Rosemary Gong is a Chinese American of third generation. She and her family were the only Asians in their Central Valley community, school, and church when she was born and raised in California. She moved to San Francisco to work for Saatchi and Saatchi Corporate Communications Group after graduating from San Jose State University's Department of Journalism and Mass Communications. Her preferred neighborhood was Chinatown, which was only around the corner from her grandparents' house. She acquired an affection for the sites and practices of her culture while she was there.

Rosemary is embarrassed to reveal that she only knows about twenty-nine Chinese words. As a result, she considers ordering a plate of noodles in her native Cantonese to be one of her finest successes.