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My name is Daniel Cho. I'm here today interviewing Helen Weng for the Houston Asian American Archive, and the date is May 10th, 2023. My name is Helen Weng.

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It is my great honor to be interviewed by Rice University's Houston Asian American Archive. Here are some of my early photos of me

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in 1959. I was 11 years old. This photo was taken at the Taichung Central Park.

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This photo was taken on my 20 years old birthday. This photo was taken on—in 1969.

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And the famous Queen's Head rock formation in Yehliu, Texas—Taiwan. Yehliu, Taiwan.

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This photo was taken during my junior year. At the National Taiwan University...This

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is—was my college graduation. After all, I got a bachelor degree in chemistry. I came to United States in 1970. The last

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photo was from Christmas 1972 in Michigan. So to start from the very beginning, could you tell us where and when you were born?

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I was born in Taipei, Taiwan, on May 31st, 1948. And how would you describe the household that you grew up in? I grew up in a very loving

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Buddhist household. Do you have any siblings? And if so, are you still close with them? I have a–a sister and we

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were still very close. We both got our Ph.D.'s in chemistry. How would you describe the neighborhood and school district you grew up in?

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I grew up in Hsinchu City. I attend the best elementary school in Hsinchu. I could walk to school.

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Here are some of m-my photos of my parents. In 1958 I think I was ten years old.

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Here was me. In 1978, when my parents visit Houston. In 1997,

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my father's 80th birthday. In 2000, when my sister and I visit Taiwan on my parents' 53rd wedding anniversary.

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I only have one sibling. My sister. Here is my sis. In 2001, Weng

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family photo in Hsinchu, Taiwan. In 2007 on my father's 90th birthday. And the parents' 60th

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wedding anniversary. These are some beautiful photos of your parents, and I'm wondering, where were your parents born? My father was born in China.

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My mother was born in Indonesia. They met each other in Taiwan at work. And what were their occupations?

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My father's occupation is a banker. Do your parents still live in Taiwan or have they since emigrated to the US?

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My parents visit us and live in United States for over 20 years. They move back to Taiwan

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in their 80s and both passed away in 2011 in th-their 90s. So what were some important values or lessons that your parents instilled in you?

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In male-dominated society, girls often receive unequal treatment. But in our Weng family, with two generations

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of girls, that unequal treatment does not exist. As long as we are eager to learn and make progress , then whatever we want to learn, whatever we want to do, we will be supported.

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My parents integrated three value. First, wisdom. Then my parents continue to live and learn for their golden

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years. Two, kindness. They encourage good deeds and lead by example. Courage.

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They encourage everything and embrace innovation. All right, so, moving on. I'd like to ask, when did you learn English and what were some of the challenges in obtaining English as a second language?

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I learned English in middle school. The biggest challenge is pronunciation. I had a foreign tutor who taught me

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pronunciation during summer. Could you describe some of these graduation and career photos for us? Yes. In 1973, my master Degree

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Graduation in Chemistry at the Vanderbilt University. In 1982, my Ph.D. Graduation in Chemistry at the University of

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Houston. In 1991 at th-the Pennzoil Research Laboratory. In 1995, a poster

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presentation at the symposium. In 2001, in my office. In 2001, I had a

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two week business trip to mainland China with a company CEO and VP. After the business meeting, w e went to Xi'an City to visit

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Terracotta Army. At Xi'an city gate, the photography—photographer suggested that we dress in period costume.

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I was dressed as the empress, being guard on either side by the CEO and the VP. I will never forget this photo.

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So where did you attend undergrad and what subject did you focus in as well as how did you choose that subject? I graduated from National Taiwan University, where I focused in

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chemistry. I have liked chemistry since high school. where I won high honors in chemistry. Do you participate in any extracurriculars, jobs or other

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activities during college? In college, I joined photography and the mountain climbing clubs, which I

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enjoyed. I also work as a tutor for high school students. During this time, did you have any professors or mentors in general who left a lasting impact on your life?

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In my senior year, P rofessor Lin had advised me on my research and thesis. This was my foundation for doing research and

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we became very close. Wow, that's fantastic. I know, like, after that, you went on to pursue a Ph.D., and I was wondering, what career goal did you have in mind when you decided to pursue a Ph.D.?

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I wanted a advanced understanding of chemistry so that I could get a better job in the field of chemistry.

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Right, and then after that, after you went to Taiwan University, what prompted you to move from Taiwan to the US and specifically Nashville in 1970? I got a scholarship from

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Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee in 1970. So, I moved to the US.

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Could you describe your experience moving from China to the US as a young adult? It was hard to overcome the language barrier and learn to live independently.

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So I guess there was a language barrier that you had to overcome when you moved to the US? Yes. Did you feel homesick?

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Yes! I missed my family. During that time, were you able to find a solid Chinese or Chinese American community at Vanderbilt or in Nashville in general?

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No. I'm sorry that that wasn't easy to find. But in the meantime, if you could offer advice to other young adults or anyone who plans to start a life in another country, what would you say to

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them? I would advise them with the proverb, "Hope for the best and prepare for the worst." Prepare

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efficiently in foreign language, independent living, such as cooking and driving, and academic learning, et cetera.

