It’s hard to write about Hamdeok. Hamdeok is heaven. How do you describe heaven? It was more like hell at first. I guess that’s what Korea is to me, hell become heaven. In Shelby County, going East on interstate 40, there is an underpass just before Exit 20. The bridge above is, in my mind [...]
There was only one day left in the Son Family Vacation. Son Family, that’s what Tanner, Dahee, and I call ourselves. Every good Migook (American) needs a Korean name. Upon hearing that Tanner had one, Teho, I insisted. Dahee named me Eun-Ho. It means “Silver Lake.” Teho means “Big Tiger.” Dahee chose that one for [...]
Jongdal is the town. Chodo means “Elementary.” Hakyeo means “school.” Every weekday between 11:45 and 12:10 I step off the outskirts bus, the one that circles the entire island. I say “Komapsimnida” to the driver, walk past this blue arrow, and eat lunch with the teachers and children of Jongdal. The sounds of the lunchroom [...]
