Friday, April 30, 2021

Looking For A Lady With Fangs And A Moustache online via Tull Family Theater, April 30.


The Tull Family Theater in Sewickley will present virtual screenings of Looking For A Lady With Fangs And A Moustache from April 30. From an April 8 New York Times review:
In Khyentse Norbu’s “Looking for a Lady with Fangs and a Moustache,” a Nepalese entrepreneur searches for spiritual enlightenment, hoping to avert a fatal prophecy. Looking to set up a new cafe, Tenzin (Tsering Tashi Gyalthang) sees unnerving visions after scouting an abandoned temple. With mounting fear, he follows the gnomic suggestions of a Buddhist monk in shades and a master sage, who insists that he find a goddess manifest on earth, known as a dakini.
The writer-director Norbu, a Buddhist spiritual leader making his fifth feature, presents Tenzin as a hip modern guy in bluejeans with a wide smile that vanishes as soon as he has to seek self-awareness. The cozy streets of Kathmandu become like a place without a map to Tenzin as he scans passing strangers for signs of divine femininity and leaves his business partners in the lurch. There’s a slight narrative echo of romantic comedy as the monk and the master sage feed him tips and ritual gestures, and it appears the woman he seeks could be right under his nose, in the form of a singer (Tenzin Kunsel) from his music lessons.
Ticket information is now available online.

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Pittsburgh-based WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) hiring Mandarin-speaking Educational Consultant (申请服务老师)



Pittsburgh-based Chinese education consulting and placement firm WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) has announced an opening for a Mandarin-speaking Educational Consultant (申请服务老师).
申请服务老师

职位描述

1. 与学生沟通,了解学生背景,了解学生最真实的想法和需求;

2. 为学生量身设计切实可行的申请和服务方案;

3. 申请和服务方案的具体实施。

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Restaurateur, baker battle anti-Asian racism, try to connect cultures with food."


The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette spoke with Noi Chaisri of Thai Me Up and Jasmine Cho on the most recent spasms of anti-Asian racisms and the role of food in bridging divides.
Ms. Chaisri made a sign and put it in the windows of her restaurant, Thai Me Up, on the South Side. It says:

We are not yellow, we are human being

Anti-Asian just f**k off

She knows it’s only a sign, but she just couldn’t keep it inside any longer. She had to strike back after a year in which anti-Asian racism has become an ugly side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

AAPI Heritage Month Panel Discussion, April 28 (online) at Community College of Allegheny County.


CCAC will host an online panel discussion ahead of AAPI Heritage Month on April 28. The meeting is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Pitt CASA: Night Market, May 1 (online) at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Chinese American Student Association will present its annual Night Market on May 1.
🔥🏮IT’S CASA’S FINAL EVENT OF THE YEAR🏮🔥 Come on out to Gathertown, and join us for some fun at our (virtual) Night Market on Saturday May 1! Challenge others to a game of Mahjong🀄️, learn to make Tanghulu (candied fruit)🍡or just join in on some chill games👾 for a chance to win plushie prizes...just like in real life😩 **For the tanghulu workshop, you will need fruit, sugar, and water to participate** Stop by for a bit... you don’t gotta stay for a long time, but come out for a good time!🙌🙌
It runs from 10:00 pm to 12 midnight online.

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

2020 Japanese movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) remains in Pittsburgh through May 6.


The 2020 Japanese animated movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編), which opened in Pittsburgh on April 22, will remain here through at least May 6. A synopsis of the top-grossing film in Japan last year, from the theaters:
Tanjiro Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, board the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Fire Pillar, Kyojuro Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it!
It will play locally at numerous local theaters, depending on the day, including AMC Loews Waterfront, Waterworks Cinemas, Cranberry Cinemas, the Hollywood Theater in Dormont, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

New Zhang Yimou film Cliff Walkers (悬崖之上) in Pittsburgh, from April 30.


The 2021 Zhang Yimou film Cliff Walkers (悬崖之上) will play in Pittsburgh from April 30. A brief summary from Asian Movie Pulse:
Based on a script by Quan Yongxian, the previously known as “Impasse” film focuses on four communist party special agents, Zhang, Lan, Yu and Chiuliang, who arrive in Manchukuo in 1931, after training in Russia, in order to carry out a secret mission codenamed “Utrenya”. The operation is to take place in Harbin, where a witness to a Japanese massacre is hiding. The four of them decide to split, although Lan and her husband are rather reluctant to separate. Before they do, however, they promise each other that, whoever survives, should find their children, who have been left behind before their training begun.
It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront (map) and tickets are available online.

