Blog Spy

I like to look at other people's blogs. It's amusing to see what sort of people read them, write them, and comment on them. Mostly, it's voyeuristic. Secondly, I feel like a psychologist examining people. I know some lurkers do that to me, so I can get them back. As I was going through some, I came across a couple who had just adopted from China and had documented their journey of adoption. Thankfully, this was not one of those couples that listed every single penny they spent on the child. However, I did find a few odd things. Below, find a list of nine things that caught my attention on this one blog. 1. They received a "Magnolia" doll for the child. If you don't know what it is, check it out here. From what I can gather, it is a doll for adopted kids. But what is weird is the story that comes with, or about, the doll. The story of... MAGNOLIA Magnolia was born in China on March 1, 2004. There is a Chinese Legend that says when a child is born there are invisible red threads connecting her (or him) to all the important people in her life, and that as she grows these threads become shorter, drawing her closer to these special people... In Magnolia's pocket is a red thread, personally selected by Marcia when she went to China to meet her third daughter, Demetria. As she chose the thread, Marcia said a prayer of blessing for all little children waiting for their "forever family". Magnolia's embroidered, red-thread heart is a symbol of the love that blossoms in the heart of each parent as they wait to meet their new child. Okay, so let's look at this "story." First of all, the story I think is about a red thread, which symbolizes blood ties. So in reality, the red thread is a symbol of how the child is connected to its birth family. But in this story, it's reduced to "forever family." Also, that would mean the red thread should actually get longer, but no...for these parents the red thread gets shorter. That doesn't make sense to me. I'm also glad that the "heart" symbolizes the love that blossoms in the "heart" of each parent. In my literary sense, isn't the symbol not supposed to be the same thing you are trying to symbolize? I don't know, but as a writer, that's really weak. 2. Bad language. At one point, the mother admits to practicing Chinese with some international students, but then in a later post says, "Ne Hao! I think that is Chinese for hello? I probably spelled it wrong, but at this point I don't care." I'm glad she doesn't care about spelling the correct version of the most basic word in Chinese you'd learn in the first page of any book. Also, I'm also glad that once she had the baby in her arms, she said, "at this point I don't care." I'm sure she meant it in a good way, perhaps she was exhausted and couldn't remember it at the time, and was being glib. Who knows. 3. Food. The mother says she's tired of eating rice and noodles. She also says that she gave the baby a grilled cheese sandwich, which the baby was totally unsure about. Then she says that she realizes the baby probably never had cheese before. So does that concern her? It doesn't seem so, because later on she tries to give the baby pizza. Um, hello? Most asians are lactose intolerant! Bean paste. The mother really likes bean paste, and is surprised that the baby does, too. Um, hello? The baby is Chinese! Practically all asians love bean paste. Eating a lot. The baby and the other adopted babies in the group eat a lot whenever food is put in front of them. Um, hello? It's called starvation. 4. Gotcha Day. This is the day the parents say "gotcha" to their babies. I guess this is a Chinese baby phenom because I didn't see any for Korean babies, but the parents of Chinese adopted kids had them all over the place. They take videos and post them for others to see. Of course, nearly all parents recommended having a tissue to wipe away the tears of joy. Weird. 5. North Korea. The mother was totally surprised to find that North Korea was attached to China. And that it was only attached at the north. Yeah, I think that's why they call it North Korea. I'm not sure? Also, she then said, "We will only be in north China for _ and _ and then fly out on the _. Thank goodness. The farther away I am from that lunatic, the better." Okay, I'm the first to admit that Kim Jong Il is a bit, um, touchy? But this woman sounds paranoid that he's going to attack China. Let me set this straight people. China is communist. North Korea is communist. They like each other enough. Trust me. It's true. He's never launched a missile toward China. Only toward Japan and into the East Sea. In another post she begins some odd rant about the "real" China at late night markets where third world dictators and terrorists have access. I couldn't decipher her meaning, but WHAT? 6. A post that really just breaks my heart. Anyway, she isn't real impressed with either one of us right now. She's probably terrified more than anything! She prefers me right now but NAME has been able to hold her and soothe her a time or two. We haven't really seen her smile yet but we have definitely heard her SCREAM! She has been upset quite a bit today. I'm trying to do everything I can to soothe her but I know she needs to mourn. The only thing I can do is hold her and let her cry it out. She loves to be around other people and is usually calm when we're out somewhere. We took her down to the dining room today to eat and she did really well. She actually cried when we entered the room. What is interesting is that this is clear to me the child doesn't recognize these people, and is more comfortable out with others who look like what she's accustomed to seeing and hearing. I can only imagine what it was like for me when I was taken at 3 1/2 to America. 7. They've nicknamed her, "The Little Dragon." Ick. 8. Welcome to the club, lady. I gotta tell you, I'm pretty sick of being on display. I feel like an alien or like I have an extra arm growing out of my stomach. I really just want to blend in. I figured being short would be an advantage (guess the chubby, blonde part knocks me out of that). You really have to be patient and put on your game face when you go out anywhere. I have to admit that I've spent most of my time in the hotel room because of all of the attention. The novelty of being a foreigner is starting to wear off! Now she'll know what's it's like for her daughter when she grows up.

Money and Adoption

Article from CBS and AP on Guatemala and adoption. Every 100th baby born in Guatemala grows up as an adopted American, making the Central American country the richest source of adoptees in the Western Hemisphere. Read entire article here.

Five By Five

Tag, you're it. I was tagged by weigook saram and I didn't even know it. Five Things in My Freezer Vegetable dumplings Soy Ice Cream Quorn nuggets (for the Noodlerama) Blue Ice paks Homemade Indian food Five Things in My Closet A leak from Hurricane Wilma Three hanboks Handmade crocheted blankets A new Billabong surf jacket (Didi thinks it makes me look like a J-Pop star) A sewing kit Five Items in the Car Paper towels Dirt, trash (including a 3 month old cake pan with frosting caked into it), and juice spills Loose change Bungee cords Jumper cables Five Things in my book bag – First off, I don’t carry a book bag per se; I carry a man purse. My gradebook (during school year) My Moleskine ruled pocket-notebook Uniball pens (won’t leak in-flight) Loose change (I seem to have a lot of this around) My i-Pod Five Books on my Nightstand Oryx and Crake – Margaret Atwood Shakespeare After All – Marjorie Garber Teacher Man – Frank McCourt My Moleskine ruled pocket-notebook (I keep one everywhere for late night afflatus). Noodle’s children’s book of her choice. I guess I'm tagging anyone who reads this. You can blog it, or use comments section.

