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?

Inglewood, CA/How do you feel about life in general? Do you feel like you're content or do you feel like you're missing something?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: No, I do not. I feel very content. I feel I'm exactly where God wants me to be.

I just turned 31 and I just feel so blessed. I feel like most people my age don't love their job. I feel blessed to really love what I do. I have a great family. I have my health. Yes, I'm very content.

It's such a great place to be. I just think so many people at this age, well so many people in general. are always waiting to see what the next thing is thinking, well, this will make me happy. Well, that will make me happy, but I am content with where I am.

Question: Who in your life do you think you take most for granted?

Rockford, IL/How come some people can take care of dogs and cats for a long time, but others for only a very short time? With babies too. Some people can care for them for a long time, some people play for a few minutes and then get bored. Why is that difference?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: Well, you can say the same for people and children. For people who are entertaining a child for the short term, they want to play with the child, interact with the child so the child will not fear them, so that it will be comfortable with them but then they want to move on and interact with the adults in the room if there are adults in the room.

As far as taking care of a child on the long haul, usually that's either your own child or you've taken an interest in a friend's child or an aunt's child or you're doing it for money so it can either be a financial need or an emotional need, end of story.

Patience comes because people have a deep love for children, or they have a deep love for a pet and a pet fills empty holes in their life. It fills loneliness and some people, they bond with animals better than they bond with people so they have a wonderful lifetime relationship with an animal.

I understand people who love children and I understand pet lovers and the desire for pets. It's kind of, you know, when you've lived this many years, you kind of know a little bit about human nature and human needs. You can read body language and the way people laugh, the way they react to you...you can tell if they're genuine or not, the same thing with pets they either love you or they don't.

So now, shall we move on?

Question: How do you feel about life in general? Do you feel like you're content or do you feel like you're missing something?


© Jasmin Chang 2010


© Jasmin Chang 2010

Skokie, IL/Why don't people pay more attention to spaying and neutering their cats and dogs? Why don't people take more responsibility for their pets?

Welcome to the Pita Inn, one of the most amazing places to eat in all of the Chicagoland. Three dollars for a dozen fresh baked pita bread, the best falafel sandwiches, hummus, tabouleh... Needless to say, many of my Northwestern days were spent here so it was only fitting when I visited this summer that it would be a part of my project.


© Jasmin Chang 2010

 Answer: I don't know because I don't raise cats or dogs. The people don't have responsibility. They think it's easy but it's not. It's a soul. It's like a human being. It needs food. It needs care. You have to take care of it like a baby.

I ask why he does not own any pets.

I've been here just for a short time and in my country, Iraq, they don't care to take care of pets like here.

Question: How come some people can take care of dogs and cats for a long time, but others for only a very short time? With babies too. Some people can care for them for a long time, some people play for a few minutes and then get bored. Why is that difference?