WHO AM I?

Joon's Birthday on Sep 23, 2001
 

My Childhood and School Days

I was born in Seoul of South Korea about 40 years ago. My family was such a large one with seven children and I was a sixth.

My father was such an idealist. He had no sense of ability and his diving interest was not money. His personality as a romantic idealist drove my family to economic difficulties. The hardships of life drove my mother out of the house for earning money.  Eventually my mother was obliged to work for keeping our livelihood instead of him. He had the boundless knowledge about every field. In other words, he was a walking dictionary. He used to enter the Annual Spring Literary Contest sponsored by many newspaper publishers because he had a talent for writing. But the results were disappointing even if he was filled with the desire to become a professional novelist. I still have a vivid picture of him, who was largely engaged in writing in his later years.  

My mother was a many-sided woman. She was excellent in painting, writing, playing the harmonica, needlework and knitting.  She was a sentimentalist who struggled not to lose her dream even in difficulties. I still remember what she said to me. When sh was in seventies, she said, "If I were 10 years younger, I would learn many things more." She was kind of a woman who had a love and passion of learning. She had lived the hard way because of her husband giving many troubles to her. We, my siblings were influenced more by our mother than our father.

  
I used to be an excellent student in my elementary school days. It seemed that I was any other classmate’s elder sister because I was calm, thoughtful and forward. In my teenager, I was a girl with dreams, sentiments and ambition. My talents for writing and painting brought me many opportunities to get awards. I used to enjoy listening to pop or classical music and reading books widely in school days. One time, I wanted to be both a novelist and a doctor in the future. I think now that I spent the golden age of my life even if I suffered from financial difficulties.
 

At the university I majored in the English language and literature. I studied so hard that I could be an English teacher who loved students unlimitedly. But reality of my life led me the different way from my hope. I had worked in the bank and social welfare organs for many years before getting married.

  
Marriage and My Precious Family

 
When I was 30, I got married. My husband was very thin and sharp. He was active, cheerful, and passionate. He liked to travel, listen to music, watch movies, and keep good company. He is a kind of person who hates to tell a lie. He has been working as a computer embroiderer for 15 years and still doing. He was a hardworking person. I liked his sense of responsibility for his family and his endless passion for his desire.

I have a son and a daughter. My son is 12. He is in 5^th grade. He is warm and generous. He has good leadership skill, too. He has been playing Tae Kwon Do, a pride of Korean sport, for 6 years. He was an excellent student in Korea. I believe he’ll do well in this country - America.

My daughter is 10. She is in 3^rd grade. She is clear, bright, kind, and affirmative. She plays the piano well. She is good at painting pictures and making up compositions, too. She is very cute and talkative. My children are shiny and precious gifts given to me by God. 

 
To America

My family came to this country about ten months ago. I loved my country and didn’t want to leave it, but my husband got his job here and wanted to come to U.S. strongly.  We – my entire family – could not help coming here. It took about 11hours from Korea by airplane. My sun, daughter, and I were bored and inconvenienced on the airplane.

 
When I arrived at the Los Angeles Airport, I was nervous and scared because of the different kinds of people and strange scenery. But now we are learning about America little by little. We are accustomed to American culture step by step. We’ll be faced with many troubles in this country, but cut our way through the troubles in cooperation. My husband and I expect that our children will be able to adjust themselves to the new environment here.

My Best Friend

  
My best friend is Eun-ju Whang.

She is a pure, graceful, and tender woman. She is a sentimentalist, too. I had met her about thirty years ago. Both of us are in 1^st year of Junior High School. She was an excellent student, so she was my rival. We attended the same high school, too. We spent the school days dreaming of things to come.

 
She majored in the science of nursing at the university. After graduation, she had worked at the hospital and as a nurse teacher in the middle school. She married the faithful and capable man I had introduced to her. He and I were in the same class at the university. He was very generous and gentle.

 
She has been living in England with her family for about 2 years. When I was sad and troubled during the 1^st month in this country, I was given a postcard by her. Her postcard gave me strength to be brave and confident. It was not expensive, big, heavy, or splendid. It’s just a simple rectangular card, which was painted the Thames River with a black color pencil. I am thinking this card is my favorite possession since then, so I’ll keep it forever and ever. Although she is far away from me, I feel that she is just close by .We always understand each other’s sentiments. I’ll keep our friendship eternally.

 

My Future, My Dream

I’d like to go to the college and study about social work someday. I’m interested in juvenile delinquency. I want to share their problems and understand their activities. First of all I’ll study English harder and harder. I have to attend at the adult school without laziness for improving my English skill especially speaking.

 
I believe that my children will study hard and conquer many troubles as a foreigner pretty soon. Also my husband will be a good household as usual.

 
I am a homemaker and want to be capable and wise. I am proud of my job, for a housewife is the competent expert who's just the job in family and home. My main responsibility should be keeping my family well for that reason. Honestly I am often bored with my job because my daily tasks are always similar, yet I think the housewife's duty dosen't have to be despised at any times.

I want to have my own professional work in which I can show my ability when I settle down in America. I think sooner or later, my children will be grown up enough and won’t need my help any more. I will do my best every day till then. (2002)