Com tam at a tiny joint in Oakland Chinatown
A guy waved a bottle in front of me. “Nesquik?”, he asked. I shook my head no thanks. Five seconds after he walked away, I realized my stupidity. I missed a free bottle of Nesquik! I don’t remember drinking Nesquik for the past 15 years, or ever, but I know what it tastes like, and I like chocolate. Why did I say no?!
Because I live in Berkeley. One thing Berkeley trains you very well for is saying no. Each time you walk pass a homeless man or woman, whether he or she asks for spare change or curses you off or shouts “nice dress”, you silently say no. Each time an activist steps up to you and says “Hi how’s it going? Would you have a minute to talk about …?” and you can barely tell what it’s about because he or she squeezes those two sentences in the hundredth of a second you lift your foot, you say no, usually with a smile because you feel bad. So you prepare this automatic respond when a stranger sticks something under your nose: No thank you. And you end up missing the free Nesquik.
But Berkeley also makes you nicer. And it’s not because the hippies convince you about world peace or anything. First it’s because you travel by bus. The bus always comes late, and not everyone sitting next to you has showered in the past 30 days, so you learn patience. Second, it’s because, as the saying goes, “it’s Berkeley, you can do anything“, and people, including you, wouldn’t bat an eye, so you learn acceptance. Then there’s the protests (boy do Berkeley students love protests, although those never yield any result beside some kid ending up behind a police car). I could list a dozen other reasons. But mostly, it’s because you see everybody from every corner of the world. My first encounters with the Serbian, Iranian, Bosnian, Tibetan, Korean, Japanese, Eritrean, Ethiopian people, and the smell of marijuana all happened in Berkeley. And those encounters (except the marijuana) quickly became friendships.
So I used to get a little uneasy, and I’m ashamed to admit this because I know it’s mean, when I saw Chinese people selling Vietnamese food. Here’s what I think: they don’t make it right, so they shouldn’t call it Vietnamese food. (I’m disturbed when Vietnamese people sell bad Vietnamese food too, because that’s disrespecting your own people.) And I avoided Vietnamese restaurants owned by Chinese. But when I strolled all over Oakland Chinatown last week, there were some occasional raindrops, the sky was grey, it was getting cold, and I just visited the Japanese Buddhist Church for the O-bon festival. All of those things put me in an exceptionally good mood. Although I set out to find Vietnamese snacks, it quickly became clear that I wasn’t going to find any, so when I walked by a window sign of “banh mi, bun bo Hue, banh canh” and a list of other Vietnamese staples, I caved.
Five minutes later, I ordered a cơm tấm (broken rice) with grilled pork “for here”. The lady pointed me to Table 2 (Let’s refer to her as Lady 2 from now on, many ladies worked at this joint). I put down my bags.
Then she exchanged a couple of words including “xiè xiè” to a couple sitting at Table 4. Yep. It’s Chinese people selling Vietnamese food.
Well, that’s okay, I diverted my gaze to the TV, Lady 2 also made herself a bowl of noodle soup and watched a Vietnamese movie while eating. It was hard to hear the TV because the following things happened during the course of my dinner: a customer dashed out into the street while Lady 2 shouting after him in Vietnamese to tell him to run slower, Table 4 chatted loudly in Chinese upon his return, Vietnamese customers coming in to buy banh mi and cha lua to go (the only dine-in people were Chinese and me), and as I scooped up the few last spoons of rice, a fight broke out outside, which caused Lady 2 and everyone else rushing to the street. I had to stop Lady 2 to pay, her eyes still directed a yearning gaze door-ward.
When I told my mom about the fight, she suggested against going back to such place, who knows when the fight will take place in the restaurant. I see her point, but I think I’d risk it. The com tam, and that includes the grilled pork, the broken rice, the nuoc mam and the pickled carrots and daikons floating in it, was beyond perfect. 🙂
Price: $6.75
Address: Ba-Lê Deli, Coffee, Restaurant
812 Franklin St (between 8th and 9th St.)
Oakland, CA
(510) 465-3522
I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i am happy to convey that I have a very good uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to don’t forget this web site and give it a glance regularly.
