Kimchi Mamas

Book Review - Escape from Camp 14

Disclosure: I got a free copy of this book to review.

Escape from Camp 14 written by Blaine Harden tells the true story of how Shin Dong Hyuk broke out of a brutal labor camp in North Korea, eventually making his way to the USA. Complete with maps and drawings, Blaine makes it easy for the reader to picture this harrowing story. I heard Shin Dong Hyuk speak at an event in Stanford before so his story was not new to me. However, reading about the details made it so much more real.

Born inside Camp No. 14 Shin Dong Hyuk was the product of a marriage that was itself a form of reward, a reward reserved for prisoners who modeled "good" behavior such as snitching on fellow prisoners. He survived by doing whatever he could to secure food. He grew up to be the model snitch, not even thinking twice to snitch on his own family.

This book provides an accurate and horrifying look into North Korea's infamous labor camps. A hopeless world where humans become driven by hunger and hunger alone. Where affection does not exist. Yet even in such a bleak place, compassion comes at unexpected times. 

Mass shooting at a school in Oakland, CA

I was listening to NPR when I heard the sad news story of a shooting that happened in Oakland this morning. Apparently, a disgruntled student open fired in a class at his former school. The school is Kairos University that apparently caters to Koreans and Korean Americans. Many of the victims (seven fatalities) as well as the prime suspect are thought to be Korean.

The man suspected and arrrested for the crime is One L. Goh, 43, of Oakland. He drove to a Safeway in Alameda and confessed his crime to an employee.

- Mary

Goodbye Halmoni

My grandmother had six children. A boy, and then a girl, and then another boy, and then another girl, and then another boy, and then another girl. My dad was the middle boy.

A professor of population studies asked me during a discussion if my grandmother had six children and if my mother had two. I answered yes. Yes and yes. Apparently, Korea had very strict population control and those were the ideal numbers for those days. I was quite dismayed to learn that my family was so typical. The number of cousins and siblings so determined by governmental forces.

Save My Friend

Looks like someone read my request! (Just kidding, I know I'm not that powerful.)

There is now a petition to pressure China to not send North Korean refugees back to North Korea, where they will be severely punished, if not killed. If you have two seconds (who doesn't have two seconds?) please go to www.savemyfriend.org and sign the petition.

Many people have used change.org to successfully bring about a change. (Remember when banks were considering getting rid of free checking accounts? Yeah, Change.org!)

The petition already has more than 165,000 but they need more signatures. The goal is 500,000. Thank you kimchi mama community!

 

- Mary 

Open Thread Thursday

Are you getting swept up in the Linsanity?

Hoping Hee Jun Han will last a while on American Idol?

What's on your mind today?

- kimchi mamas

Black Day

In Korea, Valentine's Day is celebrated a little bit different. On February 14th, the women give gifts to their significant others. Only the women do the giving on this day. March 14th, called White Day, is when men give gifts to their significant others. Leave it to the Koreans to separate everything based on gender.

And the coolest day? It's Black Day. On April 14th, those who are single get together to eat 짜장면 jajangmyeon or noodles with black bean sauce.

I kind of like this idea. Even though I'm married, I like any excuse to eat 짜장면, even though it's like 1500 calories. No wonder it tastes so good. It tastes amazing with a dash of red pepper flakes and pickled daikon with vinegar.

Random tidbit: I love this Korean song and it references 짜장면.

 

Hoping you had a good Valentine's Day.

- Mary

The Korean Man's Anger

By now you've probably heard or read about Pinkberry co-founder, Young Lee, attacking a homeless man with a tire iron. When I was reading some of the details of what happened, and also accounts of his previous shady behaviors (like making threats against someone's life), I was like... I can totally picture a lot of Korean men doing this.

I do think that Korean men, in general, are quite hot tempered.

Why is that? Is it the prevalent use of alcohol and alcoholism? Too much emphasis on honor and respect? Too much pressure? Male chauvinism? Superiority issues? Imaturity? 

I'm not sure. Probably a combination of all of these. Whatever the recipe for rage is, Korean culture sure seems to have all the right ingredients.

I'm not innocent either. I've been classified as a "fiesty" one. I do get angry... but I don't think I would ever chase anyone with a tire iron. I scream at my kids and snap at my husband... occassionally cuss at bad drivers.

What are your reactions to this story?

- Mary

Happy New Year

It's the Solar New Year!

I hope everyone had a restful time off and spent lots of time enjoying their families... although I gotta say that taking care of both kids all day is way harder than being at work. Even if one of them looks this cute:



Anyway, anyone got resolutions for the new year?

I'm not one to make resolutions (anymore, since I never seem to be able to keep them) but I have one word themes for the entire year. The simplicity of one word seems to work for me. My word for this year is humility. I hope the lessons aren't TOO painful. Humble pie can taste rather bitter some times.

My word last year was love. I feel like I still have no clue what love is all about, but I think in some strange way, it helped me to show love to my kids more intentionally.

Oh, did ya'll eat ttuk gook? 떡국? I swear, it's the easiest meal and we probably eat it at least once a month. Leftover rotissarie chicken carcass makes the best soup base too!

- Brought to you by, ramblin' Mary

Kim Jong Il is Dead

By now most of you probably heard that Kim Jong Il is dead at the age of 69. I saw some footages of North Koreans "mourning" via a Reuters video and to me, they just looked like people "faking" it. After reading this post on Ask A Korean, I can hardly "trust" North Korean journalism or even clips of videos that are released to the outside world.

Anyway, what does the passing of Kim Jong Il mean to me? Not much. I just hope that his son is not as corrupted by power to the degree that him and his father were. I was rather disgusted by his son's pudgy face in light of the fact that many in his country, at this very moment, are starving.

Who knows? Maybe reunification can really happen. Perhaps I may, one day, be able to travel to North Korea with my children.

What are your thoughts on Kim Jong Il's death?

- Mary

Best of the Worst

What's the worst thing your mom or dad has ever said to you?

My dad told me yesterday that he shows his love to me by yelling at me. Um... no thank you please?

Do your parents show you how much they love you by criticizing you too?

Here are some of the best of the worst things I've heard over the years:

• If you're not going to teach your children Korean, don't even bother bringing them to see me.
• Your sister does ____ , why don't YOU do ____?
• You are less than an animal.
• &^%#$% you &@^%#$^!!!

So, let me hear them girls (and boys). What's the worst thing your mom or dad has ever said to you? I know the Koreans can dish out some mean words.

- Mary