Note: Transcript fully created by automated AI
[00:00:00] Jesse: Hi everyone. I’m Jesse Lin
[00:00:02] Angela: And I’m Angela Lin. Welcome back to another episode of, but where are you really? From today? We have a guest on the show, joining us from Korea. We are both in Korea right now. Woo. Woo. We have Sunbin.
[00:00:15] Sunbin: Welcome. Hello? Hello.
[00:00:18] Angela: Thanks for joining us. Um, so we’ll let you introduce yourself, but I do wanna give some context on how we got connected.
[00:00:27] Angela: So we know each other through our mutual friends, Katherine and mark, for those listeners that have been with us from the beginning, they’re the ones who joined us for the parenting episode. You probably heard their baby Valerie chime in on the episode a couple times. Because
[00:00:45] Sunbin: they were watching her at the time.
[00:00:48] Angela: Um, so we are mutual friends through that connection. And Catherine mark introduced us to meet up while Ramona and I are in Seoul. So some and us already met up one other time. I think we’re getting pizza tonight. So that’s how we got to know each other. Um, and based on when we met, I was like, oh, she has a super interesting background and like kind of life story going on it as, especially in relation to all these questions we constantly ponder about around identity and kind of like where we’re from, who we really are, blah, blah, blah, anyways.
[00:01:27] Angela: So I was like, please be on our show. And she agreed. And so here she is. And so some. we’ll let you introduce yourself whatev however much you want to say about yourself, but also slide in the typical question of, but where are
[00:01:45] Sunbin: you really from? Oh boy. Uh, very compact question, at least for me. Um, hi, uh, so my name is sunburn.
[00:01:55] Sunbin: Um, I am, I was born in Korea. But then I have actually spent half my life in the states. Um, I grew up there for about in a small town, uh, in Maryland. Um, also spent a significant amount of time in Korea for middle school and high school as well. Um, and then I went back to, uh, the states. Uh, Pittsburgh to be specific, uh, for college.
[00:02:21] Sunbin: Um, and then I’ve been back in Korea for about three or four years. Um, and then now, actually this Friday, um, I’ll be heading out, uh, to San Francisco, uh, to start graduate school. So, um, kind of here and there. Uh, so I guess if to answer the question of where I’m from, I would say both Korea and the states.
[00:02:45] Sunbin: Yeah.
[00:02:46] Jesse: Wait, what are you going to grad
[00:02:47] Sunbin: school for? Oh, go to, I go to grad school for real estate development and design. Um, oh, nice. I’m doing something similar to it currently. Um, I work at a real estate company, uh, right now, um, a startup, uh, and I just wanted to learn some more about it, um, and get it and actually make some more money as well while I do it.
[00:03:11] Sunbin: So,
[00:03:12] Angela: Hey, the startup you were working at was a little cooler than just a real estate start.
[00:03:18] Sunbin: You can, uh, we build kitchens. Um, I don’t know if you guys heard of the. Dark kitchens. Um, so they’re basically delivery based kitchens. Um, so for me, I’m on the real estate side. Um, so we do the, the fit out of, uh, these kitchen facilities.
[00:03:33] Sunbin: Yeah. I think,
[00:03:34] Angela: um, I think in the
[00:03:35] Sunbin: us they’re called ghost kitchens. Mm-hmm
[00:03:37] Angela: so right, Jesse. I don’t know if you’ve heard of that concept basically. It’s like when you go on like door dash or whatever, not all of. Places that can deliver actually have like a physical place. A lot of them have, like they make their food and like one of these ghost
[00:03:52] Sunbin: kitchens.
[00:03:52] Sunbin: Yeah. Got it. Got it. Got it. Got it. Um, I’m I’m interested. Very mysterious. Yeah. I mean, I’m sure like, like some of these kitchens like run like multiple like brands, so like. You might think that you’re ordering food from like three different places, but it’s actually from the same place. Um, but I mean, the concept of this was interesting, which is why I got it into it in the first place.
[00:04:12] Sunbin: Um, but now I just want to be able to do some other stuff with real estate. Let’s go
[00:04:17] Angela: into kind of your background a little bit more. So the way you described it is really interesting part of why I was like, oh, Super interesting background is like, I feel like a lot of times when we meet people who have like split their lives between the motherlands Asia and the us, it’s usually like more clean cut of like I moved when I was 12 and then I like didn’t, I haven’t been back or like whatever versus yours is very much like, kind of like you’ve been back and forth during like very different kind of developmental stages of your life.
[00:04:48] Angela: Right. Um, and so I guess that’s. , uh, that’s very different than a lot of people that, that we meet. And so just to kind of like recap what you mentioned, so you were born in Korea, but I think you told me when we first met that you lived in the us basically from when you were like a baby,
[00:05:09] Sunbin: right. Until.
