Kimchi Mamas

Hello there

Hi. It only took me five tries to log in to typepad, which is pretty good considering I can't even remember the last time I posted here. I've been absent from all blogging for quite a while but I've continued to read my favorites, including this awesome blog right here. A lot has happened during my sabbatical, including having my MIL here for another extended stay. My favorite topic of discussion, it seems. I've got some pretty good stories saved up for y'all.

Anyways, I just wanted to drop in and say "Hello! I still exist!"

Korean mama drama

I swear I started thinking about writing this post about my mom before I read Mama Nabi's. I swear.

When I was about to get married (yikes, now almost seven years ago!), somehow the news made it into my mom's high school newsletter. To this day she has no idea how word traveled since she hadn't mentioned it to any high school friends, I guess there is telepathic ability among Korean high school alums. Anyhoo, many of these friends sent cards with money in them, in envelopes addressed to my name but sent to my mom's address. When she gave them to me, they were already opened. And then she had the gall to ask me to lend her some money.

What. The. *bleeeeeeeep*

S*x, divorce, and frying pans

... but not in any order of importance.

Let's talk about s*x, baby.

Hi, my name is Mama Nabi, I'm going through a messy divorce, and I haven't been laid for over 2 years. 

And, stangely enough - or not so strange, perhaps, I haven't missed it.  Or, let's say, I haven't had the time or energy to miss it.

I don't know if it's particularly because I come from a culture that, at least on the surface, represses s*x in the media and its society... but I do have a funny story to relate:

Open Thread Thursday

What's on your mind today?

--The Kimchi Mamas

Open Thread Thursday

What's on your mind today?

--The Kimchi Mamas

Welcome Kimchi Baby Cedric

There's a new Kimchi Baby in town. Kimchi Mama Nina gave birth to Baby Cedric in the wee hours of the morning. Congratulations, Nina!

--The Kimchi Mamas

Stephen Colbert-Rain Dance Off

Hat tip Bad Kitty!

The Electoral College... for kids

Are you still confused by the electoral college?  Still unsure who to vote for?

I found this book at Target the other day - it's called Grace for President.  In it, a young girl named Grace looks at all of the U.S. presidents, and asks, "Where are all the GIRLS?"

Grace then decides to run for president, and her teacher decides to host an election at the elementary school.  Grace's opponent is a young boy, Thomas Cobb who was the spelling bee champ, the captain of the soccer team, etc. etc.  The different kids in the school each pretend to be a state, and each decides who their electoral votes will go to. 

Thomas assumes that he will win, assumes that because there are more boys than girls in the electoral college, that he will win the election.  Grace works extra hard, campaigns, volunteers... (Sorry, I won't call this race for you yet.)

Did I mention that Grace is black?  I think it's so interesting that even in this pretend election, race isn't talked about in an explicit way... but gender is. 

And did I mention that the illustrator of the book is Le Uyen Pham, from the state of California, with 55 electoral votes?

I haven't given the book to my daughter yet... maybe come November when all these primaries are finally over and done with. =)

~ eliaday

Oppa, Unni, Hyung, Noona

The cultural issue of "respecting someone because they are older than you" came up during conversations last night.  The husband and I were trying to explain this Korean cultural phenomenon to our guest, who was white.  My husband is a 2nd generation Korean and grew up in mostly white neighborhoods until college.  I, on the other hand, am closer to 1.5 generation and had many Korean friends. 

We both attended a church during college where it was very normal and sort-of expected that you call older persons Oppa, Unni, Hyung, and Noona.  They are terms of respect and endearment.  If you are a gal, you call older gals unni and older guys oppa.  If you are a guy, you call older guys hyung, and older gals noona.  Unni and noona can be translated to older sister.  Oppa and hyung can be translated to older brother.  I know, it can be very confusing. 

Anyway, this was very strange for my husband and it took him a long time to finally call people hyung or noona.  And he reserved the terms for people who he felt were his REAL hyungs or noonas, people who looked out for him as if he were their younger brother.  I, on the other hand, started calling everyone who were older than me, even by one year, unni and oppa.  It was just normal for me and I just didn't think that it was a big deal. 

The strange thing is, I don't call my older sister unni.  I used to, when I was younger, but now most of the time we talk to each other (which isn't very much actually) I call her by her first name and we speak in English.  I think if I was speaking to her in Korean, I'd be more likely to call her unni. 

Open Thread Thursday

What's on your mind? Are you stocking up on rice? Plans for the weekend?

- The Kimchi Mamas