Koreans. Generally these immigrants were better educated, but still focused on being in technical jobs or starting their own businesses. Convenience stores, restaurants, liquor stores, and dry cleaners were the first wave.

These early Asian immigrants often felt a need to assimilate as quickly as possible, so they moved to the suburbs as soon as they could. They became the model American's, even embracing Christianity. The internment camps spurred the desire for assimilation even more, while clearly pointing out that discrimination would be a fact of life. My father clearly taught me that no matter how long we had been here or how many generations were born in America, we would always have to work harder and do better to succeed. Given a choice between two equal applicants, the employer would choose the one most like them. To succeed and be selected, we had to be superior in clear ways. Culturally the path to success, as in our home countries, has been education, it is highly valued.

Latter immigrants such as Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Hmongs have not had the same patterns, but the drive to do well and succeed remains. The businesses seem to also be restaurants and nail shops.

For polys I have felt strong community connections that seem to bridge multi-cultural marriages. There is obviously a physical advantage in strength and size that steers them to jobs that differ from Asians. It is my sense that while education is valued it is not as ingrained as it is in Asian communities. In Asian communities our kids go to Chinese school and Kumon, they play in the band, and are honor roll students. Jeremy Lin is the exception who also excelled athletically. Polys are much better at sports and that seems to be a larger focus. When I was a 95 lb. guard in football my freshman year, I realized I had better study hard because I wasn't going to make the NFL.