in Dior’s new fall and winter designs, strutting her stuff while posing in Paris.

Cute factor aside, it’s interesting to guess what this says about Dior’s marketing strategy in Asia – a market obsessed and fanatically loyal to big brands. Unlike the US or Europe where the luxury goods market is dominated by the middle-aged upper class, Asia’s high-fashion consumer market consists largely of young, 20-something, brand-obsessed women. I suppose these are the same women who would know and love Hello Kitty.

This is the first time in history that the Christian Dior brand has used a cartoon character to model an entire fashion line. Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck – eat your heart out.