watching the news with my dad..
a new krispy kreme has recently opened up in hillsboro...
and there were so many cars in line for the donuts,
that they had to close a major road (cornell)
dad: crazy people.. out of all the places i've been to, i think portland has the most fat people..
me: i think it's the state of the whole country...
thing is, my dad's not racist or highly judgmental.. he's just very honest..
and of course he'd never be so rude as to tell it to someone's face..
but he's got a point... where is this country headed to??
not that i support the stick-anemic-boulimic-glamour-hollywood look..
but i don't support the 400-pound-can't-walk-to-the-bathroom-much-less-sit-on-the-toilet figure...
i'm all about loving and accepting urself..
but why not be a little health conscious??
here... have some fruit
August 27, 2003
warning: don't get twisted if u don't get it... it's meant to be an asian thing..
3 soldiers and 1 general...stranded on an island...
a german soldier, an american one, & a korean guy
the general says to the german soldier, "You! Go build a raft, so we can get off this island!"
to the american soldier, "Go scrounge up some food!"
and to the korean soldier, "Go find some supplies!!"
so they branch out to do their tasks..
after a short period of time the general starts searching for them to check on their progress...
he gets to the german as he's skillfully tying planks of wood together and he compliments, "good job! we'll get off this island in no time!"
the general and the german go searching for the american. they find him with his arms full of wild fruit. he too is complimented for a job well done.
then the three of them go searching for the korean soldier, but he cannot be found. finally, after an exhausting search the general exclaims, "where the hell is this guy?" and all of a sudden, the korean soldier jumps out of the bushes proclaiming:
"SURPRISE!!"
3 soldiers and 1 general...stranded on an island...
a german soldier, an american one, & a korean guy
the general says to the german soldier, "You! Go build a raft, so we can get off this island!"
to the american soldier, "Go scrounge up some food!"
and to the korean soldier, "Go find some supplies!!"
so they branch out to do their tasks..
after a short period of time the general starts searching for them to check on their progress...
he gets to the german as he's skillfully tying planks of wood together and he compliments, "good job! we'll get off this island in no time!"
the general and the german go searching for the american. they find him with his arms full of wild fruit. he too is complimented for a job well done.
then the three of them go searching for the korean soldier, but he cannot be found. finally, after an exhausting search the general exclaims, "where the hell is this guy?" and all of a sudden, the korean soldier jumps out of the bushes proclaiming:
"SURPRISE!!"
August 13, 2003
August 10, 2003
my two cents
pam celebrated her 110th anniversary by hosting the korean art & culture day (considering it’s also been about 100 years since koreans have immigrated to the good ‘ol usa)
while the gallery exhibition was small, it was well organized with pieces from the early dynasties to a number of contemporary pieces...
they also showed a movie call chi-hwa-seon (취화선), directed by Im Kwon-Taek (임권택), a very well known Korean director..
it was a highly artistic film based on the life of a korean painter (i wouldn’t have expected less from a cannes festival winner)...
if i could say one thing about it, they could have put a little notice somewhere before entering the theatre, cuz the movie had a couple of rather risqué scenes.. (i have to say, it was interesting watching it from my seat between my mother and my father. i swear, nowadays i have to conduct screenings before watching anything with them...)
nevertheless, we came away feeling artistically satisfied and justified~
although, i was slightly disappointed in the lack of korean people...
other than the performers and members of the korean consulate,
there was an elderly couple, a few small children with a chaperone,
a couple of korean women who were accompanied by their american friends or mate,
and then there were the american parents who brought their adopted korean children along with their good intentions of exposing them to the culture of “the land of the morning calm”...
while the majority of the korean-american population is out there working, making money...
alright. that’s a judgemental stereotypical observation, but as a 2nd generation ko-am i’ve got a few issues..
for one: our parents
they came over here and worked to the bone to make their restaurant/dry-cleaner/mini-mart successful so they could give their children the kind of opportunities that were unavailable to them as a child..
