tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27764349191465860392024-03-13T17:36:33.381-04:00Korean American Adoptee Home Is Withinkyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-52502586816180870052010-03-11T02:41:00.001-05:002010-03-16T01:36:34.710-04:00..more images from my trip to the netherlands.Here are some more images of KyungIl that were taken during my visit in The Netherlands! For now, we are very excited about his visit and trying to go over a mental list of activities that we can do while he is with us! For my family in Korea, I have yet to write about his visit. I am wondering if I should just write to them in English so it can get to them sooner. It is something that is always on my mind..that I may lose the relationship we have made due to lack of communication and language barrier. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RLQfvUdB5bb8BiLLghRm4gztVWPHKmSn7V-u8wOixiuEkjClbA2ZpyXJTCNfpQpp7uFTss2uM7aKWJ3fHJOeB1cL8uGR8Qv6OLI5Xvn-Nh2cqy2l7yttqeJS6jG0p38beEJhIxI/s1600-h/kyungmee_kyungIl_10_2009_DSC_0091_01-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RLQfvUdB5bb8BiLLghRm4gztVWPHKmSn7V-u8wOixiuEkjClbA2ZpyXJTCNfpQpp7uFTss2uM7aKWJ3fHJOeB1cL8uGR8Qv6OLI5Xvn-Nh2cqy2l7yttqeJS6jG0p38beEJhIxI/s640/kyungmee_kyungIl_10_2009_DSC_0091_01-2.jpg" vt="true" width="418" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">( These images were taken during my last day there. We spent the day walking around town and buying sweets for my children at home.) </div>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-45514057757572956662010-03-03T02:05:00.001-05:002010-03-16T01:37:46.333-04:00what are the chances??A few weeks ago, my daughter and I went to the local Post Office to drop off mail for my brother, KyungIl's family. While waiting in line, a little boy came up to my daughter and began to talk to her. I looked down at them and smiled knowing my little one most likely would not dare to look at this cute boy trying very hard to get her attention. Instead, she shyly walked behind my legs and then proceeded to back up behind a poster nearby. As I watched her slip around the posterboard the little guy quickly followed her to sneak a peek around the poster and laugh. I could not help to laugh as well watching him so desperately to get her attention. <br />
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As the line moved forth, I continued to be mused by their actions as he continued to sneak a peek at my daughter and smile at her. Then, in the background, I heard a mother's voice calling to the little boy. I looked up to see his mother speaking to him in a familiar voice. I had heard this language before..and before I could help myself, I looked at her and asked her where she was from. She smiled and told me that she was from the Netherlands! Could you believe ...how funny things are! Standing there in line both of us with cards in hand waiting to be mailed to the Netherlands..we talked about her family and of my meeting with KyungIl and his family. I learned also that she had been in the Netherlands back in October 2009 while I also was visiting my Brother and his family! Tell me, what are the chances of something like this happening..right? <br />
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How special the day had turned out and how amazed I was to feel so close to my Brother and his family when only moments before I felt the distance between us as I held the card in my hand. This wonderful little boy and his mother allowed me to see we are as close as we allow ourself to feel. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are some more images from my visit back in October 2009. These images were taken while visiting Rotterdam Netherlands.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-14846069486954969122010-02-24T15:43:00.002-05:002010-03-16T01:40:02.413-04:00great news!Hi everyone! I realize that much time has gone by here without any updates on how my relations have been since I had reconnected with my Eldest Sister in Korea and my Brother in The Netherlands. First, I want to announce that my Brother from The Netherlands will be coming out to visit this Spring bringing with him his Father and Brothers! We are very excited and looking forward to their visit. Our children will finally meet their Korean Dutch Uncle very soon! It is a wonderful feeling that my dreams of my children one day meeting the Family that I had once lost and thought would only be told of in stories. And I look into the future and tell our children that one day, we will fly to Korea for a Family Reunion..all United. <br />
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I cannot say that this is far fetched hopes for my distant dreams have truly come into reality. And I will take this with all its tears and laughter that it brings. For my Siblings in Korea..I am still hopeful and hope we will talk again.<br />
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</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I thought I would post some images of my Brother, KyungIl, from my visit to The Netherlands here from time to time until his arrival! The images below are from our lunch while visiting Rotterdam, Netherlands. It was his first time eating Asian-Fusion Food. I was very happy to share his First with him! A wonderful little place full of charactor and good feelings. Enjoy!</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-75080711445371384582009-12-13T15:04:00.000-05:002009-12-13T15:04:47.544-05:00making dinner with my brother in the netherlandsOne night, during my visit in The Netherlands with my brother Kyung Il, he told me that I would be visiting his friends to make dinner. I was surprised and excited about this adventure of ours. My brother meets with a group of people every week and prepares a dish together. They meet and shop for their ingredients and later cook their meals...a very cool idea! Every week they take turns on deciding what they will eat. <br />
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Since I was visiting and a guess to their group, I was honored with a tradional Dutch meal. Served with this wonderful entree was one of my favorites..brussel sprouts! It was a pleasure to meet his friends and to cook with my brother. An opportunity that I will look forward to again. <br />
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These sweet new memories we made during my visit will be close to my heart...always. <br />
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</div>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-69140946024992865812009-11-24T10:53:00.000-05:002009-11-24T10:53:19.836-05:00Right at your finger tipsI am always uneasy about writing on this space of my current affairs since it is hard to separate your emotions from what may be playing out in the moment. No time passed to reflect or to digest and understand total dynamics of the situation. <br />
I have been thinking about translators and translation lately. I recently wrote a few letters to my siblings in Korea letting them know of my visit to The Netherlands and sent some photos of the trip and of our Brother, KyungIl and his family. I have not heard of any responses yet and don't expect one any time soon. That is how our relationship has been moving since we reunited back in 2004. I realize many factors play into this and some of them I may never know. What I do know and feel is that disappointment that I tell myself I would avoid since I decided to search for them. I could be happy to have just known them and have found them and in a way, I am pleased with just this. But inside always aches for more. <br />
<br />
My friends tell me that if there are Translators that has offered to help me to use them. I wonder at what cost? Aside from our initial Translator that we found when we first came home from Korea, I have used many through listings and through chance meetings. But with each of them, it is awkward since I do not know them well and feel I am intruding or simply too many favors. Sometimes it is not that I can simply do a 3way conversation on my home phone but that if I would use their services, I would have to visit them in their home or work place at certain times and then make calls...and always not easy to do this. <br />
<br />
And after I have made all the arrangements to call, they are not there or we speak for a few minutes and later try again and speak a little to find out that my family in Korea do not remember our last conversation and state that is not what was said. <strong>Translation lost?</strong> I don't image this is what all adoptees go through but perhaps some understand what I am speaking of? <br />
