PRgal
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I was forced to do Kumon when I was a kid (early late 80s/early 90s). It was probably 99% East Asian and the remaining 1% were a few white Jewish kids (not a lot of South Asians at that particular centre). Yep. Rings true.
The actual slide shows (rather than PPT) reminded me of those bad ol' days, too... (by high school, teachers preferred overheads, since they can reuse the sheets).
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I've really enjoyed the first 2 episodes of this show! I grew up in the 80's-90's in Orlando and my FOB parents were way less Americanized than Eddie's. So many of the cross culture themes rang true, especially the school lunch issue. I remember so well in elementary desperately wishing my mother would pack me sandwiches and chips instead of things like bulgogi and rice or kimbap which totally grossed out my friends. Of course now, ethnic food is generally a lot more mainstream and my grown up sensibilities would much rather have bulgogi than a bologna sandwich anyday.
Did you eat any American food at all? My mother was the one who introduced me to grilled cheese. Her grilled cheese sandwiches are what I now call croque etudiant - Wonderbread with Kraft Singles and ham, cooked in a toaster oven. In other words, it's a poor man's croque monsieur. I could be rude and call it croque ghetto, too. Anyway, I wasn't really able to relate to the food situation, but definitely homework (my grandmother was crazier than my mom. She was really pro STEM subjects (even though she knew nothing about them) and was really against me liking history)
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I definitely did. Grew up in a major college town where there was a lot more Chinese people (though not by much), so it was pretty accepted and normal. Maybe ~1/5th of just my classroom was either a Chinese immigrant or a child of immigrants. Not including immigrants of other nationalities. Moved to a place where I was 1 of 4 Asians in my entire grade and stopped immediately when I got the same reactions that Eddie did. Except we had to sit with our classes so no one could kick me out. I guess the smell of jui cai dumplings with garlic chili oil sauce was not something those kids could handle.
Maybe it's just my area, then. Most of us had parents who were accountants, doctors, etc... Even the kids whose parents had primarily Asian clients/patients took sandwiches most of the time. I saw rice or noodles once in a while, but it was definitely not everyone. Not even the kids who were FROM Asia. We DID use tin pencil boxes and mechanical pencils before the white kids though. However, unlike the other Asian kids, my pencil case was Beatrix Potter while theirs were Hello Kitty.
ETA: I hope you kept the dumplings somewhat warm. Most East Asian foods aren't that great at room temp (save for some noodles - though better cold (as in refrigerator cold, in a noodle salad) -, rice paper rolls and Chinese barbecue stuff).
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The show rings true a bit for me. I don't remember my parents saying "I love you" to me at all. I'm sure they did when I was a baby, but no one remembers anything before age two or three! What I did find a bit exaggerated were the school lunches. I don't think any of the Asian or first generation any ethnicity kids at my school taking ethnic food to school - at least not entirely ethnic food. I often took sandwiches with (left over) Chinese filling, like soya sauce roast chicken or something like that. Anyway, more details in my blog post.
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Made quinoa and chopped vegetables (cheated and bought them pre-chopped) in a slow cooker as a side dish. The recipe I used said to set it on high for 2-4 hours, but it was done at around 1 1/2. Quinoa was light and fluffy.
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One oddity I just noticed: Rade Serbedzija was 67 when this season was filmed, meaning he would have been just 17 when he supposedly had this torrid affair with Violet 50 years ago. Yeah, we can just surmise he's playing older than his real age, but it's amusing to think about.
Wasn't he married at that time? Seventeen year old boys usually aren't married, so he would have been in his 20s. Still, Violet was likely older (probably 30s), making her...a cougar.
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Actually, it was still happening in the 1970s and possibly later.
I think it's really only since the 90s that society has been more accepting of unwed mothers. Murphy Brown kind of changed things (yes, I realize that she's different, since she's not a teenager or even a 20-something college student). It's now increasingly difficult to adopt privately as more and more women choose to parent.
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I explicitly said I am NOT equating wealth with happiness.
