Wow Jenna, this is huge. I've only been to Korea once and that was as an adult about 8 years ago, before the kids were born, and with my parents for their first time back since immigrating to the US. It was wild how I could almost feel those gears in my Korean language brain space slowly waking up and starting to run more and more smoothly the longer we were there. I think the best part for me was seeing my parents remembering things from their childhoods on the trip. Safe travels to you and your mom. xo
Looking forward to hearing about your trip and how you process it. I’ve only been to Korea once and it was as at the height of my teenage rage/rebellion, solo with my mom, who I barely spoke to at the time. Also I was a major tomboy and very tan and everyone thought this to be appalling. (Judgy as usual!) And it was her first time going back since she’d left 21 years prior. We really have never talked about it since bc it was so much to take in but now for the first time I’m actually curious to go...but terrified. Anyhow, I hope it’s a good trip, whatever that means for you!
What a trip this is going to be, Jenna. I can only imagine what this kind of journey holds and stirs up for you but glad you get this opportunity to share it with your mom. And that you're compatible travelers. Travel compatibility is real? Absolutely. Wishing you a rich and wonderful journey and look forward to hearing tales of the adventure when you return. xx B
Wow wow wow ... what a huge milestone! We did a similar trip in 2014, with my husband and brother-in-law being back in the country they left as toddlers for the first time. German wife and American Hapa kids in tow. We didn't travel with a parent, but met with (until then unknown) relatives, both older and our age. Beautiful and emotional experience, but we went back and forth between being immersed in extended family, and traveling to some destinations on our own, as tourists from NYC. I can't wait to hear and see what you might share in a few weeks!
Have a wonderful Trip Jenna, it sounds like it will be very special on so many levels - a trip with your Mum, a homecoming of sorts, and so different for you to be travelling without your own family. Enjoy every minute! and especially the food :-) Safe Travels.
I just took a trip with my mom -- similar in some ways, different in others. It was half the time, and to Ireland, aka somewhere with no connection to our heritage. And I very much occupied your mom's role -- planned every single detail, so it often felt like she was tagging along, even though she was the one who initially asked for the trip and picked the location. Even with the shorter time and the removal of all the questions of identity... it was really, really intense. Processing it afterwards with my husband, I realized that it was much more a trip-with-my-mom-and-our-relationship for me than a trip to Ireland, which became just the pretty green backdrop.
Similarly, while I've left my children for at least that long while they were younger, this was one of the first times when doing so left me with only anguish, no relief. Probably because they don't require as much care any longer, but I missed them wildly every single day I was gone. I don't regret taking the trip on balance, but... it's so hard to leave when you start realizing how few days together you have left.
Anyway! I cannot wait to hear about your trip, and I think it's impossible that it doesn't change you in some way. It feels like that process has already begun?
“Even at this age, I’ve come to realize that I’m still searching for somewhere I belong.” - this comment resonated so much with me. I was going to leave a comment about this feeling when you wrote about your name in the other post. As person who immigrated to America from South Korea as a child, I am also still ‘searching’ (although I’ve leaned more into being American over the years). I have visited Korea when I was younger but I never felt like I ‘belong’ there. Despite speaking fluent Korean (conversational), I was still viewed as ‘other’ or too different.
I have not gone back for a long time now and have been thinking about visiting with my family. But based on my own family history and dynamics, I feel that it would be too heavy emotionally for me to make this trip with my young daughters. I might just have to make a trip on my own first to get my emotional bearing first!
Big trip. I feel like going to Korea helped me with the grief. I would cry while walking by myself, processing all the emotions then I would stop to admire the beauty the country offers. At the end, I felt so cleansed. 힘내!
