Hi everyone, and that’s for hanging in there and still reading my blog. I get quite a bit of email comments and I appreciate each and every one of them. Thank you. Keep it coming at fossphotography@yahoo.com
Another 이방인 [adoptee] I met suggested I text people on my 핸드 번 [“hand phone”…yeah, that’s what they call it here] cell phone using Konglish, thus I now text English sounds in Korean characters…
example
마이 내임 이스 마리 (my name is Marie.)
ㅁ=m
ㅏ=a
ㅇ=silent
ㅣ=ee
ㄴ=n
ㅐ=ae
ㅣ=ee
ㅁ=m
ㅇ=silent
ㅣ=ee
ㅅ=s
ㅡ=for my simplicity, consider it silent. I sverige, se det som sista bokstaven I alfabetet.
ㅁ=m
ㅏ=a
ㄹ=r
ㅣ=ee
This helps me recognize the characters faster, thus speeding up my ability to read in Korean. Not understanding, and calling my 이방인 [adoptee] or 교보 [kyopo] friends and asking “what does _____mean?” is NOT fun.
Here are a few things I have learned these past couple of days (the grammar is completely off and some sentences are half-n-half, BUT by using these few words they (Korean natives that is) understand me….and isn’t that the point of a language- to be able to communicate with others ….
건기밥 하나 추새요 a bowl of rice please
회장실 어디 where is the bathroom
감 percimmon (sp?) (a kind of a weird fruit)
Today, Saturday night as I’m writing this, was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and there were masses of people strolling around 홍대 [Hongdae = an area of Seoul] and 묭동 [Myong-Dong = an area of Seoul]. I did some shopping, I ate street food and I too just strolled along and enjoyed 스울 [Seoul]. I also went to the GOAL office (GOAL = Global Overseas Adoptee Link) in 홍대 [Hongdae] and sat in on a planning meeting for the GOAL 10-year anniversary this summer. GOAL is an adoptee-run organization that helps adoptees as they come back to Korea. GOAL provides services such as birth family searches, help with F-4 visas, translators, volunteer teachers etc. The GOAL staff has been a tremendous help for me as I’ve been, and still am, adjusting to Korea. When I was in Korea in 2007, it was GOAL that helped me to get on national TV in Korea for my birth family search. I have had the luxury of meeting many new people via GOAL. Thanks Hoya, Nicole, Felix and Daewon.
A path in My Heart
My heart is no longer as empty
I can feel happiness
but
The sorrow is there
The loneliness is there
The feeling of abandonment is there
The tears still roll
The longing for that something
It’s all still there
But
I know I am finally on a path that is right for me
A path that has some acceptance
A path that has some beauty
A path that has some understanding
A path that may even have love
Another 이방인 [adoptee] I met suggested I text people on my 핸드 번 [“hand phone”…yeah, that’s what they call it here] cell phone using Konglish, thus I now text English sounds in Korean characters…
example
마이 내임 이스 마리 (my name is Marie.)
ㅁ=m
ㅏ=a
ㅇ=silent
ㅣ=ee
ㄴ=n
ㅐ=ae
ㅣ=ee
ㅁ=m
ㅇ=silent
ㅣ=ee
ㅅ=s
ㅡ=for my simplicity, consider it silent. I sverige, se det som sista bokstaven I alfabetet.
ㅁ=m
ㅏ=a
ㄹ=r
ㅣ=ee
This helps me recognize the characters faster, thus speeding up my ability to read in Korean. Not understanding, and calling my 이방인 [adoptee] or 교보 [kyopo] friends and asking “what does _____mean?” is NOT fun.
Here are a few things I have learned these past couple of days (the grammar is completely off and some sentences are half-n-half, BUT by using these few words they (Korean natives that is) understand me….and isn’t that the point of a language- to be able to communicate with others ….
건기밥 하나 추새요 a bowl of rice please
회장실 어디 where is the bathroom
감 percimmon (sp?) (a kind of a weird fruit)
Today, Saturday night as I’m writing this, was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and there were masses of people strolling around 홍대 [Hongdae = an area of Seoul] and 묭동 [Myong-Dong = an area of Seoul]. I did some shopping, I ate street food and I too just strolled along and enjoyed 스울 [Seoul]. I also went to the GOAL office (GOAL = Global Overseas Adoptee Link) in 홍대 [Hongdae] and sat in on a planning meeting for the GOAL 10-year anniversary this summer. GOAL is an adoptee-run organization that helps adoptees as they come back to Korea. GOAL provides services such as birth family searches, help with F-4 visas, translators, volunteer teachers etc. The GOAL staff has been a tremendous help for me as I’ve been, and still am, adjusting to Korea. When I was in Korea in 2007, it was GOAL that helped me to get on national TV in Korea for my birth family search. I have had the luxury of meeting many new people via GOAL. Thanks Hoya, Nicole, Felix and Daewon.
A path in My Heart
My heart is no longer as empty
I can feel happiness
but
The sorrow is there
The loneliness is there
The feeling of abandonment is there
The tears still roll
The longing for that something
It’s all still there
But
I know I am finally on a path that is right for me
A path that has some acceptance
A path that has some beauty
A path that has some understanding
A path that may even have love
