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.