Happy Mother's Day - 3 days!

I thought you guys would enjoy seeing these photos! I came across my travel certificate from Korea, look what a fat little baby I was! Unreal. 

This picture is of my foster mother and I at the airport before she sent me on the plane to Los Angeles, California on January 29, 1992. She had me for the first 5 months of my life and took care of me as a baby, and for that I am truly thankful.

This is my first day at home in Los Angeles with my mom, Ellen, on January 29, 1992.

I want to take the time to recognize my mom, Ellen, for everything she has done for me and given me throughout my life. I am truly blessed to have been adopted by my parents, and I believe fate played a major role in matching my parents and my brother with me. My mom has been there for me throughout it all, and I don't know where I would be without her. Though we have our moments, our love stays the same, and I couldn't ask for more.

A big shout-out to all the moms out there who give us life, guide us through life, and ask for nothing but love in return.

Lots of love,
Meryl

Summer 2012 Travel Essentials

1. Fun, BRIGHT Sunglasses! I have this weird benigne thing on my eye from too much UV light in my eyes, and so I needed a better pair of sunglasses that would actually protect my eyes, and these lenses have a lime green interior -- so cute (AND they're polarized, I feel like I've been living a lie)! Kate Spade GAYLA Sunglasses.

2. Travel-size stuff. 

• Tresemme Volumizing Dry Shampoo: If you don't already use dry shampoo, you should seriously invest in some. I borrowed Tavia's for a while this year, and it saved some seriously gross hair days. 
• Jergens Ultra Healing: I swear by this stuff. I have really dry skin especially in the summer, and I apply this lotion daily -- it leaves you feeling moisturized all day!
• Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes: These remove all of your make up and have a fresh, clean scent and are perfect for traveling (because I hate bringing liquids anywhere now). Always wash after, though!
• Toothpaste, Qtips, Tums: all pretty self-explanatory, but DEFINITELY a necessity.

3. A good pair of flats, sandals, and sneakers (not pictured): You never know if you'll have to go dressy or causal, so having at least these (if you are a girl), is totally worth the shlep! I recently invested in some Superga sneakers, and not only are they the most comfortable sneakers that I have ever purchased, they are SO cute and come in a million different colors (I chose red). Sam Edelman Felicia Flats & Garrison Sandals, Superga Sneakers

4. Bright colored pants! We saw these last summer in Italy, but then we thought that the Europeans were crazy for wearing red, blue, and green pants. These pants are becoming much more popular in the United States and there are so many bright colors and pastels for summer! I got these pants at Zara for $35 each. Zara POP Slim Fit Denim

These are my travel essentials for Summer 2012! What are yours?

xx,

Meryl

Four days!

I did MORE shopping today for our trip and we bought some things to donate to the adoption agency. Desitin apparently costs the equivalent of $33 in Korea, and it only costs $4.50 here, isn't that crazy?

I thought you all would be interested in hearing about our official itinerary!

Day 1 (Wed. 5/16 - Thurs. 5/17): Flying day. We are leaving on Wednesday, flying 12 hours to Tokyo (where we have a layover for a few hours, can you say saki bombs?), and then flying 2 more hours over to Korea. We will get to Korea around 9pm there, which will be around 7am here, and we will go check into our hotel in Seoul and then go to sleep and relax!

Day 2 (Fri. 5/18): On Friday, we will tour the adoption agency in the morning (and get to play with some babies), and then we have the rest of the day free!

Day 3 (Sat. 5/19): Seoul city tour ALL DAY.

Day 4 (Sun. 5/20): Folk village. It's basically the Williamsburg of South Korea, which should be interesting! My mom's cousin, Jeff, is joining us on this day!

Day 5 (Mon. 5/21): ALL DAY FREE!

Day 6 - 8 (Tues. 5/22 - Thurs. 5/24): Busan

Busan is the second largest city in South Korea, and is the biggest port city in South Korea.

Day 9 (Fri. 5/25): DMZ tour. The DMZ is the Demilitarized Zone in between North and South Korea. Though called the DE-militarized Zone, this border is the most heavily militarized border in the world. 

