Many of you know that I am not terribly fond of cooking. Good thing I live in the US instead of Korea because fixing meals is really important for parents and grandparents over there. It's not unusual to see the 'romcom couple' drop by their 헐머니 (grandmother's) house and she'll ask if they've eaten. If not, she will immediately go in and prepare a meal. And I'm not talking about macaroni out of a box...I'm talking a stew with a whole chicken or pork or beef, and cut up vegetables just whipped together for the young couple.
Then, the grandma will sit and watch them eat. Nope, she generally doesn't join in but simply watches them.
In comparison my family knows that if they drop by unfed before mealtime they'll just get a blank stare from me. Or maybe macaroni out of a box. ~ Judy
I’m the opposite of Judy. There is always something available from my kitchen, and it is NEVER macaroni out of a box! Even my 7 and 9 year old grandchildren have asked their mother, my middle daughter, why she can’t make meals like grandma. Yes, I love that they like my food. Am I a better grandma than Judy? Definitely not! She’s got much more patience than I do…or at least that is what I infer from our conversations about our grandchildren. What do we remember about our grandmothers? Hands down it’s what they cooked. Weigh in!
Hello—glad to have run into you fans at Spenga today! This post made me smile because my mom lives across the street from me and is constantly bringing me whatever she’s cooking. She makes the best homemade kimchi and I can’t eat any others unless it‘s hers. My mother graduated from Ewha university in Seoul and the most popular major at that time was Home Economics. Kdramas have grown so much but back in the day, my parents would watch dramas using numbered videotapes!
I've noticed as well that this is a typical greeting, not only between halmeoni and couples, but parents to children, friends to friends, couples to each other...pretty much everybody inquires about your food status, much like in western culture we ask "how are you?" except in Korea you get fed!
Whoa!!! The White Continent is Antarctica….. a Gmama follower checked in!!
I always want to eat what they are having on the show. It always looks so good.
I’m afraid at my house I would be serving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to drop in visitors. Not the best spontaneous cook
Laura
Greetings from the white continent! Loving your posts Kdrama gmamas!!