Dear dongsaeng,
Congrats on opening your first letter! It’s me, your big sis Ellie, a.k.a. Ellie unnie.
But wait, you might be thinking, I don’t have a big sister.
Well, you’re only partially right.
In these letters, I’m your sister, best friend, pen pal and confidante. I’ll be sharing my stories and advice from one “culturally-confused” child of an immigrant to another.
Being a child to Korean immigrant parents, I know too many struggles of immigrant children feeling as though they need to embrace one culture and shun another. Maybe this was due to teasing in middle school, or pressure on family to upkeep family traditions you’re more or less clueless about. Maybe you ask yourself this question like I always did: am I South Korean? Or am I Canadian?
Both. You are both cultures. You have a dual-identity, if you will. And it is our job as the second generation to show others that we can be proud of both.
So grab a warm drink and get comfy, because honey, it’s time for a sibling intervention.
P.S. Don’t forget to check your mailbox regularly!
✏️ dear dongsaeng 