Becoming Sisters

So much for chronological order.  I stopped blogging for a while because it was too difficult.  That happens, I guess.

My sister Hyun Jeong came with her husband to visit us in the summer 2011, and we had so much fun.  Of course, we wish we had more time!  That's always the case.

Unfortunately, we haven't even started talking about my biological aunt on this blog.  She lives in California.  She's our Korean mother's older sister.  Her name is Yung, and she's very special to me.  I've visited her two times at her home near San Francisco, and now it seems I'll have to go again.  But this time may be our last visit.  She is in liver and kidney failure.  This is devastating.

The crazy thing is that now my Korean mother is going to come to the United States for the very first time.  This Thursday.  As in four days.

So... my Korean family and I Skyped this morning for the first time in more than a year.  It's difficult to get everyone to Skype together because HJ has to always translate... and then everyone has to be in the same room together.  It's kind of fun, though!  

Anyway... on a much lighter note, here's a portion of our convo.  It seems like my birth father was trying to figure out where I lived.  There are a couple of interesting things to note here - 1.  I kind of go into broken English mode (I also do this when I order Chinese food over the phone.  Don't ask me why.)  2.  You can see why, after several years of knowing each other, I rarely learn much about my family history.  It takes such a long time to decipher anything!  But, I wouldn't change it.

I started writing this several months ago, but I had a difficult time finding the video of the panel... now that it's up, I'd like to share this post, originally started in April 2011:

I was asked to join a panel at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to share my adoption story for Holt's International Forum.

I didn't know what I was going to say.  I have told my story many times before, so I thought it would be easy.  But, of course, that's what I get for thinking.  Everyone met in a holding room before the panel, and their stories got me verklempt.  

I'm glad I jotted down some notes before I spoke.  Anyway, here's the video!

From Hyun Jeong:  When I listened to your speech there, I felt sorry. I want to tell you everything you want to know if I can. I think I should be more diligent though. 

I wish she didn't feel that way!  I'm so grateful for her.  I would love to live near her one day.