Rayfil Wong with Amanda Reynaud at Medjool

With a dimpled smile, Amanda Mia Reynaud said, “ the Chinese value conspicuous consumption!”

Slow down tiger, I did not expect a case of intellectual stimulation on a Saturday night at Medjool, but with opened arms I welcomed it.

As a matter of fact, I loved it.

On a breezy Saturday night, there are few things more festive than a night out in the seedy Mission District.

After waiting half an hour for her Creole presence, she had arrived.

I have not seen Amanda since college days at UC Berkeley, a good ten years had flown by. Back in college, we stimulated each other with conspicuous glances and other signs of flirtatious mannerism, but we had grown up.

Noticeably, she had lost lot of weight. Her now petite frame classified her as “healthy fit” – reminding me of the petite girls in Hong Kong.

Secretly, I always admired her. She was always happy and her sense of adventure made us connect. After college, she ventured and lived in Shanghai China for three years.

Seeing a black girl speak Mandarin, hot! (she can read and write)

More importantly, we connected because she understood me. She knew my culture, even lived in it. She had dated Chinese guys in Shanghai so I did not hesitate to ask her questions that would fill my curiosity.

Amanda Reynaud said that Chinese people don’t value happiness but seek conspicuous consumption. I agree. When I lived in Hong Kong, entry level secretaries would spend 80% of their salaries buying a Guicci purse they could not afford.

Amanda was wise, instead she explained to me that she valued experiences over consumption in life. While anyone can purchase a leather purse, she explained that no one can ever take away a person’s personal experience. That was in part why she moved to China.

I was fascinated.

Honestly, I am ashamed that being Chinese, I knew little about China and can’t even speak Mandarin.

I had always wanted to live in Asia, but after college I felt that I needed to be on a certain track. Get a corporate job, get married, have kids.

Growing up Asian American is not just hard, it is dam difficult. Guys are pressured by their parents to be lawyers, doctors, or engineers. We are encouraged to be “stable” in corporate American, which may be an oxymoron.

I just learned from Amanda Reynaud, happiness is important and should be a priority.

For those out there who are in living through life like zombies, take steps today and live your life like it was your last day.

Prediction. Now armed with an MBA from Monterey Institute of International Studies and an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley, Amanda Reynaud with her global experience will be a force.

FYI. The food at Medjool was fantastic. For a table of six, we spent $52 each. The rooftop terrace is a great view of the city.

Medjool