Photo Credit: Carolyn Hsu

While many blogs we come across today were created, well, yesterday, that is not the case with The Daily Obsession, a go-to lifestyle guide that manifested in the blogosphere in 2006. So when I met The Daily Obsession co-founder and editor, Carolyn Hsu, near Madison Square Park, I wasn’t surprised that she was business-savvy, outspoken and confident, with the experience of a “veteran” blogger who was smart enough to start a blog before everyone else jumped on the bandwagon.

Hsu fits into today’s up-and-coming breed of young entrepreneurs, with a multitasking, can-do, adaptive mentality. Since Hsu and her longtime friend Connie Wong, whom she met during high school, started The Daily Obsession six years ago, the blog has transformed into an established media entity, with over 200,000 monthly readers and staffers in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. The site has featured notable figures from designer Rebecca Minkoff to makeup artist Jemma Kidd. Hsu even interviewed actress Kate Winslet in 2009 right before the Oscars during what she calls one of the most exciting experiences of her blogging career. On top of The Daily Obsession, Hsu recently started her own personal style blog, The Hsu Closet, where she shares beautiful photos of her stylish outfits and accessories courtesy of her very own boyfriend-slash-photographer.

The work that goes into balancing not just one but two blogs includes attending many press events and meetings, reading every blog at night (Hsu’s favorites include My Style Pill, Saucy Glossie, The Blonde Salad, and Tales of Endearment) and jamming out blog posts every day. And, up until recently, blogging was a side job on top of her 9-to-7 full-time career—just like the multitude of bloggers that Hsu reveals lead a “dual life.”

Besides being a blogger extraordinaire, Hsu has also succeeded in marketing. After she graduated from the University of Washington in 2006, she was recruited to work at Microsoft in a marketing position in New York City, where she has lived for the past five years. She then moved on to The Economist, until she made her leap into the fashion industry by working in marketing for a luxury retailer.

Between Microsoft and fashion, life didn’t exactly go according to plan. “For me, going to law school always seemed like ‘the safety blanket,’ ” Hsu says of her original path. “But when I realized that I wasn’t even excited enough about the industry to try to get in the door, I decided to pursue what I was really passionate about: fashion and media. It was difficult to divert from the five-year plan, but I’m much better off for it because now I’m doing something that I’m excited about every day.”

While Hsu’s marketing career was taking off, The Daily Obsession was increasingly gaining credibility in the fashion and beauty industry—a status that is hard to achieve in the blogging world where anyone and everyone can call themselves a blogger. “As more and more brands started appreciating the value of social media, we started getting more advertisers and more brand partnerships,” says Hsu. “So it kind of took a life of its own.”

The site began gaining traction in 2008, and, unlike other blogs, brands were mostly reaching out to The Daily Obsession for product reviews and partnerships instead of vice versa—proving that the strong content and unique voice of the blog truly set it apart. “The trick to a long-lasting relationship is really being authentic,” Hsu adds. “I think what brands do appreciate is a strong point of view, because I think that’s why consumers read blogs—because they actually get a point of view.”

Photo Credit: Carolyn Hsu

Hsu was able to overcome many hurdles bloggers face thanks to her ability to quickly pick up skills on her own and her distinct point of view. With The Daily Obsession, Hsu downloaded a blog template, bought a domain and taught herself HTML to tweak the site. She now runs and maintains every aspect of The Hsu Closet herself, even learning Photoshop from Google searches.

Hsu’s hands-on, do-it-yourself attitude paved the way for her parents to accept her career path. Hsu recalls, “Ten years ago [my parents] were like, ‘You should be a doctor’, but I was like, ‘I can’t, I can’t!” Yet as she got older, she realized that you just have to prove yourself to your parents: “I think that once you show that you’re responsible and that you have a good head on your shoulders and you know what’s going on, they tend to trust you a lot more.”

So for the young teens who want to know how to make an impact in the blog and fashion industries, Hsu offers very practical words of wisdom. She urges aspiring editors to do as much freelance writing as you can. “The most important thing is sending in clips and having a point of view,” Hsu emphasizes. “A lot of companies now are looking for someone who has an interesting voice and can convey things in a cool way that actually hooks people.” To fashionistas, Hsu candidly advises, “Fashion is a very personality-driven industry, so work on your people skills and communication skills. Being an effective team player and overall friendly person can take you far.”

As for starting a blog, dedication and perseverance is key. “It’s definitely very hard to maintain a blog. You’re so motivated for a week, and then you’re like, ‘Oh, I had 30 hits this week’—and you’re like, ‘Oh, they all came from me,’ ” Hsu laughs. But she adds, “It’s really easy to drop off, or you get busy. Sticking with it definitely helps.”

