On ‘At Home With,’ we virtually visit our members and catch up on their current normal. From recommended reading and podcasts to creative recipes and wellness routines, get to know the network - and maybe even come away with a little activity inspo.
Meet Gia Kuan, the NY-based founder of Gia Kuan Consulting. She shares her pandemic-prompted activities – from learning beginner Russian (she’s already bilingual in Mandarin!) to Coney Island visits and retro musical forays.
What’s your usual location, and where are you currently staying?
I've been in New York in my apartment downtown this entire time, sticking it out since March since I came back from Paris Fashion Week
Did you discover any new pastimes or creative outlets during lockdown that you’ll stick with?
I started practising the flute again which I used to play throughout high school, which has been therapeutic but probably annoying for my neighbours through our thin walls. I also tried to learn beginner Russian, and have been cooking a tonne during quarantine and learning new recipes.
Do you have any favorite podcasts, books, newsletters, etc.?
I've been listening to a lot of podcasts and it's really been only of my favorite past times while I'm working or when I go out for walks: Dolly Parton's America, My Favorite Murder. I also really like the HBR Ideacast and How I Built this by NPR. The best book I read recently is The Snakehead: An Epic Tale of the Chinatown Underworld by Patrick Radden Keefe. My favorite newsletters...there's too many! I'm definitely an oversubscriber and subscribe to absolutely everything. I do like the Artnet one as I love getting updated on news in the art world.
What do you miss most from pre-Covid life, and what’s keeping you going right now?
I loved dining out and going to restaurants with friends. But I have to say my cooking skills got a lot better since Covid, so it seems like a fair exchange.
Any summer plans?
August is actually a crazy busy month for me so I think I have to stay put. However I do go to Coney Island every other weekend.
As travel starts opening up, where will you be vacationing first?
I would love to go to Morocco, Cayman Islands and eventually Korea.
