I’m having some trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that we only have about three weeks left here. I can already feel the loss I’ll feel in returning to the States. I haven’t posted as much as I thought I would while we were here. Likely because we have been pretty busy so I'm … Continue reading Connections to My Seoul
There's a melancholy seeping out of my bones. It seems a sort of thing awakened by being here in Korea. Don't misunderstand, our time here is wonderful and will make for lasting memories. However, just because the experience is beautiful and memorable doesn't distract from or minimize the contradictions that live here. Likely one of … Continue reading Melancholy Has Come to Knock
I have some of the most amazing friends in my life. They make up part of my chosen family. During these pandemic times, I have stepped back to reflect on life, relationships, and many other aspects of my existence. Part of this reflection has also been on how and where I have channeled my energy. … Continue reading What is Loss Anyway…
Recent violence against the Asian American/Pacific Islander communities has given me pause. I've grieved the loss, pain, and hurt of the communities directly impacted and felt the fear and pain myself for my birth family and my own family. Anti-Asian sentiment is certainly not a new phenomenon for me and I have been confronted by … Continue reading My True Confessions
Code Switch: Our Homeland is Each Other (10/10/2018) Before reading, I invite those who are following and reading along on my journey to pause and listen to this whole episode. My words cannot do justice for what the interviewees do in this episode. Second, I am one person and I am not in this space … Continue reading Let’s Talk about Transracial Adoption
In the coming week I'll be presenting at a couple of conferences on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). As I've been preparing, it got me thinking a lot about adoption and ACEs. Here's my disclaimer...my work is currently in the health promotion field and has been in the field of therapy with a focus on trauma, … Continue reading Adoption is an Adverse Experience
Every time I do this, I am breaching the sacred pact of our family, our once-shared belief that my race is irrelevant in the presence of their love. But withholding hard truths and my honest opinions would also sell short the love I have for them, and they for me.Nicole Chung, All You Can Ever … Continue reading The Weight of Being Chosen
Like so many others, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic brought about many changes to our home, homemade 김치 (kimchi) being one of the better changes. For those who don't have an intimate relationship with 김치 (kimchi), it is a staple food in Korea. Most folks typically associate it with the traditional fermented cabbage variety … Continue reading The Art of Kimchi
Rediscovering My Seoul 