Kimchi is a very old dish that came out of necessity to preserve food, but you can still find it in many places. It is a staple food in Korean households and restaurants all over Korea. It is commonly found at tables at restaurants when they serve banchan (small side dishes) or at a family dinner. My grandmother used to give her homemade kimchi to friends and family over the years but the process of making it became too difficult, so she just enjoys buying it from stores and simply enjoying it now. She fed it to us a lot when we visited her house over the years. She learned how to make it from her mother while she was in Korea. Her family was very hardworking and had dealt with many hardships. My grandmother’s father died when she was only eight years old, so her brother and her mother did most of the farming and household duties. Her mother still took the time to make Kimchi and feed her kids. Kimchi has a really special connection to me because it symbolizes the perseverance of Korean culture throughout the generations and also the culture that my grandmother brought over when she immigrated to the United States.
 

– J.Row

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant