Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Le.
Emily, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m 24 years old and moved to Houston two years ago from Minnesota. In 2014, I visited Houston for the first time and met a friendly Houstonian, Vien, through a Vietnamese culture and leadership camp. In 2015, I chose Houston to do a summer internship. I started dating Vien, and he took me to 118 restaurants, bars, and dessert places within my 12 weeks here. I fell in love with both the wonderful city and the guide. As soon as I graduated from college and moved to Houston. Vien is now my Instagram husband and we explore the world together.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I grew up in Vietnam and when my family moved to the US, there were a lot of fears and doubts. Eating out was a luxury that I wasn’t able to afford. At my high school, when students achieved a 4.0 GPA in a trimester, they received a Subway voucher for a free meal. I remember the joy when I got to Subway and order my food. Even though my mom cooked amazing food at home, I thought how cool would it be to eat out and explore all the restaurants in town. I love going to different restaurants to learn about their stories and cultures.
I worked full time while attending college. I wanted to assure my immigrant parents that they made the right decision to sacrifice their careers for me. Our best memories were when I was able to take them out to new restaurants to celebrate a milestone achievement. I made a promise to myself to work hard, stay humble and appreciate the little things in life. I graduated at the top of my high school class, got a full-ride scholarship to college, did seven internships, traveled to 11 countries and graduated within four years with all my CPA exams completed.
I’ve grown a long way from thinking that a meal from Subway was considered a splurge. I love exploring new foods in Houston, not only for my taste buds but also to feed my soul. I love to share this joy with other people through my blog and Instagram.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Instagram comes very naturally to me. I did two internships in college being the social media manager for different clients. I love taking pictures and sharing food/travel tips. My friends and family usually ask for a list of recommendations when they travel. Therefore, I started my blog a few months ago to start documenting my favorite spots in town. It is a creative outlet for me after working with numbers all day.
I’ve always loved writing. I competed in several writing competitions when I was in middle school in Vietnam. I won Top 5 writer in Saigon when I was 12. When I came to the US, I had to put this passion on hold as I learn to transition to a whole new language. I feel so blessed to be able to go back to my happy place and express myself through writing now.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Houston has a special place in my heart. It was the first place that made me feel like home after leaving Vietnam. I love the diverse culture, southern hospitality, and the amazing food scene here. If I win the lottery tomorrow, I’d still choose to live in Houston. This city has so much to offer and I’m still exploring all of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: emilyincolors.com
- Email: emilyple1801@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyincolors/
Image Credit:
Emilyincolors
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