Halmeoni

During my recent research visit to Seoul, I had a long conversation with my halmeoni. No, it was more like a story time, much like the ones we shared years ago when she raised me. I named certain events in her life and she would promptly supply her memories. “Independence Day”: Korean flags covering the streets and her wondering how so many were made so quickly. “Marriage”: at age 16 so she wouldn’t be taken away by the Japanese military. “War”: the nice North Korean soldier boy asking her