Thank gawd for our therapists. Also, where we think you should go in Portland | Dee and Zhou's 2022 in review

Transcript:
Speaker1: [00:00:10] Hello, I. Good. Cut it out.
Speaker2: [00:00:15] Hello, everybody.
Speaker1: [00:00:16] Hey, everyone. Welcome to. From the Roundabout. Today we are
at our year in review episode. I am Zhou.
Speaker2: [00:00:27] And I'm Dee.
Speaker3: [00:00:28] Hey. Hey.
Speaker1: [00:00:29] And we have our dogs at our feet. Sleeping. Napping. And we
have Henry and WiFi here as well.
Speaker2: [00:00:36] Yes. They've finally calmed down.
Speaker1: [00:00:40] So this is our fourth episode, and we've come to the end of the
year and we thought it would be fun and kind of refreshing just to talk about this year,
what happened, and also share something we really like about Portland, like the places
we go to, the things we do, etc..
about our our own years, what
we experienced?
Speaker1: [00:01:14] Sure. Do you want to start?
Speaker2: [00:01:16] Oh, geez. This was a big year for me. I got divorced this year. I
got a new job. I got a new apartment. Like all within the span of a couple of months.
Thank God I have a good therapist. It was good transitions, Like, I felt pretty… I felt a lot
of growth through all of that, and. I'm still really enjoying my new job as a software
engineer, so that continues to go just wonderfully. And then there's also been a lot of
family transitions for me, which I've mentioned before. You know, getting to an age now
where my parents are getting older and dealing with chronic health issues and my dad
having Alzheimer's and my mom having rheumatoid arthritis, and lately these transitions
and issues have really been sort of taking over my lived experience as we try to
navigate what living situations and healthy living situations look like for both of them in
order for them to get the care that they need. So moving my dad into a care home,
which is going to be happening next month now. So, yeah, it's it's been a lot to deal
with. Hopefully next year is more about... Settling into things versus. Everything, getting
uprooted all the time and having to adjust. With every new change, it's like continuous
adjustment disorder. This past year.. It is a thing. I mean, adjustment disorder is a thing.
Speaker1: [00:03:08] Did you also get WiFi this year?
Speaker2: [00:03:09] I did, Yeah. Yeah. Why? If I could call, he was my my new
roommate. Once I got my new apartment, I adopted wi fi, and he's been maybe one of
the best things to ever happen to me. Oh, I Yeah.
Speaker1: [00:03:28] It is a lot of like, it's a big year, I think, in terms of changes and the
adjustment for sure. I think for both of us and I think for me, you know, like beginning of
the year. I got my green card in January, which was awesome. And then starting my
own practicing February, just being kind of like nonstop, going through a lot of like
learning and unlearning throughout the year. I didn't I really I still don't really know, but I
really had no idea how to operate like a small LLC. And I'm just learning every day. And
it's also it's, it's all been like really good for me. I think it's just at times I can also feel
very overwhelmed. Dee you mention therapists? And I feel like I absolutelly owe, my
therapist I don't I don't know. I don't owe them because I pay a shit ton of money, but
really, like I am. Yeah, I will always advocate for accessible therapy. I think. So. That's
important. And Henry just turned three a couple of days ago and continues to be his
true self. So I feel good about that. You know, like, I don't I don't have all these family
obligations in the States. So I think Henry is like my family and I get to, you know, make
sure he's happy, make sure he's healthy. So that makes me feel like at the end of a year
I have achieved something. Yeah, it's a big year for both of us. And of course, we are
co-hosting this podcast.
Speaker2: [00:05:10] Yes, we have started some new things that we should also be
proud of.
Speaker1: [00:05:14] I think so, yes. We made it.
Speaker2: [00:05:17] Yeah, we made it. Should we get any deeper into that stuff or
should we just go to the more fun? Best of Portland? According to Zhou and Dee for
2022.
Speaker1: [00:05:29] I think we can just dive into the things we really like about
because I'm sure we will be sharing some more experience as we go through.
Speaker2: [00:05:38] Yeah, that's.
Speaker1: [00:05:39] That's the things we like to do.
Speaker2: [00:05:41] All right. Should we start with favorite food cart of 2022?
Speaker3: [00:05:46] Sure.
Speaker2: [00:05:46] Okay. What's yours?