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I am still dreaming of one day going back to Korea to visit them. I fear that I will lose total contact once again or become so distant that it would be awkward to go there. I will keep sending them my letters and photos from here. I hope that I will one day receive one back and hear from them of how they are doing in their homes.kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-91576467746320937332009-11-18T15:52:00.000-05:002009-11-18T15:52:31.089-05:00In Search for a Korean Restaurant in Amsterdam - Visual Memory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZR4q1HyCJBwiPFVksrIu0lBUrKMreDsaOQf_L3Ycb7x3S5jTpM4fjJghy4pkTjFymTGYGSwGLX926bWkAbL2qlZucAqnrvE6ZDEax9NLJ6WR08AvsF7bhRvE9owkCxGJBHbA9eP4/s1600/DSC_0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZR4q1HyCJBwiPFVksrIu0lBUrKMreDsaOQf_L3Ycb7x3S5jTpM4fjJghy4pkTjFymTGYGSwGLX926bWkAbL2qlZucAqnrvE6ZDEax9NLJ6WR08AvsF7bhRvE9owkCxGJBHbA9eP4/s400/DSC_0563.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-68460971929615538452009-11-18T15:40:00.000-05:002009-11-18T15:40:48.940-05:00In search for a Korean Restaurant in AmsterdamOur Quest<br />
Prior to my visit to The Netherlands, I told me brother, KyungIl, that he must try korean food while I am visiting him in Holland. He explained that he would love this very much but would need to research where we may find them, perhaps, in Amsterdam. We must have googled Korean restaurants several times in search for Korean food but found that there were maybe only 8 or 9 listings and at least half of them were shut down or too far away for us to travel. I was amazed and could not believe how difficult it was to find them even for a major city. We did come across one that was not a very long distance away to adventure out and for my brother to try! So, my brother KyungIl, his oldest brother, and I set out on our quest. It was very exciting and I felt the pressure to know my Korean and Korean selections if you readers understand what I mean. Especially other adoptees out there. But knowing the fact I enjoy and eat in Korean Restaurants often I knew what comes with dining in one too. I was ready and hoped they would very much enjoy their first experience. <br />
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The Restaurant.<br />
While we were there, we discovered that most of the people working and dining at the restaurant were not Korean, perhaps, one? I do not think anyone spoke Korean and if they did they did not respond back to me as Koreans usually do when I spoke to them with my " broken Korean Tongue". This often stirred up conversation in "most" restaurants or any Korean stores. I found it very interesting and was curious about the food. To my surprise most everything they brought out was very good..a little different but good! I was very happy that they both really enjoyed it and would try Korean food again. It was nice to know that maybe there were other Korean stores and markets nearby that my brother could shop at and try some other Korean foods. It was a very special evening to sit and eat with them at their very first Korean Experience. We ate, laughed, and carried the evening away with good conversations that a good meal brings to the table. A special night for I hope not only me but all of us!kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-7183533156346696272009-10-29T20:56:00.000-04:002009-10-29T20:56:03.311-04:00Yoo Kyung Il - My Brother's BlogA short time prior to my visit to The Netherlands, my brother created a weblog. I was thrilled that he wanted to create and share his experiences on his very own blog. Once it was set, it sat and waited for our meeting. He wanted to begin his adventure from our initial beginnings-my arrival in Amsterdam. How special this made me feel. Now he can share with his family, friends, and everyone his story and of our two weeks together. I am excited to see where this will take him. Only a couple months ago, I started a blog in hope to connect with other adoptees as well as my birth family and now I am introducing the blog of my brother from The Netherlands. I hope you can give his site a visit! His blog is called, <a href="http://yookyungil.blogspot.com/">yookyungil</a>.kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-13943234881556042692009-10-28T23:31:00.002-04:002009-10-29T16:59:27.971-04:00Visit to The Netherlands - Visual memory to our future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1R_kJ7v0GhYKH_XoV_Uv8yUTQ_Kpp5z_lSFCKjjBroK-y3DWz-c9DYQiPVNgS75f9JBSRmQP5YIwcU3Sjqld5k0Q7lJzVxfl8w09feFoOcwqQaEf6ZWCpnrZAZChh-RGNXd6-5I/s1600-h/airport+in+amsterdam+DSC_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1R_kJ7v0GhYKH_XoV_Uv8yUTQ_Kpp5z_lSFCKjjBroK-y3DWz-c9DYQiPVNgS75f9JBSRmQP5YIwcU3Sjqld5k0Q7lJzVxfl8w09feFoOcwqQaEf6ZWCpnrZAZChh-RGNXd6-5I/s400/airport+in+amsterdam+DSC_0084.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Upon arriving at the airport in Amsterdam about 6 AM on Saturday the 16th of October, KyungIl, his parents, and his sister and her family came out to greet me at my arrival. How emotional and wonderful it was that morning.</span> <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here, KyungIl and his Sister and family pose for a picture.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The two photos above were taken during our visit to Heusden. A very old town that once was used as a military fort. *I have to admit we visited many places and I hope that I am remembering everything correctly.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The photo above is of KyungIl and his oldest brother in front his Teak Furniture Store.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo6BaiJCYe1FD6yQMpvCZ7dsAsf9_FMSWKWhK6wItFyl3AcHabjmnr9Ucfz9LR7XnzceS7Fpng_Q4z-BtNk11kzj-9K1UduBNa1TXTBdoNGA7_b-VGOYkE7dfVvqMfEFTqSj2abw/s1600-h/us+on+train+after+amsterdamDSC_0599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo6BaiJCYe1FD6yQMpvCZ7dsAsf9_FMSWKWhK6wItFyl3AcHabjmnr9Ucfz9LR7XnzceS7Fpng_Q4z-BtNk11kzj-9K1UduBNa1TXTBdoNGA7_b-VGOYkE7dfVvqMfEFTqSj2abw/s400/us+on+train+after+amsterdamDSC_0599.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Me & KyungIl. Taken by his brother on our train ride home after a day in Amsterdam together.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclF7TYwBSYbzmk927j50nAW4Td0iGHyx1pU2BvPicPd-MFEJoKjXVXka_jNsUsAFpD90aXw1W8WdmdCAzMYFLLoyluUTCbyzBT6oDvsd3GELKi7giwHo3z7wuCjCelyhrbGoRq3g/s1600-h/yella+DSC_1402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclF7TYwBSYbzmk927j50nAW4Td0iGHyx1pU2BvPicPd-MFEJoKjXVXka_jNsUsAFpD90aXw1W8WdmdCAzMYFLLoyluUTCbyzBT6oDvsd3GELKi7giwHo3z7wuCjCelyhrbGoRq3g/s400/yella+DSC_1402.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jelle - (parents of KyungIl) family dog.</span> <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> KyungIl's brother-in-law and his son.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qurk5nlKsCQY0W5HpKGuOq5_74GA1I3xNKyc-7wtBm-l_51odA_nPtOhyphenhyphenJCE-eWIpQqYcnMdSk64Dz8RF_OthNy40Zudi0lesKWa0ykIi2XP_5yjzl9sLqc0fel-Cz673RMI6sk/s1600-h/maarten+with+daughter101_2260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qurk5nlKsCQY0W5HpKGuOq5_74GA1I3xNKyc-7wtBm-l_51odA_nPtOhyphenhyphenJCE-eWIpQqYcnMdSk64Dz8RF_OthNy40Zudi0lesKWa0ykIi2XP_5yjzl9sLqc0fel-Cz673RMI6sk/s400/maarten+with+daughter101_2260.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">KyungIl's middle brother and his daughter</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">KyungIl and his sister- in-law</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Photos taken during his Mother's Birthday Party which we celebrated together during my visit there.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNqHuD8KGJDB8mGUntBseGrpLeZjCl0sQIERJMqZ1FTtXs81FocQ11C_mz7C7UZo3ThpG7kt-6ygcpj5pQ-F0Ddvz5GNFxDiV3Q8ES1GfCypiScuT6fvD5V9B1vqVjJjmqfV_bl4/s1600-h/michiel+with+siegrid101_2366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNqHuD8KGJDB8mGUntBseGrpLeZjCl0sQIERJMqZ1FTtXs81FocQ11C_mz7C7UZo3ThpG7kt-6ygcpj5pQ-F0Ddvz5GNFxDiV3Q8ES1GfCypiScuT6fvD5V9B1vqVjJjmqfV_bl4/s400/michiel+with+siegrid101_2366.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The nieces working on a project during the Birthday party.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">His Sister. Photo taken in his Mother's house during her Birthday celebration.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCVuNUSrKzQc9b5UtBEt_S3u0vTkAWs8tx_5nuuqi8XJUsRM3rcohqDncZtQP9jSc3Oe3K3o1OoG6J1AxXay0Sk758A1MtvEDz0VWHq9cb_W5mFttxJLtgdKHVyMs4cQF_kvBmng/s1600-h/michiel+with+friend101_2355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCVuNUSrKzQc9b5UtBEt_S3u0vTkAWs8tx_5nuuqi8XJUsRM3rcohqDncZtQP9jSc3Oe3K3o1OoG6J1AxXay0Sk758A1MtvEDz0VWHq9cb_W5mFttxJLtgdKHVyMs4cQF_kvBmng/s400/michiel+with+friend101_2355.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">KyungIl and his very good friend. One evening, we went to visit his friend in the town where he resides. It was very nice to meet her and her family. It was so great to be able to see a little bit of his world and the friendships he cherishes.</span><br />