What I am talking about is education and opporutnity and security. Besides which, Edith adores that child, that's been made clear.
Illegitimacy in the 20s isn't nearly as big a deal as it would have been 20 years earlier.
When marigold is in her 20s it will be ww2. She will only be in her 40s during the swinging 60s. MY dad was born in 1920 and died in 2007. The idea tht her life will be ruined by being illegitimate is really a 19th century idea and this is a 20th century child. She may want to go to college. Will the Drewes be able to send her? Doubtful.
Back to the episode the obvious solution is for edith to take her own kid back. R. drewe imagining for one moment that edith won't is out of his gourd.
Edited to add: it won't be very long at all before being and need mother won't donmuch to poor edith and her reputation either, this is the modern era, it's not Jane Austen.
People often imagine people are locked into their times Druids forgetting that they aren't. My father saw horses on the streets when he was a tyke, and used email and computers when he died. Little marigold could be alive today. She'd beold, but I know people that old.
Marigold is more or less the same age as Betty on Mad Men, but without the advantages that Betty had as a child. Even though she's the daughter of a farmer, there are likely still expectations of her, and for her to have a mom and a dad in a "real" family rather than being raised by a single mom who had her without being married would still have been seen, in the 1920s, as "bad." We aren't talking about Marigold as an adult in the 1940s or later, we're talking about how people would treat her while she's a child and a teenager in the 1930s. Even if she's able to get into good schools like Cheltenham Ladies' College or Roedean (i.e. boarding schools girls in her cohort would have gone to), how would her peers see her? I'm sure people talk, and boarding schools are full of bullies. She's going to have better opportunities by attending the local school. She'll probably end up working in a factory during WWII and then will marry a returning soldier. I don't think she'll be destitute. Margie might seem crazy to us, but she's just trying to be protective. I'm a prospective adoptive mother and should we be matched domestically through private adoption, it will likely be open. However, we're advised to set boundaries. For example, we might see each other once a year, or Skype every other month.
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This is a pretty hot topic for those of us who it affects. I suspect MANY English Jews doubt they're perceived as just being intellectual, with no stigma. I really think people not in a minority can't possibly imagine how the people in that minority feel.
Or even minorities not in the same minority group. A while back, I tried explaining the differences between racism towards East Asians and blacks to a black woman. She was one of those "minorities are minorities and we all experience it the same way" types that I thought only came from (usually older - as in over 50) white Protestants (and often women).
Aristocratic antisemitism was so casual as t be unnoticeable, lots of Jews went to ston and harrow right? Daily chapel would be nooooo problem at all. Even in the 1980s when I was there it just wasn't a normal thing to be Jewish people thought it was exotic if not suspicious. It's not about population.
I don't know how the Jewish (or Muslim) girls felt about chapel at my school, but regardless of religion, a good number slept (how they did so without getting caught, I DO NOT KNOW). I know that there were few non-Christians in the choir. The only ones who were vocal about chapel were self-proclaimed atheists.
There are plenty of Jews in London. But I had trouble finding a box of matzah.
It was easier in Alabama. No lie.
Even around Passover? WOW. Then again, I live in Toronto and in a higher income area (yeah, I know, stereotype). One of the (relatively smallish, compared to the suburbs) supermarkets has a kosher section, though I don't seem to notice it at Whole Foods.
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So now they want to send Marigold off to a "school" in France? Is it in an old house in Paris all covered with vines? Just wondering...
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Brunch: Wish. One of the few places that actually takes brunch reservations! My favourite items on the menu include their French toast, Nutella sandwich and Eggs in Purgatory (basically shakshuka under a different name). Another favourite of mine is Lola's Kitchen, which is great if you're vegan/vegetarian. Both restaurants also serve dinner. Third favourite: MoRoCo Chocolat. THEY HAVE SIPPING CHOCOLATE!!! Definitely order THAT to finish off your brunch. So much richer than your regular hot chocolate/cocoa! Also a great spot for afternoon tea.
