Ravinia, IL / What are the most important things in life?

I visited Chicago at the end of the summer and went to the Ravinia Festival for the first time. I saw Yo Yo Ma who performed so incredibly amazingly. Chicago is an awesome city because it doesn't make me feel like I have to do a million things at once and I had the best Chicago day. I got a chocolate croissant and a cup of coffee (which they were giving out for free!) at Alliance Bakery and sat down to do some work. Then, I had a walk through the epic buildings of downtown Chicago (I really think Chicago has the most beautiful skyline in America) to the Metra station. On the train up to Ravinia, I met my walking talk interviewee who was on her way to the festival as well...


© Jasmin Chang 2011

Answer: Freedom is the most important. Freedom to see your friends. Freedom to think what you like. You don't have to live a cookie cutter life. You have freedom to live where you want, read what you want, love what you want, to think what you want, to have your own opinion. Basically, no limitations. You're going to have limitations with age, but I'd like to avoid it if I can afford it.

Question: Where in the world would you like to go to visit? Where are you curious about?

Stay tuned and get excited...the next Walking Talk moves to New York City!

Venice, CA / Do you like to sing?

I spent this past fourth of July hanging out around Venice Beach. Fourth of July two years ago marks pretty much the very beginning of this project which began on a post college roadtrip from Chicago to Jacksonville with my then roommate, Taylor. We spent the fourth of July at her family's beach house, where they've hosted an giant fourth of July party every year for the past few decades. It was epic and so delicious!

 

© Jasmin Chang 2011

 Answer: Actually, I would say I don't like to sing, but I like to talk. I like to speak. I just like listening to music. You know, music soothes the heart and soul. 

What's your favorite song right now?

I think something by Yanni. "Love is All." Yanni. Y-A-N-N-I. He's a good American singer and the song is "Love is All."

Question: What are the most important things in life?
 

Oceano, CA // What is your favorite aroma or smell?

Our road trip continued down the coast. We hiked in Big Sur and picnicked overlooking the ocean and then took a giant detour to our next stop, Pismo Beach. Apparently, there was a mudslide on PCH but despite there being signs for the past 100 miles telling us we would have to take a detour, there was never a sign saying...detour here! The road literally just ended with one roadblock sign in the middle of nowhere. So, we had to take a 3 hour loop all the way back up north through Monterey and then all the way back down, finally making it to Pismo Beach at 2 am, for a lovely dinner of Jack in the Box. So, a wise word of caution to future road trippers... the ocean can be beautiful and mesmerizing, but make sure you take the signs seriously!


© Jasmin Chang 2011



Answer: Lavender. The smell of lavender. It's relaxing and soothing. I plan on planting lavender when I rearrange my yard, so I can dry it and put it in little baggies. When you walk into Bed Bath and Beyond, it's the first thing you smell. At the farmer's market here, it's the first thing you smell. It draws you in because it's just so calming and soothing. My favorite smell used to be vanilla, but lavender has overruled it now. laughs


Question: Do you like to sing?

Napa, CA/What's the first thing you do in the morning when you open your eyes?

I went on a roadtrip down the California coast with a few of my best friends. Day one of our trip began at a winery in Napa and a picnic with wine, lots of cheeses and chocolate chili fudge. It was awesome because I've wanted to visit Napa ever since sixth grade when The Parent Trap, probably one of my favorite movies of all time, came out!


© Jasmin Chang 2011

Answer: The first thing I think of is, "I want to close my eyes and I don't want to wake up. I want to go back to sleep." Laughs. Every day I think that.

Question: What is your favorite aroma or smell?

I ask that because I was in Taipei just about two weeks ago. I grew up in Sydney, Australia and just for a minute, at sunset in Taipei, it smelled like a humid day in Sydney.

Venice, CA / Are you happy? If yes, why? If no, why?

I often go to the Bank of America in Venice for work and every time I go, I always look forward to seeing Magdiel, the attendant in their parking lot, who greets me with a big smile and an enthusiastic, "Hello Jasmin!" I've been hoping to interview him for The Walking Talk for some time now, and this just seemed like the perfect question for him.


© Jasmin Chang 2011

Answer: Of course, I am happy! I am happy to breath fresh air. I'm happy just to be alive.

There was a singer who sings this song... Celia Cruz. She sings, "Life is a carnival. It doesn't matter if you don't have any food, doesn't matter if you don't have any belongings, just be happy. Try to be happy. To be happy, you don't need many things. To be happy, you just need yourself. If you are not rich, if you are poor, enjoy the life cause it's a carnival."

It's the only time we have to celebrate, when we are alive.

Question: What's the first thing you do in the morning when you open your eyes?

Los Angeles, CA (Koreatown)/Would you marry someone of another race?

This is a very exciting post for me, because it has been a mighty long gap in the walking talk and I can't wait to get started again. Thanks to everyone who asked me what was going on with it, if I was still working on it, when they would see a new interview etc. Your encouragement seriously means a ton to me!

Last weekend, I visited photographer Noe Montes in his studio, met his adorable kids and talked some ideas.


© Jasmin Chang 2011

Answer: I have...yes. So the answer is yes and I hope everybody does, actually, so eventually there won't be any separation, but yes, absolutely, it's not an issue at all.

How did you meet your wife?

We met in Mesa, at a community college, in a photography class.

What ethnicity is she?

She's American. She's from the Hudson Bay so she's very white, very American. She's from New Jersey and her family's been there for a long time.

What European country is she originally from?

Actually, I think she's Polish originally, but like I said, they've been here for a long time. Her father actually followed up on a family tree a little bit, so they found out they were related to Henry Hudson, or one of those guys, one of those explorers, but very, very far back and before that her mom's family was from the Netherlands, but like I said, they've been American for generations so they're more American than anything.

Question: Are you happy? If yes, why? If no, why?

San Francisco, CA/Who in your life do you think you take most for granted?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: Most for granted? The person who I know that I do that to and I really shouldn't is my partner. We've been together 36 years and sometimes I do things that I wouldn't do if it was a casual acquaintance, I say things that I wouldn't say to a stranger. I would say something that was nicer. We have a great place and we have a wonderful life together. Sometimes we get into a little argument but very very seldom, but still, sometimes I do things that I shouldn't even though we have a great relationship. I always regret any kind of a mood swap. I just wish for peace in the family. Most of my immediate family is back in Louisiana so I really have very little contact with them.

Question: Would you marry somebody of a different race?