</div>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-45246488979625533482009-10-28T17:18:00.000-04:002009-10-28T17:18:20.686-04:00To all the places of my HeartHow suiting that I should look out my window to see the rain fall, drenching all that surrounds this house with its cool dampness and heavy thoughts that will continue to coat this house until I am to feel the weight of what has passed. There is no escaping it for it rains all around me. I wish not to run for cover for I shall welcome the rain and all new life that shall grow from it. <br />
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Home. It has been a couple days now since I have landed and had time to settle into my routine and bond with my family. And although I am so very happy to have returned I am missing very much my new family in The Netherlands. I had a great opportunity to meet and to get to know them in these last two weeks. They welcomed me into their homes and into their hearts. I am overjoyed by their kindness and especially happy that they are now part of my life as I hope I am to theirs. <br />
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My trip to The Netherlands opened the doors to our past and to our new future. I have not come back as the person I had left only a few days ago but changed with new memories and new hopes for our future. I welcome this new me with all that comes with change. I will not fight it or wish to for I know that I no longer can be the person I was only two weeks ago. Like every phase in this life, I do not know what it holds but I do welcome it as they have welcomed me into their life and into their hearts.kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-4306387311959068642009-10-16T12:15:00.000-04:002009-10-16T12:15:44.027-04:00temple photos from koreaI am about to go but thought I would leave these photos here as well as on my other blog, sheltersky! I hope you like them:) Hope to post photos from The Netherlands when I return! Take care!!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">gyeobghoeru pavilion -seoul korea<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">temple located in mt. sorak - korea<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">changdeokgung palace-seoul korea<br />
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</div>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-37896792593032201962009-10-15T12:25:00.000-04:002009-10-15T12:25:43.426-04:00Leaving for The Netherlands tomorrow..Hello everyone! I feel this is kind of random writing to you today and I apologize. In some way, I feel writing about my current affairs is not easy. Perhaps, because I am living out what I am writing and therefore feel that I am too emotionally involved to sort out what all the values are and where all the perspectives are coming from. I hope you understand this rambling. <br />
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For the most part of this journey of 'blogging' I have mainly concentrated on my memoirs of my pre-adoption and post- adoption (the early years). Then it happened, in the midst of writing, my past once again came forth into my present. It happened the first time in 2004, when we found my siblings from childhood in Korea and this time, it was my younger brother who was adopted to The Netherlands as an infant. <br />
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In some respect, with the past and present meeting each other again, I felt stuck. Upon our meeting, I wanted to share everything here but knew that I was full of new emotions and old that would effect my understanding of what was happening not only to me but to all those involved. With this thought in mind, I introduced our encounter and then quietly left it. To write about the events of your life and of those who share it with you is something you cannot do so freely. It comes with great responsibility and for me, I respect this very much. The way your present life plays out and how it is perceived and later is reflected changes greatly not only once but perhaps again and again. I believe this is very true for many adoptees including my own life. I see this as I have learned of my past and relearned it again as new people and of those from my past come with their memories of a past that we had shared. I am not excluded from this for each stage of my life, I have gone through various understanding and emotions that attached it to the memories of what were once a present thought. In this way, I am right back where I started with this blog. I am writing and letting it take me as I follow. For my reunions and new unions with the people that have come into my life is just that. <br />
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Tomorrow, I will be leaving to go to meet my younger brother, Kyung Il, who resides in The Netherlands with his adopted family. In these short weeks, I have gotten to know them a little and am very happy they have welcomed me not only into their lives but to have me at their home! I will be staying with them for the next two weeks. I am very happy and thrilled to have this opportunity to spend time with my new extended family and my dear brother that I have learned of only a few years ago and have found just a couple months ago. I have to say that we have been speaking to one another on a daily basis and it is so nice because he understands and speaks English. I am always saddened that the relationships that I have with my siblings in Korea is limited due to the lack of communication and translation. <br />
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I think of fate and how life works out at times. I have longed so long for to reunite with my family that I lost as a child to now have found a new member of the family that speaks my adopted language. In this short time, I feel we understand each other more than my siblings in Korea will ever understand or know. I feel the only way this could change is if one of us learns the others’ tongue. I have felt that it was the distance between us not just the language that separated us since we found we each other in 2004 but now understand more that the language barrier is much stronger and divides us farther. <br />
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I wish I could express to my family in Korea how I feel and that I will be meeting my brother but perhaps that will come in time like all things. I will send my eldest sister a note about my visit and hope she will let the others know of this. I also hope that she will try to reconnect with my sister, Kyung Ok. I had lost contact with her about two years ago and am afraid my siblings in Korea had lost contact as well. From what I know, no one really knows why this happened which only leaves me to guess all the possibilities that come with reunions. <br />
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So, I will be leaving tomorrow and will check on my blogs while I am gone but will not be writing again for awhile. You can bet I will take lots of pictures and will post when I return! Take care everyonekyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-54609207236917769482009-10-08T12:25:00.002-04:002009-10-10T02:24:18.691-04:00ROEB's Photoblog and my visit to The NetherlandsI thought I would post this message here as well. I had just posted this on my photoblog, <a href="http://sheltersky.blogspot.com/">Sheltersky</a>. Hope everyone can visit <a href="http://roeb.blogspot.com/">ROEB</a>'s photoblog. He has a lot on there and going through his archives, found many beautiful poems there as well.<br />
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Here it is:<br />
A couple days ago, I had come across an interesting blog called, ROEB. This blog is out of The Netherlands which now holds much interest to me since I had recently connected with my younger brother who resides in The Netherlands. An agency out of Korea helped us to connect about a couple months ago. You see, I was adopted to the States when I was 7 years old and my brother to The Netherlands when he was an infant. Although, I had grown up thinking I was the youngest of five, I have come to learn we are 6 siblings in total. I had found out about my younger brother when my husband and I were visiting Korea on our honeymoon in 2004. We left Korea, not only having found my surviving siblings who continue to reside there but that I had a younger brother living in The Netherlands. If you are interested in reading more about my childhood memoirs and of our meeting, you can go to, Korean American Adoptee Home is Within.<br />
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Going through ROEB's blog gives me an interesting perspective of a place that my brother lives and that I will be able to visit next week. To me, it is interesting further because it depicts and gives us a glimps of the mix in cultures that co-exist within Holland. It is a thoughtful site and one that leaves me feeling more inquisitve and feeling more responsible for how I view the world around me. I wish ROEB much luck with his photoblog and am very happy to have met him here in cyberworld!kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-15379235647270434712009-10-02T11:13:00.000-04:002009-10-02T11:13:44.785-04:00Subject: October 3rd: Choosuk Festival and ParadeHello everyone!<br />
