Kimchi Mamas

Call for Blog Links!

Readers,

We're extending the deadline for you to nominate your own or your favorite blog for our top 20 "KA" blogroll. Nominate your favorite blog by leaving a comment below (and get it in by September 30th)!

 The original post below:

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?!

 

 

 

On Blogging

About a year ago, I received a call from my mother around 9pm PST.  She lives on the East Coast, so it was around midnight her time.  I picked up the phone, alarmed that something could have happened to my parents who live alone in a closed-blind suburb of New York.

"Mom, is everything ok?" I asked as soon as I answered.

"Are you writing about our family in a blog?" she asked.

I was too stunned to respond.  I had been keeping a blog for the past few years, and I had written liberally about our family.  But I had not told any members of my family about it. 

"Why are you writing about our family?" she continued.  "And why are you doing it in your name?  Other people blog anonymously.  Why do you have to put your full name on your blog?"

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.

Holiday cards anyone?

Hey hey! It's ho ho time... in about two months that is...

Now, I'm one of those people that don't even do cards. Full time job, two kids and a husband, 'nuff said. I'd much prefer to hang out with you one on one than write you a lame card that says "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope you have a year filled with joy, peace, love blah blah blah..." or give you a cheap gift that you'll probably feel guilty about tossing in the trash around February because it gives your kid a rash.

Click here for more info.

- Mary

Who Jomama?

Hello!  I've been reading Kimchi Mamas for over a year now, and submitted a guest post last year about My first Christmas Memory.   I was delighted to be invited to join as a regular, even though it took me a month to get my act together for my introduction.

Having been adopted at age 6, I arrived in the US speaking fluent Korean and no English.  I quickly lost my native language, and mastered English to join my first grade class 6 months later with no accent.  It would take me much longer and more effort in college to regain any semblance of fluency in Korean again.  

Basic stats:  I am married to a bek-in (white guy), and we have two hapa boys, Teddy (11) and Barley(8).  Although DH and I both grew up back East, we have migrated westward, until landing in Silicon Valley, where we both attempt to balance work and family life.

I never heard the term "banana" or "twinkie" until I was in college, but instantly related to the term.  Having been raised by white parents in a 99% white community, it was a major research project for me to learn what it meant to be Korean.  I was fortunate to meet a good Korean friend in college, and then spend a year at Yonsei Hanguk Uh-Hakdang, learning to speak, read, and write Korean.  By the end of the year, I was able to defend myself from taxicab drivers who criticized my lack of fluency in the mother tongue.  Phew!

Ask a Korean

I have to share this funny blog I found recently.  It's called Ask a Korean.  (Warning: some might find it offensive.)

His most recent post about Japan/Korean relations is both well written and informative. His post are often so hilarious that I find myself laughing out loud (really!) frequently.  

Inspired by Ask a Mexican (which I have yet to read), his duty is to answer all your questions related to all things Korean. He does have a question policy and also a list of FAQs.  Go ask away! 

LOLing and grateful for the high quality entertainment (and education),

- Mary

Top 50 Mommy Bloggers

 

Woot woot.

Kimchi Mamas has been rated as the 34th best mommy blog by babble.

Go and say you "like" us. he he

- Mary is damn proud of Kimchi Mamas.

What if Metrodad were white?

It's no secret that we here at Kimchi Mamas love us some Metrodad. His posts are by turn insightful or touching, but mostly they make me snort my drink up my nose on a regular basis. If there are "characters" in blog-dom, MD, his lovely BossLady and their absolutely freaking adorable Peanut are some of the most colorful and endearing. Plus, Metrodad is just an all around cool guy.

So I have to say I'm thrilled - THRILLED - that he's getting some serious interest from major networks to turn Metrodad into a television sitcom. Plus a potential book deal! Wheee!

But then I'm very much not thrilled that pushing for an Asian American lead may mean that Metrodad may never hit the small screen at all.

So what do you all think? Should MD push for an Asian American lead in any would-be sitcom? Could we imagine Metrodad as a white guy? Can funny be funny whether the character is white, yellow or purple with pink polka dots? Or should we resign ourselves to the fact that a comedy about an Asian American dad raising his daughter in New York is just too much for "mainstream" America to swallow?

- Nina