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Living as an international family has some significant challenges. The biggest challenge is that you are physically separated from very important parts of your family. This time last year, we visited Korea for Spring Break and will visit even longer this summer. When we visit, we stay with family.
Min has one younger brother who lives in Korea. The brother is married to a woman who is not only an awesome wife and teacher, but a woman I consider a friend. In-Shil is very popular with our children because she has a great sense of humor. She likes to develop her hobbies–drawing, yoga, Crossfit (yes, they have that in Korea), English, technology, etc.–and I’m always impressed by how wonderfully welcoming and inviting she is when we visit her in her home. She is frugal and a fine cook, but still enjoys herself and loves kids. I think you can see why we get along so well!
Her English is a bit better than my Korean, so we often have conversations where she will speak in elementary Korean and I will respond in elementary English and we understand each other very well. Our husbands think this is weird, but we like it.
I often wish we lived in the same city (or even the same country), because I would love to be closer with her. I am very grateful for her patience, love, and support with my brother-in-law and mother-in-law (who lives near them), and with my husband, who doesn’t always realize how awesome she is (he does, I just think he should think she’s EVEN MORE AWESOME, because she is). Our Korean family has had some significant challenges recently, and she has been the rock through the worst of it (and continues to be).
Some people have challenging relationships with their in-laws, but our family is blessed with a SUPERSTAR jakkun ohmma (aunt). I cannot wait to visit her this summer!
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