June 25th, 1950

Today celebrates a 58th anniversary of the Korean War, where the North Korean Army struck in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, June 25th, 1950, by crossing the 38th parallel dividing the two Korean regimes supported mainly by Russia and the United States.

My father was two years old when the war took place. Chances are, he was probably too young to remember much about the war. My mom was 3 months old when it happened. Definitely too young to remember. One of these days, I want to talk to them about exactly what happened, and what my parents had to go through, to survive through the war.

Although the North Korean Army and Kim Il Sung was hoping for a quick victory over the Korean peninsula, his hopes evaporated when the UN decided to intervene in the matter. And in the course of the three years, over half million soldiers died defending the land, while the North Korean casualty including the Chinese army is estimated at over a million. Millions of civilians were wounded and killed, as the fight continued over the war-torn country.

Even in elementary days, I remember growing up with very strong sense of loyalty to the country, and how we all hated communism. Reviewing and re-reading through what happened during the war, made me realize why so many South Koreans abhor the communism and in general, the North Korean regime.

As the North Korean Army captured more and more South Korean cities and towns, they would systematically kill all current and former government officials and anyone that they deemed dangerous to the communists regime, and the killing only got worse as North Korean Army retreated from these captured cities, being pushed back by the coalition forces.

Sadly, the South Korean army would in turn execute thousands of alleged communist sympathizers, often without trial. And fearing possible infiltration, US army was ordered to shoot any approaching civilian refugees without question, though, this didn't last too long...

There is a saying that the Korean nation is also called Han nation, one filled with Han, which can be translated as heartache, heartburning, regret, unsatisfied desire. After all, just after being liberated from Japan Empire, Koreans ended up killing each other and millions of civilians, just to be a divided nation, even until now. And this isn't just some history hundreds of years ago, instead it's something that our parents and grandparents survived through, but to this day, they have not been able to see the two nations unite. They can only sing and hope for the reunification of the Korean peninsula, for until that day, their "Han" will never go away...

For more info, please visit the wiki at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War

Jane - Graduation

Graduation:

While I was still recovering from Hannah's graduation, lo and behold, it is time for Jane's graduation! Time sure flies fast; feels like only yesterday when I just met Jane and Hannah in their early High School days...
Unlike Hannah's graduation, though, it was extremely cold outside while taking pictures, but we made it through. Though everyone was freezing cold, we still managed to celebrate the special day with the loved ones. I guess that's the whole point...

Here is Jane, while she was walking out of the ceremony, and I couldn't get a clear focus on her; there were people everywhere, so all I could do was lift the camera high up and try my best to aim at her as I was taking the picture...



It certainly feels like it was only yesterday when I first met Charles and Jane. I remember the times when I would drop her off after church, or try to buy her dinner every now and then, just so she doesn't forget the taste of Korean food, but now I feel like looking at a bird about to leave her nest. She's all grown up now!

I know there are quite a few Korean Restaurants in Oakland area that are relatively new, and some of them I only know by the name, but I never had the chance to visit. Well, here was such a restaurant. It was called Sura, near the Soft Tofu place, and the atmosphere inside the restaurant was surprisingly nice. And the food was quite good. They had impressive number of side dishes, and the soup and meat all tasted, well, very good.

I think I will definitely come back here in the future, should I have the need.

Congrats, Jane! We will miss you!

Hannah - Graduation

Graduation:
Although the exact year of my high school graduation will remain unspoken, it sure feels like only yesterday when I received my high school diploma, marveling at what the future holds, as I look onto the next step, the next big thing, the college...
Well, that's not entirely true. I didn't know anything back in high school days. I don't think I even knew what I was doing in college either. I suppose to a certain extent, boys never grow up. That is, until they are married, and then have a kid of their own.
Well, that's for another time. Here are some pictures from Hannah's graduation, a proud alumni of College Preparatory School, onto the wild wild East Coast!
Yay! It's my turn! The time has finally come for me to walk across the stage... and be out of here!!
Hannah is feeling relieved, now that the hard part is over... and the only thing that's on her mind right now, is to go home and relax. Or maybe to eat some good Korean food. Or maybe the after-graduation party which I was not invited to, though it was being held at Castro Valley, probably close to my home.
Congratulations to all the seniors at College Preparatory School, class of 2008! And now, time for some pictures with family and friends.
Just as a note: even photography is definitely different than the usual, every-day photography. First of all, I realized the need for a good, telephoto zoom lens, because with an event, it's not easy to be exactly where you want to be, to take the photos. Thus the telephoto zoom lenses provide a wonderful flexibility.

Also, because the event takes place outside of my control, if I were to miss a chance to take a picture, that opportunity may never come back to me, so every single shot really counts.
I suppose that's why wedding photographers can charge so much money.
Perhaps it's time to volunteer and learn more at LimePictures.

Congrats, Hannah! We will miss you!

Philip's Wedding

Michelle's cousin is finally getting married. Well, actually, "finally" isn't quite right. I don't exactly know, but they met and decided to marry rather quickly, I believe. Also, the wedding prep took something around half a year, which in marriage terms, is fairly quick. Not unusual, but quick.

We took care of the welcome/greeting/gift table, along with a gentleman from the bride's side. Yes, the cousin who's getting married is a guy. :-)

Though I was supposed to help with Michelle, there really wasn't a need for both of us to be there all the time, and so I took the liberty to walk into the sanctuary to take some pictures. Thank goodness for Jonathan's zoom lens... I realize that zoom lenses are very useful for special events, such as graduations and weddings, since it can be difficult for me to be up close where the action is.

The Groom, and his mom, greeting the incoming guests...

and the wedding party, also greeting the guests alongside the Groom...

The wedding party, and everyone, waiting for the bride to enter...

... and the moment all women rightfully fantasize about... their wedding entrance.

The flower-girl, and her partner (!). The flower-girl is Michelle's cousin's daughter, whose brother is the Groom.
And just like in our wedding, David and Tammy, back by popular demand! If you recall, I believe their "debut" was at our wedding! :-D

Family table!
The bride sits and waits, for her groom to do his thing... :-D

And the winners are ...
... (yes, those who were brave enough to jump in front of others, to catch the bouquet...)

Josh - Graduation

For Josh, the time of Academia is just about finished, as he now ventures out to the world, a salary-man. :-)

Here are some pictures from the graduation...

One of the auditorium at UCSF campus, where the graduation was being held at.

Waiting in line... to walk across the stage!!!

Waiting...
Ladies and Gentlemen, we now present to you, Doctor Park!!! :-D

Yay!

"Ohana means family!" ... well, maybe except for the professor... :-)

... and amigos!!!

Second take for the family! I finally get to be in a picture, but I wasn't have a very good hair-day... :-D

Josh and his sister, Lois.And now, who's the boss!

Farewell to Pattie

A few of us decided to throw a surprise dinner party for Pattie. So we gathered at the decorated house and waited for her to arrive...










Did everyone remember to sign the card...?









Suprise!!!



















Well, once the surprise was over and done with, we headed over to Macaroni Grill.