I always thought my mother wanted to live in America. It never crossed my mind that she had planned otherwise. My mother, Jischook Chung, came to America on a student visa as part of an exchange program in 1990. She, in fact, was a sojourner. Having finished three years of college in Korea, she was going to finish her last year in America at Long Island University in Brooklyn and then head back home to her family in Korea. With her degree, she was going to become a nurse. My mother had six siblings, and none of them ever came to America. Her whole life, family, and home was in Korea. She left thinking she'd be back in one or two short years. But then she met my father, and they had my older sister in 1993. She got a nursing job in America and established a life here. New York City became her home. My three siblings and my father became her family.
She kept her culture alive in America, and I'm proud to be able to practice them, too. Food is one way she stays in touch with her hometown. She did not bring much with her from Korea, since she didn't think she needed to. But she did bring her hanbok. Long and colorful, my mother's hanbok was like a princess dress to me. After my older sister outgrew it, I wore it on holidays. Then when I outgrew it, my younger sister wore it. Now it doesn't fit anybody, but my mom will never throw it out. It reminds her of home. Her other home.
"[It's] unbelievable...Now I have two home towns...One in Korea and one in New York."
- Jischook Chung 
 

– Stella

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant