I had an interesting experience this last Saturday as at the Norris Theater in Palos Verdes there was a play titled Immortal Heart by Amy Tan. This play was about a woman who told a story from when she was fourteen years old, though it did flashback to an earlier time with the family. Due to the classes and readings I found myself much more knowledgeable and interested in the play. The girl's aunt, "Precious Auntie" had once worked with her father's bone setting shop, where they would "gather dragon bones from a cave." These dragon bones actually ended up being remnants of the first Chinese and a reference to Peking Man was made. Precious Auntie was proposed to by two men, one an already married coffin maker and another a relative of sorts who worked in an ink shop. Both men went to the fortune teller to see if the marriage would work. Also, once they were satisfied with the fortune teller's information, a matchmaker was sent to Precious Auntie's father. They denied the first proposal from the coffin maker, Chang and accepted the second from the ink man, Baby Uncle. Due to being disgraced by a woman, Chang, in mask, attacked the wedding party, killing Auntie's father and stealing the dragon bones that were her dowry. Also, in a rage Baby Uncle fired a gun that scared a horse which kicked him and killed him. Baby Uncle appeared to his family in a dream warning that anyone who was unkind to his widow would be haunted by him, so the family took him in. Using boiling resin from the ink shop, Precious Auntie tried to kill herself by consuming it, which only caused her to be scarred and mute. The family did realize, however, that she was pregnant. A relative of Baby Uncle's took in Precious Auntie and raised Auntie's daughter as her own, sort of. In the end Precious Auntie tells her daughter who she really is in a journal to save her from an arranged marriage (at 14!) with one of Chang's relatives. Auntie realizes that to save her daughter she has to kill herself, which she does. As a result, the woman who took them in is angry, not that Auntie is dead, but that she was disgraced in such a way. She cursed and kicked the dead body, claiming that she "took in and raised her daughter as her own," and this is how she is repaid... Seems like the woman should have been mourning the loss of the loved one rather than angry and spiteful. Again, the entire play was very interesting and I think that it is a book or a short story. I definitely want to read it after seeing the play!

I read with interest your comments on the play titled Immortal Heart by Amy Tan. An intriguing story but very dark! I think I would have left the play feeling very depressed. I haven't read any of Amy Tan's books - although I would like to read "Joy Luck Club". As for Immortal Heart I don"t think I'm rushing out to buy this one! (Right now I'm too busy reading Asia in My Classroom assignments!)

Over the winter holiday my family and I ate at MA Po Korean Restaurant near CostPlus in Torrance. My husband had just returned from Korea and spoke highly of the cuisine.
We had Beef Bulgogi (family style). It is marinated and grilled beef served with a wide variety vegetable based side dishes. The waitress grills the beef at your table in the grill that is built into the table. You then roll the beef with vegetables into a little "taco-like" creation.
I loved it!!! Most dishes had a spicy pepper dressing that was out of this world! The vegis were really fresh and healthy.
The restaurant was simple (some might say spartan) and very clean. The service was good. The bill came to $65 for 3 people. We had a really nice time and would go there again.

Just wanted to echo the encouragement of Dr. Dube in attending seminars outside of our planned classes. I just attended a seminar at UCLA on Environmental Mitigation in China (pollution). It was great to hear the visiting professor speak on a current subject, pollution in China, its geographical nature, and what the government is doing to correct it. It was also surprising to hear of the consumer interest in organic goods and the governmental oversight of standards of organic foodstuffs.
I would highly recommend attending events outside our seminars to learn about areas that we are particularly interested in. I guess I'm preaching to the choir because this is what we always tell our students to do!

A Chinese Folk Dance will be held at the Armstrong Theater in Torrance on Feb 18 at 7pm.

That is so neat, thanks! I also want to recommend to anyone that Torrance Adult School offers classes in Chinese conversation. I have been enjoying the lessons and have also learned a ton!

Thanks so much for the info on the confrences! I have been looking for some confrences to attend but was having some trouble locating good ones that would be well worth the time and money. This is a great resource, I am passing the info on to other teaches in my department!