My last ‘weird’ post made me realize that some of the weirder things about me are Korean-based. So I thought I would write an addendum. I’m not sure if these are limited to Koreans, or open-ended to include all Asians, or just limited to my family. So feel free to share, plead the Fifth, or point your finger and laugh.
* Behold my eargasm tool. G thinks this is really weird. And he’s normally very open to new things. While he tries not to make me feel weird about it, I sense some sort of ‘ick’ feeling emanating from him. So I’m driven to go underground with it. It’s taken out of hiding during me time. If you don’t know what it is, click here. (This may gross you out, so consider yourself warned.)
And, did you know that Asians have a different earwax gene than Americans? Who knew?
* While I wouldn’t say I’m fanatical about this coveted dishrag, I do admit I extol its benefits to G. My Dad went to Korea last year and brought back no less than 50 of these (per my sister’s request) to hand out to all of our Eemohs (aunts). (I don’t understand this. I’m told they can’t find these here in the States. Is that true?) At Thanksgiving, they each grabbed as many as they could and ran towards their respective purses and bags, holding them tightly in their arms and giving the rest of us sideways warning glances in case we felt inclined to tackle and wrestle them. My cousin casually asked her mom if she could have one, and after hesitating, Eemoh threw one at her and quickly darted away before my cousin decided to get any greedier. Part of the reason I’m dedicated to these silly little things is for the sheer reason that my Eemohs love them so much. And I love my Eemohs. They are so f’ing funny.
* My cousins and siblings and I geekily entertain ourselves by applying English conjugations to Korean words. On a related note, G loves the Korean word for fart: panguko (I’m sure that is phonetically incorrect) and has taught it to the kids. When they fart now, I ask them if they need to go to the bathroom and they reply, “No, I just panguko’d, Mom!” or “I’m just panguko-ing, Mom!”
[Ok, why or when they started calling me Mom instead of Mama or Mommy, I have no idea. It kills me but also makes me laugh.]
* When I first lived with G, it became very apparent how much I use chopsticks. For everything. To cook hot dogs in a pan. To smear mustard on said hot dog. To flip steaks. To mix batter. Beat eggs. Get that crumb that fell between the stove and the counter. Change a light bulb. I kid. But really—is there anything for which these things can not be used? (No, of course using chopsticks isn’t weird. But G used to think my many uses for them were a little odd. But hey, now I see a convert turning those hot dogs with chopsticks too.)
The following are not so much weird things about me per se, but some of the weirder things my parents have taught me (or tried to teach me):
* Fans will kill you if you sleep with them while they are on. Oh Lord, what is UP with this one? Anyone else have to deal with sleeping in sweltering heat as a kid? My mom or dad would turn my fan off in the middle of the night and if I woke up to protest, they would quietly scold me and mutter something about death and this extremely dangerous habit.
* Hot water is dirty. It’s okay to rinse food off the dishes with hot tap water, but not okay to rinse soap off the dishes. Only use freezing cold water for that.
* Every week, the Korean newspaper would confirm yet another household object that was going to give me cancer. It’s a miracle we didn’t live in a bubble, but I’m not sure if my family would have survived without our cancer-inducing TV. Apparently, there was a limit to how much of that nonsense we would really listen to. Why are Koreans so paranoid? (Not related to cancer-inducing products, but related to the Korean paranoia: I love this entry by citymama on Kimchi Mamas and what she says about her mom and the insurance company. Hysterical. And classic.)
And finally…
* If you don’t always have toothpicks in your home, you’re not Korean (Asian?). I have a box of toothpicks that are used for two things, and only when my dad comes to visit: his teeth, and to poke into fruit after dinner.
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These are just my random thoughts about blogging… I had a private blog for awhile, basically to keep our families and friends updated on the twins. And as much as I love sharing their stories, and think they are damn adorable, I needed another outlet. One where I can curse and vent while also exploring my Korean roots. After having kids and already being somewhat of a loner, I now may be borderline-agoraphobic. Living in the suburbs certainly doesn’t help. One of my closest friends keeps me company quite often—over IM. Thank God for her. With my built-in iSight I can share the latest progress (or lack thereof) on my muffin top, and I can occasionally see one of the cutest little baby girls—ever—living on the other side of the country. It’s almost like we’re back in boarding school living next door to each other in the dorm. Almost.
So thank God for the Internet. I am totally and utterly addicted to it. I have been hooked on email since freshman year at my techie college. I remember my senior year, when I sat down and discovered Netscape. (How totally nerdy am I that I even remember this?) I was late for class, and deep in the proverbial rabbit hole. Obviously, it was nothing back then like it is now. But still, it was fascinating. And I was hooked.
I think I stumbled upon my first real blog affair several months ago when I found Kimchi Mamas. You see, blog friends, I have become incapable of making decisions without the Internet. And that means all of you (yes, all five of you and the other billions of people who are not listening to me) have input. At the time, I was consulting the Internet to see how early other moms gave their kids kimchi. Because I desperately wanted to have some kimchi. And I wanted the twins to start loving kimchi too. As soon as possible. But I wasn’t sure if it would make them panguko and give them suhl-sah. So I had to turn to my friend, the Internet. Anyway, I found myself digging down that rabbit hole and somehow coming up for air at Kimchi Mamas.
From there, I kept going. And going. And now I am finding a great community. Not only Koreans, but all kinds of different people—moms, dads, and other random people or interests that make me laugh, smile, or cry. I love it.