I'm on a roll, cause it's late and I have nothing better to do

Allen Ng thinks his adopted daughter Allison, 13, will to get a better sense of who she is and where she came by visiting China. Chronicle photo by Kurt Rogers So another article. This time from San Fran Chronicle (not a great paper, btw). Interesting quote from article: Peggy Scott, president of the Northern California chapter of Families with Children from China, said China trips for returning adoptees are increasingly popular as parents try to help their children maintain their roots. She said parents of adopted Chinese children have tried to learn lessons from the experience of children adopted from Korea in the 1960s and 1970s. "Many of those children, the older ones, did not get exposure to Korean culture. When they got to be teenagers, they were having identity crises," said Scott, of Berkeley. "Now we know better."

And one from down under

This article has some interesting quotes. Another thing I find interesting is the father was adopted himself. "It has changed our lives - not only having children in our lives, but there is so much to be learned from the Korean culture. Australians could learn a lot from these children - particularly about respect," Carol said. "We have met the children's foster parents but our chances of finding the "tummy mother" are slim. It is socially unacceptable over there for a child to be born out of wedlock. If these young mothers keep their children they are disowned by the family and family is everything," Paul said. "It is hugely important to keep the culture and these are great people to rub shoulders with. They are a very intelligent and caring people," Paul said. "These might be Australian kids with Australian passports, but when they look in the mirror, they see Korea," Carol said.

Adoption: Just another way to become a family

Interesting article that I came across here. The thing that caught my eye the most was this quote: Beth Richardson says, "Adoption has changed greatly in the past 30 years or so. The birth parent can be a part of the child's life," she says. "The goal is to figure out what's best for the child, so that they can be raised in a situation that's best for them." With offices in Carbondale, Mt. Vernon, Belleville and Mt. Carmel, CSS encourages open adoptions, since an ongoing openness between the biological and adoptive family plays a vital role in the emotional development of the child. "The biological heredity of the family is important," says Mary Lou Los, regional director of CSS. "In the past the birth mother would never see the child again." "The goal of open adoption is to allow the child to have a sense of self worth - the child was not rejected, but the mother cared enough for the child to place him or her, because she couldn't parent the child herself - due to financial or other pressures."

American Moms Solving Adoption Problems

I think another one of my adopto-blogger friends posted something about the book, but just saw this come through my KAAN email and it reminded me of it. So I'll post it the article here. What is interesting is that it is a US white mom that seems to have discovered the secret of interethnic adoption, and not an adoptee. Why is that always the case? What do you all think? Read the article here. Also in my KAAN email, I noticed that one adoptive family named their kids "Eryn" and "AeRan." Two separate adoptees, two similar names. I don't know...I'd find that confusing. Also, another book, Pushing Up the Sky, has been published by KAAN and is from the perspective of a mother who faced a lot of difficulties in raising a mixed-race and interethnic family. It sounds interesting. Has anyone heard about it or read it yet? And finally, Seoul Identity Jewelry. This is a website where you can buy jewelry inspired by adoption? It's pieces for your adopted child. It's run by an adoptive mother. Just some stuff to look at today while I ruminate on my next major post.

I'm a nerd

Um, I didn't know this. I figured I'd be a mid-level or "slightly" nerdy, but not this type.

Journal Entry

In Korea, in front of temples you may stumble upon large reflecting pools. They are generally made of stone and are urn-shaped, some above the ground and others in the ground. They are there to protect the house from the fire spirits. It is believed that the fires were often started by spirits, and since the ancient homes were built of wood, the houses would burn easily. The water was placed in front of the house, not to put out the fire that started, but to prevent the fire from starting. The fire spirit, approaching the house, would see its ugly reflection in the water and be so afraid of its own image that it would flee. Now, as overseas adoptees, we often stand on the shore of our adoptive country, looking back at our birth country, looking across the vast ocean that lies before us. We stand, perhaps afraid to look at our own reflection in the water, our toes on the edge where the sand lies wet. Perhaps we are waiting for the tide to come in and suck us out to sea. We’ve seen our reflection in the mirror of our homes. These reflections are often haunting, for they are not what we expect. They are not that of our family. We can find no resemblance of them in our eyes, lips, hair, or nose. But if we go to the birth land, will we see our own reflection and flee in horror? Or will our souls ignite the memory of what was once lost? I returned to my birth land, searching for something familiar. Often I found it on the back of my tongue, as I scraped the city air and kim chi onto my teeth. Perhaps consuming enough in Korea will make me feel Korean. But I didn’t find the reflection I was looking for. All I saw was the image of what I thought I should be, but never was. As I flew over the Pacific, I looked down from the plane, and all I could see was the fury of the white-tipped ocean waves cresting and crashing. All I could see was the blinding sun that I was hurtling towards. And all I could see was the blinding whiteness of clouds.

