THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602210463
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
The first-graders pressed in close around Peter Chang, clamoring for a view as the retired college professor patiently and gracefully printed their names in Chinese characters using a calligraphy brush, black Chinese ink and pink paper suitable for framing.
``I've never seen my name in another language,'' said Ryan Mayhew, 6.
On Tuesday, youngsters at Norfolk Academy's lower school ushered in the start of the Chinese New Year and in the process learned valuable lessons about people different from themselves.
For Chang, who taught sociology at Norfolk State University, the afternoon celebration provided a chance to bridge the cultural gap that often divides people because of simple misunderstandings of who they are.
``When I was a young boy growing up in China we never met foreigners, but over here the opportunity to meet people from different countries is just wonderful,'' Chang said. ``My point of view is that introducing foreign cultures is very meaningful. Later on, they will not have prejudices of other cultures. That is the main thing.''
The new year, based on the Chinese lunar calendar, actually began Monday - the Year of the Rat, lunar year 4694.
``We are so lucky that we're able to do the New Year's celebration twice,'' Shewling Wong, organizer of the event, told the children.
``Gung he fot choy!'' she said, which is Happy New Year in Cantonese.
Tuesday's observance ranged from reverent to boisterous: the children sampled fried dumplings and shrimp chips; giggled at the costumed Lion Dance, which wards off evil spirits; and sat in rapt silence at the intricate motions of 79-year-old Rose Mihelic, who demonstrated an ancient tai chi meditation exercise with a sword.
They also learned something about brush painting from a local artist and had their names printed by Chang, who gave them a bonus, teaching them a universal greeting, ``Nee how mah?'' or How are you?
Wong, a member of the Organization of Chinese Americans in Hampton Roads, and her husband, James, have arranged the observance for several years as their two sons have progressed through school.
This year, they got help from Norfolk Academy's Cultural and Ethnic Awareness Club, which upperclassmen formed last year to promote understanding among students.
Allen Lu, vice president of the club, said only a small percentage of the academy's students are minorities, including Asians, Hindus, Muslims, Russians and African Americans.
Lu, a 17-year-old junior, said teaching about the new year would break down stereotypes. Lu recalled a school play earlier in the year in which Chinese people were portrayed with slanted eyes, straw hats and take-out boxes.
``It's not that I was upset, but I felt it was a stereotype,'' Lu said.
The 1990 census revealed that nearly 27,000 Asians live in the five cities in South Hampton Roads, about 3 percent of the population. Nearly 2 percent speak an Asian language in the home, the census reported.
As American communities have grown more diverse in recent years, a growing number of schools are exposing children to multicultural studies.
``The world is such a smaller place now,'' said first-grade teacher Diana Popadink, adding that students in the lower academy will be connected to the Internet later this year and probably will be communicating with Chinese e-mail pals. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot
Peter Chang, a former sociology professor at Norfolk State
University, entertains requests from first-grade students from
Norfolk Academy to have their names written in Chinese characters as
part of their Chinese New Year cultural indoctrination.[this color
photo appeared on p.B1]
Photo by HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot
Derwin Gray tries on the lion's head at a dance that is part of a
tradition at all Chinese New Year's celebrations. Youngsters at
Norfolk Academy's lower school learned valuable lessons about people
different from themselves.
by CNB