Sweet Home, Mama and Auntie, Korea

jaehee — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:37:51 +0000

Aunt , Me and Mom in 1976, Korea.

Every time I visit Korea and my family back there, I feel like I am making up for something. It’s a real nice feeling. It makes my stomach warm. We have been always close to Aunt’s family when I was growing up and I had also lived with aunt, uncle and cousin Yoonhee when I was doing the first year at F.I.T as Uncle was in NY for his work. I was lucky to have them while starting my school years all alone but then it wasn’t actually as I was with aunt, uncle and Yoonhee. Then it has been many years we kind of grew a part but here now again we get to see each others whenever I go to Seoul for my business trips. It’s a nice treat to see everyone. There’s always good chatting over delicious hearty food and laughs. Just being together makes me feel very happy and loved. Aunt recently helped mom renovating her new little home and it was my first time to visit mom’s traditional Korean home as she literally just moved in. It felt extra special to be at mom’s new home as aunt helped with many good ideas and also it was right on brother’s memorial day.

Beautifully aging Mom in front of her house. It’s about 150 plus years old traditional home called “Han-Ok” that mom had bought and it’s a kind of architecture that dates back to more than 5000 years of Korean tradition.

Mom’s next project is to add these solid concrete cylinders to the outside fence/wall.

It’s called ” Ogapi” in Korean, a kind of berry. It is supposed to be really good for you. You will see all these sort of things being dried, getting pickled or soaked in the water at my mom and aunt’s place.

Chestnuts drying on a Pyung Sang ( a quite big scaled low wooden seating deck) in the garden… such a Korean scene!

These beautiful wooden beams were hidden and the ceiling was lowered when the house was purchased. Can you believe it?

Poured concrete floor feels very modern in contrary to house’s traditional details. And it has excellent heat conduction as most of Korean homes have heated flooring system.

Happy mom at her new home!

Now we are at Heyri visiting auntie!

Aunt with big big smile and Brandy and Tang right outside of her beautiful Heyri home.

Aunt is an well known fine artist already, Je-soon Kang and she has started making potteries at Heyri studio. Now mom had joined her a bit! Mom holding her very first piece! It’s so fascinating. Isn’t it? I would love to try it one day!

Cheese, no ” KIm-Chi”! Just like an old time. Only difference will be I am the tallest here. Sort of. Ha-ha!!

Beautiful aunt here for an early lunch with me. Mom went off to work. Next time mom!

We are at this Buckwheat specialized restaurant. Buckwheat dumplings, savory pancakes, cold and warm noodle and even down to this much flavorful Korean Buckwheat Sake! Sooooo delicious. Sooo amazing! Chat chat and Chatty Chat. Aunt and I ended up having 4 hour lunch catching up on everything. So much fun!

After a good sleep over at Aunt’s place, this hearty do-your-body -good Rice cake soup for breakfast! It was full of fresh oysters, seaweed, korean herbs and most of all, aunt’s love! So delicious and so good for you!

Aunt holding me for another snap. 1976, Korea

Aunt, thanks for everything and take care till the next time we see! And Mom, I am so happy for your new lovely home!

I love you both, you lovely creative strong sisters!

Mother’s Poem: “Whisper of Silence”

jaehee — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:29:52 +0000

2 copies of Mom’s first “Solo” publication of her poems have arrived. It took a while to receive them. She had published a few in the past but this is her first Solo and the first one after my brother had left. So it feels extra special. Ha. I feel like I am discovering my mother all over again. A mother of 2 who lost one. A woman who loves. A woman who endures. A woman who respects. A woman who appreciates. Her soul. Her power. Her power to heal her soul. I look up to her strength and endless creativity. I look up to her dignity. Her Beauty. Mom, I feel your soul.

Your incredibly humble heart and resilience.

The C train home never felt so beautiful as today. Thank God I was seated. I just couldn’t stop my tears.

Mom you are an amazing human being. I love you.

Mother and me, 6 month old.

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Sweet Home, Mama and Auntie, Korea

Mother’s Poem: “Whisper of Silence”