"It's culture day at school Friday." Min Jun said when Mi Sun picked him up from Didi's house one September evening.
"It is for Ji Yeon at daycare that day too." Mi Sun told him."Do you have to bring anything?"
"It's all on a paper in my backpack." Min Jun said.
"Ok. I'll look at it when we get home." Mi Sun told him.
They got home and Mi Sun made a quick dinner of spaghetti. After dinner Mi Sun and Min Jun sat on the couch while Jin gave Ji Yeon a bath.
"Ok, it says you can need to bring your favorite food from your family's culture. You can even dress up if you want to." Mi Sun said reading the paper Min Jun had given her."You also have to make a poster about where your family comes from."
"Can you make bulgogi?" Min Jun asked.
"Sure. Go get some sleep and we'll start getting stuff tomorrow." Mi Sun told him.
The next day instead of going to Tommy's house, Min Jun went with his mom and sister to the Asian market where they picked out some snacks and ingrediants to make Min Jun's favorite dish.
"What's that?" Min Jun asked pointing to the packages on the porch.
"It should be you and your sister's outfits. Chuseok is next week." Mi Sun explained handing some grocery bags to Min Jun and picking up the packages.
They went inside and put away the groceries before sitting down on the couch and opening the packages.
"Let's see if they fit." Mi Sun said pulling the first outfit out of the box.
Mi Sun took Ji Yeon's clothes off and put on the pink long sleeved shirt with rainbow sleeves and purple skirt.
"It fits." Min Jun said."Now it's my turn."
Min Jun took off his clothes and stepped closer to Mi Sun so she could help him get dressed. His outfit consisted of a green shirt with rainbow sleeves and red pants, along with a green hat to match.
"You can wear this to school Friday." Mi Sun said helping Min Jun get undressed.
"Can I bring bulgogi and rice cakes and kimchi fried rice?" Min Jun asked eagerly. He really wanted his friends to try his favorite foods.
"Why don't you bring that for lunch. The paper says just to bring one thing to share with the class." Mi Sun told as she changed JI Yeon into the yellow onsie she had been wearing.
"Ok. Can my friends come for Chuseok?" MIn Jun asked.
"I don't see why not." Mi Sun told him gathering up the outfits and putting them back in the box so they wouldn't get messed up.
Friday arrived and Mun Jun eagerly put on his outfit. He was excited to see what everybody else would bring. his stomach grumbled as he smelled breakfast cooking.
"How come Ji Yeon isn't wearing her special outfit?" Min Jun asked sitting at the table and notcing Ji Yeon sitting in her high chair wearing a white Hello Kitty shirt and pink pants.
"Because she just has to bring her favorite snack." Mi Sun explained setting a plate of food down in front of Min Jun.
Min Jun arrived at school carrying a container filled with kimchi fried rice and another filled with rice cakes. He placed them on the table next to the other containers of food and took his seat.
They made a few crafts and read a few stories until it was time for lunch. Everyone passed out what they brought.
"What is this?" Chuckie asked looking at all of the strange food on his plate.
"It's kimchi fried rice." Min Jun explained taking a bite."It's good."
"Chuckie tentativly took a bite and spit it back onto his plate."It's spicey."
"It's not that bad, but these are kind of weird." Tommy commented holding up his rice cake with a small bite out of it.
Min Jun looked around the room and found that most of the kids hadn't touched their rice and most of them threw the rice cakes away. He put down his fork no longer feeling hungry. He regretted bringing his favorite food, even if that was what the paper said to do. He should've brought something sweet like Kimi did with pokki.
"You can take off your outfit now." Phil told Min Jun when they got to Didi's house.
"I didn't bring other clothes." Min Jun shrugged."And you're still in your outfit from school."
Phil looked down at his white shirt with the British flag on it."Yeah, but my clothes are normal."
For the first time in his life Min Jun felt different from the other kids. They didn't like the food he ate and now Phil was making fun of his clothes.