2020 Korean-American film Minari remains in Pittsburgh through (at least) May 4.


The 2020 Korean-American film Minari, which opened in Pittsburgh on February 11, will remain here through at least May 4. A synopsis, from the distributor:
A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
It will continue at the AMC Loews Waterfront and Tull Family Theater, and tickets are available online.

Virtual Screening and Discussion: Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, May 12 at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present Virtual Screening and Discussion: Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, a discussion around a 2019 Bhutanese film, on May 12.
A young teacher in modern Bhutan shirks his duties while planning to go to Australia to become a singer. As a reprimand, his superiors send him to the most remote school in the world, a glacial Himalayan village called Lunana, to complete his service. He wants to quit and go home, but he begins to learn of the hardship in the lives of the beautiful children he teaches, and begins to be transformed through the amazing spiritual strength of the villagers.
Register here for a virtual screening of LUNANA: A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM (Pawo Choyning Dorji, 2019).
Event will be broadcast live digitally. Before the screening, a link will be sent to the email account provided below.
The event starts at 6:30 pm and is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Sunday, April 25, 2021

1991 Hong Kong film Center Stage (阮玲玉) online via Row House Cinema, through May 6.


The 1991 Hong Kong film Center Stage (阮玲玉), starring Maggie Cheung, is playing online via Row House Cinema through May 6.
Hong Kong New Wave master Stanley Kwan’s unconventional biopic tells the tragic story of “Greta Garbo of China” — Ruan Lingyu, played by Maggie Cheung. Praised for her moving and emotive onscreen presence, Ruan’s private life, which was frequent fodder for the vicious Shanghai tabloids, began to mirror the melodramas which brought her fame, culminating in her suicide at age 24. Kwan and Cheung paint a kaleidoscopic yet intimate portrait of the ill-fated actress, deftly blending lush period drama, archival footage, and metatextual documentary sequences of Cheung reflecting on Ruan’s legacy. The result is, much like the films of Ruan Lingyu themselves, “tender, vivid and almost overwhelmingly moving” (Time Out)
Tickets are available online.

"Representation & Translation" (with Anton Hur, Jeremy Tiang, and others), May 14 with City of Asylum and Pittsburgh International Literary Festival.


City of Asylum will present "Representation & Translation" on May 14 as part of its Pittsburgh International Literary Festival.
Literary translation catapulted to the international stage because of the recent controversy surrounding the hiring, backlash, and firing of the Danish translator for US inaugural poet Amanda Gorman. Questions around identity & the permission to translate zoomed into focused. But is this wrong question?
Instead, shouldn’t we question the scarcity of Black translators and translators of color? Or talk about dismantling patterns that make it harder for translators of color to access opportunities. How can City of Asylum and others US literary organizations foster a translation community that reflects the diversity of our world? Join a panel of translators as they share their thoughts on these questions and others.
Speakers include Anton Hur (translator from Korean) and Jeremy Tiang (translator from Chinese). The event runs from 7:00 to 8:15 pm and is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Friday, April 23, 2021

2019 Hong Kong film Twilight's Kiss (叔.叔), online with City of Asylum and ReelQ, April 28.


The 2019 Ray Yeung film Twilight's Kiss (叔.叔) will play online with City of Asylum and ReelQ on April 28.
TWILIGHT’S KISS (SUK SUK) presents the story of two closeted married men in their twilight years. One day PAK, 70, a taxi driver who refuses to retire, meets HOI, 65, a retired single father, in a park. Despite years of societal and personal pressure, they are proud of the families they have created through hard work and determination. Yet in that brief initial encounter, something is unleashed in them which had been suppressed for so many years. As both men recount and recall their personal histories, they also contemplate a possible future together.
It plays from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. The movie is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Celebrate 143 Day (or "I Love You" Day) with Jasmine Cho and special guests, May 23 (online).


Kidsburgh and Remake Learning will present an online cooking event with author, baker, and activist Jasmine Cho on May 23 to mark "I Love You" Day.
Kidsburgh and Remake Learning Days are thrilled to present a series of baking events with Jasmine Cho. In this virtual session, we celebrate the 143rd day of the year which is declared the day of kindness in honor of Fred Rogers. The numbers had special meaning to Mister Rogers as the number of letters reflected his favorite phrase, "I love you."

In this workshop, Jasmine Cho is joined by special guests Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski, the authors of the book "When You Wonder, You're Learning." Playful and practical, this book brings the lessons of Mister Rogers into the digital age, introducing a new generation of families to the lessons of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Baking extraordinaire Jasmine will teach families how to make a special cookie inspired by this book while Gregg and Ryan will share fun anecdotes from the book for families.