it’s not so that they could live and eat well.. it’s all for the 2nd gen (insert major guilt power here)
at the same time, they tried to bring their culture with them in a form comparable to spicy cabbage (everything they suggest in a hot tempered fashion is “good for u”)
we became their link. their translators.
at 12 yrs old: read the manual, fix the fax machine
at 15 yrs old: translate the epa documentation,
now, at 24, i balance their accounts, make sure their business licenses are renewed, and translate the news about the bank robber on channel 8.. i’m their live-in personal assistant..
which is fine! but the more we expose ourselves to the american way of life the more the contrasting aspects seem increasingly attractive (except for wearing ur shoes around the house)..
at the same time we must come home to our traditional customs..
for those of u living it, u know.. but for those who don’t, it’s difficult to explain in words..
it’s not like the boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl or our beautiful traditional dress..
asians don’t like to air their dirty laundry.. they strive to make things look perfect on the outside, while the interior decorating needs some serious feng shui harmony..
they’ll easily admit that every family has problems, but their rice-on-paper stubbornness won’t allow them to acknowledge that they are no exception..
but i’m getting off track.. again..
what i’m trying to say is that u can’t expect us to live in this country without adopting some, if not a lot, of its beliefs and dreams of freedom, honesty, and independence..
we don’t live in korea and many 2nd gen-ers don’t even know what korea is like except for what we experience at home, which usually isn’t the whole story..
don't try to wipe out everything that happened before u immigrated here..
it’s not about the good and the bad.. it’s about the history that u owe us..
there’s so much more to korea that’s beautiful, historical, and full of fire and inspiration..
for two: 2nd generation korean-americans
don’t think i was just going to let u off that easy..
we, the 2nd gen have a significant role in all of this.. we are the changing of the guards..
we will be the transforming link between our parents and the next generation..
the “when in rome, do as romans do” mentality is only about the “do” not the “know”..
we have a responsibility to actively know and share the rich culture we come from with our children, our friends, anyone willing to listen..
i’ve ceased to count the number of times a 2nd gen has told me they regret not paying attention in korean language class..
regret not being able to read or write..
recognizing a few lines of conversation is no longer enough..
“i don’t know” just doesn’t feel like the appropriate response to “what is korea like?”
in extreme cases, we end up feeling like half a person..
we live the american life but look in the mirror and see something that doesn’t look so american..
we need to dig past our parents’ “i had to walk 10 miles in rain, sleep, & snow” and get to the nitty gritty of our roots..
i admit.. i speak korean at the level of a 7th grader, my writing capabilities are even less, and don’t even start on reading..
but, i’ve tried and i’m going to keep plowing ahead..
c’mon.. we’ve got to give our kids something to look back on besides our neurotic lives..
pam celebrated her 110th anniversary by hosting the korean art & culture day (considering it’s also been about 100 years since koreans have immigrated to the good ‘ol usa)
while the gallery exhibition was small, it was well organized with pieces from the early dynasties to a number of contemporary pieces...
they also showed a movie call chi-hwa-seon (취화선), directed by Im Kwon-Taek (임권택), a very well known Korean director..
it was a highly artistic film based on the life of a korean painter (i wouldn’t have expected less from a cannes festival winner)...
if i could say one thing about it, they could have put a little notice somewhere before entering the theatre, cuz the movie had a couple of rather risqué scenes.. (i have to say, it was interesting watching it from my seat between my mother and my father. i swear, nowadays i have to conduct screenings before watching anything with them...)
nevertheless, we came away feeling artistically satisfied and justified~
although, i was slightly disappointed in the lack of korean people...
other than the performers and members of the korean consulate,
there was an elderly couple, a few small children with a chaperone,
a couple of korean women who were accompanied by their american friends or mate,
and then there were the american parents who brought their adopted korean children along with their good intentions of exposing them to the culture of “the land of the morning calm”...
while the majority of the korean-american population is out there working, making money...