[00:05:11] Angela: until like right before middle school.
[00:05:13] Angela: Is
[00:05:13] Sunbin: that right? Yeah. So I, I got to the states, uh, when I was like 18 months old from what I, from what I heard, uh, 18 months old. And then I was there until I was 11, 11. So like, I think I, I left halfway through fifth grade. Um, and then I. He came to Korea. Um, and then started fifth grade. That’s super
[00:05:37] Angela: interesting to me, because for all I intents and purposes, like to me, you are like Korean American then, because you basically were like, no one remembers anything from 18 months old.
[00:05:48] Angela: Right? Like your memories don’t start forming until you’re probably like four or five. So by the time you can like, remember things and like you’re learning how to talk and stuff. you’re in a, like very American environment, especially you said you’re like Baltimore, Maryland area, like a very not like, you know, Asian as the default kind of environment.
[00:06:10] Angela: Right. Um, and I just like, kind of was picturing myself of like, if I went back to Taiwan when I was like 12 or whatever, 11 or 12, like what I really.
[00:06:20] Sunbin: Feel like
[00:06:22] Angela: I could keep up and like, could, you know, could fit in. So for you, like technically being born in Korea, but like essentially growing up as an American kid in the formative, like first few years.
[00:06:37] Angela: Right. What was that like when you guys moved back to, and like, I guess, why did you move back and then like, how did that feel? When you were going through
[00:06:45] Sunbin: that transition for me, like, I, it, obviously it wasn’t by choice. My parents had found a, found a new job back at Korea. Um, and then obviously the entire family had to move.
[00:06:55] Sunbin: Um, so it wasn’t by choice. I begged my parents if I could stay at a friend’s place, but obviously that wasn’t gonna happen. Um, but the transition was pretty brutal. Um, to be completely honest, I think I had it a little better because, um, I was a part of, uh, a class with all these kids from foreign countries.
[00:07:20] Sunbin: Like, so all these kids were from foreign countries, like were living in foreign countries for like more than three years. Um, so it was like an adjustment period for us for that entire year. Um, so I think it was relatively easier, but then once we got mixed into like all the, the quote unquote. Normal like Korean kids.
[00:07:39] Sunbin: I think that’s when it was tough. And I, I thought I was pretty Korean cuz like I, you know, I went to Korean school and you know, I thought like, oh I can speak Korean. But then once I actually got there, I, I, I was very traumatized. I couldn’t say a single word. Like I, I couldn’t even buy like a, a. A subway ticket.
[00:07:58] Sunbin: Um, I had to like ask my parents. I was like, uh, I, I can’t like, can you help me? So like, I, I was like, uh, I think the transition was a lot tougher than I expect. I, I thought it would be, um, because I thought I would like jump right back in because you know, I, I am like Korean. Um, but I. Very sad to be moving back to Korea, but, um, I’m grateful at least to be able to have, um, both experiences, um, as tough as it was.
[00:08:28] Sunbin: Yeah.
[00:08:28] Angela: Yeah. I can like totally empathize and imagine that because. We also, we did Chinese school as kids until we’re like 17, but we’ve always said like, I mean, for us, it was like once week, I don’t know if it’s the same for you with Korean school, but like, yeah. It’s like once a week for like a couple hours a day, you just will never make the progress.
[00:08:52] Angela: of like the same age person in the motherland because no, she’s not exposed to it
[00:08:58] Sunbin: as much. Like.
[00:08:59] Angela: I’m sure your parents spoke Korean at home though, because our parents spoke Chinese at home. Mm-hmm but it’s just not the same thing cuz talking and like reading and writing so
[00:09:08] Sunbin: different. Oh, it’s just like, yeah, definitely different.
[00:09:10] Sunbin: And like, I think like I tried to cuz I was like in the top class at like Korean school. So like I was like try to, I would like speak to like all the, the elders, like at church, like in Korean and you know, I, you know, obviously. I can get by. Like, it’s not a big deal, but obviously, like you said, that it’s, it’s a lot more harder because I wasn’t like completely immersed in like in Korean culture, but yeah, that was us too.
[00:09:35] Angela: My mom had me like skip grades in Chinese school. So I definitely thought I was
[00:09:38] Sunbin: like really good. Wow. And then, but whenever I talked to my
[00:09:42] Angela: cousin, oh yeah, yeah, Jesse. I was like two, two or three years ahead. Kids were like older than me. um, but not me girls but no. And then when I go back to Taiwan, like whenever I go back and my cousins talk to me, it’s, there’s something about like, even just like your native tongue, you talk a lot faster.
[00:09:59] Angela: Mm-hmm than people realize who are not native in that language. So like when my cousin talks, honestly, sometimes I’m like blink blank, blink blank. I’m like, what are you saying? he’s talking so fast. Like bro. Call, call . Oh yeah.
