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SS: I think it is very funny how much my sister and I have in common. From so far away, we seem to be almost identical. I did not realize this could happen if we were not living together. We both LOVE to sing and dance. Then we have similar tastes in color (yellow), similar tastes in guys (not too “clean-cut”), and similar tastes in clothes. Both my dad and her dad (my birth dad)said that they need a way to make us wear shorter pants. They talked to each other about how our pants drag on the ground and how they make the bottom of the pants look ratty. Then lastly, we have similar likes in food. I know that is very hard because the food is so different, but coffee-flavored (my favorite drink) drinks and food are very popular with her. Also, some of the Korean foods that she does not like, I do not either.
AT: How do you communicate with your birth family?
SS: I communicate with my birth family mostly through letters. The letters to my birth parents we have translated into Korean before we send them. The letters to my sister and brother I send in English so they can practice their English. When we receive letters from them my Korean teacher translates them for me. I have received one phone call from my birth family and I have tried to call them.I just recently received an e-mail address for them and sent an e-mail, but I have not heard a reply yet. After meeting them I knew that I really wanted to keep in connection with them. I realized how important they were going to be and how much effort I would have to put into keeping in touch with them. AT:Over the past year how have you dealt with the experience of finding and meeting your birth family. SS: Through my friends, family and other people I have been able to deal with the experience of finding and meeting my birth family. It was hard when I first came back from my trip to Korea because all I could think about was my birth family. After realizing that I was not the only one who has been to Korea, met their birth family, and then had to leave them, I felt a little better.One of my very good friends, Hannah, helped me through a lot of my hard times. She had recently gone to Korea and met her birth mother and sisters. She had experienced the excitement and happiness of being with them and the pain and sadness after leaving them, too. Together we were able to talk about our feelings and emotions with each other. Also, I have been taking Korean classes.When I'm there I just think about my birth family and it helps me to relax because I know each time I am there, I am one step closer to being able to communicate with them.I also listen to a lot of Korean music, and watch Korean music videos, and read Korean magazines. This helps me practice my Korean. I talk with my friends on the Internet who speak Korean fluently and that helps me too. AT: How would you describe this experience and what do you think the next few years will be like? SS: I would say that this experience was very good. I think that this was the best learning experience I have ever had to face. Not only did I get to find my missing family I also got to meet many new people. I got to see their culture, and the way they actually ran their daily life. I felt more attached to Korea through them and I also feel like I got to meet new friends. Even though they were my family, since I had never met them before it felt even more special. I learned about their jobs, their friends, their interests, and their country—Korea. It was something so important to me. I think that in years to come, I will try to plan another meeting time. I hope after high school, either my brother and sister will be able to come over here, or I will be able to go back.I just want to keep writing to them and staying in contact. I will try to call them more and I will continue practicing Korean. Suzanne Switzer is a fifteen-year-old sophomore at East High School in Denver, Colorado. She is an active teenager who likes to dance, sing, and play sports. She is on the swim team, snowboards, and takes dance and Korean language classes. And in her spare time she likes to hang out with her friends. Click Here to Subscribe and Read These Great Stories too:Cover Stories: Spotlight on Korea Adoptions: Adoption Agency Profiles -Various AgenciesHan-gook: The Land of the Han
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