A chapter in my life has already begun it begun as I started to approach my 25th birthday. Which means I'm no youngster anymore but rather a young woman, but I still live my life like I did when I was 18 since I have been living at my parents.
Although it seems like I've created some new values and opinions that I didn't have before. Like for example the notion that Korea always will be a part of me in some way since it was rudimentary for my past but also include my future. Because I'm certain I will travel to Korea many more times and maybe one day I'll bring my spouse and perhaps even my future children although I'm not sure exactly when that day will come.
Who knows right ?
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Broken Record
What's Seoul
What's Seoul
Friday, 10 June 2011
Thursday, 9 June 2011
No Regrets
I want to look back at my life when I'm much older or even at end of every day and feel completely satisfied that I've made the best out of that day. Lived my life the best I could with no regets. Because I thinks it's worse to regret the things you havn't done because you simply havn't dared to try rather then to regret the things you actually tried to go after.
Then you have at least tried to something. That should be worth more shouldn't it? At least I think so.
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
No Drama
On My Own
Then you have at least tried to something. That should be worth more shouldn't it? At least I think so.
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
No Drama
On My Own
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Next Best Thing
I confess a part of me partially and at times long for a connection and sense of belonging with my birth family. That's the plain hard truth.
Yet my adoptive family has offered me a secure and safe environment as well as material wealth which I might not have had had I not been adopted. And I for sure wouldn't have gotten to know my younger brother (yes, the younger brother from adoption). Would I really want to sacrifice that for a second change with my birth family?
Probably not.
A few days ago I happened to be in charge of market stand selling strawberries in a bigger city in Sweden. Anyways, after a while an older woman came up to me she was really happy because she had finally found
An adoptee generally speaking and oftentimes is robbed from their heritage and is forced to assimilate and adopt into another culture. While an immigrant very often brings their own culture and background with them. They also have a native language whereas adoptees usually don't speak their original language instead they learn the language in their new culture and country.
I feel like I might be back to my old self whatever that might be, but as for my future trip to Korea I'm still hoping but I don't want to take any chances or make early guesses right now. It's still early, and a lot can change and happen to prevent me from going exactly what I will not say.
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Personal Experience
Why Like Korea
Shades Of Grey
Illusion Or Dream
No Dairy
The Weil
Yet my adoptive family has offered me a secure and safe environment as well as material wealth which I might not have had had I not been adopted. And I for sure wouldn't have gotten to know my younger brother (yes, the younger brother from adoption). Would I really want to sacrifice that for a second change with my birth family?
Probably not.
A few days ago I happened to be in charge of market stand selling strawberries in a bigger city in Sweden. Anyways, after a while an older woman came up to me she was really happy because she had finally found
a foreigner that sold strawberries so she just had to buy them from me. I'm so glad I've found you, you're not Swedish if you were I wouldn't buy from you but since you are an immgrant I have to buy them from you.Suddenly my 25 years of life and upbringing didn't mean a thing, I was shocked and amazed as well as insulted. But fact is that even foreigners or no, Swedish immigrants aren't generally familiar with adoption. That I learned that day. For (some) adoptees it may at times seem as an offense to be called an immigrant even if that is what we are except for the cultural heritage thing.
An adoptee generally speaking and oftentimes is robbed from their heritage and is forced to assimilate and adopt into another culture. While an immigrant very often brings their own culture and background with them. They also have a native language whereas adoptees usually don't speak their original language instead they learn the language in their new culture and country.
I feel like I might be back to my old self whatever that might be, but as for my future trip to Korea I'm still hoping but I don't want to take any chances or make early guesses right now. It's still early, and a lot can change and happen to prevent me from going exactly what I will not say.
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Personal Experience
Why Like Korea
Shades Of Grey
Illusion Or Dream
No Dairy
The Weil
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Famous Koreans
As a celebration of my 천삼 post I thought this post would be helpful...
