We had the chance to talk to Tina Kim, a local student that is this issue’s HYPE GIRL. She talks about her feelings about HYPE and also on her personal life as well as her views upon our city, Vancouver.
How would you describe yourself?
I am an easy going person. I love to chill and not always go strictly with the rules. “Going with the flow” is something I would always tell my friends. I also like to live a relaxed and balanced life.
Growing up in such a multicultural city, what are some factors that shape you into the person you are today?
Friends around me influence me the most. It’s fun to live in a city in Richmond; I encounter a lot of oriental Asian people and have friends that speak a combination of languages. I could say I could have a good mixture of friends.
Can you take us through your typical Friday or Saturday?
On Fridays, after getting of school I would usually go home and take a long nap, then I will probably go clubbing. On Saturdays, I usually spend time with close friends. I would chill out with them, have lunch and dinner, and maybe just pull in a good movie. Bubble tea is fun too!
What turns me on are people that are confident and not overly arrogant.
What doesn’t are people that are very pushy like totally out there; those that are egotistical.
What kind of guys are you attracted to?
Guys that I can depend on, reply on and feel safe to be around. They give me the chance to be a different person because I don’t have to watch myself and be concerned about other issues in life when I am with them. As implied from before, I am attracted to confident people.
Tina, you’ve been in this community for quite the while now. Is there anything specific to our community that gives you inspiration?
I’ve been involved a lot in school and one of the biggest projects I have been working with specific to the community is a brand new student organization called OSC (Organizing Support for Charity), at UBC. It’s very interesting to me as it has just started and it’s different than others. Usually I am in clubs that are well established already, but now I am contributing to something completely new.
In terms of fashion, what do you think makes up our city’s trend? What do you think influences Vancouver’s fashion trend?
Artizia plays a big role. Many girls would always shop there and they hold a lot of unique brands. One of the advertising methods Artizia use is having celebrities showcasing their sense of fashion on their websites. These products are ones that you can buy from Artizia, that influence how a teenage girl chooses her clothes.
What are your favorite places to shop, hang out, chill in Vancouver? What places will you tell people to go to if they visit Vancouver?
I like downtown and Robson the most because it’s filled with different types of people.
Unlike other places, it’s a very vibrant and active part of the city. People that come to Vancouver should also visit Stanley Park in the middle of night, safely of course, to observe our city in a different perspective and enjoy our city’s nice environment.
What’s the last place you have traveled? Are there any places you have traveled to which have left you a good impression and want some taste of that back in our city?
The last place I have traveled to is Hong Kong in the summer. Vancouver is way to slow compared to Asia; Hong Kong was sleepless. What I would want to bring back is that active night life to Vancouver.
What do you think is missing from Vancouver’s nightlife? Or do you think its fine the way it is?
Vancouver’s night life ends early. By 2 or 3 in the morning, everything is all gone. At night, the only venues you can go to are bars or clubs. In my view, shopping malls and other public places should open longer.
What totally sucks about Vancouver?
I hate it how you need a car to get to everywhere. The public transit system we have here make it very difficult to travel without a car.
HYPE is something that gets me excited. It can be long lasting or just something short like “I want to do this now”.