100 Things about 100 Bloggers (and here’s my hack at it)
Personal History/Trivia
1. I have an English/Catholic name of Julia
2. My Korean name used to be Kyung Ha but was changed to Min Jung
3. My grandmother delivered me in our home in Korea
4. My family emigrated to the US in December of 1975
5. I was the adopted granddaughter of Polish neighbors in Detroit between 1976-1980
6. I could read in English by the time I was 4
7. I can barely read in Korean but only phonetically and don’t have much vocabulary cognition in Korean
8. My older brother Michael used to call me by the nicknames of “Milkweed” or “Big Mouth”
9. For most of my childhood my weight was 10 X the grade that I was in. 3rd grade =30 lbs, 4th grade = 40 lbs, 5th grade = 50 lbs. Up through 10th grade.
10. I became a US citizen in 1980.
Elementary School Memories
11. I started attending Alternative Classes for the Academically Talented for elementary school.
12. I starred in an elementary school play as Persephone in “It’s All Greek To Me”
13. I still remember lines from that play.
14. My elementary school crushes were on Chris Jelenewski and Colin Stockton. One had puppy dog brown eyes and the other a gorgeous redhead with loads of freckles.
15. The only time my brother got into fights was to protect me.
16. I started wearing glasses in the 3rd grade. Thick ones.
17. My parents took us to the library every week and we’d complete reading 8-10 books every week. Even during the summers.
18. I started plucking my eyebrows in the 6th grade.
19. I made my first TV appearance as part of a intercultural youth choir of Detroit Area Catholics during the Pope’s visit to Detroit ~ 1984.
20. And yes, I still remember the song lyrics for that visit as well. Plus I got to meet Aretha Franklin.
Family
21. My father is only 5′ 4. My mother was 5’2. I am 5’6 and my brother is 5’10.
22. I met my maternal grandparents for the first time since leaving Korea when I was 12. My maternal Grandmother is under 5 feet tall.
23. I have never met my paternal grandparents.
24. My mother had naturally light complexion with light skin and naturally medium brown hair. I take after her in that respect.
25. My mom could sew nearly anything and made 2 of my high school formal gowns
26. My father is an amazing cook and learned his skills while in the Korean Navy
27. My father was a Math teacher in Korea and pumped gas for a few years when we moved to the states.
28. My mother did not graduate high school but had a talent for drawing
29. They had an arranged marriage. They were not *in* love but they grew to love each other deeply.
30. My mom couldn’t sing. My dad could. My brother & I take after my mom.
Sibling Rivalry
31. My brother is First Son of First Son et all. He is the first grandson of this generation for both sides of the family.
32. As I am neither of those, plus a girl, I felt fearsome jealousy of my brother’s privilege while growing up.
33. My brother has my Dad’s complexion and my mother’s bone structure. I have my mom’s complexion and dad’s bone structure. We look nothing alike.
34. We went to the same junior high school and had the same teachers who would compare us often.
35. I ruined my brother’s 15th birthday slumber party by staying up late and sitting under the dining room table watching the boys for hours.
36. Upset that my brother had the right to spank me when babysitting, I once ran into a wall on purpose, went crying to my parents and blamed him for not watching me.
37. My brother and I used to watch WWF before going to church each Sunday. He perfected the Figure Four lock on me. I had a crush or Ricky the Dragon Steamboat.
38. My mom’s side of the family has jacked up teeth. So does my Dad’s side. My brother got the worst of both. These teeth issues negated themselves out with me and I have perfectly straight teeth without ever having needed braces. I don’t even have wisdom teeth that will ever need to be pulled.
39. My brother makes approx 10 X what I make. But he also looks twice as old as I do for being only 6 years older.
40. I love my brother a lot. He claims I am the smart one but undisciplined and lazy. He might be right.
Fame? Uh…sort of I guess.
41. In high school I had an essay published in the Detroit Freepress regarding Asian Bashing ~1992
42. This propelled me to have a panel spot on Kelly & Company, a local TV talk show.
43. I won my first and only poetry competition during my Senior year in High School. I suppose I should submit more still.
44. I wrote an underground newspaper leaflet that criticized another underground newspaper. It was titled “Put up or Shut up”
45. As a journalist for ii Stix, I have met nearly the complete cast of the Joy Luck Club
46. I have had my poetry included in an audio compilation/cd.
47. I am the cam model for Yahoo Geocities
48. I write two columns. One can be found on II Stix. The other can be found at KoreAmJournal (Print mag)
49. I was asked earlier this year if I would like to be a guest on the Berman & Berman show for the Discovery Health Channel. The subject? Born Again Virginity.