The kids all gathered around the table when Didi called them for lunch. MIn Jun took his place next to Kimi, who had changed into regular clothes at this point instead of the kimono she had worn to school. He usually sat next to Phil, but didn't feel like it right now.
"What is this Tommy?" Min Jun asked when a plate of orange stuff was placed in front of him.
"It's tuna casarole." Tommy told him taking a bite.
Min Jun took a bite and quickly forced it down, not liking the taste. He thought about grabbing his lunch that he had brought from home, but didn't want to hear anymore comments. He ate quickly and went off to play by himself.
"How was school?" Mun Hee asked when she picked Min Jun up from Didi's house later that day.
"Not good." Min Jun mumbled while putting on his seatbelt."I don't think I want to be Korean anymore."
"Why not?" Mun Hee asked driving away from the house.
"Because my friends don't like our food and Phil made fun of my clothes." Min Jun explained."I think I just want to be American."
When Min Jun got home he dumped his lunch box into Cleo's bowl.
"Why did you do that?" Mun Hee asked when Min Jun put his now empty lunch box on the counter.
"I told you. I only want to be American now, so I can't eat food like that anymore." Min Jun told her.
"You should be greatful to have a mom who cooks for you." Mun Hee said."Growing up on fast food, cereal, and frozen dinners isn't fun."
"But you like fast food." Min Jun pointed out.
"Yeah, but not all the time. why do you think I come over for dinner once a week?" Mun Hee asked just as yelling was heard by the front door.
"What's wrong mommy?" Min Jun asked when Mi Sun walked into the kitchen and putting her phone on the counter and Ji Yeon in her high chair.
"Your parents are coming." Mi Sun told him."Why is your lunch in Cleo's dish?"
"He doesn't want to be Korean anymore." Mun Hee explained.
"Why?" Mi Sun asked looking at Min Jun.
"Cuz." Min Jun answered.
"Cuz why?' Mi Sun asked.
"Cuz I just don't want too." Min Jun answered."i only want to be American and eat American food and wear American clothes."
"Of course this would happen when your parents are coming. Just give them another reason to think I'm screwing up their kid." Mi Sun muttered getting dinner started.
"I said I only wanted American food." Min Jun cried when his plate was set in front of him.
"You also asked for this, so eat it or don't. I'm not making anything else." Mi Sun said as she put some food on Ji Yeon's high chair tray.
Min Jun pushed his plate away. He couldn't bring himself to eat his favorite Korean food after what happened earlier with his friends.
"Did something happen today?" Mi Sun asked turning to Mun Hee as Min Jun left the table.
"His friends didn't like the food he brought and they made fun of his clothes or something." Mun Hee explained taking a bite of her food.
"Guys I need you to teach me how to be American." Min Jun said the following Monday after school.
"Why don't you just stay the way you are?" Zack suggested.
"Cuz I don't want to be Korean no more." Min Jun insisted."So will you help me be American?"
"Sure we will." Tommy told him.
"What should we do first?" Min Jun asked.
"I still think you should stay as you are. It's ok to do things different, but if you want to be American, why don't you start with changing your name." Zack suggested.
"Good idea Zack." Min Jun said.
"How about Heraldo?" Phil suggested giggling at the sound of the name.
Min Jun shook his head at Phil's suggestion and tried to think of names he had heard.
"Why don't you pick a name that starts with the same letter as the name you have now, so you can remember it easier." Zack suggested.
"You have really good ideas." Min Jun told Zack as he thought some more.
"What about Morgan?" Kimi suggested.
"That sounds like a girl name." Min Jun said.
"How about Micheal?" Tommy asked.
Min Jun thought about it for a minute before shouting."That's it. That's my new name."
"If you want to be American then you have to watch football." Tommy said tunring on the tv and changing it to a football game."My daddy says there's nothing more American then football."
The kids watched the game for awhile. Min Jun was getting bored and would rather be watching soccer, but didn't say anything to his friends.
Min Jun was relieved when Didi called all of the kids in the kitchen for a snack.
