May 2022

GRAPEVINE

History Abroad – Michael Henderson

Issue No. 6

The Nostalgia of Road Trips – Katelyn Sondereker

Just like February, May is another special month inIn America, taking road trips is a very popularAmerica; Asian American and Pacific Islander History

activity, especially in the summer when children don’t

Month (AAPI History Month)! This is when many

have school. Because America is so big, people often

people celebrate the achievements and history of Asian

don’t think twice about driving hours and hours to getAmericans and Pacific Islanders in America. This time Isomewhere. Road trips with my family are some of mywill talk about a special neighborhood in Seattle; Thefavorite memories - hopping in the car at 3 AM with

Chinatown-International District.

pillows and blankets for sleeping in the car, books to read

The International District in Seattle is home to many

when you get bored, the perfect music playlist, and lots

Asian immigrants (移民) and Asian Americans. Duringand lots of road trip snacks. Road trips always feel likethe late 1800s and early 1900s, many Japanesean adventure.

immigrants came to America and settled in this area ofWhen I was in high school, my family and I went onSeattle. It became a Japantown ( 日本人町), and wasa long road trip to the West parts of America. West offilled with Japanese restaurants and stores. However, inwhere I live in Ohio, there are lots of beautiful landmarks

1942 during World War II, all Japanese people in Seattle,and natural wonders to see. So we brought two tents andincluding my family, were sent to Internment Camps

camping gear and drove all the way to the Rocky(日系人強制収容所) for 3 years. They had to sell orMountains in Colorado, which was a 20-hour drive! But

throw out all their belongings, and leave their houses

it was worth it because the mountains were so beautiful.

empty. Due to this, the Japantown in Seattle wasAfter that, we would camp wherever we went,

suddenly gone. Even after the war, the Japantown nevercooking food over the fire and sleeping in tents andbecame like it once was, though the International

sleeping bags. We visited the some very famous places

District carried on as an area for Asian Americans.

in America, like the Grand Canyon (キャニオン), which

Today, it is a bustling district filled with mostly

is a huge valley with a river running through it, andChinese and Vietnamese businesses. I often go here with

Mount Rushmore, which is a mountain that has faces ofmy friends to try out the newest bubble tea shop, or eat

American Presidents carved into it. America has many

at a late-night dim sum restaurant. I really miss all thebeautiful National Parks, and I hope to visit more ofPho (フォー) (Vietnamese Noodle Soup) places here

them in the future.

especially! There are also many festivals throughout theyear that celebrate Asian culture, such as the Seattle Bon

What do you want to know about road trips inAmerica? Come ask us about them!

Odori or Lunar New Year Festival. There are still
popular Japanese stores, and new businesses are

Kate-sensei withpopping up every day, but the original ones are very few.

her family in front

The places that remain from the original Japantown areof the Rocky

still in business, butMountains.

are hidden away onside streets, serving
as a reminder ofSeattle’shistory.

Japanese

Kate-sensei and herbrothers and sisters
looking at theGrand Canyon.

和製英語 – Be Careful!
 Did you know that the term “SNS” is 和製英語? If you say “SNS” to a native English speaker, they might get
confused or think you’re saying “SMS”, which is a phrase that means text messages. In fact, I didn’t hear theword “SNS” until I came to Japan! The word you want to use instead is “social media”. “Social Media” and “SNS”
mean the same thing, but we only say “social media”. Here’s an example:

Grace: “I need to stop using my phone so much, I think I’m addicted to social media.”
Jordan: “Yeah, I felt the same way, so I deleted my Instagram.”

Next time you’re writing an English essay or speaking with someone from abroad,try using the world “social media” instead!

Asian American Spotlight!
This is one of my favorite
singers, Keshi, a Vietnamese
American from Texas. He
used to be a nurse, but thenpursued music full-time. His
story reminds me to always
follow my heart, but also towork hard. Give him a listen!

Are we there yet?
Road trips in America usually take a LONG
time! Like Calvin in the comic, children often
ask their parents, “Are we there yet?” and“How much longer?” and “How much longerNOW?” when they are tired of being in the car.
Sometimes children will ask so much thatparents will tell their children to stop asking! Orthey will say,“We`ll be there before you know it.”
What do you think this phrase means? Cometalk to us about it!

The Best Road Trip Songs!
Don‘t Stop Believin` – Journey
Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
Something Just Like This – Chainsmokers
Weight of Dreams – Greta Van Fleet
Antifreeze – Yerin Baek