Maxine
maxine June 12th, 2008
Life Story:
I grew up in Southern California. I have two older brothers - William and Wilson - who were 9 and 6 years older than I, respectively. My parents, Henry and Betty, immigrated from Vietnam during the Vietnam war. They were fortunate to have been working for the American Embassy at the time, so they and their large families were able to leave before things got too rough.
My early childhood was in Monterey Park, a predominantly Chinese community in East Los Angeles. I spent my middle childhood, from second grade until my freshman year in high school, in Laguna Niguel. I didn’t want to go at first, so I thoughtfully drew a line with my rainbow crayon along the length of our outside brick wall. My parents weren’t too pleased about it, but I figured it wasn’t as bad as when my brothers “accidentally” burned down the garage a few years prior.
We eventually managed to move without too much fuss from me. It was a lovely house with a gigantic backyard. There was a swimming pool with a raised jacuzzi, a walkway around a gazebo, and a little red footbridge over a fish pond. On the 4th of July, we would sit on the balcony overlooking the regional park lake and watch fireworks from four different cities. I miss that house.
We moved to Cerritos in South L.A. County after my freshman year of high school. I experienced a small amount of culture shock, going from predominately White Orange County to the second most diverse school in the state of California. It was a good experience for me. I found my love for the stage and for musicals in this new high school. I also went through some typical teenage angst, the sordid details of which I will spare you.
After graduation, I set off for college at UCLA, where I majored in Psychology and minored in Applied Developmental Psychology. I finished in 3 years and started working as a preschool teacher the Monday after graduation. I loved my job, and I loved my co-workers. I stayed there for four years before leaving for the higher calling of motherhood.
Hobbies, Passions, and Interesting Facts:
First and foremost is food. I am passionate about food of every kind. I might seem like a food snob to some, since I do appreciate the finer things and won’t hesitate to drop $200 on a gourmet meal (that I cook myself, of course), but I’m really not. I love all kinds of food, and I love cooking. I have great ambitions to become an accomplished home chef and baker. My mother cooks a lot and very well, so I probably picked up some of my tendencies from her. I didn’t really start cooking until I was in college and my own apartment. It was then that I found my love for throwing dinner parties.
I also love to knit. It’s a great excuse for watching a movie and otherwise doing nothing. I find it oddly relaxing and therapeutic. I want to learn to crochet but haven’t gotten around to it yet. I’ve tried scrapbooking and quilting, both of which I now hate. I can do basic sewing, but I also don’t really care for i
I love music in most forms, but I especially love to sing. I used to be part of an a capella group called The Random Pitches. We had fun.
I love video games. What can I say? I have two older brothers. I can get quite addicted, though, so I tend to stay away.
I can belch. Loudly.
Don’t feed me peanuts; I’ll die. Don’t feed me cashews; I’ll itch. Don’t let me play with cats or bunnies; I’ll wheeze and itch.
I’m learning to play the guitar. So far, I can play “Stand By Me” and “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”
I love to read, but lately it’s taken the form of blog hopping. I’m trying to break the habit, but first I need to find the motivation to do so.
I have an inexplicable love for marching band and patriotic music. Seriously, I can’t describe the joy that overtakes me when I hear it. It’s only seconds before I’m marching around the house waving a flag around like a maniac.