Episode 3 - Kimchi

Foods and smells can unlock so many memories and feelings.

[@mellisyarnandbookadventure4895]

I’m sending you a big hug. I was tearing up right along with you. I have a friend who was adopted as a toddler and her mom took her back to her birth place as a teenager she said it was freeing to see where she has roots.

[@TheHeyMiki]

This is a very interesting series for me, and I'm excited to watch. I am your average white American gal that grew up with a fairly traditional childhood. I've never really known someone adopted from another country, I'm not sure how your parents feel about being on camera but I think it would be a fantastic video to sit down with them and hear their perspective on the adoption process, what they knew about you and the orphanage, and what it was like raising a foreign adopted child, what records they were given. Obviously that all has to be deeply emotional for you, but when/if you are ready to share that, I think it would be a great eye opener for viewers.

[@vickenator]

@TheHeyMiki I think this is a fantastic idea. She could record the video but only post it publicly if she feels compelled to do so -- otherwise it would be great for her children to see someday when she's ready to share that with them.

[@rainsofhealing]

Thank you for sharing your life with us Kelli. I was getting choked up when you were reading the adoption food preferences as well. I just want to take that sweet baby and live on her, every baby deserves love. Your foos looked SO YUMMY! The pat of butter...delish! Your quite adept with those chopsticks too. I don’t know how people use metal ones, they are so slippery to me. You are a very precious and wonderful person. God bless you! 🙏😊

[@Starlightxxoo]

I think one of the best things that you can do is to make Korean friends. Ask them about their traditions and things they do. What meals are common day to day. I have a friend who was adopted as a toddler as well and when she hit 30 she just wanted to know more about her native culture and she made a few Korean friends and they took her under their wing. She says the experience was healing, she would even go to their homes for holidays and they would celebrate her birthday like they would normally. She’s even learning her native language now. I wish you all the best in this healing journey ❤

[@vickenator]

@Angie-es6tf This is a lovely idea! And thank you for reminding me that I need to pick up my Hangul studies again!

[@martyannbirman4627]

Looks so good. Glad you are on this journey, sending healing and positive vibes 💫

[@darkangel4185]

I'm so sorry that your childhood made you the odd person out. Kids are horrible, especially in school. Anything different is hard for kids to accept. But I'm happy to hear you're learning more about your culture. It's never too late.

[@vickenator]

Thank you for sharing this with us all. I'm sorry this is such a painful journey but I think it's awesome that you're taking it on at your own pace. It sounds like your parents were very supportive but there's only so much they can do in American public schools. :/ I didn't know about kimchi until I was an adult, at which point it was my dad who introduced me to it because he fell in love with it somewhere along the way (we're French/German/Danish/Czech). I wasn't used to spicy foods so it took awhile for me to acclimate to it but I now love it as well. When my husband and I lived in a heavily Korean neighborhood in the DC metro area, we had lots of Asian grocery stores at our immediate disposal (something I reallllllllllllly miss now that we're back in the Midwest) and he and I made kimchi a few times. The first time we bought supplies at the H-Mart, the checkout ladies all assumed I was the one who would be making it, even though it was my husband's idea, so I pointed at him instead, and they all thought that was very amusing. My Korean coworker was also fascinated by the fact that it was my husband who made the kimchi and when I gave her some to try, she took it home so her whole family could try "kimchi made by an American man" which was evidently novel as hell! We made a batch a couple weeks ago and had to stock up on some baking soda boxes because the fridge and freezer were taking on those lovely fermented scents. 🤣 Lastly we named one of our cats "Kimchi" because when we first got her, she was a little sassy, a little spicy, and a little stinky! 🌶

[@krystalg3228]

The Momma bear in me, just wants to give you a huge hug! Thank you for sharing your journey with us. I appreciate and enjoy watching you. Also, for my jasmine rice ( the only one we use) I do 1:1 ratio, rinse well, I drizzle about 1/2 tbsp of olive oil and add some salt on the rice, stir, then 4 mins in my IP with a natural release. It comes out perfect every time.

[@Cheetopuff4-ig1lv]

You are so inspirational Kelli, never forget that ❤

[@Josiemarm]

I can empathize with you! I def put my puertorican culture on the back burner, would not even speak Spanish for the same reasons. Now as an adult I embrace it 100%

[@Cee7876]

The story you shared at the end reminded me of the short story "Fish Cheeks".

[@prettypridey]

i dunno about yall but recently i have been getting recommendations for amazing channels that are pretty small now and i gotta say that i respect that.. and love my algorithm ..uwu

[@LosingStephanie7]

It’s so crazy how we used to get made fun of for sooo many things. The cultural food, glasses, etc. … and now all those things are trendy. I’m happy and irritated at the same time 😂

[@missalicesmiles]

I'm also Asian and you can never go wrong with the finger rule if you aren't using a rice cooker with markers for the water I'm really sorry to hear they made fun of your food :(. It always makes me feel grateful i grew up in such diverse area and can't imagine ever moving to a more homogenous place