International ajumma

Wipes away cobwebs–blows off dust.

Whew! Well, I really didn’t mean to let it go this long. Yes, we are no longer in living Korea (although David is currently in Seoul for business—again.) But I am committed to finishing my “Top 10 Things I’ll Miss” list and writing about how life there has changed me.

In keeping with that, I wanted to point out something ironic I’ve noticed about life back in the U.S. And that is: No matter where you go, the power of the ajumma will follow.

When I lived in Korea, I was jealous of my Korean women friends for their impressive networking capabilities. Need to find the best deal on jade/a good kindergarten for your child/the best galbi place in your neighborhood? They just ask their friends and, by extension, their friends’ mothers, mothers-in-law, cousins, aunts, second cousins, women who went to grade school with their moms, etc. Someone will know someone who can keep an eye out for you and give you the inside scoop.

Wherever I went, there were groups of Korean women who knew each other. They went together for coffee, to take their kids to the playground, nursery school, the sauna–everywhere.

I’m finding that true here. Moving back to Atlanta as a parent has been almost like moving to a new city. When we left, we were a downtown condo-dwelling, childless couple with two full-time jobs. Now, I stay home in a house in one of the older suburban areas. Making new friends and developing a new routine has been harder than I thought.

And everywhere I go, I still see groups of Korean moms hanging out with their kids. At our local Gymboree, there’s a class that’s almost exclusively made up of Korean moms and kids. I see groups of Korean moms eating together at the nearby deli, taking their toddlers to hang out in the toy department at IKEA, etc. I remember how hard it was as an expat, trying to find other people and make friends, it makes me truly admire their ability to maintain such extended personal networks. I laughed to myself the other day that, even back in the States, in a city I called home for a decade before leaving, I am still caught envious of Korean ajumma power. It is truly something to behold.