Sticking with her hobby has definitely paid off for Hsu, and it’s safe to assume that this is only the beginning for her. With smart instincts and the tenacity to follow through on her interests and simply make things happen, we’ll be eager to hear what new places she will end up in. And luckily for us, we’ll be in the know—since her insight and new obsessions will just be a click away.

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Courtesy Eva Chen

On an early summer morning in Manhattan, Eva Chen walks into the W Hotel. Tall and slender, with barely noticeable makeup and a short, minimalist hairdo, she looks exactly how you would picture a Teen Vogue editor to be— effortlessly chic, with an astute attentiveness. Despite any ill-preconceived notions of intimidating editors due to my obsession with The Devil Wears Prada, I was immediately at ease with Eva and her endearing banter—especially after she started gulping down her order of breakfast and quickly apologized, “Sorry you have to watch me eat. I have to eat. I can’t not eat.”

In her candid and down-to-earth nature, the beauty and health director points out that the magazine industry isn’t all fun and play like the media often portrays. “99.9 percent of the time, you’re in the office at work,” said Chen. Work for her, however, includes being bombarded with at least 100 beauty products per day, attending fashion shows, backstage interviews and going to industry events.

For Chen, her job encompasses what she loves to do most—writing and helping others. As she unashamedly admitted, “I have a problem. People don’t even ask me for advice and I just give it.” Through the Teen Vogue brand and its magazine, website and blog—she was the first beauty editor at Condé Nast to start a blog—plus her personal Twitter, she’s been able to engage with teens in a whole new personal way. She’s the cool, smart sister you wish you always had around to ask for advice—and now only a Twitter @reply away.

“I’m open to giving [advice] probably because I remember being a teen and how hard it was to ask for help,” said Chen. “My whole life, I always wanted an older sister. I feel there’s a lot of value in having female friends, whether you’re a boy or girl, so I think that’s another reason why I love my job—because I grew up without having someone to turn to.”

As Chen opened up about her childhood, it became immediately apparent why many Asian girls reach out to her for advice and can identify with her easily. “I think Asian culture is very specific in that you’re told not to ask for help,” said Chen. “Even as Asian culture becomes more integrated into Western or American society, I still think, culturally, there are a few things that will probably hold true—the notion of ‘keeping face,’ the notion of ‘don’t go to others with your problems,’ like ‘figure it out yourself.’ I don’t know [if] that will change, so I think it’s really important for people to feel like they have someone to turn to. And I don’t mind being that person. Like I said, I can relate.”

From age 13 to 20, Eva spent every summer vacation taking summer school classes at Hunter College or Columbia University. Her parents, whom she described are “like many other Asian American parents [who] put a premium on my education,” wanted her to pursue business, law or medicine, and she enrolled in Johns Hopkins on a pre-med path with plans of becoming a doctor.

Anxious to take a break and do something different and fun, Chen applied for internships in the creative field between the summer of her junior and senior college years, landing a coveted full-time, paid internship at Harper’s Bazaar, which ultimately jump-started her magazine career. Chen recalled, “My first day of work [at Harper’s Bazaar] was kind of really an eye-opening experience. It was just that light-bulb-going-off-over-your-head moment. I just kind of realized that there was more out there. There were people who loved words and loved to write and loved to craft these stories and tell stories to people as their career.”

In retrospect, Chen admits there were clues all along, such as her love of reading and how English classes and the written word came really naturally to her as opposed to learning organic chemistry. “I think there are clues in everyone’s lives, whether or not they choose to tap into that,” said Chen. “So if you love movies and all you want to do is go to movies, you could probably make a career out of it. The world is so much bigger than doctor, banker, lawyer, accountant—all these ‘stable jobs.’ So generally, whatever your hobby is, there’s probably a way to make it into a career. That’s a lesson that I learned way, way later that I wish I’d known when I was 15.”

Besides the benefits of her internship experiences, Chen’s unexpected shift from medicine to magazines eventually ended up affecting her job today. “It’s funny because every experience I’ve had, from pre-med even, has translated into my writing and beauty career,” said Chen. “I’m also the health director at Teen Vogue, so my interest in science, nutrition, health and wellness has translated over into what I do now. It’s been really interesting to see how it all ties together. There’s no such thing as coincidences.”

