A Bittersweet Life

House Warming Party and Special Food

2006-03-04T22:01:00.000-08:00

I went to my friend’s house warming party last Saturday.
My friend’s name is SeongEui. She came from Korea with her husband about three months ago. She lives in the same apartment as me. She is very kind, smart and talented.
She prepared many kinds of vegetables such as carrots, lettuces, cucumbers, onions, green peppers, eggs, hams, and some fruits. She cooked special food like “Vietnamese Summer Roll” for her visitors. Vietnamese Summer Roll is a special and nutritious food because most of the ingredients are fresh vegetables. In the picture, the food seems to easy to make but it takes a long time to prepare the ingredients.
I wrapped the fresh ingredients in boiled rice paper and really enjoyed it with her own sweet sauce. And I learned how to make the delicious sauce from her.
After dinner I talked a lot with the visitors. SeongEui played he flute and her husband took pictures all the time. They showed us their wedding pictures and told us about their funny stories.

I truly enjoyed the party with special food and good visitors.

Thanksgiving day

2005-11-26T13:02:00.001-08:00

The United States celebrates Thanksgiving every year. On this holiday people give thanks for the harvest and for the other things they have. People celebrate this holiday on the fourth Thursday in November. This is the time when the leaves turn color and harvest is over.
People eat roast turkey with corn bread and many other vegetables. They cook the turkey for about 6 hours. They put various ingredients in the turkey such as green onions, onions, oysters, celery and carrots. For dessert they eat pecan pie or pumpkin pie.
This custom began when America was first founded. Americans shared food with Indians who gave them a big help.
Korea has a similar custom like Thanksgiving. We call that “Chuseok” and we also cook and eat together.
Both are beautiful customs for the harvest. I think we should give thanks for food not only on special days but everyday.

The best memory on my mind

2005-11-19T12:30:00.000-08:00

When I was 7 years old, I went to kindergarten. I spent a lot of time with my good friends.
One day I saw a BARBI doll in the shop window on my way to school and I wanted a beautiful BARBI doll. I asked my mother for the doll all day.
My mother said, “If you do three good things a day, Santa will give you the doll surely Christmas day.”
I wondered how does Santa know my wishes. My mother said again, “Santa always watches you and he will come Christmas eve while you are sleeping”
So I tried to do three good things like my mother advised me. But one day I couldn’t do all three good things and didn't sleep well wondering whether Santa would come or not.
Finally, Christmas eve came and I prayed to God that Santa might come. That Christmas eve I couldn’t sleep at all. Whenever I heard a little strange noise, I woke up. I wondered what does Santa look like. But I slept in spite of myself. The next morning when I opened my eyes I found a big box near my pillow. It was the BARBI doll that I really wanted and I jumped for joy. For the longest time I believed that Santa existed and I couldn’t do bad things because I thought Santa was watching me.

A few years later, my brother told me the truth. The present was from my mother and I was disappointed very much. But I understood my mother’s love and realized her wisdom of caring for her children.

As an adult I know Santa does not exist but the hope that Santa is watching me is always on my mind.

Never realize the importance about others

2005-11-12T12:01:00.000-08:00

There were two trees on the hill. One was a large tree that had a lot of leaves, the other was small, short and weak. The small tree always complained. “I’ll never grow tall because the big tree always hides me from the sun. If the big tree were not here, I would have grown up nicely.”
One day, a woods-man passed by and the small tree asked him to cut the big tree down. When the big tree fell down by the wood-man’s big ox, the small tree was very happy and thought. “I’ll grow taller greatly”
But the small tree broke down soon from the hot sun and the wild wind because the big tree couldn’t protect it anymore.

Many people don’t understand the importance of people around us. We often don’t realize it until it is too late. Sometimes people don’t realize how they need other people in their lives to grow up beautifully.

A Sweet Image

2005-11-05T13:54:00.000-08:00

This is my world in the future.
There is a cozy house between lots of acacia trees. Butterflies are fluttering from flower to flower in the yard. I can see a big magnolia tree in the middle of yard. The magnolia flowers already have all withered because now is summer. Many balloons and flowers are on the grass.
I smell something good at some barbecue. My husband is roasting beef and our dog is jumping around shaking her tail. My family and friends are coming my home for dinner together. My son and daughter are making a beautiful bouquet of flowers for my husband and me. Right! It’s our the 30th wedding anniversary. People have joined us to celebrate our anniversary.
My husband is wearing a nice tuxedo and I am wearing a beautiful white dress. I serve a delicious strawberry cake that I made for my guests.
The light is growing dim and about a hundred candles glow beautifully. I start play the piano and my husband sings to follow my music.
Some people are dancing, some are drinking while talking to each other.
I hear the wonderful song and laughter. I feel so good with the atmosphere and the people.
The 30th wedding anniversary party is going on. It is the best day of my life. I really happy…

CHAMORRO Cultural Exchange in Saipan

2005-11-05T11:25:00.000-08:00

There is a special cultural exchange for visitors to gain Chamorro’s experience first hand. A Chamorro is a native in Saipan.
The cultural exchange begins at 6:30 every evening for 2 hours on the mid-slope of Mt.Tapochau. Visitors can enjoy Chamorro’s clothes, food, song and dance. The program starts by taking a picture of visitors wearing a Chamorro’s traditional clothes. Then visitors play games with other countries visitors and follow a program host.
Also, Chamorro perform their traditional dance and show how to make coconut oil. One of special experiences is dinner with barbecue. They serve plenty barbecue with other traditional food like tropical fruit, coconut juice and grilled corn. Moreover some winners of the games and people who danced well get a prize like island handcrafts.
This special cultural event for visitors is very interesting and fun for all kind of people.

