DEPARTED FROM
Seoul, South Korea
ARRIVED IN
Seattle, Washington
YEAR
2000
AGE
24
NOW LIVES IN
Atlanta, Georgia
TRANSCRIPT
My name is Hyun Kim, from Korea. ‘Juhn hangook eh suh ohn Kim Hyunji ibnida’. I came to US year 2000 when I was 24 years old. I had just graduated Dongguk University. I majored in Asian fine arts.
My first day of US was clean and fresh because I lived in Seoul. Seoul is a big city and full of buildings. When I arrived at SeaTac Airport, my sister picked me up. I met my family who had came here first and then we went out for dinner. It was good to see my little cousins and have fun time with family. I moved to here because Korean economic was bad. The economy infected my father’s business, so we decided to move to USA. At that time, we already got green cards. I was sad to leave Korea because my memories and friends were there. But also, I was excited to find new life. First impression of American people were nice and friendly. They tried to help others who needed hands. It was hard to learn English, but I needed to live here and continue my passion, which is art. First I started teaching art to kids, which I am still doing. Second, I began florist school and then designed flower arrangements. A couple years later, I went to culinary school. Now, I am a chef. I don’t regret leaving Korea. I found my passion here and now I have family and a lot of friends here.
