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33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Eddie Huang: “Perfectly imperfect” Fresh Off the Boat author talks about race, life, food and why he doesn’t watch the show

Okamoto wins interim City Council seat

Photo by ASUW A&E

John Okamoto

By Staff Northwest Asian Weekly

series “Fresh off the Boat” as it no longer resembled the memoir he wrote about his life. Through his twitter feed, Huang dispatched a number of tweets proclaiming his distaste for the direction the show had gone. He stated that he no longer watches the show although he is glad that some people of color see the show as a reflection of their lives.

However, Huang no longer saw the show depicting his own life story. While he was accepting of the first episode, he had expressed frustration and voiced his opinion over the changes

The City Council has found a replacement for Sally Clark’s recently vacated position on City Council. John Okamoto was voted in April 27. He was supported by Sally Bagshaw, Tom Rasmussen, Bruce Harrell, Jean Godden, and Tim Burgess. The other API candidates vying for the position included Sharon Maeda and Sharon Lee. Sharon Maeda and Sharon Lee received votes in the seond and third round from councilmembers Kshama Sawant, Mike O’Brien and Nick Licata.

Clark’s last day was April 13; she left to serve in her new position as director of regional and community relations at the University of Washington.

The candidate requirement for this unusual

{see HUANG cont’d on page 12}

{see OKAMOTO cont’d on page 11}

Eddie Huang

By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly Donning a bucket hat, thick-framed glasses, and a baggy button-down shirt as if he were dressing incognito, or on vacation, Eddie Huang spoke to a filled room in the student union building of the University of Washington on a rainy Tuesday night in April. The lawyer/chef/writer/creator talked about race, life, food and a little bit about the ABC network show that he states he no longer watches.

Recently, Huang voiced displeasure about the television

Jeb Bush and Ed Lee do have things in common!

Political surprise visits in Seattle

By Assunta Ng Northwest Asian Weekly

Photos by Assunta Ng/NWAW

Recently, two nationally recognized politicians made a surprise trip to Seattle. What do Jeb Bush, a Republican, (yes, infamous Florida governor, now possibly a potential contender for Presidency) and Ed Lee, a Democrat, (and currently mayor of San Francisco) have in common?

Not really except some quirky, interesting connections—both were in Seattle in April—at the same downtown restaurant. And both share strong bonds with their mothers.

Lee and Bush pose opposing views on every issue, Bush (center), Andy Yip, and Jinyoung Englund, organizer

King County Executive Dow Constantine, Mayor Ed Lee, wife Anita Lee, Manny Lee, Walter Liang, Jesus Sanchez

{see BUSH cont’d on page 10}

The Inside Story NAMES People in the news » P. 2

■

A&E Toyo’s Camera » P. 3

WORLD Nepal devastation » P. 4

COMMENTARY From Vietnam to Camp Murray » P. 11

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asianweekly northwest

■ names in the news

(Back, from left) LaTroya Ellis, Bruce Clausen, Ed Hidano, Dave Okimoto, Charlotte Jahn (Front) Frances Carr, Sarah Tran, Van Dinh-Kuno

Sarah Tran has been appointed Executive Director of the Nonprofit Assistance Center (NAC), which provides culturally responsive capacity building services to strengthen immigrant, refugee, and communities of color in the Puget Sound area. Previously, Sarah served as the Deputy Director of the Vietnamese Friendship Association where she provided key leadership on fundraising strategies and initiatives, managed complex stakeholder and community relationships, and piloted a job readiness program for lowincome immigrant youth and families.

NAC’s mission is to build the capacity of individuals and organizations and to serve and transform communities – specifically People of Color, immigrant/refugee, low income and other communities with major economic, educational, health and social needs in Seattle/King and the Puget Sound Region. 

JACL collaborates with the Smithsonian

Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Executive Director Priscilla Ouchida met with Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History John Gray to sign an agreement for JACL to collaborate with the Museum on a 2017 exhibition

commemorating the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066.

Signed by President Roosevelt in 1942, Executive Order 9066 led to the incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. The exhibition will feature John Gray and Priscilla Ouchida original objects and documents and will explore how the Executive Order shaped the lives of Japanese Americans during the war and its continued resonance throughout the community. Set to be displayed in the Museum’s Albert H. Small Documents Gallery, the exhibition is scheduled to debut on February 19, 2017 and will remain on view through November 2017. 

Bravo!

Congratulations to the Brava! honorees and scholarship recipients

From left: Margaret Larson, Justice Mary Yu (center), and Sheila Capestany

Melia Michiko Wong (center) and parents

Amrita Ram (left) and father

Katherine Qian (left) and father

The Women’s University Club of Seattle held its annual Brava! awards celebration April 23. The event honors outstanding women in the greater Seattle area who have made a positive, enduring difference in the community. Nominations for the awards are received from club members, from professional organizations, and from community leaders. The ceremony also honors scholarship recipients. Scholarships are awarded to young women, who

through their leadership and character, have made a significant contribution to their schools and communities.

This year’s scholarship honorees include Katherine Qian of Redmond High School, Amrita Ram of Newport High School, and Melia Michiko Wong of Ingraham High School.

The Honorable Mary Yu, Washington State Supreme Court Justice, was awarded as a Brava! honoree. 

“Make Democracy Work”

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW

Tran appointed NAC Executive Director

■ community news

Photos by Assunta Ng and Barry Wong

2

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

King County Assessor Lloyd Hara (far left) and Rep. Cindy Ryu (far right)

Rep. Cindy Ryu was emcee for League of Women Voters - King County event “Make Democracy Work” on April 18 at the Wing Luke Asian Museum. Award winners included Sen. Pramila Jayapal, Executive Director of CAIRArsalam Bukhari, and David Perez an associate in Perkins Coie’s Litigation practice. Also present was King County Assessor Lloyd Hara. 

33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

3

Toyo’s Camera

Japanese American history through a new lens

By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly Japanese film director Junichi Suzuki turned his attention to the JapaneseAmerican experience during World War II, for his “Nisei Trilogy” of documentary films, playing at SIFF in May with the director in attendance.

“Toyo’s Camera” concerns itself with the late Toyo Miyatake, who illegally documented life in his incarceration camp with Toyo Miyatake a homemade camera.

“442: Live With Honor, Die With Dignity” covers the 442nd Infantry Regiment, composed mainly of JapaneseAmericans, fighting for the USA while many of them had relatives in the camps. “MIS: Human Secret Weapon” concerns the mostly-Nisei intelligence operatives working for the Army. Suzuki took some questions over email.

NWAW: Where did you grow up, and what are your most crucial memories of your youth?

Suzuki: I grew up in Chigasaki, a kind of Santa Monica beach town, and my crucial memory is my middle school time. I trained very much and won the city tournament of table tennis. At that time, I ran very fast and was able to do any kind of sports.

NWAW: What films, books, and other forms of art influenced you the most growing up, and how?

Photos by Ansel Adams, photos that inspired Suzuki’s documentary

Suzuki: I was influenced by Director Tatsumi Kumashiro in my university time, and decided to enter the movie industry. He made a kind of soft porno movie, but it’s not only for the erotic tones but a very subjective theme of human beings.

NWAW: What made you decide to make a trilogy about the Japanese American internment camps?

Suzuki: When I started living in L.A, I was very shocked learning about Japanese American history, because we Japanese didn’t know that history very well. It’s shameful and we have to know and understand the situation. So I decided to make this kind of film even if there were no investors.

I thought this was my kind of destiny to make the film and tell the history, because I lived in L.A. and met a lot of Japanese American people. This was the last chance because they were in their eighties and nineties. In fact,

■ sports

Wu wins Volvo China Open for 1st European Tour title

By Justin Bergman Associated Press

SHANGHAI (AP) — With two Chinese golfers tied for the lead going into the final round of the Volvo China Open, there was a good chance one of them would break new Wu Ashun ground by becoming the first from the country to capture a European Tour title on home soil.

Most eyes were on Li Haotong at the start of the round, the talented 19-yearold touted as a future golf star in China.

Instead, it was Wu Ashun, a player nearing 30 who had recently taken six months off to rebuild his swing and had never had a top-10 finish on the tour, who took home the trophy.

Wu proved to be the steadiest player during a final round filled with momentum swings, delighting the crowd in his hometown of Shanghai with a final-round 71 to secure a one-stroke victory over David Howell on Sunday. Wu finished at 9-under 279 overall. ``I tried my best to play every shot well,” he said. ``I played very good today — not down, not up. Just simple golf today.”

It was not only the biggest title of Wu’s career, but also the biggest paycheck.

He takes home nearly 500,000 euros ($543,000) — more than doubling how much he’s earned in seven years on the

European Tour. ``There’s a long journey in a golf career, someone can hit a low score in their 30s, 40s, so I have to just be patient and keep practicing, keep playing the tournaments, and it will come,” Wu said through a translator.

Wu is the third Chinese player to win on the tour and the first since Liang Wen-Chong took the title at the Singapore Masters in 2007.

Howell missed a five-foot par putt on the 18th that would have forced a playoff. It was just one of four bogeys for the veteran Englishman, who also had four birdies in his round of 72.

Emiliano Grillo of Argentina had a spirited run on the final day, making four birdies in five holes on the front nine and two more on the back to pull within one shot of the lead. But his chances of winning a maiden European Tour title slipped away with a tee shot into the water on No. 17, leading to double bogey.

