Jolie Gan | Portfolio, Projects, Prose et al.

“So,” he says, leaning forward, with a smug glint in his eye, “after seeing the mess that’s America, you’re moving back here after you graduate, aren’t you?” “Actually,” I tell him, “I’m based out of New York right now and the company’s doing well. If I stay, I’ll be staying on the East Coast. It’s easier because of the time difference.” He loses the smugness. His eyes pan over to my parents, who are suddenly very occupied with the food on their plates. One of my godmothers tries to take a positive spin. “She’s grown up there for so long - of course she’ll stay in the west!” But then even she looks over at me. “Why don’t you go to England instead? Isn’t it still great?” (I can tell she’s looking for affirmation that her daughter, who went to Cambridge, is still at the top of the pack by being in the UK vs the US.) “Because,” I sigh. “Europe is slowing down. I’ve been to France, I’ve been to Germany, I’ve been to England. It’s fine, I guess, but not the culture and the pace I’m looking

“So,” he says, leaning forward, with a smug glint in his eye, “after seeing the mess that’s America, you’re moving back here after you graduate, aren’t you?” “Actually,” I tell him, “I’m based out of New York right now and the company’s doing well. If I stay, I’ll be staying on the East Coast. It’s easier because of the time difference.” He loses the smugness. His eyes pan over to my parents, who are suddenly very occupied with the food on their plates. One of my godmothers tries to take a positive spin. “She’s grown up there for so long - of course she’ll stay in the west!” But then even she