Spoken word poet Sarah Kay may only be 23, but she is already a force to be reckoned with.
ISSUE: Spring 2012
DEPT: Personalities
STORY: JJ
To call Sarah Kay eloquent is an understatement. The 23-year-old spoken word poet is an articulate force of nature, blowing audience members away with each enunciated adjective, suspenseful pause and wave of her hand.
Kay, who is of Japanese and Jewish descent, discovered her love for words early on. “Before I knew how to write, I used to follow my mother around the house and yell, ‘Poem!’ until she wrote down my dictation. I think that’s why she taught me how to write early on, so I’d stop making her do it for me,” Kay laughs. One day, when Kay was 14, she found out she had been registered for the New York City Teen Poetry Slam; to this day, Kay has no clue who enrolled her. But the competition led her to New York’s famed Bowery Poetry Club, where she fell in love. “I came back every week even though I was the youngest person there by far. Every thing I saw thrilled me,” she remembers.
Eventually, Kay was persuaded to go onstage herself. “When you’re 14, you’re not told often that adults want to listen to you, and this was so different,” says Kay. Her performances eventually took her out of New York and to HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, the National Poetry Slam, France, South Africa and beyond.
The turning point in Kay’s career came at the 2011 TED Conference, where she mesmerized the audience
with her talk. “I definitely think that my life has divided into pre- and post-TED,” she says.
Though she’s been incredibly successful as a spoken word poet, don’t think that occupation will be Kay’s be-all-end-all. “My great love is writing,” says Kay. “It just so happens that this was the form that I discovered at the right time.” Currently, she’s getting her
master’s in education in order to strengthen her passion project, Project V.O.I.C.E., through which she and partner Phil Kaye teach poetry and self-expression at schools. Kay is also dabbling in other projects, including plays, illustrated books, documentaries, and photography. “I’m always trying to find the best way to tell each story,” she says. And at 23, it looks like Kay’s own story won’t be reaching The End
anytime soon.
— JJ
ISSUE: Spring 2012
DEPT: Audrey Style
STORY: Anna M. Park
Indie rocker Meg Frampton has always been frustrated with jewelry. “I think jewelry should have special meaning and should remind the person of something positive. It shouldn’t just be a shiny rock on a chain,” says the 26-year-old, who once worked at a jewelry chain store. So she crafted a robot out of base metals and vintage watch parts and named it Chandler (yes, the one from Friends — Frampton’s one-time obsession).
“Chandler the robot is quirky, steampunk, a bit on the ‘industrial’ side with a classy-feminine edge,” says Frampton. She’s expanded the collection to include other iterations of the original (Stupendous Chandler is particularly adorkable), bringing her visions to life while on tour with her sister Dia and country singer Blake Shelton. Her love of the quirky spills over into the Korean-Dutch American’s personal style as well, who finds inspiration in the gothcute aesthetic of filmmaker Tim Burton. “I love it when fashion has personalities,” says Frampton. “Sometimes I like adding a little
‘darkness’ to an outfit.”
My feel-good outfit: Cute shoes and a vintage dress. Big earrings.
Wearing straight off the runway: Floral accents, wedges.
Can’t wait to wear: High-waisted cut-off denim shorts — because I live in Austin, Texas, and I can.
Style secret: Keep a pair of flats in your purse if you know you are going to be out for a whole evening, just in case your heels are killing you.
More stories from Audrey’s Spring issue here.
World Championship gold medal gymnast Anna Li may have her foot in a cast, but that’s not stopping her
from aiming for the Summer Olympics in London this July.
ISSUE: Spring 2012
DEPT: My Story
STORY: Anna Li
When I was 4, all I wanted was a sparkly gymnastics competition leotard. My parents told me I couldn’t get one unless I competed, and they were reluctant to get me started. They themselves had been in the 1984 Olympics for China and understood the commitment and discipline gymnastics required. It was demanding, to say the very least. However, I persisted, and by the age of 6, I had started my career in gymnastics.
When I was in high school, I competed at the elite level and trained for six to eight hours a day, six days a week, in addition to attending school. My parents trained me at their gym. With their help, I won a number of titles and placed at Nationals, the USA Championships and the U.S. Classics from 2002 to 2005.