He shot a 69 to finish in a tie for third with defending champion Alexander Levy of France (73) and Prom Meesawat of Thailand (71).

Wu started the day in a four-way tie for the lead with Howell, Levy and Li, but he had played the least recently. He was coming off a six-month break to work on {see WU cont’d on page 13}

after filming, many interviewees passed away.

NWAW: How are the three movies different, and which stories do they address?

Suzuki: In the beginning, I had no idea to get funding from these kinds of movies, so I packed a lot of histories into “Toyo’s Camera.” Because I thought I couldn’t make the next films with my own money. Maybe the movies become better one by one; each theme is focused on the main title.

NWAW: Which of the films was the biggest challenge, and why?

Suzuki: Maybe the first one, “Toyo’s Camera,” because our team didn’t have any experience about making documentary movies and no credit to Japanese Americans. {see TOYO’S CAMERA cont’d on page 13}

asianweekly northwest

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MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

■ national news

US lifts sanctions on prominent Myanmar businessman

By Matthew Pennington Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury on Thursday removed a prominent Myanmar businessman from a blacklist that had barred him from doing business in the United States.

The beneficiary, Win Aung, is president of Myanmar’s main business association. Treasury also removed two companies of the Dagon Group that he heads off the sanctions list. The Dagon Group has interests in timber, rubber, energy and construction.

The Obama administration rolled back trade and investment sanctions against Myanmar in 2012 to reward its shift from direct military rule, but the U.S. still forbids

business dealings with military corporations and certain other individuals and companies, mostly officials and cronies of the former regime.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Thursday that the U.S. has made clear that those sanctioned can seek delisting by demonstrating “they have taken positive steps and changed behavior.”

Myanmar, also known as Burma, wants Washington to lift sanctions entirely, but the quasi-civilian government has been criticized for stalling on reforms and detaining peaceful protesters as the Southeast Asian heads toward elections in November.

“We have made clear to the Burmese government that additional changes in U.S. sanctions policy are dependent on the government’s continuing its democratic and

economic reforms and resolving disputes with members of ethnic groups,” Harf said in a statement.

The U.S. administration has looked to promote American investment in Myanmar’s untapped market, and Win Aung’s blacklisting had caused some awkwardness.

Although he was alleged to have used his close ties to Myanmar’s military rulers to build one of the country’s biggest business conglomerates, he’s supported the country’s opening.

Right activists criticized the U.S. when, in 2013, Jose Fernandez, then the assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs, shook hands with Win Aung, head of the Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, at an event in Myanmar to promote business ties with the U.S. 

■ world news

Thousands Nepal quake death toll tops march in South 4,000; villages plead for aid Korea protest

By Kim Tong-Hyung Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Thousands of South Koreans marched in Seoul for the second straight day Saturday to protest government labor policies and the handling of a ferry disaster that killed more than 300 people a year ago.

Thousands of demonstrators supporting the relatives of ferry disaster victims gathered for a rally on the same downtown street where protesters violently clashed with police last weekend, leaving dozens injured. Saturday’s rally ended peacefully without any reported injuries, said an official from the National Police Agency, who didn’t want to be named, citing office rules.

Hundreds of people marched silently from several locations to participate in the evening rally, many of them wearing face masks and yellow scarves and jackets, the color that has come to symbolize the plight of the families.

Waving candles and illuminated cell phones, the demonstrators chanted “Salvage the truth” and “Park Geunhye, step down,” criticizing the South Korean president for her reluctance to accept a more thorough investigation into the sinking, before voluntarily dispersing.

They were joined by some of the estimated 40,000 unionized workers who had demonstrated in front of the Seoul City Hall hours earlier to denounce government policies that they fear will reduce wages, job security and retirement benefits for state employees, said Park Seongshik, a spokesman for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.

A large number of police officers closely watched the demonstrators, many wearing helmets and body armor and holding riot shields. Dozens of police buses were parked nearby, as were some vehicles that appeared to be equipped with water cannons.

South Korean police often use their vehicles to create tight perimeters to block protesters from advancing, as they did last weekend when more than 70 police buses were destroyed.

The ferry disaster continues to haunt the presidency of the increasingly unpopular Park, despite her bowing to relatives’ demands to proceed with a difficult and potentially dangerous operation to salvage the 6,800-ton ferry.

In addition to the salvaging of the ship, relatives have been calling for a new investigation into the government’s {see KOREA cont’d on page 13}

By Katy Daigle and Binaj Gurubacharya Associated Press

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — As the death toll from Nepal’s devastating earthquake climbed past 4,000, aid workers and officials in remote, shattered villages near the epicenter pleaded Monday for food, shelter and medicine.

Help poured in after Saturday’s magnitude-7.8 quake, with countries large and small sending medical and rescue teams, aircraft and basic supplies. The small airport in the capital of Kathmandu was congested and chaotic, with some flights forced to turn back early in the day.

Buildings in parts of the city were reduced to rubble, and there were shortages of food, fuel, electricity and shelter. As bodies were recovered, relatives cremated the dead along the Bagmati River, and at least a dozen pyres burned late into the night.

Conditions were far worse in the countryside, with rescue workers still struggling to reach mountain villages two days after the earthquake.

Some roads and trails to the Gorkha district, where the quake was centered, were blocked by landslides — but also by traffic jams that regularly clog the route north of Kathmandu.

“There are people who are not getting food and shelter. I’ve had reports of villages where 70 percent of the houses have been destroyed,” said Udav Prashad Timalsina, the top official for the Gorkha region.

World Vision aid worker Matt Darvas arrived in the district in the afternoon and said almost no assistance had reached there ahead of him.

Newer concrete buildings were intact, Darvas said, but some villages were reported to be devastated. He cited a “disturbing” report from the vil-

Earthquake aftermath

lage of Singla, where up to 75 percent of the buildings may have collapsed and there has been no contact since Saturday night.

In the villages that have been reached, World Vision said the greatest needs were for search-and-rescue teams, food, blankets, tarps and medical treatment.

Nepal’s Home Ministry said the country’s death toll had risen to 4,010.

Another 61 were killed in neighboring India, and China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported 25 dead in Tibet. At least 18 of the dead were killed at Mount Everest as the quake unleashed an avalanche that buried part of the base camp packed with foreign climbers preparing to make their summit attempts.

At least 7,180 people were injured in the quake, police said. Tens of thousands are estimated to be left homeless.

Rescue workers and medical teams from at least a dozen countries were helping police and army troops in Kathmandu and surrounding areas, said Maj. Gen. Binod Basnyat, a Nepal army spokesman. Contributions came from large countries like India and China — but also from Nepal’s tiny Himalayan neighbor of Bhutan, which

dispatched a medical team.

Two teams of U.S. Army Green Beret soldiers happened to be in Nepal when the quake struck, and the 26 Americans — who were training with the Nepalese army — are staying to help with search-and-relief efforts. The 11-member crew of a C-130 cargo plane that brought them also will remain to evacuate any American citizens if needed, said Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman. A second U.S. cargo plane carrying members of a Los Angeles urban search-and-rescue team was due to arrive Tuesday, he said.

Medical and rescue teams from Russia, Japan, France, Switzerland and Singapore were expected in Kathmandu over the coming days, the Nepal army said.

“We are appealing for tents, dry goods, blankets, mattresses, and 80 different medicines that the health department is seeking that we desperately need now,” said Lila Mani Poudyal, Nepal’s chief secretary and rescue coordinator. “We don’t have the helicopters that we need or the expertise to rescue the people trapped.”

As people are pulled from the {see NEPAL cont’d on page 15}

33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

■ WORLD NEWS

5

Philippines urges ASEAN to stop China in South China Sea

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The Philippines on Sunday urged the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to take immediate steps to halt land reclamation by China in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, warning that failure to do so will see Beijing take ``de facto control’’ of the area.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers that if China’s construction of artificial islands on reefs claimed by other countries is allowed to be completed, then Beijing will impose its claim over more than 85 percent of the sea.

Rosario urged the grouping to “stand up” to China by urging it to halt its reclamation work.

China, Taiwan and ASEAN members Malaysia, the

Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei have overlapping claims in the South China Sea. ASEAN has maintained a cautious stand in the dispute to avoid angering China, a key trading partner.

Rosario said the reclamation threatened to militarize the region, infringe on rights of other states and damage the marine environment.

He warned that China, which has been dragging its foot on ASEAN’s push for a binding code of conduct governing behavior in the sea, will aim to complete its reclamation activities before it agrees to conclude the code.

If this happens, he said that the code will legitimize China’s reclamation.

“The threats posed by these massive reclamations are

real and cannot be ignored or denied,” he said. “ASEAN should assert its leadership, centrality and solidarity.

ASEAN must show the world that it has the resolve to act in the common interest.”

The Philippines filed a case with an international arbitration tribunal in 2013 challenging China’s claim.

Beijing has defended the reclamation, saying it is Chinese territory and the structures are for public service use and to support Chinese fishermen.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said Friday that ASEAN leaders are expected to raise concerns over Chinese land reclamation at their two-day summit starting Monday and will seek to speed up plans for the code of conduct with China. 

Man arrested over drone at Japanese prime minister’s office

By Mari Yamaguchi Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese police have arrested a man who admitted to landing a drone with low-level radioactive sand on the roof of the prime minister’s office to protest the government’s nuclear energy policy, officials said Saturday.

Tokyo metropolitan police said Yasuo Yamamoto, 40, turned himself in to authorities late Friday in Fukui in western Japan.

