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Today is January 20, 2020, my name is Sora Kim and I am here with Ms. Nami McCown yeah, McCown, for an interview for the Houston Asian American Archive.

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First of all, I just wanted to ask a little bit about your background and how it was like just growing up in South Korea. Oh, okay. Uh huh.

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My background, I was born and raised in Korea. I was just one, little over one year old right before Korean War, because 1949 I was born and Korean War was starting in 1950.

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So I was just about one year old and my family moved from the capital city to southern providence of Korea, and—which many Koreans

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did at that time. So I spend most of my childhood, southern part of Korea finishing elementary and school, and we—my family moved back to capital

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city, and I went to Bosung Girl’s High School. Then after that, and I graduate from Yonsei University, majoring in classical music. And after that, and during even school years, and I

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was very active, the college student, and I've been always active. And in fact, I consider myself very, what do you call it, I wasn't

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typical Korean at all. And then, and after graduation I got a job in a big corporation and working few years, and then moved to US pursuing

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my dream to be an opera singer, and then didn't work it out. And I moved to Houston, and working in corporate world for a while. And then I met my husband in Houston at workplace,

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and I got married and having baby. And then my son was extremely, extremely gifted. So he was–he was more than gifted, in

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many ways. It was very demanding. And so I couldn't continue work and pursuing my dreams, but rather, I set aside everything and I raised my son. He has, he

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was accomplished classical pianist, and tennis player. And now with all the wonderful education, he practices his law right now and married and

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have one little boy and they expecting another little boy. And here I am. That's my short part of my background. And also, in the meantime, as you can see, I

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was married to a Caucasian American and he was very respected in this town, and I was very much involved in all the social events and different organizations, I was very, very active

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in all, all areas. And…so basically, yeah, that's my short background. Yes. Okay, wow, thank you so much for that.

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I just wanted to ask some, like, specific questions about your like childhood, just if you have any, like, special memory that you really like remember or something that really shaped you into who you are today?

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Right. Uh huh. So even though I was growing up and during war, and it was very family-oriented, and happy

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environment. And because even though the Korean War is going on, and the southern part of Korea was very protected by, you know, people and my grandparents

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and my uncles, aunts, and all the families was, you know, together, so I don't remember very harsh time. In that during Korean War many people remember but, it—rather,

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loving and sharing, everything was very much, you know, supporting each other. So that was my good memory, you know, childhood.

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And then school year, I was very active, even elementary to middle school that I found myself that God-given talent.

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This is singing voice. So, everywhere I go and I sing for the people and sing for the neighbors, sing for the family members, I mean, they call

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it “born to be a performer,” you know, natural performer. So, I have very happy memories and in fact, all my relatives and my mom always say, "Nami is most popular-est

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girl," you know, because of that, if—one particular memory that—when I was in middle school, even elementary school, but middle school, and we tried to learn in the music class some American folk songs, right?

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And then I can catch the English right away, and then singing, singing in all the words memorized right away. And then teacher asked me, "Nami, you stand up and would you sing?"

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And then he was accompany, you know, piano. Then I singing this very com—folk song, you know. Then all the classmates are amazed by it and the teacher

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same way, so from that point teacher suggest to my parents, "Nami has a great singing voice. She should, you know, pursue it and taking lessons." But those days, right after the Korean War and the economic

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situation, and no parents, you know, pay attention to little girl, you know, singing voice, and pursuing op—bec-become an opera singer, you know what I mean?

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So, this goes by, but then family moved back to capitol city and then when I get into high school, and that's how I really starting taking classical singing lesson and then eventually I ended up and majoring

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in voice and performing major in Yonsei University. So, if you ask me my childhood, how—I only have how popular I was, how popular

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everywhere I go and then I performing for everybody, and then how I have, by the way, three older sisters. I am the youngest girl for my parents, and I have a younger, one younger brother.

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So I was in a way a very spoiled little girl. And, you know, demand for the all things I would like to do and I would like to have it and

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so on. So I grew up in very happy environment. And I was very happy, energetic little girl I was. Yeah. Okay, next I just wanted to ask you, so after going to Yonsei, you came to the United States

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and how that transition was like? Like, how it was as a foreign immigrant, you know, coming to America, if you—yeah, just

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what your experience was? Mhm. Well so, at the Yonsei University, that—during even school years, I was very active in all areas, and even during school days, in my generation,

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it's very rare, but I pursuing in a way that I get involved with, like a fashion shows, you know, and then a designer at that time, in Kang Nam, and this person asked

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me to put on, you know, his design and I was proud to do and loved to do. Not for just money, but just for my, you know, interest.

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It was—that was my part of all of the interest. So I did modeling and explore myself to the other areas. And then I

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worked at the time at the largest steel corporation in the world, and I worked for the chairman of the board as one of—one—among the secretary or staff.

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And I worked for a couple of years. It was by accident, in that my job was by accident, because during my junior year, I was preparing for my graduation

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recital. But then at that time between Japan and Korea was the, as you know, didn't have a normal relationship at the time. But then the Korean

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government was trying to reach out to the Japanese Government trying to normalize our relationships. Then university students were uprising because again, you know, the government's plan

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to normalize relationships. So you—it was a very difficult time. And every day we go to school, demonstration, demonstration, and so school

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has been closed for a while because too many people getting hurt and dying and all that. So I would stay away, away from school for a while. In the meantime, my

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older sister, after her graduation from law school, she was working for the chairman of the board and Pohang Steel and Iron Corporation. And that

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chairman later became the nation's Prime Minister. So anyway, my sister was working in their office. And then she was getting married.

