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Born out of exile, thanks to the Chinese civil war of 1948 that, among other things, brought a southern boy of Fukian together with a northern girl of Tianjing on the island of Taiwan. A match that would otherwise never have been. From this origin he makes his way further out in the world - first with his family at the age of 15 to Tokyo, Japan. An extraordinary, idyllic three years spent at global tyke heaven - St. Mary's International School. Oh, those bright morning walks over the leafy valley from the train station! Running through Tokyu Hands on the way up onto the train platforms! Jiyu-gaoka! Talk of "Soapland"! Innocence ends when he lands at his next destination - coolly elegent Berkeley, California. Classic in both beauty and cold perfection, the little city-by-the-bay witnessed his four years of bittersweet struggle. The sleepless nights in the depth of Evans Hall dungeons. The lone prowl down twilight University Ave., around Shattuck Ave., finally the tired trek up Bancroft Ave to a little solace and rest. Whether by choice or temperament, his years at Cal Berkeley turns out much like one of those scenic ascetic monasteries that dot Western Europe. Rarified intellectual hard labour, set in great natural beauty. From there a bus ride down to the capital of Mammon - Los Angeles. There again by chance and affinity, he settled down literally on the other side of the track, where the enclave of USC meets African-Chicano South Central. While most students relish in the archtypical sunny SoCal lifestyle, he discovered in his own neighborhood the ramshackled charms of Latino life. And once tasted the salsa, there's no going back - the joys of these weedy pueblos have stayed with him ever since. (To be continued) |
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Elective Affinities
Specifications:
For the Record
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