When you are a foreigner, you receive many curious questions. Throughout my younger years in the U.S, the questions I received the most were: Are you Chinese? Or are you Japanese? It was always either one. I bet even in Korea, many people still make mistakes of not carefully distinguishing between Canadian from American and from African American to Kenyan. To some, this might not be a big deal. However, this was a big deal for me.
Going back to when I was in 4th grade, I remember attending a small public school in Tennessee, U.S. Everything was great about Tennessee; the country music, buffalos, cotton plantations, grass and the warm sunlight. Even being the only Asian in my class made me feel very proud. But what bothered me was that people would always ask, "Are you Chinese? Japanese?" wherever I went. My answer was always the same, "No, I'm Korean." But they would always ask back, "You mean the North Korea?" This always came to me as a surprise. I thought, 'How can they possibly think I'm North Korean? Geez.' Well, they really did. What's even more shocking was that most people were not even aware that South Korea existed. This sounds ridiculous since South Korea is now famous for Samsung, LG, K-Pop and the Han River Miracle. But back then, South Korea wasn't so well known. I tried to explain to my friends what South Korea is like but they quickly lost interest. But one day, there came a great opportunity for me to do something about this problem.
It was in my 5th year in elementary school when there was this huge school event called, 'The Memphis in May'. It was one of the days when foreign students could introduce their native country's culture, food, clothes, games and language by making a booth. It was pretty exciting for everybody. Students were able to experience and enjoy each country's culture by visiting various booths. I thought, 'this is my chance to tell people about South Korea.' So I registered to help making a South Korean booth in the school gym with my mother. Wearing Korea's traditional Hanbok, my mother and I cooked various foods with other Korean mothers. We made Bulgogi (barbecued beef) and Ttobokki (Stir-fried rice cake) adding side dishes such as Kimchi and Gim (dried laver). The result was a success. Many students who came to eat at our booth loved the food. Although some of them had to wash out their tongue after eating Kimchi and Ttobokki, I remember many students giving thumbs up to Bulgogi.
After the 'Memphis in May', everybody in the school knew South Korea. No longer did I had to explain that there are two Koreas and no longer was I considered Chinese or Japanese. I felt so proud. The times when I was sort of embarrassed that people didn't even know the existence of the country I came from all faded from my memory. Experiencing to be a resident foreigner, I'm thankful that I had learned to be proud of my nationality and my own roots at a young age.
Hi Kyeong Ju, this is MinGu.
ReplyDeleteI read your story as if my memories were coming back to me.
Your writing is great. I've lived abroad like you between 4th and 6th grade, and felt a lot like you back then. (Although my school had few Korean students, but racism and misunderstanding about Koreans still existed back then in Australia). It was joyful to read your essay while reminiscing my past.
Just one thing to comment, I would've loved it more if there were detailed information on how people got interested about Korean culture after the 'Memphis in May'. I understand that they loved the food, but it seems a little bit weak to conclude that it was only that day when people gained interest. Besides that, great writing. I hope to see your finalized essay in the nearby future. Thanks!!
Are you Chinese? No, I'm South Korean (Final Draft)
ReplyDeleteWhen you are a foreigner, you receive many curious questions. Throughout my younger years in the U.S, the questions I received the most were: Are you Chinese? Or are you Japanese? It was always either one. I bet even in Korea, many people make the mistake of not carefully distinguishing between Canadian and American and African American to Kenyan. To some, this might not be a big deal. However, this was a big deal for me.
Going back to when I was in 4th grade, I remember attending a small public school in Tennessee, U.S. Everything was great about Tennessee; country music, buffalos, cotton plantations, grass and warm sunlight. Even being the only Asian in my class made me feel very proud. But what bothered me was that people would always ask, "Are you Chinese? Japanese?" wherever I went. My answer was always the same, "No, I'm Korean." But they would always ask back, "You mean the North Korea?" This always came to me as a surprise. I thought, 'How can they possibly think I'm North Korean? Geez.' Well, they really did. What's even more shocking was that most people were not even aware that South Korea existed. This sounds ridiculous since South Korea is now famous for Samsung, LG, K-Pop and the Han River Miracle. But back then, South Korea wasn't so well known. I tried to explain to my friends what South Korea is like but they quickly lost interest. But one day, there came a great opportunity for me to do something about this problem.
It was in my 5th year in elementary school when there was a huge school event called, 'Memphis in May'. It was a special day when foreign students could introduce their native country's culture, food, clothes, games and language by making booths. It was pretty exciting for everybody. Students were able to experience and enjoy each country's culture by visiting various booths. I thought, 'this is my chance to tell people about South Korea.' So I registered to help making a South Korean booth in the school gym with my mother.