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So at the wedding, I was singing for my sister's wedding. And then the chairman's wife was a guest in my sister's wedding.

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And she, you know, the Mrs. Ha, the sister was singing, and she told her husband, because at the time they was, you know, accepting

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application, they looking for another secretary, replacement for my sister. So chairman's wife suggest to her husband that "oh it's just, you know, younger sister is

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so beautiful and singing at wedding, and we should ask her to come to work for your office." So I got the job, and by accident. I didn't even apply for it. I didn't, you know, it was a totally different field, right?

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But I catching up right away and at that time Pohang Steel was just the beginning of this adapting the new technology from German

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company and all that. So a lot of VIPs coming to, you know, Korea visiting, but at the time, my English was pretty good and so I was very

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wealthy in that job right away. So, I already been midstage, in a way. I wasn't really a shallow little young lady just graduated from the

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university and coming in this country, you know what I mean? So I came here. I come to U-USA with big dream, and in a way. But in

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1979, ‘77 at the time, wasn't really easy for young lady to pursue, you know, dream, especially in an opera world. Because my mom was against , as you know, Korean culture, young lady get a nice education,

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getting married to the doctor or the lawyer or you know, or engineer or the banker, you know, settle down having baby and you know, having—become a housewife, that is our traditional way of living, right?

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So, my mom didn't expect me to come to, you know, America all by myself and doing that and pursuing my dream, but it was very hard. So I briefly tried to

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do that, but it wasn't really, you know—oh, and new world. And I look back, I was very brave, brave young lady, you know, and I appreciate myself and

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proud of myself, I still amazed by myself. But eventually—let me go back to the question. How was the first time when I came in?

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What condition I was in? Yeah, that is it, yeah. But I was in really shock and kind of, you know, big and new and all that.

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But I was already, in a way, wasn't—from school to coming here, I was already in big corporation, corporate world. So I had some experience of how to dealing with

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people, you know, big and little and all that. So that couple of years working at the big corporation was very helpful. Okay. Wow, that's so amazing that you moved like, you did all that on your

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own. Oh, yes. I did that by myself. Yeah. Next, I wanted to ask, well, because I have grown up outside of the Houston area,

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and I came there for the first time being a student. And I've noticed that the Korean community isn't as big. And just what you think the

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Korean or the Korean American community is like in Houston? Or like if it's changed through the years? Oh, yes. When I came here in 1979, actually, the Korean community was bigger than any other

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community, Asian community, in Houston. And the reason over the years been changed, because after Vietnam War, the Vietnamese refugees allowed to come into Houston.

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It was a large, large number of Vietnamese refugees came into this city, and they were spreading out over the years. So in my memory, that 1979, 1980, in those days,

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Korean community was bigger, and Korean population was very large. And then another thing was that, from any other Asian community, Korean cul—Korean,

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Koreatown was established in Long Point area, Spring Branch, the first, and also, the Spring Branch was well-known, the best school district because our Korean community.

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Koreans are the one developed that, because as you know, we Koreans emphasizing education, education, so these Korean parents are looking for the best public school district. And they all moving into Memorial area,

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and they buying house and they energizing the school system. And that's how the Spring Branch was really sprouting by the Korean community.

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Yeah, and then eventually, Chinese, like I said, Vietnamese population moving in; then later, as you know, at the time, mainland Chinese not able to come into the USA, you know, unless very

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special circumstances, so the Korean community was bigger than any other Asian community. I remember. Yes. That's one of the reason the Vietnamese refugees

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population was sprouting over the years, yes. Then eventually Koreans move out from Houston. They are more, more to go to New York and Los Angeles and San Francisco or a bigger city, you know, they consider,

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like—so, at that time Korean population was divided by two, like one group of people very highly educated, very professionals. And then another population is heavily not

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education. But just to have neighbor people, you know, like grocery owners and other minor, you know, service people. That was the Koreans in

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Houston at that time, yes. Okay. And do you have any, again like any personal memories in Houston or like, on Rice campus or just things that are like close to you?

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Do you have any, like personal memories that you have, in Houston that you'd like to talk about? Personal memory? Well…biggest

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thing in my life is that I met my husband in Houston. So that's how my happy life was started here.

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And I met my husband, workplace, I was working at an Daewoo International Corporation in Houston branch office. And that's how I came, because of my job opportunity.

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And I met my husband in workplace at Greenway Plaza Coastal Tower, very modern building. When I came here in first time in

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Houston from New York, I thought, "Oh, too spacious, everything is just too open and too wide. Just like wilderness," you know, almost. There was not many modern buildings like these days,

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and there is hardly any traffic. I mean, even the highway, 610 and 69, there is almost like a four lane highway. And it was

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very different than New York. And, but somehow, maybe la-laidback and just peaceful, you know, just no stress or anything. So, I loved it.

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But somehow my head was always in New York. So this could be a temporary. I coming into the Houston may be a temporary. But I'll check it out, because at

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the time, my family, family friend contacted me, "If you're not happy, if you want to move to Houston, we have a job for you." So, I actually came to, you know, find out, but then I loved it because

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I was singing at the church and I was staying with one of the church minister's home as a single girl and all that, you know, safeness compared with New York. So, I was very much, and also my mother was very comfortable

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and happy to hear you know, that I moved to this kind of, compared with New York, little new city and was close to my family friends and, at that time.

