Why China Is Bad At Soccer

As I'm sure that many people know, China did not qualify for the World Cup this year. They qualified in the 2002 World Cup but they didn't score a single goal. Soccer is the most popular sport in China and the Beijing Olympics proved that the Chinese aren't too bad at sports. So why can't a country with over a billion people put together a soccer team? The answer lies with Chinese culture itself.

For the most part, Asian countries do not perform well in the World Cup but soccer still remains the most popular sport in Asia. So, if you look at it broadly, it's an Asian thing. Asians excel in individual sports but not in team sports. The medals that China won in the last Olympics were mainly from gymnastics and diving. My parents have always stressed activities like swimming and fencing on my brother and I. The Chinese's take on sports reflects much of Chinese and Asian culture, which stresses individual advancement. If this was to become political, the same applies to the country's economy, government, and sociability. Western culture stresses a lot on teamwork and synergy whereas Eastern culture focuses more on individual practice and repetition.

I don't think the Chinese care much about sports. This may sound critical of me as I speak from the perspective of an American but the Chinese have other things on their minds. As I mentioned in my last post, China's economy is booming and it seems that much of their resources are directed into development and technological advances. Thus, they do not really factor in sports in being the world's greatest superpower. Many of the nations that have done well so far are considered third world countries. Countries like Ghana and Uruguay may be small but they are passionate about soccer and winning. It is not that the Chinese are heartless and unpassionate, they are just not passionate about team sports.

The Anatomy of China's Economy

Happy Father's Day! I had the chance to spend the whole day with my dad today and one of the things he loves to talk to me about is foreign affairs. So here is a very dad-inspired post:

Back in 2007, I was interviewed by an admissions officer from U of Chicago, a school known for its economics program and thought-provoking questions. One of the questions that I was asked was "What do you think of China's economy?" At that time, I was not so politically inclined so I simply answered, "it's so bad that it's good." Now three years have passed, where not only have I matured, but so has China's economy, allowing me to give a more detailed answer to that question.

China has become a hot topic in recent years, for its government proceedings and more notably, its rapidly growing economy. Since the 1990's, China's economy has been on the fast track much due to the string of economic reforms at that time. Its GDP was ranked third in the world in 2009, right behind the US and Japan, and many analysts predict that the RMB will match the US dollar in thirty years. However, many speculators do not see this sustaining. The rapid economic growth and flaws with Chinese products are some of the reasons that people are hesitant to recognize China as a superpower. Yet, I think these are just a few holes that can easily mended.

China is big topographically and in size, with the largest human capital in the world. What is happening in China right now is similar to the US during the 19th century. The Industrial Revolution was a springboard for technological innovations and thus economic expansion but at the same time, hazardous conditions existed in factories and laborers were overworked. Also, during this time, there was a great interest in expanding West which led to the development of the midwest. Like the US, much of China's civilization is concentrated along the shore. There are so many untouched resources and possibilities that will be beneficial in the coming years.

Much of what we know about the China, its sociability and its economics, has been through the lens of Western media. Underneath what we see includes 2000 years of history and a strong culture. All this makes the understanding of China's development both fascinating and complicated.

Buildings, Cities, and the People

On Thursday night, I went to a community meeting at a Carroll Gardens' daycare for my internship to discuss the facility's closure. Present were representatives from ACS (Administration for Children's Services) and 30+ angry parents. Now, you would be upset if your child's daycare was closing down and the nearest affordable one is 5 miles away. There are many daycares in the neighborhood but many of them are out of their price range. This is one of many results of the changing socioeconomic statuses in NYC neighborhoods and across the country. This phenomenon of gentrification has both its positive and negative effects.

Carroll Gardens, like much of North Brooklyn, is facing rapid development. New boutiques and trendy restaurants are opening everyday. The neighborhood's primary residential buildings are brownstones and project housing, leading to cultural clashes between yuppies and the ghetto. Within a block, I was able to find an upscale sushi restaurant and a Crown Fried Chicken. As you can imagine, the individuals who are the most upset about these developments are the ones losing their neighborhood. The same thing is happening to Bed-Stuy, Harlem, and somewhat in my own neighborhood of Coney Island, where I can see this firsthand. There are continuous debates in the community between the developers who want to build condos and resorts and residents who have sentimental attachments to the neighborhood. However, a new resort will bring more job opportunities to a fairly poor neighborhood and thus stimulating the economy. Are emotional values small prices to pay for opportunities that will benefit in the long run?

What upsets individuals even more is that new developments are by private entities and it feels personal that an autonomous group is taking something they believe to be accessible to the public. This is where much of the angst against private corporations are rooted. If this is viewed on a broader scale, the government does not have a lot of money and thus power compared to corporations. Thus, the possibility of have private space is greater than that of public space.

The demographics of neighborhoods have changed greatly between decades and centuries and development has always coexisted with it. Before project housings were built in Bed Stuy, there was a large Jewish community who all lived in brownstone house. There is no stopping the changes created by individuals and time, so development will always exist.

Halfway Through College Review

Today, I spoke at my high school to juniors about the college application process. Most of the students asked the same questions: effectiveness of grades, AP exams, and sometimes dorm life (my high school was pretty nerdy). I was in the same room as someone who is currently attending Columbia University and all the students seem to be more interested in him than me. To be honest, two years ago, I was in the same position as them. I wanted to go to a prestigious university and never expected to end up in Syracuse. Well, I did and I do not regret it.

I was an overconfident freshman. Coming from a large city and from an advanced high school track, I felt like I can do anything at Syracuse. I always had a hard time talking about transitioning into college because I never had issues in doing so. As heartless as this may sound, my mindset fueled me to get involved on campus and do well academically. This coincided much with my involvement in Student Association. After I accomplished my first initiative, I felt like I can do anything on campus in terms of influencing changes on behalf of students. I did accomplished many initiatives afterward but it became more about the experience and that helped me grow to love the school. It was not just about me leaving my mark here but how I can make it a better place. As a student at Syracuse University, I was given the chance to not just grow academically but to tailor make my experience here. I probably would not have received these opportunities at another institution.

Now that I am officially done with everything, it just hit me that I am in the limbo stage between sophomore and junior year and the feeling is a bit surreal. How have I changed these last two years? For one thing, my overconfidence has tapered off and into different directions where it became more about the people around me. That was a result of my experiences and the people I had the pleasure of knowing. For another, I gained a greater awareness of my capabilities- what I can do and cannot do. Together, I hope to use what I have learned and apply it to issues beyond the hill for my last two years of college.

Stars of Cyberspace: The Asian Variety

One of my final papers for this semester was for my Contemporary Asian Americans class. The research topic? Asian Americans on YouTube. Because it is a blog worthy topic, here is an excerpt/ summary.

From Nigahiga to Happyslip to David Choi, Asian Americans are proliferating the channels of YouTube. Many of the top 50 channels on YouTube were created by individuals of Asian descent and has caught the attentions of the blogosphere and Asian American based panels. This is surely a phenomenon. The videos range from beauty tutorials by Michelle Phan to humorous portrayals of everyday life by KevJumba. All of these individuals are second generation Asian Americans and almost all of them are under 30 years old. YouTube and the internet have collectively become a venue that allows accessibility and advocacy of groups that are traditionally underrepresented. These videos have promoted the image of Asian Americans by presenting common issues and topics in a positive manner as they are created by the very individuals themselves.

The videos portray a wide variety of issues faced by Asian Americans. KevJumba, for example, frequently has his father in his videos. The relationship portrayed between him and his father can be related to many individuals' own relationship with their parents. Between the accent and affectionate teasing, he might as well be Papa Kong. Interracial dating was brilliantly discussed in "Yellow Fever," a video by Wongfu Productions. Yes, many White men date Asian girls- sorry to all the Asian men who think this is an issue. Timothy DeLaGhetto's videos are very much influenced by hip hop culture, showing much of his persona. Do you know how many Asian guys follow the hypebeast/sneakerhead culture? Well I know too many.

So why YouTube? YouTube is easy to use and has a large audience. For individuals like KevJumba and Nigahiga, who are currently college students (both my age in fact), it is a noncommital venue. Thus, they can upload videos at their own leisure. Other individuals like Michelle Phan and Wongfu Productions have used YouTube as a springboard to launch their careers. In fact, many of them have received recognition and opportunities because of their videos. YouTube has proved to be a valuable venue for self expression. For Asian Americans that find it difficult to have their breakthrough in Hollywood, YouTube and the internet will always be there, creating new stars with changes in time.