1Awesome blog! Do you have any helpful hints for aspiring writers? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any suggestions? Appreciate it!
2I dugg some of you post as I cerebrated they were invaluable very beneficial
3Best xxx porn everHairy black galzPit a bout in your assWill
4pictures of breast implantsTeen guys nudismSigns of secretly gay menArchive breast expansion morph request xnxx Sexual disaster quartetAsian believe necklaceMedical fetish nurses enemasFinancial help
for teen mothersMost recent nude celebritiesOrgasm in sleep
teenNude kenya ladiesAnal russian free bang my wifeFemale masterbation that simulates sexVintage jewelry collectible https://live.vivoxvideos.com/ Sexy affordable places to marryRound rock
texas asian marketBest porn tubes web engine searchYoung nubile nakedBlonde wives fucking pics galerriesPersistent
dry cough metastasized breast cancerTeachers having sex in class xnxx Will and grace vibrator batteries episodeAfter dark lyrics asian kung
fu generationLuxux shemalesFuck sister ass thumnailNude teens urinalBig tits seventeenBig tit girls that swallow cumKate
winslet lesbian sex sceneFriend mom pornSpring grove pa
adult resortsDouible penetration vibratorPornstars reality videosLatex mattress in dallasCouples having sex in car
순천출장마사지 타임케어 – 순천출장홈타이와 순천출장안마 순천홈타이 서비스를 전국 어디서나 24시간 편하게! 전문 마사지사의 맞춤 홈케어로 피로를 빠르게 해소
5whoah this weblog is fantastic i really like studying your posts. Stay up the great work! You already know, lots of individuals are looking around for this info, you can aid them greatly.
6비아그라 구매 전 알아야 할 국내 처방 절차와 약국 이용 방법, 가격 확인 기준을 안내합니다. 실데나필 성분, 정품 확인 시 주의점, 복용 전 상담사항과 자주 묻는 질문을 확인하세요.
7팔팔정의 성분과 효과, 50mg·100mg 차이, 복용 시간과 부작용을 확인하세요. 처방 및 가격 확인 방법, 함께 복용하면 안 되는 약, 자주 묻는 질문까지 안내합니다.
8경기도 안양출장마사지 셀럽의 코스와 가격, 자택·호텔 방문 상담, 선입금 없는 예약 및 현장 결제 기준을 확인하세요. 방문 가능 여부와 예상 도착 시간은 주소와 당일 일정에 따라 안내합니다.
9My brother suggested I would possibly like this blog. He was once entirely right. This post truly made my day. You can not consider just how so much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
10강릉출장안마로 장거리 출장이나 여행의 피로를 풀어보세요. 강릉 전 지역 어디든 찾아가는 전문 아로마 마사지·스포츠 마사지 서비스를 제공합니다. 비즈니스 출장객, 관광객, 강릉 지역 주민 모두 편리하게 이용할 수 있는 강릉출장안마 서비스입니다. 지금 문의하세요.
11As I website owner I think the articles here is real good, appreciate it for your efforts.
12강릉출장안마로 장거리 출장이나 여행의 피로를 풀어보세요. 강릉 전 지역 어디든 찾아가는 전문 아로마 마사지·스포츠 마사지 서비스를 제공합니다. 비즈니스 출장객, 관광객, 강릉 지역 주민 모두 편리하게 이용할 수 있는 강릉출장안마 서비스입니다. 지금 문의하세요.
13인천출장마사지 인천출장안마 셀럽의 코스별 가격과 현장 결제, 예약 방법을 확인하세요. 송도·청라·부평·구월동·영종 등 지역별 방문 가능 여부와 예상 도착 시간, 자택·호텔 이용 안내를 제공합니다.
14I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.
15Wonderful paintings! This is the kind of information that are meant to be shared across the net. Disgrace on Google for now not positioning this post higher! Come on over and talk over with my web site . Thank you =)
16I went over this internet site and I believe you have a lot of excellent information, saved to my bookmarks (:.