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So, I started working and then I met my husband, same working place. He was the bank executive. And I was in the upstairs 17th floor.

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He was in the Coastal Tower building and when I saw him, I thought he was the most handsome-est man I ever saw in my life. And my heart was pumping so, so

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fast and, I told myself, "I want to marry this man someday." Nobody even, I mean, I hadn't even talked to him. But I mean, that was, you know, my idea.

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So when I talk to my co-worker, Korean lady, I consider she was my senior. And I call Catherine unni. And I told her, "Catherine-unni,

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I saw the most handsome-est man in downstairs bank. And I don't know who he is, if he's married or not, but I think I'm gonna marry him someday." And she thought, Catherine thought I was crazy. "Nami, you're crazy.

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No, you're not gonna do that. No, mom will kill you." You know, in my generation, the mixed marriage is not even acceptable. And, mhm, it was very forbidden.

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And especially, in a way, by the culture, the young lady married to American men was not a, not a desirable thing to any family.

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So at the time in my generation, right now is not a, not a, you know, issue or not a big deal. But at that time, so, my coworker telling me right away, it's impossible dream.

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So I said, "Oh yeah, but I—no, I will do it, I will do it." So I pursue my dream myself. And I made myself to get there in a way, it’s craziness, any-any-anybody hear

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my love story will say, "Wow," you know, it's like a movie script. So anyway, I over the, you know, months and years, I tried to pick him and, in a way I tried to find the situation

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that I can even speak to him, because my heart was so in trouble. But somehow, it’s a long story, I cannot do it at all with you today. But I—it takes about two years.

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And finally the time come and I had a chance to talk to him. And he had a chance to learn about me. So we kind

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of, you know, learn about each other. And later I found out that he was passionate in classical music. So that was the main reason. Uh huh. And he was fascinated about myself, and we

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eventually go to the symphonies and all that. It took two years; then he, one day he asked me to marry. And I was, "Of course!" I didn't tell him it was my ul—that was my ultimate, you

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know, dream. But anyway, in 1982 I got married. And then two years later that my son was born.

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And I led a wonderful, wonderful life. And all the things I did in this city with my husband, and raising my son, Sora, I do not have any of negativeness.

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In fact, I spent more years in this country, in this city, than my own country. And I am very, very grateful to America. And I love this country.

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This country gave me a wonderful life with my husband and my husband's legacy. And the legacy is so greater than I ever can dream. And my son. Oh!

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So anybody ask me being an Korean American in America, or Houston, how difficult was? I didn't ever have a

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difficult time or people look down or that I feel like discriminated, you know, because of my background. In fact, more people embrace me, more people fascinating about me and asking

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my culture, and they always ask me, try to learn about my culture, and "What do you eat? How do you stay so healthy and fit?" and all that.

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So, I've been always embraced and loved by Americans, in fact, all nationalities. So when people ask me, I don't have anything to say, bad things about being in Houston as

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Korean American, Sora. Yeah. That's my life. You know, I mean, my story. And I never been, "Oh, I wish to go back to Korea," or "People are

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so you know, judgmental." No, I got more judged by my own nationality. More Koreans was judging me because I married to American. But America? America embrace me.

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America gave me a wonderful life, Sora. That's all I can say. Yeah, I'm so happy that you had such a wonderful experience here. Sounds very amazing. I'm curious how like, because you were raising kids,

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if you kept any special, like Korean traditions. I know 'cause we have like special trad—holidays, maybe Chuseok or Seollal things like that. Do you do anything special? Yeah, yes, Chuseok.

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And Seollal we, you know, my memories are beautiful, because my mom was very particular in keeping in traditional things. And from the cooking to the Hanbok, and so my early

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years that—my mother had four daughters and one son, and she loved to, especially the Seollal, New Year's Day, she would give

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us beautiful new Hanbok, you know, she had Hanbok, colorful Hanbok. All the girls were wearing it. So, I was always looking forward to, then you know, Sora, that we go out, out to the elderly,

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then we collecting the money, and then go after another house and, you know, all the girls enter. And all the, you know, tables . Those beautiful memories you cannot take away, and

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precious memories, and then the end of the day who collected the most money, and I always collecting the most money, I was always, you know, the most of the popular girl even with all the live activity.

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You know why? Because I own a thing, you know? So, uh huh, I, you know, bow and go around next to house, bow, and you know, jul with a Hanbok. And then if I say,

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"Can you give me more money," you know, I always liked . So and at the end of the day and I was always collecting the most

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money, and most popular. So, all my sisters always, "Why Nami has to be always popular like that." You know? I had wonderful memories, all those you know, traditional, Seollal.

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And also, of course, that all of those particular traditional Korean food, tteokguk and japchae. And all the endless, endless,

00:33:46.160 - 00:33:58.950

beautiful memories. Yeah. Right? All the delicacies the we eating Seollal and Chuseok, and all the traditional, our holidays.

