Trauma Resources

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Patricia Thao

http://sandyhookcolumbine.org/

With recent violent events, it can impact people in different ways. If you know someone experiencing trauma, try your best to support them and let them know about their available resources. If you or a friend is in need, remember that you can always reach out to or depend on these things:

Close family members and friends
Professionals – local clinics, hotline, therapist, etc.
Online support communities
Click here for facts/info about trauma in the state of Minnesota
For local helplines in Minnesota click here!

“Anyone can help someone who struggles with trauma—whether they work in the medical or mental health community, or are just a caring individual.

The National Council for Behavioral Health would like to share a few resources about trauma:

INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Signs A Person May Be Experiencing Trauma
INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Tips to Help Someone Experiencing Trauma
TIP SHEET: Trauma in the LGBTQ Community: What Practitioners Should Know in the Wake of the Orlando Shootings.
FACT SHEET: LGBTQ Mental Health: How the Orlando Shootings Can Broadly Impact This Community.” – Rightful owner

National Park and Recreation Month!

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Patricia Thao

“National Park and Recreation Month is a time to promote the benefits of healthy, vibrant communities.” – http://www.nrpa.org/

National Park & Recreation Month encourages people to go outdoors, connect with local parks/reservations/recreations, and enjoy their time outside. It promotes people to reconnect with nature and to become more aware and supportive of our environment. “Today, the average American spends 93% of their life indoors – 87% in buildings and 6% in vehicles” (NRPA). Fun fact: Americans have celebrated National Park and Recreation Month during July since 1985 (NRPA).

Here are some ways in which you can participant in this month’s event:

Go outside to your local parks!
Visit/volunteer a reservation site!
Go walking/biking at your local trails!
Share the message on your social media and with people around you!
Remember to ask other people to join you outdoors!

Are Instant Noodles Bad For Your Health?

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Patricia Thao

“According to the World Instant Noodles Association (WINA), 52 countries consumed 97.7 billion servings last year alone. Among its highest consumers are China and Hong Kong, which together consumed 40.43 billion servings, followed by Indonesia, with 13.20 billion servings consumed. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. is not too far behind with 4 billion instant noodles consumed in 2015.” – http://nextshark.com/

So what are instant noodles? They are noodles that have been deep fried and packaged along with other seasoning packets. With just boiling water, you make a quick meal. It’s delicious of course and very cheap.

www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/

Instant noodles have the reputation of being convenient, affordable, delicious, and unhealthy. Although it is loved by people throughout the world, it can be bad for your health if consume daily. Here are some reasons why:

The amount of sodium in a instant noodle pack is a lot more than what you should consume in a meal. Ingesting too much salt can lead one to experience dehydration, damaging the kidneys, and other parts of your body.
Instant noodles does not offer nutritional value to your body. Most of it is carbs, sodium, and saturated fat.

Like any other junk and fast food, you should consume instant noodles in moderation. You can always add more water to the broth and other veggies to make it a more balance meal. But don’t try to replace your diet with instant noodles and remember to cook your own meals as much as possible.

This Month in Japan | July

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Patricia Thao

“Fumizuki, a traditional name for July, refers to “book/origin month. The true meaning of the kanji is difficult to decipher. One theory is that fumizuki is a shortened form of hofumizuki, referring to a time when rice becomes ready for harvest. Another possible explanation is that the name is short forfumihirakizuki, meaning to hope for an improvement in one’s calligraphy skills.