Speaker1: [00:05:48] So I. I moved to a new neighborhood in southeast Portland. Little,
little bit shy from two years ago. And this year I've just been going to Mercado, which is
a food cart pod in my neighborhood a lot. And it's a really welcoming space and has just
a variety of really great food from South and Central America. And there is a bar at
Mercado. It's called Barrio, I think. And the owner, Chris, he's just one of the kindest
people I think, of running to like who's not my friend, but just feel so kind and nice. So,
yeah, so Mercado, I would always recommend it for sure. And their food is really, really
good.
Speaker2: [00:06:43] Is there a particular cart there that you go to more often than
others or.
Speaker1: [00:06:49] I think so. There's one that's like Mexican. I think I'll try to not
butcher the name Tierra del Sol.
Speaker2: [00:06:58] Oh Tierra del Sol. OK.
Speaker1: [00:07:00] And bonus is that all their food is gluten free.
Speaker2: [00:07:04] Cool.
Speaker2: [00:07:05] My go to cart now. Well it's a new one that well not I don't know
how new it is actually, but it's one that recently came on my my radar thanks to my
friend Mai and it's called Chochu Local Island and it's a barbecue cart in the Rose City
food pod. They have a pork belly plate and a barbecue ribs plate that is just delicious.
Both of them and the folks, it seems family operated. They are lovely. Yeah. It's just
good island vibes over there. So I'm a big fan of that cart, hoping to go to it more often
in 2023 whenever I am having a strong meat craving.
Speaker1: [00:07:55] I mean, one thing about Portland is we have so many foot carts.
So yeah, to those who want to still find delicious and still semi affordable kind of food, if
you ever come to visit Portland and check out the food carts.
Speaker2: [00:08:13] Absolutely. Let's move on. Still in the food category to favorite
restaurant or restaurants? 2022.
Speaker1: [00:08:22] Yeah so I.. when I was younger.
Speaker2: [00:08:28] When you are a wee babe.
Speaker1: [00:08:32] I feel like I was more adventurous when I was younger. I would
check out like those new restaurants in Portland and I still would like to do that. But
every time I see a line, I just like, I'm not going to do that. And so I haven't really
checked out a lot of new restaurants this year, but I do have a couple that I really like to
go. Those are kind of like slightly nicer, but not extremely fancy and still kind of like you
can go once in a while, enjoy a nice meal and it doesn't bankrupt you. So my first one is
called Woodsman Tavern. It's on Division. And they were they were closed during the
pandemic for a little while. And then I think earlier this year or last year, they reopened.
And I was very excited when they reopened because before I really enjoyed their kind of
like relaxed, casual, kind of but still classic kind of American food, but with kind of like a
modern twist, which I really enjoyed. So when they closed, I was like, Oh, fuck. So right
now they reopen and they are doing well and I do enjoy their menu. So usually I don't
really eat like iceberg salad.
Speaker2: [00:09:58] Like iceberg.
Speaker1: [00:09:59] Yeah, but the iceberg salad is really good.
Speaker2: [00:10:02] You don't hear that often.
Speaker1: [00:10:04] You don't hear that often, but they do a good job. My other choice,
again, is kind of like a longtime establishment in Portland. It's called Luce. I think it's
pretty close to you Dee. it's on East Burnside and 20 something and it's this little Italian
restaurant slash market. So you can get really good olive oil or pasta there. And if you
sit down, have a dinner or like I think usually dinner, yeah, they open for dinner. They
have like really extensive kind of like wine list for you to choose, but they're not
snobbish. Like, none of those is like, very pretentious. So again, a very friendly
environment and their pastas are very, very good. So those are my two
recommendations in Portland.
Speaker2: [00:10:52] I have not been to either of those. So we all have to go together.
Speaker1: [00:10:55] We will go.
Speaker2: [00:10:56] All right. So for me, I'd say the tastiest meal in Portland of 2022
was that Takibi, which is a modern Japanese like modern Izakaya restaurant that is
owned by the same people that do that own that very fancy Japanese outdoor store
called Snow something. The store and the restaurant are right next to each other in
Northwest. And you can tell I am not a connoisseur of outdoorsy gear. Otherwise this
would be not hard for me to remember. But but the restaurant Takibi is pretty good. And
also the aesthetic is very pretty in there, very fancy. And you get to use the utensils and
other fancy camping gear that they sell at the the store next door, which is funny. The
friend that I was with there kept on pretending to steal the the metal chopsticks or the
cute little bowls that we were eating on because that would have been a high value
thing.
