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My mother was born in Hunan, China, grew up in Taiwan, and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960’s to attend graduate school. Her dream was to become a journalist but decided to became a schoolteacher. First landing with a host family in Houston, Margaret got her first job working in the law office of her dear “Jewish parents.” We still visit Gus and Margie in Houston , now in their eighties.
As a fourth and fifth-grade teacher in the program for gifted students, “Mrs. Keng” was a favorite teacher for many. She was a creative sparkplug in the classroom, tackling or creating multidisciplinary topics like aviation, bridge-building, international trade and/or Chinese literature when most teachers used standard curriculum. She was also popular (and a threat) on the playground, as she taught (and played) games like Chinese Dodge Ball and double dutch jump-roping. She earned the honor Teacher of the Year, more than once.
Teacher with own bulletin board art
My mom invented Chinese fast food long before Panda Express ever came along. She told friends, “I worked full-time as a school teacher, had three kids, and they didn’t sell tofu or soy sauce at the local Winn-Dixie grocery store back then. Who had time to make dumplings for dinner!”
Margaret was way ahead of the popular cooking class trend. She taught the area’s first Chinese cooking class when “wonton soup was considered exotic.” I was only ten but helped out with the class. The hardest part was creating the recipes since there were none. I sat perched on a stool beside her and the blazing cast-iron skillet with ingredients flying, trying to scribble Chenglish instructions on an index card while my mom created her magic.
My favorite dishes included: “Ginger Beef with Rice-a-Roni,” “Braised Rutabaga and Home Fries,” and “Hot Hunan Catfish.” Margaret is an avid “catch and eat” fisherman and has been found fishing off her porch in heels and an evening gown. According to my mom, she’s “not really a good cook, just fast.” And she cooks fast “because I’m lazy and I don’t want to waste time reading a recipe!” But don’t ask her to bake. “I prefer to cook a 5-course meal than make a cake!” Her friends all know to bring dessert to her dinner parties!
Pingpong in dress and heels
Teaching a cooking class
