Lost in Translation

(photo: birth father and his wife, brother - in birth father's kitchen/dining room)

I spent quality time with my brother this weekend and found out some interesting information. It was to my understanding that I was ship to America because my birth parents got pregnant w/ me and were unmarried (which is a no-no in Korea) and then got married and had my brother a year later. However, I found out my birth parents got married when my brother was 3 or 6 years old!!! That caught me off guard and pissed me off a little since for the past 14 years I’ve had the wrong information. Guess my birth parents thought they matured in the three months between the birth of my to the conception of my brother and thought they were now ready to handle a child. What sucks is I don’t think I’m ever going to know the whole truth since things seem to get lost in translation ….

However, so far every time I see my family, I learn something new about the culture, their personality, or my family history so this year is starting off just as I hoped. I need to believe I’m getting the right translation as I continue to figure out why I am who I am.

My birth father said the first time he saw me (12yrs old) he could tell I was stubborn and that I get that from my birth mother. He likes to run and can play sports but isn’t good at one in particular. He likes to drink and has a good tolerance.

My birth mother likes to bike and seems to be kind of a “tomboy.” She doesn’t play any sports and she’s glad I didn’t get her teeth (and so am I). She’s good at writing.

My birth brother likes to help others more than himself. He doesn’t do sports but likes to swim. He’s never been in an airplane! He didn’t go to college because he didn’t think he needed to. One day he might go and study law but he said it’s really hard. He’s very organized and when he has to do something, he does it well.

My half-sister (who I haven’t met yet) apparently wants to learn how to play softball/baseball so I volunteered to help teach her. Apparently she’s going through “puberty” so she’s doing teenage behaviors.

The Squatter

Like I’ve said before, finding a public bathroom with a toilet seat is not always easy. On Saturday night, I needed to pee and found that this was my only option. The toilet paper role was ½ wet in the corner from what I pray to God was water and it took me time to analyze how I’m going to squat .. in heels.. and jeans. All in all, I was 90% successful but not going to lie, I ended up peeing on my jeans due to bad aim and lack of practice! Luckily there was a hose outside the stall by the urinal where I was able to wash it off a bit.

It sucks being a girl sometimes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Outback .. Korean Style

So my mother’s older sister and her family took me to dinner. They asked if I like “Outback Steakhouse” and I said yes. I should’ve said no but I figured trying to decide what to eat w/ a language barrier is frustrating so I just agreed. Despite it being western food, it was done Korean style which was kind of an interesting experience. It was my aunt, uncle, other uncle, cousin, and brother. Everyone looked lost on what to order, etc. Uncle said outback is “high class” in Korea. My cousin (Soehun, 22yrs old) ordered for us. We shared all the meals and it was pretty much the same except for a couple small differences: 1. A small bowl of kimchi was served 2. Alice Spring Chicken w/ Rice – the rice had onions in it 3. Some of the menu was different – I don’t remember seeing chicken and shrimp salad on the American menu.

Meeting them again was fun and tough at the same time since my uncle doesn’t speak very good English and obviously I don’t know Korean. However, I felt a little better since my deaf uncle didn’t know what they were saying either but then he trumped me when he would write on his hand back and forth with my brother (Mun Hyuk) to communicate.

So I am kinda breaking my goal of not eating western food. However, I have not gone on my own account and I don’t totally regret it because it’s an interesting experience mixing the cultures together.

Girls CAN Play Baseball

So I was told if there is something you want to do you can find it in Seoul if you look hard enough. So I went on craigslist and saw a posting for someone who wanted to play baseball so I had to reply. I met her today (Hanna from Cali- 2nd generation Korean American) at a park and we played catch... and then there was a crappy baseball team practicing so they asked us to join.

It was AWESOME! I guess girls who can catch and throw is an amazing thing in Seoul… So us girls showed them up. We both hit and even pitched! These 4 little boys were cheering for us and there were 10-15 people watching... I felt special :) I pitched and struck out 2 guys. I loved it. Hitting was a little harder but I got 2 hits and a walk. I have a feeling it'll be a Sunday thing from now on :)

TRIVIA: In Korea, when they say the pitch count, they say it backwards – if it’s a full count, it’s a 2-3 count.

Woori Heroes vs. LG Twins

My first Korean Baseball game was quite an experience. Despite the LG Twins losing to the Woori Heroes, it was a good game. What was more intriguing was all the other stuff… and here are some of the highlights:

1. Fans aren’t afraid to put up umbrellas in the stands even if people can’t see behind them.
2. They have a “7th inning stretch” between the 5th and 6th inning and they did the “kiss me” camera which is something I was used to seeing
3. You can sit 2 rows behind home plate for about $8.00
4. Buying a bag of dried Squid is like getting a box of crackerjacks in the states (I sampled it and it wasn’t my favorite but I figured it’s safer to try it dried than fresh)
5. Each team has cheerleaders and a guy who gets the crowd motivated by using a whistle or a microphone.
6. The LG Twins fans are way better despite the fact that they are in last place (8 teams in the league)
7. When the Woori Heroes hit a homerun, the mascot lays out a red carpet (literally).
8. The ball/bat boy stores his balls in a nice wicker basket

Check out pics on http://community.webshots.com/user/megshep09 to see what I’m talking about.

