It’s a lazy Sunday memorial day weekend 2033 in Myrtle Beach. My nap on the deck is interrupted by my grandson bursting through the screen door. “Poppa..Poppa.. Poppa...” he yells as he climbs beside me on the lounge. Pausing to sip my lemonade, he gathers himself wiping the lemonade mustache from his mouth.
Poppa I need you to help me with a project for school... “what is it Sash” (short for Sasha as in Alexander the Great) I need to ask you some stuff for my “Where did you come from project”
Sash, you know this is my quiet time right. Not stopping to answer all the while setting up his camera and tablet and sipping my lemonade ”Com’on Poppa we can do this”.
An interview with my Gramps: Jun King
by his favorite grandson Sasha Jun King
Where did you come from Poppa? I am originally from Trenton, NJ. I was the first in my immediate family not born in the south. My mom was born in Florida and my Dad was born in Georgia. Your Mom and Mom mom Tammy were born in Trenton too. Just like your Mom’s First Rotee Business.
Are you serious Awesome Rotee started in Trenton? Yup, when your mom came back from Thailand in 2017 all she talked about was Rotee. So I purchased her first flat wok, some ingredients, spatulas and we did a lil food stand at street fairs and markets. We had the first “Jersey Rotee” food truck in September 2020. Then since we started taking the food trucks to other places she changed the name of the company to “Awesome Rotee”. But that was before she got her food show and now she all famous and stuff.
How did you come to South Carolina? Well that’s a long story, I used to vacation here for many years. Then I had the idea to rent a place for the part of the year when we aren’t in Costa Rica. After a few years of renting we had the opportunity to buy this townhouse just off the beach.
Why did you open the retreat in Costa Rica? Costa Rica was a dream that came along when me and ya Grandma first came together in 2016. Before we got together I was interested in finding a home in Argentina. Having a greater interest in building a life with her it was easy to shift from Argentina to Costa Rica. After we got Married in 2018 We started by doing 2 workshops there a year in 2019 by 2022 we were doing at least 6 workshops a year.so she focused on yoga and wellness I made sure our guest were well fed and entertained with field trips to the cloud forest, beaches and my now famous sing along nights. As our exposure to the culture and people grew so did our business and our love for what we were doing. One day when the sun was setting, the air was thick and warm like a blanket your Grans kissed me and said she wanted to stay. It took some doing but after a few years we rented a place in December 2020 and then by 2023 worked out a partnership with a resort that included our housing.
What was the hardest part of growing up? Well Sash, the hardest part was childhood from like 5 to 12. During this time there were lots of changes in my life that I didn’t control.... Divorce of my mom and step dad, moving to a new neighborhood, meeting my biological dad. These events contributed to me being on my own a lot and having to depend on myself more than the adults around me. However, this time taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to. And as I grew up I always remembered those lessons and tried to share with others. That was a big part of me starting my foundation “The Collective”.
What is The Collective? The Collective started in 2018 as a mentoring program in my hometown Trenton NJ , we helped young people learn business and social skills. In 2022 it expanded to Philadelphia, Newark and Baltimore in partnership with Boys and Girls Club of America. In truth the Collective was a culmination of years of involvement in programs with Organizations like the Urban League, NAACP, Rainbow PUSH, the Red Cross, School Boards and others.
Drinking the last of my lemonade and holding back his smirky smile Sash asks... So Poppa what’s next? What’s next is your lil ass gonna go get me some more lemonade and we’re going for a walk and I’ll finish teaching you how to jump rope.
Com’om Poppa why you jump rope everyday? Opening up my shirt... Sash, you see this scar on my chest? Well I got that in 2016 when they gave me the tic in my chest and Charlie (Poppa’s pace maker)... so as much as I love to relax and be silly, I have to keep moving to help Charlie keep me ticking. And every day I am here to see you grow it’s worth the long walks and sweaty jumping.
Well Buddy, anymore questions... maybe later Poppa maybe later