This event is free! After registration, recipes and the Zoom meeting link will be emailed to you about a week prior to the event. We welcome interaction with kids (and adults!) and happily take questions.
The event runs from 4:00 to 5:00 pm and is free, though registration is required.

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Virtual Poetry Reading: "Cleave" by Tiana Nobile w/ Diana Khoi Nguyen ("Ghost Of"), June 11 (online) with White Whale Bookstore.


White Whale Bookstore presents Virtual Poetry Reading: "Cleave" by Tiana Nobile w/ Diana Khoi Nguyen ("Ghost Of") on June 11.
We’re excited and grateful to be on Tiana Nobile’s virtual tour for her collection of poems, Cleave (Hub City Press)! She’ll be joined by local poet and professor, Diana Khoi Nguyen (Ghost Of, Omnidawn) for a reading.

Both poets’ books are available on our Bookshop.org list for recent and upcoming events. Check out our curated lists and picks on our main Bookshop.org affiliate page, or use the search bar in the upper center-right to look for any book. (Using the book's ISBN usually works best.)

"In Tiana Nobile's wonderful Cleave, the condition of the Korean-American adoptee is that of a wandering orbitless moon. The speaker fills the absence of her birth mother with aching questions of home, motherhood, and selfhood. Using the scant documentation she has with her deeply felt imagination, Nobile obsessively revisits the mystery of her birth until she creates her own mythic origin story that is beautiful, melancholic and powerful. Tiana Nobile is a bright new talent." —Cathy Park Hong, author of Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning
The event starts at 7:00 pm. Tickets are available until 6:30 pm on the 11th at free and pay-what-you-can pricepoints.

2020 Korean-American film Minari remains in Pittsburgh through (at least) April 26.


The 2020 Korean-American film Minari, which opened in Pittsburgh on February 11, will remain here through at least April 26. A synopsis, from the distributor:
A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
It will continue at the AMC Loews Waterfront and Tull Family Theater, and tickets are available online.

2018 Japanese film Mirai (未来のミライ) online at Pitt, April 28.


The University of Pittsburgh's Office of International Services will present the 2018 Japanese film Mirai (未来のミライ) on April 28 as an installment of its Watch Party Wednesday series. From the distributor:
From acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda (Summer Wars, Wolf Children) and Japan’s Studio Chizu comes MIRAI, a daringly original story of love passed down through generations. When four-year-old Kun meets his new baby sister, his world is turned upside down. Named Mirai (meaning “future”), the baby quickly wins the hearts of Kun’s entire family. As his mother returns to work, and his father struggles to run the household, Kun becomes increasingly jealous of baby Mirai… until one day he storms off into the garden, where he encounters strange guests from the past and future – including his sister Mirai, as a teenager. Together, Kun and teenage Mirai go on a journey through time and space, uncovering their family’s incredible story. But why did Mirai come from the future? An official selection at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, and the epic capstone of director Mamoru Hosoda’s career, Mirai is a sumptuous, magical, and emotionally soaring adventure about the ties that bring families together and make us who we are.
The movie starts at 7:00 pm and registration is required.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

2020 Japanese movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) in Pittsburgh, from April 22.


The 2020 Japanese animated movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) will play in Pittsburgh from April 23. A synopsis of the top-grossing film in Japan last year, from the theaters:
Tanjiro Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, board the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Fire Pillar, Kyojuro Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it!
It will play locally at numerous local theaters, including AMC Loews Waterfront, Waterworks Cinemas, Cranberry Cinemas, the Hollywood Theater in Dormont, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Friday, April 16, 2021

Vietnamese-American author Viet Thanh Nguyen (online) at Pittsburgh International Literary Festival, May 19.


City of Asylum will host Vietnamese-American author Viet Thanh Nguyen online for its Pittsburgh International Literary Festival on May 19.
Vietnamese-American novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen discusses The Committed, his much-anticipated sequel to his Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Sympathizer. This newest novel is fierce in tone, capacious, witty, sharp, and deeply researched. The Committed marks not just a sequel to its groundbreaking predecessor, but a sum total accumulation of a life devoted to Vietnamese American history and scholarship. It asks questions central to Vietnamese everywhere—and to our very species: How do we live in the wake of seismic loss and betrayal?
The hour-long talk begins at 7:00 pm and is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Mieko Kawakami (online) at Pittsburgh International Literary Festival, May 18.