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I just recieved this message through Facebook / yKAN October Social Event! It will be held in Manhattan, New York . I don't think you have to belong to the group to go to the Parade but may have to contact the group for their special night event. The contact email is at the bottom of the message I pasted here from yKAN. I will be unfortunately away this weekend but hope some of you can go out and show your support and have fun!<br />
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Subject: October 3rd: Choosuk Festival and Parade & yKAN October Social Event<br />
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October 3rd is a busy day for yKAN, as we will be celebrating Lunar Autumn Festival (Choosuk) AND Oktoberfest, all in one day!!<br />
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Some of us from yKAN will be going to the Choosuk Festival and Parade in Manhattan before we head out to yKAN's October Social Event at a beer garden in Long Island City. If you care to join us for the Choosuk celebration, meet us at the RESIDENCE INN on 39th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan at 12:30 PM. Afterwards, we can head out to Beer Garden at around 3 PM.<br />
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Meeting location: RESIDENCE INN ON 39TH STREET AND 6TH AVENUE IN MANHATTAN<br />
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Meeting time: 12:30 PM<br />
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Korean Festival Venue: 32nd Street between 5th Avenue and Broadway.<br />
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Korean Parade will be from noon to 2:00 PM on 6th Avenue from 41st Street to 24th Street.<br />
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yKAN October Social Event<br />
In the spirit of Oktoberfest, come join us on Saturday, October 3rd, for a night of food and drinks in an open-air German-style beer garden at Studio Square!<br />
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Studio Square, located in Long Island City, Queens, NY is home to one of NYC’s largest and newest beer gardens, having an open-air eating and drinking area with park benches, as well as large indoor areas. Studio Square’s self serve, cash only menu features German and American grill favorites and there are 19 imported, domestic, and craft beers on draft.<br />
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Look for our outdoor table at Studio Square starting at 4:00 PM. Eboard members will bring balloons and will be wearing yKAN t-shirts. The venue is accessible by subway by the R, V, G lines as well as the N, W lines.<br />
See Studio Squares’ website (http://www.facebook.com/l/2b69b;www.studiosquarenyc.com) for more information regarding directions and venue info.<br />
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What: yKAN October Social Event<br />
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When: Saturday, October 3rd, 2009<br />
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4:00 PM – 7:00 PM<br />
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Where: Studio Square (S²)<br />
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35-33 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11103<br />
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Who: yKANers and friends<br />
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Contact: eboard@ykan.org or http://www.facebook.com/l/2b69b;facebook.ykan.orgkyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-82300244697806012642009-09-28T17:04:00.002-04:002009-10-02T11:22:53.269-04:00chinese adoptee weblog by erinThrough this course of writing and meeting other adoptees, I have met a very special, talented, and interesting individual, her name is Erin. After we had a few conversations with each other I have learned that she like so many of us out here have much to say about adoption and of different aspects of her life. She had expressed to me how she wanted to create a space where other adoptees like herself can go and express what it means to be a Chinese Adoptee. A place for all their voices to come together and unite in one place to share their experiences and resources. It is a place where she hopes the forgotten voices of so many other Chinese Adoptees can be heard and understood. In developing her weblog, she has had conversations with an organization called, CAL (Chinese Adoptee Links). CAL is also trying to unite Chinese Adoptees Worldwide together in one place. It is a work in progress. <br />
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What a great idea! I am so happy for my new friend and wish her the best. I know that there are many APs that come visit my site who have adopted children from China, please go check out these sites and let's support them so they can grow and florish. Let's get the word out! I have done my homework as well and she was right. There are not many blogs written from Chinese Adoptees. I see these adoptees coming over and following Korean Adoptee Blogs so they can come to a place to share and connect. If anyone knows of other Chinese Adoptee blogs, please go to her site and submit the information and please leave it here as well.<br />
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We are all adoptees who should be heard and given a chance to connect. It is what we can all learn from each other that will help us to grow and learn more of ourselves. <br />
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I have linked the title of this post to her site. The address to her blog is : <a href="http://www.chineseadoptee.com/">http://www.chineseadoptee.com/</a>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-69054647927851896302009-09-28T12:51:00.000-04:002009-09-28T12:51:14.638-04:00okay..technical dificulties!I just wanted to drop a message here and tell everyone that I have now completely lost the message column on the side bar. I am sorry and fustrated that I no longer have your comments there. I tried to find it under gadgets to update it back on there but cannot even find it. If you like to leave a comment, please leave it under individual posts. Maybe I will be able to find it again...Thanks!kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-15944876089731662002009-09-20T23:52:00.002-04:002009-09-20T23:53:49.323-04:00Korean Town<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Shopping at H-Mart</em></strong></span> <br />
Today, we made our run to Korean Town to stock up on our Korean food and to escape into Korean land for a few hours. If I think back, I have always tried to shop at an H-Mart at least once a month no matter where I lived. There were times, when younger, my roommate (who was also first generation Korean) and I would drive to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania down South Street to an H-Mart. Considering that this was over two hours drive for us, it would always turn into a day trip. This was perfectly okay with us since we were able to capture a little sense of our childhood every time we went back. <br />
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This monthly ritual never left me. Relationships came and went but I made sure that my little trips into Korean land would continue to be a big part of my daily routines. I always figured that whomever I would meet or settled down with would have to learn to eat Korean food and hoped they would like it as much as I loved and appreciated it. I was very lucky! When I met my husband, he could not eat any spicy food nor had ever tried anything outside of basic American classics and fast food. After getting to know me and my love to explore new palates, he quickly came around and now loves Korean food almost as much as I do. As for our children, we never really discussed it but knew that if we continued with our traditions and continue to eat Korean food as part of our daily diet, they would just follow. And sure enough, they have never questioned it. This is not to say that they are not picky about what they liked or disliked but it is not foreign to them. And from introducing the food to them, it led to questions and answers towards who was Korean and who wasn't. And even to this day, my little ones see others that look like me and would say how they all look like another mommy. <br />
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These days, our children look forward to shopping in Korean Town and sitting down at our Traditional Korean table to cook Bulgogi or to make Kimbab. When friends come by, they are always amazed how our kids eat this strange food right up. I tell them that for them it is nothing out of the ordinary. For them, they have grown up with this food and know that they are Korean too. <br />
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*** This is for my brother in The Netherlands: I have a series of photos I took from our shopping trip today for everyone to get a glimpse of the food they sell. More like the junk food we like to buy and consume. Enjoy the photos!<br />