Chen’s prowess in making the most of every opportunity, whether expected or not, and embracing changes in her life draws back to her roots and backbone—her Taiwanese parents who immigrated to the U.S. in the late ‘70s and her childhood in New York City’s Greenwich Village. Of her parents, Chen said, “I see how hard they’ve worked to be able to send my brother and me to good schools—to provide us with everything we’ve ever wanted. I’ve been incredibly blessed to have the best kind of parents that are out there.” Though an obvious answer, Eva immediately said her parents are the most influential people in her life. “My parents gave me the foundation upon which everything else is built. They gave me the education that instilled within me the confidence to do what I can do.”

In relation to her job as beauty and health director, Chen’s mom has perpetuated her love for skincare. “I feel like I grew up with a different perception of beauty because I saw my mom slather these creams on,” said Chen. “When we go out in the sun, she basically put so much sunscreen on that she would look like a ghost. She wears hats that are like umbrellas and would sit in the shade. I think the level of attention she paid to her skin definitely had an impact on me growing up.” And the same goes with her attention to wellness: “We didn’t grow up drinking much soda. We didn’t grow up eating much meat. We drank tea with everything and dessert was fruit.”

Though her cultural background has played a considerable role in her career as a magazine editor today, she doesn’t let her ethnicity strictly define her. Rather, Chen draws the most inspiration from the multi-ethnic, diverse city of New York where she grew up and currently resides. “It’s not one person or thing for me, but I derive such incredible energy from living in New York. I love living in New York. When people are like ‘You should move to…,’ I’m like ‘No. I’m staying in New York.’”

The New York City magazine editor lifestyle is one to be envied, but as Eva demonstrates, it’s a job for the passionate, giving individuals who love to express themselves through the written word and converse with their readers. Though there was more than could fit in this tiny space from our conversation, that Eva Chen has and will continue to impart in substantial dialogues with the teen audience and happily share her beauty and health advice—or any advice at all, whether you ask for it or not—is evident.

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“The Carrie Diaries”
Author: Candace Bushnell
Published: May 2010
Category: Relationships, Young Adult, Fiction, Teen Romance, Friendships
After garnering criticism about the apparent aging of the fab four ladies in the latest “Sex and the City 2” film, many SATC fans will be pleased to travel back in time—way back, to the teen years. In this young-adult prequel to SATC, Carrie Bradshaw is a small-town girl in her senior year of high school, but still up to her same-old antics—dealing with boy drama. We get to learn new stories about her family background, her early friendships and relationships, how she started writing and what brings her to New York City.

“Ilustrado”
Author: Miguel Syjuco
Published: April 2010
Category: Filipino, Humor, Fiction, International
Syjuco made a bold entrance with this debut novel, which earned him the 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize. Credited for being highly entertaining, humorous and vibrant, this book follows the investigation of author Crispin Salvador’s death and of his missing final manuscript that exposed the crimes of the Filipino ruling families. Miguel, Salvador’s student and only friend, conducts the investigation.

“Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose” 
Author: Tony Hsieh
Published: June 2010
Category: Business, Advice, Career, Inspiration, Management, Leadership
Summertime usually means interning or job hunting. “Delivering Happiness” is a great read for extra motivation and direction, especially for the business and entrepreneur-minded. In his first book ever, Taiwanese American Tony Hsieh, the CEO of the online shoe retailer Zappos, delves into his own unique company culture and philosophy to explain how companies can achieve success. Considering that sales at Zappos have grown to over $1 billion under Hsieh’s leadership, this is advice you want to hear.

“The Hunger Games” (Hunger Games Series #1)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Published: July 2010
Category: Science Fiction, Futuristic, Young Adult, Fantasy
This is a great pick for sci-fi fanatics who want to escape into a futuristic world. Set in the nation Panem, this dystopian tale follows a totalitarian government, the Capitol, which governs 12 districts through threats and devastation. Every year, each district sends one girl and one boy to appear in an annual event, “The Hunger Games,” where the basic rule is to kill or be killed, Battle Royale-style. Sixteen-year-old Katniss’s sister gets chosen for the game, but Katniss ends up going in her place.

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” (Millennium Trilogy Series #1)
Author: Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland (Translator)
Published: June 2009
Category: Fiction, Murder Mystery, Foreign, Trilogy, Upcoming Film Adaptation
Originally published in Sweden in 2005, this murder mystery has now become a huge hit in the U.S. The story follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist, who gets hired to investigate the disappearance of Harriet Vanger, a member of a very powerful and wealthy family. As a testament to the book’s page-turning popularity, a Hollywood adaptation is in the works, with actors such as Daniel Craig, Brad Pitt, Kristen Stewart and Carey Mulligan seeking central roles. For readers who enjoy the first book, two sequels have come out: “The Girl Who Played with Fire” and “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.”