Japanese author Mieko Kawakami will appear with translators Sam Bett and David Boyd online as part of the Pittsburgh International Literary Festival on May 18.
Mixing wry humor and riveting emotional depth, Mieko Kawakami is one of Japan’s most important and best-selling contemporary writers. She exploded onto the cultural scene first as a musician, then as a poet and popular blogger, and is now an award-winning novelist. Her first novel to be published in English, Breast and Eggs, was rated one of Time Magazine’s 10 best books of 2020. The novel is a radical and intimate portrait of contemporary working class womanhood in Japan, recounting the heartbreaking journeys of three women in a society where the odds are stacked against them. Hear from Mieko Kawakami and her translators live to discuss Breast and Eggs and celebrate the launch of Kawakami’s next, highly anticipated English release, Heaven. LitFest 2021 marks the novel’s debut event—an evening not to be missed!
The one-hour talk starts at 8:00 pm; it is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Duolingo hiring Associate Creative Producer, Audio Lessons, with proficiency in Chinese or Japanese preferred.

Pittsburgh-based Duolingo is hiring an Associate Creative Producer, Audio Lessons, with preference for proficiency in another language.

Help create innovative programming to educate, inform, and entertain millions of learners worldwide.

We're seeking a candidate to help manage creative production for Duolingo's Audio Lessons product, and lend support to a variety of other audio and video programs for the company. Our ideal candidate has a blend of production coordination experience and a sharp editorial skillset. You'll join Duolingo's growing studios team to help create original content in multiple languages that will reach millions worldwide wishing to learn about language, culture and more.

You will...

  • Coordinate day-to-day production and publishing of Duolingo Audio Lessons (maintain multiple production calendars and manage workflows, coordinate multiple remote teams, oversee publication of new lessons, etc.)
  • Help establish and improve Duolingo's creative format and production standards across multiple languages and courses
  • Help source freelance staffing for production, including casting hosts and actors and recruiting production staff
  • Contribute creative input to production; review scripts and cuts and provide feedback to writers, actors and audio producers
More information available on the job ad.

Pittsburgh-based WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) hiring bilingual Mandarin-English STEM tutors.



Pittsburgh-based Chinese education consulting and placement firm WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) has announced openings for Mandarin-speaking STEM tutors.
Remote tutors needed in various college subjects:

Comp Science, Physics, Biochem, Chemistry, Advanced Math courses

Seeking remote tutors for international students in U.S. universities/colleges -- 1-5 hours week, depending on availability and student needs. Flexible schedule with tutor/student working to set up sessions.

Tutors work online to teach international students subject material in a variety of subjects (see above)

Expect expertise and ability to coherently teach student subject material.
Please submit transcript, resume, and short statement of which subject/courses.

You *must* have a legal working status in the U.S.
Mandarin speaking tutor preferred, will consider excellent other culturally competent applicants.
Remote position, flexible hours that accommodate time differences for your student's location.

Duolingo hiring Operations Manager, Duolingo English Test, with a preference for fluency in Mandarin Chinese (or other languages).

Pittsburgh-based Duolingo is hiring an Operations Manager to support its English proficiency test.

Help us transform the English proficiency test industry and work with a global workforce to make the Duolingo English Test a success!

We are hiring an Operations Manager to support our growing remote workforce. This is the ideal role for someone who is interested in learning the intricacies of operations within a global proctoring and customer support workforce in a fast-paced, innovative environment.

You Will...

  • Manage day-to-day administrative operational tasks, including but not limited to:
    • Approving weekly timesheets and vendor invoices
    • Maintaining and updating records
    • Managing bonus payouts and special projects and programs
      • Including spreadsheet manipulation and simple equations related to team performance
    • Scheduling interviews, training sessions, meetings for an international workforce
  • Assist with ongoing hiring processes for our international Customer Support and Proctoring teams, including but not limited to:
    • Posting and advertising open positions
    • Screening applicants and moving qualified candidates through the process
    • Sending communications and hiring decisions
  • Manage ongoing onboarding tasks for our Customer Support and Proctoring teams, including but not limited to:
    • Sending offer letters, contracts, and 'welcome' information
    • Coordinating and/or setting up internal access for a variety of platforms
  • Manage execution and success of ongoing training programs for our Customer Support and Proctoring teams, including but not limited to:
    • Scheduling and coordinating training activities
    • Collaborating with mentoring coordinators to ensure mentoring program success
    • Continuously improving and iterating upon our training programs
    • Administering post-training surveys; analyzing and reporting on results
  • Assist with special projects and have opportunities to take on increased responsibility
  • Be willing and able to be on call on a rotating basis in the evenings, on weekends, and on holidays
  • Be willing and able to take on additional duties as assigned
More information available on the job posting.

