Bamboo Offshoot Fall 2009

8/9/2019 Bamboo Offshoot Fall 2009

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ha rajuku fashion. best late night food. fas hion entrep reneurare Asians inherently sma rter?

VOLUME XVII ISSUE I

NOVEMBER 10,2009


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TOP: Sara Tsukamoto models her latest homespun designer colleelion_BOTTOM: P,1t those late night munchies to sleep with L.A.> most tantalizing tongue teasers.

table of contents3 Editor's note4 Calendar5 News bites

USC News6 Student Profile: Sara Tsukamoto, rising designer5 Comedian Caricatures funny faces of today7 Faculty Profile: Velina Houston's soul-baring ploy

Opinion8 Intelligence: are As ians inherently smarter28 Column: the value of volunteering

Local10 Kogi Imitators: the original's got competition11 Six Toste: 'SC alums tour Little Tokyo11 Statue: Sugihara, the Oscar Schindler of Japan

Feature12 International: facing economic burdens

A&E14 Food Fix: where to go for midnight snacks15 Fashion: translating street to LA-ready style

Miscellaneous5 Comic Musings: Just for laughs

COVER ART IBy Diana LingSome of the srrongest voices of the Asian Pacific Americancommunity are those who have tapped inro American main-stream media. "Through collage and abstraction, I wanted toillusrrate the way in which these voices represenr an idenri tythat is not only diverse, but also uniquely American," Lingsaid.

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BAMBOO OFFSHOOTVOLUME XVII I ISSUE IOCTOBER. 2009

EDITORIAL BOARD

Dominique FongPublisherNimisha ThakoreEditor-in-ChiefElizabeth DengManaging Edito rDavid LauArt EditorTeresa ChungPublicitySharon RenPublicity

Elaine JiangBusiness ManagerAmandaChiuBusiness ManagerSTAFF CONTRIBUTORSIvana BanhMichelle BanhAndrea ChinAndrew DangSophia KangKevin KimHeather LeeDaniLindoDiana LingJessica MenAlyson OwyangVicki WangGUEST WRITERSSooJungHan

bamboo offshoot

FOLLOW US@BAMBOOOFF-SHOOTed itor 's note.

BY NIMISHA THAKOREI made an execurive decision this summer as I was wasting away at home under

the rriple-digit heat of Texas (so the sanity of this conclusion mayor may not be \questionable). I decided this year would be the year of things that are new. Ir wouldbe the year I maximized as many opporruniries as I could. I only made two NewYear's resolurions back in January -- to have no fear and to give more hugs -- and Ilike to think my new position here at Bamboo Offshoot as edito r-in- chief falls inthat "have no fear" category. I'm also considering smothe ring my staff with unnecessary amonnrs of hugs just to kill two birds with one stone. You know, for the sake ofefficiency.

In that spirit of fearlessness, Bamboo Offshoot is also becoming something newthis year. We're working on renovating the Web site, we 're giving our overaJllooka facelift, and we're making every arrempt to become a recognizable brand ar oundcampus. We've even hopped on the Twiner bandwagon (shameless plug : follow us@BambooOffshoot!). You know things really marrer when you're tweeting aboutthem.

Our fim issue of the year is all abour what marrers to you and why? We've gotprofiles on an ambirious undergrad with her own handmade clothing line and SixTaste, a new business starred by a USC alum. We've got inreresting takes on theAPA inrelligence myth and that little-noticed statue by Yogurt/and in Little Tokyoyou've always wondered abour. And for all you foodies out there, we senr staffers ourto find the best Asian taco trucks and hotspots for midnight cravings .

So what matters to us here at Bamboo Offshoot? Represenring the APA community as best as we can by covering as much as we can, from food and fashion tohistory and social issues.

Here's ro having no fear and giving more hugs, to a new year and a new BambooOffshoot!

We serve as both a sounding board and a resource for USC's growing AsianPacific American population. Bamboo Offshoot is dedicated to educatingits readers abour issues impacting the APA community both on campus andin the surrounding L.A. area, and features stories covering topics as diverseas politics, enrertainmenr and health.

DECODED:{APA } Asian Pacific American {API} Asian Pacific Islander{APASS } Asian Pacific American Student Services, th e official USCstudent services department{APASA } Asian Pacific American Student Assembly, a student runumbrella group that oversees APA organizations

contactBamboo Offshoot c/oAsian Pacific American S tudent Serv icesUniversity of Southe rn CaliforniaStudent Union 410Los Angeles, CA 90089-485 [email protected]/-bamboo/index.php

Bamboo Offshoot is published with supporr from Campus Progress/ Center forAmerican Progress (online at CampusProgress.org)

OCTOBER 2009/ BAMBOO OFFSHOOT I 3
mailto:[email protected]:///reader/full/CampusProgress.orgmailto:[email protected]:///reader/full/CampusProgress.org


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0 uI :0--0 ::::::J ~ P A S A WinterFormal Datec:: z Auction

oct 28 IreneKhan, "The UnheardTruth: Poverty & HumanRights", 7 p.m., Central

Library

-1.2 UCLA Korean Music& Dance Ensemble 6 p.m., UCLAQ) V l19ZZwa.. a..U


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ole comic musings BY DA VID LAU WHAT? DON'T PUT ME ON HOlD A6AJN, THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME-!

I j l ' J ~ I I . . g t f ~ opo come IonsThis is for all those poor and overworked students imprisoned under rhefluorescent lights of Leavey and whose bodies are now composed of 65%

Starbuck's product s.

MEMORABLE QUOTERUSSELL PETERS"be a man!"

