TAAF Staff Picks: Jason Liu

Tell us what you do at TAAF, and where you’re based.

I’m an Events Associate and the SF-based event planner for TAAF. I support the Events Team with TAAF’s national events and manage TAAF’s smaller, local events in the Bay Area. My role is extremely fast-paced and dynamic. At any given time, I could be balancing as many as 6-7 events each with extremely different audiences and at different points of the planning process. My role is also exciting to me with how I get to work across TAAF’s priorities, and how my work is often people’s first and lasting impression of TAAF.

‍What films or TV shows are you excited about right now?

Avatar: The Last Airbender is my all-time favorite TV show and the recent resurgence in new content in the Avatar world is taking me back to my middle school self who was giddy for each new episode of the original series! Even though I watched the show in middle school for the first time, I’ve watched it at least 4-5 times since and I will always say that the show is timeless. I just finished watching the new Avatar Aang movie and was reminded of why I love the characters/world so much.

Do you have a favorite book or author you're reading?

Helen Zia’s Last Boat Out of Shanghai is a recent favorite that will leave a lasting impression on me. The book focuses on the lives of people in Shanghai navigating Japanese occupation, Chinese civil war, and the resulting migrations to different parts of the world. I was extremely moved by the resilience, courage, and resourcefulness portrayed in each of the stories while it gave me a deeper appreciation of the impossible choices refugees need to make and, as a first generation American Born Chinese, what my parents’ generation needed to go through. 

What song is on repeat on your playlist?

“Clair De Lune”... but not the classical version! It’s a song on Flight Facilities’ album Down to Earth that a teammate recently played at a TAAF Staff Retreat. I love the song for how moody, catchy, and immersive it is. Another way of putting it is that it makes me feel like I’m floating, a way I describe the vibe of some of my favorite songs ever.

What's your top travel destination or bucket list vacation?

I’m itching to go to Australia and New Zealand! The nature, snorkeling, and food are huge draws but they’re just so far and I’ve needed to prioritize going back to Asia to see grandparents recently.

Any local AAPI owned restaurants or small businesses that you recommend?‍

Both because I live there and how the AAPI small businesses in Oakland don’t receive nearly enough attention, I’ll focus on Oakland! For a sit down meal, I highly recommend Ming’s Tasty, Monster Pho, Champa Garden, Burma Superstar, Hong Kong East Ocean Seafood Restaurant (in Emeryville), and Tada Ramen & Yakitori. For baked goods, Bakesum is in a tier of its own. A recent favorite has been Yuen Hop Noodle Company & Grocery where my wife and I have been loving their freshly-made, take-home noodles.

Stay tuned for picks from another TAAF staffer next month!