17Yay google is my queen aided me to find this outstanding website ! .
18포항출장마사지 전문 업체입니다. 24시간 연중무휴 운영과 100 후불제 시스템으로 언제든 편하게 예약 가능! 전원 한국여성 테라피스트가 커플마사지까지 전문 제공
19You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
20Hi! I’ve been reading your web site for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Kingwood Tx! Just wanted to say keep up the great work!
21I love it when people come together and share opinions, great blog, keep it up.
22I like the efforts you have put in this, thankyou for all the great content.
23Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually know what you’re talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my web site =). We could have a link exchange arrangement between us!
24I like this internet site because so much utile stuff on here :D.
25Thanks – Enjoyed this update, how can I make is so that I receive an email sent to me every time you write a fresh update?
26I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
27I like this site so much, saved to fav.
28I got good info from your blog
29I got good info from your blog
30Thank you for sharing with us, I believe this website genuinely stands out :D.
31Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last several posts have been kinda boringK I miss your super writings. Past several posts are just a little out of track! come on!
32강남구구단 방문을 준비하고 있다면 가격 구성, 이용 방식, 예약 절차와 위치 확인사항을 살펴보세요. 인원·시간에 따른 상담 항목과 자주 묻는 질문을 한곳에 정리했습니다.
33Thanks for some other informative website. Where else may just I am getting that kind of info written in such an ideal means? I have a project that I’m just now working on, and I have been on the glance out for such info.
34I used to be very happy to search out this web-site.I wanted to thanks in your time for this glorious read!! I positively enjoying each little little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.
35Whats Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & assist other users like its helped me. Great job.
36Spot on with this write-up, I truly assume this web site wants way more consideration. I’ll most likely be again to read rather more, thanks for that info.
37Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was looking for!
38I am glad to be one of many visitants on this outstanding website (:, thanks for putting up.
39It’s the best time to make some plans for the longer term and it is time to be happy. I have learn this put up and if I could I want to recommend you few fascinating things or tips. Maybe you could write next articles relating to this article. I desire to learn even more issues about it!
40I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Outstanding work!
41Only wanna remark on few general things, The website design is perfect, the subject material is rattling good. “Taxation WITH representation ain’t so hot either.” by Gerald Barzan.
42I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again!
43Useful information. Lucky me I found your web site by chance, and I am stunned why this coincidence did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
44I believe other website proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and excellent user genial layout.
45I wish to express some thanks to you for rescuing me from this predicament. Just after looking through the search engines and finding recommendations which were not powerful, I thought my entire life was gone. Living without the approaches to the difficulties you have resolved by means of the post is a critical case, and the ones that might have negatively damaged my entire career if I hadn’t discovered your website. Your primary mastery and kindness in maneuvering almost everything was helpful. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I had not encountered such a subject like this. I can also at this moment look ahead to my future. Thank you so much for this reliable and sensible help. I will not hesitate to propose your blog to any person who should get support about this subject.
46An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
47I would like to express my appreciation to the writer just for bailing me out of this type of scenario. Because of scouting throughout the internet and obtaining opinions which were not helpful, I figured my life was gone. Existing without the presence of answers to the difficulties you’ve sorted out by way of the website is a serious case, as well as the kind that might have badly affected my career if I hadn’t discovered your blog post. Your own natural talent and kindness in playing with every part was important. I am not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t discovered such a subject like this. I am able to at this time look forward to my future. Thanks very much for your impressive and sensible help. I will not think twice to suggest your web blog to any person who needs to have direction about this issue.
48You actually make it appear really easy with your presentation however I to find this topic to be actually one thing which I think I might by no means understand. It kind of feels too complex and extremely large for me. I am taking a look forward for your next publish, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
49Hi, i feel that i saw you visited my website thus i got here to “go back the want”.I am attempting to in finding things to improve my web site!I guess its adequate to make use of a few of your ideas!!
50