First of all, I displayed a big world map showing exactly where Korea is located at the very front of the booth with some Korean friends. Then I set up a place on the floor for Korean games like ttakji-chigi (slap-match game). The game was very hot with students competing each other. The atmosphere of the competition match got so heated up that students started shouting, which was good enough to catch the full attention of the crowd.
Furthermore, my mother and I cooked various foods with other Korean mothers wearing Korea's traditional Hanbok. We made Bulgogi (barbecued beef) and Ttobokki (Stir-fried rice cake) adding side dishes such as Kimchi and Gim (dried laver). The result was a success. Many students who came to eat at our booth loved the food. Although some of them had to wash out their tongue after eating Kimchi and Ttobokki, I remember many students giving thumbs up to Bulgogi.
After 'Memphis in May', everybody in the school knew South Korea. Students had so much fun with Korean games and the food that South Korea was strongly embedded in their minds. It turned out that Korea booth was the most popular booth out of every booth displayed in the gym. No longer did I have to explain that there were two Koreas and no longer was I considered Chinese or Japanese. I felt so proud. The times when I was sort of embarrassed that people didn't even know the existence of my country faded from my memory. Being a resident foreigner, I was thankful that I had learned to be proud of my nationality and my own roots at a young age.
Kyeong Ju Seo
ReplyDeletePrf. Jonny Bahk-Halberg
Intermediate English Writing (2)
15 October 2015
Are you Chinese? No, I'm South Korean
When you are a foreigner, you receive many curious questions. Throughout my younger years in the U.S, the questions I received the most were: Are you Chinese? Or are you Japanese? It was always either one. I bet even in Korea, many people make the mistake of not carefully distinguishing between Canadian and American and African American to Kenyan. To some, this might not be a big deal. However, this was a big deal for me.
Going back to when I was in 4th grade, I remember attending a small public school in Tennessee, U.S. Everything was great about Tennessee; country music, buffalos, cotton plantations, grass and warm sunlight. Even being the only Asian in my class made me feel very proud. But what bothered me was that people would always ask, "Are you Chinese? Japanese?" wherever I went. My answer was always the same, "No, I'm Korean." But they would always ask back, "You mean the North Korea?" This always came to me as a surprise. I thought, 'How can they possibly think I'm North Korean? Geez.' Well, they really did. What's even more shocking was that most people were not even aware that South Korea existed. This sounds ridiculous since South Korea is now famous for Samsung, LG, K-Pop and the Han River Miracle. But back then, South Korea wasn't so well known. I tried to explain to my friends what South Korea is like but they quickly lost interest. But one day, there came a great opportunity for me to do something about this problem.
It was in my 5th year in elementary school when there was a huge school event called, 'Memphis in May'. It was a special day when foreign students could introduce their native country's culture, food, clothes, games and language by making booths. It was pretty exciting for everybody. Students were able to experience and enjoy each country's culture by visiting various booths. I thought, 'this is my chance to tell people about South Korea.' So I registered to help making a South Korean booth in the school gym with my mother.
First of all, I displayed a big world map showing exactly where Korea is located at the very front of the booth with some Korean friends. Then I set up a place on the floor for Korean games like Ttakji Chigi (slap-match game). The game was very hot with students competing each other. They would say to one another saying things like, “You can’t beat me!” The atmosphere of the competition match got so heated up that students started shouting, which was good enough to catch the full attention of the crowd.
Furthermore, my mother and I cooked various foods with other Korean mothers wearing Korea's traditional Hanbok. We made Bulgogi (barbecued beef) and Ttobokki (Stir-fried rice cake) adding side dishes such as Kimchi and Gim (dried sea weed laver). The result was a success. Many students who came to eat at our booth loved the food. One of the students cried, “Wow I didn’t know that sea weeds taste so incredible!” Although some of them had to wash out their tongue after eating Kimchi and Ttobokki, I remember many students giving thumbs up to Bulgogi.
After 'Memphis in May', everybody in the school knew South Korea. Students had so much fun with Korean games and the food that South Korea was strongly embedded in their minds. It turned out that Korea booth was the most popular booth out of every booth displayed in the gym. No longer did I have to explain that there were two Koreas and no longer was I considered Chinese or Japanese. I felt so proud. The times when I was sort of embarrassed that people didn't even know the existence of my country faded from my memory. Being a resident foreigner, I was thankful that I had learned to be proud of my nationality and my own roots at a young age.