Food/Tradition

Tradition is a family ritual, and attached to those traditions lies old family stories, history, culture, and family legacy. It's very important to pass these traditions and family rituals down, so the newer generations can learn what you were taught when you were a child and so forth. When I lived in Korea the two most important celebration is when you turn 1 years old and New Years Day. There was no such thing as Thanksgiving, and people really didn't celebrate Christmas, which Koreans called X-Mas. Both these celebrations involved lots of prep work, all the woman in my family would gather to cook traditional food such as rice cakes, rice, different types of kimchi, marinated meat, Asian fruits, and many different types of vegetable side dishes. When it came down to the celebration, everybody was dressed in traditional clothing called, "hanbok" which are ONLY worn during these traditions besides getting married. Both tradition are celebrated hoping to bring good health, prosperity, good fortune, success, happiness, and honor to the family, to our ancestors, and to God.
Nowadays my family and I have embraced the American tradition such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, Mother/Father's day, Fourth of July, and Anniversaries, but still continuing our old family tradition. For example, for Thanksgiving we do the American traditional feast such as a turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, string green beans, but we also add and Asian flare of marinated beef (kalbe, bulgogi), kimbap (korean veggie roll) sashimi, sushi, different types of kimchi (fermented spicy cabbage),  korean veggie side dishes, rice, fruit salad, 7 layer jello squares, and of course pumpkin, apple, berry pie & cheesecake. And this literally involves families from all over Hawaii, Oregon, Boston, Japan, Korea and ect. Christmas, birthdays, parent's day tend to be a little more personal just involving my family, and we continue the old traditional rituals for New Year's day, which still involves wearing "hanbok". Did I mention that you also have to do a ceremony bow to anybody that's older then you, and then they make a comment like, "do well in school" and then your given money. 
I think food will always be part of traditions, and rituals regardless what you believe, cultural background, and where your from. I know food is a central part of keeping our tradition alive and a reason to gather with love ones and celebrating together. My family tradition might be different then the traditional American way, but regardless we all have two things in common... sharing with love ones, & food!

Community

Breast Cancer Awareness is a community.

Values, morals, interest, and the love for one to overcome cancer are some of many reasons why this group is considered a community. Giving one another the strength, faith, and the love to one another is what helps hold this group together as one, regardless if you’re a stranger, a friend, or a family member. The most important need this community  shares is for their love ones to overcome cancer, and to be given the second chance at life. People who are involved in this community shares similar feelings of pain, hurt, frustration, and stress because this community witnesses their love ones battling for their lives. Sometimes it can be so hard, because people realize that he/she can’t do anything and are helpless… all they can do is have faith, believe, and show courage for their love ones. Depending on the situation, tension can either be good or bad. It can become a good thing, because it encourage those supporters to go out and help raise money for research which is another step in one day defeating breast cancer once and for all.
The reason why I decided to be apart of this community is because I love what this community represents… it represents strength, faith, courage, and love. This community is supportive for one another regardless if you know them or not, each person understands what one another is going through and how their feeling. My mother was a breast cancer survivor, and I know exactly what the people in this group is going through mentally, physically, and emotionally. As a community, a unit, and as one we al want one thing… for our love ones to beat cancer and to be given the second chance to be with his/her family once again.

what's in your purse?

What’s in your purse??

    If someone found my purse, the first thing they would probably identify and say is how much stuff I have packed in my purse. The first couple things they would come across is miscellaneous items such as; bacterial sanitizer, lotion, chap stick, gum/mints, hair tie, bobby pins, keys, mini contact fluids/contact case, to go stain remover, and rosary. I think the first assumption that would come in mind is how high maintence this person might be, a germ phobic, and religious. Now if the stranger looked inside my wallet, they would find more personal items such as; driver’s license, debit/credit cards, gym membership, mini charms, receipts, personal notes, and pictures of family, friends, and lover.
    Some assumptions that someone might make about my personality, values, or identity based on what’s found inside my wallet is, how family oriented I am, and how much I value my family, and friends from multiple pictures that I carry. They would  see that I’m in love from the letters I carry written by my fiancé. Maybe how fun or outgoing I might be from all the mini charms and funny photo booth pictures. Also, they would find a list of goals written and see that I could be a self driven, dedicated hard worker.
    If all a stranger had to go on is my wallet/purse, they would probably miss the type of person I am on the inside. They probably wouldn’t know who I truly am, and the type of person I can be, because that is something you have to learn by getting to know the person in person. And of course my outgoing, 31 flavors of Baskin Robins personality, I’m full of surprises and also is something that a stranger would miss.

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