Family Matters in Korea

I just returned from Korea. This is not my first trip; in fact I have visited Korea every year since 1985 and lived there for three months at a time.

This time I visited Gyeoung Ju, a quiet hamlet which sits lakeside in the original home of the ancient kingdom of the Shilla. 12 hours on a plane and 2 hours on a bullet train and I was finally there.

In many ways, it reminded me of Foster City. Smaller in some ways, and larger in others. However, most important was the similarity of spirit with regard to family. The families were ever-present and enjoying the bounty of nature, food, and community.

Two days ago, it was the national holiday called childrens' day. It seemed the entire country had descended upon the community. Children could be seen running, playing, and creating childlike havoc. I noticed that the families also included grandparents. They sat and enjoyed the chaotic sounds of the children playing as well as their smiling faces as they built up a decent appetite.

The commonalty of experience in life never ceases to amaze me. We all enjoy the sounds of our children at play. We enjoy their laughter, joy, and exuberance . We enjoy our communities, and finally, we enjoy good food together.

After another week, two trains and one plane, I was back home with my family for my son's third birthday and Mother's Day. We went to , lunch in Palo Alto, and finally a dinner cooked by me for our moms. Culture is culture, and while the food was different and the location was different, but the end result was the same. Family matters.