Kristina Kwan

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.

I was born in Vietnam during the height of the Vietnam war to Chinese parents. As ethnic Chinese minority living in Vietnam we were often the target of persecution after the Vietnam war ended. When I was eight years old, my parents decided to escape Vietnam to give their children a chance at a better future. Even though we were very poor and there wasn’t any way to come up with enough money for the whole family to leave together in such a short time, my parents never gave up hope. My dad was a jeweler by trade and with the gold he had borrowed from my grandmother, he made jewelry to sell. Within 6 months he was able to make enough money for our whole family of 5 to leave together. Many families were separated during this time so it is not uncommon for 1 member of the family to leave first while the rest stayed behind. We were amongst the first wave of the boat people. 

My family left Vietnam in the middle of the night so that we wouldn’t get caught because if we were caught, we would have been thrown in jail or executed. When we left our homeland that night, we left everything behind, our homes, family, friends, and a life we once had, in hopes of a better future elsewhere. We set out on a journey into the unknown, facing dangers we couldn’t possibly imagined. It was estimated that of the 2 Million or so boat people who left Vietnam, only 40% actually made it to safety. Many encounter violent storms at sea, starvation or pirates who would take all their possessions, rape their women or even kill them. Fortunately we didn’t encounter any violent storms at sea nor did we encounter pirates. Our destination was to any of the refugee camps that the UN had set up in Southeast Asia for refugees fleeing persecution. We drifted out at sea for 12 weeks. With food and water dwindling, we were desperate for help. Every country we encountered turned us away because no country wanted to be responsible for refugees. We were turned away 3 times and by the 3rd time, we came to an island off the coast of Malaysia. They too turned us away. This time, we refused to leave because we had no more food and water. So when we refused to leave the Malaysian government forced us out. How they did this was with their huge ship, they tugged our 30 ft boat with 149 passengers on board out to sea. They tugged our boat with so much speed that water was rushing onto our boat. Their intention was to drown us. If we were to sink, no one would know, we would be just another boat of refugees who have met their fate in the South China sea. As the sea water rushed onto our boat, the adults on our boat tried desperately to get the water out of the boat with all the buckets they could find, they scooped the water out as fast as they could but there was really no hope of preventing our inevitable drowning. While this happened above deck, below deck, I still remember my parents accepting the fact that we would all die. My dad started to put sweaters on for me and my brothers, he said he wanted us to be warm when we all die together. My mom said she started to pray to all the gods to save us. Growing up, we were not really religious, we went to the buddhist temple once a year and worshipped our ancestors. My mom said she remembered praying to God to save us that day. When there seemed to be no hope left, someone on our boat managed to cut the line that pulled our boat and we were freed. Once again we floated out to sea. With no food and water left, we didn’t know how much longer we could survive. When all hope was lost yet again, we were discovered by a UN ship. They brought us to an island off the coast of Indonesia, there they set up a refugee camp for us. We stayed in Indonesia for 6 months. During those 6 months, the UN sent food and aid for refugees but by the time it actually got down to our hands we were forced to live on 12 eggs per person per week, and half a cup of rice per person per week. We lived this way until a catholic priest who was refused access to us, snuck onto the island in the middle of the night to talk to us and discovered that we were all malnourished, hungry and sick. As soon as this priest got word back to the aid agency about what was happening at our camp, they started to send the aid directly to us instead of through the local officials. After this happened, we had plenty to eat. To this day, I still remember the sweet smell of an apple because that was the day I didn’t go hungry any more. 

We spent 6 months on the island waiting for our turn to get sponsored. We didn’t know where we would end up but would be happy to go to any country that would take us in. My aunt was in St. Paul at that time, so we didn’t have to wait as long as the others. My aunt was able to connect with Catholic Charities and was able to find a church to help us. My family was sponsored to MN by Nativity Church in St. Paul. We arrived in St. Paul on Nov 2, 1979 with only the clothes on our backs. Our sponsors said they wept when they first met us because our clothes were ripped and our sandals had holes in them. Ever since we‘ve arrived in the US, my parents have always taught us to work hard, appreciate what we have, love each other and help others. Today, my brothers and I are college educated, own our own businesses, one is a local police officer, another is an athletic director. We are involved in our communities, and we serve others in some capacity or another. 

