Chey Caliso knew she wanted to become an author — as early as the second grade.
She realized, even back then, that few books represented her experiences as a first generation Filipino American. Stereotypes she encountered as a youth in the Cleveland area added to her frustration.
In some spaces, she wasn’t seen. In others, she was misunderstood.
“I guess I was interested in creating my own stories,” Caliso remembered.
Flip through the years. Caliso, now a published author, was one of dozens of Akron residents and visitors who shared cultural experiences last Saturday on World Refugee Day.
Caliso is now the author of three books — two were on sale at the annual event, held at Water’s Park in North Hill. “Black Cats aren’t Bad Luck” is a children’s book written by Caliso about black cats not being bad or evil animals, while her other book, “My Filipino Parents’ Worst Nightmare,” is about a young teenager who seeks to express herself and her views.
“I’ve watched videos on the poverty of the Philippines, especially those who were living in graveyards. They all seemed happy that they had somewhere to go but I was deeply upset for them. I made a promise to myself that once I became a rich writer that I would do something to help the people in my country and other countries as well.”
Excerpt from “My Filipino Parents’ Worst Nightmare”
The Immigration Network Akron, Refugee Health Task Force, Asian Services in Action’s International Community Health Center and North Hill Community Development Corporation partnered to host Summit County’s World Refugee Day Celebration in Akron, a combination of culture, community, soccer, world music and even chatpate.
More than 6,000 refugees live in Akron, from Bhutanese-Nepali and Afghan to Ka’Ren, Congolese and others, part of the city’s growing multicultural population. More than 20 languages are spoken in Akron homes.
Chatpate: Tangy, spicy, crunchy, just delicious
At age 7, Monicah Yonghang learned to make chatpate in Nepal, a nation in South Asia. (She was born in Bhutan before moving to Nepal when she was three.)
At the time, it was not common for her parents’ generation to make chatpate, which means tangy in English.
She estimates that she’s made the popular Nepali street food thousands of times.
“This is something I bring to any party I am invited to,” she said, “whether it is within my family or American culture, and they enjoy it.”
Here in Akron, where she’s lived since 2009, she continues to make chatpate. Ingredients include puffed rice, bhujiya, black salt, peas, sprouts, finely chopped ginger, green chili to taste, boiled potato cubes, chopped ginger (optional), chopped tomatoes (optional), olive oil, lemon juice, chopped cilantro leaves, Rum Pum noodles (optional), mustard powder and proteins such as chicken.
These ingredients can be purchased at a Nepali or an Indian grocery store. It’s a spicy dish, even with potatoes, a mixture of flavors and crunchy texture.
“I could eat chatpate everyday,” Yonghang added.
Refugees: Arriving in the U.S. after trauma
Younghang understands the challenges facing many immigrants and refugees in America. By definition, being a refugee means you have no permanent place to live and you are aware that you are or have been mistreated by others.
Also, they may not speak English, read or drive and come here with a combination of vulnerabilities and traumas.
“Most of us had to hide our refugee status while in Nepal because we did not want our lives or the lives of our loved ones jeopardized,” said Younghang, who serves at Asian Services In Action as a bilingual office supervisor
As a result, many refugees continue to hide their identities in order to obtain education, employment and other benefits.
“After hiding our identity for decades and moving to the United States,” she said, “we suddenly have this freedom, resources, opportunities and everything we want, which can be overwhelming even though they are all positive things because it all happens at once, and people may struggle to find that balance.
“I heard stories about it from older generations, and fortunately, it did not happen to my family, but when we fled Bhutan for political reasons, many terrible things happened to women and girls, and many men and boys were killed, and their families experienced major trauma and never received counseling or went through the healing process.”
