By Lydia Listening to the drumbeat Seeing my people dance It's Grand Entry time Four generations of Greatgrandparents, grandparents, parents and myself in rich regalia. Colors of red, orange, yellow, and blue. Colors of the rainbow, dancing after a rain. A celebration of life still coursing through our veins. A way of life.

By Stephanie Tarjinder is my dad and he is currently 63 years old and living in Hong Kong. He has been smoking since he was fifteen and refuses to quit. When he was a child he and his family were very poor and they didn’t have enough money for the children to complete school. His older sister worked four jobs just to fund him and the rest of her siblings to attend school. However, my dad got kicked out of school due to not handing in homework because he had to help out his family after school. His second youngest brother would always fight at school with other students and the teachers, so they would punish him with a belt or a bamboo stick. My dad first married an office girl, and they have three sons who are currently in their mid thirties. He loves kids a lot and he wishes that he can have millions of kids, so his kids can take over his business when he retires. He and his wife got a divorce, and after three years he met my mom in Hong Kong through a friend. They fell in love, got married and had me when he was 40. My parents then opened up a restaurant in Stockton, California. Dad loves to take me to Disneyland and parks. Later, dad suggested to my mom about taking me to Canada to meet my aunt and uncle so I could stay and go to school there if I liked it there. So when I moved to Canada, he moved to Hong Kong to find a job since he is not really a big fan of the Western culture. He loves the Asian culture more and he wanted to be close to his siblings. When I was ten years old, my dad divorced my mom and remarried for a third time. My dad told me later I had a baby half-sister in Hong Kong with his third wife. My baby half-sister is currently twelve years old. I remember those fun times going with my family to Disneyland I had so much fun going on the roller coaster, and had cotton candies and taking pictures with all the Disney characters. I also remember the moments where I was just a kid and I used to play with all the buttons in my father’s car and I remember having my finger stuck in the window. I couldn’t believe my father started smoking so young, but I guess that time he and his family was going through a hard time. My grandpa Joe was born in Fujian, China in 1918. He was the only child because his mother had miscarriage a year before his birth. His father died during the partition of India. Grandpa completed grade eight, studied to become a teacher, and learned Chinese brush-style in his spare time. He worked in a warehouse after he completed school, but he was soon laid off during the Great Depression. He found a part time job as a chef in Hong Kong. On special occasions, he would go to a jewelry store to purchase jewelry for his girlfriend, but her family disapproved of the marriage proposal, and so he had to return the ring to the jeweler. He met my grandma then, and they dated for two years before he proposed to her. After they were married, grandpa was drafted into the war onto the war to fight the Japanese army. While grandpa went to war, grandma went into hiding for safety. He and grandma started a family after he returned and while he worked as a teacher, grandma became a housewife. After several years, he got cancer but did not have enough money for surgery, so one of his married daughters, who was living in Vancouver, applied for him and grandma come live and have surgery here. He and grandma became Canadian citizens. After a year and he had surgery performed at Vancouver general Hospital a year later. The surgery was a great success and he became cancer free. My grandparents would help out at a restaurant that his second daughter and husband opened in Vancouver. They went to see my birth in 1985. Two years later, I immigrated here and he would take care of me and teach me daily living skills. My grand parents moved to a seniors’ apartment when I was five. He enjoyed toast and coffee every morning for breakfast. In 2000, when he went for a check up, the doctor found out that he had a black shadow on his x-ray scan, and found out he had cancer two months later. His memory and health deteriorated and he passed away in 2005. I loved my grandpa a lot, he was my favorite family member, and I could tell him anything and he always understood. My grandpa was like my best friend. I missed his cooking that he always made for me, and I miss him taking me to the doctor’s clinic when I was sick. I can’t believe God had to take him away from us that soon. My grandpa always protected me when my grandma hit me or other family members hit me, just because I don’t listen to them except for my grandpa. Lily is my mother, she is 61 years old, and she is currently living with her mother in San Francisco, California. She has been living there ever since I moved to Canada with my aunt. She was born in Goungzou, China. She has three siblings and she is the middle of the three sisters. She went as far as to grade six before withdrawing from school due to her father’s death. She also had to earn money for her family and to complete elementary and junior high school. She worked at a jewelry store selling jades and pearl necklaces. In my mother’s early child hood, she was never allowed to date because her parents believed she would lose focus on her education and job. When my mom went to Hong Kong to visit her family members when she was 25 years old, her friend introduced my father to her at a warehouse factory. My parents dated for five years and then got married. My mom had me when she was 38 years old., but I wasn’t the couple’s first child as my dad and his wife have three kids together, making me a half-sister. My mom was scared that when I grew up, my half-siblings would not accept me as their younger half-sister. Later on my parents moved to Stockton, California, and my mom worked in a sewing factory making clothes while my dad worked at a car dealership. My got then got sick and tired of selling cars, so then he and my mom opened a family restaurant in downtown Stockton. My mom can’t speak much English, but she enjoys learning ballroom dancing. She is so proud to have me as her daughter. My mom and dad both thought of sending me to live with my aunt, so I could have a better education and future due to the pricey education and living expenses in the United States. After I moved to Vancouver with my aunt, my mom moved to San Francisco and started work in a sewing factory again while my dad immigrated to Hong Kong. It’s interesting where my mother was born because I went to Gongzou China, last year and I hated it there because they kill dogs and serve them to customers and sell rabbits. I’m amazed that my mom had me when she was 38 years old, sometimes when she comes to Canada to visit me all my friends thought she’s my grandma. I love my mother because she is so old fashion and she never understands how I feel and what I like.

