I have been in the States around 9 years now. I lived in Korea for 26 years. Since my life is more from Korea than from here, it is no wonder I still have a feeling of non-communication from a lot of communication. I feel like I need to explain myself since my presence is not normal for most of people here. While I am tackling with this, I realize that it is easier to look back to my parents' lives and my grandparents' lives..
My parents are like most of other Koreans. They went through Korean War when they were young. My father knows what is like living a hard life eating tree barks during the war, walking several days to get to places when he was 6,7 years old, studying for college while he was attending technical school.( They teach different subjects from what is required to study for the college.) His brother and he was accepted for the top colleges for their areas. He was only one person in his school who got accepted into the one of the ivy leagues. And his younger brother was admitted to the best law school. I wonder what were their visions and thinking in their head while my grandfather wanted them to be farmers. Their hard lives without parents in anther city when they were in middle and high school made me think that I am going through the cushy life.
My mother had a really sociable parents. Her parents, my grandparents, were really established and loved being freer life style. My mom studied dance but she didn't continue her education. I asked her about that and realized that it was better not asking that question. Her talent in dance is continued on one of my sisters and my mom put a lot of efforts for her to continue her education as a dancer from when she was 6. My sister is now works for Korean Universal Dance as a national dancer and choreographer who travels and performs around the world.
But my mom's sacrifice for the family, for her brothers, and for her children made me think a lot about it. What is definition for the sacrifice? Terms are relative and it can be interpretated differently depends on the generations, culture, languages, and personal backgrounds. What I can trace back to her life can be understood as a woman in early 1950-60s.and her parents' generation. After 1910, Japanese slowly colonized Korea. Many of Korean parents who have children made their young children get married for fearing that their daughters can conscript as console ladies for the Japanese Army. Many young Koreans fought and died in World War II with the Japanese flag on their chests. Many were captured and sacrificed as laboratory Genia pigs for the developing Japanese biological weapons.
When I went to see the Bodies the Exhibition this early year here in Atlanta, I was standing there and thinking about the Chinese political prisoners. In China and Korea, the body is the temple of your ancestor. That is why people who lived during the era of Confucianism didn't cut their hair. But why they decided to be a display which is really humiliating for their ancestor( Ancestors are the core of the Confucianism)? The sacrifice. In a Communist society, one political prisoner lowers the whole family members and relatives' social status. But they could be heroes if they sacrifice their bodies for the country.
I believe that my mom's devotion completes my good lucks in Korea. I was really lucky in certain important times when I was younger. I gained more compared to what I put efforts in them. When I was visiting Korea a couple of years ago, I was really assured that I have great parents. What is sad is that there are more things than what I could understand now. And I don't think I will fully understand as a devoted mother like she is.
My parents are like most of other Koreans. They went through Korean War when they were young. My father knows what is like living a hard life eating tree barks during the war, walking several days to get to places when he was 6,7 years old, studying for college while he was attending technical school.( They teach different subjects from what is required to study for the college.) His brother and he was accepted for the top colleges for their areas. He was only one person in his school who got accepted into the one of the ivy leagues. And his younger brother was admitted to the best law school. I wonder what were their visions and thinking in their head while my grandfather wanted them to be farmers. Their hard lives without parents in anther city when they were in middle and high school made me think that I am going through the cushy life.
My mother had a really sociable parents. Her parents, my grandparents, were really established and loved being freer life style. My mom studied dance but she didn't continue her education. I asked her about that and realized that it was better not asking that question. Her talent in dance is continued on one of my sisters and my mom put a lot of efforts for her to continue her education as a dancer from when she was 6. My sister is now works for Korean Universal Dance as a national dancer and choreographer who travels and performs around the world.
But my mom's sacrifice for the family, for her brothers, and for her children made me think a lot about it. What is definition for the sacrifice? Terms are relative and it can be interpretated differently depends on the generations, culture, languages, and personal backgrounds. What I can trace back to her life can be understood as a woman in early 1950-60s.and her parents' generation. After 1910, Japanese slowly colonized Korea. Many of Korean parents who have children made their young children get married for fearing that their daughters can conscript as console ladies for the Japanese Army. Many young Koreans fought and died in World War II with the Japanese flag on their chests. Many were captured and sacrificed as laboratory Genia pigs for the developing Japanese biological weapons.
When I went to see the Bodies the Exhibition this early year here in Atlanta, I was standing there and thinking about the Chinese political prisoners. In China and Korea, the body is the temple of your ancestor. That is why people who lived during the era of Confucianism didn't cut their hair. But why they decided to be a display which is really humiliating for their ancestor( Ancestors are the core of the Confucianism)? The sacrifice. In a Communist society, one political prisoner lowers the whole family members and relatives' social status. But they could be heroes if they sacrifice their bodies for the country.
I believe that my mom's devotion completes my good lucks in Korea. I was really lucky in certain important times when I was younger. I gained more compared to what I put efforts in them. When I was visiting Korea a couple of years ago, I was really assured that I have great parents. What is sad is that there are more things than what I could understand now. And I don't think I will fully understand as a devoted mother like she is.
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