i muved

HERE.

It Starts

Dear 조 명 희 ,

Hello, my name is Molly Delander. I am a Korean-American adoptee. I am writing you to find out some information about my birth family and possibly contact them as well. I realize you have many cases to look at, and that the process will be rather long. Please take into consideration that I am currently living in Suwon, South Korea. I would be able to come to Eastern Child Welfare if need be. I also have someone that could translate for me, if need be. I believe I have all of the documents and information you would need. I will give you some basic information to get things started.

My Korean name is 오 세 영

Birthdate: 05.24.1984

Case number: 84C-1458

Birthplace: Seoul

Father's name: 오 석 준

Mother's name: 왕 희 명



Please let me know if you need any more information at this time. Also, my phone number is: 010.4048.9203.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Molly Delander

Inspiration

Perfection personified.

Snow Shuffle

For the past couple of years, my Dad and i have been running an 8K together in Chicago at the end of March. It's been a special thing for us to do together. This year, i could not be there to join in the festivities...but my Dad went down to the city and made me proud. In true Chicago fashion, it was SNOWING the day of the race. True to his admirable character, this did not stop my father...and for good reason...why throw away months of training for a little slush? He finished the race, a little cold and soaked...only to be cloaked in my long-distance, radiant pride. Congrats, Dad...maybe we can find a race in Seoul for next year. xo.

Home Is Where the Heart [Attack] Is

Despite longing to spend time with those who i adore back home...i haven't really experienced any other twinges of desire to be back in the U.S. of A., until now. After waxing on about food with a close friend, i have the biggest hankering for nachos. Which reminds me of a time when a rendezvous for this said culinary delight turned into being served something that resembled three-inch-deep greasy, white plastic. It's easy to get down on America for its grossly abnormal proportions. Although today, i could really do the backstroke through an ocean of melted Chihuahua cheese, gauc, onions, jalepenos, and sour cream. A lactose-intolerant's synchronized nightmare/ fantasy. God bless America, indeed.

Kids Say/Do the Darndest Things...

Okay, i promise i won't get all new-mother on you and talk about every single hilarious thing my students say...although it would make a good book. But i just had a few gems i thought i'd share. Being that it is only the first week of the semester...i'm sure it's only the tip of the oral iceberg.

1) We had to do an in-class exercise which involved us talking about what you should do for your aches and pains. If you have a cold, you should eat soup. If you have a stomachache, you should drink ginger tea. i asked my students what you should do if you have a backache...one of them shouted, "drink soju!" [which is Korean rice-vodka]. Another said, "drink champagne!" Mind you, these are students who don't know how to string together a complete sentence. Ah, some things know no boundaries...

2) During the same exercise, in a different class we were talking about what kinds of aches and pains get what names. Throat hurts= sore throat. Head hurts= headache. Stomach hurts= stomachache. One of my already-favourite students bobbed his hand up and down with such great enthusiasm and said, teacher! What is it called when THIS hurts? Just my luck, the curious lad was pointing to his nether-regions and an explosion of laughter erupted across the classroom. Apparently, i have all the boys with an affinity for their packages...

3) i have a student named Korea this semester. Yep, Korea. i thought he was joking but apparently not. Talk about a nationalist. To be fair, i suppose there is the actress, America Ferra to consider.

Another One Bites the Dust

So, my second semester has come to a close at Avalon. i think we all generally feel a sense of relief and accomplishment. i received two little notes from my students "Hannah" and "Sally." Who would have dreamed that these small gestures of gratitude from CHILDREN could have me walking on cloud nine months prior to starting this gig? Not many, i have to say.

To celebrate the end of the semester, we all went out to eat dinner to relax and catch up. Everyone had pork barbeque, while i dined on delicious seafood and tofu chigae [stew]. My co-workers expressed concern that i wouldn't have enough to eat, which is just laughable. Besides the stew, [which is served with rice and is quite filling by itself] i indulged in the numerous and delicious panchan [side dishes]. Koreans get down on food unlike anyone i've ever seen. i don't know where they put it all. The same can be said for the consumption of alcohol.

One of my very animated co-workers told me that my very "flushed" appearance after downing a glass of beer was a sign of good health. Here i just thought it was an indication that i actually lack the enzyme to break down alcohol. Oh, and they have an expression for the facial redness. In Korea, they call people "burning carrot." i can't help but laugh heartily at this apt description.