The small drone found Wednesday had traces of radiation and triggered fears of potential terrorist attacks using unmanned aerial devices, the prime ministers’ office has said. The infiltration at Japan’s political headquarters has also raised questions over

the level of security there.

No one was injured and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was traveling at the time of the incident.

Police said Yamamoto was arrested on suspicion of flying the drone and obstructing duties at the prime minister’s office. He has not been indicted and faces further questioning.

Public broadcaster NHK said police quoted the unemployed man as saying he did it to protest the government’s nuclear energy policy.

Fukui is home to about a quarter of Japan’s 48 reactors, which are currently all offline following the 2011 tsunamitriggered Fukushima plant disaster. Abe’s administration wants to restart as many of the idled plants as possible.

The drone was carrying a small camera and a plastic bottle containing what police suspect was the source of radioactive cesium, levels of which were too low to affect humans or the environment.

The suspect said he used the sand from an unspecified location in Fukushima, where radiation levels are still high due to fallouts from the Fukushima Dai-ichi meltdowns, NHK said.

The government has set up a task force to work on regulations for the use of small drones while ensuring the security of key government facilities. Drones have become increasingly popular in Japan for industrial, service and entertainment use.

At a meeting Friday, task force members cautioned against excessive restrictions on the emerging market for drones.

It is not clear exactly when the drone landed because workers at the office in central Tokyo rarely go up to the roof. An official taking new employees on a building tour reportedly spotted the drone.

A blog with an anti-nuclear theme managed under the name “Kantei (prime minister’s office) Santa” contained photos of a drone that looked like the one found Wednesday. In one entry, the anonymous writer said he drove from his hometown in Obama city in Fukui to Tokyo and flew the drone in the early hours of April 9, trying to have it land in the yard of the prime minister’s office, but that he eventually lost track of the device.

In the United States in January, a drone flown by an off-duty intelligence employee crashed on the White House grounds. 

Assunta Ng

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6

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

■ community news

Cheated

By James Tabafunda NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Con artists and their deceptive tactics continue to get vulnerable immigrants to hand over their cash.

New America Media teamed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and got law enforcement officials and community advocates to come together for a press conference billed as “Spotting and Avoiding Scams in Our Communities” on April 21. Supported by Seattle University’s School of Law, the event took place at the university’s Sullivan Hall.

Sandy Close, executive director of San Francisco-based New America Media, served as emcee and introduced eight panelists to members of ethnic news organizations and community groups.

Charles A. Harwood, regional director, Northwest region, FTC, spoke first and said, “Together, we can help community members speak up, report when they have become victims of consumer fraud and scams, and warn their friends and neighbors. Together, we can build bridges between victims, communities, consumer protection agencies, and law enforcers.”

Other panelists included the FTC’s Laura Solis; Shannon Smith, Washington State Attorney General’s Office; Lili Sotelo, Northwest Justice Project; and Laura Contreras, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.

“The last thing we want is for people to be quiet and not speak up,” Harwood said about all victims of consumer fraud and scams.

Jennifer Leach, acting assistant director, FTC’s division of consumer and business education, suggested three ways for minorities to fight back against scams. She urged them to talk to another person before doing anything and to make it hard for scammers by taking your time.

“Please, please report scams. We don’t care about immigration status,” she said about the third action of

Photo by James Tabafunda/NWAW

Fighting scams targeting minorities and ethnic neighborhoods

Alan Lai, crime service director at the Chinese Information and Service Center

reporting scams at the FTC website. “Just let us know so we can do more about it.”

Kye Lee told his story of receiving a phone call from a scammer posing as a bill collector for the Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) last month.

Henry Choi, Lee’s interpreter, said, “(The) caller said there was an amount due that he had to pay for, and if he didn’t pay in 30 minutes, they will cut off the power.” He said Lee paid his utility bills on time for the last seven years.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) issued a press release last December about this “ongoing scam targeting residential and business customers of area utilities.” It says scammers demand payment by a prepaid debit card or wire transfer.

Lee’s scammer gave instructions to Lee, a Korean American grocery-store owner in Mountlake Terrace, to pay his debt by buying a $450 Reloadit prepaid card at a nearby Albertson’s. Lee followed the scammer’s instructions then called the scammer with the pack number from the back of the Reloadit card.

“After he gave that number to the PUD, the PUD just took

the money,” Choi said. “The next morning around 8:30 a.m., he called back just to follow up on the transaction over his credit, but during the phone call, they hung up on him.”

Lee realized he had just been scammed and filed a report with the Mountlake Terrace police department.

“For anyone who receives a call from the PUD, from any company that may cause suspicion, you have to take that as a scam,” Choi said.

The UTC says Lee and other customers will receive “several communications” before a disconnection. It urges the public to report suspicious calls or emails to the FTC or the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

Alan Lai, crime victim service director at Chinese Information and Service Center, gave a presentation entitled “Scams Targeting Minorities.”

He described a blessing scam in Seattle’s ChinatownInternational District that resulted in losses of $30,000 in cash and another $30,000 in jewelry. “Eventually, they were sentenced. They were arrested in San Francisco, got only one to three-year sentence,” Lai said.

He also talked about one Vietnamese American man who posed as an immigration agent and targeted Vietnamese immigrants in 2005. The man scammed about 100 people and was later arrested with over $100,000 in cash inside his car.

“In many cases, our own people are ripping (off) our own people,” Lai said.  For more information about the Northwest Justice Project, go to nwjustice.org. To report a scam to the Federal Trade Commission, go to www.ftc.gov/complaint. To report a scam to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, go to www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint. For more information about the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, go to www.nwirp. org.

James Tabafunda can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

■ COMMUNITY calendar SUN 5/1 WHAT: Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce luncheon with Dr. Chris Owen & Y.P. Chan WHERE: China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle WHEN: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

COST: $20 INFO: seattlechinesechamber. org

SAT 5/2 WHAT: InterIm CDA’s 2015 Gala Growing Communities WHERE: Seattle Marriott Waterfront, 2100 Alaskan Way, Seattle WHEN: 5:30-9 p.m.

COST: $150/ticket INFO: interimicda.org, 206-6241802 WHAT: Asian Craft & Food Fair & Silent Auction WHERE: Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church, 3001 24th Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

INFO: 206-723-1536 WHAT: El Centro de la Raza’s 10th Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebracion WHERE: Jefferson Community Center, 3801 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 3-8 p.m.

COST: Admission and parking are free INFO: 206-957-4605, execasst@ elcentrodelaza.org WHAT: Book reading, “Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island” WHERE: Wing Luke, 719 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 3-5 p.m.

INFO: wingluke.org WHAT: Pruning Workshop & Luncheon with Japanese master gardener Masa Mizuno WHERE: Clinton, on Whidbey Island WHEN: 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

INFO: josette@ nwlanguageacademy.com

SUN 5/3 WHAT: “Empty Bowls to benefit North Helpline” WHERE: St. Matthew’s parish Community Hall, 1240 N.E. 127th St., Seattle WHEN: 12-3 p.m.

COST: $25 in advance, $35 at the door TICKETS: northhelpline.org/ events/event/empty-bowls WHAT: GLTBQ Hawaiian Film Screening, “Kumu Hina” WHERE: Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium

WHEN: 1-5 p.m.

INFO: 206-386-4636

WHEN: 6-8 p.m.

INFO: wingluke.org

WHAT: API Heritage Celebration WHERE: Seattle Center Armory/Center House Stage WHEN: 11:45 a.m.-5 p.m.

INFO: apiheritage.com

THU 5/7 & FRI 5/8

MON 5/4 WHAT: Lecture, “Music of the Japanese Imperial Court” WHERE: UW, Allen Library Auditorium WHEN: 3:30-5 p.m.

COST: Free

WED 5/6 WHAT: Lecture & Workshop, “Music of the Japanese Imperial Court” WHERE: UW, Brechemin Auditorium, Music Building WHEN: 7-8:30 p.m.

COST: Free

THU 5/7 WHAT: Panel discussion, “Immigration in Context: How the last 50 years reshaped US politics, economy, and culture” WHERE: Wing Luke, 719 S. King St., Seattle

WHAT: Second Annual Washington State Charter Schools Association Conference WHERE: Double Tree Hotel, 18740 International Blvd., Seattle WHEN: 5/7 at 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., 5/8 at 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

INFO: 800-280-6218, conference@wacharters.org

FRI 5/8 WHAT: Bloom Gala WHERE: Westin Seattle Hotel, 1900 Fifth Ave., Seattle WHEN: 5:30 p.m.

TICKETS: www.ichs.com/ bloom INFO: 206-788-3672, christinel@ichs.com WHAT: Demonstration, copresented with Gardner Center for Asian Art & Ideas, “Music of the Japanese Imperial Court” WHERE: SAM, Volunteer Park WHEN: 7:30-8:30 p.m.

RSVP: visitsam.org/tickets

SAT 5/9 WHAT: Family Fun Day sponsored by Target: Art, Activities, and more!

WHERE: Wing Luke, 719 S.

King St., Seattle WHEN: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

INFO: wingluke.org WHAT: The 42nd edition of St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish annual fundraising dinner, “The Big Takeout” WHERE: St. Peter’s Parish Hall, 1610 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 12-5 p.m.

INFO: 206-323-5250 WHAT: JCCCW’s “Omoide” (memories) program WHERE: JCCCW, 1414 S. Weller St., Seattle WHEN: 1-2 p.m.