Chinese (dim sum): Lai Wah Heen if you want something on the higher end or Pearl Harbourfront if you want traditional cart service. There are also plenty of places in the suburbs. Toronto's Cantonese cuisine is Hong Kong style authentic, and it's actually very difficult to find North American Chinese food (i.e. chop suey and egg rolls. Ask any Chinese person for egg rolls and they'll give you something sweet).
If you're looking for more (modern) Taiwanese/Shanghainese style, Lee Chen Asian Bistro is great for soup dumplings, though there are more authentic places in the suburbs. Whatever you do, DON'T GO TO CHINATOWN for Chinese food unless you want to go really, really cheap and eat at sort of hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Toronto's Chinese community generally won't eat there unless they're coming from the office. Other Chinese/Chinese-inspired places you might want to try include DaiLo (interesting note: They originally wanted to call the place GwaiLo, but (probably) had to change it because it's a racial slur for white people), Lee or Bent (both are Susur Lee restaurants). I would also suggest Luckee. I personally like that it serves dim sum at dinner, but some people think it's a bit overrated).
Indian: The Host Indian Cuisine or its more modern/fusion cousin, 259 Host (in the financial district). Utsav in Yorkville is also good.
"Canadian" Food: Bannock, especially after a day of shopping at the Eaton Centre. They also have brunch.
Pizza: My favourite mini-chain, Magic Oven, especially if you want vegan or Pizzeria Libretto (another mini-chain). If you want Roman style, there's Tutti Pizzeria, a newly open and hidden place in Yorkville or Buca (the Yorkville location is more seafood inspired, while King Street is more meat). Pizza is served with scissors.
Middle Eastern: Fat Pasha (Israeli-inspired cuisine - portion sizes are fairly large and made to share. Definitely order the cauliflower) or Tabule (love their falafels).
Mexican: Wilbur Mexicana for tacos, Los Colibris for something sitdown.
Expensive Date Night: Sassafraz or ONE Restaurant, both in the tony Yorkville area of Toronto. Another favourite is La Société, especially in the summer when they open their lower patio.
Ice Cream: Summer's Ice Cream. It's seasonal - they're usually closed between November and March. Another place to try is Gelato Simply Italian, which has two locations in the city.
Other places: Brownstone Bistro (general restaurant with pretty much everything), Origin (two locations, including one in the suburbs), Trevor Kitchen + Bar (they have complimentary cotton candy) as well as the restaurant at The Beverley Hotel.
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That was the funny part. Only Charlie could say something like that and make it funny instead of cringe-worthy!
I work as a contractor for the County of Los Angeles. They have MLK Day off but we don't (We have the day after Thanksgiving and they don't, so it balances). We also have to "floating holidays" but those can be used n any day.
Chinese restaurants (for their Jewish customers). A Chinese restaurant trade group just sent out a "thank you" to the Jewish people for their patronage on Christmas.
Hotel restaurants and a few other places as well.
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JTMacc99 reminded me in "What's for Dinner", but I love rice cookers. Ok, I am biased because I am East Asian, but I don't even like eating rice every day (a couple times a week). It's just so convenient because when the rice is cooking, I can make the protein and the veg. You can make congee, add protein to the rice, steam fish on it if you have a steamer attachment, etc. One day when I am much better off, I want to buy a fancy zojirushi rice cooker which has a timer and does all sorts of rice.
Rice cookers are great! I don't make ride much anymore (quinoa, bulgur, feel, etc... have pretty much replaced rice) but like you said, they're really handy. Still need to figure out how to make other grains in the machine though. I also love my chopper/food processor and slow cooker (stews, slow cooked apples (a favourite at Thanksgiving 2014) and hot cereal).
ETA: I should also add that I love my Breville Smart Oven! There are only two of us, so this is perfect for weeknight dinners. I don't use our regular oven unless I'm cooking for company. :)
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"My friends' kids tend to call me Auntie PRgal (if they're of Chinese descent) as it's the custom to do so."
My family does that, and we're not Chinese. I'd guess it's generational, not cultural. I had "aunties" that were not biological.
Topic -- Tom and Mary would be a very poor match. They're like brother and sister.
