Health of the Hood: Between Upper Diamond and Laurel
By Jian Di Liang - In general, my neighborhood is really quiet. The streets are narrow and clean. The restaurants, school, stores and so on are mainly located on MacArthur Street. Not a lot of people...
View ArticleLearning Hard Lessons in a New Land: My Immigration from China to America
By Jian Di Liang Moving to a new place in order to have a better life – that was what my family expected before we left China and came to the US. On September 25, 2010 – the day which we separated from...
View ArticleJust How Chinese is Oakland’s Chinatown?
Story and photos by Jian Di Liang In Oakland, Chinatown is considered an Asian center. The markets, restaurants, and social services draw people who are originally from China, Vietnam, Cambodia and...
View ArticleCarl Chan, The ‘Mayor’ of Oakland’s Chinatown
"After seeing all the discrimination and segregation, I became determined to serve the Asian community. I do not want to be famous, but help people with the least talk."The post Carl Chan, The ‘Mayor’...
View ArticleMoon Cakes, Mid-Autumn, and Losing My Chinese-ness
I have begun to understand why a lot of American-born Chinese people do not feel connected to their Chinese ethnicity. If their families are like mine - working a lot, with no time to practice their...
View ArticleHealth of the Hood: The Dimond & Laurel Districts
By Jian Di Liang Greens relaxes us in busy life. It is nice to live in a neighborhood that can see greens everywhere , such as on the sidewalk and at people’s yards. Along the neighborhood,...
View Article“Take It or Leave It”
When Chinese parents come to the US, they often sacrifice themselves for their children. Often, they can't take the time to sit and study English because they are working several jobs to provide better...
View ArticleDimond’s Food Mill
By Jian Di Liang “Our store is family-oriented, and we are dedicated to help customers and serve the best food,” says Kirk Watkins, owner of The Food Mill in Upper Dimond. “We have been here for 80...
View ArticleFreedom?!
By Jian Di Liang My friend Alice came to the US in May last year. And we met each other at the English Center – a non-profit organization that helps immigrants, refugees and international students...
View ArticleHappy New Year! Oakland’s Chinatown Welcomes The Year of the Snake
By Jian Di Liang The Lunar New Year is coming, and so is The Year of the Snake. The New Year is one of the most important festivals in Chinese culture. The Street Festival held on the 2nd and 3rd of...
View ArticleThe English Center
By Jian Di Liang Being in the United States for two and a half years, my happiest time was the period studying at the English Center – a non-profit organization that helps new immigrants, refugees, and...
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