Little Seoulster

Exploring Korean-American Heritage & Interculturalism

Can We Please Stop Asking “Where Are You From”?

Can We Please Stop Asking _Where Are You From__

Can We Please Stop Asking _Where Are You From__Can We Please Stop Asking “Where Are You From”?

(Just a warning…I go on a little bit of a rant here.)

The other day, I was having lunch at a sushi restaurant with a dear friend of mine whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. We were excitedly gabbing away and totally ignoring the menu to order.

She was catching me up on her life happenings when our waiter interrupted. We completely expected him to ask if we were ready to order so we started to apologize when he just abruptly asked me “Where are you from?” [Read more…]

Which is More Correct – South Korea, Republic of Korea, or Korea?

Which is More Correct - South Korea, Republic of Korea, or Korea_

Which is More Correct - South Korea, Republic of Korea or Korea_Clearing Up Korean Confusion

So I had a friend ask me what was more proper to say, South Korea, Republic of Korea, or Korea?

In short, the official term is Republic of Korea (R.O.K.).

However, most people outside of the R.O.K. refer to South Korea as “Korea” and North Korea as “North Korea.”

Since I’m one of those people living outside of the R.O.K., in my ignorance, I refer to it as “Korea.” But I really should refer to it as South Korea or the Republic of Korea. There’s weight and meaning behind calling it “South Korea” or the “Republic of Korea.” [Read more…]

A Memory from a Korean-American Childhood – English the Korean Way

A Memory from a Korean-American Childhood - English the Korean Way (1)

A Memory from a Korean-American Childhood - English the Korean WayA Memory from a Korean-American Childhood – English the Korean Way

This story isn’t actually mine. It’s my older sister’s. But I thought I should share it (with permission from my sis) because many of you will probably relate to it.

Many years ago in Kindergarten, Eonni (Korean for older sis to a girl) was learning the English alphabet. The teacher assigned a letter to each kid in the class. (I guess there were 26 kids in the class?)

And they were told to go home and learn how to pronounce the letter for the next day.

So the next day comes and Eonni goes to school. She did her assignment and was ready.

Each kid was told to stand up to say and pronounce their letter clearly.

“A!” Shouted the kid with the first letter. “A for apple!” [Read more…]

A Story From a Korean-American Childhood – “Recondensed Condensed Soup”

A Story from a Korean-American Childhood - Recondensed Condensed SoupA Story from a Korean-American Childhood – “Recondensed Mushroom Soup”

I think we all know that it’s common for immigrant parents to have to leave their children unattended at home while they work all day and sometimes night. In fact, you don’t have to have had immigrant parents for this to happen. In this day and age, a dual income household is not only commonplace but a necessity.

My family was no different. My parents worked most of the day, most days of the week. They left my older sister, Eonni (older sister of a girl in Korean), in charge, as is the case for older siblings in these situations.

But that’s where the problem started

[Read more…]