Speaker3: [00:12:12] To see those.
Speaker2: [00:12:14] Giving you is expensive. So yeah, Takibi was great. Definitely
recommend it. But it it, it is a little expensive. What else? My other favorite restaurant of
2022 is Top Burmese Burma Joy also in Northwest. Really? I've been there a few times
now. I find there the noodles very reliably good. And there's an added perk of being
served by robots. Yeah, Yeah. Robots. Bring your food.
Speaker1: [00:12:47] Yes, is that a perk?
Speaker3: [00:12:48] It's a perk.
Speaker2: [00:12:52] It's. It's very disconcerting at first, but I'm into it. So. Yeah. Top
Burmese Burma Joy. Yes.
Speaker1: [00:13:00] I would love to go to both of them. I mean, when especially when
there's a special occasion, you know, it's like slightly fancy and then yeah, I can't decide
do I want to go to a fancy restaurant to celebrate or do I want to be served by robot?
Speaker2: [00:13:15] Right. I know. Yeah. The other thing that I'll say about Top
Burmese Burma Joy is that their tea leaf salad is quite good. It's made with fermented
tea leaves.
Speaker1: [00:13:25] Cool. Yeah, that's definitely go to that one.
Speaker2: [00:13:30] All right. Next on our list is date spots.
Speaker1: [00:13:35] Date spot. It's so interesting this year, I think, because I have. So
limited capacity. Sometimes it's just really difficult for me to go have a dinner as a date
because it's easily like. Hours gone.
Speaker2: [00:13:54] Also, why do you want to commit to a whole dinner if it's a first
date and you don't know the person?
Speaker1: [00:13:58] Exactly. Very good point. So I've just been going to bars for dates
and I do go to a neighborhood bar pretty regularly because it's nice and it's very easy.
It's called Five and Dime. It's not, again, super not pretentious, super friendly. And they
have really good cocktails. They don't really have a kitchen right now, but they're right
next to Atlas Pizza. So basically you can just order a pizza from next door. And basically
these two businesses kind of coexist now. So you can go there and get a nice cocktail
and then get some pizza if you're going on date. And Yeah, and it's just super relaxed
and easy. So that's like because of convenience and also because they're good. I go to
five and dime pretty regularly and if I do feel fancy, I want to go to a different place. I
would recommend Hey Love, which is on East Burnside. I think they have really
elaborate cocktails, but also it's like before you really get to know someone, you really
want to go to a very elaborate place.
Speaker2: [00:15:13] No, it was so we talked about Hey Love in our first episode,
actually, because I had recently gone on a date there. That's right. Yes. And not actually
liked the food that much.
Speaker2: [00:15:24] But yeah.
Speaker2: [00:15:26] I'm a snob. It's it's a it's a strong vibe in there. So that can be kind
of distracting. It's also kind of noisy.
Speaker1: [00:15:34] Yeah. Yeah. Without cocktails.
Speaker2: [00:15:36] Yes. Yes. Or maybe. Yeah, like second or third date.
Speaker1: [00:15:40] When you want to have like, you know, create these kind of like I
don't know.. Vibe?
Speaker2: [00:15:45] Yeah. For me, one of my favorite date spots this year has been
Enzo Winery. It's a little wine bar on Stark. Yeah. Yes. And super cute inside with all the
wine barrels and nice low lighting and feels cozy, but not pretentious, even though it's a
wine bar. Went on a couple of dates there. Really, really enjoy the vibe in there. Nice.
Enzo winery. And then my new favorite favorite date spot is and just spot in general is
1905, the Jazz bar on Mississippi. Yes, I have been twice now and I feel like I might just
try to go every weekend now for the next few months because jazz feels therapeutic to
me, whether I'm with or not with other people. But also, you know, very cozy in there.
Drinks are good, food is surprisingly good. I've been getting the spaghetti marinara
because they can do it dairy free. The performers, the jazz musicians are really
impressive and their music is mesmerizing.
Speaker1: [00:17:01] So nice. Yeah. I remember going there like many, many years
ago, and I remember it was like, very crowded.