INFO: jcccw.org

TUE 5/12 WHAT: How to make Dong Chimi Kimchi with Instructor Jung Hee Park WHERE: APCC, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma WHEN: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

REGISTER: 253-383-3900 WHAT: Gang of Four book launch (Bernie Whitebear, Larry Gossett, Roberto Maestas, and Bob Santos) WHERE: MOHAI, 860 Terry Ave. N., Seattle WHEN: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

COST: Free admission INFO: elaineko001@gmail.com

33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

■ community news

Forced to f lee

7

Young Burmese refugees share their stories

By Lauren Pongan Northwest Asian Weekly

rather than from their head. It didn’t have to be something they could see, it was something that they felt.”

In the array of artwork and stories that Berg shared from workshops, some themes and experiences were pervasive. Youth artists transformed traditional national Burmese maps. Their own renderings of maps of Burma reflected the various ethnic minority states within Burma, the refugee camps along the Thai/Burmese border, or places of particular personal significance or trauma. Vung It, a panelist and freshman business major at UW Bothell, drew her own map of Burma that reflects her experiences as a refugee.

“I painted Burma as emptiness,” she said, pausing for a long time afterward, “because that’s how I feel about Burma.” She spoke further about the government’s “selling off” of Burma’s natural resources to foreign countries, and the hardship that follows for local people. “In our state we grow apples, but then we never get to eat them,” she explained.

When asked about his dream, another panelist, Ta Kwe Say, senior Social Welfare student at UW and B/MSA president said, “to graduate.” For most young Burmese and Burmese American in Washington, educational access and success is key to achieving their goals. Many, including the panelists and UW freshman Shwe Zin, who

Note: This article uses the name “Burma,” rather than its recognized name of “Myanmar,” in order to reflect the preferences of panelists and presenters from the event.

Vung It

“Before we start, can everyone please move down to the front?” Sumyat Thu asked the audience at last week’s event, April 22, “Forced to Flee: Visual Stories by Refugee Youth from Burma.” She wanted the panel and presentation to feel more like a community dialogue than a lecture. Thu is a first year international graduate student

at the University of Washington (UW), and an active member of the Burmese/Myanmar Student Association of UW (B/MSA).

The student group’s mission is to keep Burmese students at UW connected to the larger local Burmese community, and, according to Thu’s panel introduction, “to raise awareness about cultural and political issues in Burma.” They do this through events like last month’s, which was informative, but also distinctly participatory.

In addition to having people move closer, there was also an organized potluck before the official presentation during which people were encouraged to mingle and to try some Burmese dishes.

The event was an extension of a project started by Erika Berg, who facilitated more than 40 visual storytelling workshops in Burmese refugee camps along the Thai

border, in Delhi, and also here in Washington State. The project has culminated in a newly printed book version of Forced To Flee: Visual Stories by Refugee Youth from Burma. Berg was able to raise $15,521 through more than 100 backers on Kickstarter to fund the project.

B/MSA in coordination with the Southeast Asia Center at the University of Washington hosted the event. Berg, the first speaker, explained that she was inspired to work with Burmese in refugee camps after seeing the deeply disturbing images of violence during the protests of the Saffron Revolution in 2007 and the military crackdown that followed.

Berg’s project aimed to not only help young Burmese find an outlet for some of their trauma but also to let them know that their stories were important. In visual storytelling workshops Berg says, “I was asking them to remember from their heart,

{see FORCED TO FLEE cont’d on page 12}

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asianweekly northwest

8

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

■ food

Serenity and a full stomach Girin: Offering a new Korean dining option in the city Aptly named after a Korean mythical creature that brings good luck, prosperity, and serenity, Girin looks to introduce Pioneer Square to the world of Korean cuisine – sensory overload with rich smells, vibrant colors, robust textures, and of course, a pleasant experience for your taste buds. As a Korean who grew up on kimchee and rice, I’m always on the lookout for Korean restaurants but they seem to be lacking in the Seattle area. Once I heard that Girin had opened up, I grabbed my colleague and we went looking for a good meal.

Once we got inside, the tasteful wooden décor and the attentive wait staff make us forget the hustle and bustle of Stadium Place outside. As a nice surprise, the food is actually more traditionally Korean than the Asian fusion places that are popping up around town. There’s a time and place for Asian fusion, but

sometimes you just want the real deal.

As you might expect with Korean cuisine, the meat is top-notch and well prepared. However, unlike other Korean BBQ restaurants, the cooking is done inside the kitchen.

It takes away the fun of cooking the meat yourself but at least you can leave the restaurant without smelling like meat for the next week.

The real fun begins with the ssam - wrapping the meat with an assortment of greens and peppers, topping it all off with some rice and sauce. If this is unfamiliar to you, no worries, a kind and helpful wait staff is more than willing to show you the ropes.

In addition to the ssam, the side dishes (panchan), an assortment of pickled and spiced vegetables, are simple, crisp, and irresistibly delicious (don’t be shy about asking for more). Just like momma used to make.

It’s not all about meat. Let’s not

Noodles (spicy!)

forget the seafood either. Girin sources their oysters from Taylor’s Shellfish and man, are they fresh.

The clam noodles that we got were also excellent – well-balanced – not too salty and the broth kept you dipping for more. The light and crunchy seafood panjeon (savory pancake) is highly recommended as it helped to offset the heavier dishes.

The sampling of the seafood makes me wonder about eating a meal at Girin without the ssam – a testament to the wide selection of other dishes and snacks that are sure to keep me coming back. The

SSAM with all the fixings

Photos by Andrew Kim/NWAW

By Andrew Kim Northwest Asian Weekly

Panchan, an assortment of pickled and spiced appetizers

{see GIRIN cont’d on page 15} Steamed eggs

Making a Difference Friday, May 15, 2015 • 11:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m. • China Harbor Restaurant • 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle

Honorees

Sponsors

Emcee Sonya Green

News and Public Affairs Director 91.3 KBCS

Diana Lindner

Fellow American Academy of Pediatrics

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Co-founder & Executive Director Seattle South Asian Women Focus Festival

Katie Wilson

Organizer Transit Riders Union

Marisa Herrera Ed.D- Executive Director UW Ethnic Cultural Center

C. June Strickland Professor Community Health UW, School of Nursing

Kia Franklin

Partnership Director Equal Opportunity Schools

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Zenzile Brooks

Marketing Manager Glosten Innovative Marine Solutions

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Former advisor & legal counsel to Seattle Mayor Ed Murray

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WOMEN OF COLOR EMPOWERED CO-CHAIRS: Kiku Hayashi and Winona Holins-Hauge PLANNING COMMITTEE: Elizabeth Younger, Connie Sugahara, Diane Martin, Francine Griggs, Kathy Purcell, Leny Valerio-Buford, Assunta Ng, Shoko Toyama, Rosa Melendez, Lourdes Sampera Tsukada, Sonia Doughty, Bonnie Miller, and Sylvia Cavazos LUNCHEON PRICING: Discounted price of $35 if purchased by May 5. Full price of $45 after May 6. Walk-ins $50. Student price of $25 with I.D. before May 5; $30 after May 5; student walk-ins $35. No tickets will be mailed; confirmation is by e-mail only. $350 for a table. To sponsor the event including logo online and print and table is $1,000. Men are welcome! MAKE RESERVATIONS: To purchase tickets, call us at 206-223-0623, fax the above form to 206-223-0626, mail a check to Women of Color Empowered, P.O. Box 3468, Seattle, WA 98114, or email rsvp@nwasianweekly.com. For more information, visit womenofcolorempowered. com.

33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

9

■ wayne’s worlds ■ world news In US-Japan talks, Aiming to be the China’s leader a Clothes Whisperer factor

Photo by Steven Dennis

By Wayne Chan Northwest Asian Weekly

President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

By Jim Kuhnhenn and Matthew Lee Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met last Tuesday, a major subtext of their discussions was the world leader not in the room — Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China’s rise underlies both the economic and security discussions that will highlight Abe’s state visit to the White House and is at the heart of Obama’s so-called U.S. rebalance to the Asia-pacific region.

Ahead of Tuesday’s talks, Japanese and U.S. foreign and defense ministers approved revisions to the U.S.-Japan defense guidelines that boost Japan’s military capability amid growing Chinese assertiveness in disputed areas in the East and South China Sea claimed by Beijing.

The changes, which strengthen Japan’s role in missile defense, mine sweeping and ship inspections, are the first revisions in 18 years to the rules that govern U.S.Japan defense cooperation.

The meeting also comes as attention heightens in the U.S. over a Trans-Pacific

Partnership trade agreement — a 12-nation deal to liberalize commerce around the Pacific rim. The U.S. and Japan are the biggest participants in the negotiations.

Welcoming his guest a day early, Obama took Abe to the Lincoln Memorial Monday afternoon. The president played tour guide, leading the Japanese leader up the steps into the memorial where they examined the Gettysburg Address sketched into the marble walls.

While Obama and Abe won’t be ready to announce any trade breakthrough, officials on both sides say they will likely declare they have made considerable progress in closing remaining gaps over questions of tariffs in the U.S. on Japanese pickup trucks and barriers in Japan on certain U.S. agricultural products.

Time and again, Obama has pushed for the trade deal in the face of stiff opposition from his liberal base and labor union allies by arguing that without an agreement with Asian countries, China will step into the breach.

