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Find Identity for ¡®Koreans Whom are Different From Us¡¯
Convey the affection of Koreans through various events By Hannah Park
ChristianityDaily Reporter
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| ¡ãAdoptee family photo wearing hanbok |
It is not merely the 1.5 generation or second generation Koreans that feel an identity crisis in America. They are Korean adoptee. Even though they are raised with love from their American parents, don¡¯t know any Korean and fluent only in English however it¡¯s not easy to forget their root Korea.
Bethany Presbyterian Church held a festival for Korean adoptee on May 3 greeting the National Family Month. The festival was an opportunity to inform both the adoptee and adoptive parents about Korean culture and identity.
At the festival there were congregants wearing hanbok, Korean traditional dress, greeting the adoptee family with smile. The adoptee had time of experiencing of drawing Taegeukgi, learning Korean, taking family photo wearing hanbok, top spinning, samulnori getting familiar with their root. Also drum dance and taekwondo demonstration drew a big round of applause from the participants. The adoptive parents also shared the joy and difficulties with the common denominator of adoption.
¡°It¡¯s very joyful to watch the kids that annually participate in the event growing up. There are children who are shocked to learn that there are those who are similar to them since they were raised among Americans but it¡¯s becoming an opportunity for them to learn about Korea their root,¡± shared one congregant.
¡°If there is any difficulty raising a Korean adoptees please contact us. We even have translation available we will do our best to help,¡± said Pastor Byung-Ho Choi encouraging the adoptee family before the event.
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