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Just endless, time is not even enough, you know, those wonderful memories that I have. Yeah, yeah. But in fact, for a while I away from

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Korean traditional things, because my husband was Caucasian, and my life was so much involved in American way. The reason was that my husband

00:34:34.170 - 00:34:50.590

is Caucasian, and he was well-to-do individual in this city, and if I involve with Korean people, he doesn't speak Korean, it's not fair. Not many Koreans, you know, Korean community they

00:34:50.660 - 00:35:08.040

speak English when we get together, right? So I just pushed them away, in a way, and I didn't go to a nice, you know, function and things like that, and over the years. And so I was pretty much an

00:35:08.140 - 00:35:23.430

Americanized person. And even though I am Korean American, I was almost American, you know, and away from all those traditional things, because my husband doesn't speak Korean.

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It's not fair for him to go other functions that I must go, my Yonsei University Alumni meetings, things like that, when he shouldn't be in like a monkey in zoo, you know. I didn't feel like—there will be very disrespectful to him.

00:35:42.500 - 00:35:59.760

And I do not wish to be attending by myself. We were just like this, my husband and I was like this until his death. It was like this, you know? And so, my life in Houston

00:36:00.200 - 00:36:16.520

was wonderful. But personally, I share my Korean traditional dishes and all of this stuff with American friends and in social, I always share

00:36:16.620 - 00:36:33.880

with my homeland, you know, traditional things, which I'm very proud, you know, and also my husband was very supportive in that sense. Yes. Thank you so much for that.

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Yeah, I know it's really fun to like, share cultures, yeah, when both sides are accepting. Uh huh. Especially food. You know, my Korean American friends are just

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loving it. And my husband was really, really love, you know, Korean food. Every time my mother visiting us, she couldn't have enough, you

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know, and so appreciative. And he was a very conservative American. Most of the Americans are very outgoing and that. But somehow I fall in love with him because

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of his, the conservative lifestyle and also his passion for classical music. And those are things I was very much attracted to in

00:37:29.900 - 00:37:45.000

him, you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So he appreciated so much of the Korean culture: the conservativeness, and then family-oriented, you know, lifestyle and all that.

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So we were just perfect, and we were, just were absolutely perfect for each other. Yeah. And my mom even cannot communicate with my husband. But until her death,

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2000, 2011, my mother—no 2011, oh no, 2013, wasn’t it. Until her passing, in fact,

00:38:16.980 - 00:38:34.280

she has four son-in-laws, but one, she cannot communicate 100%. My husband was her favorite son-in-law of all time. Can you believe it?

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I mean, they were love each other so much, respect for each other so much. It was unbelievable. Unbelievable. It was a

00:38:44.840 - 00:38:59.780

lovely, lovely relationship, and that my husband had for my mother and my mother same way. Yeah. And in fact, my mother always say, "He

00:39:00.430 - 00:39:15.150

is better than even Korean son-in-laws, any Korean son-in-laws." He was very respectful and understanding and caring. And not a judgmental.

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As you know, Korean men are very judgmental, you know? So in a sense, my mom had a great respect for my husband and vice versa. So, yeah, yeah, a lovely

00:39:28.720 - 00:39:40.240

relationship. Yes. Until her death. Yeah. Thank you–thank you so much for sharing that. I think next, we're going to transition to some COVID-related

00:39:40.240 - 00:39:56.740

questions if that's okay? Yeah. So I wanted to ask, how COVID just in general has affected your life personally and if you think, like, you had a different perspective being, like, Korean American or

00:39:57.670 - 00:40:17.970

anything you would like to say on that? Yeah, let me see, COVID, COVID, yeah... you know, COVID, there is two

00:40:18.760 - 00:40:34.010

things that I would like to address that has been hard for you know, everybody, right? But my case is nothing but a,

00:40:34.060 - 00:40:50.410

turn out to be a wonderful way, because my son, my son and his wife had this one-year-old, one-year-old, he just turned—he was born in

00:40:50.830 - 00:41:08.410

2018, 2018, what, 2018 November. So last year he was like, almost like one year, right?

00:41:08.620 - 00:41:27.860

And so beginning with three months mom was a stay home, and 2000—so 2018 Connor was born November 23rd. Then 2019, I

00:41:29.280 - 00:41:45.680

was—mom was a stay home for three months taking care of Connor, and then I was visiting on and off, you know. And you can imagine, my son is the only one, or only son for me

00:41:45.680 - 00:41:59.600

and my husband and so I was dying to, you know, taking care of my grandbaby. And, but I am very still active individual in many ways. My personal life or

00:41:59.970 - 00:42:16.810

my going to club and exercise and dancing every day almost and my social life, uh huh, Sora, I am very active with my age. I don't even consider I am a senior, you know, citizen. I mean, what is a senior citizen?

00:42:16.810 - 00:42:31.590

You know, and why they limit senior citizens? I still have my youth and I just walk every day around four miles and go exercise, and visiting with friends, and

00:42:31.590 - 00:42:44.610

eating well, sleep well; I don't even go to see doctor regularly because I don't have any problems, okay? I'm so proud of it. All my life I am very hyper lady.

00:42:45.040 - 00:42:58.670

And I'm still hyper old lady. And I cannot settle down, okay? My, my only son is year-old young son is always, "Mom calm down, calm down" because

00:42:58.710 - 00:43:11.920

I'm still get excited easily, and I get so hyper, and I am just full of life, Sora! So when Connor was born 2018

00:43:12.290 - 00:43:28.260

November, oh, just the whole world, you know, is in my hands, and I'm trying to taking care of, but my daughter-in-law stay home for three months, and so I go on and off and be there. But later after three months she

00:43:28.260 - 00:43:42.510

go back to work and I commit to taking care of my grandbaby full-time. I just set aside everything: that's me. I set aside everything—social life, my everything,

00:43:44.100 - 00:44:01.950

you name it. Every single activity I stopped, and then I care for my grandbaby. Did that, and then this COVID…chopping-up and it was hard for many people.