“If we don’t write the rules, China will {see US-JAPAN cont’d on page 11}

There comes a point in your life when you realize your strengths. There’s a confidence that comes from knowing what you do well. It’s a confidence that shines through when you’re doing something well – even a swagger.

Me? I’m good at working a computer, playing tennis, and I’d like to think that I’m pretty good at this whole writing thing. If it’s possible to type with swagger, I think I’m doing that right now.

But most importantly, I think I’m a good husband and a good dad.

I do all the things you’re supposed to do as a good husband and dad. I can fix things.

I can comfort my kids when they’re feeling down. I can assemble IKEA furniture like it’s nobody’s business. I’ll surprise my wife with flowers, jewelry, or little trinkets from time to time to surprise her. Look, I know what I’m doing.

And yet, even with all of my proven skills in say, setting up the TV and stereo system, so that my wife Maya can turn it on without asking for my help, I have a dilemma.

Maya thinks I’m an idiot.

Let me take that back. She would likely agree that I truly am good at all the things I’ve just listed. And to be perfectly clear, she’s never actually uttered the words, “You

are an idiot.” If I had to bet, I think the most accurate description she would have for me is, “He is a selective idiot.”

Let me explain.

I’m perceptive enough to see that in at least one area, Maya’s perception of my skills is less than complimentary. She never says anything, but you can just tell...her body language is screaming, “Idiot!”

Apparently, I am not equipped to do the laundry. Specifically, her laundry.

Every week, Maya and I take turns doing the laundry. When she does the laundry, everything seems to be pretty clear-cut. No muss. No fuss. No issues.

But when I’m doing the laundry, apparently there’s this incredibly complex organizational folding and sorting protocol that I’m completely oblivious to.

It started off the first few times I attempted to do the laundry. My own clothes were never an issue – again, no muss, no fuss. But when I’d attempt to fold, sort and put away all of Maya’s clothes, that’s when it started.

After I’d finished, and for a few days after, Maya would go into her closet and come back out holding an article of clothing.

“This doesn’t go here. It goes over here.”, she’d say. Later on, she’d say, “You’re not folding it right. The way you fold it, it won’t fit right on the shelf.”

The next couple of attempts, I tried to follow her instructions and fold the items properly and put them away in the system she outlined.

Twenty years later, and my laundry routine, as far as her clothes are concerned, are to fold them all and stack them all on our bedroom dresser. At some point later in the day, Maya will spend time unstacking the clothes, unfolding and refolding them, and then putting them away in her closet.

If that doesn’t scream “He’s an idiot,” I don’t know what does.

In my defense, women’s fashion attire is so convoluted and complex that it’s simply beyond the capacity for most men to fathom.

Let’s do a comparison.

In my closet, you will find the following items: T-shirts, dress shirts, shorts, pants, {see WAYNE cont’d on page 12}

KING COUNTY INVITATION TO BID Project: East Base Operating & Maintenance Roof Replacement, C00984C15 Sealed Bid Time/Date: 1:30 p.m., May 21, 2015 Location Due: King County Procurement & Contract Services Section, Contracts Counter, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 Engineer’s Estimate: $2,240,000 Scope of Work: Replace 61,500 square foot builtup system with a hot-mopped, modified built-up roof system with reflective gravel surfacing, and additional insulation. Work site: Metro Transit East Base 1975 124th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue, WA. Contact Information: Tina Davis, 206-263-2939, TTY Relay: 711, Fax: 206-296-7675, or tina.davis@ kingcounty.gov. A bidder may be asked to put a question in writing. No verbal answers by any County personnel or its agents and consultants will be binding on the County.

MANDATORY Pre-Bid / Site Tour: May 13, 2015, 12:30 p.m. and May 14, 2015, 12:30 p.m. Metro Transit East Base 1975 124th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue, WA. Meet in the Vehicle Maintenance Classroom (second floor of the East Base Building). Park in the

East Base employee and visitor parking lot on 124th Avenue NE just south of the bus entrance lanes into the base (see attached Map). Contractors are strongly urged to bring their mechanical subcontractors with them. A site tour will be conducted immediately following the conference. High visibility safety vest is required for the site tour (safety boots are optional).

FAILURE TO ATTEND ONE OF THE MANDATORY MEETINGS AND SITE TOUR WILL RESULT IN A NON-RESPONSIVE BID DETERMINATION. A sign in sheet will provide evidence of attendance. It is your responsibility to ensure your sign in and out.

Subcontracting Opportunities: Roofing and Waterproofing; Sheet Metal Fabrication; and HVAC Maintenance.

Apprenticeship Requirements: 15% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement.

SCS Utilization Requirements. 8% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS).

Bid Bond: Not less than five percent (5%) of the Total Bid Price.

Bid Documents Electronic copies of the plans,

specifications, reference documents, and any addenda for this solicitation are available on the King County Procurement website shown below. Printed documents may also be ordered by contacting United Reprographics at 206-382-1177. Copies of documents are not available for purchase from King County, but are available for review 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. M thru F. at the Contracts Counter: Chinook Bldg, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue Seattle, WA 98104.

To receive email notifications of addenda or other important information concerning this solicitation, you must register to be a planholder under the “Solicitations” tab at the following internet link: Website: http://www.kingcounty.gov/procurement/ solicitations This information is available in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities upon advance request by calling 206-263-9400, TTY Relay: 711.

Notes: Bids received after Sealed Bid Time will not be considered. Bidders accept all risks of late delivery, regardless of fault. King County is not responsible for any costs incurred in response to this Invitation to Bid.

asianweekly northwest

10

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

■ community news Who determines your destiny?

YOU.

By Assunta Ng Northwest Asian Weekly Gin Foo Yee, owner of Gin’s Construction, changed his destiny, defying odds because he knew he was the master of his own fate and creator of his own luck.

When Yee first came to America at the age of 22 in 1987, his immediate concern was one of survival.

Following conventional wisdom of the Chinese community, he applied for work in a Chinese restaurant.

Why? It was easy to find (although it isn’t easy work), and it provided

him a steady income. Also, no special skills or proficient English was required. And he could meet new friends. But it did require long hours of labor, six or seven days a week.

What’s the reward for Chinese immigrants choosing the restaurant track? They could become head chefs and eventually own their own Chinese restaurants.

But that would also mean years of toiling in the kitchen. Not all restaurant workers can transition into successful restaurateurs because of the language barrier and the lack

of management experience. The more Yee saw many of his friends stuck for years without the desire to change, the more determined he was to get out of restaurant work.

A wake-up call came on Yee’s 10th year of working at the restaurant.

“My daughter Sandy was born,” he said. “I needed to provide my family with better living. I realized that I didn’t want to work in a restaurant for the rest of my life.”

Being a father had motivated Yee {see GIN cont’d on page 15}

Gin Foo Yee is working on an assignment in class

Photos by Assunta Ng/NWAW

community event.”

Jinyoung Englund, organizer of the event, said Bush approached Congress woman Cathy McMorris Rodgers whom he should meet in Washington state. A list of ideas was presented to him, including a roundtable with Asian businesses. “He (Bush) not only picked it and said that was the best idea on the list.

Ed Lee with mother Gok Suey Lee

Jeb Bush addresses Asian American community

{BUSH cont’d from page 1} including the $15 minimum wage, which is as different as rice and pizza.

By invitation, Bush met with 20-plus Asian businesses discussing a wide range of issues, on April 21. Lee’s fundraising reception for his mayoral re-election, on April 9 brought over 100 Asian Americans plus a few nonAsian guests such as Mayor Ed Murray and King County Executive Dow Constantine.

I was the only one who attended both events at the O’Asian Restaurant. Republicans, Democrats and Independents were equally divided at Bush’s meeting.

Did Bush’s meeting with Asian Americans win him supporters for his presidential campaign? For Lee, he had a much easier time with his audience. He didn’t need to cultivate support. Those who came, were there for him. It was more for reacquainting with his old friends at Franklin High School and the Washington state Asian community, who have not seen him for years and were proud of what he has achieved.

First Bush. He looks trimmer compared to what I recollect seeing him on in television and print (a round face and slightly chubby figure). According to the New York Times, Bush has successfully lost weight since last December. Although he has not announced his presidential candidacy, by all means, he is gearing up for the challenge. Otherwise, of all places in the nation, why would he come to Seattle, located in a blue state? The night before the meeting, he had held two fundraising events, including a dinner with him at $25,000 per person in Medina. His campaign wouldn’t disclose the amount of money Bush raised. But a Washington Post article said Bush’s goal for the first part of 2015 is to raise $100 million.

Mother not approved initially Bush actually found out Barbara, his mother’s disapproval on his run for president on television in 2013. “There are a lot of great families,” said Barbara. “It’s not just four families, or whatever. There are other people out there that are very qualified. We’ve had enough Bushes.” There was no warning what

she was going to say in front of millions of viewers. There was no warning from reporters what they were going to ask either.

“You know my mother speaks her mind,” said Bush. How did he convince his mother to give him the blessing?

Rather than confronting his mother, Bush said, “I went to my dad. We cried and hugged each other” during the conversation. Then his mother came in to the room, and she told his son that she “was sick and tired of her remaining friends (many of them have died) telling her” not to stop his son from running for president. Bush explained his 89-year-old mother didn’t want to see what the campaign “would put the family through. It wasn’t so much about the Clinton and Bush thing.”

Bush’s China policy “Bush said a lot of things, about liberty and his visits to China…but didn’t really answer my question (on his China policy),” said Ben Zhang, CEO of Greater China Industries.

