Meet Hailey and Marcelline from Queens, NY

Marcelline is of Chinese and Indonesian descent. She was born and raised in Indonesia At 17 years old, she and her family immigrated to NYC. She said, “It was a very hard move for me. I was in culture shock. The thing I missed most about home was the food. Food is something that can bring us comfort. Having a meal together as a friends, family, and community can also do the same. It not only nourishes our bodies but also, our souls. Not being able to find food that you are accustomed to can strip away what feels safe and normal to you. The way I overcame being homesick was by learning how to cook the food I grew up with in my home country. It was a way of bringing myself home even though my new home was in another country.” Hailey said, “She’s actually an amazing cook! So much so that I am taking lessons from her.” Hailey, is of Chinese heritage and was born and raised in Bronx, New York. While, being raised in NYC provides a wealth of resources and plenty to do, he prefers to be climbing mountains. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast and backpacker. He’s currently working on tackling the 46 high peaks in the Adirondacks. The highest peak he has summited so far is Mount Haystack. With an elevation of 4,960 feet, it is the third-highest mountain in New York. He got into hiking because during his down time at college he wanted to do more than just sit at home behind a screen. He said, “l enjoy a good challenge. Mountain climbing tests my mental and physical endurance. It pushes me to my limits and leads me on more than just a hike through the mountains. It’s more of a spiritual journey. Once I finally reach the summit clarity sets in and I realize that every single step was worth it.” The couple met at college in December of last year. Hailey is working on his masters for data analytics and Marcelline is working on her bachelors degree in hospitality. He said, “My favorite thing about her is that to her, food is love!” She said, “My favorite thing about him is that he’s a very good man. He is humble, kind and incredibly loyal.” The one thing they want to tell the world is, “Get out of your comfort zone. Try new things. Explore. Learn how to cook a good meal and then share the love.” Thank you so much for visiting!