Yanwen’s blog

Sunday meetings with my Korean student always bring up something new for me to think about. During our last meeting, we talked about the retirement systems in America and South Korea.

There are both similarities and differences between the retirement systems of South Korea and the U.S. In both countries, retirees receive money from a mix of sources.

However, there is one significant difference between the two. In South Korea, corporate pensions are common, which is rare among U.S. private companies. Instead, American companies encourage employees to contribute to their own retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans, by matching about 3% of the employee's contribution up to a certain annual cap.

Although both countries have capitalist systems, the relative absence of corporate pensions in the U.S. reflects broader cultural differences between the two countries.

American culture is characterized by strong individualism and freedom, with an emphasis on personal responsibility and self-reliance, and super downplaying the role of a collective and the government. When it comes to retirement, individuals are encouraged to take charge, rather than relying on the company or the government.

With maximum personal freedom comes the huge responsibility for the consequences of one's choices. You decide how to save for your retirement, and as a result, you are expected to live with the consequences of your decisions.

In contrast, Korean culture retains some of its traditional values, emphasizing community, family, and social harmony. Individuals still consider the needs and expectations of the group.

There is also a stronger sense of interdependence among family members, communities, and within society. Support systems are often more collective, with families playing a crucial role in caring for elderly relatives.

In conclusion, the differences in retirement systems between South Korea and the U.S. sharply highlight the cultural values that shape each society. While Americans prioritize individualism, freedom and self-reliance, Koreans emphasize community and familial support. Understanding these cultural contexts can help us appreciate the diverse approaches to retirement planning around the world, and also prepare people financially if they decide to retire in the U.S.

Incidentally, China and South Korean share heavily with the emphasis on the collective and interdependence, even though the two countries follow different system.

I have learned about the 80-year-old Carl Bernstein from the book "All the President's Men," the Pulitzer Prize-winning work that he co-authored with Bob Woodward. The book brought to light the famous Watergate scandal.

Recently, I finished reading his 2022 memoir, "Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom." This memoir chronicles his experiences from age 16, when he nearly dropped out of high school, to his early 20s, highlighting his rise to a successful journalism career.

I have two key takeaways from his memoir:

First, this is a compelling coming-of-age story about personal growth. Despite lacking formal education or academic credentials, Bernstein's journey underscores the power of grit and determination. His success in the competitive field of journalism was entirely due to his passion and dedication. Once gain, we learn that with hard work and perseverance, one can achieve huge success even in highly competitive environments.

Second, Bernstein's success story emphasizes the importance of learning through practical experience. He gained his journalism skills on the job and through mentorship from his colleagues. This hands-on learning approach is crucial for career development, especially for young people today. It shows once again that real-world experience and on-the-job training can be more valuable than classroom instruction alone. It makes me think of many young people today going to graduate schools, assuming they could become more valuable with more degrees.

These lessons resonate personally with me as well. My son never took a formal class on entrepreneurship, yet he has been actively engaged in entrepreneurial activities even in his high school years. And he has learned and grown on the job in ways that traditional education might not have provided.

Finally, Bernstein's memoir serves as an inspiring testament to the power of perseverance and experiential learning. His story teaches us that success isn't solely determined by academic credentials. This message is particularly relevant today, as it encourages young people to seize opportunities for more hands-on experience, and embrace non-traditional paths to success. Bernstein's journey reminds us that the road to achievement is paved by our determination and real-world engagement.

Today is June First, International Children's Day! Happy Children's Day! The Day was first proclaimed in 1925 in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. It is celebrated today in many countries outside the U.S.

On Children's Day, many fond memories of childhood activities come back, with lots of carefree days in the suburbs of Tianjin. Perhaps there's some truth to the saying—there is a little child in each of us, and some part of our early experiences and childhood memories never go away.

On this day, I think of the words of a young father. When commenting on the amount of money pouring into his new baby, he said, "He is worth millions. No money can buy this."

On this day, I also reflect on the profound positive impact children have on parents' lives. Often, we think about how parents guide and nurture children during their growing-up journey. Seldom do we realize that children provide us an opportunity for another journey: one of self-growth and self-discovery for parents, if we are open to such growth.

One of the most transformative parts of parenting is reconnecting with our inner child and retrieving something we lose in our hectic adult lives. Being with a young child, rediscovering the simple pleasures we have overlooked, the joy and playfulness, all remind us that life is not all work and no fun and the purpose of life is to enjoy it. Children help awaken in us the spontaneous smile, the appreciation of small wonders in daily life, 小满 and much more of what we lose on the way to becoming adults.

When it comes to being empathetic and authentic, open and unbiased, curious and exploring, natural and unpretentious, children are our best teachers.

This open-minded reciprocal relationship not only enriches our lives but also creates a nurturing environment for our children to grow into confident, emotionally healthy adults. As our children learn and grow, so do we, evolving and developing, finding new directions, new levels of empathy, patience, and joy of our own life.

As we enjoy International Children's Day, let the day be a reminder to us to embrace the joy, creativity, curiosity, spontaneity, authenticity, and wonder that childhood brings and to carry the magic of childhood with us every day.

This is not a joke.

There was a publishing house that released a new book, with the title: "How to Change Your Wife in 30 Days." It was said that the book sold hundreds of thousands of copies in just one week.

But soon, the author called the publishing house and said, "You made a typo in the title. It should be 'life,' not 'wife.' The correct title is 'How to Change Your Life in 30 Days,' " After the title was corrected, only 3 copies were sold in a week.

This incident reveals much about us. Here are some key reflections:

First, it's telling that people are so much interested in changing others instead of changing themselves. Why is this so?

Second, perhaps it's because they think it is easier to change others than to change themselves. Or perhaps they believe others are the root cause of their problems. But is this really so?

Third, people often think that others need to change because they tend to focus on the flaws of others, assuming they themselves are flawless. Really?

Fourth, there's a pervasive tendency to blame others for our problems, to attribute our unhappiness or difficulties to others, thus seeing the solution as changing those around us.

Fifth, why is there so much interest in changing one's spouse? I'm wondering if there would be the same level of energy directed towards a book like "How to Change Your Husband in 30 Days."

Finally, this story should tell us this fundamental truth: meaningful change starts from within. The real key to get anything better lies in self-improvement and our own personal growth. Look inside not outside.