Fluffy Sparkle - Food and Culture

“I ultimately found a good job.” I got my friend’s vicariously exhilarated message last Friday.  “How good is it?” I asked her. “I love this job…. The office is just two-bus-stop away from my home, and I don't need to clock in and clock out. So I can spare more time to take care of my family.” I didn't ask her about the salary because I knew, this time, money was not on the top of her agenda. A good job for my friend is not relevant to a high salary or any additional employees ‘perks. However, her experience does not a universal principle that applies to everybody. What is a good job? I know you may say a good job is the one that you really enjoy and pays a lot of money as well. That’s the best scenario  if you are lucky enough. But, the reality is that you always have to confront to a dilemma. Which one do you prefer? The one offers a less money but you are really passionate about or the one pays a lot but you don't like.  Let’s image that you work at a job t...

1. Broccoli Beef 2. Mongolian Beef 3. Chicken Chow Mein 4. Chicken Green Bean Stir Fry 5. Curry chicken 6. Fish-flavored Shredded Pork 7. General tso's Chicken 8. Kungpao Chicken 9. Orange Chicken 10. Sesame Chicken   11. Sweet and Sour Chicken 12. Fortune Cookie Did you find the right answers? All food Photos are from Google Images.

Today is my second birthday I had in Seattle. How was my first birthday in a foreign country? My hubby didn't buy me the dream bag from Nordstrom. I didn't have a fancy dinner with my friends. I didn't throw a crazy party to get drunk. What was make my last birthday so memorable? One year ago today, when I walked into my cubicle, I saw a bag of cheddar chips, two bottles of soda, and a bottle of authentic Mexico hot sauce on my desk. My keyboard was covered by colorful post-it notes, saying “Happy birthday.” That was a big surprise from my supervisor. I had never thought my supervisor would remember my birthday date and give me gifts because I was just a three-month intern. I still keep those post-it notes to remind me those words he said to me, “We like you have an enthusiastic spirit and humble attitude.”  Today, I got a postcard from Dubrovnik. My friend has been doing solitary backpack traveling for over a year since last September, from North America, to...

My food preference changed a lot after I moved to America. I didn't do it deliberately for a geographic or financial reason. How did this happen? I used to be a Western food addict. When I was younger, the biggest joy for me was when my parents brought me to McDonald's to have a big meal once I scored 100 on my final exams, as they promised. The greasy fried chicken wings, the crispy french fries, and the juicy nuggets filled in the best part of my childhood even though I was raised in a well-known gastronomical city that created tons of highly-acclaimed Chinese cuisines. But, my mother always affirmatively stated that I would appreciate Chinese traditional food one day. How could it be? McDonald's intrigued my curiosity about American food and Western pop culture. I dreamed of snuggling up on a soft couch, eating the fresh baked pizza, and watching the most popular American TV series. But, when I watched the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Seattle, all what I wan...

Can art change one’s life? Someone may think an artist’s life can be changed as long as one of his/her paintings is evaluated as a priceless blockbuster. But, can art change an ordinary person’s life? Don’t apply your rational-logical-critical thinking or pop out your limited personal experience to answer this question spontaneously either. What’s the connection between a vibrant fantasy and a dull life? I caught a spark of inspiration in Jung Yeondoo’s impressive photography series, Bewitched, at the Asian Art Museum in Seattle last year. Jung Yeondoo is a Korean contemporary artist and a visual-producing storyteller.   How hilarious it was? That was my initial impression when I had my first glance on Jung Yeondoo’s No. 21 work. A few seconds passed, I stopped laughing and pondered the story behind these two images. A college student, the artist doesn’t mention his name or where he is from, is standing in the middle as an appealing focus of these two strong contrasting imag...