“Somewhere Inside: One Sister’s Captivity in North Korea and the Other’s Fight to Bring Her Home”
Author: Laura Ling, Lisa Ling
Published: May 2010
Category: Nonfiction, Memoir, Political
This book gives a candid, touching account of the much-publicized capture of American reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee at the China-North Korea border. The story is told from the dual perspectives of Laura, during her interrogation in North Korea, and her acclaimed journalist sister Lisa Ling, who exhausted efforts at home to expedite Lisa’s release. This is a powerful read as it exposes the tense relationship between North Korea and the U.S., as well as the moving relationship between the two sisters.

“I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced”
Author: Nujood Ali, Delphine Minoui
Published: March 2010
Category: International, Foreign, Nonfiction, Memoir, Political, Family, Autobiography
Nujood Ali, a Yemeni girl who was forced by her father to marry a man in his 30s at age 10, writes about her own difficult but courageous life: After losing her virginity on her wedding night despite a request to wait until she was an adult, Ali entered into an abusive relationship—until she fled to a courthouse to file for divorce. Her biography covers the successful trial that made her the first child bride in Yemen to win a divorce, and her bravery earned her international recognition and the Glamour Woman of the Year title in 2008.

“Anthropology of an American Girl: A Novel”
Author: Hilary Thayer Hamann
Published: May 2010
Category: Coming-of-age, Teen, Adolescent, Young Adult, Fiction
In her ambitious debut novel, Hamann gives us an epic 600-page story about a seventeen-year-old Long Island high school girl in the late 1970s. The heroine takes us through a coming-of-age journey from her relatable drama-filled, rebellious teen years into her early adulthood in Manhattan in the 1980s.

“What I Talk About When I Talk About Running”
Author: Haruki Murakami
Published: July 2008
Category: Memoir, Running, Non-fiction, Sports, Advice, Inspiration
If you ever needed motivation to exercise and inspiration to push yourself to your limits both physically and mentally, this book provides just that. In a candid account, internationally-acclaimed writer Murakami gives us personal anecdotes, travelogues, advice and diary entries about his experience with long-distance running (which includes his mind-blowing account running a 62-mile ultra-marathon). Compared to his other fictional novels, this short non-fiction work gives us a fresh perspective on Murakami’s dedication and approach to running as well as his way of life.

Photos: Courtesy Amazon.com

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by Mandy Yeh for MochiMag.com

If you were to ask me five years ago whether I would ever consider cosmetic surgery, my answer would have been something along the lines of “Hell, no.” Ask me now and I say, “Not now, but who knows?”

My change in attitude has nothing to do with a heightened insecurity toward my looks—rather, it has to do with my newfound exposure to the cultural phenomenon of cosmetic surgery in East Asia, especially in the countries of South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Japan.

The prevalence of cosmetic surgery in Asia has reached a point where getting double eyelid (blepharoplasty) and nose (rhinoplasty) surgeries has become akin to getting braces. While cosmetic enhancement is common in the U.S., the social stigma surrounding the issue is much greater than that of Asia. Young Asian American women are in a unique position, as they’re influenced by both Asian and American cultural aesthetics. While many are against getting cosmetic surgery, others have jumped on the bandwagon.

Dr. Haowen Liu, M.D., a plastic surgeon in Taiwan, says that most of his Asian American patients are college girls or high school teenagers who come in with their moms or other family members during summer or winter vacation. Twenty percent of his patients ask for combined eyelid and nose surgeries, and the female to male ratio is about 5 to 1.

Despite rising acceptance of cosmetic surgery in the U.S., reactions still vary widely. After interviewing several Asian American young women and men, mainly between the ages of 18 to 25, I observed that while some girls simply accepted the nature of cosmetic surgery as a popular trend, others strongly repelled the entire culture of cosmetic surgery.

Hazel, a 16-year-old Korean American from California, falls under the former. “It would be an exaggeration to say that I completely support the practice, but I’m not against it either. It’s just a part of modern life,” she said. Jinee, a 22-year-old Korean American from New York, has also come in terms with the prevalence of this procedure. “I used to be very against it, but now that so many people seem to get plastic surgery, I think I’ve made myself think that it’s okay or acceptable.”

For girls who strongly view cosmetic surgery in a negative light, their main issue is with the fixation Asians have with one particular look as their standard for beauty: big eyes, oval face, pointy nose, pale, white skin and stick-skinny body.

Sandra, a 20-year-old Korean American from New Jersey, finds the obsession with this standard, especially in South Korea, absurd. “I think the biggest gripe I have is that all Korean women don’t just want to look beautiful by enhancing their own natural-born beauty, but they want to look like the Korean standard of beauty…for some reason, all Korean women think they must get their eyes and nose done,” she said. “God or nature or fate no longer produces Korean beauty. Dr. Lee in Apgujeong does, for $10,000.”