It depends. My husband's Jewish (ethnically Eastern European. His parents were born and raised in Montreal) and my MIL said that it would be completely inappropriate to call non-relatives "Aunt(ie) and Uncle" in their culture.
Topic: I agree. Tom and Mary would be really, really weird. I mean, George and Sybbie would be cousins AND step siblings. Would Sybbie still call Mary, Aunt(ie) Mary and George call Tom, Uncle Tom?
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I was thinking more like 50 years in the future. And of course Violet would still be alive :)
Of course! Violet's immortal. She's still alive in 2015 and wondering what a weekend is. Of course a 2015 Matthew will too.
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Not demeaning in the slightest, although it sometimes seems so to the recipients. I am a Yankee born and bred who nowadays chooses to live in the South in my later years. It was absolutely drilled into me as a child, this thing called manners, that anyone my 'superior', be it either by age or position, should be addressed as sir or mam. A habit I could never break, nor would I want to do so. Over the years I have had many a supervisor or boss who was my junior in years perhaps but nonetheless they always, always got a sir or mam from me. Some of them were uncomfortable with it and would jokingly tell me to not answer them so. I always explained to them that it was simply a matter of etiquette and manners, no matter their age next to mine they were, in fact, my supervisor and as such deserved my respect. And I could no more NOT offer them this courtesy than rise and fly. Proper manners is not a question of the times people...it is just mannerly. I will correct a child in a heartbeat who presumes to call me by my first name, as pleasantly as possible but clearly. I am an adult, you are a child, my name is Mrs. whatever. Children these days are not taught such things. Simple civility requires it. JMO of course.
Completely agree. My husband's friends from high school and university are really casual and they always asked their children to "say hello to PRguy and PRgal," not "Mr. and Mrs. Lastname." I've attempted to correct them, but since I have not known them as long as he has, I'm not sure if it's my place. My friends' kids tend to call me Auntie PRgal (if they're of Chinese descent) as it's the custom to do so. My non-Chinese friends' kids tend to call me Mrs. Lastname or Ms. Maidenname.
Back on topic now.
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More and more, I'm thinking that Mary's life is turning into Sex and the City. Blake vs. Gillingham is a bit like Big vs. Aidan.
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I'll piggyback on that and say I can't stand the kids who play George. What sullen, sour children (compared to the delight that is Miss Sybbie). Also, was Mary involved in her son's conception at all? Blond hair and blue eyes...it's like George sprung, fully formed, from Matthew's head.
And Matthew looked really fake to begin with, probably because Dan Stevens isn't a natura that blond. I recall someone on TwoP said that they made Matthew a surferdude blond so he could be easily distinguisable from the brown haired guys on the show/Mary's other suiters, who're (mostly) darker haired.
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So the mother of Nanny Fine would be a sterotypical Jewish "Mom"? And Nanny Fine is, too? That's funny, because we had it in Germany, too and we watched it when we were kids, but I never thought they were stereotypical Jewish, but actually just stereotypical "American".
And "Cher" from Clueless is Jewish, too? Again, that's actually our stereotypical "American rich teenager" picture here. Never connected it with Jewish...
I haven't seen the Nanny in years and didn't watch it on a regular basis when it was on, but yeah, I guess they would. As for Cher in Clueless, it's pretty much known that she is - there's a scene on the TV version of the movie that was a flashback (or maybe photo - I don't remember) of her singing "Dreidl, Dreidl" a fairly well-known Chanukah song and I'm 99% sure there have been references to her bat mitzvah.
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I've read that a few times now and I'm curious: What is "Jewish" about Martha?
I'm not American and being German I don't know many Jews (not so surprisingly there're not many Jews living in Germany any more). The only Jew I ever met was a professor who lived in Tel Aviv and did a guest reading at my university.
Martha is loud and obnoxious. That's the stereotype of a Jewish (American/Canadian, anyway) woman of a certain age. Heck, there's even an Instagram account called Crazy Jewish Mom! Then there's the younger woman stereotype (think Cher from Clueless), which is a whole other story...