"There's also nothing more American then apple pie." Lil remarked taking a bite of her slice."At least according to my daddy."
"This is really good." Min Jun mumbled with his mouth full. He liked it much better then the tuna casarole.
"I have a new name now." Min Jun told Mun Hee when she came to pick him up.
"Oh really and what is it?" Mun Hee asked as they walked to the car.
"Micheal." Min Jun informed her."And I'm only speaking English."
"Uh ok. Good luck communicating with our family this week then." Mun Hee told him.
"What does communicate mean?" Min Jun asked buckleing his seatbelt.
"It means talking." Mun Hee told him.
When Min Jun got home he went to his room and got rid of all of his soccer stuff, hiding it under his bed.
"Oh good, you cleaned your room." Mi Sun said as she walked by carrying a laundry basket of clean clothes.
"I'm only speaking English now and my name is Micheal now." Min Jun told her.
"Uh ok Micheal, here are your clean clothes." Mi Sun said in English handing Min Jun a small stack of clothes to put away.
"You can't say my name like that." Min Jun insisted as he took the clothes.
"Like what?" Mi Sun asked.
"How you said. It sounded funny." Min Jun told her.
"I can't help how I say things." MI Sun told him."I didn't grow up speaking English."
"You should practice more." Min Jun said as Mi Sun walked out of the room.
"Can you entertain her while I cook dinner?" Mi Sun asked Mun Hee handing Ji Yeon to her
"Sure." Mun Hee offered going into the living room.
"What are you doing?" Min Jun asked walking into the living room to see the baby shark song playing in Korean.
"Entertaining your sister." Mun Hee told him.
"We only need to hear English in this house." Min Jun said shutting off the tv. He then walked over to Ji Yeon and took the small box of snacks she had been eating making her scream and then start crying."She can't eat these anymore either."
He went into the kitchen and threw the box away and grabbed a banana. He came back and layed it in her lap. Ji Yeon continued to cry and threw the banana at Min Jun.
"Do you have anymore of Ji Yeon's snacks?" Mun Hee asked coming into the kitchen holding Ji Yeon, who was still upset, but no longer crying.
"No. What happened to the ones I just gave her?" Mi Sun asked turning away from the stove.
Mun Hee looked over to where Ji Yeon was reaching and spotted the box in the trash can.
"Min Jun threw them away." Mun Hee answered moving Ji Yeon away from the trash can so she couldn't see her ruined snack anymore.
"What am I going to do with him?" Mi Sun sighed.
"I don't know, but you might need to figure something out soon because everyone is here." Mun Hee said when her uncles, grandparents, mother, and aunt walked through the door.
Everyone sat down to dinner and helped themselves, except for Min Jun, who normally would've loved this dinner.
"Can I have noodles?" Min Jun asked after everyone had gotten what they wanted out of the dishes placed on the table.
"They're Japanese, and you said you only wanted to eat American food, so here is your dinner." Mi Sun said placing a plate with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on it in front of Min Jun.
As Mi Sun sat back down as everyone stared at Min Jun wondering why he wasn't eating what the rest of the family was.
"Tell them why you're only eating a sandwich." Mi Sun said in English as everyone began to murmure. She figured it would go over better if he was the one to tell the family rather then her.
Min Jun put his sandwich down and took a deep breath."I want to be American."
"Tell them in Korean." Mi Sun ordered as everyone looked to her to translate.
Min Jun took another bite of his sandwich and crossed his arms."I'm only speaking English."
"He wants to be American, and only speak English." Mun Hee spoke up."He even has an American name. He wants to be called Micheal."
"This is all your fault." Mi Sun's brother shouted at her before leaving the table.
"Did you ever have to go through this?" Mi Sun asked Miju as the two of them did the dishes after dinner.
"Nope." Miju said while drying a plate."We pretty much acclamated as soon as we got here."
Mi Sun sighed while washing a bowl."How did you do it so easily?"