As the first Christian in my family, I know God has a plan for me. God revealed that plan to me in 2015 when the opportunity came to either close down the existing adult day care center that I was running for a local non-profit or find another solution. I tried desperately to save it by asking other organizations to take it over but no one would. My family and friends originally told me to turn away and focus on my existing insurance business. Against everyone’s advice, I felt it in my heart that I had to do this, so I opened my own adult day care center so that I can take in these elders who would have nowhere else to go. As soon as I said I would open Phoenix Cove Adult Day Care Center, everyone got behind me. My staff said they would work for free, my family and friends supported me and small miracles started to happen. Everything just fell in place. 

May my story be a testimony to you that whatever storms you are facing in your life right now that God has a plan for you. Remember His promise to you in Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you”14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.

Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I currently own Phoenix Cove Adult Day Center, an adult day center that caters to vulnerable Asian elders. We pick our participants up in the morning, they come to our center to eat culturally appropriate meals, socialize, exercise, play games, go on field trips, etc. We take them home at the end of the day. This Phoenix Cove Adult Day Care is housed inside my brand new business, Phoenix Hall Event Center. I run Phoenix Cove Adult Day Care 4 days per week Mon-Thurs 9am-3pm and will be operating Phoenix Hall Event Center week nights and weekends. Other businesses/careers that I’ve owned/ been involved in:

• 2007-2021- JMK Insurance- insurance agent specializing in commercial insurance
• 1998-2012 Ming Wok of Excelsior- A Chinese restaurant in Excelsior, MN
• 2012-2015 Hmong American Partnership- Program manager for the non-profit’s adult day care program.
• 2004-2007- D.W William & Home Impressions Inc- imported furniture and antiques from China and operated a retail store in Hopkins, MN
• 1995-1998 Burnet Home Loans- loan officer: created a training program to help real-estate agents understand the customs and beliefs of the Asian home buyer
• 1992- ? Cultural trainer for ITB translations and Pro-Source [Now Kaplan Education].

For as long as I remember I have always enjoyed helping people in some capacity or another. Growing up, I was the voice for my parents as they didn’t speak English, I helped be an advocate for my grandmother who was blind. In high school, I helped care for my younger brothers, After college, I was a loan officer who helped people get approved for their home loans while helping the real-estate professionals understand the Asian home buyer through cultural education. In 1998 , I helped my husband open our first restaurant in Exclesior, MN.  Now with my new event center, I am so excited to be able to help people plan their special day/event, it’s what Iam good at and what I love to do. I can’t wait to meet all the wonderful people in this community and have fun with my event center.

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
B-52 and Toppers because they are literally across the street and I have frequently pick up food from there

Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
Since I bought the Rosehenge [Old Senior Center] building in Aug 2021

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Stick Man

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Guangzhou , China We usually go every 2 years to take my father-in -law back to visit family. Since Covid hit, we haven’t been there since 2019.

Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
The Proposal with Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock

Q: What advice would you give to people?
Say hi to your neighbors, take time to learn about them and appreciate where they came from. The key to success is to help as many people as you can while you climb the ladder to success. Success is not defined by the material things you obtained, it is the relationships you build on your way Zig Ziglar –“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want”

Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
80’s Music

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Neighbors on the Lakeville Facebook page who are looking for ways to help other neighbors

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I was in a high school band; I even tried marching band!

Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
This is a hard question to answer, every place I’ve been to is beautiful in it’s own way. If I have to list my favorites I would say these are my top favorites and most beautiful.

• Ha long bay, Vietnam
• Lake Louise, Banf Canada
• Key West, Florida
• Shanghai, China

Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
Month: December. Holiday: Christmas. I love the spirit of giving.

Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My parents- As refugees from Vietnam, my parents sacrificed everything so their children could have a better life in America.

Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Lavender & Grapefruit

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Family, pets, food