Expat Experience
This story is about an island boy who grew up Hawaii and one day decided to venture out of his comfort zone and into the world. Though Hawaii is part of the United States, moving from the islands to the "mainland" seems like landing in a whole other culture. This is my mini "expat experience."
After playing ball at the University of San Diego, Washington State native, Corey Belser, had racked up an impressive list of awards and honors including Team MVP, Arthur Ash All American and National Defender of the Year by CollegeInsider.com. To pursue his childhood dream of one day playing in the NBA, Belser decided to take the lunge and go overseas to play with the Olympia Larissa in Greece in 2006. Belser is their Shooting Guard and Small Forward, or the 2 & 3 as coaches call it. His love for the game has brought him to all corners of the globe and in front of international audiences. He talks about Greece, the NBA and getting by.
This would never happen in the States. The camera is focused on me and when the red light turns on, all I can think about is how I am about to record what would be at least number three on the list of "Top Five Quickest Ways to Kill Your TV Journalism Career Before it Starts". When the camera starts to roll, I begin to monologue, wielding a pump-action, Super Soaker water gun and intermittently squirting it into the air. That's how I wrap up the commercial disguised as a news story for the opening of Polynesian Summer Splash, a seasonal promotion for Hong Kong’s oldest amusement park, Ocean Park. As ridiculous as it is, I want to go further as two Chinese hula girls, hired for the summer promotion, dance beside be. Welcome to TV news in Hong Kong.