When thinking about the psychology behind the Asian standard of beauty, a frequent argument that comes up is whether Asians are getting double eyelid and nose surgeries in order to look more like Westerners. Some of the girls I spoke with admit that there’s logic in this assertion. “Euro-centricism has always played an important role in our modern cultural society, and I think plastic surgery is an inevitable result of our world’s history, given that Caucasians have been the world’s most powerful racial group for centuries,” said Hazel.

Others, however, believe that it’s a poor assumption to make. “Of course bigger eyes and pointier noses are more associated with Caucasian attributes because facial features are prevalent with the race. However, I don’t think Asians are trying to look Caucasian by getting these surgical procedures done.”

Though it’s easy to make quick judgments and generalizations about standards of beauty, cosmetic surgery is very much a complicated, personal topic, as there are varying opinions about exactly which plastic surgery procedures are more acceptable than others.

For some girls, such as Tammy, a 24-year-old Chinese American who underwent jaw surgery for a serious under bite, getting plastic surgery was a decision made mainly for functional purposes. Then there’s Korean American Stephanie, who underwent double eyelid surgery because her ophthalmologist noticed her eyelashes were scratching her cornea and could cause problems later on. “If I didn’t have a medical reason for the surgery, I don’t think I would have gone through with the procedure,” she said.

Debates about the necessity of cosmetic surgery is therefore one of the biggest differences between Asian and American culture.

In America, cosmetic surgery is mostly associated with the culture of Beverly Hills and Hollywood, rather than the average middle class American family. In Asia, the cost for getting cosmetic surgery is seen as an acceptable amount for middle class families, not just for high-income households or celebrities. According to Dr. Liu, a rhinoplasty costs around $1000-2000 USD, while double eyelid surgery costs around $800 – $1200 USD. Just as Americans are willing to dish out a couple thousand dollars for braces, middle class families in Asia also see cosmetic surgery as a necessary investment, where some mothers even pay for the surgery costs as a “graduation gift” for their daughters.

Stephanie’s parents offered to pay for the surgery twice. “Double eyelid surgery is something I’ve heard about my whole life,” she said. “I can even recall being four years old and my parents compared me to my brother who had double eyelids.” (Stephanie’s mom has natural double eyelids, and though her dad did not, he ended up getting the double eyelid surgery when he went back to Korea as well).

Though pressures from parents and pop culture play a large role in influencing girls into thinking they need cosmetic surgery, the overall consensus I got from speaking with these Asian American girls is that in the end, personality counts the most. It sounds cliché, but a major part of American culture is that yes, you have the choice to do whatever you’d like to your body, while it’s equally stressed that confidence and self-contentment comes from within.

As Dr. Liu blatantly puts it, “Plastic surgery can improve one’s appearance or image, but is poor in saving a marriage or getting a promotion. Lists of operations can help you look younger or prettier, but none can promise you a better life.”

After speaking to a few Asian American guys to get their take, it seems they’re on the same boat about stressing the importance of personality over looks.

“I think plastic surgery in itself is perfectly fine—it’s the motive that taint[s] it,” said Korean American Minnow. “I think the prettiest women are those who don’t need make up on or a flattering dress.  But more than what’s appealing to my eyes, the deeper reasons that make up their personality and character [make] them more or less attractive to me.”

When asked if plastic surgery would affect his decision to date a girl, Corey, a Chinese American from New York, says, “It doesn’t bother me, but it shows no originality and I feel these women have insecurity issues…I’d rather have her personality traits change for the better than her nose, eyelids and boobs going for surgery. Have some confidence in yourself, woman! A woman that is confident is a plus.”

So there you go. At the end of the day, the main issue comes down to the motives behind getting cosmetic surgery, not the actual procedure itself. If you’re impelled to get cosmetic surgery, the best advice is to have realistic goals about the outcome.

For more, check out our plastic surgery Q & A with Dr. Liu.

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Q. What are your criteria for accepting patient requests for cosmetic surgery?
A. One must keep in mind that not all plastic surgeries are positive or beneficial to the patients, no matter if the results are successful or not (objectively). Some patients, for example, don’t appreciate changing too much, while the others don’t appreciate changing too little. Before the operation, plastic surgeons have to figure out precisely what and how much the patient wants, and rule out those patients who have unrealistic expectations from surgery or treatment. Thorough communication is a very important step to a positive aesthetic surgery. Fortunately, during my career as a plastic surgeon the positive feedback I got from the aesthetic patients were as many as those from my reconstructive patients from before. It doesn’t mean that every surgery I performed was perfect; it rather means every surgery I performed was needed (by the patient).

