The Olympics Is the Key!!

I was officially turned down by the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. I applied for the Winter Games volunteer program earlier this year. My plan was to work at the Korean games so that I’d have experience on my resume for when I apply for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

I was disappointed, but had suspected I was going to be turned down since I can’t speak Korean, and one of the questions on the application asked about that. Even if I had gotten the job, the event will take place in the middle of my freshman year of college, which is bad timing.

I want to volunteer for the Olympic games because I think this event is very special, and makes the world come together. Also, I like to make friends with people from around the world – our generation can form relationships with other countries despite our history. For example, I have good friends who are Korean and Chinese, but my Japanese grandparents were enemies with people from these same countries. Their generation does not have the same type of relationships that I do.

I think the Olympic games can make a big difference, and I want to be part of this special event. I really hope I can contribute by volunteering for Tokyo 2020. I’m crossing my fingers!

Photo Credit: thumbs.mic.com

Reunited at Last

There once was a little Korean girl living in an orphanage and an American soldier who was stationed in South Korea.

This soldier fell in love with this little girl and decided that she was meant to be a part of his family back home.

The little girl excited to start a new life didn’t understand that she would be leaving her home and her three older siblings for a new life.

Photo Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/

The little girl returned back to the United States with the solider, ready to meet her new family. She became the fifth member of this new family, leaving her past behind.

She wasn’t necessarily welcomed with open arms to her new family. Her new mother was unsure about the adoption and her new brother and sister also adopted, acted as if she was the only adopted one due to her ethnicity.

As she got older, her childhood memorize faded and she made new ones. Over the years she became incredibly close with her new father. When she was nine he passed away, leaving her alone with her mother and two siblings.

The girl, not so little anymore, grew up into an amazing young woman. She graduated college, danced professionally, got a good job, married and eventually had two daughters of her own.

Photo Credit: http://img4.wikia.nocookie.ne

Years had passed since her second daughter had been born when she received a letter in the mail from Holt Adoption Agency. This letter was from the agency that was responsible for her adoption, saying that her Korean family was looking for her.

A month later she flew to Korea to meet her family.

It is now 2015 and her family is visiting her in America for the second time.

Asian population in the U.S

I see a lot of Asian people (well, including me) in the United States, especially in California. I wondered what percentage of the U.S. population is made up by Asian-Americans.

An Asian-American is a person who has an origin from an Asian country (either combination with additional races, or alone) ; Cambodia, China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Phillipines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India.

According to the U.S census Bureau, they occupy 5.6% of the U.S population in 2010 which is 17.3 million people (3.8 million of Chinese, 3.2 million of Fillipinos, 2.8 million of Asian Indians, 1.7 million of Vietnamese, 1.6 million of Koreans, and 1.3 million of Japanese).

Now, if you take a look at by state…

Even though this picture is from 2000, according to the U.S census Bureau, California still has the highest population of Asians than any other state, which is approximately 5.6 million people.

BECAUSE, CALIFORNIA ROCKS.

Anyway, there are many Asian people in America.

North Korea, again?

The United States (in its infinite wisdom) has begun, yet again, another series of peace talks with North Korea, in a desperate attempt to end the hostile nations nuclear program.

Talks have been “positive” according to Stephen Bosworth (the top US negotiator on North Korean Matters). Bosworth believes, “We are moving in [the] [right] direction.” As we have seen in past attempts at negotiation, having positive talks with North Korea would not be saying much, nor does it give off the impression that the discussions are making progress. North Korea and its foreign policy nations have been tenuous at best.

How can anyone forget the unprovoked attack that occurred last year when the South Korean military, practicing an artillery exercise, fired into neutral waters and were  subsequently accused by North Korea of instigating war.

North Korea in response began bombarding Yeongpyeong, a small series of islands located approximately 12 kilometers from North Korea. This attack killed four South Koreans and injured 19.

It was after this atrocity that communication between North Korea and the US collapsed, turning the vicious attack into an international controversy, sparking talks discussing the possibility of attacks from North Korea against other nations.

Now once again ambassadors from the US and North Korea are once again sitting around a “table” discussing North Korea’s nuclear policy.

The fact that this situation is even occurring demonstrates the failure of the US to stop playing politics and finally act on the injustice that occurs. A country that carries a blatant disregard for international laws should have never had access to nuclear technology in the 1st place.

But perhaps our “ glorious” nation will surprise us by resolving the “Nuclear Crisis” and preventing further nuclear activity in North Korea.

Tragedy

Football is usually a sport of much celebration, but this week has been full of sadness. The first is the death of the Korean soccer player Yoon Ki-Won. I do not know much about his death or his career but it is a tragedy that he passed away and I wish his family the best.

Just two days later Ki-Won’s teammate on Incheon United, Shin Yong-Rok collapsed on the field near the end of a game. He is still in a coma after barely surviving cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Shin Yong-Rok Jeju United

These are not the first cases of deaths and serious heart issues in sports, especially football. Leagues such as the Barclay’s Premier League have started to monitor heart rates to try to remove players from life-threatening situations. But there is still some mystery surrounding the cardiovascular deaths that have occurred.

Much lighter, yet still saddening in the news that FIFA officials have been accepting bribes. That’s not really news because anyone that follows international football knows that FIFA is more corrupt than the mob.

But it is alleged that the Qatari outfit bribed African members of FIFA to vote for Qatar to receive the World Cup in 2022. Football does not need this. From the bribing of referees to FIFA officials, it just is not worth it.

There was even more news released in England over the ongoing corruption scandal. England did not win their bid which turns out to be a good choice by FIFA because England’s FIFA members seem to have deep pockets and shallow morals.

Hopefully the news will get a bit brighter as the week goes on.

Ji Sung Park to the Rescue

Ji Sung Park saved the day today. Manchester United was facing a Wolerhampton Wanderers side that looked destined to destroy our title hopes. Although it is not even midway through the season, dropping points to a team like Wolves could prove disastrous when Chelsea is on such great form. But today we had a secret weapon, a Korean soccer player, hair dyed red, fire in his eyes.

Park Ji Sung

Ji Sung Park is a fantastic soccer player. When he was signed by United, many people said they only signed him to get the whole country of Korea supporting them. Yes, many Koreans do support Man U, but today Park proved that he was signed for his talent over anything else.

Wolves looked like they really wanted to ruin Man U’s day, and United did not seem to mind. United may make the excuse that they were resting Berba and missing many key players including Nani, who has been our star this season. I commend Wolves for their tenacity and this should be another warning for Man U that they must pick up their game or face serious repercussions.

Every member of Man U should thank Park for saving them from the rath of Sir Alex Ferguson. Park did have help, especially from Darren Fletcher, but Park did a magnificent job of tying the team together. So thank you Ji Sung Park for your hard work and great play.

For a summary of the game go to: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/210072/Manchester-United-v-Wolves-Ji-Sung-Park-s-last-ditch-winner-rescues-Ferguson-s-party

For more on Ji Sung Park go to:http://www.manutd.com/publish.sps?pagegid=%7BFE60904B-C2A8-4E60-9B05-700DBBC29BBC%7D&teamid=458&section=playerProfile&bioid=91966