A hilarious ambassador of the "BrownPeople;' Russell Peters' can imitate divetseaccents, turn mundane situations int oside-splitring encounters, and enterrainwith his plethora ofmaterial. So if youwere ever curious about an Indian takeon Chinese haggling, eth nic childhoodsand hairy bum , then go on a h ilariousholiday with rhis Canadian son of h1d ial1iOlnligra l1r s.

CHINESE, KOREAN.INDIAN- HE PICkSRANDOM ACCENTS AND PRETENDS NOT TO SPEAK EN6USH UNTil.. HE SCREAMS THE OTHER PERSON INTO SU8MISSION. WORKS PRETTY weu... , THINK .ART AND CARICATURE PROFILES BY DANI LINDO

As American comedian Milton Berle once said, Laughter is an instantvacation." So here are a few highly recommended travel agents to help youbook your leave from Leavey.

BOBBY LEE MEMORABLE QUOTE"he's not a terrorist! he's gay!"

If you are looking for a more diversetrip. Bobby Lee offers the perfect synthesisofhysterical stand-up performances, skits,and sketches. From his work on MADtvand his independent stand-up. Bobby Leeis a riotous comic whose works come withthe highest of commendation s. Look uphis spoofs on Korean dramas, th e DragonHunter, the North Korean Scientist, and24: Terrorist.

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For junior Sara Tsukamoto, clothing hasevolved from a form of personal expression into afull-fledged business venture. Over the past year,Tsukamoto, a business major and communicationdesign minor, joined the ranks of Trojan entrepreneurs when she founded her own clothing lineKealohalani in 2008.

Since she first earned to sew at 10 years old,Tsukamoto spent most ofher free time designing,but it was not until her freshman year at USC thatshe began to actualize her vision.

When a friend received an oversized USCT-shirt at the beginningof the year, Tsukamotoconverted it into an original creation. With

Tsukamoto customizes old sweats and T-shirts into new looks. Left photoby Dani Lindo. Top right photos courtesy ofJennifer Nguyen from theKealohalani spring collection.

some thread from the dollar srore and a pair ofscissors, she created a dress that her friend endedup wearing to a number of football games for therest of the year. After receiving many complimentsfor her design, Tsukamoro began crafting dressesand selling them ou t of her apartment during hersophomore year.

"1 really wanted to create things tha t werecomfortable and easy to wear to games while beingunique .. not just to have the same things th ateveryone else can get from the bookstore:' saidTsukamoto.

Tsukamoro starts each design with the basics:T-shirts and other ready-made styles from the

university bookstore. She then transforms thesesimple fabrics into one-of-a-kind pieces.

Kealohalani, named for Tsukamoto's Hawaiian name, has expanded to now include customdresses, tops, rompers, shorts, skirts, and accessories, all hand-crafted by Tsukamoto h e r s e l t ~

The laidback, beach-inspired style ofTsukamo-to's comfortable feminine pieces pays homage toher Hawaiian roots. Drawing inspiration from current Billabong and ~ i k s i l v e r trends, Tsukamotohopes to continue creating wearable styles for theeveryday Trojan girl.

As a budding entrepreneur, she hopes to keepher business steady at its current moderate size.

> "FUNNY FACES" CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5MARGARET CHO MEMORABLE QUOTE

"mommy didn't have prom. wedidn't have prom in Korea ... onlywar."

A comedienne who has no fear abou tmatters of sexuality, politics or the Koreantemper, Margaret Cho is a fantasticallyhysterical jokester for those who like theirhumor edgy. Be warned of the explicitnature of some of her material! But forcallused ears she offers a perfect getawayon the love boat oflaughs.

MEMORABLE QUOTE

'1 want to be the irst Asian guyto adopt a white ki dfo r once."

The season three winner of the show"Last Comic Standing," Dat Phan jokesabout all aspects of Asian life from datinga whi te girl to being stereotyped as a"Mexicanese."His high energy level andperfected Vietnamese accent make himworthy of a You tube channel surf.

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"I really likc keeping it juSt me:' she said. "I loveimeract ing with cliems and being able to customize things for people because they really appreciatebeing able to buy something relatively inexpensivethat fits them reallywell."

There is no real formula to Tsukamoto's creativeprocess, but fit is very importam for this petitedesigner. Tsukamoto said many of her designs arceasy to customize because they are loose and madewith elastic. In fact, Tsukamoto welcomes creativeinput from her customers, as she draws inspiration from the "give and take" experience. She playsaround with different designs and waits to see whatsells. Her honest item of the mom ent? A gray andred halter top with a braided back.

To keep herself updated on trends in the fashion industry Tsukamoto subscribes to a number offashion blogs and browses shops online. In a way,she considers herself an observer of the fashionindustry because "it's fun to investigate fashionfrom that point of view."

To date, Kealohalani has a Facebook fan base350 Strong and growing each day. Her page curn:ntly displays Kealohalani's most recent fashions,where she receives most of her orders and makesher appointments."The biggest factor for me was Facebookbecause that's where I started, when I first made aFacebook page for my business:' Tsukamoto said.In April, Kealohalani was featured in the USC

Fashion Industry Association's 5th Annual FashionShow, which showcased 12 up-and-comingstudent deSigners who worked with both professional and student models. Tsukamoto sent eightTrojan-inspired looks down the mnway in from ofa crowd of500 people.

Tsukamoto first started as a member ofFIAcoordinating a spring fashion show her freshmanyear. She then returned last year and this year asthe vice president of marketing and now overseesall ofFIA's publicity.

As she looks toward the future, Tsukamotohopes to build a career in the business side offashion. At the moment, she is planning to studyabroad in Hong Kong next semester to completeher business concentration in global business.

"Becausc Hong Kong is a fashion center in Asia,I thin k it will be interesting to see fashion fromthat perspective:' she said.

