Portrait #2 of the New Coast

I asked who she was.

"Ione Nguyen. I’m a 24 year old barista by day and a 40 year old blues harmonicist by night. Most nights, anyways. The rest of the time I do freelance work for local shows, designing posters and flyers.

I asked about her name.

"It’s Greek, from my Mothers side of the family. A distant Grandmothers name, I think. My middle names are Minh Miranda, because my parents couldn’t decide on just one. My father is very stubborn, almost as much so as my mother!"

I asked where she was from.

"Born and raised in Coquitlam. My mother moved here when she was six and loved the trees. My father is Vietnamese by way of Singapore, then Toronto, Winnipeg, Prince George, and finally Burnaby. I got my curiosity from him. The only thing I got from my mother was her stubbornness, thank god!"

I asked her about Canadians.

"Well, they seem like a mostly friendly bunch but seem very offput when they find out I’m Cascadian through and through. Like I’m sick or something. I know all the stereotypes, sure. I wish they were true more often!"

I asked her about the ocean.

"It’s in my blood. I like to get out and fish with my parents when we can find the time, then go back to their place and cook a very fresh meal. My father got me a set of keys for his boat before I ever owned a bike. I remember taking a girl I liked out on the boat one night. It was very awkward when she wasn’t interested in me! We were quite a ways out on the water."

I asked her about Americans.

"I’ve only met ex-pats and skippers. Nice, if you can convince them you aren’t enforcement or American yourself. What do you think about Americans?"