Food for Thought

Food is one of the biggest differences in Korea. I have seen/will see thousands of things I wouldn’t see in the US. So far I have avoided western food and have tried a few things. I was introduced to a sandwich place which stood on the corner of the street with an awning coming out from the building. I paid W1,900 (about $2) for a “Korean grilled cheese sandwich.” It consisted of white bread brushed with garlic butter, 1 slice of American cheese, 1 slice of ham, about 4 pickles, and shredded cabbage. It was delicious! I had one for lunch on Thursday and went back and got it for breakfast today! I also tried a common food called “Kim-bop” which is sort of like Korean Sushi (see pic on website). It was pretty good and one roll cost me W1,000 ($1.25) which is a pretty cheap dinner. What I am not sure I could eat is a fish that was sitting out all day on a picnic table guarded by an old lady with a flyswatter (see picture below) ....or octopus or dog but who knows what can happen in the next 12 months..

This is just the beginning of all the food findings I will see in the next year!

P.S. Korean currency is the won (W) and W1,000 = approx $1.00

Update on the Family Tree

(photo: step father, brother, bio mom on an "island" on the Han River)

Number of parents: 8
Number of siblings: 11

My birth mom got re-married 6 years ago and her new husband (in the picture) has a son and daughter in their 20's.

Even though I cant understand him, I think he's funny and seems to have a good personality... and he's a cute old guy so yeeaahh for new step-father.

My first weekend

(photo: from left, clockwise: Travis (co-worker/australian), John (co-worker/NYC), Me, Enuk (friend of Travis), TJ (friend of Travis).. all at a downstairs restaurant in Sinchon, Seoul)

Things I learned this weekend:


1. There is free workout equipment along the river but I need to get a visor that leans about a foot from my forehead and a bandana to cover my mouth from the pollution to fit in.

2. You can buy a liter of beer in a plastic bottle at a convenience store for about $3 and sit outside of the store and drink it from a small paper cup.

3. When going to a public restroom, you have a 50/50 chance of what you're going to get: a western toilet ... or ... the squatter (whole in the ground). I am batting .500 so far.

4. Eating dog is not a stereotype. Enuk (in Asian military) asked if I ate it and I asked if it was a myth or not. He confirmed it's real and told me why the meat is so tender. I am going to not share that with you since there are so many dog lovers in the US. I am still debating if I need to experience the taste of dog.

5. A mini-headless octopus can be eaten whole (not by me).

6. Sinchon and Hongdae (neighborhoods) are where the "foreigners" hang out

7. When going out for a night, staying out till daylight is the norm. I left at 2:15am because I couldnt hang any longer.

8. One of my goals is hard to follow through with (about the food) since everywhere I turn, there is Pizza Hut, TGIF, Coke, Gatorade, 7 Elevens. So far I've only eaten at Pizza Hut but that is because my bio mom/step father took me there.

9. I need to learn to cook b/c eating apples, cheese, sun chips isnt so healthy.

10. My bio mom can beat me in an arm-wrestle.

11. If you press enough buttons on the laundry machine, it will start and wash your clothes

* a few more pics on my site

Birth Mother

(caption: birth mother and I at my place; 6/19/08)

So last night, I got a call saying my birth mother and brother were at my apt and is it ok to see them. I just ventured out to get some stuff and when I got back I was wicked tired. However, I wasnt going to turn them away so I cleaned up a bit and waited for them to come up.

When my birth mother saw me, I got over a minute hug.. she almost wouldnt let go...and it got kinda awkward. I THINK her boyfriend or something was with but I am still not sure who the guy was. Anyway, we talked to cousin Aram via phone who translated for us. She was crying and I was happy to see her but so tired, sweaty, and felt gross. A couple funny things about this meeting: she asked if I wanted to shower w/ her.. guess in the Korea culture, women shower to gether.. I put an "X" on that right away. Then she gave me the good ol' butt slap as she left. Priceless.

I will see her and other family again on Sunday at 11:00am.

Anyeonghaseyo! (hello)

(caption: meal on the plane)

Hello from Korea! I made it safe and sound and the 14hr plane ride from chicago wasnt as bad as I thought it was going to be. I sat by a guy who is a recent grade of Ripon College (WI) and he's korean going back home to visit his relatives. We chatted, I used him to translate something for me, and we played "Egyptian Rat Screw" the card game.. It was entertaining. My first korean meal was bibimbop (beef, rice, sprouts) with seaweed soup, korean style pickles, and cantalope and honey due. I got seasame oil (soy sauce is a US thing!) and a tube that looked like a mini-frosting tube but was actually a tube of "red hot pepper paste" ... yuuumm... I decided to be daring and put a little in my rice (when in Rome right) and it didnt burn my nostrils so thats good.

Birth Father, Brother, Cousin (who speaks english) and her little girl picked me up. We drove to the school then to my apartment only to find the air conditioner leaking on my bed! Brother and father to the rescue!! they fixed it and I stayed there last night. Now if you saw/heard about my apt in Flagstaff, you'll be impressed that I can live in something smaller than that... Gotta love the bathroom/shower/sink combo. Nothing like taking a shower and a potty break at the same time!

We all had dinner - pork, bean sprouts, kimchi (which I didnt eat), and some other stuff I didnt know along with a 24oz bottle of Cass beer :) that I knew and drank all of. Father offered a shot of whisky but I had to pass that time.

The next 7 work days consist of observing english teachers and doing an orientation. I've met all the foreign teachers I'll be working with - Travis from australia, Roisin, a girl from Northern Ireland, David from Michigan, Jackie and Ashley from Cali (northern and southern respectively), Charles and another David but I'm not sure where they are from. I'm 1 subway stop away from work but a $2 cab ride or a 25 min walk so thats nice.

Until next time ... check out http://community.webshots.com/user/megshep09 to see pics of my "officelet"