Ian

What is this beautiful painting in the background you ask? Well, it is a commissioned mural on the well lit living room wall of Ian's modern industrial Seattle home. It is the Chinese zodiac, and it's charming and brings me a lot of calm and soooo extra but soooo Ian... and I never felt more like a private influencer than the week I was doing yoga and pounding cans of La Croix in front of this mural. [Whew, what a run-on sentence.] Ian identifies as "100% Chinese American baby!" I met Ian on the bus on the way to our first day of Chinese class in college - this is maybe my favorite meetcute meetfriend meetchill friendmeet story. So wholesome and random and totally reflective of our friendship.

Joyce

Thank goodness for neighbors who look out for your stomach. What can I say about this love triangle between me, Joyce, and food? Well we could start by going through my #quarantinedmeals where we started afternoon fikas on my porch to maintain human connection, sanity, and the selfish altruistic need to share food. Joyce identifies as Korean American. I met her at the same time as Athena at bridger-of-all-connections, Kevin's apartment. I remember at some point during that rooftop grill out, we made a friendate to decorate cakes, and the rest is history.

 

Matt

Nothing makes me happier than people who are determined to learn how to cook or bake. My interactions with Matthew these days are largely through following his journey through Paul Hollywood's bakebook on Instagram and talking about cakes. Matt identifies as Northern European (specifically Swedish, Norwegian, German, and Danish). The first time I met him wassssss probablyyyyyyyy... at Hopscotch*, where Christy and I set up a double date so I could finally meet the one that stuck. He was by far the favorite.

Christy

When I moved to the Bay, I didn't actually know how often I'd end up leaning on Christy's community as well - thanks for including me in your birthday hibachi dinner traditions, Easter celebrations, Christmas celebrations (even though I didn't actually go that time), and above all, thank you for not making me travel for your wedding.

Christy identifies as "boring white European" - specifically Irish, German, and Ashkenazi Jew. It's funny that she says that now because when I was growing up, I used to be so jealous of my classmates who were 1/4 German 1/4 Swedish 1/4 French 1/4 this 1/4 that (never confirmed that their fraction math checked out though), counting heritage on their fingers like they were listing counties they had been to, and I was just.... 100% Chinese. Anyways, I met Christy when I got back from study abroad in college. She had become friends with one of my rare extrovert friends while I was gone, and I just came as part of the deal. 

Stephanie

 I'm not sure how to write about Steph without Kav and vice versa - not because I assume couples are just one entity... but because their dumplings are timed with them moving away forever *sobbing emoji* and them being awkwardly engaged against the perfect backdrop of Utah *sobbing emoji but like with happy connotation*

Steph identifies are American, white-washed. I think the first time I officially met her was after one of my shifts at the Exploratorium back when she and Kavin were still just friends. But the first time I knew of her existence was around a campfire just before backpacking in Enchantments... *winking emoji* Either way, I'm so happy to have another someone around to indulge my enthusiasm-but-fear-of-watching-alone for thriller/horror movies.

Kavin

I'm not sure how to write about Kav without Steph and vice versa - not because I assume couples are just one entity... but because their dumplings are timed with them moving away forever *sobbing emoji* and them being awkwardly engaged against the perfect backdrop of Utah *sobbing emoji but like with happy connotation*

Kav identifies as Thai. I met him bright dark and early when he still lived with Boawen, and we somehow all managed to get up at like 4 or 5am before work to watch the blood moon and then eat waffles and Joyce's scrambled eggs. Man looking back on that now... those were certainly simpler days.

Emily

At the start of quarantine when we were more enthused and still desperate enough for social connection to do something about it, one of our Zoom gathering events was PPT parties. You've probably heard of them. Powerpoint parties- where everyone picks any topic from far and wide and makes a presentation about it to present to friends. Emily walked us through the magic that is Taiwan 7/11's. Em identifies as Taiwanese American, a third-culture kid. The time we first met is still contested... I think. Mostly because I'm still not sure, but I am sure that it was at a food-centered event. And there's a high high likelihood it was either at a dumpling event or in Kevin's apartment. And since then our friendship has revolved only around food events (or trips). 

One of these days I'm going to make Emily take me around the 7/11s of Taiwan, but in the mean time, we got pictures of cold sesame noodles and all the chips and triangle sushis. And of course tea eggs. Truly an 'iykyk' item. I've never encountered tea eggs in convenience store snack form, but it makes so much sense. My parents used to make a giant pot of them for long road trips, and I'd peel and pop egg after egg into my mouth until my cholesterol was probably dangerously high for a six year old.

 

Athena

Athena was the first person I texted after watching Padma's Taste the Nation. Because she's always down to talk about race philosophies with me. But mostly because the first episode focused on El Paso. We found ourselves driving around El Paso on New Year's Day of this year looking for open establishments, wishing we had our passports while staring in awe at the border crossing zone into Juarez, and playing a couple rounds of Words with Friends after finding an open brewery. Damn, that feels like a life time ago. Athena identifies as American with Viet spices. We met at Kevin's lowkey brunch bbq that I decided to go to on my own knowing I'd only know one person (proud of my shy-introverted self). I don't think I've ever said this out loud, but my first impression of her was that I thought her wide brimmed floppy summery hat suited her v well.