Korean Adoption Issue Today, Vol1.No.2

In response to Kendra, who asked some questions, I’ve wanted to take a day and think it out. First, I didn’t intend for this blog to become a discussion forum for the issue of adoption, and in particular Korean adoption. My intentions were first to document my journey back to Korea for my second time, and to be able to show my friends, who were the first ones who had the blog address, pictures of what I did in Korea and things I saw. Somewhere along the line, people starting reading the blog, and with other KAD blogs going underground because of the obnoxious and obsessive comments made by APs and even other KADs, my blog has continued to increase in hits each day. However, my other intention is to allow people to make comments as freely and appropriately as possible. I am still relatively new to the world of KAD. Even though my adoption occurred nearly 30 years ago, I have only scratched the surface of what it means to be a KAD. Therefore, I enjoy some discussion along these lines. At the same time though, I am only one voice among the some 250,000 children from Korea who have been adopted abroad. And while I may find a home with a small and vocal group, we are just a minority of voices expressing concern on the subject that defines who we are today. My occasional rants on racism or stereotyping may come in succession (as the last few posts), but the times I could mention it are so often and frequent, that having two or three posts shouldn’t count as excessive. KADs, and other minorities, must stand together and try to voice out our feelings as openly as possible. I am one who dislikes the idea of political correctness because it seems to squelch the dialogue by saying, “well that just isn’t polite to say.” If it is never polite to discuss issues, and if people say things like, “but that wasn’t what it was intended to mean,” or “you’re taking it too seriously,” then it minimizes the situation and blames the “victim” rather than the perpetrator. While I don’t find myself “victimized” as being Asian, and as my friend J pointed out, I was never treated differently than any other friends (although I do recall people picking on me in school at times), I try to think of the larger group of Korean Americans and KADs of which I am a part. For me, this is part of learning to live, and learning about life. I’ve always said, knowledge can’t be taught, it must be learned. And learning is painful. I’ve had students come up to me and say, “But that isn’t what I wanted” when they got a bad grade on a paper or project. They complain that they tried hard and that should count for something. I say back to them, “It does count for something. But not a grade. Experience is what you get, when you don’t get what you want.” I am on a tangent, so let me address more specific things. 1. About “stronger, more authentic ways” to connect an adopted child to his culture. I have truly mixed emotions to this situation and can’t really give you any good advice. While Toby Dawson’s claim that he didn’t appreciate it until he got much older is probably true, I think many teens and young kids don’t appreciate much of what their parents did for them until they get older and can truly reflect on what a difference it made in their life. While I don’t want Toby Dawson to come stab me with his skis and poles, I think that statement is dangerous. Sure his parents “made” him go, because that’s what parents do. A lot of parents make their kids do things they don’t want to do, or say things like, “it’ll be good for you.” Kids are kids, parents are parents. With the “culture camp” generation of KADs becoming more vocal, we’ll see how those experiences play into their sensibilities as adult KADs and how well they identify with their culture. My reservation toward all this culture camping is that it still treats the child as “other” and therefore runs the risk of alienating the child from the adoptive family. I haven’t been to a culture camp, so I don’t know if this is true. This is only my gut feeling. My other concern is the concept of “authentic” Korean culture. In discussions with other KADs at conferences, I’ve made it clear that I dislike that term “authentic.” I find it offensive because it excludes KADs as being “Korean.” Take for example 2nd or 3rd generation Korean Americans. Some of them have grown up without much exposure to the country of Korea, and some have never been back. Some don’t speak the language, don’t dress the part, and don’t eat the part. So are they not Korean? The problem then is that when white Americans say “Korean” they think of the country, and not the entire population that lives in Australia, Europe, Asia, and Americas. They think that Korean must mean you act, speak, and do things in a certain way. While this may be true for the vast majority of Koreans, there are always exceptions to the rule. Even in Korea, the younger generation is changing the very concept of what it means to be “Korean.” Therefore, I’ve tried to express that my experience is an “authentic” Korean experience, and therefore the Korean culture from Korea must broaden their definition of what it means to be Korean, rather than for adoptees to try and broaden their definition of what it means to be Korean. I don’t like hearing KADs have to say (and I’ve said it, too) that growing up I always felt different, or I knew I was different, or I felt bad for not knowing what it meant to be Korean. 2. “When did he come home?” The term implies the child had no home before the child was adopted. While some children were left at orphanages, and others with foster families, I’d imagine that this term is part of the adoption world’s way of easing the transition. Make the language softer, and it’s not as harsh on the child. That’s crap. Transplanting a child from the country of birth to a new country is traumatic. No matter how nice a spin you put on the language used. So why not beat around the bush and just say: “When did you adopt?” or “When did he arrive?” My parents didn’t say things like, “when you came home.” I think I’ve heard my mom say, “When you arrived you would….” They also said, “When we adopted you we….” This makes it clear what exactly happened. I arrived here. I was born elsewhere. They “adopted” me and I became their son. This circumvents the “What do you mean I came home? Where was I before?” 3. This is the end.

MTV-K video on adoption

Thanks Harlow's Monkey for posting this, and I felt the need to post it here, to help spread the info around. Suchin Park, the host of MTV-K news segment, seems to have made a few mistakes on the facts of adoption. As Harlow's Monkey points out, she also uses "adoption friendly" language like "healthy way" to start a family. Is this a pro-adoption piece or just information? I'm just sharing so others can view it. I suggest reading the story, then viewing all the videos.

Letterman's North Korea Joke

Last night on David Letterman's show: "Kim Jong Il got married...on his honeymoon he successfully fired a short range missile." Is it me, or was this borderline racist/stereotypical? I don't like Kim Jong Il, but at the same time, I don't like Letterman making jokes about an Asian male's sexual prowess either. It goes back to the old stereotype that Asian men have small penises. Having gone to bath houses in Korea, I can vouch for the falsehood (pardon the use of the word "hood") of that stereotype. Perhaps Letterman, who I generally like, thought that he'd get a "pass" on this joke since it was about a man who is generally disliked in America. But, it seemed to cross the line for me. Maybe I misunderstood and it wasn't supposed to be taken that way at all, but considering the way it was delivered...what do you think?

Cultural Adoptee Artifacts

Several years ago I was able to attend an adoptee conference with other adoptees and their parents. During the conference I met many eager parents who were eager to hear how to properly inform their child about adoption, tutor their child in Korean culture, and expose their child to other adoptees. The parents had attended this conference for what seemed like one purpose: Find the answer. But, there was another reason. Something I didn’t pick up on until much later in the conference. Beneath the beauty of the gathering as an opportunity to expose others to the joys and pitfalls of adoption in America, there was a stain of insidious intent. Silently, but outwardly, there was a fierce competition growing among adoptive parents to prove how “Korean” they were, and how “Korean” their adoptive children were. This all culminated in two instances. The first instance was when one AP sat proudly, almost smugly while her daughter showed off how to do a Korean dance in her hanbok. I watched the mother more than the daughter, because she wasn’t watching the daughter either. Instead, she was gathering looks of approval from the audience, all of whom seemed enraptured by the grace of the daughter’s performance. Had these people never before seen a traditional Korean dance? Were they saying, “My, isn’t that amazing how even an adoptee can dance just like a real Korean?” What astonished me, was that the woman’s look was so obviously gleeful and smugly proud, that you’d imagine that her daughter had just graduated summa cum laude from Harvard Law. But no, she was dancing. The second moment I experienced this revelation was during another “cultural” performance of Korean drumming. This time, I was surrounded by APs, many who had dressed in hanboks for the occasion, who were watching an adoptee daughter drum solo. I watched and thought she was wonderful. But at the same time, I felt as if I detected this tinge of sadness on her face. I began to feel that I was in a shop in Korea, perhaps in Itaewon, and amongst white tourists who were here to do “real” Korean shopping. They were standing around staring as if they’d never seen such an object before. They were eyeing it with greed. The girl finished her performance and scurried off, as one can only do in a hanbok, and immediately reappeared in something more American and comfortable. Then she stood next to her proud mother and let everyone take pictures of the two of them. What was it I felt? Pity. I began to see that this competition amongst APs to prove to each other how “Korean” they’d kept their children was destroying my perception of what adoption meant. I hadn’t been raised this way, so why were they? Why were these mothers and fathers so proud, so keenly aware of their child as other, and so determined to prove to others their worthiness as APs? Furthermore, I brought Didi and Noodle with me. People would approach Didi and ask, “When did she come home?” or “When did you get her?” Why, just last month from SAKS 5th, we got it on sale! Didi was a bit shocked, as was I, since we both clearly believe Noodle to look hapa. But what was the most disturbing was the language of inquiry. “When did she come home?” If that is the type of language APs use, then it’s shameful. Shouldn’t they at least acknowledge that she wasn’t coming home, but being taken away? I don’t want to sound like an angry, angst-filled KAD, but I almost wanted to ask back, “When did you take her from Korea?” But I couldn’t ask them this because I was just too shocked. After the pregnancy difficulties, the immense work Didi and I put in to have our Noodle, wouldn’t people recognize that this child looked just like me? Besides, I was one of the few adoptees who had actually brought their spouse and child, and was also one of the few parents who hadn’t dressed their child in a hanbok. I thought these would surely be a giveaway. I know not all APs are this way, and this was a special occasion, but it still seemed a bit like a beauty pageant gone awry. We are not cultural artifacts to be inspected like ancient celadon. We are humans with private lives and feelings. Comments are welcome, although “anonymous” should try to be avoided.

