Even after twenty years of living in the US, I call my annual trips to Korea “going home.” My teenage daughter, however, describes the same trip as “visiting Korea.” Herein lies the difference in our attitudes – mine is to reconnect with family and friends while hers is to explore new places and experiences. Luckily,…
Ajummas are commonly featured in Korean dramas as the beloved-but-annoying, loud, nagging mother or neighbor… sometimes as the point of comic relief and other times as the source of anxiety for the protagonists. But what exactly is an ajumma? Do you ever wonder if, now, at your age you’ve become an ajumma? Google translate will tell you an ajumma is…
A Korean American Thanksgiving Story The three most dreaded words, according to moms like me who hate to cook, are “What’s for dinner?” It sends chills up my spine when I know I have nothing prepared in advance. It’s awful, really. Some days, it makes me want to run away and never look back. But…
THE KIMCHI SLAP The Kimchi Slap is a humor column by Bok Unnie, your Korean older sister who tells it to you straight with a big dose of spice and humor. Have a question about living your best Korean life? Ask Bok Unnie and put your mind at ease! Dear Bok Unnie: Leggo my Aegyo?…
Subtle Asian Traits is a Facebook Group where almost 2 million people share things about their Asian lives. Having raised two boys, my sense of humor tends to be on the immature side with “Dumb and Dumber” and “Stepbrothers” ranking a little too high on my list of favorite movies. Subtle Asian Traits is right…
[Read to the end 💔] Mother’s Day has this Korean American mom reminiscing about all of the wild and crazy things my mother used to tell me over the years. You can say it was a hodgepodge of old wives tales, superstitions or just plain old common sense embellished, Korean style. Here is a compilation…
Dong chim is a popular prank that involves using your index fingers to poke someone in the between the bum cheeks with as much force as you can muster BEWARE the poop needle.” That’s my travel advice to anyone heading to South Korea. Because nothing can prepare you for the shock of South Korea’s craziest…
On Black Day, single Koreans drown their sorrows in a bowl of jjajang myeon noodles. If one day of hearts and lovey-dovey, mushy-gushy isn’t enough , you might want to consider a move to Japan or Korea. Both countries have an interesting adaptation for Valentine’s Day: They celebrate it twice. Traditionally on February 14, the…