Q. What are the most popular cosmetic procedures performed for young Asian American girls?
A. They came mainly for blepharoplasty (usually double eyelid surgery), hair removal, or skin problems, such as nevus excision or IPL+RF treatment (a kind of non-invasive treatment which utilizes combined energy of intensified pulsed light and radiofrequency.) As the countries they come from (U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia) are dominantly Caucasian, eyelid and nose surgeries are most commonly asked for and performed. Other common treatment/surgeries include augmentation mammoplasty, square face (mandibule osteotomy, or more acceptable treatment—botox injection for masseter muscle), liposuction (face or body contour sculpturing), acne scar, etc.

Q. What are the limitations for getting some of these surgeries?
A. Any operation will be refused or deferred for patients under 18 years old unless her parents give consent. This is under the prerequisite that the patient makes the decision by herself (and that she’s not under the influence or pressure of anyone, including her parents), and after a full discussion with her parents and doctor. Operations not aimed at treatment purpose (e.g. restoring function) are not suggested for younger girls even if her parents agree. Certain operations, e.g. rhinoplasty (nose job) and mammoplasty (breast reduction or enlargement) should be deferred until the nasal bone/thoracic cage/pectoralis muscles are completely developed, which differs by age for each individual.

Q. Can you describe the general cosmetic procedures?
Double eyelid surgery—is only performed on (and usually, by) Asian people because of their different anatomical structure from Caucasians. I usually remove some skin, fat and muscular tissue to improve the “puffy” look of most Asian women, and in addition to create a double fold. Local anesthesia and operation time takes about 30 to 60 minutes, marked swelling lasts 2 to 4 days, stitches come out in 5 to 7 days, and the total recovery time takes around 6 to 12 wks. The approximate cost for this surgery is NT$ 25000-40000.

Nose surgery (rhinoplasty) — Asians mostly get the “augmentation rhinoplasty” procedure which involves local anesthesia, concealed incision in nostril, and a silastic implant. Operation time takes 15 to 20 minutes and recovery takes 2 weeks. The implant rejection rate is less than 2 to 5 percent, where sometimes you may need to have a cartilage graft from auricle for nose tip sculpturing. The approximate cost this surgery is NT$35000 to 60000.

Q. What are the circumstances where you don’t approve of a patient’s wish to get surgery?
1. When the patient has unrealistic expectations about the result of the surgery.
2. When the patient has uncertainty about the operation site or the extent of change.
3. If the patient has insufficient recovery time (because of a short stay, tight flight schedule, etc.)
4. If the patient has diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or is psychologically immature or impaired.
5. If the patient is under 18 years old, they’ll need parent or guardian approval.
6. Some operations could only be performed on physiologically developed patients (mammoplasty, rhinoplasty, bone shaving surgery, chin/nasal implantation, etc.)

For more information and viewpoints on plastic surgery, read our survey results.

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by Hazel Hyon for MochiMag.com

When I go to Asia, it’s hard not to notice that most people there are incredibly skinny, especially in comparison to the average American. The difference in body types is apparent when I shop in Asia, and I find myself having to buy clothing in a size large, instead of my usual small or medium sizes. Then there are the remarks I hear from relatives about how “healthy” I look, which is their polite way of saying I must be eating a little too well.

Much of what accounts for why Asians are generally more slender and healthier than Americans — who are currently dealing with widespread obesity — lies in the differences in diet. By comparing the eating habits in the U.S and East Asia (mainly China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan), we can understand why and how the typical Asian diet can translate into a healthier lifestyle.

Let’s first look at the general types of foods consumed on a regular day in the U.S. and East Asia:

From the table above, we see that the main ingredient in the Asian diet is the beloved white rice. According to Oldways, rice provides 25 to 80 percent of the calories in the daily diet of 2.7 billion Asians. It’s typically eaten with every meal, in the form of steamed, sticky rice. As author Jason Bussell of “The Asian Diet: Simple Secrets for Eating Right, Losing Weight, and Being Well” explains in an interview with Thatsfit.com, “White rice is the most hypo-allergenic, easily-assimilated and energetically neutral of the grains.” Since it’s so easy to digest, rice can be eaten frequently throughout the day. On the other hand, the main ingredient for Americans is white bread, which in large amounts causes carb-overload, and unnecessary weight gain.