Asian women in the 2006 Miss Universe

Congratulations to Miss Japan who was voted runner-up to Miss Puerto Rico at the 2006 Miss Universe pageant. I don't know. Does this still count as part of the "Asian Mystique"? Also, congratulations to Miss Thailand who was a top 20 finalist. And another congratulations to Miss Philippines on winning Miss Photogenic 2006. And another congratulations to Miss Japan who also won National Costume 2006. I didn't know that women samurai wore garters and high heels. Is it me, or does this "costume" look like something you might buy from an "adult" catalog? Also, what is Miss USA Tara Conner doing wearing a red-white-and blue jockey outfit and carrying a horse whip? I know she's from Kentucky, but in what sense is this a National Costume? Isn't there horse racing in every country?

The Viewmaster

When I was a kid I had the View-Master. Now my daughter has one. It has taken me this long to figure out that the reason the slides go by so quickly is that there are two overlapping images projected, thus creating that jarring 3-D effect. I like the View-Master. It represents something like me. I am two images juxtaposed onto each other to create a 3-D representation of both cultures, social structures, worlds, and labels I straddle. I only speak in metaphors.

And it's begun

Just received this post on Noodlerama of all places: Anonymous said ... (9:42 AM) : In MamaNabi's blog you wrote, "I also would've punched their faces in, and laughed hysterically as their eyes swelled shut. Wait, the Asian guys eyes were already shut though, weren't they?" I guess being Asian makes you feel justified in making this comment. So in response to "Anonymous" - Thank you for opening my eyes wider and making me realize my own racist tendencies. I had no idea my racism toward others and my own kind was so openly hateful. I should not make jokes about other Asian people just because I am Asian. I have much dishonored my family. Not only that, perhaps I should take more Xanax to keep in check my violent tendencies. Also, as a Korean male, I should probably not fight, since all Korean males know Tae Kwon Do (it's actually a requirement in Korea for all males) and therefore, my fists of fury may be considered "weapons of mass destruction." Also, I'm glad you posted anonymously because I don't, and stand by any statement I make. Also, you could have posted the comment on MamaNabi's blog by signing in, instead of invading my space I reserve for my daughter. If you read the history of my comments, I generally am sarcastic in all my comments. I use sarcasm (hard to pick up in written commentary) as a way of diffusing any angry feelings I may have toward the subject of which is being written.

Final Fu?

So MTV2 has aired a new show called "FINAL FU" where they pit black belts from across the nation against each other in order to determine the champion of the different "styles." The show is supposed to last a month. Last night I watched tall Korean guy perform Tae Kwon Do against a petite blond girl in American Karate style. The guy won, primarily because of reach and speed. The host is Ernie Reyes. I couldn't place his face, but then I found out he'd been in movies such as The Last Dragon, Rush Hour 2, and The Rundown (where he kicks The Rock's butt). I only post this because the website's homepage to me seems a bit cliched, and also borderline racist. While I'm all in favor of having an Asian host, do they have to make him say stupid proverb-like sayings at various points in the show? Must they call it FINAL FU? I know it's a play on Final Four, but really, come on. I thought, wait, maybe I'm being overly sensitive and don't know of all the martial arts that end with "Fu." So I began counting the ones I knew: Karate, Jujitsu, Hapkido, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Wushu, Jeet Kung Do, Kung Fu. Ah, yes. There is one! So is the title racist? Is the homepage racist?

Rock the Cass Bar

The obsession with western style beer bars in Korea is odd. But either way, they're kind of cool. This one was found on my way between Seoul and Gyeongju.

What I do in my spare time

I'll take Asians for $2000, Alex

Tonight on Jeopardy!, Korean Inie Park of Los Angeles defeated Bruce Lin of Ontario to win. She beat him on an easy Final Jeopardy question, and looked surprised when Bruce Lin actually had the right answer, but scratched it out and put down the wrong answer. Final Jeopardy question was on Presidential quotes. The clue hinted at by the mention of "the sun's power has been unleashed" and I knew immediately: Who is Truman! So did Lin and Park, but Lin crossed out Truman and put Eisenhower. Now, what was he thinking? Doesn't he remember who ordered the bomb to be dropped? Either way, this week 3 out of 11 contestants are Asian, and two of them are now daily champions. Damn smart Asians. Always giving me a bad name. I can't help it if my IQ is only borderline 150 and I can't remember trivial information! Come on! I don't even wear glasses! Oh wait, neither did they.

Things to do in Korea

A friend of mine is heading back to Korea in about a week. She asked for fun things to see while there. I forgot to mention that I went to the National Museum of Korea in Seoul that has an exhibit of cultural artifacts on tour from Pyeongyang. I guess it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I don't know if the exhibit is still going on, but for the incredible cheap tickets, it shouldn't be missed. Not only that, you can see contemporary art, ancient artifacts, Buddhist paintings, real celadon, and check out the interesting architecture of the building itself (reminds me of something I'd make in architorture school in the early 90s).

Lurkers Beware!

Okay, so Ji-in alerted me to my "blogging" gaff when I accidentally called people trolls, when in fact I probably meant lurkers. It's okay. I won't apologize, since you lurkers haven't actually said anything to me. I know there are some, since I've added my map counter that tells me how many visits and where they're from. Look, someone in Haiti? Someone in Peru? I think that's Malaysia or Singapore? Wow, people, welcome. I'll start posting things with titles like: "How to raise your adopted child the right way" "Adoption Angst: Why We Act White" "Who's your real mommy?" "Where's the vegetarian option?" "What the heck is papa2hapa talking about?" If I keep blogging about those topics, maybe Google will eventually tally my stats for number 1. Ah, and I changed the posting settings so you have to do word verification to prove you ain't no spam-bot.