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</div>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-75837956645164088132009-09-13T23:42:00.008-04:002009-09-14T00:45:21.453-04:00Things In ThreesI had received a few different request through the Face Book site to complete various types of "Notes" but had deleted them all until I had received one that stated I had to write up a list of the things that mattered the most to me but in Threes. I was going to pass it up once again but thought it would be a good way to describe myself and to reflect on what really does matter in my life. In the end, I found it to be an interesting & fun way for me to look at the things that had happened to me over the years. I felt it was a good way for others to get to know me probably a little more than they had before. Maybe you will try this.<br /><br /><br />It went like this:<br /><br /><span style="color:#00cccc;">Begin with 3 Names</span><br /><br />1.Kyungmee<br />2. Amey<br />3. Mommy:)<br /><br /><span style="color:#00cccc;">3 Countries Travelled</span><br /><br />1.Korea ( left 1979 & returned 2004)<br />2.Dominican republic<br />3. Peru<br /><br /><span style="color:#66cccc;">3 Languages</span><br /><br />1. Korean ...once fluent now struggling<br />2. English...you would think I should know this language better.<br />3. Spanish...if only Koreans spoke Spanish<br /><br /><span style="color:#66cccc;">3 Engagements...!</span><br /><br />1. A***<br />2.N***<br />3. My Husband:)<br /><br /><span style="color:#66cccc;">3 Movies that make me smile!</span><br /><br />1. My Fair Lady<br />2. Harvey<br />3. Being There<br /><br /><span style="color:#66cccc;">3 More Painful Memories</span><br /><br />1. Being Adopted (departing my family & beginning a new one..the early years)<br />2. Finding my Korean Siblings & having to depart from them once again with uncertain future for us.<br />3. Losing my Father & Sister ( my family here) within months after our Return from my Korean Family Reunion.<br /><br /><span style="color:#66cccc;">3 Wishes that came true.</span><br /><br />1,2,&3 ;) My husband & my two children.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#66cccc;">3 Things I really enjoy...& wish I could do more often.</span><br /><br />1. Paint...always wanted to learn to paint.<br />2. Love Photography.<br />3. Love to Dance even if I look crazy out there on the Floor! Love how music and dance can truly touch you in so many ways.<br /><br /><span style="color:#66cccc;">3 Books that provoked & enlighten me in my mid-teens.</span><br /><br />1. Maxim Gorky..."My Childhood'<br />2.Fitzgerald ... "Cities on a Hill'<br />3.Steinbeck ...'Of Mice and Men' - wasn't a book of my own choosing but had to read this one in school. It had a Dramatic affect on me while reading it one late night. Cried on my Mother's lap for hours...she thought I had lost it ..lol...over a book!<br /><br /><span style="color:#66cccc;">3 Things I think is very cool.</span><br /><br />1. The ability to 'control' my dreams whether it is to change scenery, mood or outcome. Especially, when I have reoccurring dreams.<br />2. The ability to sense 'others' 'spirits' or call it what you will...I have to say I had a couple experiences that were very real.<br />3. Meditation...I have meditated different times in my life...mainly recreational ( in a gym). The one time I can say that I have felt a sense of separation from my body and yet felt so in tune to my body and my surroundings was when a friend was teaching me how to meditate and understand different levels to meditation.kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-32064355551858560572009-09-10T16:20:00.006-04:002009-09-10T16:53:18.705-04:00BREAKING<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_nGCyWvbD2zIHHVVsYBIIZCupMRTB6I5U1fZE5RXD75P9VbdOClTvAYdl2sO2QUzWUY8dJ-7yOR4Munj3reWAqMnFDveEjPr4E96FbKmOdgpR0-Sb48-EDgEcHy0KjUyJGWRKfk/s1600-h/VOID.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 590px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379936375806168466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_nGCyWvbD2zIHHVVsYBIIZCupMRTB6I5U1fZE5RXD75P9VbdOClTvAYdl2sO2QUzWUY8dJ-7yOR4Munj3reWAqMnFDveEjPr4E96FbKmOdgpR0-Sb48-EDgEcHy0KjUyJGWRKfk/s400/VOID.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-6507331546987720802009-09-03T03:04:00.023-04:002009-09-04T02:12:35.871-04:00My List of Memories...I have compiled a list of some of my favorite memories that I have revisited in my mind over the years. Some of you may recognize them and even remember doing the very same thing as a child. I hope they bring back some of your own memories.<br /><br />1. Buying candy/taffy pieces from food carts that came through town. Taking the taffies and placing them into ladles to heat them over coal, and twirling the taffy until hardened enough to eat. There were so many kinds of taffies. Some taffies you could press a design out prior to eating when it was in the cooling process.<br /><br />2. There is Pong Tweegi, the large round popped <a href="http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&rlz=1T4ADBF_enUS331US331&q=korean+rice+cakes&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=7ZigSp6QI8ud8QbskZjjDw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=7">rice cakes</a>. They spoon a little into a machine that when heated, it expands and releases making a loud popping sound. End product, you have a large round flat popped rice cake with a slight sweet flavor. It is every child's favorite. The Pong Tweegi, we still find in the Korean Supermarkets here.<br /><br />3. Sweet steamed bean buns. In Korea, I remember carts that came around selling these buns and now, we can go to the Korean markets and buy them frozen or sometimes you can buy them fresh right out of a steamer.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjM8C9HzWf58C8_g3e-UgaQ6D_iiQDMR8L6dCLj-nrWm3xHnAkrjUHfNxql2JnJfdtbjfIlUZ1RJXL8RG2wSVDK1e7GgqXb4W7bfaN9_plQi0dC3RQLOhj4pqLkOYT6lIrvhyphenhyphen5TZE/s1600-h/KOREAN+STEAMED+BUN.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 161px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377467616129163666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjM8C9HzWf58C8_g3e-UgaQ6D_iiQDMR8L6dCLj-nrWm3xHnAkrjUHfNxql2JnJfdtbjfIlUZ1RJXL8RG2wSVDK1e7GgqXb4W7bfaN9_plQi0dC3RQLOhj4pqLkOYT6lIrvhyphenhyphen5TZE/s400/KOREAN+STEAMED+BUN.JPG" /></a> 4. Steamed snails. Vendors would come around selling steamed snails in a cone. I remember my father buying them for me on our little walks.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVUJCOHjM86khO7MTDQ7q78guO9GXefC4J15sf__aVO_uF7mQBgAWEdDLUH7_vO6UMHUjSHbVHzRau0b4LduG-T4EsB6JXv7izmA5CN8YZA10V3TFhE6aGZ4uS4DAPdnKx0pATaY/s1600-h/2004_0407Image0109.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377430572698824146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVUJCOHjM86khO7MTDQ7q78guO9GXefC4J15sf__aVO_uF7mQBgAWEdDLUH7_vO6UMHUjSHbVHzRau0b4LduG-T4EsB6JXv7izmA5CN8YZA10V3TFhE6aGZ4uS4DAPdnKx0pATaY/s400/2004_0407Image0109.JPG" /></a><br />5. Playing marbles the way it should be done. With little dug out holes in dirt and flicking the marble with your thumb watching the marble roll across the dirt to hit another into the holes.<br /><br />6. Playing with Korean paper dolls. I used to pass these paper dolls every time we were in the market. I remember, one day while shopping with my sister, I slipped a paper doll booklet into another book that my sister had purchased. I remember feeling I deserved the extra booklet since I could not have it any other way.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxyd-7GyEc3nwZSKiwRk1WEEA2UrdWYPlz9CFYu-dCDJXG5TfEg9GSxl1zHqfypFJpFIbKxGDtp5pJ0IaQnzX_PVzJDDC3DUfWk7U9-b4hoMpJJIJ2eSnEid5L0i7BHICGyV0MIM/s1600-h/korean+traditional+paper+dolls.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377469130568506946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxyd-7GyEc3nwZSKiwRk1WEEA2UrdWYPlz9CFYu-dCDJXG5TfEg9GSxl1zHqfypFJpFIbKxGDtp5pJ0IaQnzX_PVzJDDC3DUfWk7U9-b4hoMpJJIJ2eSnEid5L0i7BHICGyV0MIM/s400/korean+traditional+paper+dolls.jpg" /></a> 7. Paper Squares. I cannot remember the name of this game but know that traditionally boys played it. Like origami, you fold the piece of paper until you have a square. Flat on one surface and the other would be the folded side. You are suppose to throw it down trying to flip the opponents piece that is already lying down on the ground. If the other piece flips than you win their piece. I remember running through the narrow streets, climbing up on the walls and flipping them down to win the other players pieces. It was a boys game but being a tomboy I was accepted into their games. We would run through the streets with our bags full of game pieces, showing them off to others, especially, if we collected some interesting ones or big ones.