[00:10:15] Sunbin: For.
[00:10:18] Angela: Hey listeners, wondering how you can support us. The biggest way is by increasing our visibility by following us on Instagram at where are you from pod on TikTok at, but where are you really from subscribing to our YouTube channel under, but where are you really from podcast rating and reviewing us on apple podcast and telling your friends.
[00:10:35] Angela: The more people we can get to listen to the show. The more we can continue spotlighting different perspectives and stories. And if you feel so inclined, we’re also accepting donations@buymeiacoffee.com slash where are you from? Thanks. Y’all. Okay. So then you were in Korea for middle school and high school, you said before then college
[00:10:56] Sunbin: back on the stage?
[00:10:57] Sunbin: Yeah. So like a little, so I technically graduated elementary school in Korea cuz um, elementary school is up to it’s it’s up to sixth grade. Um, in Korea and then it’s three years of middle school and three years of high school. Um, so I was, uh, in Korea from like the Korean fifth grade, um, until like 12th, um, throughout high school.
[00:11:21] Sunbin: Yep. And then went back to college in the, in the states. Yep. The decision to go to college
[00:11:27] Angela: in the states. What was driving that I’m sure there were lots of things that were kind of driving
[00:11:32] Sunbin: that. I think the, I think the only, the, it was a decision that I made the minute I actually stepped foot back in Korea.
[00:11:38] Sunbin: Um, I was very . I was very determined to go back. Uh, like I like, cuz for me at the time, like I was pretty whitewashed. Um, uh, like I, I carry, I carried a Korean passport, but like. That really wasn’t who I identified with. So when I moved back to Korea, I was like, I’m gonna do whatever I can to move back to the states.
[00:12:03] Sunbin: Um, and you know, I always like picture it in my mind, like, like to try to figure out a way to do it. And obviously the way to do it for me was going to be college. So I, I like, I think it took me a while to find more of a reason to go back, but like my initial drive to go back to the states. Because for college was because I, it was home for me.
[00:12:27] Sunbin: So that’s why I wanted to go back. Yeah. Did
[00:12:30] Jesse: that goal change at all for you? The longer you stayed in Korea? Like, did you get more used to it where you were like, uh, maybe I could stay here or you were like, no. I’m, as soon as I’m out of 12, I’m booking it
[00:12:41] Sunbin: back to the us. I think like, it’s, it’s not like, like, I think I’ve gotten, I’ve like, even now, like, I think.
[00:12:48] Sunbin: I, I definitely appreciate the time I spent in Korea. Like, um, you know, I have like a newfound understanding and, you know, I, I can talk to my parents a lot better there’s things that I can understand better, like, because I understand the Korean culture, uh, more, more so than I did before. Um, I don’t think it ever crossed my mind, um, Ashley to stay in Korea long term.
[00:13:11] Sunbin: Um, I think those thoughts, if anything came. Relatively recently. Um, but at least at the time, like middle school and high school, I was like, Uh, I was always considered a foreigner. Um, my, my Korean accent has gotten like my, my Korean accent has gotten better. Um, but, uh, at least from middle school and high school, I really sounded like an, an American, like trying to talk in Korean.
[00:13:36] Sunbin: Um, so everyone knew like I wasn’t from around there. Um, but, um, I mean, I think I sound, I, I think from what my coworkers tell me, I sound a little more Korean now. Um, but because I was always called a foreigner, I never felt completely at. Even though I was Korean. Um, so I think for me, like, even though like, I, I love my friends here, like, and you know, I, I, I, I created like somewhat of a support group in, in Korea.
[00:14:02] Sunbin: Um, I was always determined to go back at some point,
[00:14:05] Angela: following up on this kind of the feeling of, or being explicitly told that you’re the foreigner. I’m curious if there was any. Kind of mixed expectation from you because, um, they simultaneously can like pick up that you’re not like from Korea as they, you know, would explain
[00:14:27] Sunbin: that normally, but also
[00:14:29] Angela: because you are Korean, you do speak Korean you’re in the country.
[00:14:32] Angela: You’re, you know, living, being educated and later on being, you know,
[00:14:37] Sunbin: working there. Do you also feel that you have
[00:14:41] Angela: any. Pressures or like expectation to conform because you are in the country or is that, are you kind of exempt from that because they see you as
[00:14:52] Sunbin: like more foreigner status? I think, I think I tried really hard to.
[00:14:59] Sunbin: To kind of get into that Korean culture. Like, you know, because I do want, you know, as a, you know, as a teenager, obviously you wanna fit in. So like, I, I think I, I tried and there are definitely things like I’ve picked up on. And, but, um, I think there’s always a limit because I just never, like, if I like started out, like growing up in a Korea, I think it would’ve been a lot easier, but like, Like, for example, like, you know, I like when people talk about in intake or Backstreet boys in the states, like, you know, everyone around my age, like they, you, we know what we’re talking about.