"Cookie Activism: Using Sugar as a Platform for Social Justice with Jasmine Cho," April 21 (online) at Pittsburgh Humanities Festival.


The Pittsburgh Humanities Festival will present an online conversation with Jasmine Cho, "Cookie Activism: Using Sugar as a Platform for Social Justice with Jasmine Cho," on April 21.
Jasmine Cho will discuss her work as a baker based in Pittsburgh and how she uses the art of cookie making and decorating as a therapy and to promote Asian American representation. She creates intricate, hand-drawn cookie portraits of Asian American figures as a way to increase representation and raise awareness of Asian American history and identity. Her work has been featured internationally on various media outlets and she is currently working toward developing a research-based bake therapy program rooted in the field of art therapy.
Jasmine will be interviewed by Sarah Tang. She was originally scheduled to participate in last year's festival that was ultimately cancelled due to COVID-19. This year's event starts at 7:00 pm, and the talks will be streamed on the Cultural Trust's Facebook and Youtube pages.

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Pitt News profiles Pitt-China Weekly, a student-run Chinese-language online newsletter.


The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's student newspaper, profiles Pitt-China Weekly, a student-run Chinese-lanaguage online newsletter.
“While we are doing this for the Chinese international students because they are not here in this country, we also want to help out their parents, who don’t read English. So when you see the announcements from the chancellor, from anyone high above, they cannot simply read it because they don’t know the language,” Wang said. “That’s why we want to build up this platform for them, so they can gather this information as fast as they can to help them to make a plan for their kids.”

Panel Discussion on Local Sex Work Research, Writing, and Art, April 16 at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Program will present a Panel Discussion on Local Sex Work Research, Writing, and Art on April 16. The event starts at 4:30 pm and registration is required.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Japanese animated films Children of the Sea (海獣の子供), Weathering With You (天気の子), Lupin III: The First (ルパン三世), and Promare (プロメア) in Pittsburgh from June through September, part of latest GKIDS series.



Four Japanese animated films will play in Pittsburgh from June through September as part of a GKIDS series: 

Tickets will go on sale May 14 for subtitled and dubbed shows.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

2020 Korean-American film Minari remains in Pittsburgh through (at least) April 23.


The 2020 Korean-American film Minari, which opened in Pittsburgh on February 11, will remain here through at least April 23. A synopsis, from the distributor:
A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
It will continue at several local theaters, including (on certain days) the AMC Loews Waterfront and Cinemark in Robinson. Tickets are available online.

"2021 Asia Pop: Era of Videos" panel discussion with Pitt's Asian Studies Center, April 14.

By Sergey Galyonkin.

The University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies Center will host a panel discussion with several Pitt faculty members to conclude its "2021 Asia Pop: Era of Videos" series on April 14.
Although video culture can be traced to earlier periods, its surge in the digital age marks the arrival of a new era in which anywhere can be a performance stage, and anybody can become a social celebrity. The blurring boundaries between public and private, between stars and fans, and between national and transnational; the paradoxical relations between freedom and surveillance, between connection and isolation, and between actual and virtual, together challenge our perceptions about intimacy, affect, and identity. This roundtable discussion will address some of the issues reflected in the video culture in East Asia, The panelists will share their experiences and expertise in Asian pop culture, hoping to open up more directions and perspectives to look at contemporary East Asia and beyond.
The online event starts at 6:30 pm and registration is required.

Charles Yu with Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures, October 18.


Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures will present an online discussion with author Charles Yu on October 18 as part of next year's Ten Evenings series.
The author of four books and numerous television scripts, Charles Yu won the 2020 National Book Award for Interior Chinatown, an ambitious satire about race, pop culture, immigration, assimilation, and escaping roles we are forced to play. Willis Wu doesn’t perceive himself as the protagonist in his own life: he’s merely Generic Asian Man. Sometimes he gets to be Background Oriental Making a Weird Face or even Disgraced Son, but always he is relegated to a prop. Yet every day, he leaves his tiny room in a Chinatown SRO and enters the Golden Palace restaurant, where Black and White, a procedural cop show, is in perpetual production. He’s a bit player here, too, but he dreams of being Kung Fu Guy—the most respected role that anyone who looks like him can attain. Or is it?
Tickets for the 7:30 pm event go on sale July 6.

Eddie Huang film Boogie continues in Pittsburgh, through (at least) April 21.


