Our house was filled with the usual decorations that most of us associate with a child's first birthday celebration. Balloons, pink streamers, gifts wrapped in bright colors, and of course a birthday cake. However, upon further examination you would begin to notice the Korean culture. Assorted colorful candies made of soy are stacked high to represent a long life. Traditional Korean seaweed soup is also on the menu to represent the difficulties the mother endured during childbirth. (The soup is given to the mother during her recovery.) The entire counter top is filled with Korean dishes, as well as more traditional American favorites.
Myla greeted her guests in a white birthday dress and a hat with pink furry trim and tassel. Immediately after the singing "Happy Birthday" and eating her cake, she was taken away by her mother and grandmother. A space was cleared on the floor and several items were laid out on a mat. A pencil, string, a book, money, and rice were a few of the items. After a few minutes, Myla made her grand re-entrance, this time wearing a traditional Korean dress. She was placed on the mat, in front of the items. Now it was time to see which items would be chosen. The first was the money. This is supposed to predict financial stability for my daughter. The second was the book, which represents intelligence. The final item chosen was the string. This one represents long life. So, I have hope that my daughter will have a long career as a cardiologist!
I believe that my daughter's life will be greatly enriched by being a part of both cultures. There are many differences in American and Korean cultures. However, it is very apparent how much our children are celebrated in each.
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