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Keith Hodges (1967)

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I think we might be neighbors. I Iive in Royal Oaks

Sherry Schoffstall (Barker) (1966)

I have just skimmed the recent posts and noticed this statement from a memo the. Lass of '81: 

Our time in Seoul and our time as brats more generally was a precious gift. We were forced by circumstances to learn to see people as human beings first and members of groups second.

I just wanted to elaborate on the above statement and perhaps tweak it a little.  I feel very fortunate attending SAHS.  I grew up on lots of Army bases, overseas for half of school years, and lived on post for all but 3 years. Hence, I was quite innocent of most kinds of prejudice.  I missed the zeal of 1960s,  especially the necessity of the Martin Luther King movement, because I thought we had been integrated since the 1860s. 

I had never seen the ugliness of prejudice; I thought that it didn't exist in our country anythe more.  Because I had never seen people who hated everyone who was black.  My knowledge was based on history and  books and movie.  I never witnessed such digusting  behavior in real life.  And I thank God that I did not!  I had enough.  

The only discrimination I witnessed after graduation started when I left the military community and entered Rice University in Houston in 1966.    I was a young woman in a man's world, i.e. where the "good old boys" were.  But I was 18 years old then.  And I was given a great gift.  Also, I took advantage of the opportunities to go visit Korean schools and homes while living in their country.  Unfortunately,  it was mostly men and boys that I met, because wives and sisters were always at home. 

When I graduated from SAHS, I knew that I was very lucky to be an American. And I loved my family.  I didn't hate my parents,  I gave blood to the boys in Vietnam, put my head in the sand when Dad went to Viet Namm and was glad when my brother Bob did not get drafted.  However, my experiences overseas kept me innocent and ignorant.  When In 1970 I stillhad no idea what was actually going on with many people my age when I graduated from Rice, because I was busy studying.

So I am proud of you guys who are discussing ths issues which concern us.  Education,  homelessness, affordable health insurance, affordable homes, safe schools, and health issues (such as AIDS, and COVID 19)--these are the important issues I'd rather be reading about.  I agree that bad mouthing individual political leaders is not appropriate for our web site.  I don't know why anyone uses this site to complain about our president. If you need to vent, use another forum.

Let's keep political and religious items out of our forum.  And limit discrimination to only sex and age.   

Serena Davis (1987)

I have a nostalgic affection for anyone who went to SAHS. We are family somehow. When i hear that my family has been attacked for any reason, but especially racial hate, it angers and saddens me and brings out my Leo protectiveness. A few bad apples is not the case. The silence is deafening when someone says "go back to..." That silence is complicitness. FIghting hate is not about politics, however, political policy can influence its power in our society. I would vote for a chinchilla if there were sound policies and platforms that made the world a better place. As an SAHS family, shouldn't we care about each others experiences, or let's say i care about you(plural). I can't say i'm wise enough to know the solutions, but I'm definately brave enough not to turn my head or say there is no problem. We were so lucky to have the SAHS experience, to see the world at a young age, to experience being 'other'. Sometimes I think that everyone should have that experience. Personally I want the bricks of experience i carry to build bridges and not walls. We can find an acceptable decorum. I don't want anyone to feel silenced about their experiences. 

Nancy McDermott (1981)

On a completely different subject, I'm wondering if anyone has read Kim Jiyoung Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo? It's a story about a young Korean woman who begins to speak with the voices of other women. It's a strange story, (it has footnotes) but I really enjoyed it. It took me right back. I have also really been enjoying Korean films. In retrospect it seems crazy we didn't learn to speak Korean in school. 

Hansang Bae (1984)

That reminds me of a story. 

Here's a story that I never told in public.  I was born in Korea and spent the 1st grade in Korean elem. school.  Then starting my second year, * started going to SAHS (SAES, I guess???) 

As for English, I could count to ten.  That was it.  I knew the ABC, and I mean those three letters only. :) 

I was pissed and sad to be taken away from my friends and was sulking in class - filled with people who I couldn't understand.  There were a few Korean TAs but they told not to speak Korean.  Back then (70's) people thought learning two languages as a child was confusing and detrimental. 

Then I saw a glimmer of hope.  First, the teachers were helping pour orange juice.  I COULD NOT believe it.  That NEVER happened in Korean school.  Then I heard a kid say "됐어" (Dats-uh) and was very confused.  One, the kid said "enough" (that's what Dats-uh means) to the teacher in a non-honorific form.  Two. there were common words between English and Korean!!  I thought to myself "hell, I got this, if there are same words..."  Looking back, I must've heard "That's all, please"

While confused and dazed, something else happened that SHOCKED me.  Bell rang and all the kids ran out to the playground.....to PLAY!!!!  Again, I couldn’t' believe it.  It's not even lunch time and kids were allowed to go play?  Things were starting to look up for me.

In the play ground, I was playing with sand by the swing set.  Then some kid came up to me and said something in English.  And I convinced myself that this kid just made fun of me.  And I started punching away.  The teachers pulled me away and was sent to the principles office.  Something that would strike TERROR in Korean school. But I wasn't worried at all, what did I care?  I don't even speak the language.  So, I kneeled in front of Mr O'Brien's office and raised my arms over my head.  I "assumed" the position of punishment.  And someone walking by sat me up and put me into a chair.  Again...things were looking up.  Then this redheaded Irishman O'Brien walks up to me and talks to me on perfect Korean.  My wall of defences came down and I cried like a baby. I knew I was done for.