Speaker2: [00:17:09] It is very crowded. Hopping. Yes.
Speaker1: [00:17:11] Yeah, we should go. We should go sometime. Yeah.
Speaker2: [00:17:14] Just may want to wear a mask. It is pretty tight quarters in there.
Speaker1: [00:17:18] Yeah. Good. Good tip.
Speaker2: [00:17:22] Yeah. 1905. Probably find me there on the next Saturday nights.
OK. Favorite hike spot.
Speaker1: [00:17:31] So I have to admit, I have not been to many hikes this year. And
one spot that I do enjoy going, even though I haven't been to many times, is the 1000
acres because it's very dog friendly. You can just let them run and when it's nice, it's not
so muddy. So like you can kind of like enjoy like both humans and dogs can enjoy the
nature out there. So my neighbor, we would take our dogs there sometimes and just
have a nice long walk and chat and just watch the dogs run. And you don't really have
to worry about dogs getting into fights because it's so big, like there's no territory or
things like that. And then it's a pretty good kind of like a still kind of like in urban
environment. I think it only takes 25 minutes to get there. It's pretty accessible and and
it's a pretty good I think if you are a birder, I think that's a pretty good place to watch
birds as well. So, yeah, so it's and it's entirely flat. It's not elevated at all and it's really
close to the water. So yeah, if you're looking for like an urban hike or, you know, just
something really easy and you can enjoy with your dogs, I recommend 1000 acres.
Speaker2: [00:19:05] Yeah, I actually have not been. But now that I have a car, which is
another new development this year, I will be taking WiFi there for sure. So my favorite
hike is not very obscure or most people know about it. It's the Lower McLay Park hike
that you can get to from Northwest, which is another reason why I like it. You can go do
the hike and then go to Top Burmese Burma Joy for dinner after. It's sort of great
because it's all in the same neighborhood and I like that hike. It is very popular. So you
will run into other people, but it's pretty immediately like you go in, you go walk under
this very majestic bridge and then you're in the forest and you can sort of self serve in
terms of how far you want to go, because it does connect to all of the paths in Forest
Park, like going up to the mansion.
Speaker1: [00:20:07] Oh, yeah. Pittock Mansion
Speaker2: [00:20:10] Yeah, yeah. So you can go all the way up there if you want and
beyond. Or you can just go in for a little bit and then come back out and eat, which is
what I usually do. So that's my. That's my hike for 2022. All right. Your healthy go to.
Speaker1: [00:20:27] So I, I actually I told Dee that I actually don't have a healthy go to.
Speaker2: [00:20:34] Yeah.
Speaker1: [00:20:35] I mean, certainly Trader Joe's does not count. So.
Speaker2: [00:20:40] Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker1: [00:20:42] Maybe I'm borderline. I consider ramen very healthy. So I'm going
to say my healthy go to is Afuri
Speaker2: [00:20:51] OK.
Speaker1: [00:20:52] Afuri ramen in southeast Portland. Again, very close to Dee. Like
a lot of my options are in east southeast because I used to live there and but a few is
still just really good ramen and really good food. And of course cocktail. I think they
have like a plum based cocktail.
Speaker1: [00:21:15] Or that was just very good. But yeah, healthy wise, the ramens
are really good, I have to say. And. And they don't feel heavy. Yeah. Like after a meal
you feel like, okay, I'm doing good. They also have these grilled fish that's like very, very
good and not greasy.
Speaker2: [00:21:37] Yeah. And their tofu dashi. Yeah. Appetizer. Yeah. Very good too.
Speaker1: [00:21:42] Yeah, It's very tender right? Yeah.
Speaker2: [00:21:44] My healthy go to this is very sad because it closed this year. It
was Canteen.
Speaker1: [00:21:53] Yeah. Canteen closed?
Speaker2: [00:21:55] Closed. Yes. So no more amazing smoothies or bowls. I am very,
very sad that Canteen is no longer. Please come back and Canteen because now
you're forcing me to go to Harlow, which I kind of hate. Sorry. No, no offense to any
Harlow lovers out there, but we are haters because why is it so popular?
Speaker1: [00:22:22] And it's very expensive.
Speaker2: [00:22:23] Expensive. It's very expensive. There's always a line. It's always
too loud in there and. Yeah.
Speaker2: [00:22:31] I'm not a fan. Yeah.
