Camp Mujigae is in the news thanks to Camp Director Heather Murphy (WOO HOO!!!!!!! LOVE YA HEATHER!!!!!) and YNN's Innae Park. Camp Mujigae is definitely THE CAMP to attend, to build friendships with not only other campers but also Korean Americans, and Koreans (my shout outs of thanks to the women of SIWA from Sookmyung Women's University from Seoul, South Korea and their instructors who prepare this group of women).
If you want to learn more about Korea, please attend our Family Day, see the wonderful events for it, eat a wonderful delicious Korean meal, and send your children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews to camp to learn more.
Mingle Restaurant is having a wonderful fundraiser for Camp Mujigae on March 30th so if you're in the area, please attend that day from 11:30 to closing. We are planning on attending and you should too!!!
~Jen
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
A serious discussion about age
My children know that is quite rude to ask a woman her age. My children had this discussion this afternoon after Seong Tae tried to convince me that he he was old enough to stay up as late as he wanted to:
Seong Tae: I'm a grown-up
Me: Really?? Then you need to decide what job you are going to get
Seong Tae: I'm a kid then
Tae Hee: Mommy is a teenager, I think
Now I'm thinking I want to be in my mid twenties instead but oh well right now I'll be the teenager who dances to music while washing dishes, who needs to have the radio on when I'm cleaning, and who grabs her children every now and then for a dance.
~Jen
Seong Tae: I'm a grown-up
Me: Really?? Then you need to decide what job you are going to get
Seong Tae: I'm a kid then
Tae Hee: Mommy is a teenager, I think
Now I'm thinking I want to be in my mid twenties instead but oh well right now I'll be the teenager who dances to music while washing dishes, who needs to have the radio on when I'm cleaning, and who grabs her children every now and then for a dance.
~Jen
Monday, January 30, 2012
Oh no!!! Not the Subject of Racism!!!
Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines RACISM as:
So anti-racism would be anything that is combating racism.
We live in a predominantly Caucasian area here in New York. One of our local radio stations, 810 WGY, posted on their facebook page earlier this afternoon about a mayor in Duluth, Georgia who is endorsing the "Un-Fair Campaign". The poster from WGY commented on their facebook page was this "Wow! Thoughts?". Apparently there is also some controversy with this campaign as well.
The term White Privilege was something that I learned about at session from KAAN's Conference in Boston in July 2007. I learned that when I walk down a street, I don't need to worry about being stopped by a police officer and questioned as to why I'm in that neighborhood like other races might experience. I learned that my children would experience white privilege when they are with me...something that I hadn't even thought about before. When they are away from me it is a totally different story and they wouldn't have this privilege.
I'd like to know your thoughts about the Un-Fair Campaign. Right now, I'm glad it is being brought to light and starting up the discussion on racism and more discussion on White Privilege. If you would like to talk more about this subject or other thought provoking ones, please attend the KAAN Conference in Albany, New York July 27 - 29th. I will be attending and hope to see you there!!
~Jen
1: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2: racial prejudice or discrimination
Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the prefix Anti-as:
Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the prefix Anti-as:
1a : of the same kind but situated opposite, exerting energy in the opposite direction, or pursuing an opposite policy <anticlinal>
b : one that is opposite in kind to <anticlimax>
b : one that is opposite in kind to <anticlimax>
2a : opposing or hostile to in opinion, sympathy, or practice <anti-Semite> b : opposing in effect or activity <antacid>
3: serving to prevent, cure, or alleviate <antianxiety>
4: combating or defending against <antiaircraft> <antimissile>
We live in a predominantly Caucasian area here in New York. One of our local radio stations, 810 WGY, posted on their facebook page earlier this afternoon about a mayor in Duluth, Georgia who is endorsing the "Un-Fair Campaign". The poster from WGY commented on their facebook page was this "Wow! Thoughts?". Apparently there is also some controversy with this campaign as well.
The term White Privilege was something that I learned about at session from KAAN's Conference in Boston in July 2007. I learned that when I walk down a street, I don't need to worry about being stopped by a police officer and questioned as to why I'm in that neighborhood like other races might experience. I learned that my children would experience white privilege when they are with me...something that I hadn't even thought about before. When they are away from me it is a totally different story and they wouldn't have this privilege.
