March 21, 2005
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I need to save at least $5,000 for airplane tickets for my grandparents and my mom’s aunt! I didn’t know that tickets from Korea to the U.S. are so much more expensive than tickets from the U.S. to Korea! It is all worth it though…so I can show my appreciation to these wonderful people who raised me when I was little.
My mom’s parents used to live on top of this big hill in Kwangju in the Big House along with my aunt, uncle and cousins. I used to live at the bottom of the hill with my dad’s parents while my parents were in the U.S. – just the three of us. I guess I was always getting into trouble…sneaking off to the Big House. There was a busy road that separated the grandparents’ houses and I was only 4 or 5 at the time so I was too afraid to cross it myself. I’d ask a lady who sat on the side of the road selling fruit to walk me across the road. So she’d pack up all her fruit, put the bin on top of her head, grab my hand, and end up walking me all the way to the Big House. Of course, my grandma would feel bad so she’d buy a ton of fruit from the lady and take me in. She’d scold me and tell me that my other grandparents would be worried and I shouldn’t be wandering around by myself but she loved having me over. Unfortunately, my cousin and I would always get into fights…the hitting and biting kind of fights…over silly things like who got to use a certain spoon.
I’d always end up back at the bottom of the hill at my other grandparents’ house…bored and lonely…so I’d find a way to do the whole fruit lady taking me to the Big House routine again and again. My grandma said that one of those times she was on the second floor and happened to look out the window when she saw me in front of the house…too afraid to knock…afraid I’d get in trouble…just playing with rocks on the ground. She said that she cried and cried…seeing how much I wanted to go inside and feeling so sad that I couldn’t be with my parents. She tells me she still cries whenever she thinks of that day.
For the tears and hurt they experienced for me when I was too young to know, for giving my parents the opportunity to start our new lives in the U.S., for loving me so much when my parents were away…I am so thankful to all of my grandparents!
For all the struggles my parents had to face coming to this country with absolutely nothing…for all the difficulties they experienced not knowing the language or culture…for the endless number of hardships they endured to give me the life I have today…I know I’ll never be able to fathom the depth of their sacrifices but I have my whole life to show them how thankful I am!
I’m sure you know the feeling…
Comments (14)
yay! you updated :O)
thanks for the test takin info.
i didn’t take a test prep for my SAt.. or Gre.. just studied on my own.. But i’m no longer a competitive, diligent, motivated student, so i dunno. :OI haha.
your post made me a little teary-eye’d. it’s sad/funny how all of our grandparents cried over us cause they thought we were poor things. my grandma always talks about holdin me and crying when i was visiting korea and had a bad case of diarhea. ha! your story’s a lot cuter and endearing though. :O)
i think it’s a beautiful thing you’re doing, and i’m sure the sacrifices your parents made and the hardship they endured are more than worth it right now. they raised a beautiful, loving, appreciative, and successful daughter. what more could they ask for.
.. do you get to see amc everyday? ooh. soapnet? :O) i’ve tried to find some freaking spoilers for that show, but can’t seem to find any! i only watch amc and gen hospital. they’re not trashy, have interesting story lines, and none of that weird hocus pocus voodoo crap that Days and some other soaps tried out. :OI plus the men are freaking cute. gen. hospital has a lot of hunky mobsters, a real dish of a business tycoon. heehee. wealth and power. gotta love it.
For the parents, there is nothing like having a good daughter or a son! It’s what makes all the sacrifices worthwhile and I’m sure your parents are so proud of you!!!
Helloo :O) General Hospital’s at 2pm on AbC. so set your tivo for AMC at 12 and gen hospital at 2.
storyline’s great right now. 
heehee. Thanks for the law school help! :O) I have a lot of thinking and praying to do. Not sure if it’s what i really want to do.. don’t want to pursue law for the wrong reasons, or devote 3+ years of my life studying something i’m not too passionate about. I did work at a law firm for a while (civil lit/personal injury).. boss treated and worked me like an underpaid attorney.. he was such a scum.. not too thrilled with the industry. plus i’m so flippin old to be starting a whole new program.. decisions decisions…
you must feel so accomplished.. already an atty at such a young age. i’m really proud of you :O)
That’s cute Jenny…Tickets are USD 1600/1700? I’m sure the weakening dollar hasn’t helped either.
Wow, I’ve heard that story a bunch of times now and it still touches… first time I saw it in words though. That poor little girl kicking the rocks and standing in front of the door contemplating whether to knock on the door.. remember my accurate depiction.. When are they coming again? I never knew about the spoon..
such a sweet story. you were so cute asking the fruit lady to walk you then playing with rocks because you didn’t know if you would get into trouble. well i’m sure they truly under stand the appreciation you have for them. i bet you can’t wait to see them.
It was such a touching story! I started crying when I was relaying the story to my mom (and she cried too). I’m so glad that your grandparents are coming to the States. And I know that they know how much you appreciate them and love em lots!!
yes… try it because it’s real and everyone’s been getting their free ipods!!! two or three of them!! so hurry and get yours while they last!!
OoH! I was wondering what you were talking about in your previous posts when you mentioned your Pomona, or something. :O) They’ve done tons with this area.. i live in rancho cucamonga, and there’s a new mall, AmC, they’re bringing a bloomingdales in.. lots of development. i love it. it’s not the same as LA or anything, but good enough for me.
so i finished my sweet factory candies, and I’m craving more, but i’m fasting. :O( You should come down to the oh so lovely Inland Empire some day.. revisit your old haunts :O) we’ll do lunch.
Whoa, how did I not see this entry until now? That is a really sweet story, Jenny. Do you actually have memories of this stuff? My how things have changed. I can’t imagine you walking up a steep hill anymore, let alone day after day.
okay, I’ll try! The work slowed down quite a bit, so now I am officially being paid hourly basis =( So looking now. tsk tsk tsk.
i’ll try to get it from my boyfriend… thanks for the comment!!!
hey you! update more often! i’d love to hear about your daily grinds. :OI workin in a law office can be such a pain in the ddongkko..huh?!
thanks for ee-bbuh-hae ing my bentley so much :O) i lub his q-ooooooooooot face too.
it’s funny because we both just really HATE it here, hahaha. i think having each other has been a huge pick-me-up tho. i just couldn’t imagine not being with him for another 2 years. i miss my friends and family so much and all that is cali, but we’ll be back.