July 7 is Tanabata or the Star Festival, that celebrates the meeting of the deities named Orihime and Hikoboshi. The third Monday of the month is Marine Day, commemorating the return of Emperor Meiji to Yokohama port from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876.” – Rightful owner

In July, parts of Japan is experiencing the rainy season while other areas will have very hot and sunny weather. Places in higher elevation like Hokkaido will probably have better weather conditions. There are plenty of things to do and lots of festivals to attend throughout Japan. If you are visiting Japan during this month, prepare an umbrella, sunglasses, and light clothing. Here are some things that are happening in July in Japan:

Geishas during the Gion Matsuri Festival.

http://www.goldenjipangu.com/

Summer in Japan means that there will be tons of festivals being hosted through out the entire month and country.
- Gion Matsuri is a festival celebration that occurs in Kyoto for the entire month of July! Hosted in Kyoto, this festivals displays 10 to 20 amazing decorative floats. People come to enjoy the sights and foods, but also to buy good luck charms to ward off evil. For more in depth info on the event, location, time, and its history, click here!
- - Tenjin Festival is big festival held in Osaka that showcases fireworks, parades, geishas, river boats, and so much more. It attracts people from all over Japan to attend this event for For more in depth info on the event, location, time, and its history, click here!
- For a calendar overview of all the official events happening in Japan during July, click here!
Beach season is on full fledge and it’s time to enjoy the coastal regions of Japan. There are a lot of beaches to go to depending on where you want to visit. It is probably best to avoid the most popular beach destinations so you wouldn’t have to compete with so many people on the same beach.
For other events/festivals occurring in July, click here!

Who are the Healthiest Americans?

Posted on June 23, 2016 by Patricia Thao

“Of the population — which includes the Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Vietnamese and Korean subgroups — Chinese adults scored the best on five measures of health, including health status, multiple chronic conditions, serious psychological distress in the last month and limitations in work or social participation.

The data was collected between 2010 and 2014 as part of the National Health Interview Survey, surveying about 166,000 people over the age of 18.” – Emma Court, marketwatch

Asian Americans was reported to be the healthiest Americans among other groups of people. But datas have not detailed the reasons why or possible factors that separates Asian Americans from other groups. There could be potential factors that may have helped Asian Americans to remain healthy. So, listed down below are some reasons why:

Asian Americans have more options in terms of what they eat growing up, going out, etc. The food/cuisine of Asian cultures is very vast and uses a lot of different ingredients. Also, they tend to be healthy and include fresh ingredients. Some cultures have a more extensive veggie variety such as the Indian cuisine. Whiles other cultures focus on eating a balance meal such as Korean cuisine that have lots of veggie side dishes.
Asian medicine is a big influence in the beliefs and practices among all Asians. Although they are practiced differently throughout Asia and in the U.S., they all teach important health lessons and influence the lifestyle of others. For example, Chinese philosophies teaches people to live in harmony with their physical body and spiritual being. Want to acquire good life habits according to the Chinese medicine? Click here!
Although Asian Americans are reported to be the healthiest Americans, they still face health issues that are not reported. Therefore, it is important to spread awareness onto others through sharing info with friends, families, and on social media. For more info on health disparities of Asian Americans, click here!

This Month in Japan | June

Posted on June 13, 2016 by Patricia Thao

June is the start of the rainy season for most parts of Japan. The summer weather is often divided between the rainy season following by the high levels of humidity. Despite the weather conditions, people can still enjoy their time in Japan. It is a good month for travelers to visit Japan because travel prices and the amount of tourists are low. Of course, be prepared for the rainy and humid weather; bring an umbrella and maybe some rain boots.

http://china.org.cn/

Looking for activities to do during the month of June? Here are some events that are occurring in June around Japan!

Sanno Festival is held in central Tokyo from June 7, 2017 to June 17, 2016. Located in Chiyoda-ku and hosted by Hie Jinja, it includes parades, people in dressed in traditional clothes, festival foods, and more! It one of the three major festivals along with Kanda Matsuri and Fukagawa Matsuri. “The Sanno Matsuri is famous as a festival permitted by the Shogun to enter the grounds of Edo Castle during the Edo Period (1603-1867), along with the Kanda Matsuri.” – http://www.jnto.go.jp/
Hokkaido Shrine Festival is located at Maruyama Park in Hokkaido, Japan. It occurs from June 14 to June 16 and about 1 million people attend the summer festival each year. A highlight would be people wearing the summer kimono, yukata, and the endless amount of festival foods.
Other tips for travelers in Japan during June are:
1. If you want to visit beaches, resorts, or/and amusements, book your tickets and go before July when school children are done with school!
2. Make sure to check out tours that can give you special deals! Here is a quick link!
3. For any hot countries: Bring clothes that you could layer with! Also, having a good pair of shoes to walk in all day would help you best when discovering Japan on foot.

