Kimchi Mamas

Happy May Day! Video Letter From Julie!

Hi all--

I thought it would be faster to make some announcements via video, but forgot that it would take a lot shorter for YOU if I wrote them out!  So the too long; didn't watch version is:

1. New Kimchi Mamas!  Check them out!  They are awesome, and I'm very excited to hear more from them.

2. Site redesign going up this weekend!  Please feel free to poke around on Monday, and email us at the kimchimamas at gmail dot com address with any issues you may encounter.

3. Book Club!  We will be reading a new book every two months, and discussing it right here on the site.  This month's selection is Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin.  We will put up a book discussion post on June 1, so that gives you all of May to locate a copy and read it.  

--Julie

PS: Yes, I am in one of those life stages where I have fine lines AND zits!  No, I wasn't stoned, but I have been staring at a screen all day, so pardon my red eyes and mistaking June for January, lol!

Welcome brand-new Kimchi Mama Nancy!

A new week, a new contributor!

We asked Nancy the two questions we ask all new Kimchi Mamas: what makes you Kimchi, and what makes you Mama?  Please welcome Nancy to the fold!

Love, the Kimchi Mamas

 

I am kimchi because I am a full-blooded Korean.

When my son was two years old I began a novel about Korea. In the book, I wrote about a woman who was taken away from her son and her husband, forced into a comfort camp and eventually driven to lose her mind due to the horrific experience. The woman in my story somehow managed to get on a boat back to Korea after the Hiroshima bombings but she was never the same.

Presenting...our newest Kimchi Mama, Robin!

We are so excited to announce that we have found some amazing new contributors.  We will introduce one a week, starting with Robin of Tansy Dolls.  Her introduction post is after the page break!

Love, your ever-faithful Kimchi Mamas

I'm so excited for this opportunity to write for Kimchi Mamas.  As a full time doctoral student I rarely have time to write anything that isn't academic, but more importantly Kimchi Mamas represents two very important identities to me.  I was asked to answer two questions for my first post: 1) How am I Kimchi and 2) how am I Mama.  My answer is that my understanding of how I am both is always evolving and changing.

Looking for a Few Good Writers

Yes, you read that right. Kimchi Mamas is looking for a few good writers to contribute to our spicy site on a regular basis (at least once a month). Is your mouth watering yet? 

The only requirements are that you be KA (or Korean Aussie or Korean Argentinian or Korean Algerian) or K_ (insert whatever letter you want here) and a mama. And by "Korean", we mean by blood (in whatever percentage), marriage, nationality, or experience, since we know there are many soul sisters out there even if we don't share the same DNA. 

We can't offer compensation, but you'd be in the company of other fiery KA moms and a band of faithful readers. And you'll get a link to your blog here, connecting your writing to the thousands of readers we have. (Don't forget, we're a Babble Top 50 Mommy Blogger!) 

If you think you got what it takes, email us at kimchimamas (at) gmail (dot) com with a link to your own blog (if you have one) and a sample post. 

"When we tell our stories, we change the world." Brene Brown, I Thought It Was Just Me

-Kimchi Mamas

Hump Day Links

Kristen Chase over at Motherhood Uncensored gives some perspective to the perception of Dads and our roles as Moms. (Did you know she's a Kimchi Mama? Probably explains her HAWTNESS.)

 

Speaking of sexy: I guess women of colour aren't sexy anymore? According to VS we're not . . . When I grow up I want to be Jen and Diane at Disgraisan.

 

Is the kid in this video Kimchi? Someone help me out here.

I *heart* this video because:

1. I love Green Day - don't care what you say, takes me back to high school and college

2. I love that this kids gets to play on stage with the band

3. I wish I had muscical skillz...

 

--Angie in Texas is going to practice her trumpet now. (Because trying to learn a new instrument at 30-something is FUN and not TOTALLY FRUSTRATING, okay?!

 

 

 

Look Mom! We're Famous! - Featured in The Korea Times

Kimchi Mamas are featured in The Korea Times - a newspaper for Koreans living in America! The whole thing was printed in Korean so I translated it for you below. Two awesome Kimchi Mamas, Julie and Stefania are pictured and some others are mentioned. Yay! I'm not a professional translator or anything but I'm pretty sure it'll be better than Google Translate.

"Ajumma Power" Lets Korea Be Known

Online consortium of Korean Women, Kimchi Mamas Power Bloggers

Julie Kang's popularity soars, leading discussions on mainstream media and Korean articles.

Kimchi Mamas power blogger, highly popular Julie Kang.

 

Kimchi Mamas founding member, Stefania Pomponi Butler.

There is a power blog featuring Korean culture and food. An online consortium of Korean women bloggers who raise Korean American kids voice their opinions on Kimchi Mamas. The most active Kimchi Mama among them is Julie Kang of Geisha School Dropout.

Open Thread Thursday

 
How about some Namja Kimchi?

What's on your mind today?

--The Kimchi Mamas

Open Thread Thursday

Korean Rockabilly, anyone?

How did you celebrate Mother's Day?

What's on your mind today?

--The Kimchi Mamas

Nor Cal Kimchi Mamas Meet-up #3

The 3rd Kimchi Mamas meet-up is planned!

If you are in the Bay Area, please come join us.

When: Saturday, April 24

Time: 6:30 pm

Where: Sahn Maru, Oakland. 

There may be Karaoke afterwards, you can never tell with this crowd!

To RSVP please join the google group km-meet-up@googlegroups.com or email me at maryschoi at gmail dot com and I will add you to the group.

- Mary

Love at First Sight

Love at first sight... is what I felt the moment I laid eyes on Kim Yu-na (김연아).

 

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Mesmerized was what I was... during both of her performances... I think even my 3 year old son was crushing on her.

Hands down, she was the highlight of the 2010 Winter Olympics for me. Way to go Yu-na! 

This Kimchi mama (+ the rest of the world) loves you.  

You make me a little more proud to be Korean and I sure hope that all of your endorsements (she's the highest paid in endorsements among all celebrities in South Korea) help close the largest gender income gap in the developed world.  (Thank you Hyon Bin for the heads up about the great article!)

- Mary is a little sad that the Olympics are over and still a little pissed about all of South Korea's missed metal opportunities in short track. *sigh*