FACULTYPROFILE :USC PROFESSO R LOOKSTO THE PO SITIVE SIDE OF LIFE'IN HER PLAY "CALLIGR APHY " BY IVANA BANH

Velina Hasu Houston, a playwright and professor at USC, believes that life should be enjoyedin the best way possible despite troubles andobstacles. She illustrates her mantra ofliving inher play, "Calligraphy," a story about the reunionof two aging sistcrs, their daughtCfs and a collisionof cultures.

"Calligraphy" chronicles a pair ofJapanese,60-somcthing single mothers. Natsuko, the olderof the two, is an angry, b itter widow living in Japanwith her free-spirited daughter Sayuri. Noriko,Natsuko's younger sister, is also widowed andliving in the United States with her obedient,respectful daughter, Hiromi.

The sisters have not seen each other for years,ever since Noriko married an African Americanman despite Natsuko's disapproval. Decades later,Natsuko is fighting to keep her health, while Noriko is battling an intensifying case of Alzheimer's.The sisters still refuse to speak to one another formore than several minutes and never seem to agreeon anything.

Their daughters, Sayuri and Hiromi, decide toreunite the aging duo before it is too late. Uponhearing abol![ the reunion, neither Noriko norNatsuko is pleased. However, when the sistersmeet in Japan, rhe situation rakes a turn for thebener. At last, the two sisters restore their relationship after years of clashing culrures, marriages andopinions. "Calligraphy" emphasizes the importance of finding what is truly valuable in life andmaking life the best it can be.

Hous ton addresses culture clashes as one of rhemain universal issues in her play. Houston herselfdid not have it easy growing up, partly due to herculrural background."My mother always told me that I would nevermake ir as an auth or because I was the daughrer ofaJapanese immigrant:' said Houston. "Bm I knewI was meant to wrire."

Houston kept on reading dramas and writingthrough out her childhood. Her persistence provedher mother wrong - she was accepted to UCLA'sSchool of Theater, Film, and Television and graduared wirh a Master's degree in Fine Arts. Houstonthen continued her education at the QQ Miller

School ofJournalism and Mass Commun icationat Kansas Srate University. She left the universitywith degrees in journalism, mass communicationand rheater. Houston completed school at USCwith a Ph.D. from the School of Cinematic Arts.

Houston used her many years of education toproduce dozens of essays and poems that wererecognized in several journals and anthologies. Shealso wrote numerous plays, many of which wereproduced by Columbia Pictures and PBS. Houston is currently teaching at USC as a professor inthe School of Cinematic Arts and Theater.

Many of her plays focus on issues amongsr arange of culrures and the experiences "strangersfaced in new cultures." As part ofa multiculturalfamily herself, Houston deeply understands thecollisions that can be ignited by a mix of "visualdifferences between darker and lighter people."

Despire the criticism Houston encounteredgrowing up in a family full of international marriage and cultu te clashes, tl1e talented author haslearned to "find what is valuable in life so that wecan live the best lives possible regardless of one'stroubles and burdens."

Houston messes in "Calligraphy" that life is notabom sulking over rhe negative rhings but ratheraboU( finding the people and things one treasuresmost in life while "aging and loving and at thehearr of it, living the best oflives." Part of thisinspiration comes from one of her close friends, avictim of a uagic car accident thar confined himto bed at 18 years old. Even though he will neverbe the same again, he still remains cheerful, saidHouston.

"Calligraphy" combines just the right amountof drama wirh a generous dash of humor, a sprinkleof uagedy and a splash ofhappiness.

Houston's next play, "Mothedoad:' illustratesanother dramatic story about a set of sisters whohave never mer. She is also currently working on astory concern ing issues of DNA and identity. Shehopes she will be able to cominue drawing peopleto her plays in the futute and "enjoy [her] art withthe audience in the same room."

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opin ion

VOLUNTEER VALUETHE REWARDS OF REACH-ING OUT TO FAMILIES INNEED OF COLLEGE ADVICEBY SOO JUNG HAN

"I used to volunteer so much in highschoo!..." my friend trailed off

"Yeah, me too;' I agreed.If you're in this situation like me and

wondered what happened after college,then maybe this is a good rime for somereassessmenr. I'd like to think it's becausethey know that volunteering makes us better people who think beyond the world inthe bubble that we create and stay in.

I had the privilege ofheading a collegeworkshop ar the non-profit Asian YouthCenter with the newly founded studentorganizationSCAPE (Student Coalitionfor Asian Pacific Empowerment) . Our volunteer warn for the day split up into threegroups - College Application Process,SAT's and Financial Aid - and gave presentations to and answered questions fromeager parents at rhe San Gabriel center.

With our Powc:rPoint presentationsand handouts wirh references, we gavea compilation of pertinent information,covering topics from AP classes and whento take the SATs to loans and FAFSA. Weoffered our insight on the college application process to parents who attended thetwo-hour workshop put on by a groupofUSC students who went through theall-too-familiar process themselves not toolong ago.

What 1gained from this experience i,that success lies at the point where supplyand demand meet. Applying for colleges can be a fairly stressful and dauntingprocess, more so if you're the first person inyom family to go to college. A demand forhelp with the college application processfrom parents oflow-income Asian familieswas met with our supply of bright collegestudenrs, allowing SCAPE to reach outand make a tangible difference in the Asiancommuniry of Los Angeles.

Let's not be so sdf-absorbed, as isour natural rendency amidst our busycollege lives, in solely building an empirefor ourselves rhat will get us that perfectjob or build an impressive resume. True,this economic recession not only has us

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DON'T TH EYWISH they were

LIKE U S?THE INTELLIGENCE MYTH: WHY ARE ASIANS PER-CEIVED TO BE SMARTER AND MORE SUCCESSFUL? \STORY BY ANDREA CHIN / ART BY ANDREW DANG

"Intelligence is associatedwith higher test scores, whichimprove access to elitecolleges, which are pipe-lines for well-paying jobs."

