Flashback Friday with Ryan Park

Finally! A Friday that I’m not forgetting my Flashback Friday column. This week’s column is with the best looking solar energy expert I’ve ever seen…

Ryan Park!

I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Ryan yet, but after catching up with him for this column and our Twitter friendship, I’m really looking forward to chatting in person one of these days. Hopefully in Newport Beach, so I can also run into Ryan Atwood and Seth Cohen.

Ryan is a true sweetheart, and a great catch for all of the single ladies out there. I’d say that in the Bachelor Yearbook, Ryan is a serious contender for “Best to Bring Home to Mom & Dad.”

Let’s start with Ben’s season. If you were Ben, how would you have handled the ladies differently? Any favorites or least favorites?

I don’t know how I would have handled the girls differently, but there’s no doubt that Ben and I are very different individuals and ultimately my choices would have reflected that.  Truth is, my favorites were quite aligned with what seemed to be the sentiment of the overall viewership.
There has been some speculation on you and Kacie B. from this season. Any truth there? Or do you just share the air-heart love?

Ah the speculation….  Kacie B. and I enjoyed lunch together in Newport Beach following the Women Tell All weekend.  While I wasn’t surprised that we got along so well, it was incredibly refreshing to validate the fact that she is an absolute sweetheart.  We have remained in contact and she has many of the qualities I’m seeking in a partner.  Unfortunately, given our geographic separation and my schedule we haven’t been able to spend time together since.

What was your favorite memory from your season of The Bachelorette?

Like it was yesterday I can remember the feeling of sweltering heat while driving around Chiang Mai in a tiny pickup truck for over an hour with all of us guys crammed in the back.  Then, pulling up to the town square with a boxing ring in the center and people all around watching two real muay thai fighters punishing each other.  Then my name was called along with Ames and the fight was on… That was quite a memory…

Any bromances stem from The Bachelorette for you?

There were some real solid guys from my season and I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know them; and I know my feelings are not unique. As evidenced from season after season of cast members linking up and remaining in contact.  I believe it is a natural occurrence after having spent so much focused time together that a bond takes place that will last a lifetime.  It seems there are always little reunions and “get togethers” happening all over the country.

If ABC chose you to be the next Bachelor, what qualities would you want the Casting Producers to look for?

It’s no secret that I carry a positive demeanor about life and I really try to enjoy every day, even when things don’t feel so great, because you never know when your time will come to leave…  And along those lines I would hope the producers would find a nurturing person with a giving soul.  Someone with energy to experience the wonders of the world and doesn’t take things for granted.  I believe if you have that in your core, then many other qualities fall into line.  Clearly I would hope they find someone into health /exercise with a thirst to learn.  The world is full of so many interesting topics… choose some… let’s have a real conversation.  :)

What’s the number one deal breaker for you when it comes to dating?

Don’t play games!  Be real, open and honest.

What has life been like since being on The Bachelorette? Anything change for you?

Life came racing back to “reality” the moment I stepped off the plane and synced my emails for the previous ~10 weeks…  Really, it’s been the same as it was before the show except I’ve taken a few pictures with people that recognize me.  I’m still the same guy and I enjoy my friends and family just as I did before.  I’d say the biggest change is now being in the so-called “Bachelor family” and gaining so many new contacts and relationships all over the country.  I travel a lot for my work and it’s fun to have so many people to reach out to for a guided tour.

What is one quality that the future Mrs. Park must have?

Gosh… one quality huh?   Well… aside from a loving / positive core and a passion to live…   I enjoy being active.  I ski and snowboard all around the world during the winter, hike, bike, swim in the ocean and basically just go “DO” things all the time.  I don’t want that to ever change and ultimately my future wife will also enjoy getting outside and having fun doing whatever it is…  My family growing up was great about that and I hope someday to be blessed with children too and we will always be doing activities together.
Outside of the great places you traveled on the show, where else would you have loved to visit?

Oh where to even begin…. the world has so many wonderful places I have yet to explore… One place that is very high on my bucket list is Argentina and see Bariloche, Buenos Aires and of course Patagonia and the Galapagos.

While the show was airing, was it difficult to read all of the blogs and websites, or were you generally happy with the feedback you received?

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and social media enables the masses to share their feelings very easily.  I of course saw some of the sites while the show was airing, but generally I chose to avoid reading too much into the comments, whether good or bad…  And there was a real mix of emotions about my so-called character on TV.  Frankly, I felt a little embarrassed at times when some comments or expressions of mine were captured and shown on TV b/c even I felt that I was “too over the top”…  while filming it sure was an intense situation early on and it took some getting used to, but to answer your question, I tried not to get too caught up in the blogs and websites because my friends, family and ultimately “I” know who I am and I’m very comfortable in that so I didn’t feel the need to read too many of the comments.