Lunar New Year Party

While I knew growing up that my family was Korean American, it wasn't until I lived overseas in Korea that I began to actually take on some of the culture. Thanks to my mom, we ate lots of delicious Korean food (that my husband still thinks is the best...no matter how hard I try), but outside of eating "weird" things like dried squid and going to Korean church, my upbringing didn't seem much different than my other American friends.

I remember my first Lunar New Year in Korea. I was in sixth grade and we traveled to Kangnun to visit my mother's family. My grandmother and most of my mother's siblings still live in the oceanside city she grew up in and we had made the four hour bus ride to see them often during our first year in Korea. But this weekend was special. It felt almost like Christmas because all the businesses were closed and everyone was home visiting family. I remember walking around and seeing everyone dressed in their hanboks, commenting on how much all the kids had grown and how beautiful everyone looked.

After we ate delicious food it was time for the traditional new year bows. All the children lined up to bow to the elder members of the family, starting with my grandmother. My brother and I picked up quickly how to bow and how to wait patiently as our elders wished us blessings in the new year. As all teenagers do, we especially liked the part when they blessed us with money. But our family picked up quickly that we weren't exactly sure what we were saying. So they had my brother and I bow alone. We both started strong "Sae hae bok..." knelt down to bow and finished with mumble, mumble, mumble. Our entire family burst into laughter-we had been set up! :) 

This year to honor the Lunar New Year we gathered with other Korean American adoptive families to enjoy some Korean food and traditional bowing. It was fun to see all the kids dressed in their hanboks running around together. It was also great to talk with other adoptive parents and share experiences-both painful and joyful. I am grateful for the internet as I found both Becky and Christy through their adoption blogs-how fun that they both live so close!

I loved this wall decoration: "Family" 

Meet Joshua, son of Becky.

I love the details on hanboks, so pretty! Here is a close up of Joshua's

Miss Haneul

All the kiddos. Seems like the bottom row was more interested in taking a photo..

 Two of Christy's boys.

Joshua and Lucas

Christy's daughter

Gabby, big sister to Lucas

Bowing to Mommy and Daddy

Beniah was super excited about receiving his dollar-I think hes already decided he will purchase a new Hot Wheels car. :) Its the little things in life.