Achieve perfect SAT scores while maintaining a4.0 GPA. Go to the best college. Ente r med schoolor investment banking or software development.Don't f.1il your family.

So many Asian Pacific American studentsbear the burden of the model minority stereotype as academic advisors and hiring managersmake assumptions about the nature and extentof their intellectual abilitiesand potentia l for professional advancement. Whenopportunities for economicand social advancement areprogressively dicrared by testperformance and job securityis shakia than ever, competition becomes increasinglycurrhroat in a system that mythologizes the virtueof merit to guarantee success.

The sysrem has been designed to enable peopledesignated as intellectually gifted to arrend college, traditionally assumed to lead to white collar...,work and higher tax brackers. As a group, APAsare more likely to have finished postsecondary education than Americans overall. Half ofAsian Americans ages 25 and older have at least

a bachelor's degree, compared to a quarter of allAmericans in this age range, and are twice as likelyto have a graduate or professional degree, according to rhe 2007 American Community Survey.

These numbers, however, mask significantdifferences among APA groups. Among AsianIndians, 68 percent ages 25 and older has at least abachelor's degree. Anot her 36 percen t has a graduate o r professional degree.

However, the same studyfound that only 15 percentof Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders of the same agegroup have at least bachelor'sdegree and just 4 percent havea graduate or professionaldegree.

Asian immigrants' self-selection can accountfor the disproportionate educational attainmentratcs of the overall APA community. Having morehighly educated immigrants settle and start families in the U.S. has raised the general intellectualprofile of APAs. The Immigration Act of 1965brought over a stream of highly educated scientistsand technical professionals, mostly from India andEast Asia, to meet posr-Spurnik America's labor

collegetips to parents at theAsian Yout/l Center inSan Gabriel.

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WHAT?I HO W'DYOU GET AN 'F' ON

A MATH TEST?

by Andrew Dang

he early 1900s, APAs, like Jews, scoredon IQ tests than whites whose families

U.S. longer. Both groups' overallas more highly

came ro the country.'What about the controversial claim that APAsbecause of theirIQ scores? Racial differences in test scores

of affirmative action debates, whichon East Asian

"average" Americans can matchs' high math and science scores. Unfortu

as anyone who has taken Psych 100 knows,ot imply causation.

Intelligence is associated with higher test scores,access ro elite colleges, which are

as the recessioncollege graduates of all races

is to find and keepThe evidence for ethnic Asians' above-average

has been called into question.n students outper

North American ones on mathurban Asian students from elite schools. Intel

of Asian ancestry actually possess slightlys than whites but have excelled in

math despite this difference. I Q scores can be bestdescribed as limited measurements of cognitiveability shaped by complex interactions among ge-netics, health, psychological attitudes, education,socioeconomic status, and possibly cultural bias.

Studies examining racial differences in intelligence have an ugly history of promoting discriminatory policies based on racial stereotyping. Itwould be more valuable to look at general "nurture" factors that activate genes critical to intellectual ability and psychological functioning , sllch asparental involvement in children's education. APAparents are infamous for pressuring their childrento excel academically and enter well-paying, stableprofessions. In a study of7,836 San Francisco highschool students, APAs spent 40 percent more timeon homework than non-Asians.

The portrayal of "Asian American whiz kids"

suggests that APAs overachieve through uncannyability and their immigrant parents' hard-earnedsacrifices. Making model minorities out of thesesuccessful individuals, however, ovcrlooks thosewho struggle. Southeast Asians such as the Hmongand the Laotian are some of the poorest Americansand least likely to graduate from high school, yetthey rarely receive adequate governmental assistance because of the model minority perception.

The ignorant conflation of Asian students'academic performance with Asian Americans' isproblematic given the heterogeneity of the APApopulation. International students, whose abilityto study in the U.S. is often predicated on theirscientific and technological expertise, can be mistakenly included in these evaluations.

To make the field more equitable, we must ex-amine what actually determines outcomes for mostplayers. Richard Herrnstein's and Charles Murray'sThe Bell Curve launchcd the I Q craze in 1994 bycontending that I Q scores are better predictors offuture success than one's socioeconomic status atbirth. But this is the myth of the American dream:that our inherent abilities, assessed by the limitedproxy ofIQ tests, combined with dedication willlead to success. Instead of pitting marginalizedgroups against each other in a draconi an strugglefor socioeconomic security, we'd be smarter to lookbeyond our flawed reliance on tests to dictate theextent of our abilities.

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locol KOGI'S GOT COMPETITION. WE TRACKED THEORIGINAL KOREAN BBQ TACO TO SEE WHOLIVED UP TO THE HYPE BY SOPHIA KANG... F i ~ s t ( ; f ~ i t ' l e i m e s t ~ r t h y ~ ( ; n ( e i n d l ~ t:1am no t a foodie. I repeat: I am no t a foodie! Bu t yet another

:food craze has become so blatant that even I took notice. I just hope:these Korean tacos are more satisfying than that last fro-yo phase.

Kogi, a humble Korean taco truck, created an instant hit when it' came into the Los Angeles scene last November. Kogi's product was

i n n o v a t i v e : Korean-style short ribs nestled in warm miniature corni tortillas. Since its launch, Kogi has created quite a phenomenon with:its multicultural tacos an d burritos an d has expanded to include other:novelties like ho t dogs an d sliders. \ :: But like anything popular, Kogi has given rise to its own se t of' comparable competitors, no t to mention a new culinary genre of'cooking, that even reStaurants are adopting. Baja Fresh, a popular:Mexican food franchise, is concept-testing very similar Korean[barbecue-style tacos an d burritos in on e of ts Irvine locations. Even' rraditional Mexican restaurants like La Taquiza an d Pancho's are. i n t r o d u c i n g Korean-inspired tacos to their menuS.

