第4部分(第2/5 页)

elings　into　a　force　of　strength　that　propelled　me　to　excel　in　academics。　Furthermore；　the　immigrant　experience　gave　me　adaptation　skills　that　helped　me　as　a　foreign　exchange　student　in　Japan　and　as　a　businessman　working　with　people　of　different　cultures　and　backgrounds。

Pampered　materially　and　nurtured　emotionally　in　Seoul；　I　lived　with　relatives　close　by　and　a　helping　hand　available　whenever　I　needed　it。　My　school；　while　stiflingly　petitive　and　mitted　to　regular　doses　of　corporal　punishment；　presented　a　system　which　I　understood　and　was　familiar　with。　Although　the　neighborhood　lacked　open　areas；　it　was　a　close…kit　munity　where　children　addressed　the　lady　next　door　as　〃aunt〃　and　housewives　frequently　shared　recipes。　I　was　pletely　at　home；　ethnically；　linguistically；　and　in　every　other　respect。

My　new　life　in　Prichard　contrasted　sharply　with　my　old　one　in　Seoul。　The　neighborhood；　while　serene；　lacked　the　extended　support　network　of　friends　and　family　I　had　back　home。　School　frustrated　and　demoralized　me　because　I　had　learned　only　the　first　fourteen　letters　of　the　English　alphabet　and　a　few　basic　words　before　our　arrival。　After　a　fourteen…hour　workday　in　the　family　restaurant；　my　exhausted　parents　were　unable　to　help　me。　Further　pounding　my　difficulties；　I　experienced　racial　bigotry　for　the　first　time　in　my　life。　Ethnic　slurs　and　insults；　which　I　managed　to　understand　with　rapidity；　made　me　painfully　aware　I　was　different　from　others。

In　the　face　of　these　obstacles；　I　started　to　question　the　purpose　behind　immigrating　to　the　U。S。　Seeing　my　parents＇　exhausted　silhouettes　seven　times　a　week；　I　began　to　understand　the　motivation　behind　the　move　that　forever　altered　my　life：　a　chance　at　a　brighter　future　in　the　U。S。　Because　no　one　could　help　us；　we　had　to