The Greatest Love

2005-11-03T02:02:00.000-08:00

“I am Sam” is one of my favorite movies. It shows the love a father and daughter have regardless of any handicaps.
Sam is a mentally handicapped father who lives with his daughter Lucy. Lucy’s mother left them as soon as her daughter was born. Sam raised his daughter alone and sometimes his neighbor helped him. As Lucy grows up, she becomes cleverer than her father. Lucy realized her father was different from any other fathers.
One day social worker come to their home and conclude that Sam can’t care his daughter anymore. Same doesn’t want to send his daughter to the foster home and he starts legal fight with social worker.
Sam meets Rita who is an advocate and she starts the case for free. In the beginning, Rita stats the work only for her honor for the mentally handicapped man. While working the case she realized their real love. So she tries to win in order to keep Sam’s daughter with him.
Although they try hard, new parents adopt Lucy. Sam moves close to Lucy’s new parents’ house and cared for Lucy very often. Sometimes he even read books to her and he shares caring for his daughter with new parents.
At last he realized Lucy needs a mother for her future. Same lives day to day happily watching Lucy grow up.

This movie show the father’s great love for his daughter. Even thought he is mentally handicapped, he still loves his daughter just like any father would.

A Korean custom that has changed over the years is the gift of a gold ring to a child.

2005-10-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

In the past a gold ring was given to a child’s parents 100th days after a child was born. Many family members and friends gave the ring as a symbol of good health and long life.
Today the custom is changing. Some people still give the gold ring 100th days after a child is born but now most people give the gold ring on the child’s 1st birthday.
A long time ago many children didn’t live long because there were many diseases in Korea. People felt if a child lived for 100th days they would celebrate by giving the gold ring. As medicine developed children begin to live longer.
Therefore, most people wait until the child’s 1st birthday to give the ring.
Giving the gold ring still symbolizes good health and long life whether it is given one 100th days after a child born or on their 1st birthday.

Our Next Vacation

2005-10-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

On our next vacation, my husband & I have planned a special trip. We are going to the Netherlands to visit my sister-in-law. She is studying music there with her husband.
We’re leaving Saipan around next August. First, we’re going to Korea to see our family. While we are in Korea we plan to meet our friends and buy some clothes.
Then we’re going to the Netherlands. We will be at my sister-in-law’s home for about a week. We’re going to visit the village of Hiddingk.
If we have enough time, we’ll travel to other countries like the Kingdom of Belgium and Austria. I always regretted that I missed traveling to these countries before.
After out travel, we’re going to come back to Saipan before next September.
Our next vacation will be great for us and we’re looking forward to the special trip.

Do it now!

2005-10-19T05:05:00.000-07:00

A teacher said to her students.
"If you have only three days to live, what are you going to do? Think about three things that you would do."
Each one of students thought about their plans. After a while, each student answered differently.
"I'm going to travel all over the world."
"I'll tell my parents that I love them."
"I'm going to call my best friend"
"I'm going to write my autobiography."
"I'll create an experience that is unforgettable."
"l'm going to open my mind and talk with nature"
The teacher listened to the various stories and she wrote on a blackboard as follows.
"Do it now"

Many people postpone doing things because they make excuses. We often forget the important things in our lives.
I'm not going to postpone doing the important things in my life. Living this way will help me value the things that matter the most to me.

Love is...

2005-10-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

According to the English dictionary, love is very strong good feelings about someone, sometimes romantic feelings. But I feel love means so much more. Strong good feelings like a beating heart disappear gradually as days go by.
Even though time goes by, the power of continuation love is faith.
People are blind with love and leave each other easily.
One reason for separation is disbelief. Trouble comes from disbelieving each other.
Also love is a deep caring for each other. If someone is indifferent to the lover, love is finished.
We have to try hard in order to keep love. Love is responsibility.
Love is started with strong good feelings about someone and we have to keep these feelings with deep care, faith and responsibility.

A wonderful experience

2005-10-13T22:40:00.000-07:00

Five years ago, I traveled all over Europe.
First, I arrived in Germany at the Frankfurt international airport.
I visited my friend's home in Freiburg and stayed there for a week.
She explained to me how to travel throughout Europe.
After finished my visit in Germany, I traveled to paris.
I took the Eurail to travel from place to place.
I saw the Eiffel Tower and took a sightseeing boat on the Sen Rever.
Seeing Paris was a wonderful experience for me.
After visit Paris I traveled to Italy and Switzerland. I remember the cities of Italy having a lot of different atmospheres. I ate many kind of pizza when I was there.
Sometimes I called my parents to say hello.
Although I was tired, I often felt lonely. But I was happy whenever I saw the beautiful scenery.
The time passed quikly before I knew my trip was over.
I finished the travel safely and I got back my pride thought the travel.