Big Family with Large Heart By Jared I come from a very large family that has many generations living in Vancouver now. My family includes my grandparents who came all the way from China, many aunts, uncles and a whole lot of cousins. I live with my dad, mom, and older sister. My family is large in numbers and large hearted. A memorable event that they did for me that I will always remember happened a year ago right after my graduation ceremony. All along I was clueless about their plan and I spoiled it. What happened was very amusing. Let me explain. My mom led me to think she was planning a social for a co-worker and she told me to help her set up the gazebo for her friend’s retirement party. After we set it up I went to a movie with a friend and was told to come back at 5:30 pm. When I arrived home and my friend left I forgot my house key that was embarrassing because I never forget. So I went to the back of the house and found my relatives there. They were chatting, socializing and having a good time. No one noticed me come in until I was up the back stairs and onto the sundeck. My sister looked at me and screamed, “What are you doing here?” everyone turned around, shock turned to laughter. Then everyone yelled “Surprise”. I guess the first surprise was on them. Then I realized it was a surprise party for me and I spoiled the surprise. I was so happy because all of my family members were there (although a few are still living in China). At the end I thought the real surprise was how special I am to my family. So the surprise was on me. I am lucky to have a family that has big hearts. This is one big reason that says my family is caring and I hope my family and relatives will continue to carry on with Big Heart and Big Surprises.

Up at the Crack of Dawn By Pamela Without warning Came a Sunday morning To ready our awakening senses We all pack our picnic lunches five kids together, we had our hunches And with our Dad Crowd together with the dog as well Scurried along in the family car Drove off to the banks of Mighty Fraser Wow, it was swell Eating from a jar Those days always to amaze How it makes me quiver on that old Mighty River.

I am By David I am a Christian. But I don’t know Jesus well. I just know how big my church is. I am fifty-seven years old. But I don’t know how to live well. I just know I don’t know much of anything. I am a man. But I don’t know if I am a gentleman or not. I just know I am a male who loves females. I was born in the southern part of Korea. But now I live in Vancouver, Canada. I don’t know where to go in the future. I was rich in Korea. But now I am poor in Canada. I don’t know how poor or rich I will be in the future. I was a highly-educated in Korea. But now I am a grade 11 student in Canada. I don’t know if I can get higher education in the future. I don’t know this entire world. But now I know the only one. I just know that everything has its end. I just know a day is being prepared for the end of my life. Until then, I will love my wife more, my son, and my neighbors. Until then, I will do more of what I wanted, dreamed, and liked. And then, I will be satisfied with my life. Until the very last moment of my proud life.

A generation a part of history By Pamela Harold met Doreen, in 1945 at an English club in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Doreen was born in Argentina and was an only child of her parents who were born in England. Her father died when she was only ten years old. She attended boarding school, where she lived in a room shared with 5 to 6 other girls from the age of 5 until 16. She then went on to become a pupil teacher teaching English at Quilmes, Argentina. Harold was born in England and had two sisters. His parents were both born in England. Harold became ill with TB at the age of 10 and he spent over one year in hospital. He had a gland from his neck removed. His great admiration of the sea led him to Navy School in Wellesley, England. Harold had a great love for the sea and traveled a good part of his life out at sea. He fought in World War II on ship that was torpedoed, but luckily survived to watch ship sink. Harold and Doreen lived in England for five years where Doreen had given birth to a son Philip in 1950. They immigrated to Canada coming by ship, The Empress of Australia, and after a long journey on the seas landed in Montreal, Quebec, in 1953. They ten traveled by train across Canada to reside in Vancouver, British Columbia, where Harold was looking for work. He was hired by The Coca Cola Company in 1953. Doreen was busy looking after their son, Philip, and being a good housewife. She then gave birth to a daughter, Pauline, born in 1954 in Burnaby, BC. In 1955 Harold left the Coca Cola Company to join the Black Ball Ferries and the family moved to Nanaimo, BC. Doreen was busy raising her children while Harold spent a lot of time on the ocean with his long hours of work. Doreen gave birth to three more children while in Nanaimo, BC; Pamela in 1956, Peter in 1957 and Patricia in 1961. Harold left Black Ball Ferries in 1962and went to work for The Royal Mail Lines as Cargo Superintendant, and they moved to Richmond, BC, in 1962. He went on to become a Marine Superintendant when Furness Withy Company, took over the Royal Mail Lines. He worked for many years there and retired on July 1, 1984. Doreen had various jobs at different locations when her children were grownup. She spent a lot of time volunteering in the community and being interested in religious groups. She traveled back to England on a few occasions by herself to visit her mother and just to be in England on other occasions. Her mother died in 1978 in Brighton, England at a nursing home. Harold died in 1990 in Richmond, BC, at home. Doreen lives in Coquitlam, BC, at room and bard for seniors. She is still very sociable within the community taking part in various groups and goes to church every Sunday.

A Necklace Piece By Pamela I have a gold pendant with a purple amethyst stone in an intricate design that I cherish dearly. It belonged to my mother. She received it as a gift from her grandmother when she was a young girl. I really like it. It gives me warm feeling and memories of when my mother would wear it when I was a young child. She gave it to me for safekeeping and I only wear it on special occasions. I also have another ruby with pearls pendant, and it is also for safekeeping. One day while my older sister, Pauline came to visit me, I showed it to her and she wanted it, but felt guilty that our younger sister, Trish didn’t receive any jewelry. Pauline thought that after one year, she would let my younger sister wear it for a while, and they could share it. A couple of years later before my sister, Pauline, passed on, she gave it to my younger sister. My younger sister, Trish, always hoped she could give it back to Pauline if she could overcome her cancer, but Pauline died. I will always treasure my necklace with a lot of memories and remember Pauline’s generosity.