[00:15:30] Sunbin: Like, but like, if I were to do the same thing in Korea, like it’s, I, I, it’s something that I can’t really relate to because I wasn’t there during that period. Um, so I, I, I tried, but I think there were just limitations, um, to like fully like acclimate into the Korean culture. Which is really funny because I am still Korean.
[00:15:50] Sunbin: Um, I, I carry out a passport and my passport’s like, it says Republic of Korea, but, um, you know, it’s, it’s something that I just have trouble with. Yeah. Do you
[00:16:02] Jesse: ever get, um, I know you’ve lived there for a while now. Do you still ever get clocked as a foreigner? Like people will look at you and be like, you’re a foreigner.
[00:16:10] Sunbin: I think, I think it’s gotten better. It’s definitely gotten better. Um, but like, I, uh, like my, obviously like my, I had really amazing coworkers at my, at my company. Um, they like, there, there are like these like old Jews, like in their forties, um, somewhere in their thir, like, like, like mid thirties and, but they’re mostly.
[00:16:31] Sunbin: A lot older than me, they have a lot of experience. Um, but I think like they were very understanding. Um, and, um, but I think because they were understanding, it was a lot easier for me to work despite the fact that I was the way I was, but I, and thanks to them. I think I was able to become quote, unquote, more Korean and more acclimated into, into, into the culture.
[00:16:55] Sunbin: Um, yeah. but nice. I think there’s, it’s, there’s just always gonna be like, there’s always that limitation. I, I think because my company is a, was a global company, you know, it was an international company. I think it was a lot easier for me to adjust, but if I went to like a straight up like Korean company, which I did.
[00:17:14] Sunbin: Like before the company I just quit at, um, was not a fun time and definitely had, and obviously I wasn’t there for very long.
[00:17:22] Jesse: I ask that question because whenever we go back to Taiwan, we always get clock. Like even not saying anything mm-hmm people would just be like, look at you and they’ll be like, you’re.
[00:17:30] Jesse: You’re not like, uh, you’re not native really people around here and they always figure it out somehow. I don’t know. It’s
[00:17:36] Sunbin: the vibe. I think, like, I think there’s like this weird, like, uh, like Asian American vibe. Um, I think I haven’t been called out in a while I think, but I think at a certain point, like people could definitely.
[00:17:51] Sunbin: Tell just by looking it’s the vibe. I don’t know what it, I, someone told me, it’s like how I walk apparently. Um, I like apparently walk like with, with more conviction, really someone. And I, I like someone took a video of me walking. I was like, oh, I guess I kind of do, but I guess I like walk with like words, like determination or force.
[00:18:12] Sunbin: I don’t know. I guess it’s not very Asian in a way. Um, apparently with more swag, which I have no idea what that means. Um, but, um, . I, I, I guess it’s the walk. I don’t know. Well, actually,
[00:18:25] Angela: let’s, let’s get into that a little bit because I’ve talked now to a few other Korean people about
[00:18:31] Sunbin: kind of like
[00:18:33] Angela: Korean Americans versus Koreans.
[00:18:35] Angela: Okay. And I’ve been hearing this sentiment that like, Actually a lot of Korean people like don’t like Korean Americans, or they have low expectations of Korean Americans who move back to Korea because I guess I had
[00:18:53] Sunbin: heard them say, okay, that
[00:18:55] Angela: it’s like, I think Korean Americans supposedly come in a little bit too cocky or like that they have.
[00:19:02] Sunbin: they are above Koreans or they, they have so much to like
[00:19:07] Angela: teach you and they kind of come in with that kind of attitude. So then they don’t bother to like, learn more about actual Korean culture and, or try to integrate or anything like that. And so then there’s almost like a, um, initial turnoff, just because they’re Korean American, because they expect them to have this type of, kind of.
[00:19:30] Angela: attitude. Mm-hmm um, did you experience any of that or do you notice that with like other Korean Americans who moved back here that you’ve met or anything?
[00:19:38] Sunbin: I think. maybe I, I don’t think I felt it personally also I’m like very like numb to a lot of these things. So maybe like people were like throwing shade and I just wasn’t aware of it.
[00:19:53] Sunbin: Maybe. I think when listening to the question, I think the first thing that comes to mind is like looking at Korean American celebrities, um, that come back to Korea to like, uh, to you. Do whatever. Um, I think when I see my mom’s reaction, um, because like obvi, you know, when you think, like, if you’re going to work in Korea, like you should at least know the language.
[00:20:18] Sunbin: Um, but I think, uh, there are obviously there are cases I think with some celebrities that. Don’t really do the, like, make the effort, um, to learn Korean because like, they, I don’t know what the reasoning is. I’m I’m sure maybe they tried and it just wasn’t as easy. I’m sure. Maybe they have other reasons.