"First of all I only had one kid, and I took English lessons on top of medical school." Miju told her.
"Sometimes I just feel like I'm not doing enough for the kids. I can't teach them English when I'm to tired from trying to speak it perfectly all day. Do you know how many people ask for a nurse they can understand?" Mi Sun sighed leaning against the sink.
"You do plenty for these kids. You got them out of a bad siituation. They have a home cooked meal most nights. They'll learn English in school. Don't worry so much." Miju told her."Besides I need a favor."
"What do you need?" Mi Sun asked turning away from the sink and looking at her sister, who was staring at her phone.
"My apartment flooded." Miju answered.
"You and can stay in Ji Yeon's room." Mi Sun said handing her sister a blanket.
"Thanks." Miju said taking the blanket and stepping aside as Jin brought in Ji Yeon's crib mattress.
Everyone settled in for the night. Mi Sun only hoped there wouldn't be any problems. She was just getting comfortable on the couch when she heard yelling coming from Min Jun's room. She handed Ji Yeon to Jin, who was asleep at the other end of the sectional couch and went to see what was going on.
"He won't stop snoring." Min Ho complained upon seeing his aunt in the doorway.
"I can't help it." Min Jun shouted.
"One of you go sleep in the basement with the girls." Mi Sun ordered.
"It's my room. I'm not going anywhere." Min Jun insisted crossing his arms.
"Can I sleep in the living room with you?" Min Ho asked. He didn't want to risk getting yelled at by his older sister.
Mi Sun nodded and Min Ho grabbed his blanket and made himself comfortable in the chair.
"Do you mind not smoking in my house?" Mi Sun asked her brother the next morning as she put Ji Yeon in her high chair.
"Go outside if you want to smoke." Youngja said taking the cigerette and putting it out.
"Thanks." Mi Sun told her mother as she watched her brother join their father on the patio.
Both women began preparing breakfast as the rest of the family made their into the kitchen.
"You're really not going to eat any of this?" Mun Hee asked taking a bite of her food.
"Nope. Americans eat cereal for breakfast." Min Jun insisted picking up the bowl and slurping his milk.
"You're missing out." Mun Hee said moving her plate closer to her as Ji Yeon reached for her food. She picked up some and put it on the tray."Even Ji Yeon likes it."
The rest of the week was much the same for Min Jun and his family. He wished the holiday would hurry up and come and be over so he would stop getting pestered by his family about what he ate.
"How do you like being American?" Tommy asked that Friday at school.
"It's ok cept I gots to eat lots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or nothig at all. I already ate all the cereal." Min Jun replied.
"You know you could just eat the food that you like just like you diid before." Zack pointed out.
"No. It's ok. I want to be American." Min Jun insisted."I just got to get through this holiday and then my family will leave."
"What holiday?" Kimi asked.
"It's called Chuseok. It's my favorite holiday, or at least it used to be." Min Jun explained.
"What's it like, and why don't you like it anymore?" Tommy asked.
"We spend time with family and eat lots of yummy food." Min Jun explained.
"Oh so it's like Thanksgiving?" Chuckie asked.
"What's Thanksgiving?" Min Jun asked having no idea about the holiday since he hadn't lived in the country long enough to celebrate it.
"Our whole family comes over and we eat lots of yummy food." Lil explained.
"Oh." Min Jun said."I guess Chuseok is the Korean thanksgiving. Would you guys want to come to my house this weekend and see if our holidays are the same?"
"Sure." Tommy agreed.
"Uh just so you guys know, it's all Korean food." Min Jun warned them."Some stuff we only eat on this holiday."
"That's ok." Tommy assured him."In my house we eat some Jewish food on holidays."
Hearing that he wasn't the only one who had some different food made Min Jun feel better.
"We also wear those clothes like what you saw me in last week at school." Min Jun said."And my family doesn't speak English for some of them."
"Don't worry. We won't make fun of your clothes or anything like last time." Phil promised."The food was really good."