Speaker1: [00:22:33] You know, there's another really good smoothie spot, which is
actually at Mercado.
Speaker3: [00:22:38] Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Speaker1: [00:22:40] The smoothies are very good.
Speaker2: [00:22:41] Yes, I have had some. Yeah.
Speaker1: [00:22:43] So. Oh, I'm really sad.
Speaker2: [00:22:46] I know. So, R.I.P. Canteen. Please come back. Please save us
from Harlow. All right. Your unhealthy. Go to.
Speaker1: [00:22:55] My unhealthy. Go to. I didn't even have to think. I really want to
dedicate this unhealthy go to to my neighborhood bodega. I love my neighborhood
bodega. And, well, one reason is that it's it's. It's like a very nice, like, 20 minutes walk.
So if I walk my dog there, I pick up a couple of things and then walk back. So that's like
really good exercise for both of us. And another thing is they have really, really good pre
made foods. That's one. Is there their chili? That chili is really good and that's like a
solid two meals in one jar. And we all know chili is not healthy. So chili is healthy.
Speaker2: [00:23:43] Chili not healthy. Yes, it is. Is beans, tomato and beef.
Speaker1: [00:23:48] Yeah. Okay.
Speaker2: [00:23:50] Plenty of nutrients in there.
Speaker1: [00:23:51] Sure. It doesn't have. Yeah.
Speaker2: [00:23:54] Maybe high sodium, though.
Speaker1: [00:23:56] Yeah, it's very high sodium. And then they also make these kind
of pasta like dish that's like really good with a lot of tomato sauce and beef and cheese.
Speaker2: [00:24:07] Where is this bodega?
Speaker1: [00:24:09] It's on Foster, the intersection of Foster and Holgate.
Speaker2: [00:24:16] So people know in case they need to go get this faster.
Speaker1: [00:24:18] And and just to clarify, neither of us is getting paid by these small
businesses, right?
Speaker2: [00:24:26] They do not know. We're talking about them.
Speaker1: [00:24:27] They don't. This is a secret. I really hope they find out, though.
Speaker1: [00:24:31] So.
Speaker1: [00:24:33] Yeah, the it's called Bodega PDX is foster and holgate
intersection. And another reason I really love that place is because every time I bring
my dog there, they give him a piece of ham. So yeah so that's my unhealthy go to and
no regrets.
Speaker2: [00:24:53] No regrets for Henry either. My unhealthy go to is for sure Dough
donuts I think that's many Portlanders healthy go to now unhealthy go to for its vegan
donuts But really let's be honest like just because it's vegan does not make it any
healthier. It is still loaded with sugar. My favorite donut there is the the Namesake
Dough Donut, which has a strawberry frosting and sprinkles on it. Yeah, it's it's good. It's
really good. And I've also tried a few of their savory donuts this year. And that was that
was fun, too. OK. Favorite place for peace and quiet?
Speaker1: [00:25:40] Yeah, I'm very boring. My peace and quiet place is just my home.
Speaker2: [00:25:46] That's not boring. That's just real.
Speaker1: [00:25:48] Yeah, I know. I feel like, you know, a lot of people talking about,
especially for those who, like, us, always work from home. Like you want to get out and
find a different place for Zen or whatever. But for me, I feel like I'm mostly able to do my
work in the office. So I kind of like mentally just limit myself just in that space when I'm
working. I've been doing an okay job, but outside of that, you know, my living room, my
kitchen, my bedroom, it's I think that's where I feel pretty peaceful and just comfortable.
I think it gives me a sense of safety. Like when I look at the plants, when I make myself
coffee in the morning or just sitting in the rocking chair whenever it just sometimes you
just like a few moments. But I think that's really helpful for my mental health. And, you
know, in the evening when you just sit on the couch and just hang out with your dog,
that feels pretty nice.
Speaker2: [00:26:56] Definitely. I relate to that. My peace and quiet place besides my
apartment is Ladd’s Addition. So whenever I want to take WiFi on a slightly longer
meandering walk, I take him down to Ladd's. We go up and down the different tree lined
streets and creep on all the nice houses, pick out houses that we would like to live in.
We sometimes sit in the middle. It's the middle roundabout of ladd’s where sometimes I
found like around sunset there are random musicians that come out and play and then
other times we'll stay in some of the smaller roundabouts where they have the. The
Rose Gardens. Yes. Yes. So it's a lovely. Yes. So that's definitely my go to spot through
all seasons because, I love those tree lined streets.