[00:20:37] Sunbin: But I think like, at least from my parents’ point of view, like, like when they’re not even making, like, they’ve been like working in Korea for like a really long time and they still can speak Korean. Whereas there’s like foreigners, like straight up foreigners, like who have never like, associated with Korea until they very recently, like they come to Korea and they learn the language so well in like two years.
[00:20:59] Sunbin: Um, I think when my parents see that comparison, um, I think they do tend to get a little disappointed. Um, but I mean, I, I feel like, you know, if you’re coming to Korea, like you should at least knew the language. I think that’s why, um, I think maybe it comes from cockiness. I don’t know, but I, I, I don’t think I feel it that much maybe, but again, again, I’m very dumb to it.
[00:21:23] Sunbin: I haven’t felt it, I think personally, but then again, I’m not really current. I don’t know what I associate myself with. I dunno. I dunno. I dunno.
[00:21:34] Jesse: So what was the opposite experience like when you went from Korea back to the us for college, did you experience
[00:21:40] Sunbin: any? That was so fine. I like fit in just perfectly fine.
[00:21:44] Sunbin: I didn’t feel like a disassociation whatsoever. Um, I mean, like it, it was a lot, the transition, I think was a lot easier. It was like very familiar. Um, so even though it was a different city, um, like very familiar. Um, obviously my English, like was not upgraded to a college level. Um, I mean, yes, I took the STDs and everything, but like, you know, speaking wise, like it wasn’t to that level.
[00:22:07] Sunbin: Um, so like maybe there was a little trouble with like vocabulary, but like the, the, at least the cultural, like, transition, like it was very seamless. Um, Yeah, it was very, very easy also, like I think in some cases when, um, international students move to the states or to a different country, they, in some cases they tend to stay in that bubble of international students.
[00:22:32] Sunbin: Um, so they don’t really branch out. Um, for me, like I didn’t want to do that. Um, so for me, I, I think I tried to make the conscious decision to at least branch out to like everyone and not. Close myself off to international. So, because it, like, I feel like it’s very limiting. Like you want, I feel like if you’re there, like you should be able to like immerse yourself in the culture and like be able to like, take advantage of it.
[00:22:56] Sunbin: And if you just, you know, just kind of close yourself off, like it’s such a dis your pay. It’s really expensive to go to college in the states as an international student. Um, I would like to. Make most of every book that has been put into it. So for me, like, I, I tried, I think maybe that’s why my transition was a lot more seamless than others.
[00:23:19] Sunbin: Um, but I, for me, like, it was really great to be back in the states.
[00:23:23] Angela: Were there any culture shocks, like specifically I’m thinking dating oh, because dating in Asia’s so like wholesome, I feel like compared
[00:23:32] Sunbin: to. The thing for me is like, so I went to an all girls middle school and high school. I mean, obviously people can date.
[00:23:41] Sunbin: It doesn’t matter, but I was very, um, uh, I did not have that many options. Um, and I didn’t have that many as many opportunities. Um, so I didn’t actually start like dating. Um, until I got into college, actually. So, uh, I mean, I I’ve, I’ve seen the differences because I have dated in Korea since I’ve been back.
[00:24:01] Sunbin: Um, but I haven’t, I didn’t get that culture shock until like, I guess relatively recently, not, not when I went to college. So then doing the Asian
[00:24:11] Angela: dating style as an adult, after doing American dating style in college, were you like, this is too wholesome. like what’s
[00:24:20] Sunbin: you were like, hold my hand.
[00:24:26] Sunbin: It was, um, uh, it was interesting. I think, uh, the thing is like, even in, in Korea, I think I. I really hope my parents will listen to this. Um, they probably won’t. Um, but, um, I, I try to find somewhat for me because I feel a lot more Americanized and I feel Korean. So I just feel, I mean, I always ask by like, when I was like back in Korea, I would ask my friends, like, you know, if you can, like, can you introduce me to someone?
[00:24:57] Sunbin: Like, can you like set me up on some, like a date they never did. Thanks guys. Um, but. Like, so I like would try Tinder or like coffee meats, bagel in Korea. Um, and you know, I, I would find people like who are not Korean at least, or if they were Korean, like have a similar background. Um, to me, I did date Korean people.
[00:25:19] Sunbin: Um, I don’t know. I feel like my, I don’t know if my experience can like define all. The, the average Korean, like dating life, um, and also like dating in like a Christian setting is like very different as well, which I had, I, I did the, the only like, super like, Serious relationship I had was in Korea was like in a Korean, like Christian, uh, environment.
[00:25:46] Sunbin: So I feel like that’s like a double whammy with like wholesomeness. Mm. So, um, I don’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Gotcha. Um, it was, uh, it was, it was interesting, but yeah, um, very different, uh, experience obviously with dating, uh, compared to states.
