My Communities by Vivienne Lu

Pasadena, CA

51999_3 — 2024-10-01 19:06:12 UTC

I feel a sense of community because that is where my aunt and uncle live. We visit a couple times a year, usually during Thanksgiving. We always drive down for a 5 hour road trip, and when we get here we go out to eat together. Other traditions include drinking tea (not boba), playing mahjong or cards, and going to sleep late and waking up late!

Safeway, Redwood Road, Castro Valley, CA

51999_3 — 2024-10-02 04:41:31 UTC

This is where my sister and I get our dinner when we stay after school on Mondays. It’s my community of need. We eat in the 600 hall and I listen to her and her friends talk about random stuff.

Victoria, BC, Canada

51999_3 — 2024-10-02 04:45:25 UTC

This is where my grandparents live! We don't visit often (every other year?) but I love seeing them. We only go during winter so it’s always really cold. I was freezing my butt off. And, there’s like ice on the side of the road, so… There’s never a plan on what to do, but last time I saw my dad’s old report cards from when he was a student in China! Apparently only compliments could be said, but I can’t read Chinese handwriting. It’s just so different because all the lines are blended together!

Bucks County, PA

51999_3 — 2024-10-02 04:49:19 UTC

All the way across the country is where my cousins live! We only go for graduations because we’ve always had bad luck with the flights to and from there. Unlike my grandparents, we go during the summer so it’s really hot and humid and sticky. Like the name, Bucks County has A LOT of deer. They’ll just be crossing the road whenever (and it’s not that well lit so you have to drive carefully.) Everyone else is kind of closer to each other but I was the youngest and we moved out when I was one so I don’t have the same young memories or videos of playing together. My mom lived in PA since around the time they immigrated here, when she was 10. Last time we visited, we got to see the two block long college she went to while we were looking at the different schools, so that was cool.

Castro Valley High School Football field, Castro Valley, CA

51999_3 — 2024-10-02 04:54:07 UTC

Marching band! I like it, but at the same time, do I really? I love my section (people who play the same instrument) and my friends. But, you have to put in so much time and work. Mondays and Saturdays for practice, and then there’s stuff like pep band at the required football games so we are at school until 9:30. It’s a really good challenge and a huge step outside my comfort zone! On a side note, this Monday I saw some of the Flag Football game, and they were awesome!

SinBala, West Duarte Road, Arcadia, CA

51999_3 — 2024-10-02 04:59:47 UTC

We always go here when we come down to visit! It’s like an only in LA thing, and we get something called 辣炒辣 (I don’t know how to describe it but it’s spicy) and restock on Chinese sausages. We also get stuff for my mom’s friends every time too!

Costco - San Leandro, Davis Street, San Leandro, CA

51999_3 — 2024-10-02 05:08:28 UTC

My mom goes to Costco every weekend to get what we need. She always leaves around 9 and is back at 11. I don’t actually know which exact Costco she goes to because they’re all like the same distance away. We get gas there as well.

99 Ranch Market, Regional Street, Dublin, CA

51999_3 — 2024-10-02 05:11:10 UTC

Where we get all our vegetables and fruits! Asian vegetables are never in normal supermarkets… but it’s also easier to find things here because everything is Asian. You also get bakery coupons for spending a certain amount of money, so you can get free bread or hot food if you save enough. We just go when we run out of veggies, and it’s not a specific one, just whichever’s closest.

Castro Valley High School, Santa Maria Avenue, Castro Valley, CA

51999_3 — 2024-10-02 05:16:21 UTC

School… but I do like learning about new things! It’s also when I see my friends (even though I have like zero classes with them). It’s funny because I’m tired at the beginning of the day but then my last classes all have really strong AC (700 and 900 halls are so cold…) so I wake up and no longer feel like taking a nap! But seriously, school is like where all my friends are and it kind of gives me a purpose every day.

Palomares Hills Park, 7050 Villareal Dr, Castro Valley, CA 94552, USA

51999_3 — 2024-10-02 05:20:38 UTC

Apparently I can’t just do Palomares Hills, so the park will have to do. But home is where my family is, and where I can just lie down and deflate after a long day. It’s always nice to lay in bed and fall asleep. I get emotional support from my pillow and stuffed animals, and I should really clean up and declutter my desk.