Customers waiting patiently at downtown's Japa hot dog stand, Vancouver, Canada
Labels: photographs, Vancouver, wandering
My wife Ju-Won surfing the internet at home.
Last week I had a chance listened to a radio documentary downloaded from BBC about computer addiction issues in South Korea. This is something not only limited to the South Korea but other Asian countries as well. However, in a country which a good on-line gamer can become a celebrity and been sponsored by conglomerate firms with TV channels dedicate to on-line gaming competition it is hard for outsiders not to scrutinize the phenomenon with microscope.
There is a lot to explain why Koreans are so craze over the on-line gaming, which ranging from stress relief to high cost of console gaming to even self confidence issues. But what really concerns me is the fact that in a country which people are eager to show off their strength and shook off their turbulent past are often become more vulnerable to the kind of marketing that is associate with national pride but not necessarily good for the people.
Take on-line gaming for an example. Gaming along with push for more use of computer products was originally promoted by the government in South Korea started in the 1990s when the country became the major peripheral exporter. It's intention is to transform the country into a high tech nation which everything is digitized. Now the very same agency which did the promotion are now setting up treatment centers for people who suffer from cyber addiction.
This should send a warning signals to everyone - The use of commercialism to promote national pride is an effective tool but can become very destructive when things gone wrong - Cyber craze in South Korea offers a good example.
Labels: Notes and Thoughts
Bus Commuters at Sixth Street, New Westminster, Canada
Labels: photographs, Vancouver, wandering
Few days ago a friend of mine
Lucas Mulder wrote a piece about poverty in Guatemala on his blog
100CM [METRE] and his personal encounter with teens trying to make ends meet so that he and his family can survive the other day. All the startling reminder of dire need to eliminate poverty.
Interestingly, On the other end of the world I've been working on this day job of photographing the would be high school grads. A pretty high tempo job which you have deal with kids who grew up in the environment that was very well protected........The ideal environment for raising kids I suppose but it does has draw backs. Kids who grew up here are demanding, they think they deserve everything and most of all they often have no regard to others.......and these characteristics became more apparent when they are in front of the camera.
So for the last couple days while I was dealing with these kids, I often thought about that kid Lucas encountered in Guatemala......what would he thinks if he sees what I see?
Labels: Notes and Thoughts
Commuters waiting to get on the bus, New Westminster, Canada
Labels: photographs, Vancouver, wandering
At My old colleage friend's apartment in Surrey, BC. The one on the background is my wife Christine.
Takako, My old College friend and Christine moved to Vancouver within two years after I settled here. Though the motive to be here are a bit different. Christine moved here because....well....I'm here. But Takako settled here mainly because she wasn't able to secure a permanent residence in the U.S. after spending about 10 years working and studying, and Canadian citizenship became a next best option for her.
Regardless of the intention for resettlement one thing they share about their experiences in Vancouver is that they can't wait to get out of this place. This is something I'm hearing more and more from people of around my age both immigrants and natives alike. The grim fact is that Vancouver is becoming one of the most expensive city to live in North America but at the same time salaries for average people living Vancouver has not risen in the past seven years other than few sectors. This caused a great stress for young people who want to start a life here and many of them end up leaving the place for good. Oh, and the rainy weather seems to make a already stressful life even grimmer......like salt on the injury.
So with Takako's case she was lucky enough to find a somewhat decent job recently after worked in a Japanese owned firm with shitty pay. But as for me and my wife we decide to leave this place as early as next year. The reason? This place is simply not a place for photography.
Labels: Notes and Thoughts
Private Parkade on Sixth Street, Burnaby, Canada
Labels: photographs, Vancouver, wandering
