The Leaders!
Albert Cheng 鄭國和
Searching for Chinese Roots Pioneer 尋根引路者
Searching for Chinese Roots Pioneer 尋根引路者
Albert Cheng co-founded the In Search of Roots program with Him Mark Lai in 1991. Albert has been instrumental in the rooting experience for hundreds of interns over two decades. He leads Roots: Him Mark Lai Family History Project in its Bay Area activities and guides the interns on their journey in China. Albert speaks several dialects of Chinese, including Mandarin, Cantonese, and Amoy.
Steven Owyang joined the In Search of Roots program in 2007. He began presenting the lecture series on Chinese and Chinese American history in 2008. He accompanied the interns to China from 2007 through 2011. Steve speaks Cantonese and Mandarin pretty well for a fourth generation ABC.
Hometown: B-mont
Occupation: L2 Support Engineer by day, t-shirt guy by night
What year did you go on Roots: 2001 & 2002
Ancestral Village: Taishan Oong Tieu now Diluo (N 22 01.340 E 112 52.363)
Favorite Food in China: It’s all super good but I am partial to pork-- it just tastes soo much better there! And of course fruit has flavor there so mangosteens!
Favorite Roots Memory: I would have to say going to some peoples villages and seeing how profoundly moved they were to be in the home of a loved one who is no longer with them and getting to experience the place where they were children and not adults.
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: The Heat. And getting to see how much things change and stay the same. And of course the food.
Choose a song that best describes you: What a feeling - Irene Cara
Something you are proud of: I have taken the face off of a pig, I have represented my college in a national sports tournament, and I have no concept of free time.
One piece of advice for the current interns: You will get more out of the program then you put in; do not hesitate to put in a lot. You are each other’s family in China. Be supportive; even the strongest who cry will value the shoulders of the meek who are there for them.
Rosa Wong-Chie 黃姍姍
Steven Owyang 歐陽如展
Group Leader, Advisor to Friends of Roots
Steven Owyang joined the In Search of Roots program in 2007. He began presenting the lecture series on Chinese and Chinese American history in 2008. He accompanied the interns to China from 2007 through 2011. Steve speaks Cantonese and Mandarin pretty well for a fourth generation ABC.
Brian Yee 趙庇如
Hometown: B-mont
Occupation: L2 Support Engineer by day, t-shirt guy by night
What year did you go on Roots: 2001 & 2002
Ancestral Village: Taishan Oong Tieu now Diluo (N 22 01.340 E 112 52.363)
Favorite Food in China: It’s all super good but I am partial to pork-- it just tastes soo much better there! And of course fruit has flavor there so mangosteens!
Favorite Roots Memory: I would have to say going to some peoples villages and seeing how profoundly moved they were to be in the home of a loved one who is no longer with them and getting to experience the place where they were children and not adults.
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: The Heat. And getting to see how much things change and stay the same. And of course the food.
Choose a song that best describes you: What a feeling - Irene Cara
Something you are proud of: I have taken the face off of a pig, I have represented my college in a national sports tournament, and I have no concept of free time.
One piece of advice for the current interns: You will get more out of the program then you put in; do not hesitate to put in a lot. You are each other’s family in China. Be supportive; even the strongest who cry will value the shoulders of the meek who are there for them.
Rosa Wong-Chie 黃姍姍
Rosa Wong-Chie was an In Search of Roots intern in the 2009-2010 group. She will be a leader for Roots: Him Mark Lai Family History Project in 2012. Rosa speaks Cantonese, Tai Shan and Mandarin.
Age: 28
Occupation: Information System Analyst
What year did you go on Roots: 2010 (but I was part of the 2009 cohort)
Ancestral Village: Taishan
Favorite Food in China: All Cantonese and Chao Zhou Food - yellow eel claypot rice in Taishan & fresh shrimp, fish, Abalone in Chao Zhou. All the interesting snacks, drinks, and ice cream!
Favorite Roots Memory: My fellow rooters singing and dancing to "Reunited" as the van that I was in was pulling into the Restaurant's parking lot. They made me a flower bouquet and gave me hugs. We were separated for a small time period and I was touched by their show of love and support when we met up with them again. :) The fireworks from the second night were awesome as well.
What are you most looking forward to this year: Seeing the current cohort experience what I have been through.