Happy Anniversary

For nine years now we've loved together, suffered together, and grown together. Our thoughts have changed, but our love hasn't. Thank you for being there always, and for helping me find my voice.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

When I was in Korea this summer I visited a business there that claims they are "Number 1." I knew this because it was mentioned nearly twenty times during the 30 minute tour of the facility. The most interesting part of this experience was to see what they thought the "future" would hold, and what they had planned for the future of Korea. What you see before you doesn't exist, for the sake of discussion. Let's pretend that I'm not supposed to have this picture, but somehow I magically recreated it. They said, "No pictures." Why then be afraid? You see, the Korean way of thinking isn't like the American way of thinking. "Gee, here's a concept. Wouldn't that be nice? Yeah, maybe next generation, or next millenium." No, that isn't the Korean way. It goes more like this: "Gee, Sir, I have this idea." "I like said idea. You make this happen now!" "Okay. It'll be two months." That may be an exaggeration, but with the alarming rate of building in Korea, and the ability to construct high tech apartments in a matter of months, you know they have the ability. What you see then isn't a "concept" city. It's going to happen. It isn't like the Koreans to come up with an idea and just sit on it until they find the time to eventually get around to it. No, they'll make time, and if there isn't time available, they'll invent a way to make more time available.

Googled

I "googled" my blog title and found that I'm number 4 on Google. What that means, I have no clue. I'm behind the Washington Post article and Wikipedia, so I guess I'm in good company. At the same time, it's sort of disturbing at the sudden accessibility people have to my material. I feel obligated, now that people are reading it and commenting, to say something important everyday. I know others have felt similar pressure, and was wondering how they dealt with it. Also, since I don't mind people knowing about my experiences, I'm wondering how many "trolls" (It's a polite term, people. I don't really think you're short and ugly and prevent people from crossing bridges) are reading without my knowledge and not commenting. Maybe there are some APs who are reading this blog to find out what is the "right way" to adopt and raise an adoptee child. Man, have they come to the wrong place. Don't they know I've got no adoption issues? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?

Amy Anderson

If you haven't checked out her stuff, she's pretty funny. See her article here in the Star Tribune. I particularly like how she explains being adopted by Swedish parents. "It's kind of like being raised by wolves, except for they're white people." Okay, I know. There are a ton of you in MN, so I'm not throwing out something new here. You can find her CD on her website, and also links to her comedy material, dates, and other things.

Popularity of adoption

You know adoption has made it big when even Patrick Swayze is considering it. At the ripe age of 53, he'll be a great dad. So read the brief thing and see what you think.

Racism, stereotype, or just bad acting?

I saw this on Angry Asian Man, and decided to find out more. The Lady in the Water Cleveland (played by Paul Giamatti) consults with Korean co-ed Young-Sun Choi and her aging mother, who see similarities to a Korean fable, and tries to find out how to help Story (the Lady in the Water) fulfill her mission....Cindy Cheung (playing Young-Sun Choi), wearing outlandish outfits and speaking in a sillier broken English accent, plays the type of Asian stereotype that is going to be more offensive than funny to some. I've heard about Cindy Cheung from Robot Stories, the great film by Greg Pak. But I have not yet seen anything by her (they don't have that movie at my library or at Blockbuster). Why Shyamalan figures this role to be important, I'm not sure. While I'm thrilled that he'd include a Korean sensibility to the film (after all, aren't all Korean folk tales adapted to film just horrific at times: think A Tale of Two Sisters), I'm not sure he's really hit this one on the head. Of course, I haven't yet seen the film. But judging from the so-called "outlandish outfits", he's completely missed the mark. I didn't see any Korean women wearing outfits like that in Korea. Furthermore, why should she be reduced to playing a "role" when she could be developing character? Are her outfits supposed to be her character, and if so, doesn't that reduce her to object, rather than character, and thus in turn that should remind us of objectification of "other" as merely something for us to enjoy visually, but not intellectually. My biggest question would then be, why would Cheung agree to play the role if it is a stereotype of Korean girls in America. Wouldn't she think that perhaps she should say something like, "You know, this really isn't how they act?"

Money Top 100

Found on Yahoo! Money Magazine has released its annual "Top 100" places to live. (The city in which I now live ranked in the top 100, so I'm happy). Categories: Finances, Housing, Education, Quality of Life, Leisure & Culture, Health, and Neighbors. What's interesting about this is that standard criteria under each category fail to include diversity. Even under "Culture" there isn't a mention of ethnicity or opportunities for immigrants. However, for some reason they've counted Body Mass Index, # of Bars in 15 mile radius, and amount $$ spent on vacations as part of their criteria. This is Money Magazine after all, so I shouldn't be surprised. What is really neat about this is that Ellicott City, MD is ranked #4. Now for those who aren't from MD, have no idea what this is significant. It has to do with the Korean population. When I lived in MD, and taught in B'more, I would hear jokes that in South Korea, there were signs that said, "Ellicott City: The Land of Opportunity" and I believe it. Of the entire immigrant and minority population in HO-CO (Howard County) about 54% are Asian, with more than a third of that population Korean. You can find a Lotte Plaza off of Rte 40 and 29, and even Seoul Plaza just inside the B'more city line. There are several Korean churches, community groups, National organizations, and co-ops that are all based in this area. Read articles about the population here and here. There are dozens of Korean restaurants in the area, and nearly all are as "authentic" as you'll find anywhere in the states (except Koreatown, L.A.). Furthermore, the adoption community in fairly well organized in this area, and I know people who've been active in that part in both the social work and adoption field. So what is it about this area that seems to be welcoming of immigrants? If anyone has a good guess, let me know. I just thought I'd share some interesting information with you all, especially since some of you were probably tired at looking at Miss USA standing by the golf cart. You can also read some interesting articles: MD. Asians pushing for Lunar New Year recognition Koreans seek Schaefer apology Koreans coming to US for education Some of the articles are older, but still interesting to give a start to the discussion.

Miss Universe

I was going through the Yahoo frontpage and they had pictures of the Miss Universe 2006 pageant online. Now what caught my attention the most about the pictures they had was the seemingly overt politicalization (is that a word?) of this "pageant." I mean, let's get all the countries together that are at war with each other and see what we can make of it. Not only that, did the photographers really think we weren't going to notice how they "ethnicized" each photo (credit goes to the AP and the lame photographers). Here's Miss USA (Standing Alone....Go Figure) Oh Look, the African countries. Miss Universe (from Canada) 2005 "posing" with Miss Thailand 2006 Ah yes, the Eastern Bloc! Aren't they all just getting along so peachy? Oh, let's put all the Asian girls together! Are they wearing the right sash? Is the 1979 Peace Treaty still on the table?

Rock-ka-boom!

