Interview with Sarah Lingat

A Conversation with Sarah Lingat, Administrative Analyst 

Where were you born and raised? Are you close with your parents and siblings? Tell me about your background and family.

My parents moved to San Francisco from the Philippines in 1984 and both my younger sister and I were born here in San Francisco at Mt. Zion. We are very close with my parents and, until I married, our family tradition was that we would pray together every morning, before we went our separate ways for the day, and again every night in thanks. I hope to carry that tradition someday when we have kids.

What words do have trouble pronouncing? Are you better with words or with numbers?

My husband teases me because I never pronounce "warm" and "milk" oddly, I think, and say, "worhm" and "melk," and am self-conscious about how I sound. I speak Kapamgpangan and understand very little Tagalog. I am bad with words and couldn't write an essay if my life depended on it, but I love math and love to solve math problems—I won't rest until I figure out the formula and answer.

Who is your oldest girlfriend? How did you meet and what trait do you share?

I've known my oldest and best friend, who I just went to Hawaii with, since we were five. She was in my wedding and now we are planning hers. We went to school and church together. We were always together and stay in touch. Even after weeks when we both get busy, we pick up right where we left off. We are opposites in personality. I think I am adventurous but she takes it to a whole other level: she's been to Machu Picchu, camped in the jungle, and does things that I haven't done—yet.

You recently bought a home—congratulations! What has been the best thing about settling into homeowner domesticity?

The best part was doing things on our own: painting, fixing, and improving things, furniture shopping, decorating, and making it our own. It was very rewarding to put our ideas together and make it happen. Ray is the more creative one of us and he is the one who found color swatches and design ideas, but I helped! I think we made a good team.

When are you happiest?

After a long day, when we are both home for the evening and relaxing in the living room with our dog and a glass of wine.

Are you a good cook? What are your go-to ingredients?

I think I am a good cook, a love I inherited from my mom. I didn't cook at home but, after I married, I surprised myself and learned to experiment. At first I cooked simple things like pasta and chicken dishes, but now I make more Filipino food like chicken adobo and sinigang (a hot and sour soup) and fish dishes. I love to cook now and having my own kitchen and, oh, my garden! Planting it was the first thing I did when we first moved, and before summer ended, we had cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, green onions, peas, green beans, and the lemons on my tree are finally turning yellow! I love gardening and using this time to plan for the spring and summer, what I want to grow, like squash and zucchini, and where I should place everything.

How did you meet your husband? Are you opposites or complements, and how do you play off of each other?

We met at church. He is hardworking, driven and, once he sets his mind on something, there is no turning back and he will go for it. Those are qualities I truly adore because I am more laid back. So I think we complement each other in that way because he sees potential in me and pushes and challenges me, in a good way.

Describe your least favorite housekeeping chore.

Most chores in my own home are fun to me. I don't mind doing laundry but I hate folding clothes and putting them away. Sometimes the clean clothes may stay in the basket a few days before I put them away.

Share the music you listen to and what makes sing along. Who are your favorite musicians or singers?

I think I listen to a variety of music. Anything from Nsync and Backstreet Boys to Illenium and Martin Garrix and because of my dad, I grew up listening to Celine Dion and Nat King Cole and other old artists that I still listen to on KOIT 96.5. On BART this morning, I listened to The Sound of Music, which I love, and can't guarantee that I didn't sing out loud. I was in the church choir for many years as an alto.

Do you have a pet? Are you really the pack leader?

I have an eight-year-old German shepherd named Miko, and he is definitely the leader of our pack and his needs come first. My friends give me grief because I won't make plans until I know that my husband or mom can take care of Miko. We've had him since he was a puppy and he picked us. Our weekends and vacations revolve around him.

Would you someday like to tell your children about your growing up?

I had a really good childhood and was close to my cousins because we spent so much time together at my grandma's. We played together, climbed mountains, pulled the red wagon, biked everywhere, had water gun fights—I was very lucky to be surrounded by a loving family.

Share the music you listen to and what makes sing along. Who are your favorite musicians or singers?

I think I listen to a variety of music. Anything from Nsync and Backstreet Boys to Illenium and Martin Garrix and because of my dad, I grew up listening to Celine Dion and Nat King Cole and other old artists that I still listen to on KOIT 96.5. On BART this morning, I listened to The Sound of Music, which I love, and can't guarantee that I didn't sing out loud. I was in the church choir for many years as an alto.

Does your family celebrate Christmas? Do you have any holiday celebrations?

We are Christian but do not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. Instead, we celebrate the holidays, and the New Year, with celebrations that involve food and family and gift exchanges.

What was the worst thing about 2017 and what do you anticipate in 2018?

I had a car accident in August, when some guy hit my car and sped off, but honestly, I had a really good year and feel lucky and blessed. We didn't get to travel but we did buy a house. We hope to travel again in 2018, maybe to Asia again, Austria, Prague, or Amsterdam, before we start thinking about a family.

Happy 2018, Sarah, and thank you.

- by Oralia Schatzman

View Sarah's professional bio | See previous faculty interviews