One piece of advice for the current interns: Enjoy every moment of it when you are there. Don't stress the little details! Try to explore all the villages, even your own, and talk to the villagers, even if you don't understand them. :)
Frank Lee 李德華
Frank Lee was an intern with the 2007 In Search of Roots program. Frank was a leader for the 2009-2010 and 2011 In Search of Roots groups, and will help lead the inaugural Roots: Him Mark Lai Family History Project this year. He also serves as the Vice President of Friends of Roots. Frank speaks Cantonese.
Hometown: Daly City!!!
Occupation: Project Engineer
Ancestral Village: Taishan Dajiang Shuilou Longjiang Li 台山 大江 水樓 龍江里
Favorite Food in China: Hands down, Yellow Eel Claypot Rice. Of course it is from Taishan Dajiang!
Favorite Roots Memory: Everything Roots 2007! The late-night eating after Freedom City. Those were some of the best bonding moments for the group.
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Besides the food? I look forward to being there to lead, guide, and mentor each intern as they search for their ancestral roots.
Choose a song that best describes you: Nuthin' But A G Thang - Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
Something you are proud of: My sister and I taking our parents back to their ancestral villages. It was their first time back, since leaving in the mid-seventies.
One piece of advice for the current interns: Do not rush and enjoy every moment, big and small. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience that very few people get to do. Before you know it, it will be over.
The Rooters!
Age: 28
Current Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Village you will be visiting: KaiPing 开平長沙瑭乡書厦坊石巷
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Touching the soil my grandfather called home, smelling the sweet and savory aromas of local Kai Ping dishes, seeing the land through my grandmother's eyes, and listening to the locals speak the Kai Ping dialect
Can you use chopsticks: For sure, since I was four years old!
Choose a song that best describes you: Kelly Clarkson, Stronger
Something you are proud of: My Chinese heritage.
Eric Timothy Cheung 張業良
Age: 30...but no, I am not the oldest. Simpson is, at a wrinkly 32.
Current Hometown: Foster City, CA
Village you will be visiting: Nam Hoi 南海
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Blue shrimp sashimi. And partaking in the endless ragging on Alan Liu that will ensue without his presence.
Can you use chopsticks: Yes...for many things.
Choose a song that best describes you: Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey
Something you are proud of: I passed kindergarten in the face of my teacher telling my parents that she thought that I had a learning disability. Boo yah.
Derek Flores 余春榮
Age: 26
Current Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Village you will be visiting: Toishan
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Having an adventure with experiences and memories that I can share with my present & future family.
Can you use chopsticks: yes
Choose a song that best describes you: Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
Something you are proud of: I am proud of my siblings
Sincere Justice 黄均達
Age: 25
Current Hometown: Oakland, CA
Village you will be visiting: Nam Hai
Something you are looking forward to on the trip:
Can you use chopsticks: Yes
Choose a song that best describes you: T.I. - Live Your Life (feat. Rihanna)
Something you are proud of: I'm nice in the kitchen.
Jonathan Lam 林耀明
Age: 21
Current Hometown: San Jose, CA
Village you will be visiting: Toishan
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Meeting my relatives, exploring/shopping Asia, and drinking with my fellow rooters :)
Can you use chopsticks: yeeeah!!!
Choose a song that best describes you: Up! - LoveRance
Something you are proud of: I own the cutest damn dog in the world.
Michelle Yuen Mun Lee 李娩文
Age: 29
Current Hometown: San Jose, CA
Village you will be visiting: Nam Hoi 南海
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: I'm looking forward to learning more about my fellow interns, my family and myself. Also looking forward to meeting people in the villages.
Can you use chopsticks: Yes
Choose a song that best describes you: Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces
Something you are proud of: I'm proud of myself for trying balut when I was in the Philippines. I'm also proud to be part of Roots this year.
Barbara Lin 林思茵
Age: 25
Current Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Village you will be visiting: Toishan
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: See the village of my grandma and great-grandpa, hopefully see the roads/elementary school/bridges he built.
Can you use chopsticks: Yes, but sometimes I cheat if I feel lazy and use the "squeeze" method
Choose a song that best describes you: Beat - Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
Something you are proud of: Attempting to go back to the Motherland without knowing the language!
Olivia Lin 林美美
Simpson Yiu 姚紹中
Age: 32
Current Hometown: Santa Clara, CA
Village you will be visiting: Hoiping
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Being able to visually see where my family came from.