Day 10 (Sat. 5/26): Back to the United States!

There's so much to do, and so much to see, but I am excited for all of it!

Until next time,

Meryl

Officially 5 days!

I went shopping today and did some major damage, but I got a lot of great stuff for this summer and for our trip! I also got a tetanus shot today!

While at the mall today, my mom and I went to See's Candies to pick up chocolates for the adoption agency and our travel agent through the agency. I don't know if I have told you all this story yet, but originally I was supposed to come home at 7 months and in December for Christmas, my mom sent See's Candies to the adoption agency in Korea, and I came the next month. To this day, my mom has a special place in her heart for See's Candies. 

I can't believe it's officially 5 days until we leave! So much to do, so little time!

Current exchange rate

1 US Dollar = 1,137.43 Korean Won

I am by no means a mathematician... this should get interesting.

Something I'm super excited for

My mom's cousins just came back from Korea a few weeks ago because their son is currently living in a suburb of Seoul.

In an email, my mom's cousin wrote: "Korean women dress to kill."

I am so excited to experience Korean fashion and shopping. Only 8 more days!

Nine more days

The past five months have flown by, and now a trip that was only just talked about will be a reality in only 9 days.

My parents have told me basically every year since I was sixteen years old that we would go to Korea, and in 9 days, I will be there (well, 10 days including flight time).

Finalizing everything for the trip has been hectic amongst final exams and end-of-the-year stress, but I know this will be a life changing journey. We will be in Seoul for most of our stay, then we will travel to Busan, and then back to Seoul for the final part of our trip. 

We will tour the adoption agency, eat kimchi, and get a real taste of Korean culture outside of Los Angeles' Korea town. 

My dad's best friend since high school, Frank, is Korean and when I was younger, his family would bring me back a hambok when they traveled to Korea. When I was about 7 years old, Matt and I went to a Korea camp to learn more about the culture.

We moved to Thousand Oaks, California from the valley when I was 3 years old. My mom needed her dry cleaning done and she found the cleaners down the street from our house. The couple that does the dry cleaning is Korean, and my mom said that when they spoke Korean to me when I was younger, I would light up. For the past 17 years, they have called me by my given Korean name, Soo Kyung. It turns out that I made such an impression on them that when their son had his first child -- a daughter -- they named her Soo Kyung too.

Since my childhood, Korean culture has since been put on the back burner as American and Jewish culture have become a first priority. Now though, I acknowledge and realize now that I must embrace and study my racial background as well as my cultural background.

Though I know only one word in Korean, "Angyounghaseyo," meaning "hello," I am excited to dive head-first into a culture and a place that brought me into being, a place that created my total existence.

It has not been confirmed yet by the adoption agency, but there is a chance that I will be able to meet my foster mother while I am in Korea. This woman took me into her home and took care of me for the first five months of my life, which I am so grateful for.

Many people ask me if I will want to meet my biological mother while I am there. I have been torn with this question my entire life. My emotions since I was a child have been wishy-washy on the subject, but I have realized that I would not like to meet my biological mother while I am there. I have had only four dreams in my life where I have woken up crying. One is from my childhood, and all I can remember from that night is my biological mother was in my dream.

I am appreciative and thankful that she had the courage to give me up in order for me to have a better life. From my background papers, I have learned that her living situation was not ideal. She was a high school drop out that was working to help pay the bills and had a one night stand. This woman carried me for 9 months, she brought me into this world, and yet -- 20 years later, I don't feel a connection with her. Maybe I'll feel differently when I have a child.

As the trip sharply rounds the corner, I have looked online at Korean customs to know before arriving, I have attempted to learn Korean through a YouTube channel (didn't help), and I am packing up my house here in Tucson for the summer.

I can't wait to be a majority in a country, it'll be weird for my parents, but I have realized over all my travels that no matter where I go in Western society, I will always be a minority. In 9 days, that will all change.

I'm packing up my room in Tucson and I'm realizing that I am ending my junior year of college, and my life is just about to begin.

Until next time,
Meryl