BUllKOGI KOGI CAlBI BOOl

This is the fim taco truck I came uponthat had music blasting from the speakers,which helps pass the time while waiting inline. Bull Kogi also offers a range of condiments such as lemon wedges, radishes,Sriracha sauce, and such.

The service was rather slow. The cashierwas nice and didn't seem disappointedwhen I ordered just one taco, unlike someof the othe r taco trucks.

I ordered the spicy bulkogi taco and thetotal came to $2I1at. I didn't expect muchbut I was quite pleased when I unveiled myneady packaged taco. It looked very enticing: lettuce, red onions and cabbage, withan additional sprinkling of sesame seedsatop a mound of meat.

Bull Kogi offers good portions but thetaco was a bit salty because the vegetablesarc stir-fried and not prepared as a salad.But where was the spice factor? I did ordera spicy bulkogi taco afrer all. Afrer my firstbite I discovered tiny slivers of sliced kimchi, but they were practically nonexistent.Good thing I'd grabbed some Srirachasauce and radishes.

I also tried a spicy bulkogi bowl on aprevious occasion but that wasn't spicyeither. Bull Kogi falsely advertises, sodon't be intimidated by the phrase "spicy"because it really isn't.

My friend and I got to Cloverdale and\Vilshire at 6:06 p.m. but saw no signof the truck. We looked at each other inpanic. \Vhere was the infamous line ofeager patrons? Nervously, I circled theblock twice looking for parking. By thetime I returned, there wa> the truck andalready about 10 people in line.

Despite an additional 30 minutes ofset-up, the line moved fairly quickly afrerthe cashier took his first customers. Myfriend and I got our food within 10 minutes. The only dessen option was a tresleches cake, which was good but overlyswect for my tastc. And for $4, I don'tthink I'd order it again. One taco and dessert came to a total of $6.60.

For the somewhat steeper price, I wassurprised Kogi had its customers assemblethe tacos to-go themselves. When wefinally sat down to cat in my car, I wasnot pleased with the smell, but the taCOmade up for its odor with its taste. Therewas a lot of meat and the salad on top hada sweet Korean-style dreSSing that had arefreshing, spicy bite to it. Kogi definitelydelivered.

But I have to knock Kogi down a starbecause despite being about the 10thperson in line, I had to wait almost anhour for the food-plus I gOt ripped offwith that $4 cake, which was only aboutthe size of my fist.

There was no line at Calbi so I gOt myfood in no time. The Korean woman whotook my order W:l$ prompt and attentive.\Vhen I went back for anothe r taco, shesaid she saw me struggling and offered mea fork.

The total came to $2.20 for one taco.Cal bi offers a roughly equal vegetable tomeat ratio. The menu didn' t indicate thatthe beeftaco wOllld be spic)" but I'm Korean and I'm glad it was. The heat comesnot from the p reparation of the meat butfrom the dreSSing on top that has a nicespicy kick to it. (Beware! I can tolerate ahigh heat factor and liked the tingle lefr inmy mouth afrer I had finished eating, butI can unde rstand that others might find ittoo spicy.) You need to cat these quickly,before the excess dressing escapes andmakes the tortilla soggy.

I went back for another shrimp taco,which I thought was a good option- until I tasted it. Aside from the sauce,the shrimp wasn't lIavored in any otherway. And Calbi is stingy with the shrimp...I only gOt three bits in my taco.

Bool did not have a schedule ofloeations on its \Veb site so I requested thatthe truck come to USC's campus in anonline guestbook. Bool was very quickto respond and a representative repliedthat the truck would be on Jefferson andMcClintock the follOWing day. What great

When I arrived, there \\'as already ashort line, and no wonder! The aromasurrounding the cart was divine. Theymust be onto somethinggood, I thought.I waited about five minUtes to order andlistened to customers rave about the food.

I ordeted a beeftaco and a pork pastelbecause it seemed to bc one ofBool'strademark dishes, bo th of which came outpromptly. 1he total came to $5.49.

The taco had a mountain of meat piledon tOP with raw onions and cilantro.The be ef tasted like authentic Koreanbarbecue that one might get at restaurants.I found the taco to be a bit dry, but it wentperfectly with the salsa that came with thepastel.

1didn't know what to expect with thepastel, which is a huge fried pocke t of meatand cheese. It was delicious. It had a nicecrunch but was surprisingly gooey in thecentet. The pork tasted like sweet pulledpork and struck a nice balance between sa-vory and sweet. The pastel ultimately madeup for the shortcomings of the taco.

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loul

A HERO, FORGOTTENBY KEVIN KIM

A little known hero sits at the corner of Central and 2nd Street. He is immovable, stained and unappreciated.

Some have called Chiune Sugihara the Oscar Schindler of Japan. However,unlike Schindler, who is known to the world as a man who saved countless Jewish lives during the Holocaust, not many know of Sugihara.

Sugihara was a Japanese consul who gave exit visas ro thousands ofJewishrefugees against the orde r of the Japanese government. His courageous actionseventually ruined his career and put his family in danger. However, his deedswere so great that Israel honored Sugihara as being "righteous among nations"at Yad Vashem, the country's official memorial to Holocaust victims. Sugihara isthe only person ofJapanese descent to be so highly recognized.In 2002, the Neman foundation, along with the Levy Affiliated Holdings

Group, erected a statue of Sugihara designed by sculptor Ramon Velazco in LosAngeles' Littl e Tokyo in 2002, lauding him as a "Hero of the Holocaust."

