
Korean-American Responses
Esther Shin:
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1. It’s a large part of my identity and lifestyle.
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2. The idea of care (ì •). I don’t believe there’s a good translation in English... that truly encompasses the nuances. Perhaps along the lines of care, affection, and hospitality, despite maybe the other being a stranger. This sense of friendliness (that I assume comes from Korean collectivism), is something that’s stuck with me forever.
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3. Unfortunately grown to be nosy in other’s businesses. But I’d like to see it as a way of caring?
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4. Being stuck up and judgmental. And the infamous- Koreans eat dogs.
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Situational 1. Definitely in the beginning there was a language barrier and assimilation into American beliefs. Though I have adjusted better, my parents are still rather traditional. The clash of values between the two dynamics is still difficult today. (My whole family moved from Korea).
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Situational 2. It’s the common issue. American/Western values focus on individualism. Korean/East Asian cultures focus on collectivism- emphasis on family. I can’t be selfish for my own good... I’d have to and have grown accustomed to always considering my family and peers.
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Seok (Steve) Kim
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1. My ethnicity/background, culture that I grew up surrounded by, and a large factor in shaping my values/ideals.
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2. Family, hard work, respect.
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3. It shaped my ideals and how I act (from small things such as not wearing shoes indoors to larger things like respecting parents).
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4. We're not all BTS.
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Situational 1. Not growing up in "american" culture means im not informed on certain american traditions/habits that others naturally grow up with (goes both ways, others might not understand mine), people cant pronounce my Korean name.
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Situational 2. Diminished it in some parts (there are many aspects of my lifestyle in which I act more American than Korean, such as usually going by Steve instead of Seok), but my primary identity still lies as Korean.
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Christine Lim
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1. Having good values and food.
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2. Respect for elders.
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3. When I was younger I was ashamed to be asian, korean. So it made me have less confidence growing up. However, now I realize that korean culture has made my life so unique.
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4. That Korea is a very poor country and everyone farms there.
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Situational 1. I think first gen means to be forever confused about which culture u associate urself with more. Being first gen has made me “grow up” fast. My parents didn’t speak English and I had to navigate “society” alone. I had to learn how to talk for myself since my parents coildnt. My parents couldn’t teach all the nuisances of American culture which led to me facing a large cultural disparity with my peers at school.
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Situational 2. I think being American has led me to feel distant from my korean culture. Korean culture is something I want to learn more about but it’s hard since I don’t actually live in korea. There are just some things I will never understand about korean culture and I as a korean-American will have to learn to accept that.
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