My husband Prince

2005-10-11T23:20:00.000-07:00

My husband's English name is "Prince"
He wants everyone to call him "Prince" because he likes 'Le Petit Prince'
When we came to Saipan, everyone laughed and laughed about his name.
But now people who know my husband call him Prince.

He likes swimming and scuba diving very much. He loves Saipan as much as he loves me.
He is a tour guide in Saipan . I think the job is very suitable for him because he is very kind, outgoing, polite and humorous.

He has experience as a professional photographer. He worked at a newspaper publishing company before he came to Saipan. He had his own studio and he loved his work.
But now he is satisfied with our life in Saipan.

He likes to watch movies like me. We often go to see a movie.
And he likes to eat food that I cook. Finally he is over-weight.
These days he exercises very hard. He always says he must guard against becoming over-weight but my cooking is excellent , so he eats too much at every meal.

I'm happy to make something for him to eat and show my love like that.

How to make Seaweed Soup

2005-10-11T22:55:00.000-07:00

It is a custom for Koreans to eat seaweed soup for their birthday breakfast because their mother ate it when they were born.
Seaweed is a food rich in nutrition and especially good for women's health.

Let's make seaweed soup!

::::::Recipe::::::

List of ingredients ;
> about 400g dried seaweed
> about 100g chopped beef
> 1 tablespoon minced garlic
> 2 tablespoon soy source
> 2 tablespoon sesami oil
> pinch of salt and pepper

Directions ;
First steep dried seaweed in a bowl with enough tap water to cover seaweed soak for 10 minutes.
Next, put 2 tablespoons of sesami oil, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of soy source,and the chopped beef in a large pot and fry lightly until the meat changes color.
Add 4 cups of water and boil for about 20 minutes.
Next, season this with salt and pepper.
Serve with some rice.
This makes four servings.

New U.S. Mothers Swear by Korean Seaweed Soup

2005-10-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

Korean seaweed soup or miyeok-guk is gaining popularity as a post-childbirth food in the U.S.
It is reportedly the most popular dish among new mothers at Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles, where half of the 80-90 new mothers recovering there order the restorative soup. More and more general patients are ordering the soup as well, the hospital said. The phenomenon started after Korea's CHA Medical Group took over the medical center from Tenet Healthcare Corp. in February.
"Seeing Korean mothers eating seaweed soup after childbirth, white, black, Latino and Armenian mothers as well as general patients are now asking for the dish,” CHA Medical Group executive director Kim Chun-bok said. “We serve about 100 bowls of seaweed soup a day, and about half of those go to non-Korean patients." Kim said other hospitals in the LA area frequented by Koreans such as Good Samaritan Hospital are following suit.
Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center's chief nutritionist said, "Since seaweed soup is rich in calcium and iodine, it's effective in contracting the uterus and stopping bleeding, so it helps in recovery after childbirth. As word gets round that the soup cleans the blood and promotes circulation, American patients who've never eaten seaweed soup are starting to choose it as a health food."

The CHA Medical Group plans to airlift a fresh shipment of Korean soy sauce for use in its seaweed soup to the U.S. When it acquired the hospital in February, the group sent over 100 liters of soy sauce bottled at a farm in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, but the unexpected seaweed soup craze decimated supplies some six months ahead of schedule. "To provide Korean Americans with a taste of the old country, we plan to fly over soy sauce bottled right here in Korea, even if it is somewhat troublesome,” the group’s director said.

Updated May.26,2005 19:16 KST

My daily routine

2005-10-10T16:00:00.000-07:00

I get up at 7 am every morning.
First, I drink a cup of water and brush my teeth.
I cook rice and some soup.
I make a different type of soup every morning like meat soup, vegetable soup, mushroom soup and so on.
I like cooking and my husband likes to eat the food.
Sometimes we have some bread, boiled eggs and coffee.
As soon as my husband leaves for work, I wash dishes and clean my home.
And then I take a shower.I usually go to my friend's home and we talk about something or make Korean food together.After lunch I read book and surf the net for 2-3 hours.
Frequently I take a nap for about one hour.
I study English before dinner.
In the evening I watch TV or Videos.
Sometimes I drink with my husband at home.
And I usually go to bed around 1 am.

Sonia is...

2005-10-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Sonia.
I got married last year. I don't have a baby yet.
I came to Saipan from Korea last October with my husband.
I'm a domestic engineer who always does the same things like cooking, washing, cleaning and many more chores.
I like reading, watching a movie and surfing the net.
Sometimes I go out for dinner with my friends and we drink.
I can play the piano and do graphic design on the computer.
I have experience in teaching computer programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator.
I exercise everyday by walking on Beach Road.
Recently, I do yoga for health.
I came to Saipan just to follow my husband. When I first arrived I wasn't adjusting very well to my life.
Then I changed my mind affirmatively.
Now, I love Saipan.