LauderBlog
Dec 15: A View from China
Posted On: December 15, 2008 1:45 PM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
I visited Hong Kong for the first time earlier this year. And I loved it. I’ve also taken Mandarin lessons for a couple semesters and have a general fascination with Eastern cultures. So I was delighted to meet two lovely Chinese women at the big Winterfest Boat Parade on Saturday night – and to learn about their enthusiasm for Fort Lauderdale. They offered me a view of home by way of China. This began when I settled into a spot in downtown Fort Lauderdale along the dock behind Huizenga Plaza to wait for the parade to start. All the waterside activity provided a fun preview of what was to come along with the full moon and cool evening temps. Music was blaring from the boats and a carnival of colors lit up decks and masts on the New River. Then I noticed Yiu Ping and her friend, Yan Yan. They looked charming and, after the parade got moving, I managed to start up a conversation.
We all talked for a long time. They’re both from mainland China near Shanghai. Now they live in Miami as roommates. Yiu Ping is a computer programmer with two masters degrees who works at the University of Miami and Yan Yan is going for her doctorate in molecular biology. These are smart women. They had driven up to Fort Lauderdale to make an evening of it, including dinner and the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest boat parade.
I soon learned that, though Yan Yan is a new resident, Yiu Ping has lived in South Florida for some time. And that she much prefers Fort Lauderdale to Miami. “There’s a lot to do here in Fort Lauderdale,” she told me. “I come here all the time.” Interesting. Yan Yan agreed with her. Yiu Ping talked about the jazz brunch series on the Riverwalk – she’s attended these Sunday morning sessions and really likes them. She also spoke about music events on Hollywood’s Broadwalk, something she enjoys a lot too. I found her opinions refreshing. It turns out that Yiu Ping once had an apartment near the Fort Lauderdale beach, only moving south to be near her work. But it seemed clear that her affections were attached firmly to Broward and that her friend was starting to feel the same way. Both of these Asian academics were wonderful to chat with and I only left them for a pre-arranged meet-up with a friend. I walked away thinking about what they had told me and felt, “Now there are two women with some taste.” No wonder I find Eastern culture so appealing.
We all talked for a long time. They’re both from mainland China near Shanghai. Now they live in Miami as roommates. Yiu Ping is a computer programmer with two masters degrees who works at the University of Miami and Yan Yan is going for her doctorate in molecular biology. These are smart women. They had driven up to Fort Lauderdale to make an evening of it, including dinner and the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest boat parade.
I soon learned that, though Yan Yan is a new resident, Yiu Ping has lived in South Florida for some time. And that she much prefers Fort Lauderdale to Miami. “There’s a lot to do here in Fort Lauderdale,” she told me. “I come here all the time.” Interesting. Yan Yan agreed with her. Yiu Ping talked about the jazz brunch series on the Riverwalk – she’s attended these Sunday morning sessions and really likes them. She also spoke about music events on Hollywood’s Broadwalk, something she enjoys a lot too. I found her opinions refreshing. It turns out that Yiu Ping once had an apartment near the Fort Lauderdale beach, only moving south to be near her work. But it seemed clear that her affections were attached firmly to Broward and that her friend was starting to feel the same way. Both of these Asian academics were wonderful to chat with and I only left them for a pre-arranged meet-up with a friend. I walked away thinking about what they had told me and felt, “Now there are two women with some taste.” No wonder I find Eastern culture so appealing.
RSSComments
There are no comments added for this post.