"It gets even better." Min Jun said feeling more excited for the holiday now that his friends had agreed to come and not make fun of him.
The next day everyone gathered at Min Jun's house.
"Come on guys we're just about to eat, but take your shoes off first." Min Jun told them.
The kids did as Min Jun asked them to and removed their shoes placing them by the door.
"You're actually eating Korean food?" Mun Hee asked Min Jun as she joined the kids on the living room floor since there was no more room at the table.
"Yep. I missed this food." Min Jun said with his mouth full. He then turned to his friends."No fence guys but I think I like Korean food better then American."
"I agree. Whatever this is is really good." Phil said shoving some kimchi into his mouth.
"That's kimchi." Min Jun told him taking a bite of his."It's spicey cabbage."
"You mean I just ate a vegetable?" Phil asked as he looked down at his plate.
Min Jun nodded with a smile.
"I wish American vegetables tasted that good." Phil said taking some kimchi off of Lil's plate.
"My tummy hurts." Min Jun complained after his friends had gone home. He flopped down face first onto the couch.
"So you like Korean food again?" Mi Sun asked as she rubbed his back.
Min Jun looked up and nodded his head."I want to be Korean again. We have better food."
"I'm glad to hear it." Mi Sun told him."We can try and speak more English at home."
"It's ok. My brain hurts from trying to speak two languages. I like speaking only one at home and one at school." Min Jun explained."And you can call me my real name again. Nobody called me my American name anyways."
"Min Jun come on. We're going to play soccer in the dark." Min Ho called holding up a light up soccer ball.
"Ok. " Min Jun cried forgetting his stomach ache and jumping off the couch.
"Can I talk to you?" Mi Sun turned to see her brother standing in the doorway that lead to the kitchen. She was worried about where the conversation would go but nodded her head.
"Are you going to yell at me and tell me how I'm messing up your kids?" She asked as her brother sat down on the couch next to her.
"No. I just wanted to say that you're doing a great job with them."
"It's not easy."Mi Sun confessed."Min Hee has some problems at school, and Min Ho is scared of a lot of things, and then there's Min Jun."
"I think Min Jun or whatever he wants to be called now just wants to fit in with his friends."
"He's back to his old self now. Mom's cooking is to good to resist." Mi Sun said.
They sat in silence for a few minutes.
"You took on a lot at once." Her brother finally said."I was angry at you for bringing them here, but now I see that it's been good for them. Just make sure they know where they come from."
"I'll do my best." Mi Sun promised.
"Come play soccer with us."
"I would, but duty calls." Mi Sun said getting up and picking Ji Yeon up out of her swing as she began to cry.
Mi Sun walked outside with Ji Yeon and had to duck as flying soccer ball almost hit her.
"Sorry run away ball." Her brother called.
"And all the times that happened when I was growing up, I always thought you did it on purpose." Mi Sun said throwing the ball back into the grass.
"Some might've been on purpose." Her brother admitted kicking the ball to Min Jun.
"Go have some fun. I'll watch her."Youngja said taking Ji Yeon.
"That was fun." Mi Sun panted as she and the others collapsed in the grass.
"Yeah, but I think I've had enough family time for awhile. I'll see you at work Monday." Miju said getting up and walking inside.
"I guess our apartment is fixed." Mun Hee shrugged as Miju hollared for her to come on.
"That was nice, but I'm glad to have our house back." Mi Sun said as she and Jin layed in their bed.
"What's this?" Jin asked picking up a small pink box off the nightstand.
"These were my favorite as a kid." Mi Sun said taking the box."They're from my brother."
Mi Sun smiled as she silently read the note scrbbled on the side of the box.
Mi Sun opened the box and found Hello Kitty shaped cookies inside. She gave one to Ji Yeon before having one for herself.
"I almost feel bad for not getting him a gift like you're supposed to." Mi Sun said popping another cookie into her mouth.
"You're raising his kids. I think that's good enough." Jin told her.
A/N Zack belongs to Celrock.