When I was in college, I was a full-time athlete for UCLA and trained to be in all of the 17 competitions each season. Training began anywhere from 5:30 to 7 in the morning and ended at noon, followed by classes till the evening. As a college freshman, I competed in every event in every meet and was the only freshman in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) selected to be on the All-Pac-10 team in the all-around. I suffered a concussion my sophomore year, but I didn’t allow that to slow me down. I captured 19 individual victories, seven on bars, two on beam, four on floor, and five in the all-around. By my junior year, I had won the NCAA Regional title on uneven bars for the third consecutive year. During my last year at UCLA, I earned my fourth consecutive NCAA Regional bars title with a perfect 10. After college, I made the World Championship Team for 2011, the year the U.S. team brought home the gold. Shortly after, I had surgery and got two screws placed in my foot because it had been bothering me.
Right now, I am training to be on the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team at the London Summer Olympics this July. Though it has only been three months since my foot surgery, training has already begun. I’m at the gym all day, every morning and every evening. When you’re involved in the sport of gymnastics, you learn about strict discipline. When you start competing at the age of 6, you know what kind of competition you are competing in, and you know you’ve got to give it all you’ve got. You train your entire life for this kind of competition. It would be sad to shy away from this kind of opportunity.
However, even with my discipline and dedication, I can’t say it’s easy training six days a week with my coaches, who happen to be my Olympic gymnast parents. And I can’t say it’s easy getting up every morning to warm up and start my strength and conditioning. By the time my day is done, I just want to go home, rest, eat and get ready for the next day. There really isn’t much time for anything else.
It’s a lot of sacrifices. I don’t have a regular 9-to-5 job. Even my relationship with my boyfriend is different from most because gymnastics is my number one priority; my relationship isn’t. Who wants to hear that?
But then I have to remind myself what my head coach at UCLA said: “What hurts more — the pain of discipline or the pain of regret? The pain of failure or the pain of regret?” There are days when I want to give up. There is no guarantee that I’m going to make the Olympic gymnastics team. There are only five spots on the team and to get a spot on the team, it’s nearly impossible. But all I can do is train my hardest, and whatever happens, happens. If I try my best and work my hardest, I won’t regret the outcome. I surround myself with people who support my goals and aspirations. My friends and boyfriend understand and support me. My parents know my body and how I train under certain situations. We trust each other. They help me move forward.
It doesn’t matter what your dream is. If you want something, when you believe in yourself, no one can take that away from you if you give it your all. If it works out, that’s great. If it doesn’t, you know you tried your absolute best to be what you wanted to be. If I can accomplish something today, I’m going to push for my dream. I can definitely say I won’t have any regrets.
— as told to Han Cho
More stories from Audrey’s spring issue here.
Actor Reggie Lee always seems to play the despicable, child-kidnapping gangster. But look deeper and you’ll find a
big softie.
ISSUE: Spring 2012
DEPT: Personalities
STORY: Janice Jann
Reggie Lee discovered something about himself recently. “I’m actually kind of funny,” he says. “That is one part that
I’m starting to own.” The Filipino-Chinese American actor currently plays the sardonic Sergeant Wu in the NBC procedural
drama Grimm, but he’s usually known for his less-than-loveable roles in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Tropic
Thunder, and as a member of the Triad in the upcoming Jason Statham thriller Safe. In real life, however, Lee is nowhere
near those bad-guy characters you love to hate. In addition to his comedic side, Lee can sing and dance; his first job in
Los Angeles was in the musical Miss Saigon. “I realized if I wanted to work, I’m going to have to be a triple threat
and learn how to sing and dance on Broadway,” he says. He recounts how at 13 he had to walk two miles to get to a
bus to take acting and dance classes after school. “I think that my family has always instilled in me a strong sense of
work ethic. Even as an actor when I’m not working, I put myself back in class to keep studying and keep learning. That’s
what I love about acting – that you can never master it. It keeps things fresh.”
As one of the busiest working Asian American actors in Hollywood (he’s also in this summer’s highly anticipated finale to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises), Lee doesn’t get much downtime. But when he does, another surprising fact: “I flew home
today [from Portland, where Grimmis shot] and the first thing I wanted to do was pick my niece up from school. She’s 5. That’s who I miss the most when I go away.” Lee’s niece was even on his mind when he posed for this story. “I thought about her and the Asian role models
that are out there and I’m so happy there’s a magazine like this for her.”