<br /><br />8. Counting game among girls to see how many babies you will have. To play this game, you must be a girl. What you want to do is take your hand and make a fist. Have your palm side facing up. Then, you want to press down the exposed part of your palm above your wrist until little bumps appear up on top of your wrist. Now count. However many bumps you count is the amount of babies you will have.<br /><br />9. Collecting shiny buttons. I believe it was when I lived with my foster mother. There were trails that led to some garbage/dirt piles that had many different shapes and sizes of shiny plastic buttons and shiny plastic round discs (Chiclets).<br /><br />10. Sitting around blowing bubblegum with girls. Listening to my eldest sister crack her gum very loud in her mouth and thinking she was amazing.<br /><br />11. Sneaking into movie theaters with my girl friend or perhaps, sisters.<br /><br />12. Braiding leaf stems into each others hair. A memory of my girlfriend and I that I will call Muri.<br /><br />13. Going to <a href="http://hapworkingtheworld.com/2009/02/25/korean-bath-house-photo-tour/">Korean Bath houses </a>with my eldest sister and I believe my nephew when he was only a baby. Remembering how it was an awesome and yet awkward experience. I remember, when you first walked in, you could either go right or left depending on your sex. There was a little square window that sat too high for me to see into. When you walk in, you can see wall to wall tiles with fountains that squirted water out all around the floors and walls of the room. It was steamy and very hot in the room. And yes, everyone was naked. </p><p>14. Lining up in front of our houses to wait for the medical van to come and give us our Small Pox shots. Makes it into my favorite memories since it is one that has been discussed a lot in my childhood and had made a scar on my shoulder that appears like a a little heart. </p><p>15. I remember walking down a little dirt road that led me down to a small building with a long pole that sat in front of the building. Up on the top of this pole was a <a href="http://homeiswithin.blogspot.com/2009/07/hmmtitle.html">Korean Flag</a>. I would sit down under this flag and try to draw the most beautiful Korean Flag. I loved drawing the Korean Flag as a child.</p><p>16. Seeing my eldest sister dance to Barbara Streisand outside of her friends house on a clear sunny day. If you stood outside of this house, you could see down the road to where a small overpass met the street.</p><p>17. Two American things I knew of and loved prior to coming to the States. They were Wonder Woman and Barbara Streisand. </p><p>18. Korean puppet shows, The traditional Fan Dance, and Korean Masks. I can still remember how to hum to the music of the Fan Dance.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa3WraoEsomI3vpt9D7vzrleiJL8dDR8EetMPBfUCDPAhJ0OnpBDFKBd_YtxZaJ2VHmatsZo_fof7UQpnxdmv8P-yxmATaxsYue2o8caMrD_TaObu9hX7UeJ6Ch_mQTVqgL6DleU/s1600-h/2004_0407Image0230.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377471924747798594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa3WraoEsomI3vpt9D7vzrleiJL8dDR8EetMPBfUCDPAhJ0OnpBDFKBd_YtxZaJ2VHmatsZo_fof7UQpnxdmv8P-yxmATaxsYue2o8caMrD_TaObu9hX7UeJ6Ch_mQTVqgL6DleU/s400/2004_0407Image0230.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTwHfC7G5yqY91YzTZXSiXMMI857kH1QV4A6VKWaFDRi7xACnjUtGWKkemaPxRDn__gG76sgfBKTCvFT59qRtKpbuN5Hgpp0FdtgW1rqmE2sNCallaHd_pmRuz00A3U272gxPbvU/s1600-h/2004_0407Image0229.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377471919085988978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTwHfC7G5yqY91YzTZXSiXMMI857kH1QV4A6VKWaFDRi7xACnjUtGWKkemaPxRDn__gG76sgfBKTCvFT59qRtKpbuN5Hgpp0FdtgW1rqmE2sNCallaHd_pmRuz00A3U272gxPbvU/s400/2004_0407Image0229.JPG" /></a><br />19. Dancing in a circle in traditional clothing under the moon (Moon Dance) during <a href="http://blogs.koreanclass101.com/blog/2009/08/15/korean-culture-chuseokhangawi-festive/">Korean Harvest season</a> in the Fall. </p><p>20. The Korean New Year (I believe it was the New Year celebration). We dressed up in Korean Traditional outfits and went around knocking on neighbors doors. When they answered, we bowed or curtsied to receive coins. </p><p>21. The many ways to properly sit, bow, and speak to show different <a href="http://www.comm.ohio-state.edu/pdavid/preparedness/docs/Crosscultural/gestures.pdf">levels of respect</a>. I revisited this memory many times because of how others here has always found this aspect of my past very interesting. Therefore, it kept this memory very intact. Some interesting differences to point out that was misunderstood when young. First, I used to point with my middle finger out. My mother always became embarassed and would scold me. She did not realize that this was customary in Korea. I did not know I was doing anything wrong back in those days..funny now I think about it. How I used to sit with my legs tucked under me in a very upright position. I sat in this manner to watch TV or talk, etc. People and my family thought I was very strange little girl to sit so different and funny. My sister used to make fun and try to get me to sit like her but I believe I sat in this manner for a few months until I relaxed and began to 'fit' into my families routines. Finally, at night, my mother would tuck me in and she would tell me that when she checked on me at night, that she couldn't tell if I was in the bed . I would stay in one position very still all night long. Plus the fact that I was so little, I did not make any wrinkles in the sheets while I slept. I told her when I was older that perhaps it was because in Korea, we ALL slept together in one sleeping comfortor on the Floor Bed. </p><p>22. Traditional way to prepare <a href="http://homeiswithin.blogspot.com/2009/07/papa-visual-memory-continue.html">Kimchee</a> and to cook your food on coal pits. </p><p>23. Always tried not to forget the big rectangular fridge size <a href="http://homeiswithin.blogspot.com/2009/07/childhood-playgrounds-passage-three.html">rice containers</a>. We would have one in our home to store rice. At the bottom of this rice storage container was a sifter and a lever to pour out rice. We would go into the market and buy huge burlap sized bags of rice and empty it into this container. </p><p>24. I always remembered the Korean Subways. I would tell people here in the States that the subways were very different from the ones here in the States. I could not exactly explain how they were different until we had gone there in 2004.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXEtMxJCVOJpV8OMK-kSwab8HUM_4mLyl8aB8wwhx2LM11v73OT25W-Q4N8dC73oQmszr3KZtNDofpVx2jbCtPcGb6E7y2b-p_qk-B4KHcV98lsUzxSYtq26swKBCZF18uxrfy98/s1600-h/2004_0407Image0005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377481111829273394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXEtMxJCVOJpV8OMK-kSwab8HUM_4mLyl8aB8wwhx2LM11v73OT25W-Q4N8dC73oQmszr3KZtNDofpVx2jbCtPcGb6E7y2b-p_qk-B4KHcV98lsUzxSYtq26swKBCZF18uxrfy98/s400/2004_0407Image0005.JPG" /></a> 25. One of my favorite memories was sitting on the steps of a temple and watching the monks pray. I could sit there and watch forever. I was fascinated by them and the sounds that came out of these temples.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdFFvgvUl2uDXTSKlbOjaooEUKpan9R5OqBs2sR55Js8oFZietRFg0OuRE4DELcF0MRaetqtFMND67ezBkUWqLKCcMCeTS-7qFwgecvsQ9q-zSMQ8lZqV5-B4lxXZC5RWzTyvrxA/s1600-h/2004_0407Image0233.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377482452737530946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdFFvgvUl2uDXTSKlbOjaooEUKpan9R5OqBs2sR55Js8oFZietRFg0OuRE4DELcF0MRaetqtFMND67ezBkUWqLKCcMCeTS-7qFwgecvsQ9q-zSMQ8lZqV5-B4lxXZC5RWzTyvrxA/s400/2004_0407Image0233.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0Q0kWK4xfX1mLexZn9iWNpHniyKrfmfHU4_goPEf8V-t7ucnrsaoXgar7xmu-8SLYthPq65TGgrtJitUjop1o1mlSsTU-uNrsuL6LYMnkuZp4zxk9jqFpYUCORu5rTAyg_kNCQA/s1600-h/2004_0407Image0247.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377482446937639330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0Q0kWK4xfX1mLexZn9iWNpHniyKrfmfHU4_goPEf8V-t7ucnrsaoXgar7xmu-8SLYthPq65TGgrtJitUjop1o1mlSsTU-uNrsuL6LYMnkuZp4zxk9jqFpYUCORu5rTAyg_kNCQA/s400/2004_0407Image0247.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_ZUnTqSDnDeKNEZA041p4nxEVNxFy_tRMRK3diHmPJLHgewFComxvL5mrLLPa5_hM8vomLT7TU9u940Ox1aIMQ4TOMQWpQWXM1hGaFcd3RkQskO41AiqHPrM4UO1eYPbFwu8pLE/s1600-h/2004_0407Image0149.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377482436833816082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_ZUnTqSDnDeKNEZA041p4nxEVNxFy_tRMRK3diHmPJLHgewFComxvL5mrLLPa5_hM8vomLT7TU9u940Ox1aIMQ4TOMQWpQWXM1hGaFcd3RkQskO41AiqHPrM4UO1eYPbFwu8pLE/s400/2004_0407Image0149.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbb0vVwf_3mWrfyW1zjcddvPjjARPHUbUEl6nx4FhA4fgsnFvOpseajH1YuupcOi9O81eHd_3E5Ow-EGOn9U3vIwK7BZ6Ev_bbkP7GI1ckvm-spbRX-vYxgTQXSuo-AyQt662QrA/s1600-h/2004_0407Image0088.