The Eddie Huang film Boogie, which opened in Pittsburgh on March 5, will continue here through at least April 21. From the distributor:
From acclaimed writer, producer and restaurateur Eddie Huang comes his directorial debut Boogie, the coming-of-age story of Alfred “Boogie” Chin, a basketball phenom living in Queens, New York, who dreams of one day playing in the NBA. While his parents pressure him to focus on earning a scholarship to an elite college, Boogie must find a way to navigate a new girlfriend, high school, on-court rivals and the burden of expectation.
It will continue locally at AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online.

"Asian/American: A roundtable about Race, Identity, and Community," April 15 at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will host "Asian/American: A roundtable about Race, Identity, and Community" on April 15. It starts at 5:30 pm and is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Monday, April 12, 2021

AAPI COVID Vaccination Clinic, April 18 (part 1) at JCC in Squirrel Hill; Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Khmer, and Thai translators/interpreters on site.

The Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill will host an AAPI COVID Vaccination Clinic on Sunday, April 18. Organizers note that there will be "20 Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Khmer, and Thai language translators on site."
This is the first of a 2-part Pfizer vaccination. (The second vaccine will take place on May 16th.) You do NOT NEED AN Identification card, social security number, or insurance card for this clinic. EVERYONE who is 16-years and older will be vaccinated. Those interested should register online. The JCC is located at 5738 Forbes Ave. in Squirrel Hill (map), accessible by buses 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 64, and 74.

Sunday, April 11, 2021

"Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center 2021 Summer Kung Fu Culture Program" in July and August.

Squirrel Hill's Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center will host a 2021 Summer Kung Fu Culture Program this July and August.

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center

 

2021 Summer Kung Fu Culture Program

 

Squirrel Hill Studio

2705-2707 Murray Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15217

 

Learn kung fu with champion masters!

Learn Chinese language, Chinese culture and more!

 

 

Register Now!

 

Register by May 31st to get $30 off weekly tuition!

 

 

Benefits of Win-Win Kung Fu Summer Intensive Program

 

Major

 

  • Learn Kung Fu, free style Chinese kickboxing (sanda) and other forms of Chinese martial arts and Chinese language daily, with strong emphasis on the basics.
  • Focus greatly on exercise and conditioning and gain skills needed for other sports and activities as well.
  • Improve your concentration and focus with authentic Chinese martial arts training.
  • Boot camp for beginners
  • Intensive training for intermediate and advanced Wushu as well as a boot camp for beginners.

 

Minor

 

  • Learn Chinese language from a native and professional Chinese teacher
  • Give your mind a workout with Chinese Chess, Mahjong, Go and other games
  • Watch Chinese movies to learn Chinese language and culture.
  • At Win-Win Kung Fu we will try our best to bring you a fun and fruitful summer.

 

All kids aged between 6 and 15 years are encouraged to participate in this summer camp. Registration is free for Win-Win students and additional family members receive a 10% discount of weekly tuition.

 

 

 

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a. m. to 4:30 p.m., with optional extended times until 5:30 p.m.

We are offering 4 week sessions beginning on

 

Week 1. July 26 – 30, 2021

Week 2. August 2 - 6, 2021

Week 3. August 9 - 13, 2021

Week 4. August 16 - 20, 2021

 

Saturday, April 10, 2021

2019 Hong Kong film Twilight's Kiss (叔.叔), online with City of Asylum and ReelQ, April 28.


The 2019 Ray Yeung film Twilight's Kiss (叔.叔) will play online with City of Asylum and ReelQ on April 28.
TWILIGHT’S KISS (SUK SUK) presents the story of two closeted married men in their twilight years. One day PAK, 70, a taxi driver who refuses to retire, meets HOI, 65, a retired single father, in a park. Despite years of societal and personal pressure, they are proud of the families they have created through hard work and determination. Yet in that brief initial encounter, something is unleashed in them which had been suppressed for so many years. As both men recount and recall their personal histories, they also contemplate a possible future together.
It plays from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. The movie is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Tickets now available for 2020 Japanese movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) in Pittsburgh, from April 22.


The 2020 Japanese animated movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) will play in Pittsburgh from April 23. A synopsis of the top-grossing film in Japan last year, from the theaters:
Tanjiro Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, board the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Fire Pillar, Kyojuro Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it!
It will play locally at several local theaters, including AMC Loews Waterfront, Waterworks Cinemas, Cranberry Cinemas, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are now available online.

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Looking For A Lady With Fangs And A Moustache online via Tull Family Theater, April 30.