A Lusterless Dimon

Syracuse University has caught the attention of national media not for its basketball team or academics, but for students' discontent over this year's commencement speaker, Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JP Morgan Chase.

Personally, I do not see anything wrong with the choice of commencement speaker but I am not overly ecstatic to hear him speak. Dimon certainly has a long list of accomplishments. In fact, he is the badass of Wall Street. During the financial crisis, JP Morgan reluctantly accepted TARP funding from the government, but paid it back. As CEO, Dimon oversaw the acquisition of Bank One and Washington Mutual and made JP Morgan into one of the leading banks in domestic assets. His personality can be defined by him accepting $1 as his yearly salary but a $16 million bonus, something he is not ashamed of. His bank has constantly been lobbying against government reforms and Dimon himself, has wrote a few op-ed articles on this issue. I am neither a supporter nor opponent of JP Morgan, but I am pretty impressed with what he has accomplished.

So why are SU students so worked up about this? Dimon may be the hero of Wall Street but a villain to humanity (or at least as regarded by students). Students overlook Dimon's achievements and become upset over what he represents. Because of our current state of economy, people do not want to see a figure of Corporate America, someone with so much, to be lecturing them. Also, JP Morgan Chase has a strong presence on campus. From its name plastered on the first floor of Lyman Hall to the creation of the GET program, it seems like Dimon "bought" his title to be this year's commencement speaker. As a result, students believe that they did not have a say in the choice in their speaker because it looked too easy. As a student liaison to the Board of Trustees, I can attest that it is not true. Syracuse University is one of the few schools that allows students to decide on their commencement speaker. A list of speaker is created by a student committee, which includes class marshals and Trustees representatives. Although I did not play a part in this process last year, I am fairly certain that Jamie Dimon was on their short list.

Commencement speakers are chosen based on the premises of innovation, humanitarianism, and honor and connection to the university. Jamie Dimon does embody those qualities but I wish that a less controversial speaker was selected, perhaps someone who isn't such a strong political figure for our state in time. I respect my fellow students' right to free speech and protest so those who don't want to hear him speak shouldn't have to. However, as a change agent of our time, I think his speech will be worthwhile.

Just Like in "The Deer Hunter" But for Hipsters

What I meant by the awkward title is the deadly game of chance known as "Russian Roulette," which was the center of the 1978 film The Deer Hunter. I remembered watching that movie when I was little with my dad, not knowing what the plot line was about nor the concept of the game. My dad had to explain what "Russian roulette" was to me and I was a bit horrified. Now 32 years since the film's release, a new spin on the classic game of roulette by a Russian teenager hits the internet known as Chatroulette.

Chatroulette is a game of interactional chance on your computer. All you need is a webcam, and it brings you face-to-face to a world of strangers and potential new friends. The attention that the site has gotten is incredible. Celebrities are using it. Reporters are using it for their "articles." Creepers use it to creep. And hipsters use it because they think that it is cool as it breaks the boundaries of social media. A chatroulette party took place in a Brooklyn bar as the website was projected onto a big screen as patrons sat in auditorium-style seating and watched. Ben Folds used it in a segment of his concert as he serenaded users with his audience cheering him on. So is this site all that it is hyped up to be? I gave it a spin myself.

For a long time, I was scared to use the site. So for my first time, I made a few of my friends to go on it with me. As we huddled over my macbook, we explored the wild west of the internet. Together, we saw awkward teenage boys, awkward middle-aged men, random college students like us, musicians, blank screens, imperative writing on paper, and a few inappropriate images. We had a few conversations with people but we didn't know how genuine the other end was because we made up fake names for ourselves. Although a warning pops up when you first go the site about being over 16 and no pornography, no one follows that rule, which makes it kind of funny. My first time on chatroulette was a bit traumatizing because I would never look up some of these things up. Yet, my intrigue trumped that trauma and I went on it a second time but by myself.

My second run with the service was a bit disappointing. There were less conversations but more awkward moments. For many of the people that I came across, our conversation only lasted about 10 seconds as they automatically deemed me boring and clicked off to the next person. At first, I was offended bur frankly, I did the same thing. I did not want to have a conversation with a strange man, cradling his laptop in bed. It was much less awkward and more fun with a group of friends because you do not have to take it as seriously and you have other people to work with. Thus, despite the accessibility of the site to people around the world, human nature trumps as many people do not want to be face to face alone with a stranger.