As an engineer who’s trying to break into the food world down here in Atlanta, so many parts of your journey resonate with me. The constant job rejections (400 applications, 3 interviews, 1 offer) is such a shit experience. From what I have gathered, today it’s so much more about connections, which my very sweet immigrant parents just didn’t have, and timing - which fucking sucks. As we become more aware of this world and how it operates, it’s incredibly difficult to see so many people remain willfully, and woefully uniformed, only to resign to the notion that “everything will be fine” or “I haven’t seen it so I don’t believe it” or even “why can’t we just focus on the positive” (regarding feeding all of America). Even moreso, it’s difficult to not become hardened by it. I admire your perseverance while surrounded by such an air, and look forward to reading the rest of your story! I’ll be taking notes 🤓
Yeah that is definitely one of the bitter truths of NYC. It's easy to get lost in it's glittering lights. It's also not inherently wrong to enjoy it either. But the city is a never ending juxtaposition of excess and poverty..
Part II is yet another reminder that Reenie is truly are such a passionate and authentic person, communicating her views and experiences through such rich forms of expression. In her writing I'm reminded of the same energy I've seen from her across her social media, advocacy, cooking and everything in between: the sense of a whole, complex, beautiful person navigating life with her heart open
Your writing is truly captivating, and your experience so deeply resonates that it hurts! The woes of social justice work and passion that is so often dismissed. Loved the papercuts analogy and also just learned about this relationship trope even though I've been living it for the past 5 years!! So happy I signed up for this newsletter! Thank you :)
As an engineer who’s trying to break into the food world down here in Atlanta, so many parts of your journey resonate with me. The constant job rejections (400 applications, 3 interviews, 1 offer) is such a shit experience. From what I have gathered, today it’s so much more about connections, which my very sweet immigrant parents just didn’t have, and timing - which fucking sucks. As we become more aware of this world and how it operates, it’s incredibly difficult to see so many people remain willfully, and woefully uniformed, only to resign to the notion that “everything will be fine” or “I haven’t seen it so I don’t believe it” or even “why can’t we just focus on the positive” (regarding feeding all of America). Even moreso, it’s difficult to not become hardened by it. I admire your perseverance while surrounded by such an air, and look forward to reading the rest of your story! I’ll be taking notes 🤓
Incredibly written. I had a day filled with paper-cuts and prior to heading to my next event this is what I needed to read.
"And then we danced."
Yeah that is definitely one of the bitter truths of NYC. It's easy to get lost in it's glittering lights. It's also not inherently wrong to enjoy it either. But the city is a never ending juxtaposition of excess and poverty..
*dances in shame*
I just finished reading this, and I can't wonder but hope there's a part 3 to this sequel
So incredibly written, and more importantly so honestly written, Reenie!
Part II is yet another reminder that Reenie is truly are such a passionate and authentic person, communicating her views and experiences through such rich forms of expression. In her writing I'm reminded of the same energy I've seen from her across her social media, advocacy, cooking and everything in between: the sense of a whole, complex, beautiful person navigating life with her heart open
Your writing is truly captivating, and your experience so deeply resonates that it hurts! The woes of social justice work and passion that is so often dismissed. Loved the papercuts analogy and also just learned about this relationship trope even though I've been living it for the past 5 years!! So happy I signed up for this newsletter! Thank you :)