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So looking back at this experience and having experienced education both in China and the US, how would you compare your experiences between the two? Did you find the teaching philosophies to be different between the two countries and specifically how science was taught?

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I feel like in Taiwan it's more memorize, in this country it's more creativity. Although you are now retired, you had a very successful career in microbiology and

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scientific research. Let's start at your first job in the US as a research assistant at Vanderbilt. What were your roles and responsibilities and would you say you enjoyed that job? I enjoy my job very

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much. That time, I was a teaching assistant. I just follow the post-doctoral assignment to do my job.

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And then how did that change after the Ph.D.? After a Ph.D, I'm a principal investigator. I assign job for technician.

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Did you work with other Asian American researchers in your lab? No. So, how would you describe the lab dynamic? What was the balance of the number of graduate students to older postdocs

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and research associates? Do you feel close with your lab mates? Each lab was run by a professor. Each professor had several graduate students.

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And hired several post-doctors. Each post-doctor had 1 or 2 research assistants working for him. Yes!

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I feel close with my lab mates. So what—what challenges do you feel you faced in your career as a minority woman in STEM?

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I would use two proverb for encouraging them. One, "As you sow, so shall you reap." Two. "When

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there is a will, there is a way." Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Both of those. And I see in your slides, 10 through

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12, you have some additional photos of your family? Could you describe some of these for me? I have 2 daughters, Emily and Karen. In 1989, they were

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teenage girls. In 1994, they were college students. Emily attended Harvard

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University. Karen attended Stanford University. This one was taken in 1993.

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This photo was taken in (unintelligible) Christmas, 1995. In 1994 they were with Grandma Wang . In 1994, with

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my parents. Here are some graduation photo of my daughter. In 2003,

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Emily graduated from Duke Medical School. In 2004 at Karen's graduation from Baylor

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College of Medicine. The man in the photo was Dr. Michael DeBakey, a famous surgeon.

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In 1997 at Emily's graduation from Harvard University. In 1998 at Karen's

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graduation from Stanford University. In 1994. Karen's graduation from Saint John

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High School, Houston, Texas. Karen's graduation from Saint John's School, with her grandparents and uncle. This page is my family's most memorable event.

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In 1984 at my PhD graduation in chemistry, at the University of Houston.

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My daughter Emily was seven years old. Karen at six years old. In 1991, the Dalai

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Lama visit Jade Buddha temple and Emily, Karen were here. In 1994, we had a family

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reunion at the Grand Canyon. My four daughters were very brave. They walk down by themselves from the edge of the Grand Canyon, o

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h, Colorado River, 5000 feet below, stayed at the Phantom Ranch over there, and climb up the next day.

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In 2015, when a family reunion at the Yale University, we were standing in front of the statue of

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Mr. T.D Woolsey, a former president of Yale University. Rubbing his toe is supposed to

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bring luck for us by Yale University. This photo was taken at the Yale University Library.

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In 2019, we had a family reunion at my house in Houston. We were so lucky to have a family reunion right before the

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pandemic. So what advice would you give someone just starting graduate school or just entering the research field? I

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have to completely suggest: you have to completely dedicate for study and work, you will be required to have a much deeper understanding of the

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material and will have maybe more responsibility. They are far more responsibility in graduate school than in undergrad.

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So in the future, what do you hope to see more of in the scientific research community? In the future I hope we'll see more women and minor-minority

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in the scientific research community. So, I see you describe this in 13. What values have you found particularly important to instill in your children? Social service, compassion,

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and justice as the guide for their education. Their roots l ay the foundation for their professional

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work today. And as described in Slide 14, what is your children's relationship to their heritage and culture? My children have a very strong

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bonding with their heritage and the culture. As children, they learn about Chinese heritage and the culture from the Institute of Chinese

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Culture for over ten years. Speaking of Chinese heritage, culture, and language, what is the Chinese community like in Houston? The Chinese community in Houston

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came from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and other parts of Asia. In general, they emphasize the importance of family value,

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heritage, cultural tradition, and education. So looking at some of the change that's occurred in Houston. How has Houston evolved since you moved here in 1973?

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Traffic got worse. Crime increased. Inflation increased. More houses and buildings.

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More population, more Asian Americans. Now, this is something that's a little bit more of an issue lately in the re-recent wake of the pandemic.

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There has been a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes. If you wouldn't mind sharing, do you have any thoughts on this recent phenomenon? It is important for racial

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awareness about the harmful effects of hate crimes. Bring criminals to justice and for more culture of

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understanding. Do you have any hopes for the future of Asian or Asian American communities in general in the United States? I hope Asian Americans

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participate in political election, which is an important step for integrating into main society–society.

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So outside of your career aspirations, what are your current hobbies and interests? My hobbies are travel and photography. So how would you describe your travel experiences so far?

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Before the pandemic, in the 27 years from 1993 to 2019, w e were fortunate to have traveled to

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42-43 countries. 42 states in the United States and 17 provinces in China.

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I have been to the blue area on the next map, but not in the gray area. I will show the map. Blue areas I went to.

