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StoryCorps: Kay Wang

Series: StoryCorps
From: StoryCorps
Length: 00:03:19

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87-year-old Kay Wang tells her granddaughter, Chen, and her son, Cheng, about her childhood. Read the full description.
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StoryCorps: Kay Wang
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Wang_small Even at 87, Kay Wang had a reputation for being strong-willed, something that began when she was a child. "I wasn't very nice" as a little girl, Wang told her son, Cheng, and her granddaughter, Chen. But Wang, who died in April, left a deep mark on her family. Cheng and Chen recorded a second interview to remember her.

StoryCorps: Kay Wang | 00:03:19

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Piece Description

Even at 87, Kay Wang had a reputation for being strong-willed, something that began when she was a child. "I wasn't very nice" as a little girl, Wang told her son, Cheng, and her granddaughter, Chen. But Wang, who died in April, left a deep mark on her family. Cheng and Chen recorded a second interview to remember her.

Broadcast History

NPR's Morning Edition 7/18/08

Transcript

KW: I wasn't very nice. If I make a mistake my mother she make me apologize. And our custom, when you apologize to your mother you have to bring a cup of tea and say, "I'm sorry." But I purposely dropped that hot cup of tea on my mother's lap. And I wasn't a good student. I always lie to get out of school because lots of boyfriend after me. That time I was still young. I was not bad looking then. So what else? Hurry, hurry. I want to go home.

Chen Wang: How'd you meet Grandpa?

KW: I was a training nurse in a hospital. He was there for hemorrhoid operation. So when your grandpa see me, your grandpa keep on asking me to get married. And I said, "I don't like you. You have bald headed." I didn't like him because he's ugly. But one thing about your grandpa -- he's very smart. That's it. No more question.

Cheng Wang: Just a couple more questions?

KW: Short one.

Cheng Wang: Short ones.

C...
Read the full transcript

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

Friends and loved ones are recording interviews with each other for StoryCorps.

Today, the project introduces us to three generations of the Wang family.

Kay Wang fields questions from her son, Chung, and her granddaughter, Chen.

But you'll hear why getting her to talk about ANYTHING was a challenge.

The 87-year-old woman had a reputation for being strong-willed ... something that began when she was a child.

TAPE

OUTRO:

Kay Wang, with her son, Chung, and granddaughter, Chen in New York City.

[pause]

Just weeks after their conversation, Kay Wang DIED of cancer.

So Chung and Chen Wang came back in to the studio ...
to remember her.

B-2 StoryCorps: 245687 Remembering Kay --
IN: "
OUT: "...

[STORYCORPS MUSIC]

Chung Wang with his daughter, Chen ... talking about the late mother and grandmother Kay Wong.

Their conversation will be archived at the Library of Congress ...

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