Our Nisei Week Queen |
by Michiko Yamamoto
 Monika Taniguchi Teuffel |
Monika Taniguchi Teuffel is a winner! Yes, she was crowned Nisei Week Queen for 2007 but that isn’t what makes her a winner. Monika’s positive attributes go beyond simply the physical and are not evidenced by a title or a crown, sash and robe. Everyone interacting with Monika--from her first expression of interest in representing the Venice Japanese Community Center, the West Los Angeles Japanese American Citizens’ League and the WLA JACL Auxiliary in the Nisei Week Queen contest through her crowning as the Queen—has uniformly and enthusiastically praised her. Traits such as “humble,” “considerate,” “articulate,” “generous,” “poised,” and “appreciative” are used to describe Monika. Seeing Monika with the other Queen candidates, the affection and warmth she generated in and among them was apparent. To support Monika, while certainly busy with their own schedules, her fellow candidates attended and participated in the ondo dancing at the VJCC’s |
Summer Festival as well as at the West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple Obon. It was a joy to observe these young Japanese American women enjoying themselves and each other while fully entering into the spirit of these festive occasions.
It is not surprising that Monika so earnestly and willingly fulfills her commitment as a participant in the Nisei Week Queen pageant. Because of her curious and open nature, she embraces life and avails herself of its many opportunities…she does not wait passively but rather plunges in! Thus, she enthusiastically participated in the many cultural and self-improvement classes offered to the Nisei Week Queen candidates as they added to her already wide range of knowledge in interior design, photography, travel, piano playing and volleyball. Her interests had already led to her degree at UC Irvine in International Studies, with a triple minor in Japanese Language and Literature, Art History, and Management, and the opportunity to study abroad at England’s Cambridge University with the culminating highlight of studying art history in Italy.
2007 Nisei Week Court: JenniferKiku Minami, Mandy Michiko Kusumoto, Saki Uechi (1st Princess),
Monica Taniguchi Teuffel (Queen), Christine Wai Lan Kimoto (Miss Tomodachi), Yoshie Margaret Okada.
Photo by Nobuyuki Okada
It is also telling of Monika’s positive impact on people that she has such a steadfast and supportive following. Her ability to accept and overcome challenges is in large part due to her philosophy in life, based on the quote, “Nana korobi, ya oki.” (“Fall seven times, rise eight.”) It was especially evident throughout the Coronation selection process when she remained poised and gracious as the other candidates’ much larger and vociferous fans rooted for them. Ultimately, however, Monika herself carried the evening. Thus, when she was announced as the Queen, audience acceptance was enthusiastic and spontaneous, especially from her parents, Burk & Yoshie Teuffel, her sorority sisters from Pi Beta Phi, and members of the VJCC and WLA JACL who included, respectively, John & Lily Ikegami, Kazie Kame, Jack Kurihara and his wife Carol Inge, Delcene Kuwata, Hitoshi & Kay Shimizu, and Randy & Mari Tamura; and Chieko Inouye, Eiko Iwata, Haru Nakata, and Jean Ushijima
Monika certainly will be kept busy during her reign as Nisei Week Queen. She must travel extensively as well as attend a countless number of functions. In addition, she will continue working as an account manager for Mainstay Business Solutions as well as keep up with her studies in Architecture and Interior Design at the UCLA Extension program. There’s no doubt that she will accomplish all of this with her ever-present charm, selflessness and captivating smile.
Of her experience to date and her crowning as Nisei Week Queen, Monika, in her typical unassuming manner, says, “I would really like to thank the sponsors, my family, friends and community members for all of their support! I am so honored to be representing our community and I hope to make you all proud throughout the year!”
Monika likely would agree that the friendships she developed and her experience during these past few months make her a winner. However, it’s the positive attitude, appreciation and sincere interest she has in whatever she undertakes that truly make her a winner!
Congratulations to Monika and her family. We share in the pride and joy of her being the Nisei Week Queen…she is, after all, ours!
By Aileen Hongo
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There's No Place Like Home... No one said it better than Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz… |
bath safety handles, etc. to help with frail seniors with a safer home environment. However, I found some unique and interesting ‘devices’ that one really doesn’t think about until you have it and wonder how you ever lived without it! Here’s a listing of a few:
Shampoo Aid – a drain tray for easy shampooing that alleviates the need to bend over – simply sit back while the water drains into the sink ($84.95).
Long Handle Shampoo Brush – a 10” curved handle allows shampooing for those with limited reach ($19.95).
Talking Alarm Clocks – announces the time at the press of a button – also has display ($19.95).
Daily Medication Reminder – alerts time to take medication by either beeping, talking or displaying LCD information ($19.95).
Food Guards – clear guard fits around a plate to help those that need extra assistance with eating ($8.95).
“Stay in Place” Plates – non-skid feet keeps dishes and plates from sliding for those with limited flexibility, motor skills or use of only one hand ($9.95 -$12.95).
Good Grip Eating Utensils - provides easy to hold gripping for those with arthritis, stroke or other neurological impairments ($6.95-$7.95).
Pull Handles for Socks – allows those with limited mobility to pull on socks without bending over ($15.95).
Button Hook – helps those with arthritis button up! ($6.95).
Dressing Stick and Extended Shoehorns – “C” hook stick allows ease in dressing for those with limited mobility. Extra long shoehorns help those who cannot bend over ($13.95).
Prism Eye Specs – allows you to read or watch TV while lying down. The glasses have a prism that turns the image 90 degrees so that one can read or watch television with limited head movement ($79.95).
Leg Lifters – footstrap to raise/lower legs from bed or wheelchair ($12.95).
Toilet Tissue Aid – a clamp devise to roll and release tissue paper for those with limited mobility ($39.95).
Signalers for Fire, Doorbell, Telephone, Motion – utilizes strobe, vibrator or turning lights off/on to signal alert (price varies).
These are just a few of the unique devises that can make activities of daily living (ADL) easier. For more information on assisted living devices listed above, visit the following links:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/assistivedevices.html
http://www.disabilityproducts.com
http://www.assistivedevices.net
The information provided on this column is intended to provide helpful health and wellness information to the general public. The information is not rendered as a medical, health, psychological or other professional diagnosis, treatment or cure and should not be used in place of a call or visit to a medical professional, who should be consulted before adopting any suggestions in this column or drawing inferences from it.