Speaker1: [00:27:58] Yeah, for sure. I mean, so Dee live in a very bougie
neighborhood.
Speaker2: [00:28:05] I don't live in Ladds, though that would be even bougier. But
Buckman, I don't know. I feel like depending on the block that you're on, it sort of. So on
a spectrum of bougie to not bougie.
Speaker1: [00:28:19] Yeah, I get that too. Yeah. This in general. Yeah, I think right now I
live in a just a highly residential neighborhood. It is, you know, like I used to live in this
apartment building and you can just look at the river and that feels very privileged and,
and that felt very peaceful and quiet, too. And right now I feel like really, it's just. Be able
to be home. That feels very nice. But I also remember the Rose Garden, the little Rose
Gardens. Yeah. And especially when they are blooming. Yes. Oh, yeah, I totally. That's
totally peaceful. Yes. Yes.
Speaker2: [00:29:03] All right. Now, maybe the most important category on this list is
our dog's favorite places. So what's Henry's favorite place for 2022?
Speaker1: [00:29:17] So Henry's favorite places. Just I think it's just in general, like, of
course, I mentioned the bodega where people give him ham. So that's definitely on his
list. But I think in general, Henry's favorite places are where when he walks in, he's he's
the center of attention and everyone gives him love and treats. It does not matter where.
He just needs to be able to walk in a place and just be the center of it and just be very
happy.
Speaker2: [00:29:55] So any place like that.
Speaker1: [00:29:56] Basically, like every time we're walking to like, say, a plant store
and he just goes right to the checkout place and people will just give him treats. Yeah,
just like he just knows he has worked it out. He has.
Speaker2: [00:30:11] He's identified the pattern.
Speaker1: [00:30:13] Figure it out. So it's just in general, if he can walk into a place
where people can love him and give him treats, he's very happy.
Speaker2: [00:30:21] Yeah. Very similar is.. one of WiFi’s favorite places is definitely the
elevator in my building. Because when there are other people in there, he just stares at
them until if they don't immediately pet him, they will pet him under the influence of his
gaze. And then his other favorite place is probably Honey Latte. Very dog friendly cafe.
And when we first started going there, there was always a treat jar for a dog, so he got
used to getting a treat. Now they haven't replenished the treat jar. I don't know what's
going on there, Honey Latte, Are you listening? But he still feels very comfortable there
because it is the coffee shop that we go to most often, and it's pretty spread out in terms
of the table. So if there are other dogs, then we can avoid them because WiFi has
decided Honey Latte is his cafe. I like other dogs, especially if it's a corgi. Oh no, they
need to get the fuck out.
Speaker1: [00:31:25] That's what. What's wrong with the corgi?
Speaker2: [00:31:28] He doesn't like Corgis. He's got a thing against Corgis. Got to
take in to anti-bias training. Oh, totally. I mean.
Speaker1: [00:31:35] I really like Honey Latte, too. Where's Honey Latte?
Speaker2: [00:31:39] Oh, where is it? It's on. Is it Main Main Street, I think. And 11.
Yeah, Yeah, right around there. It's Buckman. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Love their Chai. Got to
get the chai. And then the. The rice, the dairy free Rice Krispie treats. Everything there
is dairy free. That's another reason why I love honey, Lord.
Speaker1: [00:32:00] They just really need to refill the treats jar.
Speaker2: [00:32:02] Yes, yes, please. For WiFi’s sake, that's our. That's the best of 22
that we've got. Was there other stuff you wanted to mention, Zhou?
Speaker1: [00:32:14] We also were talking about maybe we could share our, like,
what's our best experience? Oh, this year, if we have any, or just in general, our take
away from this year.
Speaker2: [00:32:30] You're going to have to go first, because I haven't actually thought
about this one yet.