Zhang said that he was disappointed with his father President George H. Bush and brother George W. Bush’s trade policy, focusing on tariffs’ imposition and China’s human rights record, while President Bill Clinton was pro-trade.

Even though Bush’s response was not specific, Zhang said he had a more favorable impression of Bush after he met the man.

However, Zhang said he wouldn’t commit to his campaign as he wants to know who his opponent will be in the 2016 election.

Learning from Singapore What Bush learned from Singapore, a small nation, which has developed a strong financial system and technology expertise, was that, ”Don’t try to do everything. Just do a few things, but do them well. America tries to do too much and can’t do them well.”

Bush told the audience about his privatepublic partnership when he was Florida governor, to create mentor relationship. As a result, he had 200,000 mentors in the state, opening up ideas, where state workers getting pay for one hour of mentorship a week for schools.

Buwon Brown, a retired educator who

brought up the topic of mentorship in Singapore and the late President Lee Kuan Yew, said she liked Bush’s answer, but felt it’s too early to commit herself to a candidate.

Seattle’s new minimum wage Mike Park, owner of the Comfort Inn, asked Bush about his views on the $15 minimum wage which Seattle has begun on April 1 this year.

Bush said government has good intentions, but intervention will result in jobs’ cut. He cited an example of the invention of a coke machine, which can make customized drinks with the exact amount of ingredients including sugar just with a fingertip. The machine cuts a lot of jobs. He said it was unfortunate innovations came as a result of government intervention. He noticed there were a lot more homeless people in Seattle than Miami.

Lori Wada, commissioner of Washington State Asia American Pacific Affairs, asked Bush about affordable health care. What does Bush think about Obamacare? He said he would repeal it and in favor of catastrophic insurance.

Wada said “For being a supporter for the current Democrat President Barrack Obama, it was odd sitting in the room with one of leaders in the Republican party. It was a gratifying experience to learn and appreciate Mr. Bush’s responds and views on some of tough questions and concerns the business owners raised.

“He was approachable, like someone from your neighborhood, mild-manner with open mind, in my view.”

Andy Yip, president of Washington Export Group said, “ (Bush) he has a down to earth side to him that people are not intimated to ask questions, which is different from other high level politicians that I have met.

“It is too soon to tell if I will be supporting him, because I vote on issues and platforms, and I do not identify myself as either a democrat or Republican” Brown said she appreciated Bush reaches out to the Asian community. “We have voted for Sen. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, but they have never come to any Korean

Mayor Ed Lee Mayor Ed Murray was joking that he was glad that Mayor Ed Lee, a former Seattleite, is mayor of San Francisco instead of running to be mayor of Seattle. The two mayors had a lot to laugh about especially when the Seahawks were playing 49iners last year competing for the Superbowl Championship, they were betting with each other to fund-raise for charities.

Lee jabbed Seattle, that his home town still has its own basketball team Golden Warriors, knowing well that Seattle had lost its team the Seattle Sonics to Oklahoma in 2008.

Lee is proud of what he has done for San Francisco. He said S F had just raised its minimum wage to $12.25 on May 1, and will be $15 by July 1 2018. He boosted about low unemployment rate in his city, numerous high tech companies in S. F., and that he has saved Twitter from leaving the city.

SF and Seattle have the same problem— many people cannot afford to live in the city.

So Lee’s priority will be in housing.

Lee came to town not only to fundraise, but to be home with his mother for her 90th birthday.

Lee is running unopposed for his reelection mayoral bid so far. His poll is in the 51 to 59 percent beating any potential rivals. No rivals have filed for the mayoral position. The final date to file for election will be June 9.

“Our community has always shown pride for Asian-Pacific Americans that have achieved significant accomplishments,” said Edmon, Lee’s younger brother. “As the first Asian-American mayor of San Francisco, he leads a city with many residents who share similar stories of our upbringing as an immigrant family. The fact that he was born and raised in Seattle makes it extra special not only for our family but long-time friends and supporters eager to support his continued success.”

So far, Lee’s campaign has raised over $1 million from his several fundraising events in San Francisco, including one in Chinatown with over 400 people, raising over $200,000.

His Seattle party brought in over $18,000 for his campaign, according to his campaign manager Bill Barnes.  Assunta Ng can be reached at assunta@ nwasianweekly.com.

33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ commentary

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

11

OPINION

Journey to Freedom

Revisiting the long journey from Vietnam to Camp Murray

By Tung Vu For Northwest Asian Weekly It is important for members of our Vietnamese community to honor those who served and sacrificed in Vietnam. We wish to remember them for defending the republic and the cause of freedom and finally for all Vietnamese Americans to remember the struggles to reestablish our lives in America and adjust to this new land.

From 1954-1955, nearly a million Vietnamese supported

by American and French Navies, moved to the south thereby escaping rule by the Communists. The French were ultimately defeated and America entered Vietnam with hopes of halting the spread of communism. The conflict went on for another 20 years.

In 1973, the Paris Accord was approved by President Nixon calling for an immediate cease-fire and a complete withdrawal of American troops. In the Fall of 1974 American Congress cut funding to South Vietnam for the upcoming fiscal year from a proposed 1.26 billion to 700 million dollars.

Conversely, the Soviets and Chinese increasingly lent moral, logistic and military support to North Vietnam causing a shift in the balance of power. The North Vietnamese force was no longer a guerilla army. For the first time in the war, the North Vietnamese had significant fire power and mobility advantages over the South Vietnamese. Without the necessary funds and support of the allies the South Vietnamese army found it logistically and financially impossible to counter the North Vietnamese Army.

President Ford, not wanting to abandon his allies and desiring to maintain the country’s honor chose to support the southerners militarily. But Congress, reflecting exhaustion with the Vietnamese issue, voted down Ford’s emergency request. Hearing the news, the usually mild-mannered President cursed, “The sons of bitches!” The fall of Saigon was just days away.

During the spring of 1975, 135,000 left South Vietnam, first arriving in the Philippines and Guam reception camps, and then transferring to temporary housing at Army bases in the U.S. After being prepared for resettlement, they were assigned to one of nine voluntary agencies (VOLAGs) that helped find financial and personal support from sponsors throughout the country.

After the fall of Saigon, many Vietnamese chose to leave by any means possible, often in small boats. Those who managed to escape pirates, typhoons, and starvation sought safety and {OKAMOTO cont’d from page 1} situation is that the position be filled within 20 days of the elected council member’s vacancy. And it is also stipulated that the candidate can not apply for re-election in the next term.

Over 40 applicants applied for the seven-month interim position.

An interim director of the City’s Human Resources Department, Okamoto said he is interested to be the “caretaker” the job requires.

He told the Northwest Asian Weekly he has the experience of working withiin three different departments of the city, including being director of Human Resources, Human

{US-JAPAN cont’d from page 9} write the rules out in that region,” Obama said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. “We will be shut out -- American businesses, American agriculture. That will mean a loss of U.S. jobs.”

The Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations also come as China is working to develop an international infrastructure bank for Asia to fill an estimated $8 trillion gap in infrastructure funding for the region over the next decade.

Japan and the U.S., leading shareholders of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, have notably declined to participate citing concerns over the new bank’s governance standards.

Abe’s visit comes on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Nothing seemed to underscore

From left: Tung Vu with former governor Daniel Evans and former secretary of Washington state Ralph Munro

a new life in refugee camps located in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. For many, these countries became permanent homes, while for others they were only waystations to acquiring political asylum in other nations, including the United States.

The stories, following the communist takeover, are often horrific, tragic, awe-inspiring and reflective of the Vietnamese will to survive. Many died trying to escape. Some were fortunate to get to America and that is where our story begins again.

In 1975, then Senator Joe Biden complained about the Ford administration’s move to bring Vietnamese refugees to the U.S. Presidential candidate George McGovern told Newsweek, “I think the Vietnamese are better off in Vietnam.” The new governor of California, Jerry Brown, complained that the federal government wants to dump Vietnamese refugees in his state. However, Washington State Governor Dan Evans, furious at Gov. Browns remarks, whole-heartedly welcomed the Vietnamese by way of Camp Murray, where Vietnamese were paired with sponsor families and churches. He instructed Mr. Ralph Munro, secretary of Washington State, to open doors accepting the first 500 Vietnamese and to remind Gov. Brown the words written on the base of the Statue of Liberty.

That’s the brief history of our plight, our journey and our arrival in America.

My father happened to be the founder and editor of “Dat Moi” translated as “New Land” with technical assistance from Mr. Tsuguo Ikeda. This bi-monthly newspaper helped educate and provide valuable information and grounding for the Vietnamese. One of my father’s editorial pieces requesting

an extension of the Resettlement program was ordered to be printed in the Congressional Record by Senator Ted Kennedy.

Many challenges and obstacles were encountered by the resettlement program including funding issues and protests outside camp Murray by a White extremist group. Yet overall the resettlement program has been a huge success, as measured by Vietnamese contributions to the economic vitality and cultural diversity of the State of Washington.

Vietnamese values of family, education, prosperity and social justice have shaped the character of our communities. These values have helped us achieve success in all aspects of society while promoting community issues of equity and opportunity.

The younger generation should not be content with current success but remember that struggles remain and involvement is vital. Nothing comes easy except perhaps complacency. I have learned many lessons working with members of both the left and right to promote issues advancing Asian Americans.

