Woman Warrior 3

I am amazed at how similar Koreans are to Chinese. When I moved to America, I was terrible at English; my English competency score was that of a second grader. I had a rough time learning English from scratch. As I read the part about Brave Orchid cutting Kingston's frenum, I remembered my conversation with my dad. He had heard that many Koreans have cut the baby's frenum so that the baby "would not be tongue-tied" (164). Supposedly, cutting the frenum helps the baby "speak languages that are completely different from one another" (164). My dad asked me if I wanted to cut mine, which would help me pronounce English words better. Of course, I refused.

There is no way I can possibly endure the pain!

It appears that Kingston had a terrible time adjusting to the life in China even though she moved when she was very young. Just like her, I too had "a terrible time talking" (165). Kingston decided to become silent. I, however, tried a different approach. I talked. I talked, and talked, and talked even though no one could understand me. I tried my best to learn English and communicate. In about a year, I could talk rather freely (with an accent though). Even today, I have trouble pronouncing some words, and sometimes I dislike talking in front of people (especially reading). Yet I talk and TALK to my friends to work on my pronunciation. I may be "tongue-tied," but I am trying my best to adjust even with this "disability."

Conversations helped me learn English

I felt like Moon Orchid's husband when I moved to America. Unlike Kingston who felt like she did not fit in, I felt like I had finally found where I belong. Honestly, just like Moon Orchid's husband, I felt, "as if I had turned into a different person. The new life around me was so complete" (154). In fact, I know I changed. In Korea, I was timid, quiet, chubby little kid who never spoke up in class. I liked to read by myself in class and play games on my computer on my free time. I was often sick and did not like physical activity. When I moved, I changed. I became outgoing, active, and LOUD. I loved talking to people and mingling with my friends. For the first time in my life, I learned to play sports, and surprisingly I wasn't half bad! Just about everything changed in me. Although I know Korea is where I am from, memories from Korea became something like a fairytale; Korea became a place "in a book I had read a long time ago" (154).

South Korea had become somewhere I can only find on maps (or news)