How can you not love that?
— JJ
For Battleground dramedy leading man, Jay Hayden, how he looks is only half the battle.
ISSUE: Spring 2012
DEPT: Personalities
STORY: Courtney Hong
“Is it weird that I don’t feel like I have any culture at all?” says actor Jay Hayden. “Korean people don’t think that I am Korean. White people don’t think that I am white. I’m other…the ethnically ambiguous hero.”
Taj Campton Place and Asian Art Museum
ISSUE: Spring 2012
DEPT: DestinAsian
STORY: Anna M. Park
If you can’t get to India, do the next best thing. The historic Taj Campton Place in San Francisco’s bustling Union Square is offering guests the chance to experience the life of India’s great Maharajas with the modern hospitality of a Taj hotel. The Royal Retreat package includes a deluxe room, daily breakfast for two, and VIP passes to the Asian Art Museum exhibit “Maharaja: The Splendor of India’s Royal Courts.” The Maharajas of India were some of the wealthiest rulers in the world and their “toys” prove it. From gold thrones and silver carriages, to Man Ray photographs and jewels galore, the Indian royals lived in luxury from the 1700s to the 1940s.
Once you’ve satiated the senses with earthly treasures, return to the Taj to feast on delicacies from Indian chef Sri Gopinathan, who helms the one-star Michelin ranked Campton Place restaurant. Details Through April 8, 415-781-5555, <a href=”http://camptonplace.com”>camptonplace.com</a>.
ISSUE: Spring 2012
DEPT: DestinAsian
STORY: Anna M. Park
Here at the Luxury Collection
The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, is an ensemble of more than 75 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries around the world. Known for their magnificent décor, spectacular settings, and unique experiences, the collection includes iconic properties like The Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki Beach, Equinox in Vermont, and The Phoenician, a sprawling property in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Their latest endeavor, inspired by the brand’s mantra, “Life is a Collection of Experiences. Let Us Be Your Guide,” is Here, an original short film conceived by the brand’s Global Explorer, Waris Ahluwalia, and actress Tilda Swinton. Directed by Luca Guadagnino and star- ring Agyness Deyn, Here is a coast-to- coast romantic voyage shot at three of The Luxury Collection’s most iconic properties, from The British School of Falconry at the Equinox, the Mother of Pearl pool at The Phoenician, and the Royal Beach Tower at The Royal Hawaiian. The film highlights the American landscape and the unique indigenous experiences that travelers seek. Born in India and raised in New York City, Ahluwalia is also an actor and designer of the jewelry line House of Waris. Details TheLuxuryCollection.com/thefilmhere.
ISSUE: Spring 2012
DEPT: DestinAsian
STORY: Anna M. Park
I have no sense of direction whatsoever, so when I got turned around in a Kyoto neighborhood, all would have been lost were it not for the sweet Japanese couple who didn’t speak a word of English but offered to take me to the ryokan I was searching for. If I had something like Florent Chavouet’s Tokyo on Foot, I would’ve been in much better shape. Filled with adorable, quirky drawings of food stands, local policemen and scenes of everyday life, Chavouet includes fascinating tidbits like what the bottle labeled “Suntory Dakara” tastes like and the differences between the various “hipsters.” In addition to fairly detailed, hand-drawn maps with important markers like “fantastic free panoramic views” and “the dirtiest restrooms in Japan,” Chavouet graphically recounts everything from his search for an apartment and encounters with local insects, to a bike theft debacle during his six-month stay there, making for a charming, amusing read. Details Paperback, $22.95, tuttlepublishing.com.
FAMILY TIES: Praised for her collection of stories, We Should Never Meet, Aimee Phan returns with her first novel, The Reeducation of Cherry Truong, a multi-generational, cross-continental family saga. Susan Soon He Stanton reviews.
