Seventh Brother

2006-08-27T23:23:00.000-05:00

Cooking for the Family…traditions of the home…buying groceries…how many people?...the cost of living in Korea…Confucian benefits The first tradition I was introduced to upon entering a Korean home is the removing of the shoes. This tradition is symbolic as well as pragmatic. The symbolism is found in the behavior of the Korean people in public. As I’ve mentioned, Korea is a small country

2006-08-27T23:16:00.000-05:00

The Cast of Players…a breakdown of the family members, what they do…a book of names…what’s in a name… In a break from tradition and with apologies to those named, I will elucidate who my brothers are, what they do and my observations of them. I will address each as Hyung-nim in order to honor the tradition of using the titular expression “elder brother.”K’hyung-nim- Park Jong mo-52 years

2006-08-23T01:14:00.000-05:00

Tiger Smoking Tales...visiting the tomb of Pak Yohkoesae...Flying Horse Tomb...Buddha under glass...another trip to the Sauna...why you would never want to be a waiter in Korea...why American kids are "falling" behind......more No Ri Ban...August 16th 2006....A Tiger Smoking Tale is what Koreans call a legendary tale, it is often fantastic in nature, but also carries with it an important cultural

2006-08-20T18:55:00.000-05:00

Korean Independence…a growing sense of nationalism…eldest brother’s teacher…birth mother’s youngest brother…why Japan must not re-arm…Picnic, Korean style…my niece’s honor… I find myself growing in my identity as a Korean. Through the cultural teachings of my first eldest brother I have learned many

2006-08-20T18:53:00.000-05:00

How Many Grandfathers? … a note about my birth father … illustrious history of this branch of the Park clan … visiting the anscestral shrine…a growing Korean vocabulary…a note about my obituary…visiting fifth brother’s metal works shop…dinner at sixth brother’s house…a rare gift. I lead today’s blog with a note about my birth father Park Cheon kyu (1934-2003). For those who don’t

2006-08-15T14:37:00.000-05:00

Second Day...family order...second eldest brother...more on food...paying respects early...watermelon soup...on family names...an observation on the modernization of Korea and the Korean economy...why I love to sing.The most pertinent thing to discuss is family order. Korean culture is based on a central Confucian principle of the oldest rules and that he (or she) must rule wisely and well. As

2006-08-13T17:48:00.000-05:00

8.12.2006 Climbing a mountain...more about fourth eldest brother...ages in Korea...why a sauna just isn't a sauna anymore (or why I feel like a swan and not an ugly duckling)...more on food...travelling to first eldest brother's house...paying respects to birth-mother and birth-father...Party!!!As I said before I was the first to wake up of everyone. I had spoken to my brother, Jong heon, about

2006-08-13T12:20:00.000-05:00

Late....This is the theme of my blog for now, due to a mixup at the airport (on top of the terrorists in London) I missed my first flight. I am also late to enter this blog, it has taken a while to figure out how to logon using my brothers computer that he hs graciously put in my home that he has graciously built (more on that later). I had to redirect to Frontier, by the way if you have never

2006-08-10T01:57:00.000-05:00

TodayThis is the day, yes, it is 2am and I am still awake, but that's what long International flights are for right. Keri is going to wake up extra early (as are Jack and Charlie) so that she can take me to the airport and see me off properly. I am filled with emotions that are hard to describe. I am excited and somewhat terrified. I feel like that blond guy from Armageddon when he's about to

2006-08-07T21:55:00.000-05:00

FoodEach passing day brings me closer to my reunion with my brothers in Korea. My oldest brother Jong mo is practicing his Korean drum daily. He is quite skilled, he is even seen in a video teaching the next generation of drummers how to play. My brother, Jong heon, was curious if I would be bringing my clarinet with me, I told him that I had sold it back in college to help make ends meet.

2006-08-05T15:10:00.000-05:00

Four days and counting. I have received the schedule from Jong heon (sixth eldest brother) and it seems that we are going to be very busy. A sampling of activities include going to Kyoung bok palace, shopping in Seoul, visiting the ancestor's graveyard, and a family reunion/party. We will also be going to sing Karaoke (which is called something different in Korean, I can't remember).There are

2006-08-02T08:02:00.000-05:00

I am now moving into the final week of preparation for my trip to Korea, I have to pack and perhaps get a new rain coat; I'm not sure. They say that the weather in Korea at this time is very rainy according to what I've been told. I just checked the forecast however and it seems on the day of my arrival they are expecting 81 and sunny. I hope their weather people are a little more reliable

2006-07-30T22:24:00.000-05:00

I am so excited about my trip to Korea. I think that the experience will change how I view the world...myself. I am not sure how I am to be accepted, a guest, a family member, perhaps a curiosity. I know that these men are my brothers, they are impressions of me, what I may become...I just pray that I don't disappoint them. They seem to be men bound by their brotherhood. They get together

2006-07-27T00:25:00.000-05:00

I usually really hate the purpose of this blog statement that seems almost obligatory, but when in Rome. The purpose of this blog will be to share the experience of meeting my birth family for the first time with my family and friends back home. I will try to make daily posts to record my thoughts, feelings, and happenings during my trip. I will only update the blog through the end of the trip