Shelves and shelves of curry... OMG It's beautiful.

Octopus flavored shaped chips.  Cute and peculiar all at once.

This week I was introduced to a strange Japanese film titled Tampopo.  It was directed by Juzo Itami and debuted in 1986.  It was about a western cowboy-like truck driver who stops at a dingy little ramen shop.  He decides to help the woman who is trying to run it since her husband passed.  She then studies other restaurants' techniques to become the best female noodle master. 

 I wasn't quite sure how I felt about this movie.  Many characters were pretty crazy and there were just as many scenes that teetered on the edge of understanding.  I was also put off by the turtle massacre towards the middle of the film, where the chef decapitates the head of this cute little turtle (all the while I'm covering my eyes and shouting "Why is he doing that!  Oh god!")  

My first inclination was to dislike it.  I couldn't wrap my head around it.  Tampopo was a really obscure film.  But as I've had time to let it all sink in, I feel like the film has grown on me somewhat and that the central message resonates deep within.  Food brings people from all over the world together and should be celebrated.  We should take pride in the meals we cook because it's an art and beyond that it's something we all need.  

So I took another trip to the Korean Market to do some grocery shopping yesterday and I can tell you that this time I had a lot more confidence.  I recognized a lot of foods that once had me puzzled.  Unfortunately that night, as I was preparing dinner, I realized that all the directions were in Korean.  I was deterred for a moment, before exclaiming "It's in my blood! I can do this!"  Jason was watching me with amusement and stated that he "admired my spirit" and I persevered to make an edible dish.  

I had bought fresh (deliciously doughy scented) asian noodles, a soybean based stock, mushrooms, thinly sliced pieces of beef, green onions, and tofu.  I was definitely just throwing everything together as best I could, but in the end it wasn't bad.  I topped the heaping bowls of noodles with a half of a hard boiled egg each and it  looked pretty good.  I felt as proud as the noodle lady at the end of the film (standing with a big grin on her face in her beautifully refurbished kitchen) after having tackling the impossible.  Yes, we both made noodles and now we're unstoppable!  

But in all seriousness, I know I can do better.  I plan on learning more and finding some traditional Korean and Japanese recipes as time goes on.  Perhaps one day I may become the noodle master too.     

  

(The Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown)

I figure the best place to start my research is at the very beginning.  According to early Korean mythology, the history of the country began with a holy founder named Dangun.  The legend begins with his grandfather Hwanin or the "Lord of Heaven" and his son Hwanung.  Hwanung dreamed of a life nestled among the mountains.  With his father's blessing Hwanung took his friends up to the Baekdu Mountain and established Sinsi meaning the "City of God".

Hwanung had three ministers.  One of clouds, of rain, and of wind (which is pretty awesome if you ask me).  With them he developed laws, moral codes, the arts, medicine, and agriculture.

Later in the story there is a tiger and a bear.  Not wanting to miss out on all the fun, the animals prayed to Hwanung so that they could become human too.  Hwanung then gave them a test.  He gave them the sacred food of 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort.  They had to eat only this and stay out of the sunlight for 100 days (which was kind of sadistic). The tiger gave up twenty days in, but the bear succeeded and was transformed into a woman.

The bear-woman was called Ungnyeo and was overjoyed.  She gave many offerings of thanks.  Yet soon after Ungnyeo became sad and prayed beneath Sindansu meaning a "Divine Betula tree" so she may be blessed with a child. Hwanung, so very moved by her wish, took her for his wife.  She gave birth to a son named Dangun Wanggeom (the guy I mention in the beginning who is the founder of Korea).

From there Dangun ascended to the throne.  He built the walled city of Asadal, which is later called the Ancient kingdom Gojoseon on Mount Gunghol.  This story dates back to 2333 BC and the worship of the sun, tiger, and bear have been found repeated in other tribal myths.

I think there's something very beautiful about how the legend was crafted and I love some particular details, such as the ministers of clouds, rain, and wind.  Not to mention the bear that transformed into a woman and her praying to the divine tree for a child.  I feel like there's something gentle, positive and prolific about it that would generate feelings of pride and fondness for Korea.  I honestly didn't know what to expect before I started reading, but I can say I'm very intrigued so far and look forward to learning more about the country's history.  

(My first attempt at sushi making.  These are spicy tuna rolls)

We entered the Korean Market. My boyfriend Jason and I.  There was a  sea of black hair.  Shouts and greetings all spoken in a language that is so foreign to me even though I probably heard it the very day I was born.  I started to get that feeling I get when walking around Chinatown or Japantown.

It's that sensibility of being a fake.  And please don't talk to me because you'll just look down at me disappointedly like you usually do when I have no idea what you are saying.  I usually feel silly for stressing out about situations such as these, but it's something I've struggled with growing up.  My cultural identity.

My family is an oddball.  Three of my siblings were adopted from other countries like I was, and we were raised in your typical All-American White household.  My youngest brother and my adoptive parents are Caucasian.  My oldest brother and I were from South Korea (Chungchongnam-do, Korea to be exact).  And my sister and middle brother were from the Philippines.  I remember having a few story books from Korea along with some traditional dolls, and a child sized hanbok (the South Korean word for a customary Korean dress.  Choson-ot is the North Korean term).  Other than that we never ate any asian food or learned any traditions.    

Imagine the culture shock I felt walking into that Korean Market!  Such strange unfamiliar foods in every isle.  Octopus chips, dried squid, boxes of adorable tiny sweets, and many, many, variations of noodles.  I was a little overwhelmed by it all that first time I shopped there about a half a year ago.  It was how I felt about Chinatown years before that.  

But when all the shock ebbs, curiosity and delight fills it's place and I just want to experience everything.  Even though I grew up on mac and cheese, I have always loved all things asian that I have come across throughout my life, (with the exception of dried squid, eww).  As an artist my drawing style has always been inspired by Asian art and anime.  I also have a weakness for the Sanrio store and Pocky.  

The more time I spend in California the more I feel like it's hard not to be influenced by the Asain culture thats so prevalent here.  But picking up a new favorite food (Japanese Curry!), watching a new anime (Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Kino's Journey are some new one's I've been into) or going to the Japantown Cherry Blossom Festival just isn't going to cut it anymore.  It's so much more than that.  There's history and fashion and a way of life.  I want to learn about many asian countries and all they have to offer.

So welcome to my blog of self discovery, all things asian, and yes even giant robots.