Study Abroad Opportunities! | For High School & College

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Patricia Thao

Study abroad is a great opportunity for students to learn while living in a different society and experiencing a whole new culture. It allows students to gain important knowledge and become more confident through the struggles of adjusting to a different environment and lifestyle. Of course it is expensive and requires you to work harder, but in the end it will be worth it! It is not impossible to study abroad if you know how to use your resources and is able to utilize your skills! Here are some tips on how to afford study abroad:

Choose where you want to study abroad! (The earlier you can decide, the better!) You can study abroad almost anywhere in the world with different programs. It is usually divided into academic and employment programs. As a high school student, your options are more limited but remember to research about your options. As a college student, you will have lots of option to where you can study abroad.
- Note that some locations are more expensive than others.
It’s important to plan early! You want to measure out the length of your program and the time before you are going there. It will give you a timeline of how much you can save up for your total trip and how much you pay spend over there. So get ready to work & save like a pro!
- Always transfer the amount you need to save when you are paid!
- Exclude miscellaneous spending if possible; like on small things such as buying a cup of coffee, limiting the amount of money you spend when you go out, etc.
Work on your essay writing skills! If you want scholarships, most of them will require you to write some sort of essay whether it is a personal, academic, or question essay. The point is to answer the prompt while letting them know you more personally and your goals for study abroad. Never forget to check the basics:
- Is there a word count limit or required minimum of words?
- Have you check your grammar?
- Do you understand the words you are using? It’s better to use words that you know than to use big words that you don’t understand.
- Did you answer the question(s)?
- Ask someone else to proofread your essay if you are unsure
Does it require references/recommendation letters? You may need references or recommend letters from teachers/co-workers depending on the type of program/scholarship you are applying for. So make sure you double check the deadline and try to obtain them ahead of time.
Research for local & national scholarships! There are tons of scholarships available out there, but they won’t come to you unless you find them and apply for it! Some will require more or less work depending on the amount of aid it offers. Expect that there will be competition for scholarships since you are not the only student who wants to study abroad. Try to apply to as many scholarships that you qualify for. Overall, it is better to apply than not apply at all!
- Check scholarships that are offered through your school, state, and within the U.S.
- Use online scholarship database to help you find scholarships!
Look out for your deadlines! This applies to your scholarships and program dates. It is important to turn in things on time, especially if you want to secure your place! If you are unable to meet deadlines, than you would lessen your chance of obtaining a place in a study abroad program or possibly getting a scholarship.
Here are some linked web & resources you can use:
- The two most well known study abroad company are, CIEE & IES; they offer a variety of study abroad programs for high school and college students. It is not limited to these two as there are other options as well and it depends on what you are looking for (internship, volunteer, & employment). Others include AIFS, CEA, & more!
- Go to “goabroad” to search their database on study abroad for high school & college!
- You can always try to find reviews on the program that you’re interested in to help determine which program may work with you.

Laotian Cuisine

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Patricia Thao

Laotian cuisine is a combination of fresh herbs, mixed spices, and strong flavors. It has influences from all kinds of Asian cultures, but the main influences are from the surrounding Southeast countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and more. Laotian cuisine is focused on using fresh ingredients and using them in many different ways (such as making a lemon grass broth to a coconut based curry). Listed down below are some highlights from the Laotian cuisine that you should try out!

Papaya salad (Lao style)

Yelp

A papaya salad is made from the fruit papaya where its combined with a blend of spicy, salty, and semi-sweet flavors. There are two different version of the papaya salad, Lao and Thai style. It can vary in texture and some ingredients. But the distinctive flavor of the Lao style is the padek (fermented fish/brown sauce) which isn’t commonly found in the Thai style. The common recipe includes shredded (unripe) papaya, Thai chilies, fish sauce, lime, red cherry tomatoes, and garlic. Recipe is linked here!

