New Experiences

It’s been over 2 weeks since I’ve been back from California, and I just keep thinking about it. As an Asian-American, especially a Chinese-American, going to the western seaboard of the United States is very much a pilgrimage. It was California where many of my ancestors had come through to what we called “gum san”. Walking through the streets of Chinatown in San Francisco really stirred feelings in me. It’s a struggle everyday for many of the immigrants who came, are here and those who will come.

I spent a lot of time in San Francisco’s Chinatown, taking in the scenes and trying to experience it. What happened was a growing fondness of it like my love for my childhood NYC Chinatown.

A main reason for my trip, was for the photo project I am working on. I was fortunate enough to have a chance to photograph some Asian-American Royalty and Young Activist, while I was in the Bay Area and LA. It enhanced my experience of my trip to the West Coast. The conversations I had with them will be some of the fondest memories I will have to look back on. The knowledge and wisdom passed onto me by some of the older generation has given me new insight to life, and just an awakening of myself.

Charlie Chin

Helen Zia

Tad Nakamura

Nobuko Miyamoto

Angry Asian Man

In order to keep growing as human beings, we must always venture into new things and always be willing to learn new things. If we stop learning, we stop growing. Without the experiences in our lives, we would not be who we are.

Sometimes you can’t find yourself, until you’re lost.