Community warriors like Frank Irigon and Al Sugiyama, who were some of the first volunteers to help the Vietnamese refugees at Camp Murray, have time and time again given selflessly for the benefit of so many.  The event was organized by Vietnamese Mutual Assistance Association, Kim Long, Tung Vu DDS, Minh Pham MD, Dat Giap DDS, Trong Tang, Dat Ho, Lisa Yakima, and Hoan Hoang.

Dr. Tung Vu is a dentist who resides in Seattle.

Services, and Engineering with 10 years total working for the city at different stages of his career, serving Mayor Ed Murray and Norm Rice. He understands finance, transportation, energy, growth management, public works, economic development, trade and many of the issues the city is dealing with.

Okamoto was also the chief administrative officer of the Port and also the Assistant Secretary for the State Department of Transportation.

Okamoto told the Weekly “I am honored to be selected.

I was grateful for the final vote.”  Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

the reconciliation between the countries more than the agreement to boost the U.S.-Japan defense relationship, which would allow Japan to play a bigger role in global military operations with an eye on potential threats from China and North Korea.

Secretary of State John Kerry said the shift marks a historic transformation in the post-WWII relationship between Tokyo and Washington that recognizes the “evolving risks and dangers both in Asia-Pacific and across the globe.”

“The world has changed much since 18 years ago,” said Defense Secretary Ash Carter. “We face new threats, new domains, new geographies.”

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida agreed, saying “the security situation around Japan is becoming more harsh and difficult.”

Importantly for Tokyo, the revisions come with a renewed pledge of the U.S. position that the Senkaku Islands — a group of small, uninhabited islands in the East China Sea — fall under Japanese administration and are within the scope of the U.S.-Japan mutual defense treaty. China also claims the islands, which Beijing calls Diaoyu, and the dispute has been a major irritant in Japanese-Chinese relations.

In his interview Monday, however, Obama tried not to portray the U.S. as an antagonist to China but said, “We don’t want China to use its size to muscle other countries in the region around rules that disadvantage us.”  Lee reported from New York. Associated Press writers Robert Burns and Matthew Pennington in Washington and Philip Marcelo in Boston contributed to this report.

asianweekly northwest

12

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

{HUANG cont’d from page 1} made to the show. Interesting enough, on the Tuesday that Huang visited the University of Washington, April 21, it was the same night as the season finale of “Fresh Off the Boat.” Clearly, Huang was not going to tune in.

In a New York Magazine article, he described executive producer Melvin Mar as an “Uncle Chan,” – a slight at the Asian American that was attempting to shape his story to fit in with perceived American values so that the show might thrive for network audiences. In his talk, Huang ruminated if calling out Mar was a good idea. “I don’t know if that was productive,” said Huang upon reflection during the question and answer session. Whether or not Huang’s introspection was genuine or mocking is up to interpretation but it showed the Taiwanese American’s unabashed commentary on something he believed was wrong – a theme he impressed upon throughout the night.

Huang’s career path, like his memoir, is his own. The 33-year-old was born in Washington, D.C. to immigrant parents from Taiwan. They were raised in Orlando, Florida where his father managed a group of successful steak and seafood restaurants. He went to the University

of Pittsburgh, Rollins College, and eventually moved to New York City to attend law school. It was in New York that his career really began. Huang started in law, moved to standup comedy, wrote, became a chef, opened a restaurant, and became a media success culminating in a published memoir and the network show.

Huang and Seattle native, Promethus Brown from the rap group Blues Scholar fielded questions from the audience with seemingly no limitations on the subject.

Prior to fielding the extensive question and answer session from the audience which consisted of mainly young Asian Americans inquisitive about Huang’s ascension without compromise, Huang spoke briefly about thinking about a “starting point” and defining yourself. Although Huang was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Orlando, Florida he considers himself from New York because as he described, “it set me free.” He explained the city “encouraged me to be me” and that it was fine to be “perfectly imperfect.”

The former lawyer told the audience to be willing to accept the unknown when it came to shifting career paths.

Huang went to law school in New York and worked at a big law firm in the city when he was laid off. He started his

{WAYNE cont’d from page 9} several coats, a few suits, socks, underwear, and accessories like belts and ties. That’s it.

Now let’s try sorting through Maya’s clothes. Let’s look at one particular pair of pants.

By the looks of them, they’re not regular pants. They’re stretchy, almost like a leotard. But the pants legs are short, like capri pants.

Note - I have no idea how I know the term “capri pants”, but for some reason, I do. I know she has some of these stretchy pants that are regular length too. I don’t see any other stretchy, leotard, capri-like pants. So, which pile do these pants belong? Where does it go? Why is this starting to sound like a high school math problem?

If a pair of Capri pants is traveling to Chicago at 65 miles per hour, and a goat is running towards them at 5 miles per hour...

You see what my conundrum is? There’s too many options.

Let’s take another one. She has this animal-print button-down shirt. It seems to be made of flannel. It’s a pajama top then, right? But wait, she’s worn another shirt out and about that also looks like it’s made out of flannel. And then there’s another flannel shirt she seems to wear when it’s cold and she’s working out. So, does this shirt go in the pajama-top pile, the wearing- out-of-the-house-flannel-top pile, or the work-out-when-it’s-cold pile?

When you walk into her closet, every garment is neatly stacked, but there aren’t any labels on the shelves detailing what should go there. Therefore, I give it my best shot and put them where I think they should go. I’ve yet to put anything where it’s supposed to go. I don’t know how she even knows. There must be some system in her mind. Either that, or she’s using The Force. I mean, really...what am I? The Clothes Whisperer?

Then there’s the mystery clothes hamper. This is a clothes hamper that sits next to the regular clothes hamper, but is reserved for certain garments only. I would love to tell you what type of clothes goes into the mystery clothes hamper and give you some insight into the process involved with washing those clothes, but I can’t – I’m not allowed to touch that hamper. I can’t even tell you what’s inside that hamper as I don’t have permission.

When I get the proper security clearance credentials, I’ll let you

career as a stand-up comic and eventually started to cook which led to opening BaoHaus, a bun shop in New York.

Huang expressed his passion for basketball and soup dumplings to a young fan asking about his favorite hobby and food. On the web site of his New York City restaurant, he currently has NBA-themed specials.

He indicated that while his memoir’s title, “Fresh off the Boat,” may be a derogatory term to some, he found it as a “term of endearment.” Another bone of contention with the television version of his story was the fear that the title was too offensive.

Throughout the night, Huang’s message was to be yourself and don’t let others define you. “I want you to fuss, I want you to fight, I want you to listen to yourself,” advised Huang.  For more on Eddie Huang you can follow him on twitter @ MrEddieHuang.

Jason Cruz can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

know.

Until then, I need to figure out a way to barcode every item in her closet. Either that, or develop a Dewey Decimal system for sorting out laundry.  Wayne Chan can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

{FORCED TO FLEE cont’d from page 7} is also a refugee from Burma, say that their goal is to return to Burma.

Zin is already in the pre-med track.

She hopes to follow the example of her hero, Dr. Cynthia Maung, who hosts a clinic for Burmese refugees and displaced persons, and one day to open her own clinic. Zin attended a school that “Dr. Cynthia” opened. After coming from the Tri-Cities, where she notes there were very few Burmese, Zin found a much more supportive and nourishing community at UW. Eventually, she dreams of opening up her own clinic inside of Burma’s borders.

In the Q&A that followed the panel discussion, panelists often asked for input from other Burmese refugees and immigrants in the audience in answering questions about perceptions of Burma’s lingering problems, the country’s current political shifts, and supposed democratic reforms, and others.

Panelists and audience members alike lingered long after the panel to learn more and exchange stories.  For more information burmavisionsforpeace.org.

visit

www.

Lauren Pongan can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

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33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

13

For the week of May 2–May 8, 2015

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — Forming an opinion before you have all the facts is highly inadvisable. The reality of the situation could be much different than what you imagined.

Dragon — You will receive admiration for something you have done well recently. Accept rather than deflecting the praise.

Monkey — As the result of your hard work and diligent preparation, the fruits of your labor are all the more sweet.

Ox — Schedule enough of a cushion where you allow yourself enough time to comfortably get from one activity to the next.

Snake — The opportunity to influence what happens next is a valuable one. Think through your decision carefully instead of picking at whim.

Rooster — Don’t let jealously poison a good relationship. Try not to focus too much on what someone else has in comparison to you.

Tiger — Avoid asking for too much too soon. Space your requests far enough apart so that you do not overwhelm the other party.

Horse — An odd combination of events has you scratching your head. As you uncover additional details, a more logical story will emerge.

Dog — A forecast is just prediction and not a guarantee. Keep that in mind as you formulate a contingency plan just in case.

Rabbit — Only extend an offer if you actually plan to go through with it. Otherwise, you could be setting yourself up for an awkward situation.

Goat — Sharing your space with someone else can cause a bit of tension. To minimize potential conflict, set up some ground rules upfront.

Pig — The impact of what you have to say should be weighed against your need to get it off your shoulders – it could be a close call.

What’s your animal sign?

Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

{WU cont’d from page 3}

{KOREA cont’d from page 4}

his swing with his coach in California and didn’t make the cut at a Japan Tour event last week.

Li, on the other hand, nearly won his first European Tour title last week at the Shenzhen International, losing in a playoff to Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat. ``It’s a great experience for me, especially considering I still finished sixth, which is much better than last year, so I learned a lot,” he said.