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Here are some photos I have taken while I traveling. This was taken at the Kawagebo Peak at the–the Meili

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Mountain, UNESCO, in China, in 2005. It also known as Sunshine, Golden Mountain...This

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one was taken at the Tibetan village in Yading, UNESCO BR_China, in 2005. The riverside village is

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surrounded by marsh meadows a nd magnificent snowcapped mountains. This photo was taken at the Yellow Mountain, UNESCO, China, in

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2006. It has been famous for both ancient and modern times, and its beauty and majesty have been described

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in well-known works. T his aerial photograph was taken over Mt.

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Fuji, UNESCO, Japan, in 2006. ..This photo was taken at the Doubtful Sound, UNESCO, at the largest fiord

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in New Zealand in 2014. This was taken at the Penguin Colony in Argentina in

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2015. Wow. Those views are really incredible. Thank you. In next six slides were our

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travels in six continents: Asia, Africa, Europe, North American—America,, South America, and Australia.

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In Asia in 2018, we visit Great–Great Wall of China, UNESCO. In Africa, in

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2012, we visit Great Sphinx of Giza, UNESCO... In Europe, in 1993, we visit

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Eiffel Tower in France, UNESCO. It was built for celebrate t he hundred-year-anniversary of the French Revolution.

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..In 2017, we went Katz Castle, Rhine River, UNESCO, Germany. ..In Australia, in 2001, we

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visit Everglades. ..In Australia, in 2001, we visit Sydney Opera House, UNESCO

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. In North America, in 2001 we visit Everglades National Park, UNESCO. We had telephoto lenses for bird photo.

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So as somebody that does photography myself, these photos were fantastic to look at. I wanted to ask also, how often do you travel to Taiwan and any–are you planning any upcoming trips?

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In—we visit Taiwan every one year or one—once or twice per year when my parent is living, but now is a

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pandemic, we plan to visit after pandemic. That sounds like an exciting plan, and I'm excited for you to go visit again. In terms of how

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you identify yourself, would you consider yourself Chinese or Chinese American? Chinese American. As you describe in Slide 33, how else

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do you feel like you identify yourself, for example, in terms of ethnicity, religion, core beliefs or anything else? In other words, how would you describe yourself as a person? I am a person believe in love

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and compassion. "Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive."

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This was the quote. Dalai Lama. So if you could go back in time and give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

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I believe the proverb, "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life." So I will be so grateful for everything I have

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encountered in my life. As far as your family is concerned, do you also have any advice for your children or their future children? Yes. Keep working smarter and

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keep working harder. Now I see you have some description on your book and more details about your family and identity. Could you share those with us?

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I published my new book, Passing the Legacy Overseas with Three Generations of Love, and held a book

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launching event on December 16th, 2022 at the headquarters of World Journal in Los Angeles...

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I took the photography on the front and the back covers of this book in Erliao, Tainan, Taiwan, 2009.

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"The scenery of Erliao is extremely beautiful, and the morning sun shines in the sky." This is my cover of

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my book, and this is—I took this photo in Erliao, Tainan, Taiwan. I love how the photo looks.

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This book talks about the six paths I have walked since I came to study in the United States 52 years ago.

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Path 1. I finished my PhD in Chemistry, found a job where I could ap-apply my studies, and stayed until retirement...Path

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3 . I helped found and grow the Texas Buddhist Association: the Buddha Light

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Temple, the Jade Buddha Temple, and American Bodhi Center. Path 4 . Dr.

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Frank Chou and I launched the "NTU 50th Reunion Fundraising" in

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2019. Our 1970 graduates donated about NT $31 million and US dollar $293,000...Path 5.

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I have raised two daughters who are doctors and both teaching at Yale University School of Medicine.

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Path 6. My husband and I traveled around the world. From 1993 to

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2019, we visited 43 countries on six continents. ..My daughter, Emily Wang, received

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the prestigious MacArthur Genius Award on October 12th, 2022. This

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is a no-strings-attached USD $800,000 cash award. So anyone can do anything for this money, like buying a new house.

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This fellowship is awarded f or extraordinarily talented and creative individuals as an investment in their

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future potential. I am proud to be an Asian American. From humble beginnings, I came to

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this country 52 years ago with a Vanderbilt University scholarship for graduate studies.

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Step by step, I achieve the American dream. This was truly an incredible message and very, very inspiring for future generations of Asian Americans.

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And I want to say thank you so much for sharing. And I'd also like to ask in closing, is there anything else you'd like to share or any final remarks that you'd like to say today ?

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I will emphasize: I am proud to be an Asian American. In 1970, I came to this country with a Vanderbilt University studies scholarship for graduate studies

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and got my master and Ph.D. in chemistry, then work in industry until retiring. I helped grow the Institute of

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Chinese Culture and the Texas Buddhist Association . I have raised two daughters who are doctors and both teaching at the Yale University

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School of Medicine. I'm so proud that my daughter Emily Wang received a MacArthur Genius Award on October 12th,

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2022. I publish a new book in November 2022. Step by step, I achieve the American dream. Thank you for this

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interview opportunity. Of course. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and I hope you have a good one.