[00:26:01] Angela: Oh, I hope this does not come off offensive if it does.
[00:26:06] Angela: I’m sorry, but I dunno how else to ask this question is, um,
[00:26:11] Sunbin: because you
[00:26:12] Angela: have essentially, you have an American accent mm-hmm when you speak English. Yeah. Like, did you find that there unexpected kind of like benefits to it or like drawbacks to it? Because I imagine. Because you described your transition back to the states in college as like fairly seamless.
[00:26:33] Angela: And for me, I’m just imagining that being able to speak English without like a Korean accent was probably like, really helpful for that, because then. I don’t know whether people have like a unknowing bias or like explicit bias. I think some people just are like less willing to engage with international students who have like worse English, worse English, or like English with an accent, because they just don’t feel as like a kin as strong of a kinship or whatever to them.
[00:27:05] Angela: So did you feel like your accent. In English benefited you or did it,
[00:27:12] Sunbin: did you
[00:27:12] Angela: get any like weirdness with like other international kids because you had, you know, like perfect English,
[00:27:18] Sunbin: anything like that? I don’t, I don’t know about drawbacks, but I think definitely an advantage, like, like anywhere I went, um, like I think, like, I think you, you like said it perfectly.
[00:27:27] Sunbin: I think, I think probably the big reasons, like one of the big reasons why my transition was, was quite seamless, um, back to the states was because I sound like one of, one of, one of them, one of us, I, I don’t know one of, one of them. Um, so I think it, it prob I think the thing with the accent, I think. um, what people are maybe comfortable with also like if, whether or not you can understand them.
[00:27:54] Sunbin: Um, I think even with work, um, like my past job, I had to speak my, a lot of, uh, my work was in English. Um, so I think for me, it just made it easier to when someone can, I think with the accent, when someone can understand you, it just makes things a lot easier. So I think whether it was cause or work, uh, because I sounded.
[00:28:16] Sunbin: Somewhat coherent. I think it definitely made, uh, people, I guess, listen a lot more easily, um, than if I had a Korean accent. So definitely more benefits than drawbacks, which I’m definitely. Day before. Yeah. Yeah. And
[00:28:34] Angela: you, you told me a little story the other night about at work, how, like sometimes your coworkers ask you to do the presentations or something because your English is better.
[00:28:44] Angela: So
[00:28:45] Sunbin: like, uh, me, like I said, like all like my, the, the guys that I worked with, um, or like they, most of them weren’t like in their forties or like their late thirties, um, they, they have a bit of an, they like, they like grew up in Korea and like, they spent all their time in Korea. So like obviously when they speak English, they have an accent and they, it’s not like their English is bad.
[00:29:05] Sunbin: It’s just like, I think more of a confidence issue. Um, but like he would all, like, there was just one coworker, um, who would like. You kind of tell me to do the first, like it, like, because I, I sound more coherent. So like, he, he, honestly, his English is fine. Like, it’s just like, it’s not perfect, but like for someone who like grew up and is in Korea and like are in their forties and like trying to speak English and get their thoughts across, like, he’s fine.
[00:29:34] Sunbin: Like he might be missing like an, a, the here and there, but like, he can definitely get his thoughts across, but like, he would always ask if I’m in the same meeting, he would always ask me to do. Like a presentation or like answer it. He’d like, he’d like write the answer like in Korean and then is like, this is the answer.
[00:29:51] Sunbin: Like, can you. Tell them this, he would like whisper or like he would like chat on slack, be like, ah, this is what, like, can you like, make sure, like they understand like what this is? And I was like, oh, well, yeah. I think it’s more of like the confidence issue, but like, these people are like perfectly like coherent.
[00:30:09] Sunbin: It’s just like, it’s definitely a confidence issue. But yeah, because
[00:30:13] Angela: Korea is like globalizing so quickly and like the kind of inner mix of, you know, Korean culture. Being exported to the west and also like importing Western stuff into Korea. Did you find that, I mean, you mentioned that this last job you had was a more global company, but do you feel like, you know, because that’s kind of where things are trending, the ability to kind of bridge both cultures is like a big benefit in something that is going to continue kind of being an opportunity for people who can.
[00:30:47] Angela: Speak, both languages and like, you know, traverse both cultures, cuz that’s kind of the sense I get, obviously not with like super old school or conservative companies, but like tech and future innovation and whatever, it kind of feels like it needs to be this newer environment with. Different types of talent now?
[00:31:08] Angela: Um,
[00:31:10] Sunbin: I think, I think with any, like, I mean, you guys are also bilingual, um, or trilingual, I guess, in or quad Al I don’t know. Uh, like, I mean, you guys speak more than one language, um, fairly free. Yeah. Like free like fluently. Um, so I think be having. Having, I think it’s a privilege to do that. Um, which I think for me, like, I’m, that’s why I am very thankful that I was able to move back, uh, to Korea, like in middle school and high school, because if I didn’t have that, like I would probably be only like be speaking English.
