All Three Moms Met

This past Monday my biological mom came to Gumi to visit, and so met my host mom in person, and even my migook mom (migook means American) via gmail video chat. It was nice, my Korean mom said thank you to my parents for raising me well, and my American family assured them that it was a pleasure (though I think they forgot about the teenage years in saying that, hehe, ah well it's better that way^^).

My host mom and Korean mom chatted the whole day, and so b/c my host mom's English is better than my Korean, I got to learn more about my family. I guess my mom was saying how her heart was very heavy since giving me up, b/c she was always worried about how I would grow up. But now that I met her, her heart has been freed so to speak, her great burden has been lifted b/c she doesn't have to worry anymore.

Also, apparently my grandfather didn't actually know about my story until last year. My grandmother knew, but b/c of my grandfather's somewhat strict personality, he was never informed about my mother's pregnancy. Though my mom emphasized that both of my grandparents really really like me, so I need to get over to Cheongju again soon to visit them. And apparently, my grandfather still has a lot of questions for Doug, hehe.

I also learned more about my grandmother's story. She lost her arm specifically in ddok-making equipment. (ddok is Korean rice cake, similar to the Japanese mochi) In order to grind the rice really finely, dangerous equipment is used, and so I guess my grandmother had a slip-up and lost her arm in the process. Strange that I've had an affinity to amputees since college...

So yes, the day I've been dreaming of since I was a little girl has come true. My Korean past and American upbringing has come crashing together. And I even gained a third mom in the process (my host mom). As my American mom puts it, when it comes to family, it's either been feast or famine.