50. I’ve been told I’m a famous diva. Only delusional do I believe this to be true. Really though, I’m still just a dork with a keyboard.
On Faith
51. My family is first generation Catholic. My Dad converted in the Navy and made my Mom convert before he’d marry her.
52. My catholic name Julia, comes from a Saint who would rather die than lose her virginity.
53. My baptism & confirmation names are the same.
54. During my first communion, the girl sitting to my right caught her veil on fire with her lit candle. It was wack.
55. I’m not good about going to Church regularly but I do go to a bible study (sort of regularly too)
56. I have seen a real, true to life possession first hand.
57. My family used to do a rosary together every night for several years.
58. I say little prayers nearly every day. At the least, just for thanks.
59. I used to be a Sunday School Teacher, and a program coordinator with my youthgroup and was on the team for Lighthouse, a Korean Young Adult group for the bay area.
60. Yes, I really do believe.
Organizations
61. In High School I won a varsity pin for Model United Nations.
62. I never won any high school elections that I ran in.
63. In college I was president of the Korean Students Association. Even though I couldn’t speak Korean.
64. I was also a member of FASA – Filipino American Students Association even though I’m definitely not Filipino.
65. I was East Region Communications chair for MAASU.
66. I was Midwest Region chair for Korean Intercollegiate Network.
67. I helped to found the UM chapter of aKDPhi during my senior year in college.
68. I once had a registered membership card as a Republican
69. I am currently not officially involved/in a leadership role/ with any organization.
70. Yes, I know I overdosed on the APA organizations.
Food & Drinks
71. So far as I know, I’m not allergic to anything.
72. My favorite dessert is Tiramisu.
73. My favorite icecream is plain old chocolate.
74. My favorite drink (this week) is still the Triple WoOoT
75. I can cook Osso Bucco. From scratch.
76. I have thrown successful dinner parties feeding up to 16 people at a time.
77. Just the smell of tequila makes me nauseous
78. I once threw up merely at the sight of cold spaghetti (I had seen Poltergeist the week before)
79. My favorite cuisine are Korean & Japanese
80. I sometimes get headaches after eating Pho.
Music/Film
81. My favorite band of all time is the Police
82. I love watching the band Goldfinger in concert
83. This Friday I’m going to go watch Save Ferris with my pal Eric
84. My fave non-classy film is Big Trouble in Little China
85. I can quote more than is right from the flicks “The Princess Bride” and “When Harry Met Sally”
86. Favorite foreign films include Cinema Paradiso, Shall We Dance, My Secret Cache, On a Hot Roof, and Muriel’s Wedding.
87. I still haven’t started writing my screen play.
88. I know two cool rockers personally. Howard who is in TheSingles and Brian who is in Conquistador
89. I was an extra for Matrix II & III.
90. I can’t act to save my life and I have tremendous stage fright.
Romance/Sex
91. There are only three men who I have considered myself truly in love with. In 2007 I found the love of my life over a glass (or 9) of Scotch. His name is Jason. And we were married in December of 2008.
92. I’ve kissed over 10 X the number of men who I’ve considered myself truly in love with. I now only kiss people on the cheek. Lots of them.
93. At this time, I refuse to disclose how many of those men I kissed this year. Damn. I used to be such a kiss slut.
94. I have kissed girls. A Japanese bisexual, a Chinese lesbian, and a Korean bicurious girl. and a few others.
95. I lost my virginity when I was 18.
96. I believe in safe sex and support pro-choice.
97. I’m a flirtaholic. I refuse to go to a 12 step program for this, however. I am guilty of flirting shamelessly with my husband every day.
98. I am not in close contact/friends with any of my exes.
99. I’ve been proposed to twice, but not by anyone whom I’d actually dated or would marry. No rings either time. I proposed to Jason and confirmed it with an Outlook Meeting request. He accepted and then we called our parents because we’re dorky geeks that way.
100. I’ve gotten over my 3.5 year celibacy hump. No, I will not provide any other details. As of March 2009 editing this, I’ll just say that pretty much no one wants to hear about an 8 month long pregnant lady having sex.
- Updated 3/09