April 25, 2001
Group cultures interest in Korea
Korean native discusses traditions, pop influences
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Asking questions about everything from language to gender roles, cultural traditions to pop influences, area families who have adopted children from Korea asked the expert: a Korean native studying at Interlochen.
Hyun-Jin Ka, 17, spoke to a group of parents, their six children plus two grown Korean adoptees and their husbands Sunday afternoon at the Traverse Area District Library. As attendees peppered her with questions, she told the children that yes, there are fast food restaurants in Seoul, skateboarding and music by Britney Spears are popular and that, in addition to tea, Korean people also drink milk and pop. There is even a Korean MTV, she told them.
Parents' questions sparked discussions of air pollution in Seoul, food preferences (traditional rice for breakfast is becoming less common), rural vs. urban living and eating utensils followed. Religion and holiday celebrations were also discussed.
For the parents, whose children ranged in age from 14 months to seven, it was a chance to learn about their child's native culture so they could keep it a part of their lives.
"I want us to be a part of where she was born, she is real curious," said Robin Barnes, who came to the meeting with her 7 -year-old daughter, Mariah Andersen.
Even the issue of how Koreans feel about the adoptive American families was raised. Ka replied that many Koreans feel pleased that these children have a loving family and home in America but that parents of the children put up for adoption were not viewed so generously.
The informal group of families has met three times so far to promote and learn about Korean culture. An offshoot of an International Adoption group that meets three times a year, the parents are not sure what they will do next, only that they will keep meeting a few times a year.
"We're families who want to learn about the Korean culture," said Amy Rickenberg, who adopted her daughter, Kara, 3, from Korea when she was just a little more than seven months old. "We want to help her learn about what it is like in Korea and incorporate as much as possible because she is Asian."
Ka discussed Korean language and how it uses both Chinese letters and Korean letters. She also gave a short speech in Korean and later wrote out each child's Korean name on special paper as a keepsake.
While all the children in attendance were young, as they get older their interest may diminish or disappear for a time, Jennifer Kauffman noted. A parent of a son, Jonathan, 20 months old, she has heard from other adoptive parents with older children that teenage years are a time when kids want to fit in. During those years, their children may show less interest in their native culture.
"We also have to make sure that there is a balance, let them learn what they want to on their own," said Kauffman, who hopes her family will welcome a daughter from Korea later this year. "We've heard from other parents that you can't push it on them. The kids say, 'We're Americans.'"