Even though Sugihara's memory has been hon ored with a posthumous statue,it lies lost in the mire of countless fast food restaurants. Apathetic tourists andL.A. locals either pass Sugihara with out any intention of ever discovering hiscourageous actions, or use his statue as a means to rest thei r weary feet. Either

six tastesOFlA NOT JUST ANOTHER TOUR, SIX TASTE OFFERS AGASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE INiTO THE HEART OFDOWNTOWN BY JESSICA MEN

It's early October, which means that by now, you've probably made your..way around EVK enough times to make a salad with your eyes closed ormade enough late-night Subway runs to have the guy behind the count ergreet you by name.

Needless to say, you're wondering what else can be brought to the table- literally.

USC alumnus Jeffrey Okita and student Alex Tao have discoveredthe answer to ending dining hall monotony while exploring the tastes ofanoth er culture at the same time.

Okit a and Tao - two self-proclaimed "everyday guys who love greatfood" - run Six Taste, a company that hosts culinary tours throughoutLittle Tokyo, a community rich in history and nestled in the heart of downtown Los Angeles (and only 10 minutes from the USC campus).

The idea for Six Taste came about when Okita's parents stopped in Philadelphia to visit his sister and decided to enterta in a culinary tour.

"Afi:er that, they mentioned to me that I should look for food tours inLos Angeles;' said Okita. "That's when I saw that there was a huge opportunity to s tart up a food tour company in Los Angeles. Because Los Angeles isreally spread our, we ofi:en are tourists in o ur own city."

And for those L.A. suburban residents who have ever been condescendingly asked why you're taking pictures of the sights downt own "when youlive here anyway" (guilty), this is especially true.

"By the end of our tours, we want our guests to feel comfortable coming back to the area again and again and [exploring] the neig hbor hoodthrough its food;' said Okita.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12>

Chiune Sugihara, the Oscar Japanway, he remains in obscurity. Although only seven years have gone by sincethe statue was erected, it is already beginning to decay.

Chiune Sugihara, "Hero of the Holocaust" and savior of thousands oflives, is now nestled between a Q0zno's, a Starbucks and a Yogurtland. Hismetal hand c1urches a passport that meant salvation to thousands ofJews.Sixty years ago, Sugihara's real hand would have been met by a thankfulJew, but now it is clutched by indifferent passerby, with yogurt, coffee andcigarettes staining his statue, his courage and sacrifice all but forgotten.

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"SIX TASTE" CONTINUED FROM PAGE II >Panicipat ing restaurants include confectionary shop Fugetsu-Do, restaurant

and karaoke bar Oiwake, Japanese ice cream parlor Mikawaya Mochi, Chado TeaRoom, contemporary restaurant Spitz, Mitsuru Cafe. and Yamazaki Bakery.

"The main purpose of each of these StopS is to add to the story that is LittleTokyo;' said Okita. "Littl e Tokyo's history has seen several changes, and wewanted to feature places that shed it in a different light."

Six Taste patrons, who can sign up to take the four-stop Epicurious Touror the longer, seven-stop Gastronaut Tour, can mingle with one another whilesampling food from the various establishments.

For the epicurious, there is herbal tea and scones to start, and then a fourcourse sampling and mochi dessert, all topped offwith sweet potato fries andsangria at Spitz. TIle gamonauts get all that, as well as additional goodies fromYamazaki and Mitsuru Cafe, along with an ceo-friendly Six Taste bag.

Eating, though a main focus of Six Taste, isn't all there is. At each destinationin the tour, patrons also get the opportunity to hear the owners and cooks sharestories about the rich history of the location.

"TIlese owners are passionate about what they do and the community inwhich they live;' said Okita. "Our guests love the fact that the owners are takingtime out of their busy day to talk to the group."

Six Taste has become a rising business since its inception in May 2009, withtours sometimes filling up weeks ahead of time. Each tour signs only eight to 16individuals. Guides prefer smaller groups to ensure a more intimate experience.

Okita and Tao are planning on eventually branching out of Little Tokyo andspotlighting other cultures.

"We are looking to open up a new tour in a new location in the next month;'said Okita. "We have gotten requests to do tours in Olvera Street, Chinatown,Little Ethiopia, downtown, Beverly Hills, and many more."

For now, Six Taste runs one tour a day on Saturday and Sunday: the Epicurious at $25 per person and the Gastronaut at $55 per person.

According to Okita, Six Taste tours are just one of many options t o exploreL.A.'s culinary cui ture.

"Go out as much as you have time [to1and as much as you can afford;' saidOkita. "There are cheap, quality eats all around Los Angeles if you do a little bitof research. Get out into the city and explore!"

"VOLUNTEER" CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8>tighter to our wallets - but has put us in a mental slump and scared us into working even harder for our futures. This could be a dangerous path - if that empireis the only thing you've worked to build in college, then should it crumble, you'vegot nothing else to stand for you as a person. We should remember to stepback from this lifestyle and mentality and give to those around liS who are lessfortunate.

USC PRIDES ITSELF ON HAVINGA LARGE NUMBER OF INTER-NATIONAL STUDENTS. BUT INTHE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN,THEY'RE FACED WITH EVER UR-GENT VISA, FINANCIAL ANDJOB SEARCH DEMANDS

BY ALYSON OWYANGJulia Wong, an international student from

Toronto, Canada, came to USC looking for the"Trojan Family."Since she graduated in May, despite a number ofinternships and Trojan Family networking connections, she still doesn't have a job.

During a time of economic recession and uncertainty, college students across the cou ntry are feeling the burden of having to enter the workforce,but if you're not an American citizen, finding a jobrequires a lot more than an interview and signinga contract.