한국계 미국인:
Sebastian Seung (MIT professor)
Daniel Chun (writer for Simpsons)
Peter Chung (Æon Flux author)
David J Kim (founder of C2 Education)
Do Won Chang &Jin Sook (founders of Forever 21)
David Chang ( Michelin -star chef and restaurant owner)
Sarah Chang (violinist virtuose)
Yujin Kim (actor; Lost)
Alina Cho (CNN correspondant)
Corina Knoll (LA Times reporter)
Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Choy (first Asian American admitted to the bar and federal judge, later feder Judge)
Colonel Young Oak Kim (first non white to command an Army combat)
Harry Kim (former Mayor of Hawai'i)
Paull Shin (Washington State Senator)
Mark L. Polansky (NASA austronaut)
Eugene Chung (NFL football player)
Myong Sok Namkung-Mayes (first female taekwondo master)
한국계 캐나
Park Jong Soo (found World's oldest DNA)
Sandra Oh (actress)
Grace Park (actress)
Jim Paek (former National League Hockey player)
Ben Chin (news anchor)
Hanna Sung (reporter on CBC radio)
Wonny Song (classic pianist)
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Tiger
2011
한국계 미국인:
Sebastian Seung (MIT professor)
Daniel Chun (writer for Simpsons)
Peter Chung (Æon Flux author)
David J Kim (founder of C2 Education)
Do Won Chang &Jin Sook (founders of Forever 21)
David Chang ( Michelin -star chef and restaurant owner)
Sarah Chang (violinist virtuose)
Yujin Kim (actor; Lost)
Alina Cho (CNN correspondant)
Corina Knoll (LA Times reporter)
Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Choy (first Asian American admitted to the bar and federal judge, later feder Judge)
Colonel Young Oak Kim (first non white to command an Army combat)
Harry Kim (former Mayor of Hawai'i)
Paull Shin (Washington State Senator)
Mark L. Polansky (NASA austronaut)
Eugene Chung (NFL football player)
Myong Sok Namkung-Mayes (first female taekwondo master)
한국계 캐나
Park Jong Soo (found World's oldest DNA)
Sandra Oh (actress)
Grace Park (actress)
Jim Paek (former National League Hockey player)
Ben Chin (news anchor)
Hanna Sung (reporter on CBC radio)
Wonny Song (classic pianist)
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Tiger
2011
Monday, 6 June 2011
Random Seoul Pictures I
Happy Swedish National Day as a celebration for it I will offer some new pictures from Seoul, of course.
Related posts:
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Update
I don't know what's worse, or more particularly what could the cause behind my blues... I've been forced to discontinue my university studies (oh well no surprise there), and since January of this year I've been searching for a part time job or employment.
I really thought turning 살이십오would be , maybe not a happy moment but at least sort of a mile stone well it turns out it really hasn't been. I'm not quite there just yet but I will be pretty soon...
This might seem unfamiliar but somehow this whole thing has made me miss 한국 or more especially my birth family. It's like the loss of independence and income makes me even more aware of all the things I miss or lost.
The loss from the ultimate separation from my birth family is very apparent, yet I'm not sure if I'm supposed or allowed to greif that loss since I've never actually experienced it in the first place. Only at later stage as a young woman and adult.
I'll try to cheer up in a couple of days or two but I will be posting as normal.
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Crap
Heavy Heart
I really thought turning 살이십오would be , maybe not a happy moment but at least sort of a mile stone well it turns out it really hasn't been. I'm not quite there just yet but I will be pretty soon...
This might seem unfamiliar but somehow this whole thing has made me miss 한국 or more especially my birth family. It's like the loss of independence and income makes me even more aware of all the things I miss or lost.
The loss from the ultimate separation from my birth family is very apparent, yet I'm not sure if I'm supposed or allowed to greif that loss since I've never actually experienced it in the first place. Only at later stage as a young woman and adult.
I'll try to cheer up in a couple of days or two but I will be posting as normal.
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Crap
Heavy Heart
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Reflection
They say Koreans are stubborn... yeah, could be true I would call it determination or devotion. There's a difference here people.
Am I one of those guys ? One of the others?
I'm not sure, I might be but hopefully not that much ... So far I've encountered Swedish adoptees here in Sweden where some of them have completed a name change. What didn't you just do it... ?
Yes, I have but I believe my reasons for doing so is of a completely different character. Mostly it seems like adoptees decides to change their surnames instead of their personal names. Could be that the personal name is a sort identification.
Even among other adoptees my new name is meet with shocking reactions, disbelief what have you. Like adoptees who reconnects with their birth culture isn't supposed to call themselves by their original birth names. However I have done just that so maybe I possess a new kind of threat for society. I know one thing though I'm not the first adoptee that has had a name change nor will I be the last. From now on I'd like to live my life with no regrets, staying true to myself and my name change was a first step in that direction.
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Final Rebirth
Delayed Name Change
Am I one of those guys ? One of the others?
