Alex Lai, reporter with Taiwan’s United Daily News is excited to attend a U.S. presidential inaugural ceremony for the first time. “It is a fresh experience to witness historic inauguration of President Obama,” says Mr. Lai. He says that people in Taiwan are expecting the Obama administration’s to play a positive role in cross-strait relations. Lai has been living in Rockville, Maryland for nearly two years.
Takashi Oshima (left) discusses coverage on the presidential inauguration with his fellow reporter Masato Tainaka (right) for the Asahi Shimbun, a known Japanese newspaper. Mr. Ohsima finds U.S. presidential inauguration ceremonies exciting, as there is not “this kind of inauguration in Japan.” Still in his first year in D.C., Mr. Oshima thinks the Japanese people are looking forward to seeing how President Obama will handle the ongoing pressing international issues in the next four years.Sandy Choi, a D.C. based freelance photographer, captures special moments of President Obama’s swearing-in ceremony. She is very happy to get a much better spot than what she had at Obama’s inauguration four years ago. The Korean American photographer voted for Obama. She thinks Obama has “brought such diversity to the administration…It’s good for all Asian Americans…[and] good for the future of the country.” A native of Chicago, Ill., Ms. Choi looks forward to spending time with her husband and their 10 month old kid after covering the inaugural ceremonies.Darwin Supnet serves as an usher at the first presidential inauguration he has ever participated in person. Mr. Supnet flew all the way from San Jose, Calif. on January 2 and received training before the Inauguration Day. The Filipino American volunteer is very happy and excited to be part of this “historic event.”Ms. Chen Naiqing (left), wife of Ambassador Zhang Yesui of China and Mrs. Rifat Sultana, wife of Ambassador Akramul Qader of Bangladesh (middle), tell Asian Fortune they are happy to attend President Obama;s inauguration.Mrs. Vicky Cuisia, wife of Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia of Philippines, says “It’s a honor to be here…[at this] global event.” She also expresses her appreciation for the First Lady: “Michelle is very dynamic…I feel for the programs she [advocates] on the environment and [child] obesity.” Mr. and Mrs. Cuisia planned to attend the Inaugural Ball on the Inauguration Day and the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral the next morning.Dr. Rosa Rai Djalal, wife of Ambassador Dino Patti Djalal of Indonesia is amond the avid supporters of Obamas. “I think [Obama] is one of the greatest presidents I’ve ever seen…He is an American Dream…[Michelle Obama] represents American women really well [as a] role model,” says Dr.Rosa Djala. She also shares with Asian Fortune how much the president impressed her when they first met two years ago: “[Obama] was so warm and didn’t show any distance…[just like] an old family friend. He could [even] speak a few words in Bahasa Indonesian.” The Djalals are friends with Obama’s Indonesian American half sister Maya Soetoro Ng and hosted the Soetoro family to the ambassador’s residence the day after the Inauguration Day. Before then, Dr. Rosa Djalal attended the Inaugural Ball.Lovebirds Eluard Alegre and Rebecca Boguski came form New York on a special date to watch the inauguration. Boasting a Gangnam Style of his own, Mr. Alegre cheered at Obama’s inauguration four years ago while he was attending Georgetown Law School. The Filipino American boyfriend wears an orange cap that says “Kansas,” a tribute to the home state of the President’s mother, Ann Dunham, also home to Ms. Boguski. Looking ahead, Ms. Boguski hopes Obama will focus on the economy as well as immigration issues as she teaches English to many international student every day.
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