Kim Hyun-Hee of Four Nature Foods sells a really good Kimchi at the Farmers' Market Winter Mart, along with other foods and health products. You can check out their website at fournature.com. Here she discusses the differences and similarities of Korean culture and American culture: "Korean culture is more based around Confucius, so we always are thinking about more politeness and how to show it to people. Sometimes we need to think less about ourselves but more about other people, how to make them happy, but Western culture is more individualized and more thinking about one's life." "What's one thing that's the same?" "One thing basic to humans is love and sharing and happiness."
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The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society runs the Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton Street, and Barbara Kowitz is its Executive Director. She spoke with me about the most important thing she wants people to know about the museum : "That it's their museum. You know, I think cultural institutions are so critical in our society, *but* when you have a museum that's all about the history of *your* home, and telling the stories of the people and the events, it makes it very special. And I think it's important for the people of the Lehigh Valley and Northampton County and eastern Pennsylvania to recognize that it's the stories of those who came before us. And I think it makes it that much more special, although you can come from anywhere to enjoy a history museum." "And what are you most proud of in your tenure as Executive Director?" "I think growing it. Going from a lovely but typical, small historical society to the steward of a museum, a world class museum, to showcase our collections, is really an amazing adventure for all of us, and obviously that's a whole team that makes something like that happen. But I think the fact that we did it, and that we keep growing it, and that we keep growing our organization and our collections makes me really feel like I'm contributing to something good." You can learn more about the Sigal Museum and the NCHGS from their website, sigalmuseum.org, and on their Facebook page. "What's your best trait?" "Being goal oriented. Thinking forward. I'm not very far through school, but when looking ahead to what I wanted to do with my life, with my education. I wasn't positive, but I looked forward to what I may want and saw a path. Pieces of the path, I guess is the best way to say it. " "So where is that path leading?" "I aspire to be a recording engineer someday, with help from those around me. My family, very helpful, found me a way to get to that. A school that would have an appropriate program and tools to get there." I met Jaime Karpovich at the Easton Farmers' Market Winter Market and was knocked out by her enthusiasm and effervescence. We discussed "Save The Kales" (her vegan blog--you can find it on Facebook or at https://savethekales.wordpress.com/tag/jaime-karpovich/) and how being a vegan is not just for the fringe anymore. Here's how she started over in Easton: "I got out of a relationship, needed a fresh start, came to Easton--I wanted to move to Easton for about two years now--lived in Bethlehem for ten. I just felt like the community here was very sincere. I felt like there was cooperation, not competition. There's just a vibe that I fell in love with. It's been amazing, and every time I've gone out so far in the last month since I've moved, I walk into a place knowing one person and I leave knowing ten. Everyone is so friendly." "Tell me about your blog." "It's a vegan lifestyle blog; I do recipes. I also have a column in Lehigh Valley Style called 'Fresh Perspectives' where I talk about people and things and creative stuff around the Lehigh Valley. I also have a TV show called 'Save The Kales' which airs on RCN cable. It's going to start airing in Washington DC, and we're on Roku and YouTube." "I was a terrible vegan, so what's your best advice for someone who wants to try the vegan lifestyle but feels like they probably can't hack it?" "I think that now is an easier time than ever. Restaurants are very accommodating. Last night I was at Black and Blue here in Easton; they have a vegan lasagna on the menu, vegan nachos… I think it used to be that people thought it was weird and somehow insulting to them as a chef to make food, and now they're sort of embracing that there's flavors and spices and textures and herbs and you can do so many creative things. So I think a lot of chefs are getting more excited about the opportunity to explore." "Has vegan cheese improved? That was my stumbling block..." "Oh, yeah. It really has. It's amazing what you can do with cashews!" His name is ZZo and he approached me after watching me interview someone else. He was excited to tell me that he wants to bring about new ideas in the arts: "Number one, I would say you have to be loyal to your team. And you need people. You need to build your network. Number two, you keep a vision, you build it, and then you fill in all the blanks to get there." "So what's *your* vision?" "I want to build the new age of music. I'm the New Age King: that's what they call me. I want to bring a new age to everything. Right now it's all about shoot-em-up, bang bang, and I'm talking about creation and what humans can create with thought." |
These are the stories of the people of Easton, PA Archives
August 2018
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