I'm not sure, I might be but hopefully not that much ... So far I've encountered Swedish adoptees here in Sweden where some of them have completed a name change. What didn't you just do it... ?
Yes, I have but I believe my reasons for doing so is of a completely different character. Mostly it seems like adoptees decides to change their surnames instead of their personal names. Could be that the personal name is a sort identification.
Even among other adoptees my new name is meet with shocking reactions, disbelief what have you. Like adoptees who reconnects with their birth culture isn't supposed to call themselves by their original birth names. However I have done just that so maybe I possess a new kind of threat for society. I know one thing though I'm not the first adoptee that has had a name change nor will I be the last. From now on I'd like to live my life with no regrets, staying true to myself and my name change was a first step in that direction.
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Final Rebirth
Delayed Name Change
Friday, 3 June 2011
A One Note
A common feeling that I personally feel almost daily is that being an adoptee means you're a one note. A broken record, because we may come across as nagging and ungrateful (seen through the eyes of the non adopted people). But adoption is a traumatic experience no matter at what stage in the adoptees life it occurs.
Yet adoption has existed ever since the Roman empire and Korean adoption is an ancient costume especially in the royal houses in the race for the title and throne. A daughter to the king could easilly adopt not necessarilly a child but young boy which was to inherit in place of the woman, which during one time in history didn't allow female heirs.
I wonder if they knew or realized that international adoption from Korea would become very popular and complicated.
Personally I confess I have my ups and downs, I suppose that happens when I long for my Korean family or when I'm overthinking everything.
Related posts:
Broken Record
Yet adoption has existed ever since the Roman empire and Korean adoption is an ancient costume especially in the royal houses in the race for the title and throne. A daughter to the king could easilly adopt not necessarilly a child but young boy which was to inherit in place of the woman, which during one time in history didn't allow female heirs.
I wonder if they knew or realized that international adoption from Korea would become very popular and complicated.
Personally I confess I have my ups and downs, I suppose that happens when I long for my Korean family or when I'm overthinking everything.
Related posts:
Broken Record
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Ad Perpetuum
I'm caught in between my life in Sweden and a life in Korea. Right now it feels like it is a permanent thing like ad perpetuum... Maybe that we'll never change because I will always feel like an outsider someone that's almost always questioned, asked inappropriate questions and because of my appearance not looking like an ethnic Swede but rather that of a Korean. Are there even such a thing as ethnic Swedes .... ? Maybe, but I think that would only be the Finnish Lap people...
These days Sweden has a diverse culture with many different ethnicities not only because of international adoption but also because of 1st and 2nd generation immigrants.
By the way, maybe I seem negative and constantly complaining but if you think so, then it's not likely that's going to change.
(Of course, there's a limit to what is accepted on this blog. But please don't turn this blog into a personal war zone. Sorry for the expression)
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Ab Imo
Amore
These days Sweden has a diverse culture with many different ethnicities not only because of international adoption but also because of 1st and 2nd generation immigrants.
By the way, maybe I seem negative and constantly complaining but if you think so, then it's not likely that's going to change.
(Of course, there's a limit to what is accepted on this blog. But please don't turn this blog into a personal war zone. Sorry for the expression)
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Ab Imo
Amore
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Korean Writers
or more correcty writers of Korean decent, saddly my knowledge in Korean is not at such a level that I can enjoy novels in Korean yet. Maybe baby books, so all of the authors presented in this post are Koreans by decent and they write in English...
Here's a random selection of authors and books... Maybe you could recommend Korean authors or novels ?
And yes, the problem with Blogger is still not fixed.
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Korean Food
Tourist Sights
Seoul City
Itaewon
Unknown Things
Here's a random selection of authors and books... Maybe you could recommend Korean authors or novels ?
- Jane Jeong Trenka - (Language Of Blood, Outsiders Within, Fugitive Visions)
- Kim Suneé (Trail Of Crumbs)
- Therese Park (A Gift Of The Emperor, When A Rooster Crows At Night)
- Mari Paik Lee (Quiet Odyssey)
- Helie Lee (Still Life With Rice)
- Richard E. Kim (The Martyred, The Innocent, Lost Names)
- Nancy Kim (Chinhominey's Secret)
- Nora Okja Keller (Comfort Women, Fox Girls)
And yes, the problem with Blogger is still not fixed.
© Taste of Kimchi, Elle
Related posts:
Korean Food
Tourist Sights
Seoul City
Itaewon
Unknown Things
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