International students face barriers other students don't have to break: ineligibility of applyingfor American loans, work visa sponsorships, anddegrees of fluency in English.

International students made lip nearly 17.5percent of the total USC student population lastfall, according to the Office of Academic Recordsand Registrar. As USC continues to experience increases in international students, particularly thosefrom Asian countries, international Asian-PacificIslander students are weighing their career optionsmore carefully.

The majority of enrolled international studentsand student visitors at USC come from Asiancountries, including India, China and SouthKorea. Compared to only 9 percent from Europe,78 percent of all USC international studentsoriginate from Asia, according to the USC Officeof International Studies.

of USC international studentsare from Asia

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Most international students at USc, particularly Asian Pacific American students, leave theirhomes and study abroad because of the wide rangeof majors offered at American universities. Theyfind they can bet ter satisfy their academic interestsby majoring in specific programs, such as communications and political science, at universities inthe States.

"There aren't any private universities in Ca nada,all schools are public, so I would just have beenanother number at any university in Canada;' saidWong, who majored in communications. "I reallydidn't want that for a college experience. I knewUSC was a small/medium sized college and Iwould have more interaction with my professors,smaller class sizes, and atighter knit community."

Although some financial options exist in theforms of scholarships andaid from students' homecountries, international students are ineligible forfinancial aid or work study from Usc. Ofi:entimes,finding a campus job that accept non-work studystudents or applying to be a Residential Adviserin one of the dorms can be a competitive, timeconsuming process. Moreover, most intern ationalundergraduate students rely on their families fortuition, whereas graduate students, comprising 46percent of USC's international students, tend rostruggle more ro finance their education, accordingto the Office of International Studies.

Even th ough American private universities costmore, there are more options and opportunities inthe states for many Asian Pacific American international students.

"I chose to come study at an American university because of the flexibility and choice offeredhere," said Abhinay Jhaveri, a senior from Bombay,India, majoring in international relations andFrench with a minor in environmental studies.

International students are noteligible for: financial aid work study loans

" ...international studentsare ineligible for financialaid or work-study fromUSc. And oftentimes,finding a campus job orbecoming an RA can bequite competitive."

Once an international student is about tograduate from USC, competing with Americanstudents for the same job position can be anotherwall ro mount.

International students hope ro be more market \able to companies in both the states and abtoadwith an American degree in hand. However, having a degree from a private university in the Statesmight not be enough when it comes to the international, and even local, job market. For manyinternational companies, such as those in Taiwan,students have bett er chances of being hired if they

have a few years of work experience in the U.S. afi:er school and not just an American degree.

Other roadblocks include trying to obtain a work visa or green card to stay in the Unite d States.

"With this economy, [the] American government is taking more time and caution to process green card applications;' said David Cheng-Wei, a recent computer science USC graduate from Tai

wan. "This is understandable but nonetheless addseven more uncertainty to [an] already frustratingexperience. I can't even say all these problems I justdescribed is the 'tip of the iceberg' because I havenot even scratched the surface."

Facing low levels of morale, some students turnto o ther post-graduate training programs, buteven those can also restrict rheir p ool of applicantsto U.S. citizens, only furthering internationalstudents' exasperation.

"Many IR undergraduates end up workingin the Peace Corp s or Teach for America if notputsu ing an ything specifically academic, [such as]Fulbright and Rhodes Scholarships, said Jhaveri."All these opportuniti es are usually reserved forAmerican citizens as well, which makes it difficultfor international students."

of last fall's student populationcame from abroad

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Ul TO THESE HOT SPOTSORY AND PHOTOS BY IVANA BANH

hoenix1108 S. BALDWIN A V ~ . ARCADIA CA 91007For those with a sweet tooth. Phoenix Food Boutique will defi

nitely hit the SpOt. The highlight of this small. clean. res taurant is theglass bubble that houses about 15 different types of desserts. fromfreshly baked egg tans to various flavors of creamy gelatin to coconutflaked mochi balls.

Also on the menu are a number of tong shui - sweet, ho t soupflavored with beans. nuts or tatoo The tong shui that stands ou t themost is the forbidden black rice. This perfecdy sweetened. thick.dark soup is made by slow-cooking chewy black sticky rice. red beansand cubes of coconut jelly. all drizzled with decadent c oconu t milk.The forbidden black rice is a mange but tantalizing combinationthat will leave you hungry for more.For those who wane actual enerees. Phoenix Food Boutique is alsosure to please. The Hainan chicken rice is a star on the menu: tender.fresh pieces of steamed chicken paired with perfecdy cooked riceand flavored with chicken broth. A small dish offi sh sauce packedwith gtound ginger accompanies the chicken rice . It is a simple bu tsurprisingly delicious dish.

Another item Phoenix is known for is the its fried dim sumplaner. which boam deep-fried pork dumplings. shrimp dumplings.barbecue pork buns, and curried chicken pastries. The deep-frieddelicacies come Out piping ou t and ready to be dunked in one of themany sauces Phoenix provides.

Phoenix Food Boutique is sure to be a winner amongst lare-nighteaters. Every fried rice, noodle . dumpl ing. dessen. and appetizer dishis not only made fresh bu t also seasoned to true perfection.

869 S. WESTERN AVE. #2 LOS ANGELES, CA 90005No matter what time of day it is. BC D Tofu House on Western and 9th Street

will be serving up blazing ho t stone bowls of soon dubu. or soli: tofu. For thosewho haven't tried the popular dish. Korean soli: tofu is fresh. silky tofu served in ared soup in varying degrees of spiciness. cooked with toppings ranging from classic beef or pork to meaty dumplings. A raw egg also comes with the soup to adda richer. creamier flavor. The spicy broth mixed with the tofu goes amazingly wellwith rice. In fact. you might find yoursel f needing another bowl of rice - eitherto placate YOllr burning mouth or simply to accompany the humongous bowl ofsoup in front of you.