alright. that’s a judgemental stereotypical observation, but as a 2nd generation ko-am i’ve got a few issues..
for one: our parents
they came over here and worked to the bone to make their restaurant/dry-cleaner/mini-mart successful so they could give their children the kind of opportunities that were unavailable to them as a child..
it’s not so that they could live and eat well.. it’s all for the 2nd gen (insert major guilt power here)
at the same time, they tried to bring their culture with them in a form comparable to spicy cabbage (everything they suggest in a hot tempered fashion is “good for u”)
we became their link. their translators.
at 12 yrs old: read the manual, fix the fax machine
at 15 yrs old: translate the epa documentation,
now, at 24, i balance their accounts, make sure their business licenses are renewed, and translate the news about the bank robber on channel 8.. i’m their live-in personal assistant..
which is fine! but the more we expose ourselves to the american way of life the more the contrasting aspects seem increasingly attractive (except for wearing ur shoes around the house)..
at the same time we must come home to our traditional customs..
for those of u living it, u know.. but for those who don’t, it’s difficult to explain in words..
it’s not like the boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl or our beautiful traditional dress..
asians don’t like to air their dirty laundry.. they strive to make things look perfect on the outside, while the interior decorating needs some serious feng shui harmony..
they’ll easily admit that every family has problems, but their rice-on-paper stubbornness won’t allow them to acknowledge that they are no exception..
but i’m getting off track.. again..
what i’m trying to say is that u can’t expect us to live in this country without adopting some, if not a lot, of its beliefs and dreams of freedom, honesty, and independence..
we don’t live in korea and many 2nd gen-ers don’t even know what korea is like except for what we experience at home, which usually isn’t the whole story..
don't try to wipe out everything that happened before u immigrated here..
it’s not about the good and the bad.. it’s about the history that u owe us..
there’s so much more to korea that’s beautiful, historical, and full of fire and inspiration..
for two: 2nd generation korean-americans
don’t think i was just going to let u off that easy..
we, the 2nd gen have a significant role in all of this.. we are the changing of the guards..
we will be the transforming link between our parents and the next generation..
the “when in rome, do as romans do” mentality is only about the “do” not the “know”..
we have a responsibility to actively know and share the rich culture we come from with our children, our friends, anyone willing to listen..
i’ve ceased to count the number of times a 2nd gen has told me they regret not paying attention in korean language class..
regret not being able to read or write..
recognizing a few lines of conversation is no longer enough..
“i don’t know” just doesn’t feel like the appropriate response to “what is korea like?”
in extreme cases, we end up feeling like half a person..
we live the american life but look in the mirror and see something that doesn’t look so american..
we need to dig past our parents’ “i had to walk 10 miles in rain, sleep, & snow” and get to the nitty gritty of our roots..
i admit.. i speak korean at the level of a 7th grader, my writing capabilities are even less, and don’t even start on reading..
but, i’ve tried and i’m going to keep plowing ahead..
c’mon.. we’ve got to give our kids something to look back on besides our neurotic lives..
August 08, 2003
finally! it rains! rain, glorious rain!
this isn’t ur ordinary 5 minute trickle…
this is the full blown
i-come-in-the-middle-of-the-night,
indian rain dance (feathers, not dots),
can’t see shit while i’m driving,
singing in the rain,
musical pitter patter,
stay inside with a warm cup of tea or soup & curl up with a good book,
slip on them galoshes and jump into the biggest puddle u can find,
open wide and tilt ur head back
rain.
now, say that in one breath.
this isn’t ur ordinary 5 minute trickle…
this is the full blown
i-come-in-the-middle-of-the-night,
indian rain dance (feathers, not dots),
can’t see shit while i’m driving,
singing in the rain,
musical pitter patter,
stay inside with a warm cup of tea or soup & curl up with a good book,
slip on them galoshes and jump into the biggest puddle u can find,
open wide and tilt ur head back
rain.
now, say that in one breath.
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