The Ones With Black Hair

These are some of my students from the past semester. i was extremely lucky this time around and really loved just about all of my kids. They work remarkably hard and are also silly at times. They test my patience on a daily basis, but the experience is rewarding. They're frighteningly astute and are wildly funny. The woman in the last photo is one of my favourite co-teachers, Jin.

Music to My Ears...

If you haven't yet, check out Beirut's new album...and Bon Iver's new EP. Both albums are great leaps and new sounds for the respective artists. Also, there is a compilation CD with Feist, Grizzly Bear, Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine, etc. called Dark Was the Night. It's a benefit CD for AIDS with some serious rockin' new tunes.

It's Been a Long Time, A Long Time Comin...

Okay, okay. i admit it. i've been procrastinating. Maybe procrastinating isn't the right word for it. Perhaps i'd say i've even been avoiding making a new post. But i suppose someone else can put it more eloquently than i can. Janis Joplin once said, "i can't talk about my singing, i'm inside it. How can you describe something you're inside of?"

i truly understand that sentiment she's describing. The main reason i have been hesitant to document anything new is that i've been busy just experiencing it. Prone to being an over-analyzer, i usually don't allow myself to indulge in the moment and just relax. My silly little thoughts are habitually bouncing about my brain. Sometimes, with such fury that i'm convinced they've taken physical form, making themselves arduous pin balls and ricocheting off the weary recesses of my mind.

So, being that i moved across the world, over several bodies of water and a few continents to boot, i decided to let myself just be. i've been kind of like a little sponge...experiencing things and trying to document them with mind, senses, and with my camera as best as possible.

i am going to leave you with a laundry list of things i've experienced, eaten, had spiritual epiphanies about, loathe, love, [etc.] in the past few months. It's kind of a cop-out i realize... i promise to be better about posting on a regular basis. i know, my blogging is REALLY significant and people are losing sleep over not being constantly updated on my travels. Worry not, fine citizens of the Western hemisphere, my silence has been broken. Hehe. Okay, over and out. Miss you all very much.


1. i spent Christmas Day with a bunch of people i really dislike at a restaurant i despise even more. Nothin like celebrating Jesus' b-day with social derelicts and dippin into some fine cuisine at Outback Steakhouse. Amen.

2. Koreans don't flush toilet paper. i don't know why. i've always flushed the stuff here and their flushers seem more than capable of getting the job done. They've got a little "sanitary" bin next to the porcelain thrones to dispose of the paper. i think it'd be a hell of a lot more sanitary if that stuff was flushed down with the rest of the stuff...just sayin....

3. i ate at this Indian restaurant called India House in a part of Itewon [Seoul] claiming to be the best restaurant in Seoul. Suffice to say, they are promoting some major false advertisement. Your curry wasn't all that.

4. i've learned to navigate the Seoul subway system. Honestly, it's quite a feat. You can refer back to a previous post with a map. i think it has something crazy like 13 lines [rivaled only by Paris]. It's the first time i've been intimidated by a public transpiration system. Although, once you've figured out how to get around on one...they're all the same...scale is the only intimidating factor.

5. i miss bougie things like Whole Foods, the New York Times Sunday edition, and going to brunch. i have become a soulless, consumer. Is there hope for me?

6. i eat squid on a semi-regular basis. i've eaten snail [thanks to my friend, Susan]. Don't worry, won't be dipping into the local specials such as silkworm stew anytime soon ;)

7. For the Lunar New Year, i received a giant box of seaweed from my employer. Only in Asia. It DOES make your hair shiny.

8. In Korea, shopping is a hands-on experience. i mean, the salesperson's hands on YOU. i've been practically man-handled in stores. It's a vast contrast from what i'm used to and comfortable with! Oh, and they aren't shy about telling you that you're too big to fit into their clothing as well! Koreans don't mince words. Gotta love the honesty here.

9. A friend of mine here, asked me if i wanted to go with him to volunteer a couple of Saturdays ago at this home for the mentally disabled. It was a pretty rad experience. We got to cook and hang out and sing. i hope to do it on a regular basis.

10. i received an apology slash Valentine from one of my students. It's a real gem. He had referred to his member as a sausage and banana [fully knowing the connotations] in my class. Of course, it took restraint for my own sense of 5th grade humour not to appreciate these colourful word choices...

NEW year, NEW post

...coming soon...