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. I really, really want Tom to just snap and tell her that she has not only completely inspired him to become a complete British loyalist and member of the Conservative Party but also gay (his couple name with Barrow can be...Tom Barrow), because she is just that unattractive in mind, spirit and body. Again, I really enjoy my hatred of this trashy heifer. She's the '20s Britain version of Alexis Davis from General Hospital.
Say yes, Isobel!
I'm surprisingly really invested in this Barrow and Baxter story.
Nah...Tom's couple name with Thomas would be....Branrow or The Toms. And yes, Isobel NEEDS to say YES! She has to have a companion closer to her own age. As for Miss Bunting: I wonder if she's rude to the kids she teaches or to their parents. I'm not sure if the village school is a one roomer (did they have one room schoolhouses in the UK?) or if there are several classrooms. If it's the latter, I wonder if she's one of those teachers that kids pray that they WON'T get!
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Still making two dinners. I even declined joining a meal train at preschool for a new mom because frankly, cooking two dinners, two lunches and my kids breakfast every day is enough. I'm done cooking.
Any way, tonight I made kielbasa, Mac and cheese and salad and no one even ate it! One of my favorite meals, I didn't take a bite but no one else did either. Last night, I made another favorite, breakfast. I didn't even eat a piece of bacon :( I had salmon, asaparagus and quinoa. Tonight I added some grilled chicken to the salad for my dinner.
I've really fallen in love with fresh artichokes! So yummy! I've been eating at least three a week for lunch!
I HATE it when people don't eat something you made! When I was 10 or 11, I made a fruit punch for a barbecue my parents were hosting and NO ONE drank it! Not the kids or the grown-ups. And I often worry about making what my husband calls "PRgal" food for some of my relatives - recently, my parents said that it's "probably not a good idea" for me to make an entire meal for my relatives because they might not "like" my quinoa dressing ("dressing" as in turkey stuffing that has never been stuffed IN the turkey). Non-relatives tell me my quinoa dressing is good. My parents think so, as does my husband. It's just that it's a "PRgal" dish and not something more...Chinese.
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We don't have Ulta in Canada (yet), but one of our major drugstore chains is known for having an excellent beauty section with more premium brands (segregated from the drugstore lines, of course) like Stila, Lancome, Clinique and Smashbox. They also run a small chain of beauty stores. I go there a lot as well, since I get points. Once, I only had to pay $25 for a bill worth at least $150. I pretty much only get beauty products there and at Sephora. :S
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Red velvet cake - it's chocolate cake, with buttermilk added, and RED FOOD COLORING! Yes, the cream cheese frosting is delicious. I work with a bunch of people who think this is the be-all and end-all of cakes. Any birthday celebration, or new employee, retirement, anything that includes dessert, they all go nuts over getting a red velvet cake (from the grocery store) to celebrate.
Whatever.
Some red food coloring is made from petroleum, some is made from BEETLES. Yeah, crushed beetle parts.
Yet, people think that the chocolate cake made with red beetle-dye tastes better than chocolate cake which is just brown. Can we have a blind-fold test?
It's not that I don't believe that it's good. After all, it is CAKE. But I've had allergies to red dye, so I avoid it. I'm just annoyed at the group mentality that says that this is the best kind of cake.
You can also use pureed beets to get the colouring.
Here's a recipe: http://bakecakery.com/2011/03/16/red-velvet-cake-with-beets/
Race And Social Issues: The American Dream
in Fresh Off The Boat [V]
I find it interesting that in the US, both South Asians and East Asians are categorized in the same group. Up here in Canada, "Asian" is often exclusively East, while South Asians are defined as, well, South Asian. Technically, in our census forms, some ethnic groups are further subcategorized than others. For example, South Asians seem to be grouped entirely together, while Koreans, Chinese and Japanese are sub-grouped into individual countries of origin/heritage.
I wonder if they'll eventually introduce a brand-obsessed, shopaholic cousin...there were plenty of those at my school growing up (I'm a few years older than Eddie - was in 15/16 in 1995).