25 Random Things About Me

Reposted from my Facebook page because… well, because it’s easy blog fodder :

Blogging Meme

Shamelessly stolen from Dawn at This Woman’s Work:

1. Why did you start a blog?

Although I did start blogging in direct response to that awful let’s-suppress-adoptee-voices fiasco with the New York Times series, I had actually half-wondered if I should start my own blog for a while before that. I had things that I wanted to say but needed a place to say them, and a blog seemed like the easiest way to make myself heard. (Oh, how little I knew back then!)

2. Why do you continue to blog?

Because I have a voice and I want to use it… Because I haven’t gotten burned out just yet (although I’ve come close a few times)… Because I need a place where I can just vent… Because I want to meet like-minded fellow transracial adoptees… Because some adoptee bloggers I admire aren’t blogging anymore (or are taking long, well-deserved breaks)… Because everyone is entitled to my opinion… Because I want to let other transracial adoptees know that they’re not alone… Because I wanted a hobby that would give me carpal tunnel…

3. Do you have a blogmother/blogfather?

Not really, but I do want to acknowledge the influence of the transracial adoptee bloggers that were here long before me — especially Jane, Ji In, Jae Ran, Sumeia, Mudeng, Julia, Mee-Hee, Paula, and Soon-Young. Their history of speaking up and calling attention to the importance of adoptee voices helped give me the confidence that this was something that I could try also. (Do I sound like I’m giving an acceptance speech yet?) And since I have enough parents already thankyouverymuch, I prefer to think of these inspiring women as my blog-sisters.

4. Any downside to blogging?

Having my name dragged through various adoption blogs/forums and beaten with the verbal equivalent of spiked metal clubs after writing something that people don’t like. That sucks.

There are others, but that’s probably the big one.

5. Do your ‘real world’ friends know that you blog?

Nope. Except for LB, nobody in my “real world” life knows that I blog. And the day that changes is the day I stop blogging.

Tagged!

It would seem that I have officially been tagged for the first time ever, and with a meme that I haven’t seen before. (Thanks junemoon!) Since this one doesn’t involve revealing large amounts of personal information, I’ll play. Here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

Regarding books that are within arms’ reach of where I’m sitting, I have my choice of any number of Korean language books, or Lonely Planet Korea.

So without further ado, I present to you this information about Namhansanseong Provincial Park (남한산성 도립공원), 20 kilometers southeast of downtown Seoul, courtesy of Lonely Planet:

In 1636 King Injo fled to this fortress when the Manchus from China invaded and occupied Seoul. After a siege of 45 days, the king surrendered and was forced to accept Manchu suzerainty. To ensure that he did, his son was kept hostage in China for eight years.

Here’s a picture of the Namhansanseong Gate courtesy of Wikipedia:

I tag anyone reading this who has never, ever been tagged before. (Yes, LB, this means you!)