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377482436464198898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbb0vVwf_3mWrfyW1zjcddvPjjARPHUbUEl6nx4FhA4fgsnFvOpseajH1YuupcOi9O81eHd_3E5Ow-EGOn9U3vIwK7BZ6Ev_bbkP7GI1ckvm-spbRX-vYxgTQXSuo-AyQt662QrA/s400/2004_0407Image0088.JPG" /></a>26. Eating <a href="http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/dukbokki_hot_and_spicy_rice_cake">Dukbokki</a> as a child and still loving it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2UP5pZcO3-2_axxCpLuGhMZFB0WuISQiepS7Kt9C__WZduqM-FRs5R3gNAo5tdsJZqTUY-E0If-LWio4i2AsxJCHHh5b7mrt_zKUr8UcAdOm9zixaMPJjViS0h7NA_36n7AsCZY/s1600-h/2004_0407Image0050.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377485396291495666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2UP5pZcO3-2_axxCpLuGhMZFB0WuISQiepS7Kt9C__WZduqM-FRs5R3gNAo5tdsJZqTUY-E0If-LWio4i2AsxJCHHh5b7mrt_zKUr8UcAdOm9zixaMPJjViS0h7NA_36n7AsCZY/s400/2004_0407Image0050.JPG" /></a> 27. <a href="http://www.gamesmuseum.uwaterloo.ca/VirtualExhibits/Playing%20Cards/decks/korea/index.html">Korean Playing cards</a>. I had forgotten the name for the cards when I was young but learned the name over the years. It is called Hwa-Tu. Below is a letter I wrote in 2004 to my brother in Korea but it had returned as undeliverable. I never got to send it again but on it you can see my drawings of the playing cards.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmLGuzXkcWKx1JdZ3f55Xi_1A-FANySx8o-6EwNR8AnKUkhi9eIIkbK5swgqN6ANDvTsOaEHNt4NPXD7fiY7szy9HhE7xp_C68jVILBUX48TrihSnUtTXm96G45vt0ES_7-pdY14/s1600-h/MY+CARD+TO+KYUNGSUN+2004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377147625783890754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmLGuzXkcWKx1JdZ3f55Xi_1A-FANySx8o-6EwNR8AnKUkhi9eIIkbK5swgqN6ANDvTsOaEHNt4NPXD7fiY7szy9HhE7xp_C68jVILBUX48TrihSnUtTXm96G45vt0ES_7-pdY14/s400/MY+CARD+TO+KYUNGSUN+2004.JPG" /></a>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-3418587682937959432009-09-03T00:45:00.011-04:002009-09-03T02:39:15.028-04:00To my Brother in The Netherlands...To my brother in The Netherlands...Fate might have known that we shall meet here today. How do I explain the course my life has taken and the roads that has led me back to our Motherland and now to you. How can I explain all the coincidences that seem to occur right when I need them the most. Perhaps, they are signs that are meant to be followed even if I do not comprehend them when they appear. I may be foolish to dream that fate or signs are guiding me through our meetings and perhaps something more but it is what has driven me since my childhood and has saved me from the other.<br /><br />When we talked the other day, I showed you the painting I had done of 'starry night' by Van Gogh. I had painted that piece around <span style="color:#009900;">2001</span>. I don't know why I suddenly wanted to show you my artwork and thought afterwards that it was a bit much for our initial conversations. Today, after I had posted a poem that I had wrote in <span style="color:#009900;">1991</span>, I saw a box of postcards that my husband had pulled out from the garage the other night. I sat on my couch and began to rummage through to revisit the old postcards.<br /><br />You see, they never belonged to me, they were from the mother of a past relationship back in <span style="color:#009900;">1991</span>. Prior to passing away from cancer, she asked me to have these cards. Some of these postcards are vintage postcards that she had collected while others were of her own past. I felt at the time very strange to accept them considering that they were of her own memories. Her son could not look at them and I felt I should accept this offer. I had gone through them over the years, randomly selecting some of the cards to read and then would place them back into the box and store them away.<br /><br />Tonight, I sat down to do the same. My mind today has been racing and out of sort. I am filled with all emotions and feeling somewhat disconnected. So, I opened the box and read a few postcards. I grabbed another handful and flipped through feeling a little removed. That is when I came across Van Gogh. I love his his work and of course stared at the card for a moment before flipping it over to read the back. This is what I read: <span style="color:#009900;">Vincent Van Gogh 1853-1890. de oogst. the harvest. la moisson. Van Gogh Museum 1973. Printed in the Netherlands.<br /></span><br />I don't know what this signifies but my feelings of insecurities disappeared and I found myself feeling that we are about to open a new chapter in our life. I see before me, a painting of a field rich and plentiful, ready for the harvest. Perhaps, our journey has come to the same conclusion. And from this point on, we will move forth together to build new memories.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Fn81qIb9Z6eIkW-UijaCKpotz3jTHL7jgGS2FlVk5NiE3-AFuO0P8Eg-lbTZvAxAxfc4rH5Y4Ok6jBtxKwjLkMje3LspluiM5NP1Bqx3oTh5ZUWHaF-QPMdTDVhf7Hhy4D5W3MU/s1600-h/VAN+GOGH+NETHERLANDS.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377113606330479282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Fn81qIb9Z6eIkW-UijaCKpotz3jTHL7jgGS2FlVk5NiE3-AFuO0P8Eg-lbTZvAxAxfc4rH5Y4Ok6jBtxKwjLkMje3LspluiM5NP1Bqx3oTh5ZUWHaF-QPMdTDVhf7Hhy4D5W3MU/s400/VAN+GOGH+NETHERLANDS.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-24930279568057444812009-09-02T18:45:00.013-04:002009-09-02T23:41:35.799-04:00Poetry 1991As always, I feel in me more vulnerability displaying my old poetry for all to read. As you may have already noticed, my life here in this cybersphere does not run a smooth timeline for all to read and to grasp as we may wish and see our lives that we lead.<br /><br />My mind is timeless and the memories that it holds have no boundaries or limitations. I learned from a young age that I was able to dive into my dreams and explore the endless possibilities and depths of my fears and of life. I wonder sometimes if my experiences had led me to this space or if it was always within me.<br /><br />My mind searches to match my emotions; flipping, twisting, bending the colors that fill my senses and my restless being. I feel love, pain, insecurity, blindness, hope, and the reassurance that I seek. Then it appears before me. It is an old poem that I had wrote back in 1991.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Turbulent Minds</span></em></strong><br /><br />Triumphant cries of naked tongues<br /><br />Whispers lured where silence lies<br /><br />Walk through amber fields<br /><br />Carry riches for brilliant feathered minds<br /><br />Gather knowledge through their roots<br /><br />They lived in hunger and breathed the air<br /><br />Wind had taken the seeds out of their palms<br /><br />Tangled in disguise rooted grass forms the nest<br /><br />Mouth feeds the vulnerability<br /><br />Security out of reach<br /><br />Rapture of faith<br /><br />A web of a thousand souls<br /><br />Voices never heard the cries they ignored<br /><br />Questions never answered<br /><br />Portraits of misleading guides<br /><br />To the Highest they ascribed<br /><br />Mention not the truth<br /><br />False alliances of their common faces<br /><br />Lips closing in ragekyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-52553255046748793612009-09-02T01:10:00.001-04:002009-09-02T01:13:58.077-04:00Lost in Translation...In my recent reconnection with my family in Korea and locating my younger brother in the Netherlands, I learned I have a nephew in Seoul, Korea. He is my eldest sister’s son. In 2004, during our first reunion, I was told by a translator that my sister did not have a son or did not have a son while I was still in her care. My mind was blown away, thinking all my thoughts and memories of this little baby that I had cared for prior to leaving my sister were perhaps not the memories I believed they were.<br /><br />From 2004 to just last week, I had come to accept this news and tried to place this child into some image in my thoughts hoping that I would encounter another time and place for him. Like going back into time, I was again listening to my sister talk in Hangeul while my translator tried to keep up with all the messages that were being said to her.<br /><br /> I am told that our nephew will be our point of contact in Korea. Upon hearing this, I asked when my sister had her son, our nephew. My translator explained to me that he was born while I was under my sister’s care back in the late ‘70s. She tells me that I cared for him every day while my sister worked. She explains that I had carried him around on a sling that held him close to my body.