To this day, I think about what that kid must have thought of me.  Attacking him like a rabid dog.  I'm so curious what he said to me. 

As for kids being confused about learning two languages?  I still remember blond-blue-eyed kids speaking perfect Korean. They learned it from the Korean nannies.  Amazing what young brains can soak up when it comes to languages. 

Stan Lobdell (1977)

For those who have not heard the gut-wrenching news, our SAHS brother George May ('76) has passed away.  George not only attended Seoul American, but he also spent much of his adult life fostering the memories and connections he formed there.   George kept us informed about our classmates and Korea through his posts and frequent photos on Facebook.  I will miss George immensely.  He was a kind and unassuming person who loved his family and friends.  Rest in Peace dear friend.

Mark Barnett (1973)

Thanks for the note Stan,

I too along with so many lives he touch, will deeply miss him. He leaves a hole in my heart, for all the fond memories of my later days in high school at SAHS. I feel like our geaneology patriarch for my family of life long friends from Korea is gone and one of the only connections I had with my cherished past. George you will always be fondly remembered as a kind and heartful soul who was never too busy to put up a great Korean recipe, or to share such valuable memories, in photographs of the past and present. May love shine around all your family and those you have touched.

With fondest memory and respect, Mark Barnett, '73.

Keith Hodges (1967)

George May '76 has passed. You may leave a memory about George at http://www.sahs-reunion.com/class_profile.cfm?member_id=3221490

Ordinarily we would send only a note to the classes that probably knew the classmate, but George has been a regular and welcomed poster on the Facebook Seoul American High School Alumni Group.

Nancy McDermott (1981)

Very sorry to hear about George. He was a senior when I was a freshman, but I remember him almost as if we were the same year. I went to 3 different high schools in the end, but SAHS was the only one I ever really felt part of. It broke my heart to leave. It's so nice that we can keep in touch, even for sad news like this. 

Serena Davis (1987)

Sorry to hear about the loss. Without having met him, he touched my life because of this group. My condolences to his family of which I'm sure he considered many in this group. 

Young Do Kim (1984)

I miss those hotdogs sold at the AAFES kiosks. The fried chicken at the cafeteria on Main Post was so good!!

Young Do Kim (1984)

I really appreciated those summer jobs ..I was assigned to post trash detail along with my buddies and we would chip in and buy fried chicken at the main cafeteria everyday. So good!!!

Young Do Kim (1984)

Sony Walkman and those Boom Boxes were so "in". I had to settle for Samsung "mymy" because I could not afford to buy a Walkman.

Hansang Bae (1984)

Yong Do,

I remember you! :)  I had the highly coveted summer job of working at TSAK pumping out slides/pictures for meetings etc.  I remember vividly having to make a life size poster of a DMZ incident where a NK blew himself up with a grenade.  Or the time the First Sergeant blew a lid with the staff because I was handling stuff I wasn't cleared for - you know, because I was a junior in high school!  :) 

Those fried chickens were AWESOME.  And what was that burger called?  And to this day, I still salivate for C9 (Twice cooked pork with cabbage) at the Rod and Gun Club.  Boy do I miss my C9!!!

:)

Young Do Kim (1984)

Class of 1984. The silent class of 1984. I remember you Hansang, in fact I recall going on a camping trip with you, Peter Musladin and John Choo. I was able to meet up with Peter in SF in 2001 on my road trip on PCH from San Diego to Vancouver, Canada (not to confuse with Vancouver Washington, the arm pit of WA and no offence to anyone living there). I also hooked up with John in Fullerton, Cali about the same time. I guess I need to arrange for a reunion of some sort with you all soon, preferably in my neck of the wood, in Mexico where I spend most of my time, for some good wine, margaritas and carne asada. As I get older, I get more and more nastalgic. It's nice to know that most of Falcons are doing well in life, as I knew most would. 

Young Do Kim (1984)

Hansang, I suppose those coveted jobs went to good students like you..As I recall you were a straight A student. And given my standing in class (bottom 1%), it was only befitting that I be assigned to trash detail. My suspicion was confirmed when I realized that the biggest loser in SAHS, Greg Goularte '83 was also assigned to the detail(just kidding Greg, but it certainly was true back then, we were definite at the bottom of the heap).

Debbie Rider (1986)

I guess it was common knowledge that the absolute BEST dish was C9 at the Rod and Gun Club!! :-)

Young Do Kim (1984)

Young Do Kim (1984)

Young Do Kim (1984)

Young Do Kim (1984)

Young Do Kim (1984)

Young Do Kim (1984)

Young Do Kim (1984)

Hansang Bae (1984)

Damn Young Do, forget Mexico, you can write an expose on SAHS! 

Although my son told me just yesterday, it's the best time to be Korean thanks to Black Pink and BTS.  And, of course, I said "they should both thank Psy because he opened the door"

I don't like KPop on bit because EVERY GROUP looks the same. They all look, dance, sing the same way. But the I look at general music and it's true tha it's the same chords used by them all.  Hell, they don't even record it as live song, they just quantize part of it and add it in later.

Give me a second....some is on my......'HEY YOU KIDS, GET OFF MY LAWN" 

I'm sure very generating thinks their music was superior.  But I'm willing to admin that when you listened to Asia I never knew when one song ended and another song started.  (admit it, you're humming I never meant to be bad to you... right now)

And yes, @Debbie, C9 rulz!!!!