[00:31:42] Sunbin: And like, my Korean would probably like be very barely light passing, but, but like, I think, um, I think being able to speak more than one language is like, I think, like being able to bridge like multiple cultures into one, especially in such a global climate, I think is definitely, it’s a huge advantage.
[00:32:02] Sunbin: And also I think it’s a huge privilege. Um, and I think being able to understand like, uh, like both cultures, um, I think. It allows, like, I think when you get a lot of questions, like you can at least answer, um, in context, Be able to make a better, a better represent. I think a lot of people ask me about Korea and like, obviously I wanna be able to represent it.
[00:32:29] Sunbin: Um, well, um, and I think when I am able to understand, like either if it’s us culture or an English speaking culture, like I can make like a, a connection that people can, um, easily, like understand. Is that making any sense? Um, but like, I think it’s just because I have an understanding of. More than well, culture.
[00:32:52] Sunbin: Like it allows me to like help other people understand that, that difference as well or similarity.
[00:32:58] Jesse: I just had a quick question. I wanted to know what your thoughts are on the difference between academics in Korea, going to college and the us. And then if you worked in the us, how that is like versus working in Korea, cuz we very often have this thing where it’s like academics is like very competitive in Asian countries.
[00:33:17] Jesse: Mm-hmm and then like the students come here and they’re like, Easy. What really? Aside from the language aspect. Oh yeah. I feel like aside from the language aspect, I feel like a lot of people are like, oh, it’s not as D.
[00:33:29] Sunbin: uh, my high school was very competitive. I went to an all girls school and then I went to something called a foreign language high school.
[00:33:34] Sunbin: So we had to take a test to get in and you had to have really good grade. It’s like, it’s, I guess this equivalent of a magnet program in the states. Um, so I like, I’m not trying to say that I’m smart. I was just very surrounded by like very competitive people. And especially when it comes to girls, I don’t, I’m not trying to like, Like, I’m not trying to be SIS or like best or anything, but like they get, tend to get a little more Cady and very sensitive.
[00:33:59] Sunbin: And like when the stress piles up, it gets more intense. Um, so I think it was like very competitive and very, very like a little toxic. Um, so I think at a certain point I just stopped studying. Um, I like kind of let go, which was, uh, probably bad. My parents were not happy, but I mean, I got into, I got, uh, good enough grades that I be able to go to a school in the states, obviously.
[00:34:26] Sunbin: Um, but for me, I like maybe that’s why, but, uh, I also studied architecture. Um, so for me, like it was harder. Like to study in, in, in, in college. Um, I, maybe it’s easier for some people, but that just saw me, uh, because I apparently did not study enough in, in high school. Yeah. I guess your track
[00:34:47] Jesse: is very different.
[00:34:48] Jesse: It’s like very specialized. I feel like, uh, a lot of other students are going into very, you know, they start with like the very generic, like core mathematics, economics, whatever class is. And they’re like, oh, it’s. Simplistic, but yeah, probably architecture is a little bit
[00:35:01] Sunbin: different. Uh, yeah. I like, I mean, everything was very new and like, you know, you have this like very like vague, like very vague, like rainbows, like sparkles, like dream, like vision of what architecture is.
[00:35:13] Sunbin: And then when you actually start doing it, it’s really not what it seems like. I mean, I’m jealous. Like I wish I had the easy way out. Like for me, college was really rough. Um, I actually had to. Uh, I got like burned out, like halfway, like not even halfway through, like towards my, like it’s a five year program.
[00:35:29] Sunbin: I got, I like, got burnt out. Like my fourth year I like had, I took time off, like I took a year off. Um, so like, I don’t know how other people are doing. Um, but I did not do very well. Again, I think I’m an exception to the average career people, Korean person, like in a lot of categories. Um, this is just one of.
[00:35:45] Sunbin: Yeah. So,
[00:35:46] Angela: uh, we always end on a closing section that we call the fortune cookie because we always like to end on a sweet treat. Ooh. So the question’s always kind of like trying to be a high note. Um, so we wanted to ask you, what are you most looking forward to moving back to the us and what are you going to miss the most about
[00:36:08] Sunbin: Korea?
[00:36:08] Sunbin: Oh, okay. So the thing I think I’m gonna miss the most, um, is my. Uh, especially my parents they’re in the other room. So, you know, just keep it between us obviously.
[00:36:21] Angela: Oh, you can see it
[00:36:21] Sunbin: louder. nah, they don’t need to know. Um, but I think when I was in college, like I would come back home and like, it’d be great.
