Before Govanhill: Răzvan Kim
In our regular feature ‘My Life Before Govanhill’ we find out from the diverse community of Govanhill what they got up to before settling around Victoria Road. In this edition, we meet Răzvan Kim.
Interview by Marzanna Antoniak | Photo by Chardonnay Emerald
Where do you come from?
I grew up in Timișoara, in the western part of Romania, in a typical Soviet apartment block. Despite the challenges of the post-revolution era, there was an air of resilience and optimism. Timșoara was evolving, and we embraced the changing times, eagerly welcoming influences from beyond our borders.
How did you enjoy spending your time as a child?
I was born three years after the fall of the communist dictatorship, when Romania was still trying to grasp the idea of ‘freedom’. My generation was mostly outside, eating unripened apricots dipped in salt and causing innocent havoc amongst our neighbours – boredom was not something we handled very well.
I was fortunate enough to grow up with a family computer thanks to my mother’s enormous efforts. Music was also always playing in our house. I remember being particularly obsessed with Engelbert Humperdinck, to the point where measures had to be taken in order to preserve the household sanity and the tape periodically disappeared and reappeared in mysterious ways. When I was about 16 I got my first guitar – everything changed after that.
What is your cultural heritage?
I am part North Korean. My grandfather, who was my only link to this part of my heritage, got deported shortly after my mother was born and it didn’t take long before all connections got severed. It left a rather large gap in my cultural identity. In Romania I was often referred to as the ‘Chinese’ kid, but in the west I was, funnily enough, Romanian. For a very long time I struggled understanding who I really was, but eventually came to embrace and cherish who I’ve become.
What about your education?
After I took my ‘bacalaureat’ (Romanian equivalent of UK A-level exams) I enrolled to study mechanical engineering at the Polytechnic University. I quit after about six months, very dramatically, and wanted to pursue a career in music instead. Of course, the next logical step at the time was to go to culinary school in Hamburg, Germany – but that’s a story for another time.
And what about your working life?
In Romania, I mostly worked in hospitality and had a few IT jobs here and there. In Germany, I worked as a stagehand for a few years. While in culinary school, I worked excruciatingly long hours for very little pay, I went from fine dining to food trucks and back full circle.
Nowadays, during the day I work for Community Renewal Trust as a community facilitator and I’m also on the Kin Kitchen CIC board, for whom I also host cooking classes sometimes. At night I work in the video game industry as an audio director for a few studios overseas. I do sound design, environment audio, but mostly music. I find ways to keep myself busy.
What made you come to Scotland?
It was a one way ticket kind of deal. My partner lived in Glasgow for some years and we had a long distance relationship for a while until I packed up a suitcase and made it over. I wasn’t planning on staying long, but here I am almost 4 years later. I never felt like I truly belonged anywhere. Tolerated, yes - but never wholeheartedly included. The concept of ‘New Scots’ is foreign to many countries, and I’ve raised many eyebrows going around Europe with a Romanian passport. A border control officer in Edinburgh once told me ‘welcome home’ and it meant the world to someone like me. I’ve never experienced this anywhere else.
How do you feel in Govanhill?
I’ve never lived in such a vibrant and culturally diverse place as Govanhill. I’m a chatty person and luckily my neighbours share the same trait. A quick trip to the shops can easily turn into an hour-long blether and I’m here for it. Seeing so many friendly and familiar faces on a daily basis gives me an overwhelming sense of community.