Speaker1: [00:32:35] So, I mean, a lot a lot happened this year. And most of them to
me are really good learning experiences. One thing that I'm very grateful for Dee as well
is that I feel closer or more connected to my Asian community here, Asian, Asian,
American, etc. I feel like I'm making like real friends in the Asian community and I'm
more open to talking about our experience as Asian or Asian American or the
complexity of our identities as a non-white person living in this country and or like
particularly living in Portland. I feel very lucky and also kind of proud of that. Being able
to get closer to my Asian community members friends. I'm also volunteering more in the
community as well. I joined the Jade Districts Community. So for those who don't know,
there is a Jade district in Portland, which is close to Southeast 82nd, and it's a pretty
big, diverse community where lots of Asian and people of color businesses operate and
it's a very vibrant community. But due to a lot of racism and the anti-Asian hate thing, a
lot of local small businesses got vandalized. And one thing that this district committee
does is to help get funds and grants to small businesses that got impacted. So I got
myself involved into that community and being able to work with small business owners
or community members or even just people who are just like residents living in the Jade
district. And I think that's, you know, besides my friends, community and group, I think
being able to volunteer there really gave me a sense of like, I feel like I'm useful, like I'm
doing something that's a very good thing happened to me this year.
Speaker2: [00:35:10] Love it. For me. I would say one of my favorite sort of
communities in Portland that I've connected to is through Mata Leao combat sports, the
martial arts gym in Buckman that I joined this past summer, where they started up
recently a Brazilian jiu jitsu class for women. The woman coach Hailey, who teaches the
class, is fierce and wonderful and just a good friend. In addition to being an excellent
coach and teacher. And then the other women that attend in the class are a super
diverse group, everyone is also very welcoming and which is important when you are
grappling with each other and sweating on each other and becoming very physically
intimate for the purpose of learning to fight. And I was very nervous about that initially,
but was able to ease into it. And now it's one of my favorite things and it's done a lot for
me, both in terms of my physical and mental health this year. So thank you. Mata Leao
gym.
Speaker1: [00:36:26] And can I.
Speaker1: [00:36:27] Go?
Speaker1: [00:36:29] Can I join you?
Speaker2: [00:36:30] Oh, yes. I thought you meant like any leave. Like, of course you
can join. Yes. We'd love to have more grappling partners.
Speaker1: [00:36:42] Cool. Yeah. It really feels like it's at least to me, it was such an
overwhelming year. Not in a bad way, just generally speaking, just so much going on.
It's like the movie we watch, right? Everything Everywhere All at Once. It feels like that
sometimes, but when we really think about it, like there are so many good things
happened this year that kind of supported us and I don't know, energize us. I don't know
what would be the proper words to describe this year. But yeah, I think all things
considered.
Speaker2: [00:37:20] Sort of a tornado.
Speaker1: [00:37:21] Yeah, yeah. It's a very tornado-ey and.
Speaker2: [00:37:27] It swept us up and left us pretty dizzy.
Speaker1: [00:37:29] Yeah, but again, we've grown and we will continue to host this
podcast.
Speaker2: [00:37:38] Yes.
Speaker1: [00:37:40] We. Oh, actually, we have some exciting guests coming next
year.
Speaker2: [00:37:44] Oh, yes. Many thanks to Zhou putting together our guest lineup.
Speaker1: [00:37:49] Yeah, and thanks to Dee for being the engineer.
Speaker2: [00:37:55] The procrastinating engineer.
Speaker1: [00:37:59] Yeah. Speaking of which.
Speaker2: [00:38:02] I've had COVID Okay.
Speaker1: [00:38:04] Oh, Oh.
Speaker1: [00:38:07] Fine. Yeah, you can you get a pass for getting Covid
Speaker2: [00:38:11] Got my COVID card. Okay. Speaking of which, we should wrap
up.
Speaker1: [00:38:16] We should wrap up right now. WiFi and Henry are sharing a bed
and they're snuggling. And WiFi Is looking at us. And Henry passed out. Oh, gosh,
Yeah. WiFi. You know what's up
Speaker2: [00:38:32] Yes, He's doing his meerkat pose right now. He's ready for us to
be done with the podcast. So with that, see you in the new Year.
Speaker1: [00:38:39] See you in the new year. And best of luck.
Speaker2: [00:38:43] We just want to give a warm shout out to Alex for lending us a
fancy mic for us to try out for the podcast this episode. So thank you Alex.
Speaker1: [00:38:56] I thought it was a gift. We don't own it?
Speaker2: [00:39:00] That's very manipulative, Zhou. Take it back.
Speaker1: [00:39:04] Thank you, Alex.
Speaker2: [00:39:06] Thanks, Alex.