AnthroScope Korea

While going back and forth between Korea and the U.S., enjoying Korean food was a key factor in maintaining my cultural connection to my Korean identity. Different types of dishes brought back a variety of old memories, including traditional holidays like the Lunar New Year and dinners with my grandparents. 

When I first moved to the U.S. several years ago, I struggled initially, trying to adjust to a new country, new foods, new customs, and a new community of students and teachers. Still feeling unfamiliar in the first week, I walked into the dining hall for dinner and saw kimchi at the salad bar. After a few long days of attempting to familiarize myself with my new surroundings, I was filled with pleasant surprise and glee when I saw the kimchi. The moment I took a bite, I felt an immediate sense of comfort and happiness, thinking of my motherland. Although physically miles away from Korea, I felt connected to my cultural roots and my Korean identity thanks to Korean food. 

Korean food also enabled me to share my culture with my friends. I encouraged them to try some kimchi during lunch, and they ended up loving it. They were fascinated to hear about the practice of “kimjang” (making kimchi) that dates back thousands of years. Sometimes when my mom shipped 

Korean snacks to my dorm, I made sure to share them with my dormmates. Korean snacks and food not only strengthened my cultural bond but also brought many of my friendships closer. 

The best experiences I’ve had and cherish most from my boarding school years were forged while sharing and preserving my culture through Korean cuisine. Feeling homesick was never a problem for me because of the memories that Korean food brought back and for which it served as a reminder. While sharing Korean food with my friends, I exposed myself to their cultures as well by trying some of their traditional dishes, from places such as Mexico, Japan, Greece, and others. In many ways, Korean food was a source of comfort as well as a cultural passport.