Get to Know a Garden City Member: Megan Chen
Hello GC fam! Thank you for the time you are taking to read about me.
I was born in Australia, raised and educated (and took my first job) in Hong Kong, then moved to the Bay Area in 2015 for my master’s degree. I am currently working in the legal department of a biotech company (that is synthesizing parts for COVID-19 test kits and vaccines!).
Hong Kong, the city I know best, is, overall, fine. Defined by convenience and efficiency, it’s inevitable that service attitudes are generally wanting, but the efficiency is truly remarkable! Tipping is not encouraged (except in cash, and secretly), and people walk fast. Having lived there for 25 years, a result-driven mentality was quite deeply ingrained in me. Hence, I am really grateful that God opened the doors for me to work and live here, where I have had the luxury (of time) to learn to appreciate the slower, finer things in life (for example, crow-watching...very entertaining and they can be trained). Being far from home has also made me wish I spent more quality time with my family and showed them more love when I was there.
I serve on the media (ProPresenter, lighting) team at Garden City. I enjoy being in control of the background and also listening to the band play while rehearsing with them. My recent Life Group highlight is, actually, being able to take a break from it and rest. I cherish my Life Group and I’ve been with them for almost 4 years now. They are accepting and tolerant, quirky, colorful, and full of wisdom and grace. While I have no plans to join another Life Group, I believe this will be a good time for restfulness.
My favorite spot in the Bay Area is wherever I’ve made my home (still renting). I love everything about home - being home, homemaking, tidying up...even better since I have cats for roommates. Farmer’s markets (Campbell and Saratoga) are also a delight. An outdoor spot I discovered recently is the Hakone Gardens in Saratoga - especially when cherry blossoms are blooming. Followed by, perhaps, a matcha-themed afternoon tea at Sue’s Gallery Cafe a few minutes away.
The COVID-19 lockdown has not (yet) driven me up the wall. I am able to enjoy working from home (so far) and found this to be a great opportunity to reach out to friends worldwide that I fell out of touch with. The drawback of working from home is that I find myself working much longer hours, having very little insulation between rest and work. Secondly, I have been eating so many frozen dumplings that I got to make a whitelist and a blacklist (to make better future decisions!).
To sign off, as someone who experienced the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong first-hand back in 2003, I pray that my Garden City family will take the recommended personal hygiene and health precautions seriously, be considerate, be conscientious, stay active and healthy. These are strange, changeful and unprecedented times. Although “same old” will never be the same, God is unchanging and faithful, and His promises stay true. Praise the Lord.