00:44:03.210 - 00:44:18.440

But then, I feel like it was blessing for me because I can, and I do, I do! Because they already thinking about sending the school and hiring, you know, part time nanny and this and but that, in a

00:44:18.950 - 00:44:38.170

way, this thing just put on my lap and Connor comes to here every single day and spend whole day with me. I feed him, and put him in the nap, and play with him, go to the park, and all that, so it was a blessing for me in a way, Sora,

00:44:38.760 - 00:44:57.220

mhm. And then, here is this thing. Having a grand time and it was a blessing for me. But it's many, you know, heartbreaking under the circumstances, right?

00:44:57.780 - 00:45:17.240

But if you ask me, for my personal, it was hard. People cannot—and my grandson supposed to go to, you know, daycare and play a couple of days with his age groups, but he's stopping. But for me, it wasn't

00:45:17.240 - 00:45:33.060

hard for me at all! And rather, I consider it rather, it was a blessing for me, and I enjoy my grandbaby every day. Otherwise, that wouldn't allow, you know, to do that.

00:45:33.300 - 00:45:50.150

So, but then you have to keep positive attitude is a single important thing. No matter what circumstances we are

00:45:50.150 - 00:46:05.970

in, Sora. This is the thing. It's a life, when you reach my age, you will realize. And also growing up in Korea during the, you know, Korean War, I was just a

00:46:06.110 - 00:46:23.270

baby. And then so much chaos between Japan and Korea, and then I just, coming over this country, you know, across the ocean, I didn't have anybody at that time.

00:46:24.280 - 00:46:38.550

I have only passion, you know, for become an opera singer, you know? And then so all those things, when you consider how brave I was. And then I met this incredible,

00:46:39.800 - 00:46:52.800

incredible man, it's very rare. Most conservative, just—he would die for love. He would die for love, Sora.

00:46:53.390 - 00:47:08.360

We have this incredible love life. And then losing him was most difficult. I thought my life was over when he was passed. But then, I raised another incredible human being.

00:47:09.220 - 00:47:23.920

My son is six foot five. He was an accomplished classical pianist. He went to Washington and Lee Law School;

00:47:24.490 - 00:47:39.390

he's a law scholar. And, he was nationally ranking tennis player. He was so much to handle. I couldn't have a second child, Sora.

00:47:39.640 - 00:47:56.780

But he was too much overwhelming in many ways. He started reading books in age three years old. From that, he, his scholastic, the level was phenomenal.

00:47:57.160 - 00:48:13.560

And I couldn't even stop in raising him, going back to corporate world, because he was phenomenal individual, right? In many ways, he was so talented, he was gifted pianist, he

00:48:13.560 - 00:48:25.680

was gifted scholar. Oh, not to mention, oh my gosh, his physical appearance is six foot five, six foot five, you know?

00:48:26.410 - 00:48:41.360

And so all those years I put myself raising this incredible individual. I thought my responsibility is raising this God-given, incredible human being is my

00:48:41.790 - 00:48:51.440

responsibility to do. Not just going out, going back to corporate work or my dream to pursue and become an opera singer, you know, Sora?

00:48:51.950 - 00:49:09.810

So I raised him, and now he has this beautiful son, and it's just overwhelming, overwhelming. And my life been, I consider, I was born in Korea, but my life could be nothing better.

00:49:10.670 - 00:49:28.330

And this country given me a wonderful, wonderful life. So, all the things that, I do not have any negativeness over things going on this world. People should take a break, you know, and just do

00:49:28.470 - 00:49:37.740

things one thing at a time. So, your question was the coronavirus, right? What was the main question?

00:49:37.880 - 00:49:54.290

I have to go back... and then its effects on my life or what was it? Yes. So I can turn into this pandemic as a personal

00:49:54.410 - 00:50:11.370

small gain because my grandbaby was coming every single day. Otherwise, they could've send him to daycare early age. I wouldn't have, I'd have to drive him over there because two parents.

00:50:11.670 - 00:50:28.840

My son is a lawyer, and my daughter-in-law is handling the—she has a big job in Memorial Hermann hospital organization. So they both have to stay home and working.

00:50:29.640 - 00:50:44.600

So I got to keep Connor with me in my place, that was my personal blessing. Otherwise . So if you ask me,

00:50:46.030 - 00:51:02.320

every life, every, what is it, thing, has a plus and minus. If you—how will you look at it? You know? Of course, it's hard.

00:51:02.470 - 00:51:15.630

My loved ones cannot go back to, you know, office and working and all that. But in my personal perspective, it has been blessing for me, and—but it's a heartbroken, lot of people dying and all that.

00:51:15.670 - 00:51:30.880

But if you ask me how I adjust, and then I am blessed to spend happy time with my grandbaby, because I was sad to losing my husband

00:51:31.600 - 00:51:48.210

2015. I thought my life was over. But then my son got married 2017, and right after, 2018, Connor was born and given me a new life, you know,

00:51:48.460 - 00:52:01.470

new life and perspective and everything, you know? And so, life goes on. No matter what, life goes on, and that's how I can adjust, that

00:52:04.950 - 00:52:16.080

life never ends, doesn't matter. One generation after another, life never ends and, you take the best out of, you know, situation.

