A Piece of my Seoul-What's Up

"Capturing the thoughts of a Korean Adoptee who was reunited on Sept 24, 2009 with the family who relinquished her for adoption in early 1977."

A Piece of My Seoul-Hee Jung 

It is always a pleasure for the Korean War Baby to turn to other bloggers out in the Cyberspace, who are writing about their own "Journeys of discovering their Adoption Identity".

Even in the past almost three months of struggle to expose and question the "goings on" at the dubious election of 27 March, 2010, I have often dropped by those who are blogging their own experiences. I want to bring some attention to some of these fine young (hey, everyone is younger than me) KADs.

In this post of Hee Jung, the topic of "Looking Korean" yet NOT of Korean Culture, language, etc. is looked at.

Some excerpts:

"I feel extremely comfortable thinking that I'm White - maybe that's part of the problem? I haven't done anything to date to change it, and I'm quite comfortable in my daily activities -- until I look into that mirror and suddenly realize, "Damn, I'm Korean!" 


....I know how silly that must sound. But it's something that I struggle with every day. Does it bother me? Yes and no. Like I said, I'm quite comfortable where I'm at, but then all of a sudden I "realize" what I really look like, but depending on what's going on (at work, or whatever), I just brush it off. 

....I know my husband looks at me and sees me as Korean (not culturally, but by looks). I look at my kids and see them as half-Korean. Yet, I'm struggling to feel Korean myself. The Swedish (and American) cultures are so much a part of me, I don't know how to, or even know if, I can change.

.....I can spend all the time I want trying to learn the language and culture, but the feeling of being integrated into the Korean culture and way of life may never materialize. I know that. Maybe that's why I'm not even trying? I don't know. But I still feel lost, like a stranger in my country, whenever I encounter native-speaking Koreans in my own backyard. I feel like an outsider at home. "

Read more, perhaps you can identify with much of the writer's feelings. How DO we deal with this conundrum of our existence?