[00:36:30] Sunbin: But like after like a couple weeks I’d be like ready to go. Um, like I’m like, , Jesse’s like, yes. Um, like I’m like, I’m like as much as like, I, I love spending time with him, like, you know, Like a week, two weeks is enough. Like, you know, I’m ready to go back to like school and everything. And I think I, I was at that point, um, obvi like, because I’ve been living at home, uh, for quite some time, uh, since I’ve been back, um, So like, you know, I, I miss that freedom, like what, you know, and not having to constantly be reporting back to someone like, you know, when I’m coming home and obviously, you know, um, but I think there’s a sense of safety that I’m definitely gonna miss.
[00:37:11] Sunbin: Um, and for me, like, CRA’s a little far from San Francisco. So, you know, it’s, it’s not like I can, it’s not like a, a drive away. Um, so it’s a lot trickier for me to be traveling back home, like every holiday or every Thanksgiving. Um, so I think it’s definitely gonna be tougher for me to be able to meet them in person.
[00:37:29] Sunbin: Um, so I think I’m definitely gonna miss my parents and like, just like those random, like late, uh, interactions, just like late night, uh, late night, um, talks with them in general. I think I’m gonna miss. Um, but I am excited, I think to be back again like San Francisco, uh, it’s a new city. I have not never lived there.
[00:37:50] Sunbin: Um, but I’m, I think I’m just excited to be back in a, in a culture that I feel more comfortable with as much as I feel comfortable. now, uh, in the Korean culture a lot more so than before. Um, but there’s always something in the back of my mind, somewhere in my heart that I just it’s so strange. Again, I, I, I still hold a Korean passport.
[00:38:13] Sunbin: I don’t have an American passport. Um, I’m full on Korean. Um, but there’s just a sense of home. I think that I, I’m excited to go back to, um, I, I, I don’t know if I, I told, uh, Angela this during our, our dinner last time. Um, I went to the UK a couple of months ago, and again, never lived there, visited a couple times, but just the fact that I can, the minute I like set foot there, I just felt very comfortable, like being able to speak English in that environment.
[00:38:44] Sunbin: Um, not that my English is like all that great. Um, I, I just feel a lot more expressive. Um, In English more so in Korean and just being able to be in an English speaking culture was so relieving. Um, and so more comfortable. Um, so like just it at U UK, a country that I’ve never been to, um, being that comfortable and just feeling that I think that’s also what drove me to pursue, um, Grad school, um, back in the states because I, I, I miss miss that culture.
[00:39:18] Sunbin: I miss that familiar familiarity and like that comfortable, like feeling I’m just really excited to be back at like in a place where I feel more home at home.
[00:39:30] Angela: Yeah. I think we talked about at the dinner, but. It’s almost like, because you feel more comfortable speaking English, there’s like a part of your personality that is like unlocked because you can like fully express yourself as opposed to there’s certain like vocabulary or slang or whatever that you’re missing in Korean that doesn’t allow you to like express your
[00:39:53] Sunbin: full self.
[00:39:54] Sunbin: For sure. Yeah. I mean, I, I think I, I said this like during dinner too, I was like, when I get like emotional or like, Angry. Like things get really aggravated with my parents. Like, I’ll start in Korean. And then I’ll like, I’ll go into English because like, there’s just a limitation to my Korean. I’m just like, God go speak in English.
[00:40:13] Sunbin: And then they’re like, don’t speak in English, speak in Korean. And obviously the, the fight goes back into Korean, but there’s, there’s like, I think yeah. So I’m definitely a lot more expressive in, in English, uh, than, uh, Korean.
[00:40:26] Angela: Well, we, the Asian American community welcomes you back with open arms,
[00:40:34] Sunbin: excited, excited to be back to go back.
[00:40:36] Sunbin: Yeah. Awesome. Well,
[00:40:37] Angela: thank you so much for joining us and providing your perspective. It’s been cool to hear kind of your back and forth and the. The different challenges and good things that came
[00:40:48] Sunbin: with that. Um, thank you for having me. I hope I felt like I, like, I don’t even know what I was saying. Uh, hopefully, uh it’s uh
[00:40:54] Sunbin: It was, it was, uh, sub I hope you get a bit of, there was a bit of substance, um, that you guys could work with. Um, but yeah, thank you. This was really, uh, nice. Um, I’m glad I had a chance to talk to both of you. All right, listeners, if you have any
[00:41:10] Angela: questions for Sunbin, although she’s gonna be busy soon with her grad school.
[00:41:13] Sunbin: Yeah. But if you have questions for her
[00:41:15] Angela: or you have, um, perspective you wanna provide, also, if you kind of like. I feel a kinship to this third culture kid vibe that we threw out there. Write us in at tell us where you’re from@gmail.com and we can pass on any questions that you have or share any stories that you wanna share about your life, um, on the show.
[00:41:36] Angela: And come back next week because we will have another new episode for you