00:52:16.700 - 00:52:28.860

So I am adjusted and I feel for other people's pain. But of course we have to careful with this virus. But if you ask me my personal

00:52:30.850 - 00:52:50.890

situation, been very positive under the sad circumstances, yes. Okay, and I guess also just to like, wrap up with it, because you mentioned, if you have any, like final comments or advice for the future generations and future audience that you want to

00:52:50.890 - 00:53:10.950

leave, like as your legacy? Yeah, so let's see. See, what I can say is that…what I learned from this pandemic is that everyone

00:53:12.480 - 00:53:26.500

should take a deep breath. What is important thing in life? Not too much chasing your dreams, you know.

00:53:27.270 - 00:53:40.750

Of course, that's important. But what's most important thing is little thing. You enjoy each other. And, I write it

00:53:40.750 - 00:54:01.100

here... it'll get things only better, if we all take a deep breath, and not too much pounding

00:54:01.100 - 00:54:10.350

each other, you know? Why these things happening? And, oh, I want to be in front of you, and all that. But take a deep breath.

00:54:10.660 - 00:54:26.280

What is the single important thing in life: deep breaths. And don't try to be front of others, just support each other. You know, that's the main thing.

00:54:26.600 - 00:54:39.370

And also, blame games. People blame each other for—"You did this!" and "I did this!" and, there is nothing good comes out from the blame games.

00:54:40.350 - 00:54:55.000

So, take a deep breath. Take some responsibilities. And if you care, as much as you can, helping each other is what we need. Helping each other, and also

00:54:56.400 - 00:55:13.390

take time to think, what's most important thing in life, Sora. Everyone should ask themselves. I always ask young people—of course,

00:55:13.630 - 00:55:28.000

study hard, work hard. But what is the single important thing in life? It's love. It's love for each other, and be there for each other, no matter what circumstances.

00:55:29.650 - 00:55:46.670

And also, don't try to emphasizing, "Mine is better than yours." It's not gonna work. And nationalism, right? With Korea, I grew up in that environment, you know?

00:55:47.550 - 00:56:03.760

As you can see, I married to Caucasian. Lot of my Americans—I mean Koreans—block, because I married to American man. I'm sure Sora, you—your parents are

00:56:03.880 - 00:56:22.630

two different nationalities, especially Japanese and Korean. They are the enemies. They are the enemies. And some Koreans, they never forgive. They never ever forgive Japanese for

00:56:22.780 - 00:56:33.840

what they did to our ancestors. But in, that's the–that’s the past, right? That's a history. We have to embrace each other.

00:56:34.260 - 00:56:48.740

And we nurturing each other, and we have to appreciate the differences. We cannot go back in time and live our lives. You know, that is what things happening in this country

00:56:48.850 - 00:57:05.560

same way. So it's kind of, in a way sad, right? We cannot go back and rewrite the history; history is there. But what we new generation can do, embrace each other, and accepting each other.

00:57:05.940 - 00:57:25.680

Even my family members, very short time ago, they denounce Nami as a family member, because I married to American man. In Korean culture, now is getting better, but in my

00:57:25.680 - 00:57:38.430

generation at least, it's not acceptable. Married to American man is a shame to family book, Sora. You know what

00:57:38.430 - 00:57:54.950

I mean? And also, Korean men to marry to Japanese woman is a shame. Oh, that would be a more shame to our ancestors. What Japanese did to our ancestors is unforgivable sin they did.

00:57:54.950 - 00:58:09.470

And all that, that’s a part of human history. We all have to accept it. And we have to embrace and let new generation doesn't have to go through that pain.

00:58:10.160 - 00:58:24.400

You know what I mean? That's how I see it. So many, many, many, even my friends and my relatives, "Oh, Nami is too liberal! She could've married to a

00:58:24.640 - 00:58:41.120

well-to-do Korean man with all her education and all her everything, you know, but then, she chose to marry to—" Hello, yeah, I think I can hear you. The video is not on, but I can hear you I think.

00:58:42.170 - 00:58:52.990

Oh, okay, well, how to video, Zoom? Click the Zoom? Okay. Can you see me? Oh my gosh, what is going on?

00:58:54.130 - 00:59:09.750

The call call came in and did a bad, how can block this call? Oh my gosh, my friends are calling. So anyway. So what was it? The—yeah, we have to embrace each other.

00:59:09.860 - 00:59:27.150

And we cannot go back to, like, 100 years ago or 90, 90 years ago, it was happen. And still, in my generation, family members, what Japanese did was wrong, of course,

00:59:27.960 - 00:59:39.090

but that’s everywhere right? What German Nazi did was terrible, horrible thing! But we only cannot, we cannot go back

00:59:39.510 - 00:59:54.940

in time. But we have to look forward, and new innovations, let’s teach them, let’s don't repeat those, you know, horrible mistakes. We have to co—appreciate

00:59:55.020 - 01:00:14.560

coexistence. And that's what God's intention was, right? And so I always emphasize—but then what I found is, Sora, very conservative, these ideas, and then they, Koreans,

01:00:14.730 - 01:00:31.840

especially, even my family members, the same way. I married to American man was just a horrible thing. It just, almost crying, you know, how dare, you know, your background. And so, but in

01:00:31.930 - 01:00:50.320

personal perspective, we just the human being. Good is good, and bad is bad, and not one race is good against another race, that's how I see it. And so, we have to embrace each other.