Can you use chopsticks: Yes
Choose a song that best describes you: The show goes on - Lupe Fiasco
Something you are proud of: I'm proud to be Chinese
What year did you go on Roots: 2010 (but I was part of the 2009 cohort)
Ancestral Village: Taishan
Favorite Food in China: All Cantonese and Chao Zhou Food - yellow eel claypot rice in Taishan & fresh shrimp, fish, Abalone in Chao Zhou. All the interesting snacks, drinks, and ice cream!
Favorite Roots Memory: My fellow rooters singing and dancing to "Reunited" as the van that I was in was pulling into the Restaurant's parking lot. They made me a flower bouquet and gave me hugs. We were separated for a small time period and I was touched by their show of love and support when we met up with them again. :) The fireworks from the second night were awesome as well.
What are you most looking forward to this year: Seeing the current cohort experience what I have been through.
One piece of advice for the current interns: Enjoy every moment of it when you are there. Don't stress the little details! Try to explore all the villages, even your own, and talk to the villagers, even if you don't understand them. :)
Frank Lee 李德華
Frank Lee was an intern with the 2007 In Search of Roots program. Frank was a leader for the 2009-2010 and 2011 In Search of Roots groups, and will help lead the inaugural Roots: Him Mark Lai Family History Project this year. He also serves as the Vice President of Friends of Roots. Frank speaks Cantonese.
Hometown: Daly City!!!
Occupation: Project Engineer
Ancestral Village: Taishan Dajiang Shuilou Longjiang Li 台山 大江 水樓 龍江里
Favorite Food in China: Hands down, Yellow Eel Claypot Rice. Of course it is from Taishan Dajiang!
Favorite Roots Memory: Everything Roots 2007! The late-night eating after Freedom City. Those were some of the best bonding moments for the group.
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Besides the food? I look forward to being there to lead, guide, and mentor each intern as they search for their ancestral roots.
Choose a song that best describes you: Nuthin' But A G Thang - Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
Something you are proud of: My sister and I taking our parents back to their ancestral villages. It was their first time back, since leaving in the mid-seventies.
One piece of advice for the current interns: Do not rush and enjoy every moment, big and small. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience that very few people get to do. Before you know it, it will be over.
The Rooters!
Yvonne Chan 陳詩韻
Age: 28
Current Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Village you will be visiting: KaiPing 开平長沙瑭乡書厦坊石巷
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Touching the soil my grandfather called home, smelling the sweet and savory aromas of local Kai Ping dishes, seeing the land through my grandmother's eyes, and listening to the locals speak the Kai Ping dialect
Can you use chopsticks: For sure, since I was four years old!
Choose a song that best describes you: Kelly Clarkson, Stronger
Something you are proud of: My Chinese heritage.
Eric Timothy Cheung 張業良
Age: 30...but no, I am not the oldest. Simpson is, at a wrinkly 32.
Current Hometown: Foster City, CA
Village you will be visiting: Nam Hoi 南海
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Blue shrimp sashimi. And partaking in the endless ragging on Alan Liu that will ensue without his presence.
Can you use chopsticks: Yes...for many things.
Choose a song that best describes you: Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey
Something you are proud of: I passed kindergarten in the face of my teacher telling my parents that she thought that I had a learning disability. Boo yah.
Derek Flores 余春榮
Age: 26
Current Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Village you will be visiting: Toishan
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Having an adventure with experiences and memories that I can share with my present & future family.
Can you use chopsticks: yes
Choose a song that best describes you: Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
Something you are proud of: I am proud of my siblings
Sincere Justice 黄均達
Age: 25
Current Hometown: Oakland, CA
Village you will be visiting: Nam Hai
Something you are looking forward to on the trip:
Can you use chopsticks: Yes
Choose a song that best describes you: T.I. - Live Your Life (feat. Rihanna)
Something you are proud of: I'm nice in the kitchen.
Jonathan Lam 林耀明
Age: 21
Current Hometown: San Jose, CA
Village you will be visiting: Toishan
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Meeting my relatives, exploring/shopping Asia, and drinking with my fellow rooters :)
Can you use chopsticks: yeeeah!!!
Choose a song that best describes you: Up! - LoveRance
Something you are proud of: I own the cutest damn dog in the world.