The Tull Family Theater in Sewickley will present virtual screenings of Looking For A Lady With Fangs And A Moustache from April 30. From an April 8 New York Times review:
In Khyentse Norbu’s “Looking for a Lady with Fangs and a Moustache,” a Nepalese entrepreneur searches for spiritual enlightenment, hoping to avert a fatal prophecy. Looking to set up a new cafe, Tenzin (Tsering Tashi Gyalthang) sees unnerving visions after scouting an abandoned temple. With mounting fear, he follows the gnomic suggestions of a Buddhist monk in shades and a master sage, who insists that he find a goddess manifest on earth, known as a dakini.
The writer-director Norbu, a Buddhist spiritual leader making his fifth feature, presents Tenzin as a hip modern guy in bluejeans with a wide smile that vanishes as soon as he has to seek self-awareness. The cozy streets of Kathmandu become like a place without a map to Tenzin as he scans passing strangers for signs of divine femininity and leaves his business partners in the lurch. There’s a slight narrative echo of romantic comedy as the monk and the master sage feed him tips and ritual gestures, and it appears the woman he seeks could be right under his nose, in the form of a singer (Tenzin Kunsel) from his music lessons.
Tickets and showtime information is not yet available.

"Let's Take a Look at Vietnam's Education System," April 10 at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Vietnamese Student Association will host "Let's Take a Look at Vietnam's Education System" on April 10.
Interested in learning about the education system in Vietnam? Now is your only chance!
This is our first time hosting an event in collaboration with Teach For Vietnam, a non-profit organization that is working towards removing education inequality and building sustainable systems for children in Vietnam.
We will be having a very SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: TRANG NGUYEN - THE CEO OF TEACH FOR VIETNAM. She will be presenting about:
1. What is the impact of COVID-19 on Vietnam's education?
2. What are the educational differences between the US and Vietnam, urban and rural areas?
3. Educational crisis that Vietnam is and Teach For Vietnam’s solutions
So please save the date and join with us on Saturday, April the 10th at 7:30 PM EST!
The event runs from 7:30 to 8:30 pm on Zoom and is free and open to the public.

CMU's annual Matsuri 2021, online April 9 - 10.


Carnegie Mellon University's Japanese Student Association presents a Matsuri ("festival") each spring, though this year's event has shifted online April 9 and 10, with a focus on supporting local Japanese businesses. From its Facebook page:
This year, JSA is launching a virtual Matsuri, with all kinds of opportunities to engage with Japanese music, film, food and games! This year, we're launching Matsuri to advocate for local Japanese businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Get ready for some authentic culture and fun!
Performances:
This year for Matsuri, we’ll be showcasing several performances, highlighting all kinds of traditional Japanese music, dance and literature. During our YouTube live stream, you’ll be able to see all of these featured artists and creators. These performances will feature centuries-old practice from Japan as well as other regions of the world. We hope you’ll join us!
Food:
This year, JSA is supporting local Japanese restaurants and stores affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You can support your favorite local stores in two ways:
1. Order in food from restaurants like sushi fuku, fujiya ramen, and teppanyaki kyoto at a spicy discount price!
2. Buy care packages for yourself and your friends and pick it up at the UC.
Thank you for supporting your local stores and make sure to come to our other matsuri event as well!
Games:
Matsuri 2021 will feature both synchronous and asynchronous games that will allow participants to choose which type of games they want to join in. For the main synchronous session, we will be holding a virtual escape room, where participants will solve different puzzles as fast as possible for the prize! Across the duration of Matsuri, there will be new challenges posted at the start of the day and participants will submit video responses of the challenges to earn points, and the person with the most points at the end will win! There will also be shorter questions or brainteasers posted on social media for smaller prizes.
Visit each day's portal to access the online activities.

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Duolingo hiring Curriculum Designer for Japanese.

Pittsburgh-based Duolingo is hiring a Curriculum Designer for Japanese.

We are looking for a world-class expert in teaching Japanese who has experience working across different educational settings and with learners from a variety of language backgrounds. Our ideal candidate has strong organizational skills, can build effective and engaging course content, and understands the unique challenges of digital education. You will join our team of course designers and help support our efforts to deliver the best language education in the world through evidence-based practices. Join Duolingo to feel empowered as an educator, affecting how millions of people learn!

You Will...

  • Design the curriculum and internal pedagogical resources for Duolingo courses teaching Japanese
  • Create content for a variety of features spanning both implicit and explicit teaching of Japanese
  • Create assessments of learners’ language knowledge
  • Provide Japanese-related pedagogical support to multiple teams
  • Help develop and implement efficient processes for scaling the creation of educational content
  • Help recruit, train, and supervise other course content creators
  • Help communicate the science behind Duolingo’s teaching methodology to a wider audience

You Have...

