It's All About Me

Mamazilla has tagged me for the Eight Random Things About Me meme that's been going around. This was fun to do, thank you very much Mamazilla for tagging me!
Rules:Once tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Then post the rules before your list, and list 8 random things about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag and link to 8 other people, visit their sites, and leave a comment letting them know they've been tagged.

1. I was born in Dinslaken, Germany. My parents met and married in Germany, they were there on a Korean study/work training program. They were rebels because they were not supposed to get married while in Germany, let alone have children (my older sister was also born there)

2. My sister and I were sent to live with my maternal grandparents in Korea while my parents immigrated to Canada. They thought it would be best if they could just concentrate on working and save money. We were originally supposed to live in Korea for five years but my parents missed us so much that after two and a half years we were reunited with them. I can't even imagine sending my own children half way across the world when they were infants. I was only a few months old and my sister was not even two years old. My father still talks about how for the first little while I would always tell him "Choli ka ujushi", which in rough translation means "go away mister" when he would try and hug me. He teases me about it sometimes, but I know it was extremely painful for him to be separated from us, my father is a truly soft hearted man. My mother rarely speaks about the separation, it is just too painful.

3. Growing up my sister and I were usually the only Asian students in school. Therefore, I did my best to reject my Korean identity, by not speaking Korean to my parents, learning how to cook Western food so I didn't always have to eat Korean food. It was only when I went to a high school program which was sponsored by a local Korean organization, I actually got to meet other Korean students my age who were not all geeks. It really made me proud to be Korean. I tried to get involved in Korean groups in university, but the cliques were already formed so it was tough making friends.

4. I was a real bitch to my then boyfriend just before he proposed. Yeah, I know, not one of my stellar moments. He had planned for us to go to the Beaches area in Toronto for a picnic lunch. My first clue that something was up should have been the fact that he had actually made a lunch and packed it all by himself. He had tried to borrow his best friend's car so we could drive instead of taking the streetcar but his friend was too crazy about his car to let him drive it. We still tease his friend about this fact and he does feel guilty that he was too obsessive about his car to let his best friend use it. Well, so there we are on a very, very hot July day on a crowded streetcar. When we get to the beach my boyfriend announces that he wants us to go and sit on one of the huge rocks that are just on the water's edge. I try and talk him out of this as I'm already hot and tired and did I mention that the sand was a million degrees. Well, he keeps on asking me to walk over to the rocks, so I do....but then, the sand, which by now is 2 million degrees is getting into my sandals and did I mention how much I hate having sand in my shoes....so I'm complaining and whining and being just completely miserable and acting like a whiny two year old. So my boyfriend sets everything up, he had brought cheese and crackers and instead of wine or champagne (both of which make me feel ill) he had brought my favorite, orange pop, and wineglasses, so very sweet and thoughtful. By this time, I'm starting to be in a better mood. While I'm looking at the water and the view I turn around and M. has a box out and is starting to talk about "I love you...blah, blah..." meanwhile I'm just looking at the gorgeous sapphire and diamond ring .... meanwhile M. is still talking "would you marry me" or words to that effect. I know it sounds really corny but time stood still and I just burst out crying and couldn't say a word. I was sobbing and so overcome with emotion, however, I did manage to blurt out "yes" and just kept crying.

5. I cannot swim. I nearly drowned when I was about six or seven. My parents dragged me to swim lessons but I would barely put my head in the water. I now feel much more comfortable in the water and I can float and do the doggie paddle. I know I should take lessons but always talk myself out of doing it. I know that's why I made a point of taking my kids to swim lessons, my daughter is an excellent swimmer and BoyChild also loves the water and is doing well in his lessons.

6. Considering I am a klutz and completely uncoordinated, it's amazing that I've only broken one bone in my body. The baby finger on my left hand. I was playing volleyball with my Dad and I fell on my hand, ouch!

7. I am extremely afraid of mice, rodents and most other rodent type creature, even hamsters and gerbils make me shake. I remember reading the passage in the novel "1984" when Winston is being tortured with rats, yes, that is also my nightmare scenario.

8. I much prefer to cook rather than bake. I think because baking requires precise measurements. I like experimenting with recipes and just throwing things into the pot to see what happens.

Now, I'm tagging the following people: The Lotus Life, Snickollet, Diapers, Budgets and Paint, Bokumbop, Halfmama, Tumble Dry, Kitchen Fire.... sorry, I only have seven, not eight....I know I'm such a rebel ;-)