<br /><br />I could not believe what I was hearing. No, I could believe what I was hearing! Why not! Since 2004, I had heard a couple versions of what might have happened during my last year in Korea and thereafter, but no one could really tell me for sure what had really occurred, or perhaps it was lost in translation. And now, I hear from my sister, from my translator, that my memories of my little nephew were TRUE. I wondered if my memories of the little baby I had told to remember me during our farewells was my nephew or perhaps my little baby brother. My memories do not allow time to be accountable; it only allows images to overlap and bring forth visions that remain intact and vivid within my mind. For me, this memory was always very special because of how I remember leaving there; Leaving my family, my sister, and my nephew behind.kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-77123337780564189612009-08-31T17:14:00.006-04:002009-08-31T22:43:32.588-04:00Canned PeachesEvery time I see or open a can of sliced peaches my thoughts are led back to my early childhood years. It brings a smile to my face and usually a conversation that follows. Everyone always asks why peaches but I really do not know how to answer but perhaps because of the times and they were maybe imported American peaches. I do know that it was the late 1970s and times were hard for everyone including my <a href="http://homeiswithin.blogspot.com/2009/07/passage-three-visual-memory.html"><strong>foster family</strong></a>. I remember my foster father occasionally bringing back these peaches when he had to go into town. It has always been a wonderful memory and I find myself buying canned peaches so I can tell our children this story.<br /><br /><strong><em>Canned Peaches...</em></strong><br />The small leafy plant that sat in the corner of the room seemed to perk up immediately as the rays from the sun came filtering in from the small window that sat perfectly in the middle of the white wall. With it came an intense heat that warmed the floor almost to the point that made it unbearable to sit. The room was bright with shimmers of light that streamed down over our heads and onto the ornaments that sat on top of the little wooden dresser. The mother of pearl that was carved so intricately into the face of the dresser sparkled and danced as if to lift its little petals off the dresser and into the light.<br /><br />We were all mesmerized by the presence of the late afternoon light and had almost tuned out the chatter and confusion of our daily routine. Our foster mother walked up to the window and peeked out into the yard. She turned to look at us very excited; she smiled and said, “Father is here! He made it back early. Bali Bali!! Hurry! Quickly now! Let’s clean up and set the table. Go get the babies. Please, get our Beads for prayer. Children, all gather now.” We all ran around laughing and bumping into each other to quickly clean the little room and to call all the younger ones into the house to greet our foster father. I was very much excited and smiled very big to show my foster mother how happy I was. Amazingly, we all managed to gather around the round wooden table before he arrived at the door.<br /><br />The paper panel door to the room slid open with a huge voice that greeted us as our foster father entered the room. We all smiled and greeted him anxiously as he walked over to the table carrying in his arms a little black plastic bag. He sat down and opened the bag; taking out a large can of sliced peaches. He looked very pleased from his day trip into town. Foster mother walked over to the table and eased herself down to kneel down and to sit on her legs. She passed around the beads to all the children that sat around this circle. We lowered our heads and they began to chant a prayer.<br /><br />I tried not to look up but I peered across the table to see everyone praying. As my eyes circled the room, I watched some of the children praying with tears and others, like my foster mother’s daughter, sitting, and holding her husband’s hand and her baby with the other. I tried to mirror the other children who seemed to know the words and who also had tears that ran down their small faces. I could not shed even one tear. I kept thinking about the canned peaches and how I wanted to eat them. I tried to quietly yawn to let out a small tear but nothing came forth. I felt my eyes become a bit moist and hoped that everyone could see my tears as I tried to look as if I was praying. I sat with my head down low and waited for the prayer to end.<br /><br />The silence broke with loud cheering and big smiles that could be felt all around the room. Our foster father laughed as he made sure everyone at the table got their piece of the sliced peaches. I quickly reached over to take my plate from his hands and placed it in front of me. A huge grin spread across my face as I sat and stared down at my little peach slice. I did not want to eat it right away. It is not because I could not have more but knew how special they were.kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2776434919146586039.post-1690289006968290912009-08-30T23:57:00.004-04:002009-08-31T00:55:59.638-04:00Terminating Adoption: Visual Memory 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXTcZPEaZNq2Nj0efvb8A80CxAedKStcXnJfyDYnJhJlqSxuvflvVhWuX7li7XjqSix_Z04gDqMRsfqJzaF2kd-YkI9bkMa2ctJSVrsmTBmXmOR7LWF9kuqaM-yMb_kKSLpj1js4/s1600-h/ESL+CERTIFICATE.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 304px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375975409602424370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXTcZPEaZNq2Nj0efvb8A80CxAedKStcXnJfyDYnJhJlqSxuvflvVhWuX7li7XjqSix_Z04gDqMRsfqJzaF2kd-YkI9bkMa2ctJSVrsmTBmXmOR7LWF9kuqaM-yMb_kKSLpj1js4/s400/ESL+CERTIFICATE.JPG" /></a><br /><div>It took a couple of years but I finished ESL and by the Third Grade I went from Flunking out of First and Second Grade to be a B Student by my Third Grade Class. I came here with No understanding of English. I did not speak English, did not think in English, and therefore, went to school everyday feeling disconnected and alone. I mainly watched other children and did a lot of listening. But it did not take long for me to put to practice my 'Broken' English and meet some friends in my First Year...I have one friend that is still in my life today. She was my First friend back in my First Year of school. I have to tell this story here. </div><div></div><div>In my first year, a little girl with blonde curls came up to me and asked to be my friend. I shook my head to tell her that I did not understand. She did not mind. She took her hand and placed it on me and repeated this, " You be my friend and I will be your friend. Our moms will meet and I will go to your house and you come over my house." It went something like that. Later that day, her mother called my mother to see who this new girl was in her daughter's class. My mother explained to her that I did not speak English and that maybe it would be awkward. My friend's mother had no problems with this barrier and told my mother that we were kids and it would be fine. After that call, we were best of friends in grade school.<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfZuETSZ_YKWHNeGl5TyNrNonjSxDY1hyOk56Jea84MKw2a9RPUyXW8un8J5-9iJ7if0QN2Pdtz_XAyDbV08d-Ea_qj959-DBXiFz7Qwtabrisz1FaBk-W00F5kf7Qr4oDMkFzEY/s1600-h/KOREAN+LETTERS+3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375972828120775362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfZuETSZ_YKWHNeGl5TyNrNonjSxDY1hyOk56Jea84MKw2a9RPUyXW8un8J5-9iJ7if0QN2Pdtz_XAyDbV08d-Ea_qj959-DBXiFz7Qwtabrisz1FaBk-W00F5kf7Qr4oDMkFzEY/s400/KOREAN+LETTERS+3.JPG" /></a>These letters are from the President of Eastern Child Welfare Society,Inc. I received these letters in my first two years after Adoption. I used to read these letters repeatedly and was very excited to receive them each year. I remember asking my mother why they had stopped sending them after the first two had arrived. So I do not forget, my mother told me to write down any of the names of my family I remembered so that I would have them later. I wrote them on these cards and at night in my Diary that I kept in my room. I smile now looking at them because I had spelled them incorrectly. I smile also because I remember trying to sound them out as they were spelled.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPEPqis9lLyKjZLjs2GZQBc50aY9G9quoTXAczt_XK2itiLWQWOTzB6nJ2VJHH6s0t8aPmQ30JF3rQGkH8qcKHmnBDqLOZDsDoP_QvBK_5WswapINY0Jb2VflEUcGOGWnLdcBYbY/s1600-h/KOREAN+LETTERS+2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375972816870244098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPEPqis9lLyKjZLjs2GZQBc50aY9G9quoTXAczt_XK2itiLWQWOTzB6nJ2VJHH6s0t8aPmQ30JF3rQGkH8qcKHmnBDqLOZDsDoP_QvBK_5WswapINY0Jb2VflEUcGOGWnLdcBYbY/s400/KOREAN+LETTERS+2.JPG" /></a></div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDY5j55ga-PMaDdSVNZIRSVUJSac7dGVYbfil88aBqu6nGJAnM7bhV6KwUxUM0wbd9HAqw1LbmQqVBlEWHYLwzLDywCAyXt1w878PGdIeHNsUtEdMbM-MX-ndzJRh12A6f0_yQ_Q/s1600-h/KOREAN+LETTERS+1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375972812610951570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDY5j55ga-PMaDdSVNZIRSVUJSac7dGVYbfil88aBqu6nGJAnM7bhV6KwUxUM0wbd9HAqw1LbmQqVBlEWHYLwzLDywCAyXt1w878PGdIeHNsUtEdMbM-MX-ndzJRh12A6f0_yQ_Q/s400/KOREAN+LETTERS+1.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>kyungmeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00260976452646990221noreply@blogger.com0