  • Teaching experience. You have at least 2 years of experience teaching Japanese as a second language.
  • Pedagogical expertise. You are familiar with external standards for teaching Japanese (e.g. JLPT), and can design course curricula that effectively scaffold the learning experience for learners with a particular language background.
  • Analytical thinking. You are able to think about language in a structured and analytical way. For example, you excel at breaking down grammatical concepts into smaller parts for the purposes of teaching and assessment.
  • Language expertise. You have native or near-native proficiency in Japanese and strong familiarity with the Japanese culture.
  • Strong communication. You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Operational focus. You are organized and efficient, and strive to continuously improve your workflow and processes.

Requirements:

  • MA (or equivalent experience) in Japanese, applied linguistics, linguistics, or a related field
  • Ability to work full-time from or relocate to Pittsburgh, PA

Exceptional Candidates Will Have...

  • Multilingual language background
  • Experience managing people and projects

2020 Korean-American film Minari remains in Pittsburgh through (at least) April 14.


The 2020 Korean-American film Minari, which opened in Pittsburgh on February 11, will remain here through at least April 14. A synopsis, from the distributor:
A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
It will continue at several local theaters, including (on certain days) the AMC Loews Waterfront and Cinemark in Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Pitt hiring Visiting Korean Instructor.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures is hiring a Visiting Instructor to teach Korean courses for the 2021-2022 academic year.
The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures of the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for the position of Visiting Instructor for its Korean language program, pending budgetary approval. The appointment will begin on September 1, 2021, and end on April 30, 2022. The candidate must hold a MA degree in teaching Korean as a second language, foreign language teaching, applied linguistics, or a related field by the time of appointment and possess broad competence in teaching Korean language courses. The successful candidate will teach six courses per year. The candidate must be native or near a native user of Korean and English. should have at least one year’s experience teaching Korean language courses at a North American institution, preferably in person. Other duties may include mentoring students, normal service duties in the Department, and working with other Asia specialists in the Department and on campus.

The University of Pittsburgh has dedicated substantial resources to international studies and encourages interdisciplinary research and teaching through the established programs in Film Studies, Cultural Studies, Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies, and Global Studies. The intellectual environment at the University of Pittsburgh provides ample opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation. The East Asian Library is one of the best in the nation, and there are superlative research facilities, as well as funds for research and teaching.

Applicants should send a letter of application, CV, evidence of teaching ability (e. g., student teaching evaluations), sample syllabus for one course, statements of teaching philosophy, diversity and inclusion statement, and a list of three references to the University of Pittsburgh’s Talent Center.

For more information, contact Victoria Donahoe (vjd8@pitt.edu). The position will be filled as soon as the qualified candidate is found.

Eddie Huang film Boogie continues in Pittsburgh, through (at least) April 14.


The Eddie Huang film Boogie, which opened in Pittsburgh on March 5, will continue here through at least April 14. From the distributor:
From acclaimed writer, producer and restaurateur Eddie Huang comes his directorial debut Boogie, the coming-of-age story of Alfred “Boogie” Chin, a basketball phenom living in Queens, New York, who dreams of one day playing in the NBA. While his parents pressure him to focus on earning a scholarship to an elite college, Boogie must find a way to navigate a new girlfriend, high school, on-court rivals and the burden of expectation.
It will continue locally at AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online.

"Asian/American: A roundtable about Race, Identity, and Community," April 15 at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will host "Asian/American: A roundtable about Race, Identity, and Community" on April 15. It starts at 5:30 pm and is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Pitt hiring part-time Japanese teacher for Summer 2021.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures is hiring a part-time instructor of Japanese for Summer 2021.
The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures seeks a part-time instructor of Japanese Language starting Summer Term 2021. Instructors must have a Bachelor’s degree and experience teaching Japanese conversation classes at university level more than one year. Native speakers of Japanese are preferred. Duties include teaching recitation sections. The instructor will continue teaching during the regular academic year, though work hours are expected to be limited and/or unstable. Interested applicants should remit a CV and cover letter. The position will be filled as soon as qualified candidates are found.

Monday, April 5, 2021

2020 Japanese movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) in Pittsburgh, from April 23.


The 2020 Japanese animated movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) will play in Pittsburgh from April 23. A synopsis of the top-grossing film in Japan last year, from the theaters:
Tanjiro Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, board the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Fire Pillar, Kyojuro Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it!
Tickets will go on sale on April 9, though showings have been announced so far for the Waterworks and Cranberry Cinemas.

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