Korean, Danish

One of my earliest memories is of an inner cultural conflict.

Sitting down with my family to eat a Korean-American meal of rice, gim, kimchi, sausage, and pasta I suddenly felt I needed to make a choice to be either Korean or American.

I felt overwhelmed. I couldn’t have the confusion of being both in my life. As children we are always attempting to dichotomize the things in our lives and ourselves.

Knowing myself, and who I am has always been very important in my life… for a long time I wasn’t accepting of being Korean.

I recently made a trip to visit my relatives in Seoul, and it was one of the most life changing experiences I’ve ever had. Knowing now more about myself and my mother than I ever have, I feel like a new person.