01:00:50.840 - 01:01:05.050

And when I–when I—because you have Japanese mom, Sora. So I have a story. I used to—my husband and I, because my

01:01:05.050 - 01:01:21.330

background, classical music background, and also my husband was a local banker, he was supporting fine arts community very much over the years. We passionate, and we get involved and

01:01:21.650 - 01:01:35.300

we nurture the, you know, young musicians and so on. And then I met this Korean cellist in the Houston Symphony. And he married to

01:01:35.650 - 01:01:46.880

a Japanese woman, Yoko. Most beautiful lady. And his family denounced him because he married to Japanese woman.

01:01:48.200 - 01:02:02.980

Love is love. You know, love is love and so even his grandparents denounce him, we don't know you, and so it was a painful

01:02:03.430 - 01:02:19.530

experience. And Yoko and my cellist friend had one son, they raised a beautiful, wonderful son. But anyway, long story short, we, my husband and I, we supporting

01:02:20.110 - 01:02:32.330

Houston Symphony over the years so we, you know, invite musicians in my house and have dinners and all that. Lovely people! Oh, Yoko was most lovely, lovely lady.

01:02:32.510 - 01:02:49.840

And some of–some of them accusing me, "You are, you are friend with the Japanese!" You know, "The Japanese kill our ancestors! Slaughter!" You know, and I mean, we cannot go back in

01:02:50.280 - 01:03:05.700

time and angry with our life and have revenge other people. Nothing to do with my life. It was in the–in the history book, right?

01:03:06.340 - 01:03:22.850

But somehow it affects my ancestors and my parents, of course they had a hard time. 35 years colonial Japan, you can imagine, Sora. So I can understand their pain and sorrow went through that time, right?

01:03:23.170 - 01:03:38.170

But, we cannot always go back in time and leave and that angry with the beautiful lady because happened to be she is Japanese. Nothing to do—she didn't

01:03:38.170 - 01:03:53.270

commit to any crime, but happened to be she is—her nationality is Japanese and I am Korean, and that I suppose to angry with her and denounce my friendship with her? No! It's not right.

01:03:53.320 - 01:04:07.000

So I try to understand and I try to explain to even my closest, you know, family members. And they denounce me because I'm married to American man, right? So I am kind of unique

01:04:07.890 - 01:04:18.220

person to—I expecting all of those social issues over the years. I've seen it. I lived through it.

01:04:18.540 - 01:04:31.060

My family even, my—one of my brother-in-law even didn't want to talk to me because I'm married to American man, Sora. That kind of situation I was in.

01:04:31.060 - 01:04:52.470

But finally, finally, they realize how wonderful American Robert McCown was. How our life has been blessed because of the two different continent we met, and having this

01:04:52.610 - 01:05:10.590

wonderful fun, and now history is more coming in, you know? And so, what I'm saying is, Sora, you cannot go back to live in past.

01:05:11.440 - 01:05:23.660

And right now, even now, what's going on in this world, Sora? Think about it. T-The African Americans are very vengeful and very angry, and

01:05:24.980 - 01:05:35.800

what their ancestors went through, right? Those slavery times. Just, we all have to put those things behind.

01:05:36.420 - 01:05:52.560

And we have to cultivating new world for the new generation, to be embracing each other, embracing each other's differences. Not tearing apart because we are different.

01:05:52.560 - 01:06:03.180

That's how I see it. It makes sense? Yeah. Well, even this coronavirus, there are a lot of finger pointings. "Oh, Chinese brought

01:06:03.360 - 01:06:19.470

this because they would like to kill, you know, innocent people!" I don't see it that way. If it is happening, then next, looking for a solution, not finger pointing each other. Let's help each other.

01:06:20.070 - 01:06:31.700

See, already vaccines developing, right? It's this great sign. So if you are young generation, all I'm asking young generation. We are

01:06:31.980 - 01:06:43.300

fading away. How long? I wish to live until 100 years. Right now I'm over 70, but I don't feel like I'm over 70. I would like to live over 100 years .

01:06:43.600 - 01:06:59.330

I would like to see my grandbabies! One is already two-and-a-half and one is on the way next month, in fact! Another boy it will be, uh-huh, another boy it will be, arrive, and I

01:06:59.330 - 01:07:11.990

am ever grateful and blessed. So, here is the thing, Sora. It's God's intention. We are all different, supposed to be.

01:07:12.560 - 01:07:30.930

If we all same, what good will do, right? We have a different cultures, different tastes, different ideas; then we just come together and exchange, and learn from each other—that's what makes this world unique place

01:07:31.070 - 01:07:45.760

to live, you know. But not all humans are thinking same way, and not all humans are have a tender heart to sharing our differences, accepting differences

01:07:47.200 - 01:08:03.640

and all that. So, my—always I accepting, I do a lot of volunteer works as well. And Shepherd School of Music, I love Rice University. And so, whenever I meet young people,

01:08:04.950 - 01:08:23.560

emphasizing, "Instead you giving your own idea first, you try to learn from others first. Learn, 'What can I learn from you?'" Then, "Oh, this is mine to share."