I'd like to know your thoughts about the Un-Fair Campaign. Right now, I'm glad it is being brought to light and starting up the discussion on racism and more discussion on White Privilege. If you would like to talk more about this subject or other thought provoking ones, please attend the KAAN Conference in Albany, New York July 27 - 29th. I will be attending and hope to see you there!!
~Jen
Friday, December 9, 2011
Read this open letter from an adoptee
Please read this brutally honest letter. I'm not adopted but I'm a parent to 3 children came from Korea. One of them has their own hurts surrounding their adoption. That child has lots of questions...some of them are easy for me to answer because I have the information, others are deep thought provoking ones. I take those questions as they come and answer those that I can whether they are easy to answer or hard to answer. Sometimes that answer is "I am sorry, I do not know". And I feel horrible that I don't have the answer. "I don't know if your First Mom looked into your eyes and smiled. I don't know if your First Mom's favorite color is blue. I am so sorry that I don't know." Any time a question gets asked, it is always followed up by a hug and kiss.
Please read this article and let me know what you think.
~Jen
Please read this article and let me know what you think.
~Jen
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
A Recent LGA Interview
Hi,
A friend of mine who also adopted from Korea was interviewed recently on the Land of Gazillon Adoptees. I'm hoping that you read it and decide to attend the KAAN conferences even if you haven't adopted from Korea but adopted transracially, are a grandparent to a transracial child, or from the Korean American community. And if you support what KAAN does, please consider donating your money and/or time...it's a worthwhile community!!! And besides I've met many friends there and Martha is just one of them!!
~Jen
A friend of mine who also adopted from Korea was interviewed recently on the Land of Gazillon Adoptees. I'm hoping that you read it and decide to attend the KAAN conferences even if you haven't adopted from Korea but adopted transracially, are a grandparent to a transracial child, or from the Korean American community. And if you support what KAAN does, please consider donating your money and/or time...it's a worthwhile community!!! And besides I've met many friends there and Martha is just one of them!!
~Jen
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Ethnic Attire for Halloween Costumes--I think NOT!!!!!!!!!
I was alerted by this from a friend of mine, Jennifer Hilzinger. She recently posted this to KAAN's facebook page and is allowing me to share. Since then, I found a news article on it on CNN's website. These students did an amazing thing in my opinion. They put in pictures and words what I had been saying and thinking...it's awful to consider a traditional cultural attire as a Halloween costume or to stereotype an ethnic group as well.
A question came up on a Facebook page that I like if we are dressing our children in their Hanboks for Halloween. WHAT ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? My children's precious hanboks would be used for them to parade around our neighborhood in to trick or treat???? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!! Hanboks were something that they wore as regular clothes each and every day and now are worn mainly on special occasions. To say that they can go trick or treating in is like saying that I don't care about Korea, my friends who are Korean, and my children and their Korean ancestors. Halloween is certainly NOT a special day to wear one. I posted back that I wouldn't be doing this and why.
On another Facebook page, the business was selling dress up Hanboks like a child would dress up in a surgeon's outfit or as a knight or as a construction worker. I read the comments on there and one woman who was going to buy it had reconsidered due to the comments made on the other page.
Please consider how you are treating the other ethnic groups when you dress up in their traditional attire that they would consider to be their heritage this Halloween season and always.
A question came up on a Facebook page that I like if we are dressing our children in their Hanboks for Halloween. WHAT ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? My children's precious hanboks would be used for them to parade around our neighborhood in to trick or treat???? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!! Hanboks were something that they wore as regular clothes each and every day and now are worn mainly on special occasions. To say that they can go trick or treating in is like saying that I don't care about Korea, my friends who are Korean, and my children and their Korean ancestors. Halloween is certainly NOT a special day to wear one. I posted back that I wouldn't be doing this and why.
On another Facebook page, the business was selling dress up Hanboks like a child would dress up in a surgeon's outfit or as a knight or as a construction worker. I read the comments on there and one woman who was going to buy it had reconsidered due to the comments made on the other page.
Please consider how you are treating the other ethnic groups when you dress up in their traditional attire that they would consider to be their heritage this Halloween season and always.
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