Aside from the many different types of soli: tofu. BC D also carries otherKorean favorites. from the ubiquitous bibimbap (stone po t rice) to grilled itemssuch as calbi (marinated short ribs) and bulgogi (pork or beefslices with a tangy.sweet and slightly spicy sauce). The most impressive item is BCD's collection ofcomplimentary small appetizers. including rice noodles. pickled spicy daikon andkimchi. salted bean sprouts. rice cakes. and last but definitely not least. a smallfried fish for each person.

The best way to go is to sample the menu by ordering a combination meal thatincludes both a grilled dish and a ho t tofu. Whatever you order is sure to satisfy

appetite. 24 hours a day.

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! Q ~ : r : Q K ~ I ~ E E T T YL EieMODELED BY CELINE DI.

ha raiuku punkSUITABLE FOR:CATCHING A FEW EYES ON THESUBWAY,ADVENTURE

Norhing says yourhful energy like Harajuku punk, which combines demems of Asiansneer fashion wirh morifs rypically foundin punk culrure. AT-shirr wirh a simplemessage or carroon characrer over shons ora miniskin will suffice. The nick is ro addcompl ememar y accessories, such as scarves,skinny ries, chains, newspaper caps, rruckerhars, or leamer-plea red necklaces. Color smusr be vibram, and rhe season cd Harajukugirl will know ro offser brigh[s wirh blacks.This s[yle also relies on a lo[ of panerns rogive i[ rha[ rock-and-roll vibe. Be sure ro usemodera[ion when picking our panerns - acheckered scarf over a plaid shin will scream"unpolished."

Up la[c a[ nighr and craving real Chinese food? Harbor Ki[chen is rheplace ro hie. The spacious, cafe-[hemed res[auram on [he corner of Valley andGarfield boas[s nor only delicious dishes bur also impeccably speedy service.I[ is recommended ro scan offwi[h Harbor Ki[chen's signarure lemon iced rea- ie's ice cold, perfeccly sweerened and includes free refills.

Harbor Ki[chen offers many [ypes of appe[izers, from pickled chickenfeel ro fried rofu, bur [here are cwo [hac s[and our. The pickled cucumbersare wonh [rying: slighcly swee[, sour, and spicy, wim a him of sesame oil. Thesecond appe[izer [har is a muse is [he XO sauce pan-fried rurnip cake. Doughy,ligh[ squares are covered in a hoc, savory XO sauce, a popular seafood-basedsauce, and scrambled eggs . Paired wi[h hoc sauce, [his s[eamy, sarisfying dish isguarameed ro hir rhe SPo[.

As for emrees, Harbor Ki[chen provides a wide varie[y, from grilled fish [0lamb chops ro fried rice and noodles wi[h soup . A popular favori[e is [he chiuchou chow fun. Thick noodles are pan-fried in a Iighr brown, slighdy sweersauce and garnished wirh shrimp and small slices of chicken. All [he frieddishcs are also quire impressive, including rhe spicy seafood fried rice, whichboas[s generous pieces of rilapia, shrimp, squid, and scallops.

For rhose who muse have dessen, Harbor Ki[chen displays several differemswee[ dishes, such as black fores[ cake and egg cus[ard.

\Vhichever Chinese dish you happen ro be craving, Harbor Kirchen isccnainly ready ro sa[isfy your [as[e buds.

You've seen [hem.Girls walking down [he srreer with b.rge silk bows in [heir hair,lacey

pink umbrellas in hand and rhree or four other girls in similar att ire inrow. Or maybe [hey've gO[ bleached hair againsr ran skin wim whiteeyeliner oudining black pupils.

You don'[ need ro confine your love of Tokyo s[reet s[yle ro anime convemions and Halloween. Here's a showcase of a few disrincr sneer sryles \found in merropoliran Tokyo - sryles rhar are clearly Tokyo-inspired burL.A. Merro- proof nonetheless.

ginza business casua lAN INTERNSHIP WITH AN UP-AND-COMING COMPANY ORBOUTIQUE FIRM

Ar firsr glance, rhe businesscasual ourfits of office ladies in rhehigh-end Tokyo districr of Ginzadon'r seem ro be rhar differem frommose worn by American businesswomen. Ir's ccnainly true rhar Ginzasneer style draws a lor from Wesrerndesigner brands, bur rhe differenceis rhar rhe Asian coumerpan reliesmuch more heavily on layering. Unlike rhe American nend ofwearingform-fining rops, this sryle favors alooser shin cinched by a belr withrights undernearh. Wearers of rhissryle mighr also rhrow in a fedora fora rouch of feminisr independence.

kawaiiSUITABlE FOR: A FIRST DATE IN LITTLE TO-KYO, BROWSING HELLO KIT-TY GIFT SHOPS

Known simply as "Kawaii"- or "cure" -, his sryle radiaresinnocence . Ir's rhe look foreigners aremosr familiar wim when i[ comes roJapanese fashion, often incorporaring modified sailor suirs. Pasrels andpolka dors are sraples of rhis sryle,as are frills, lace, ribbons, and bows.Hair is usually worn up, held in placewith adorably shaped hairclips ro creare an illusion of childish simpliciry.

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liTHE NEW FA CE OF THEC MPUS LEFT .. . CAMPUSPROGRESS HAS PROVIDEDPROGRESSIVE STUDENTSWITH TOOLS THEY'VE NEVERHAD BEFORE."

- THE NATIONUASOCIALIST SMEAR GROUP."YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDAnON

Bamboo Offshoot Fall 2009

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