So it isn't crashing yet, or burning up in a fiery re-entry (probably not the greatest allusion considering NASA is trying to get the shuttle back home safely), but Rocketboom is attempting to reinstate itself as the leader in, well, inane news. I'm not sure why I'm so fascinated, but it's sort of like my inability to tear my eyes away from an accident that's about to happen. I'd hate to see anyone get hurt, but at the same time, it's a riveting experience of human fragility. Either way, a few things I don't like about the new Rocketboom: 1. The map looks old and dated (in fact, they've gone through three or four maps in the past). 2. The news hasn't been "news" nor has it been "new." 3. Joanne's personality (or at least what you can tell of it in two episodes) isn't suited for comedy segments. 4. I feel like I'm watching SNL of the late 90s completely fall apart. 5. I think the "Beta" name is stupid. Wait, the definition of "few" is less than five, so I guess I'll "literally" stop there.

Changed palate

Didi noticed that I've been eating differently since my return from Korea. I didn't notice this until she pointed it out (this is our normal pattern. Didi says something. It's generally true). But I've been eating a lot more rice, noodles, kimchi, seaweed laver, samjang, and spicy dishes. We went out to the Macaroni Grill the other night, and after a few bites, I began to feel bored with the food. I tried to offset this boredom by eating salad and bread, but even that gets boring after several bites. So why this change in my palate? I should probably explain that my first trip to Korea was unorganized and a bit sporadic. I ate whatever I could (Quiznos on one occassion, Italian on another). So I didn't always eat Korean food. But when I did eat Korean food, my birth family was a bit surprised that I actually liked it and ate it. I was sort of like, "what do you expect? I'm in Korea, there really isn't that much of a choice in the matter." After three weeks of the trip, I was tired of the food, and didn't really crave the food once I returned to the states. I would occassionally partake in some Korean food with my friends in B'more, but other than that, I didn't cook it at home, or attempt to find good kimchi. This time, after spending two weeks with my birth mother in her apartment, and having homemade Korean food nearly everyday, I came home and missed that intimacy that eating Korean food with others provides. I also missed the smells, the textures, and the tastes. So I went to my local Korean grocer (not so local as mentioned in previous post), and bought some samjang, gochu jang, seaweed, kimchi, mandu, and other ingredients. I don't trust my ability to make Korean food yet, and kimchi is such a long process, that I'd lose interest in about five minutes. So now, I'm cooking rice, noodles, and mixing things together, and getting a variety of flavors in a single meal. I don't know what this signals - a stronger interest in my "birthland" culture, a need for rememberance of my past life, or just a bored tongue - but has anyone else had this same experience? If so, what did you find out about your taste palate when you returned, and did other's notice it? Also, did it make you question your ability to recall things from your past? I only ask this because taste and smell are the strongest triggers of memory, and I'm wondering if this interest in Korean food at home, is a subconscious effort on my part to reconnect. I'd love to hear from my miguk friend who taught in Korea and just returned this year. You still reading, or has marriage turned you into a boring white guy?

Ka-Boom goes Rocketboom

Okay, so for those who think that all I write about is Korea, or like, adoption, or maybe my Noodle, think twice! I also write about stuff that interests me, or annoys me, or things that just happen to be on my mind. (Oh, and the internet stuff is Korea related since South Korea is the number 1 wired broadband country in the world) So for today, I want you to seriously consider these two pictures (credit must go to their websites and such for not giving me permission to post these...sorry!) The top pic is the new host of Rocketboom, Joanne Colan. (Is it me, or does she look constipated?) The second pic is the former host, and my favorite vlogger, Amanda Congdon. Do you see a difference? Okay, okay...I know what you're saying. "Look, dude. Not all white people look alike. Where you from anyway? China?" But seriously, does Andrew (seen here spewing out his caffeinated version of what happened) truly think we won't notice he's trying to replace the former with the latter? Is this supposed to make us feel better that he "canned" Amanda? Also, what's with the dig at the end of the new episode? So let's move beyond that and review the newest episode. Positives: I like the British accent. She's (as Didi would say) "My type" The British accent is cool. It was relatively interesting. The British accent speaking Spanish was even cooler. Negatives: It wasn't Amanda. It was only one story. It was delivered with a few "snide" remarks toward Amanda. It's done in a British accent (I can list this in both categories). I liked the pirate more than the rest of the show. Andrew's attempt at self-mockery seemed cheap and shallow. All in all, I don't know, but Rocketboom just ain't my gravy no more. Besides, I've got more important things to watch, like this!

Re-entry dangerous

Still no Rocketboom. Tuesday the site said sorry, we're having difficulties. Today, they say they're "rendering" so who knows. My thought is that Andrew just isn't happy with the quality he's gotten.

Pink Floyd, my childhood

Syd Barrett has died. Dark Side of the Moon, anyone?

Flashbacks

I was reading Mama Nabi's blog (I have nothing to do this summer except write about my experiences and sit around and drink coffee) and suddenly had this flashback to when I was in 5th grade. I was living in rural Northern Cali, where I was one of only four Asian kids in my entire elementary school (two of them were siblings). By rural I mean, the town was once known as the "Chicken Capital" of the West Coast. Also, it somehow laid fame to holding an annual National Arm Wrestling tournament. I could walk across the street and see a great horned owl who lived in the tall eucalypt trees and also the horses that grazed on the pasture. In my backyard, I could look over the fence and see a giant field of hay. My mom and I used to take me to this deli to get sandwiches and baked goods. It was in a small strip mall. One day, we're standing in line and this little girl (probably two years younger than me) comes up to me and says, "Ching Chong, Chinese Japanese Dirty Knees Look at These." At which point she pulls her eyes apart to make the most beautiful slanted eyes I'd seen. I'm just shocked and want to slug the girl in the face. My mom, who's pretty calm about everything that kids seem to do, says to her, "Well then, and where are you from?" "I'm Persian," she says with this long lull on the "r" as if she's sucking in all the air around her before she releases the "s" with a mortifying hiss. My mom just laughs at her and I just shake my head. What an idiot, doesn't she know Persian is considered "Asian"? So where did she learn this? I can only hope it wasn't her parents, and that she heard other kids saying this. Maybe (considering the fact that minorities were rare) she had heard it done to her, and she was finally getting revenge on being hurt by my clear Asianness. But either way, kids are cruel, and sometimes are ignorant to what they say. The Noodle doesn't fully understand the ramifications of the words she uses, and so when we explain to her that words can hurt, she begins to be sad and sometimes cries because she is pretty sensitive to hurting others. I can only hope that she'll not have to face this ugliness, but I know somewhere down the path, she will. In fact, she's had to clarify it at school.