Larb

3hungrytummies.blogspot.com

This dish contains herbs and spices that can be mixed with a variety of meat (usually beef or chicken is used). People usually eat this with sticky rice, lettuce, or cabbage. It can make up for a good snack or an entire meal. It’s distinct freshness comes from the basil and mint. It is also mixed with peppers, green onions, cilantros, garlic, lime juice, and more. Check out the recipe here!

Khao Pun

http://www.therestoflhistoire.com/

A noodle dish with a coconut based curry (usually combined with a chicken broth) and is made with vermicelli noodles. There are many variations to this dish as one can customize theingredients to their preferences. A highlight are the fresh ingredients such as banana flower, bean sprouts, basil, green onions, bamboo shoots, and cilantros. The flavors are customized by using fish sauce, salt, and the broth itself. Check out the recipe here!

Sticky Rice

tesathome.com

The texture of sticky rice is different from other rice because it has a different texture and it sticks together much more compare to other rices. It can be eaten as it is with other dishes or as a desert by serving it with mango and coconut cream. Recipe!

Lao Sausage

asiagreentourism.org

Known for its red color and spicy flavors, the Lao sausage is different from other sausages. You would have to taste it for yourself because it has a unique taste. It can be fried, steamed, and grilled. It is made with minced pork, shallots, peppers, garlic, lemongrass, and more! Check out the full recipe here!

Spread the Awareness of Obesity!

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Patricia Thao

AMA STEP UP Youth

“Physical education programs are being cut from schools due to competing priorities. And unfortunately, this not only hurts kids’ health, but it hinders their ability to learn as well. In order to help #ProtectPE, we all need to be informed about the state of physical education across the country and in our own communities.” – Rightful owner

Nowadays, kids are less active compared to the past due to the recent technology advancement and less funding for physical ed programs. More kids are staying inside at their school and home without getting much opportunity to be active outside and during school hours.

http://www.ncsl.org/

“Obesity rates have soared over the past four decades. Today, more than 23 million kids and teenagers — nearly a third — are overweight or obese.” – http://www.preventobesity.net/

It’s important to remember that physical activity is very important for not only your health, but also to your well being. This is the true goal of help kids stay active! What are the positive benefits of being physical active:

Burning off energy = stress level decrease, burn calories
At schools, it helps students concentrate during class and in their studies when they are able to have breaks in between.
Test your knowledge of physical activity in schools linked here!

Current Events in May!

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Patricia Thao

Wondering about what events are occurring in May? A few are listed down below and maybe you might want to attend some of them with your friends and families. There is something for everyone from music to sightseeing! Make sure to check around your local areas of other events that may not be posted online.

The Pan Asian Arts Festival 2016 is happening at MOA on May 14th from 12PM-8PM! Come enjoy free performances, games, and carnival activities! Get the chance to see the performances from Iny Asian Dance Theater, Mu Gung Hwa Korean Dance Group, Sumunar Indonesian Dance Ensemble, and much more! It’s a free event for all!
May is also recognized as National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (NTPPM). It advocates to spread awareness and prevention of teen pregnancy. Click here for more info!
The Minnesota History Center is hosting the “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation: the Depression, the War, the Boom” exhibit about those who lived through the Great Depression, World War II, and the years after the war! Admissions are $11 and it would be a great experience for everyone!
SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week 2016 – May 15-21, 2016
- “SAMHSA’s fifth annual National Prevention Week, happening May 15-21, 2016, is dedicated to increasing public awareness and prevention of mental and/or substance use disorders. During National Prevention Week, community organizations across the country host health fairs, educational assemblies, town hall meetings, memorial walks, social media campaigns, outdoor events, and more. This year’s theme—Strong as One, Stronger Together—recognizes that one person can make a positive difference in their community, but when we all unite together we can achieve even more.” – Rightful owner
Other helpful links for Minnesota events occurring in May:

Bicultural Healthy Living

A Balanced Approach to a Bicultural Healthy Life

Author Archives: Patricia Thao