Wow Jenna, this is huge. I've only been to Korea once and that was as an adult about 8 years ago, before the kids were born, and with my parents for their first time back since immigrating to the US. It was wild how I could almost feel those gears in my Korean language brain space slowly waking up and starting to run more and more smoothly the longer we were there. I think the best part for me was seeing my parents remembering things from their childhoods on the trip. Safe travels to you and your mom. xo
While your trip has a
different dimension to it, it still reminds me of coming on visits „home“ to Europe (which wasn’t home anymore) when I was living in the States...
I do hope you have a great experience, all the „feelings“ included, of course 💕
Looking forward to hearing about your trip and how you process it. I’ve only been to Korea once and it was as at the height of my teenage rage/rebellion, solo with my mom, who I barely spoke to at the time. Also I was a major tomboy and very tan and everyone thought this to be appalling. (Judgy as usual!) And it was her first time going back since she’d left 21 years prior. We really have never talked about it since bc it was so much to take in but now for the first time I’m actually curious to go...but terrified. Anyhow, I hope it’s a good trip, whatever that means for you!
What a trip this is going to be, Jenna. I can only imagine what this kind of journey holds and stirs up for you but glad you get this opportunity to share it with your mom. And that you're compatible travelers. Travel compatibility is real? Absolutely. Wishing you a rich and wonderful journey and look forward to hearing tales of the adventure when you return. xx B
So excited for this trip, and all the writing that comes from it!!
Wow wow wow ... what a huge milestone! We did a similar trip in 2014, with my husband and brother-in-law being back in the country they left as toddlers for the first time. German wife and American Hapa kids in tow. We didn't travel with a parent, but met with (until then unknown) relatives, both older and our age. Beautiful and emotional experience, but we went back and forth between being immersed in extended family, and traveling to some destinations on our own, as tourists from NYC. I can't wait to hear and see what you might share in a few weeks!
Have a wonderful Trip Jenna, it sounds like it will be very special on so many levels - a trip with your Mum, a homecoming of sorts, and so different for you to be travelling without your own family. Enjoy every minute! and especially the food :-) Safe Travels.
Oh, Jenna. This is so, so much.
I just took a trip with my mom -- similar in some ways, different in others. It was half the time, and to Ireland, aka somewhere with no connection to our heritage. And I very much occupied your mom's role -- planned every single detail, so it often felt like she was tagging along, even though she was the one who initially asked for the trip and picked the location. Even with the shorter time and the removal of all the questions of identity... it was really, really intense. Processing it afterwards with my husband, I realized that it was much more a trip-with-my-mom-and-our-relationship for me than a trip to Ireland, which became just the pretty green backdrop.
Similarly, while I've left my children for at least that long while they were younger, this was one of the first times when doing so left me with only anguish, no relief. Probably because they don't require as much care any longer, but I missed them wildly every single day I was gone. I don't regret taking the trip on balance, but... it's so hard to leave when you start realizing how few days together you have left.
Anyway! I cannot wait to hear about your trip, and I think it's impossible that it doesn't change you in some way. It feels like that process has already begun?
You're going to have such a great time. Some culture shock and an awakening. I hope you have a good time with your mom!
“Even at this age, I’ve come to realize that I’m still searching for somewhere I belong.” - this comment resonated so much with me. I was going to leave a comment about this feeling when you wrote about your name in the other post. As person who immigrated to America from South Korea as a child, I am also still ‘searching’ (although I’ve leaned more into being American over the years). I have visited Korea when I was younger but I never felt like I ‘belong’ there. Despite speaking fluent Korean (conversational), I was still viewed as ‘other’ or too different.
I have not gone back for a long time now and have been thinking about visiting with my family. But based on my own family history and dynamics, I feel that it would be too heavy emotionally for me to make this trip with my young daughters. I might just have to make a trip on my own first to get my emotional bearing first!
I wish you and your mom have a wonderful visit.
Safe travels!
Big trip. I feel like going to Korea helped me with the grief. I would cry while walking by myself, processing all the emotions then I would stop to admire the beauty the country offers. At the end, I felt so cleansed. 힘내!