APA Meme Revisited

I have been officially "tagged" by Daddy in a Strange Land, and since I didn't give it much thought the first time around, I'll try it this time. 1. I am: A father, a husband, an adoptee, a kyopo, and a little bit of the following (Gen X, Gen Y, XY Chromosome, Cali, Floridian, Texan, Marylander, and Yuppie.) Also a lover, a fighter, and rarely a biter. 2. My kid is: Unique. But also Korean-Japanese/Scottish-Irish-Cherokee/American and a wannabe cheerleader princess my little pony rider. 3. I first realized I was APA when: When my brother said I had slanted eyes. Also, in college, when my white friends began saying things like, "you know, I never really considered you Asian." I'd say, "Are you talking to me?" and look around the room for the token asian person to whom they were referring (generally my friend's girlfriend). 4. People think my name is: Scottish. And then they assume that I'm mixed (I am, but not Scottish). So they think it must be my dad's name and that my mom must be asian. They are mostly right, but in the wrong sense. My mom is Asian! Imagine that. But my "true" mom is a red-headed Aussie, so don't mess with her. My name is so unique that you won't generally find more than a few people in the phonebook with the same name. At my high school, people would find out what my name was and say, "Really? Did you know there's another guy at this school with the same name?" I'd say, "Really? No s**t. It's my brother. How many people with this last name do you know?" This conversation generally ended with me explaining I was adopted and that my brother was not my biological brother, and that I was not switched at the hospital, and that yes, we swear, we're brothers. 5. The family tradition I most want to pass on is: eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve and getting to open one present at midnight (the only tradition we really had). Strangley enough, my parents have never eaten Korean food. 6. The family tradition I least want to pass on is: Moving around every two years (dad was military) 7. My child's first word in English was: Dada 8. My child's first non-English word was: "water" in Sign Language 9. The non-English word/phrase most used in my home is: Si' (we live in South Florida and Didi is bilingual). The Noodle is intent on using this word instead of "Yes" so I guess the Spanish is sticking. Now if only I can teach her more Korean than "annyong haseyo" and "kamsa hamnida" 10. One thing I love about being an APA parent is: my kid can check most of the boxes on the census forms (all of them if you count that Didi's great-grandmother, a Cherokee, was counted as Black in the 1890 census). Also, I finally have a kid who looks like me. It's sort of like starting your own tree of life. However, with my child, also came my foray into my past. So two worlds collided at the same time; my past and future. Way cool! Way emotional! 11. One thing I hate about being an APA parent is: Everyone assumes my kid is smart (well, she is). What's there actually to hate? I'm proud to be Asian (finally) and proud to have a kid that looks Asian. But at the same time, I don't want her to grow up and be stereotyped as "ethnic" and "exotic." When clearly she'll be brash and American. Plus, since she's hapa, and damn cute, I'm going to have to carry firearms to ward off the teenage boys when they begin arriving. 12. The best thing about being part of an APA family is: I don't really know, but having a child that looks like me is cool. Also being able to teach my child about being Asian from an informed perspective will be like salve for me. 13. The worst thing about being part of an APA family is: There has to be a worst part? Um, I like rice? Rice is fattening? I like noodles. Noodles are too salty with MSG. I guess that's the worst part. 14. To me, being Asian Pacific American means: being exactly who I am, regardless of what I look like or how (or by whom) I was raised. I'm big on this idea of expanding our notion of APA or, in my case, Korean. If we think about the fact that nearly a quarter of a million Koreans have been adopted abroad, then those Koreans make up part of the Korean experience. Therefore, Koreans must change their perception of what it means to be Korean, not necessarily adoptees changing their perception of what it means to be Korean. The same will go for Vietnam, China, and now Russia and Kenya.

Launch Delayed

Just like NASA, the newest version of Rocketboom has already been delayed. Let's hold judgment and see what the glitch was.

Pollock This!

Came across this through Yahoo! Try it and make your own Jackson Pollock drip canvas.

New Rocketboomer?

Why does Andrew pick someone who looks like Congdon? Because he must realize that Amanda's fans are going to hate him for firing her. So as, noted, he's supposedly picked a new host. She's got credentials, but will Rocketboom fade away into nothing? Well, looks like people really like her, so we might as well give her a chance.

Local Korean Market

There are only two in my area. Both are more than 10 miles away and in Florida, that means a 30 minute drive. The market sells the standard stuff, and also sells daily made Gim Bap and Kimchi. I bought some noodles, gim bap, sauces, kimchi, and candy (for the Noodle). I got to say "hello" "thank you" and "goodbye" in Korean, and that's about it. There isn't much talking unless you ask them a question. All in all, a good store, but too far to go to regularly (although I've been craving kimchi since I got back from Korea).

What smells?

Why it's the Boryeong Mud Festival! It's coming up next weekend, and if you're in Korea, and in Daecheon area, why not try some mud for your skin. The first picture is the "mud" center that I visited on my trip to Korea. We didn't go in, but I thought the lovely characters covered in mud were cute and so typically Asian inspired. The second is the poster for this year's festival. Note, that there is only one Korean person in the entire poster. Also note that Jennifer Hawkins (Miss Universe 2004) is the spokesmodel for the mud festival. I guess they couldn't find any Korean models or stars to actually lend their name to Korean mud, but they'll lend their name to cheap noodles, brand name soju, and sky rise towers. Anyway, thought you all might like to see something I saw. Also, Boryeong mud really stinks. I mean, it reeks in that area where they process the mud. It smells almost worse than the country pastures. But the festival is actually held in Daecheon Beach (touristy spot...good sushi). I don't know what's in the mud, but I'm guessing that whatever smells, probably isn't good for you. Thankfully they take that ingredient out, and leave only the good "minerals." Here's the link.

Bye bye Rocketboom...

You know Amanda Congdon has made it big when even Yahoo puts her departure of Rocketboom on their homepage. Unfortunately, it looks like my favorite vlog will no longer be active. Does anyone want to start a vlog about adoptees? Or would that be too much self-loathing, that I'd hate it after a week?

Where Appa was killed

After years of wondering where exactly and what exactly happened, I finally found out: Camp Casey I don't know why this makes me feel better, but it probably has to do with the fact that I'm a visual person. I can't believe something until I see it for myself. Although this picture is poor, and taken from another website, I've finally got some sense of where things began for me. This is the place where Appa was killed, the event that triggered my adoption to America. But that will be another post, and a long one at that.

Stupider

Since I was on Amazon, I thought I'd just share a few other treasures I found!

APA Meme

Taken from the Rice Daddies: 1. I am: A Korean American Adoptee (known as a KAD in internet parlance) 2. My kid is: Korean/Scottish-Irish-Cherokee 3. I first realized I was APA when: When my brother said I had slanted eyes. 4. People think my name is: my dad's name and that my mom must be asian (strange, they're right!) 5. The family tradition I most want to pass on is: eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve and getting to open one present at midnight (the only tradition we really had) 6. The family tradition I least want to pass on is: Moving around every two years (dad was military) 7. My child's first word in English was: Dada 8. My child's first non-English word was: "water" in Sign Language 9. The non-English word/phrase most used in my home is: Si' (we live in South Florida and Didi is bilingual) 10. One thing I love about being an APA parent is: my kid can check most of the boxes on the census forms (all of them if you count that Didi's great-grandmother, a Cherokee, was counted as Black in the 1890 census) 11. One thing I hate about being an APA parent is: Everyone assumes my kid is smart (well, she is) 12. The best thing about being part of an APA family is: I don't really know, but having a child that looks like me is cool 13. The worst thing about being part of an APA family is: There has to be a worst part? 14. To me, being Asian Pacific American means: being exactly who I am, regardless of what I look like or how (or by whom) I was raised

And they had to go there...