But… I still feel a little lost. There is blog etiquette to be learned (so I hear). There’s a blog language too. (Meme? What’s a meme? I had to wikipedia it.) And there are certain manners you need to uphold while leaving comments. Right now, I’m just trying to catch up on all the blogs I have just recently found, and continue to find everyday. But last week, I left a comment for Daddy in a Strange Land, asking him if one of his ‘weird’ meme habits was a Korean thing, and was embarrassed when he reminded me that he was hapa Japanese-Jewish. Rut ro. Then the other day, I tagged Mama Nabi, and she told me that she had recently done this meme. Double rut-ro.
Yes, yes, I admit it. I hadn’t read everything on their (your?) blogs, and what I had read, I got all mixed up. In my search to help me find my Korean roots and digging deep into that blog abyss… well, you all started to look the same.
Ok, bad joke. Anyway, I apologize if I offended or offend. I didn’t mean to. If I am missing other etiquette rules, please share. I want to comment on the posts that move me (and there are certainly quite a few) but I’m not sure if I’m opening mouth, inserting foot. Am I? Or is this just more Korean paranoia?
10 Comments
You’re doing fine! Don’t be so hard on yourself - I certainly don’t expect you to sit there and read my archive as a prerequisite to having a dialogue. I didn’t mind the tag at all, gives me more to write about. I don’t know the in and outs of blog etiquette either - but you’re obviously a very nice and thoughtful person and it does come through in your writing!
And … I know what that ear thingie is *wincing with horrible childhood grooming memories*
For introducing kimchee to kids … I remember eating kimchee around 4 or 5 years old. My mom would rinse off the liquid and tear them into strips for us. Same with gakdugee and the cucumber stuff. By the time I was 7 or 8, I was eating the stuff straight up! But for first intro to spicy in general, I think my mom made us that curry stuff.
The word for fart is not “panguko”, but bahngwi (??).
I really enjoyed reading this post. My husband does the ear thing and I’m pretty open with my disgust, but I do get it. I still don’t get the fan thing however, but my husband thankfully doesn’t buy into it either so we don’t have to sweat to death in the summer. I always thought that the cold water rinse was just my mother-in-law because she was trying to save money!!!
You’ve enlightened me.
As for blogging, I’m really glad you decided to make the leap (from private to public) because I so enjoy reading you. It probably sounds cheesy but you have a way with words. There, I said it.
I know I’ve said it before, but seriously, could we all just pick a nice town, move and be neighbors? I totally agree that I’ve gotten a bit too sucked in to the world of blogging lately, but it’s my escape as well; it’s the only place where I can find people that I really click with! And I’m very thankful for the chance to vent and share stories with you all - so screw the netiquette worries and keep posting and commenting. I, for one, love it!
And yes, my hubz has several wooden ear scoops too. I can’t bring myself to do it but it puts him in a state of bliss.
So… when DID you give kimchi to your twins - or have you? We keep joking that Emmy’s way behind. I mean, c’mon, a 15 month old should be slurpin’ chige left and right, right?
Just wanted to add - chopsticks are so handy at pulling out hot food out of toasters or that fall on the stove burners while you’re cooking. I even think some things taste better when you eat with chopsticks. And I prefer to eat finger foods with chopsticks so I don’t have to get all messy (I always get crap stuck under my fingernails).
Thank you all for the very nice encouragement.
There’s something about putting myself out there for all to read. Liberating… and yet, scary.
I got panguko wrong? See, even my Korean is messed up. I thought it could be either.
beloved, maybe my mom was trying to save money too! That’s funny. But now that I think about it, I do recall her telling me hot water was dirty…
As for the kimchi… I gave up because like so many of my other searches on the Internet, I got too many conflicting reports and finally told myself to go with my gut. And my craving. (Seriously, the Internet is such a time-suck sometimes.) I think about three months ago I made kimchi buchim (buckim?)/pancakes and they loved it. Especially Buddy. He didn’t seem fazed by the spice, but I used about half the kimchi in the recipe and they were somewhat mild. Since then, I’ve tried to introduce more to them. Usually, Buddy wants to try any spicy sauces we have. And seems to be fine. Phew!
Carol, I am picturing you with chopsticks and potato chips, or crackers with cheese. Which, I think I have done. I remember G staring at me the first time I picked up a pickle with my chopsticks in front of him.
Hi there! I’ve totally enjoyed reading this post with it being my first time here! Thanks for all of the laughs and letting me know that you’re as human as I am by poking fun at yourself, and your family. I love reading posts like these!
As for etiquette, I too have trouble with that time and again. Who comes up with the rules anyway? If/when you fine something useful please send it my way!
Yours in blogging…and ear-cleaning!
The earwax thing? Nah, not just a Korean thing. Have you ever watched that Anthony Bourdain No Reservations episode where he was in Vietnam and some man came around and cleaned his ears for him? The other things are very familiar to me too (although the freezing water thing, yeah that’s weird).
Regarding blogging, I’m glad I’ve discovered yours. =) Although, I’m not sure if I’ve got the etiquette down.
LN loves to get her ear cleaned - even knows how to get herself in the proper cleaning position! I’m dying to get one of those ear cleaner things but don’t know if any stores carry it around here.
No worries about not catching up on previous blog posts - hell, I’m surprised when people actually read ONE post of mine, they’re so damn long.
BTW, LN tried her first kimchi bokkum yesterday, ate a few, then said “Too hot”… but did say that she liked it. Woohoo!
Hey, I’m just glad you came by and commented.
No need for embarassment. We’re all family! Heh. And anyway, it’s not like you’re not the book publicist who decided that my blog would be a good place to promote a dad-memoir called “Fat, Fired, and Forty.” Heh.