Ryan Lam 林慧亮
Age: 16
Current Hometown: Alameda, CA
Village you will be visiting: Nanhai
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Seeing the countryside/rural areas
Can you use chopsticks: Yes
Choose a song that best describes you: Embrace the Martian - Kid Cudi
Something you are proud of: The ability to drink coca cola endlessly.
Michelle Yuen Mun Lee 李娩文
Age: 29
Current Hometown: San Jose, CA
Village you will be visiting: Nam Hoi 南海
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: I'm looking forward to learning more about my fellow interns, my family and myself. Also looking forward to meeting people in the villages.
Can you use chopsticks: Yes
Choose a song that best describes you: Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces
Something you are proud of: I'm proud of myself for trying balut when I was in the Philippines. I'm also proud to be part of Roots this year.
Barbara Lin 林思茵
Age: 25
Current Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Village you will be visiting: Toishan
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: See the village of my grandma and great-grandpa, hopefully see the roads/elementary school/bridges he built.
Can you use chopsticks: Yes, but sometimes I cheat if I feel lazy and use the "squeeze" method
Choose a song that best describes you: Beat - Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
Something you are proud of: Attempting to go back to the Motherland without knowing the language!
Olivia Lin 林美美
Age: 27
Current Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Village you will be visiting: Toishan
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Seeing where my parents grew up, eating, drinking, tanning, and exploring
Can you use chopsticks: I grew up with disposable forks, but I'll practice for China
Choose a song that best describes you: Fun- We Are Young and Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
Something you are proud of: Stupidly proud of attempting the cinnamon challenge
Marisa Louie 雷美玲
Age: 22
Current Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Village you will be visiting: Yonghe cun in Toisan 台山大江河木永和村
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Visiting my grandfather's village for the first time and EATING!
Can you use chopsticks: Yes
Choose a song that best describes you: If You're Out There - John Legend
Something you are proud of: Graduating from UCSD in 2012
Matt Owyang 歐陽良盛
Age: 27
Current Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Village you will be visiting: Enping 五福里
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Getting in touch
with my history.
Can you use chopsticks: Yes
Choose a song that best describes you: Taylor Swift - Mean
Something you are proud of: Racing the US National Team and being
ahead of them for a minute and twenty seconds, it was awesome even
when they went right through us and beat us by 13 seconds.
Allister Phan 何智勁
Age: 22
Current Hometown: Daly City, CA
Village you will be visiting: Foshan 佛山
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Possibly meeting someone from the village who knew my grandpa back in the day.
Can you use chopsticks: yes
Choose a song that best describes you: Beastie Boys- Intergalactic
Something you are proud of: I'm proud of my screen printing business.
Current Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Village you will be visiting: Toishan
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Seeing where my parents grew up, eating, drinking, tanning, and exploring
Can you use chopsticks: I grew up with disposable forks, but I'll practice for China
Choose a song that best describes you: Fun- We Are Young and Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
Something you are proud of: Stupidly proud of attempting the cinnamon challenge
Marisa Louie 雷美玲
Age: 22
Current Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Village you will be visiting: Yonghe cun in Toisan 台山大江河木永和村
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Visiting my grandfather's village for the first time and EATING!
Can you use chopsticks: Yes
Choose a song that best describes you: If You're Out There - John Legend
Something you are proud of: Graduating from UCSD in 2012
Matt Owyang 歐陽良盛
Age: 27
Current Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Village you will be visiting: Enping 五福里
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Getting in touch
with my history.
Can you use chopsticks: Yes
Choose a song that best describes you: Taylor Swift - Mean
Something you are proud of: Racing the US National Team and being
ahead of them for a minute and twenty seconds, it was awesome even
when they went right through us and beat us by 13 seconds.
Allister Phan 何智勁
Age: 22
Current Hometown: Daly City, CA
Village you will be visiting: Foshan 佛山
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Possibly meeting someone from the village who knew my grandpa back in the day.
Can you use chopsticks: yes
Choose a song that best describes you: Beastie Boys- Intergalactic
Something you are proud of: I'm proud of my screen printing business.
Simpson Yiu 姚紹中
Age: 32
Current Hometown: Santa Clara, CA
Village you will be visiting: Hoiping
Something you are looking forward to on the trip: Being able to visually see where my family came from.
Can you use chopsticks: Yes
Choose a song that best describes you: The show goes on - Lupe Fiasco
Something you are proud of: I'm proud to be Chinese
Have a great time Yvonne!!!
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