I knew they'd push it. As I continued searching...see what I found. Ick. Once again we (well...you ladies) become objects, like Korean celadon, that can be identified by your "otherness." I feel weird. At the same time, the "Do you have any Korean in you? Do you want some?" shirt doesn't seem as offensive to me. I realize this is only because Asian men in large part are not sexualized by the media as Asian women are. But this is because of the same "qualities." It seems that Asian men are classified as "meek, quiet, and submissive." The same goes for Asian women. But what people (white American men) find attractive in Asian women, the opposite is true for Asian men. So often we're seen as inferior. Oh no! Don't be afraid of the Asian kid, he probably is smart and nerdy and knows like Kung Fu, but he doesn't have any girlfriends. Any thoughts?

Want a shirt?

I'm not giving them away, but you can order them through Amazon.com I went searching for "korean" and this is one of the items that came up. I was actually looking for a language book (Active Korean), but found this little thing to be quite amusing. Not sure...but does crass still sell?

Korean Crowds

Is Seoul really that crowded? Well, on a "slow" day in Namdaemun I went shopping. So see for yourself.

Korea's Concern for Elderly

You've heard about it, and it's true. Koreans are much more respectful to the elderly than American culture. Koreans would never send their aging off to live in retirement communities with other aging people. Koreans would never let others take care of their own. So, in an effort to prove they're so in tune with the needs of the elderly and disabled, Koreans like to post signs about their ability to help those most in need. Please pardon the blurry picture, I was getting in line for the speed train.

English Only, Please

Ah, the joys of teaching English. Thankfully, I teach English to so-called "native" speakers. Although, teaching in South Florida you do run into a number of dual-language students. However, in my teaching experience I've found that foreign students tend to have a better grasp of English than American students. That was until I met Korean high school girls. With the exception of a few who had actually lived in America (mostly in Iowa or Indiana...why?) most of the girls could hardly put together a sentence. This was even after many had admitted to having studied English for several years. My friend, TF, who taught in Korea on and off for about 5 years, says it has to do with how English is taught at a young age. Pretty much everything is done through rote memorization. Therefore, many younger Koreans can tell you the words in English for the equivalent Korean counterpart, but wouldn't really know how to put a sentence together around that word. So, let's practice English! This sign was posted in two prominent areas at the hagwon in Pohang. This private school is serious, although the girls I spoke to admitted they didn't always practice English like they should and they often sat in class doing nothing except gossiping in Korean. I am plannning on getting a sign like this for my classroom, since sometimes my students say things that I don't understand. They claim it is English, but that I'm just not with the lingo enough to "get it." That's when I say, "No, but your grade just doesn't get it, either."

White Power!

I don't know. People are commenting extensively on how "racist" this advertising campaign is. I feel two-fold about this (thanks to about twenty other blogs!). 1. I think racism has a lot to do with intent. Whether or not Sony intended to maliciously foster this type of behavior is questionable. 2. I think the ad sparks because racism exists. David Bradley, a great contemporary African American writer, said once (if I misquote please forgive, Mr. Bradley) "[This] isn't the problem. The problem was already there. This was just the spark that ignited the keg." I guess that I feel that the ad sparks the keg within all of us that hates racism and the exploitation of "racism" as a commodity. When we become so unabashed about what we see on TV, what else is there to do to catch our attention? This seems to be the philosophy many advertisers are taking, using blatant sexism, mysoginy, and racism to grab the public's attention. I don't think they're doing a good job of conveying their purpose behind these ads, and I sure hope Sony issues a formal apology for their, at least, "insensitivity." But again, as consumers, the only way to show Sony that you aren't in favor of their marketing ploys, is to stop buying their products.

Why I'm Glad to Be Home

Photo credit (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man) It seems that my timing was impeccable. With my return home, I discovered that I just missed out on some protests over North Korea's missile program testing. I am sure that this is causing serious political tension in Korea, as it was constant news in Seoul when I was there during late June. This all comes after the fact that North Korea allowed a "prisoner" to be reunited briefly with his mother after 28 years. North Korea even admitted they "kidnapped" the individual, forged his death certificate, and kept him against his wishes. Now that North Korea has test fired seven missiles into the East Sea, it seems that the US, Japan, and South Korea are scrambling to find a way to stop North Korea from developing further weapons. Also, North Korea has warned that if the US should try military intervention, that North Korea will retaliate. With their sloppy SCUDS and other short range missiles, I can only hope that this comes to pass quickly for the sake of my birth family.

From Sea to Shining....

This trip to Korea afforded me the ability to travel a bit more than last time. As I had posted before, I was able to see both seas (Yellow Sea and East Sea). Remember, it isn't the Sea of Japan, since no one really "owns" it. So here are pictures of the Yellow Sea (Taean): And a picture of the East Sea (Busan): The distance between both these spots is probably just about 200 - 250 miles.

Myeongshil...Beauty Shop

Haircuts all around. Like I said, my friend got a haircut, along with a young adoptee girl, and so did I. Omoni is very good, as both my friends who have received haircuts loved them. The adoptee girl also loved her haircut, and other people on the trip seemed to have wanted to go get one after they saw how good the haircuts turned out. Omoni is so good she was crowned "Grand Prix" at the World Hairdressing Championships in 1998. Yes, they have a world championship for everything. She also did the Japanese Prime Minister's wedding party, so I'm guessing she's as good as they come. So like I promised, here's a picture of Omoni giving some haircuts to people.

Favorite Trees

interesting knots at Cheonmaecheong path at Cheonmaecheong Red Maple at Cheonmaecheong at Sudeoksa at the Yedang Reservoir near Yesan

Jet Lag

I am back in America. I spent just over 18 hours total sitting on a plane...and was traveling for nearly about 30 hours straight. On this trip I flew (roundtrip) more than 18,000 miles. The circumference of the earth is just over 24,000 miles. So in my two trips to Korea (from Maryland and from Florida) I've traveled more than 36,000 miles. Enough to go around the world 1 1/2 times. It's good to be home and sleeping in my own bed. I don't mind the yeo, but prefer the bed. I'll post more things asap. But am in the middle of redoing the house (not much of a break)! Thanks for reading!