Name: Shiyun Lin (Serena) Live in: Awesome DC Originally from: Fujian, China Profession: Student at American University, Washington, DC, where I am pursuing a master’s degree in Public Communication
What I love about the DC area the most: My favorite thing about D.C. is that there are so many folks dedicating their spare time into the charities.
I myself has been inspire and have been volunteering in various fashion events benefiting the good causes.
About me: I am a twenty-three years old. I was born and raised in Fujian, China and attended boarding school in Cambridge, United Kingdom. I moved to the United States from Xiamen, Fujian, China in 2009. I speak fluent Chinese Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese (Hokian), and English. I also speak some French, thanks to my half-French grandfather. Read more of this post
I was a 19 year old Iranian when I was drafted to the Iran/Iraq War back in 1983, one of the bloodiest Wars of the 20th Century. Incidentally, the entire world, the former US defense secretary Rumsfeld and his boss, Reagan were supporting Saddam at the time:
A few days prior to one of our major strategic moves, about 200 Iranian soldiers, myself included, were rounded up to listen to an “inspirational speech” from a Mullah and two of his non clerical lieutenants. They were preparing us not to fear death.
The Mullah and his lieutenants started telling us about the heaven, the awesome time we will be having with seventy two virgins, and how desperately the virgins are looking forward to meet us up there. As a typical man, it got me excited first, you know. The thought of 72 chicks but the excitement lasted only a few seconds. The though of death, the thought of not seeing my fat mamma, my baby sisters, and fathers anymore, by far were more powerful than anything else. Maybe, if the Mullah had said sex with thousand women, it would have been different story But, 72! NO SIR! not enough to die for.
Saeed, the guy sitting right in the middle with the mustache, one of my very good friends made a joke about the virgins as the Mullah was still yapping. He said “wait a sec! but, I want to have sex down here on earth, not up there!”. Although, we were scared young soldiers with the thought of possibly getting killed in a few days, Saeed, me, and five other guys were literally hysterical about the situation. We laughed our pants off. But, this wasn’t a joking matter to them. So, all seven of us were yanked out of the unit and sent to the Army prison for a week because of the laughter. The punishment wasn’t really a week of going to prison, the thing is for every week of going to prison during the service, the Army added one additional month on top of our standard two years. Once released; sadly, we found out 125 other soldiers in the units were killed in the attack.
Neither I nor any of my other six friends would have fallen for the sex with seventy two virgins crap anyway, but the joke totally made one of the lieutenant and most of the surviving soldiers in our units rethink our motivations. We all continued talking and laughing about it for a few months. I am certain the lieutenant who was an ideologically changed man with fresh ideology was able to influence others in the system as well. I never saw him again. If he is still alive and reads this, I wish him well. As for my friend who made the joke, regretfully, he lost his life 3 months later in another attack – in fact a chemical attack, (the materials were given to Saddam Hussein by the US Government, and I think the Germans, to be more specific, the Dow Chemical Company).
About 2 million people including my very close cousin who was an army parashooter were killed during the 8 year war (1980-1988):
Curious as to what this personal story has anything to do with current U.S. State Department initiatives and diplomacy? Read more…
Wow! what a difference between the Chinatown I knew back in early 2000 when I left DC for Europe and the Chinatown in 2006 when I returned to DC. What happened during my absence here in DC? It now feels like you are walking in mini Piccadilly Circus of London – so many lighting, restaurants, movie theater, clubs, bars, large screen size advertising billboards.
Those of you none DCians, our Chinatown is a small historic neighborhood with handful of Chinese and Asian restaurants and other Chinese small businesses. It used to be dominantly all Chinese things there till I think MCI Center (now called Verizon Center) was built about thirteen years ago. The Friendship Arch, a traditional Chinese gate, prominently marks the neighborhood at H and 7th Streets. Chinatown is located near Penn Quarter, a revitalized arts and entertainment district with new restaurants, museums, theaters and trendy stores. Much of the area was torn down in late 1990′s to make way for Verizon Center. Chinatown is most visited for its restaurants and the annual Chinese New Year parade. So, If you are into Chinese parades, you will really enjoy the Chinatown parade. You will certainly feel the vibrant of neighborhood pride!
Since the presence of Verizon Center there, I don’t think you can call the area as home to Asian population anymore. There are only a handful of Asian restaurants and shops left, and that is too bad. The gate stands as a reminder of what was, not what is there today. I think what has also happened is the Penn Quarter which has taken over the old Chinatown. Chains and other popular places have renewed the area around the Museum and the Gallery Place (or better say Vegas-Square these days) has replaced a huge portion of the old Chinatown. So, the area may not be much for Asian American folks from San Francisco or Boston or NYC, but it offers a lot of entertainment and food value for the city.
Regardless, the area is still awesome. All the buildings adjacent to the Gallery Place development have been lovingly restored and filled with places that attract people. The National Portrait Gallery has been restored and renovated and also improved the looks of the area.
Location: Chinatown is located east of downtown Washington, DC between H and I Streets and 5th and 8th Streets, NW. Map
Name: Shiyun Lin (Serena)
but the excitement lasted only a few seconds. The though of death, the thought of not seeing my fat mamma, my baby sisters, and fathers anymore, by far were more powerful than anything else. Maybe, if the Mullah had said sex with thousand women, it would have been different story 
Elias Shams
Kamran Abdi
Tatiana Sorabi
