By Wayne Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Well, now I’ve done it. I didn’t think I would. Actually, I was sure I wouldn’t. I’ve got too much on my plate already. I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. Even if I wanted to, I just don’t have the time, so no way. It’s just not […]
The mundane Olympics
By Wayne Chan Northwest Asian Weekly Now that the Rio Olympics are behind us, I think this is a perfect moment to take stock of many of the brilliant performances, as well as how the entire Olympic movement can play a part in our own daily lives. It just seems to me that with every […]
A thwacking worth a thousand words
By Wayne Chan Northwest Asian Weekly Some of you may have run across a recent video that’s gone viral — of a trainer, lining up a group of employees working for a Chinese Bank and spanking them with a wooden paddle in front of their peers for poor performance evaluations. It’s a shocking display. It’s […]
The Lunar holiday, for those who love time travel
By Wayne Chan Northwest Asian Weekly The Lunar New Year is a big deal. It has the ability to bend time and space. Believe me — I’d know. Here’s the evidence: I’ve never known my dad’s birthday. You might ask, what does that have to do with the Lunar New Year and time travel? Good […]
WAYNE’S WORLDS — A season of stuffing, jelly, thanks…and a can of Spam
By Wayne Chan Northwest Asian Weekly Ahh…it’s that time of year again — family reunions, parades, fall leaves, and ugly sweaters. And let’s not forget about the food — pumpkin pie, roast turkey, gravy, Spam, and…wait, what? Oh, that’s right…Spam. You see, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving in Hawaii this year. That means we’ll be eating Spam […]
Insight from a sage — The proverb non-sequitur (or fill out your forms correctly)
By Wayne Chan Northwest Asian Weekly I am a beacon of wisdom. I am a pillar of intelligence. Go ahead, ask me anything. OK, maybe I’m not all that right at the moment. But, believe me, it’s just around the corner. I’m now 51 years old, and if you are to believe what you see […]
A 23-year-old journey for magical rice
By Wayne Chan Northwest Asian Weekly We just came back from a three-week vacation in Italy! You know what I was looking forward to the most? Chinese food. Ok, settle down. Don’t let your calzone collapse—we had pizza and pasta up the wazoo. The last time I was in Italy was 1991. My wife Maya […]
WAYNE’S WORLDS — “Do as I say, not as I do” — Advice for my son
By Wayne Chan Northwest Asian Weekly I’ve heard that as parents, we live vicariously through our kids. While that may very well be true, I think I’ve taken it a step further. Apparently, as my son comes of age, I’ve managed to perfect time travel. A few weeks ago, I went to my son Tyler’s […]
Aiming to be the Clothes Whisperer
By Wayne Chan Northwest Asian Weekly There comes a point in your life when you realize your strengths. There’s a confidence that comes from knowing what you do well. It’s a confidence that shines through when you’re doing something well – even a swagger. Me? I’m good at working a computer, playing tennis, and I’d […]
Wayne’s Worlds — The Dumpling Complex
By Wayne Chan Northwest Asian Weekly “What are you doing?” I asked of my wife Maya, in a tone mixed between innocence and accusatory. “I’m pan frying some dumplings for the party,” she answered, matter of factly. The “party”, she was referring to, was the bi-weekly neighborhood gathering we affectionately refer to as “Yappy Hour,” […]