![]() My dad worked retail and held a number of different jobs. ![]() And that's been a very prominent theme in both sides of my family. And how do you do that? It's through struggle, it's through grit. You're an immigrant, you're a refugee, you're basically starting from nothing. There's not a direct translation in English, but it basically means to overcome the odds stacked against you. Luchar, it's a big theme for me and my campaign, because I grew up in that. Growing up, there's so much of, just work hard, try hard. I think because both of my families have immigration and refugee experiences, I think it makes us very resilient. As you are trying to navigate your personality and who you are in this world, I’ve been informed by two very strong cultures and family histories. and can be very heated, like lots of yelling and lots of heightened expressions. On both sides of my family the culture really revolves around family and food. ![]() Growing up, watching telenovelas, listening to reggaeton, eating food, is so central. I grew up speaking Spanish and there were a lot of cultural elements to that. I think that there is a diversity of experiences that I grew up in that are unique to being in a mixed-race family. And I think that being biracial in Arlington is becoming a norm, there are more than one hundred languages spoken here. I am an American, but I'm also Latina and Indian and biracial. The Salsa Room was a big favorite of ours. There are a lot of businesses that have been here for a long time, but there also are new businesses that have come. We've also seen this area change so much. Birthdays, anniversaries, we always would go there. He was one of the first customers that they had. He’s known the owner for more than thirty years. Thai Square restaurant is a big favorite of ours because when my dad first moved here, he started going there. I remember walking down the Pike with my cousins going to get ice cream. I have early memories from growing up here. Whenever we have baby showers or birthdays, it's here at the salon. And really, this is like the central part of our family. She's been here for more than twenty years. My cousin she started the La Touche beauty salon. My whole family has all grown up here around the Pike. She was housing insecure, just trying to find the most affordable options, sometimes not having enough to pay, moving in with family, moving in with friends. ![]() My mom lived off the Pike when she first came here in some of the garden apartments around here. ![]() They met and they found love here in Arlington.Ĭolumbia Pike is really central to my life. My mom had never had Indian or Thai food before she met my dad. He ended up moving in and that's how they met. My dad circled it and came to check out the room. She was looking for another roommate and posted the opening in the newspaper. My mom was renting an apartment on Wilson Boulevard, and her roommate moved out. My parents met in Ballston, before Ballston was cool and expensive like it is today. My mom had a few nieces, including one who is the owner of the Le Touche salon on the Pike. He immigrated directly here to Arlington. My grandparents are Punjabi Sikhs from India, refugees after the partition of 1947 who ended up settling in Bangkok, Thailand where my father and his siblings were born. My mom is from Ecuador, in South America. I grew up right here in Arlington, born and raised. A tech industry professional, she is running for Congress in Virginia’s 8 th District. Of Thai/Punjabi Sikh/Ecuadorian heritage, she attended Stanford University on a full scholarship and graduated with a masters degree in international relations. Victoria Virasingh grew up in Arlington along Columbia Pike. ![]()
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