ISSUE: Spring 2012
DEPT: Plugged In
STORY: Susan Soon He Stanton
Aimee Phan’s debut novel, The Reeducation of Cherry Truong, is an intricately woven tale of two Vietnamese families, the Truongs and the Vos, bound together by an unwanted elopement. Phan deftly tracks dozens of Truongs and Vos through their harrowing escape from Vietnam and struggles with assimilation in the West. Phan’s multigenerational, cross-continental saga is surprisingly palatable, as she explores themes of identity, love and redemption with a nuanced grace. Cherry, the youngest grandchild, struggles to unlock decades of secrets and bitterness from her family, dispersed between France and America. The novel’s greatest secret, and the one closest to Cherry’s own story, involves her brother Lum’s family imposed exile to Vietnam.
On Cherry’s visit to Vietnam, Lum tells her, “The things our family did to each other … they don’t make up who you are. Our mistakes don’t dictate our lives.” However, the flood of events in Cherry Truong suggests otherwise. Decisions made in the heat of the moment indelibly shape lives. Cherry’s mother, Tuyet, chooses one ill-fated marriage over another. Cam, a female cousin, has her entire hopes of romantic love decided over the course of a holiday party. Grandma Vo, the family dowager, decides to teach her grandchildren a dangerous lesson. In the novel’s 30-year span, perhaps the most heart-breaking story is that of Grandma Hoa Truong, who endures reeducation camp and a life of displacement in France, while quietly suffering a lifetime with a disloyal and abusive husband.
While Phan plumbs emotional depths in her narrative and subtle details add startling realism, her narrative hopscotching can still feel like a collection of short stories rather than a fluid chronicle. Jumping from one decade to the next, and one family member to the other, at times, creates a dislocating effect. Some of the family members’ stories are more compelling than others and I wanted to spend more time getting acquainted with the key players than diving into yet another narrative about a second cousin. Nonetheless, despite this circuitous journey, Phan has created a rich tapestry of two families’ difficult immigration to the West that feels emotionally honest in its messy complexity.
Phan’s sensitively rendered first novel serves up a fierce tale of ordinary families displaced from their homeland during the Vietnam War. Despite the numerous characters and complex plotline, The Reeducation of Cherry Truong is well worth the read.
- Susan Soon He Stanton
More stories from Audrey’s Spring issue here
When entrepreneur Dina Yuenisn’t cooking a scrumptious, home-style meal, working on her
historical fiction novel, The Shanghai Legacy, or traveling for inspiration, she’s building up
AsianFusion, a multimedia website and company focused on celebrating Asian cultures and
traditions via food, art, music and more. Yuen’s latest venture is her debut cookbook, Indonesian
Cooking, featuring beautiful photos and original family recipes that simplify flavorful, authentic
cooking. Currently based in San Francisco, the Chinese-Russian American’s journey with food
began as a 5-year-old in Indonesia, where cooking was her family’s primary love language.
She eventually became the youngest student to graduate from Indonesia’s foremost culinary
academy at the age of 12.
ISSUE: Spring 2012
DEPT: Entertaining
STORY: Courtney Hong
Audrey Magazine: If you could cook for anyone in the world, who would you choose and what
would you cook?
Dina Yuen: Easily, my father. I cook for him whenever we’re in the same city, but I never feel it’s
enough. Being a huge foodie, he’s very flexible with his palate. I want him to enjoy great flavors
but maintain his good health so I’m very conscious about creating dishes that incorporate or-
ganic and fresh ingredients and have explosive flavors, but little fat. One of his favorite meals is Roasted Salmon with Tamarind Glaze, Garlic Stir-fried Spinach and Garlic Mashed Potatoes(using broth and olive oil instead of cream and butter). I also ply him with antioxidant rich fruits such as dragon fruit and pomegranates for dessert.
AM:Of your many professions (she’s an industrial engineer and classical musician by training),
which is your favorite?
DY:I come from a long history of entrepreneurs on both sides of my family. As young as in second grade, I started my first business in school, selling pretty stickers at a premium price. And writing is an outlet that helped maintain my faith and sanity during intense travels and the dramatic turbulence every entrepreneur endures at some point in life.
AM:How are you a strong proponent of women’s and children’s rights?
DY:One of my ultimate goals with Asian Fusion is to create meaningful dialogue and solutions
among Asian people globally regarding the diminishing love and respect for our heritage and
traditions. Consequently, I hope that a positive cultural shift across Asia will help to dramatically reduce the number of children in prostitution and increase the self-value of Asian women.