Another major ingredient in the Asian diet is soy, frequently consumed in the form of tofu, which contains large amounts of iron, calcium and protein, while being low in carbohydrates and fats. Since many Asians tend to be lactose-intolerant, they often drink soymilk rather than whole milk. Soymilk is a healthier option, as it has the same amount of protein as cow’s milk, but with smaller amounts of saturated fat and no cholesterol.

Besides food products, a major contribution to the healthy diet of Asians comes from their frequent consumption of tea, particularly green, oolong or black. Tea is drunk throughout the day, especially after meals. Its health benefits have long been lauded, as it’s known to help prevent heart diseases, intestinal disorders and cancers as it contains antioxidants. In the U.S., on the other hand, coffee, whose health benefits are often questionable, remains the preferred source of caffeine.

Eating Style

While Americans usually eat from separate dishes, Asians are accustomed to family-style dishes, where there is typically one small dish of each food group for everyone to share, paired with a bowl of rice and sometimes a bowl of soup. Instead of having to finish one’s plate, Asians are more concerned with finishing one’s bowl of rice, while consuming bite size portions of various types of dishes, which consist mostly of vegetables. Instead of worrying about eating a certain portion size, you simply stop eating once your stomach’s half full.

Overall, Asians mostly consume foods that are lower in carbohydrates and cholesterol. Sweets and processed foods are rarely ever eaten in Asia, as fruits usually suffice as dessert.

With high mortality rates and lower cases of heart diseases among Asians (particularly the Japanese), it’s no secret that the traditional Asian diet has numerous benefits both physically—helps maintain a healthy weight—and internally, as your body lower levels of unhealthy toxins.

Though it’s easy to eat as Americans do, given we live in the states, you can try adhering to the eating habits of your parents and grandparents, since it seems to be working out quite well for a few billion people halfway across the world.

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College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbor, ME). This liberal arts college literally brainwashes you into going green. Okay – not really, but at the College of the Atlantic, the only field of study offered is Human Ecology. With a student body of only 350 students, this eco-committed college shows that caring for the environment begins with a “green” education.

The Evergreen State College (Olympia, WA). The name says it all. Considering the fact that 800 of their 1,000 acre campus consists of woods, forest and saltwater beach, this college knows not to disturb Mother Nature. Their long list of eco-friendly activities includes using 100 percent of their electricity from green sources and building their state’s first public LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certified building.

Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH). Oberlin hosted its first Ecolympics in 2008, where students competed in their dorms for a four-week period to see who was most green. They also have a 100-kilowatt solar parking pavilion, and their distinguished Environmental Studies building recycles 100 percent of their waste water and has the largest solar array in its state.

Harvard University (Cambridge, MA). One look at their “Sustainability at Harvard” Web page and it’s evident why they’re on this list. These brainiacs put their heads to good use through innovative campus-wide green activities, such as replacing over 2,600 standard shower heads with low-flow shower heads and swapping office supplies. As they say, “one department’s trash becomes another’s treasure.”

Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA). This college is moving forward with a new central energy plan that expects to reduce energy consumption in their buildings by one-third. In addition they boast a campus fleet of hybrid cars, a free bike rental service and their very own Dickinson College Organic Farm.

Middlebury College (Middlebury, VT). One of their most original recycling methods is the collaboration between their dining services and the athletics department, where they fuel their ski team vehicles with waste vegetable oil. They also have student-run organic gardens which hire student workers, and promising investments in solar arrays, wind turbines and a biomass facility to use wood chips to generate power.

Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH). Besides purchasing food from 15 local farms, using composted food waste on school grounds and purchasing 2,000 megawatt-hours each of renewable energy, their sustainability initiative includes a coalition of student groups who annually travel cross-country on the “Big Green Bus” to educate others on climate issues.

Berea College (Berea, KY). They are known for their innovative EcoVillage dorm complex, which implements a 75 percent reduction in energy and water usage. Their Sustainability and Environmental Studies Program also includes 1000 acres of college farms and gardens, and 8,000 acres of college forests, which serve as ecology labs and studies for students.

Columbia University (New York, NY). Despite fast-food chains around every corner of the city, Columbia hosts a farmers market twice a week, uses biodegradable to-go containers and sells campus-grown produce in one of its dining halls. Its college dorms are also undergoing green renovations with features such as an energy monitoring system.

University of California (UC system, CA). These “Golden State” universities enjoy their greenery and they want it to stay that way. UC Berkeley has a certified organic kitchen, while UCLA developed a bicycle master plan to encourage green transportation. The UC system has boldly pledged to achieve zero waste by 2020 on all of its 10 campuses.