Howell had vastly more experience than the Chinese players, with 523 starts on the European Tour compared to just 26 for Wu and 13 for Li. Ten years ago in Shanghai, he fought then-No. 1 Tiger Woods in the final round of the HSBC Champions — and won the title.

But Howell missed when it mattered most, trying to save par after his approach on the 18th left him with a long putt. When his shot skirted by the left side of the hole, thousands of Chinese fans around the Tomson Golf Club erupted in cheers. ``Obviously a crying shame for me not to come home with the trophy, but there’s I don’t know how many billion people who are rather pleased I made six on the last,” Howell said. 

responsibility for the disaster. They accuse Park of ignoring the alleged incompetence and corruption that they believe contributed to the sinking and high death toll.

A total of 304 people, most of them students from a single high school, died when the ferry Sewol sank off South

Korea’s southwest coast on April 16, 2014.

Prosecutors blamed negligence by crew members, excessive cargo and improper storage for the sinking, along with slow rescue efforts. Relatives of the victims claim the investigation was insufficient because they believe highlevel authorities weren’t held accountable. 

{TOYO’S CAMERA cont’d from page 3}

permission to use the photos.

They couldn’t believe I could make a Japanese-American history movie. I heard they said behind my back that Suzuki would make “Sanga Moyu” again.

“Sanga Moyu” is a NHK TV program which was televised about 30 to 40 years ago about the Japanese-American story in WWII, and Japanese American people hated it very much because there were so many misunderstandings about their heart and thought.

At that time, UTB, the TV broadcasting company in LA, was televising “Sanga Moyu” but I heard that they had to stop televising it because of the angry reaction from the Japanese American community.

NWAW: What’s in the future for you and the trilogy?

Suzuki: I am making a new movie about Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers entitled “Crossroads.” This year, is the 50-year anniversary of JOCV, a kind of Peace Corps.

And this film is not a documentary but a feature drama.

We’re editing in May and June.

I have no idea of my future, but I believe my trilogy movies will become more and more important to us because otherwise we can’t hear from the people who lived through it. 

NWAW: For “Toyo’s Camera,” how did you secure permission to use Toyo Miyatake’s photographs?

Suzuki: I went to talk about it, to Toyo’s son Archie Miyatake. He was happy to hear from me and I got the

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{GIN cont’d from page 10}

{NEPAL cont’d from page 4}

to ponder what would be next on the horizon and he knew he had to do something to pursue his dream.

“I have known some Chinese immigrants who had become contractors,” he said, which inspired him to be a contractor. The bridge to opportunity was to go to school. First, he enrolled in an English as a Second Language (ESL) program.

“Education was the best way for me to begin,” Yee said. After improving his English, he applied at the Seattle Central College for an 18-month carpentry program, which teaches cabinet-making and fine woodworking. “But I failed the (entrance) test, (due to the language barrier),” Yee said. “My scores were not high enough. I could have repeated the course or given up. Instead, I went to talk to the department head to find out what I could do to improve.”

Yee said he was lucky because the department head had once worked in the ESL Department. Empathizing with many immigrants’ plight, the department head gave him a chance and let him enroll in the program.

John Harvey, an instructor of Seattle Central College’s Wood Technology Center, said the College’s role is to remove barriers for students who want to be successful. Yee was simply one of the many who experienced hurdles over the years in the school.

The carpentry course opened Yee’s eyes.

While Yee was a student, he volunteered to work on several school repair projects to get experience.

A few weeks before he graduated from the program, a past instructor visited the department to recruit students to work on remodeling his house. He hired Yee on the spot.

“I felt lucky,” Yee said with gratitude. “I didn’t even graduate and hadn’t applied for a job and I got a job. Someone gave me a chance. I was paid $14 an hour 12 years ago.

I didn’t know anything at the time. And I worked very hard at it.”

Yee said his field requires a lot of practice.

His role is to be a problem solver. Each job is different and has its own unique problems.

Since then, he has done all kinds of contracting work, including building and remodeling basements, decks, restyling rooms and houses, dry-walling, painting, building a stone path, and several other remodeling challenges. His passion is to do the best job he can and search for all means to broaden his knowledge and skills. He was proud that some of his projects would use recycling materials to cut down cost for his client.

“I care about building relationships with my clients, doing a good job,” Yee said.

“They are not just my clients, I want them to

wreckage, he said, even more help is needed, including orthopedic doctors, nerve specialists, surgeons and paramedics.

“We are appealing to foreign governments to send these specialized and smart teams,” Poudyal added.

Well over 1,000 of the victims were in Kathmandu, where security forces and Indian rescue teams continued to recover the dead. In the course of an hour Monday morning, seven were pulled from a collapsed three-story building. At another site, the body of a 12-year-old girl was found.

Acrid, white smoke rose above the Pashuputi Nath Temple. “I’ve watched hundreds of bodies burn,” said Rajendra Dhungana, 34, who spent Sunday with his niece’s family for her cremation at the temple, Nepal’s most revered.

The earthquake destroyed swaths of the oldest neighborhoods in the capital, largely a collection of small, poorly constructed brick apartment buildings. Many people were surprised by how few modern structures had collapsed.

Some pharmacies and shops opened Monday, and bakeries began offering fresh bread.

Huge lines of people desperate for fuel appeared outside gasoline pumps. At one station, dozens sat waiting on motorcycles.

Power seemed to have been largely restored Monday night, with streetlights blazing on major roads and lights illuminating closed shops. Things looked normal — except for the many tents pitched everywhere, including on traffic circles.

Fearful of strong aftershocks, tens of thousands of families were spending a third night outdoors in parks, open squares and a golf course, bundled against the chilly Himalayan night.

Among them was Prabina Mainali, a 26-year-old teacher who gave birth to a boy earlier Monday in a Kathmandu hospital — a bit of good news in a sea of despair.

{GIRIN cont’d from page 8} wide variety of dishes and the depth of preparation of each guarantees that you’ll leave with a happy and full belly (although your wallet might not feel the same way).

A word to the wise – we ordered a meat combo set and at the end of the meal, the waiter brought over a noodle dish that ends the meal and oh boy, it was a bit spicy.

Delicious, but the ice cream for dessert was a welcome sight (and if you didn’t get a set

Finished product

be my friend. I still go back to check with my clients to see how my work pans out.”

“My dad worked very hard to turn his life around,” said Yee’s daughter Sandy, who is now a student at the University of Washington. “He did not have a college degree, but that did not stop him. He dedicated himself in his studies to become a contractor. Now, he is a self-made owner of his own construction company. My dad is the true definition of the American dream and I am incredibly proud of him.”

Yee’s client Michael Pickett, said “Gin Yee is thorough, detail-oriented…He helped us construct our baby room/nook and did extra work as part of the bid because he didn’t want his name on something that didn’t look good.”

Even though Yee has been a contractor for 15 years, he said he is still learning. Looking back at how he changed his field, he said, it was a big step when you want to change your life. At least, he knew what he wanted, set a goal, and went after it until he succeeded.

And he loves his work.

“I now have more time to spend with my family,” said Yee. “I was lucky too that when I went to construction school full time, my wife worked full time to support me.”

Yee also considered his wife fortunate.

Originally, she worked for the International Clinic for Health Services as a translator.

The rules changed and she was required to go back to school with tuition paid for certification. With her new education, she changed her job and is now a medical assistant at the University of Washington with good benefits.

“We can control our own fate,” Yee said.

“It’s important to realize that we have to continue learning every day. Don’t just make fast money and run. It never works to do five days’ work when you should do seven days.”  Assunta Ng can be reached at assunta@ nwasianweekly.com.

combo, definitely order the ice cream. It is made in house and it’s fantastic).

The parking and the location make it a little difficult to locate but if you’re in the mood for some Korean cuisine, you could do far worse than grabbing a friend and grubbing on some ssam at Girin in Pioneer Square.  Andrew Kim can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015

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“It’s hard that he can’t be in his own home right now. He should be there, we should be there, but we aren’t safe. We’re afraid of the aftershocks,” Mainali said, feeding the as-yet unnamed infant from a bottle as a half-dozen relatives cooked a meal on a gas cooker outside the tent in a grassy park.

“We’re not safe at home. Here we have less to worry about,” she said, adding that her house was not seriously damaged, but windows and other glass inside was shattered.

Kathmandu district chief administrator Ek Narayan Aryal said tents and water were handed out Monday at 10 locations in Kathmandu, but that aftershocks were leaving everyone jittery. The largest, on Sunday, was magnitude 6.7.

Pierre-Anne Dube, a 31-year-old from Canada, slept on the sidewalk outside a hotel.

She said she had gone from the best experience of her life — a trek to Everest base camp — to the worst.

“We can’t reach the embassy. We want to leave. We are scared. There is no food. We haven’t eaten a meal since the earthquake and we don’t have any news about what’s going on,” she said.

The quake was the worst to hit the South Asian nation in more than 80 years. It was felt across parts of India, Bangladesh, China’s region of Tibet, and Pakistan. Nepal’s worst recorded earthquake, in 1934, measured 8.0 and all but destroyed the cities of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan.

The quake has strained the resources of this impoverished country best known for Everest, the highest mountain in the world.

The economy of Nepal, a nation of 27.8 million people south of the mountain, relies heavily on tourism, principally trekking and climbing.  Associated Press writers Todd Pitman in Kathmandu, and Muneeza Naqvi, Tim Sullivan and Ashok Sharma in New Delhi contributed to this report.

asianweekly northwest

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MAY 2 – MAY 8, 2015