Writings and Travels of Lina Em
My mother always told me that cleaning is not a matter of being a woman or a man. It’s about creating an environment that is inviting and promoting hospitality while giving a sense of peace and serenity to your daily life.
Continue reading “Cleanliness Brings Peace”
One of the biggest sacrifices I made in this lifetime was not seeing my sisters grow up and being there for them. Being the oldest daughter but having an older brother, your challenge is to set an example; lead, guide, and advise your siblings.
Continue reading “My Sisters and Me”
Patience is not my forte.
Though it seems like I can handle certain things with an even-temper, I’m a far cry from the model of angelic patience.
Since patience doesn’t get me through to the end of my projects, the secret sauce is actually passion. Passion helps me through the tough times of designer’s block, non-constructive criticism, and my own self doubt.
Continue reading “Patience and Passion”
One day, I was I Sephora with my friend buying make up. I wanted to try out this new Smashbox CC cream that claims it color corrects acne scars. Upon arrival, there are only 5 colors: fair, light, light medium, medium, and dark. As I stood there with my friend, who I should mention is extremely dark skin, she knew right off the bat, she was a dark color. If you looked at us, there’s a huge difference in our color tone. But the color cream that matched me was the darkest foundation—the same as hers!
Continue reading “Brown is my Skin”
When it comes to lies from a lover, I have little to low tolerance. A relationship built on lies is nothing but a house made of match sticks, when it ends, there’ll be an explosion.
Continue reading “Lovers and Lies”
Back when I visited Hoboken, New Jersey (probably the rare few times you’ll hear me say “visit” and “New Jersey” in the same line), I had also sent my saliva sample to get my DNA tested for the sake of discovery and curiosity. I received an email from 23andme.com (if you buy the package on DNA day, you’ll get a substantial discount) that my results were in and I perused the result and thought, I already knew most of the findings because A. I visit and consult my doctor almost religiously and B. I talk to my mother all the time. The part that excited me about the results were the blood group and ancestry, the latter to which I must wait.
Continue reading “23andme and My Results”
In the dead of winter, dressed in a sleeveless top and sarong, my mother arrived, husband and 2 children in tow, to America, with not one lick of understanding of the language.
It was January 31, 1986, New York, a winter storm brewing outside customs office. We passed through and made it to Boston, my mother reunited with her best friend.
Continue reading “My Mother’s Life: The States”
My mother at the refugee camp
My mother’s given name is Samnang, it means lucky. She thought herself unlucky so when she came to America, she shortened it to Nang, which has no meaning.
Continue reading “My Mother’s Life: Southeast Asia”
An old couple visiting Venice
My mother once said, “you are the one living with the person you love. So why worry if someone else loves him?”
Continue reading “Friends and Lovers”
Salt rock chandelier at the Wieliczka Salt Mine, my boyfriend sent me this photo many moons ago from his travels
Diamonds don’t fall from the sky, my mother used to say. If you want something, you’ve got to get dirty and dig for them.
Continue reading “Digging For Diamonds”