Paul Lee (Cambridge, MA)
Hong Kong restaurant, Harvard Square, opened by Sen Lee since 1954
Paul Lee, Co-owner/Manager of Hong Kong restaurant, Harvard Square
As a kid, Paul Lee never questioned his father, Sen Lee, when he was told to clean and scrub dirty spots in Hong Kong. He might have grumbled a little on weekends when he wanted to watch cartoons. After working at the restaurant through his teenage years, he never planned to take over the family business when it was time to decide on his college major.
He chose to major in computer-based management systems at Clarkson University in New York State. But everything changed the day Paul graduated from Clarkson when his father suffered a heart attack shortly after the commencement ceremony. Paul decided it was time for him to step up.
In this episode, Paul shares his memories of his family history, his parents’ hard work, and why it’s so important for him and his siblings to find their roots and keep their immigrant story alive.
Find Your Roots is a history and culture project centering on Asian American voices, perspectives, and experiences. It is a one-on-one in-depth podcast interview show with Asian “Roots-Finders” seeking to remember the diverse and profound influences of their parents and grandparents. This educational podcast project is designed to promote and preserve the legacy of the countless contributions—as well as forgotten struggles and sacrifices—of our ancestors who paved the way for us today.
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