01:08:25.860 - 01:08:44.870

You know? Then, I think a better world to live, and even this, in coronavirus situation, finger pointings. But I am very grateful all these scientists that developed the vaccines, very short time over the, you know, period, and world can

01:08:44.870 - 01:09:02.490

be better. Not—has to be better, have to be better, right? And then, what… you asked me what this coronavirus has been affected

01:09:03.880 - 01:09:14.880

personally or, what was the question? I am a passionate person! No, it's okay! I think you answered it. I just asked about like any advice for future generations which,

01:09:15.380 - 01:09:26.990

you gave very, very beautiful advice. So thank you so much for that. Do you understand? I, when I–when I talking to young generation, I am very

01:09:27.250 - 01:09:42.950

passionate. I mean, I have so much, and also when I was young I had a big dream, and so that is the reason I came across the ocean and came here. I met this American man and just falling in love with, I was

01:09:43.110 - 01:09:56.220

given everything. I went through a lot with family members who, you know, doesn't accept my whole life and all that, but raising wonderful son and now I have, I am a grandma and—ever

01:09:58.030 - 01:10:16.090

grateful! And ever grateful to this new world, and ever grateful to, I extend my ideas and my, you know, attitude to unknown world and should, you should! And every

01:10:16.140 - 01:10:29.030

human being should have a chance to do that, you know? But their choice, but I choose to do that. And I am very grateful. And I am very grateful, too, that I had

01:10:29.540 - 01:10:45.230

my life with my husband, especially. And now, my son is very successful lawyer and–and incredibly, incredibly accomplished individual, something I'm very proud of.

01:10:45.730 - 01:10:59.270

And this country–this country gave me the wonderful life more than that I even ever expected or wanted. That is the reason

01:10:59.520 - 01:11:20.390

I am very grateful for America. And also another thing that, here is a question, I don't know you gonna, even during COVID, COVID situation, Sora, that personally, like I said,

01:11:21.350 - 01:11:35.140

I've been very blessed because I kept my grandbaby. Otherwise, my grandbaby would go to daycare center and their parents' wishes, because they cannot sending him to the daycare

01:11:35.690 - 01:11:50.340

center. So I kept him through Monday through Friday, five days. So, personally has been a very blessing, you know, and, you know, just positive a lot.

01:11:50.430 - 01:12:05.980

Of course, what's going on in world is very terrible situation. But personally, I actually gain a benefit from it. Because otherwise I couldn't have kept my precious grandbaby every

01:12:06.340 - 01:12:23.840

day, you know, and so a personal note, for me was-wasn't bad. But now the vaccine is developing, everybody, you know, get vaccinated, and pretty soon, our lives gonna be more normalized. And as you are, you know, student

01:12:24.660 - 01:12:36.460

in—at Rice, more activities will be free and then more, life will be more enjoyable. And I looking to that. And also, where is the

01:12:37.300 - 01:12:48.110

coronavirus saying . And then I have this couple of things—then what is the next question? Sora, am I talking too much? Or what? No, no, no, you're fine.

01:12:48.170 - 01:13:03.340

I think, actually, I think we went through all the questions, like right when you finished with the corona question. So yeah, yeah, I think that's all the questions that I wanted to ask you today. Ah, okay.

01:13:03.650 - 01:13:20.640

So, given everything that has been going on so far, what is your outlook in future in 2021? Positive outlook, yeah, we should learn from this crisis. Always support each other,

01:13:20.960 - 01:13:36.570

not shutting down. As long as we have–we have a mind, open-minded sharing and accepting others' idea, then it's a better world to live.

01:13:37.000 - 01:13:49.790

Yeah, it is really come down to that simple kindness, you know, that's it. Simple kindness and appreciate each other, being in this world.

01:13:50.270 - 01:14:07.120

And don't try to emphasizing, "Mine is better!" and "Mine is better!" Accepting others, and then you compromise, ready to compromise your ideas and blend it for a better world.

01:14:08.590 - 01:14:23.780

That is, to me, is, you know, build a better future for now and better future for next generation. That's how I see it. So, but there is a lot of things.

01:14:23.870 - 01:14:34.740

And then lastly, how do you think people should view the COVID crisis now that it seems to be coming to an end? Uh huh, you summarized my—yes.

01:14:34.740 - 01:14:49.610

Yeah, I think that's–that's it. I think that's, yeah, all the questions that I have, but do you have any like, last comment you'd like to make before I conclude this interview? Or have you already made

01:14:50.380 - 01:15:03.350

your last comment? Oh, let's see. Now the questions, the what is the questions, questionnaire that, what is it, Ann gave it to me.

01:15:03.670 - 01:15:27.440

Pretty much there, but . Oh, I had shared that, we discussed that. Oh, we haven't much discuss about Korea and Japanese,

01:15:28.680 - 01:15:45.620

Koreans and Japanese relationship, you know, how hostile it was. Do you think we covered that? And, I don't know, is it necessary or not? I mean, you mentioned like, during college how it

01:15:45.770 - 01:15:58.120

was and then how it's still looking now and then how you want people to be more accepting in the future. But if you would like to add anything, you definitely can. But I, yeah, I don't think we like skipped over anything

01:15:59.100 - 01:16:15.090

if you were worried. Yeah. Yeah. Well, it was a hardship situation then; but that's the past, and we, we always cannot go back to

01:16:15.090 - 01:16:29.410

live, we have to look forward, right? So that's the main thing. Yeah, 35 years colonial Japan, for our ancestors was hard, hard, hard things that they went through.