Hanah Kim

I Am From Poem

I am from a country that was once annexed and is now divided.
I am from a grandmother who lived through the Korean War, raised five children alone, and saved
enough money to start her own factory.
I am from a grandfather whose family was separated when Korea was no longer one.
I am from a family who is unknown and anonymous to me, living in North Korea, but is of the same
blood.

I am from fermented ingredients like Kimchi () and Doen Jang ) that are still staples to the
Korean diet but come from a history of poverty.
I am from Budaejjigae , a popular Korean dish that was made during the Korean War when
locals would take left over ingredients and canned food from American soldiers based in Korea and
create a stew out of them.

I am from a father who fled his home country when he was fifteen with one $100 bill in his pocket,
started off as a farmer picking strawberries in fields making a wage of $1 for every basket he filled,
and whose first language after Korean was Spanish.
I am from a mother who could not speak any English but chose to volunteer at my Elementary School
so that I wouldnt feel left out from all the other kids whose parents came to help out.
I am from a father who every morning puts his hand on my head, prays, and kisses my forehead
before living for work.
I am from a mother who gave up her dreams and aspirations so that my brother and I can pursue our
own.
I am from parents who embody and live out the word sacrifice each and every day.

I am from an unquenchable thirst to travel, explore, and discover new cultures.
I am from the hearty people of the Amazon, the smiles of the orphans from Recife, Brazil, and the
warmth of the children from the Gypsy Village in Sofia, Bulgaria.
I am from experiencing humility and learning invaluable lessons from people I proudly thought I
would go help.

I am from summer concerts, farmers markets, restaurant explorations, and endless amounts of gelato.
I am from Disneyland because it truly is the Happiest Place on Earth.
I am from a life full of paradoxes like being a lover of food but having 80 allergies.

I am from a God who does not ask, What have you done for me? but reminds me, Look what I have
done for you.
I am from I love because He first loved me.
I am from a willingness to always seek to be in a place of love, to give rather than to receive, to serve
than to be served.
I am the product of countless failures and disappointments but even more opportunities and reasons
to hope.