Sources: The Daily Green, The College Sustainability Report Card

Photos (from top to bottom): an organic farm at Evergreen State College and the Environmental Studies building at Oberlin College; photos from The Daily Green, courtesy of Evergreen State College and Oberlin College.

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Aside from my amusement towards passionate pet owners, I can’t help but find it peculiar. Growing up pet-less, except for a brief time with some goldfish (R.I.P.), I’ve never felt a strong attachment to animals. When I tried to explain my confusion, my parade of pet-owning friends decided to give me the inside scoop on the experience of having a pet.

The first thing I noticed was that they talk about their pets as if they were actual people. Linda explains how Tootsie is full of character. “He’s extremely stubborn and jealous,” she said. “He barks when my parents hug each other, so my parents make it a point to hug once a day in front of him because it’s so funny.”

Pet owners not only consider their pets as they would ordinary people, but they also embrace them as family. My friend Amiko, whose dog is called Tbee, short for Tinkerbell, said her dog even takes on family traits.  “I love how Tbee resembles each member of my family. She snores like my dad and has an extremely loud bark like my mom.”

What struck me the most about pet owners was their level of maturity and commitment toward their pets. Amiko, who has had Tbee for nine years, described the growth of her relationship with her dog. “When I was younger, I remember not wanting to walk her – I saw it as a responsibility. But now I truly enjoy walking her and when I see her tail wagging it just makes me so happy.”

As I delve further into the world of adorable dogs, I can’t help but feel influenced by the way my friends talk about their pets. As Emily said, “There comes a point when your dog or cat stops being just a pet.”

Which brings me to my last observation: pets induce a deep, life-changing effect on their owners. When my friends explained what it would feel like if they were ever separated from their dog, their expressions immediately turn grim. Emily, who unfortunately lost Charlie due to an illness, said, “Putting him down was one of the worst days of my life. I remember getting upset when it’d rain because our house would still smell like wet dog … except there was no dog.”

Heart-wrenching, intimate, sincere, joyful, simplistic love – these are the words I would use to describe the relationship between owners and their pets. I know I won’t completely understand this bond until I experience it myself, but I wholeheartedly admire pet owners’ diehard commitment and unashamed affection for their pets. As Linda said, “Tootsie makes me a big blubbering puddle of mush.”

Photo of Linda and her pet beagle, Tootsie, courtesy of Linda Hong

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Annie’s Homegrown Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship

Annie’s Homegrown, which makes organic, all-natural pasta, snacks, and mac and cheese, is dedicated to supporting future generations of farmers. Annie’s gives a total of $50,000 in awards to students pursuing studies in sustainable and organic agriculture.
Eligibility: Must be a full-time undergraduate or graduate studying sustainable agriculture for the 2010-2011 school year. International students enrolled in U.S. schools may apply.
Deadline: Oct. 31, 2009

Garden Club of America Scholarship

The Garden Club of America, dedicated to stimulating the knowledge and love of gardening, and restoring, improving and protecting our environment, offers a plethora of scholarships for students and professionals in various environmental fields, including landscape architecture, horticulture, botany, garden design, wetland conservation, ecological restoration, desert studies and urban forestry. Scholarships include the Katharine M. Grosscup Scholarship, which awards students studying horticulture and related fields, up to $3000 per student, and the GCA Fellowship in Ecological Restoration, which awards $8000 to one or more graduate students studying ecological restoration. Eligibility and deadlines vary by application.

Middlebury Fellowship in Environmental Journalism

Middlebury College in Vermont, known for its dedication to going green, offers this yearlong fellowship program to 10 environmental journalists at the start of their career, along with a $10,000 stipend for reporting expenses. Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in group workshops and edit their stories with authors and reporters, including former New York Times reporter Keith Schneider. Middlebury students also may receive fellowships and a $4,000 stipend by proposing a story and providing writing samples.
Eligibility: Working journalists with prior experience and interest in reporting environmental issues may apply for $10,000 stipend. You must be a Middlebury student to apply for the $4,000 stipend.
Deadline: May 15, 2010

Morris K. Udall Scholarship

Morris Udall, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in the1960s who was devoted to the environment, worked to pass environmentally concerned legislation such as the Alaska Lands Act of 1980 which doubled the size of the national park system. The Udall Foundation annually awards 80 scholarships and 50 honorable mentions based on merit. Scholarship benefits include up to $5,000 for tuition, room and board, a four-day Udall Scholars Orientation in Arizona, and access to a network of environmental professionals through the Udall alumni listserv.
Eligibility: Must be a full-time matriculated sophomore or junior college undergraduate student at a two-year or four-year institution with a grade-point average of at least a B. Applicants must

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