My First Chuseok

Chuseok is a major festival and three-day holiday in South Korea. Koreans celebrate the fall harvest by meeting their family members from across the country and eating a meal together. It is one of the biggest holidays in the country.

As a kid, I always heard about Chuseok. My mother and father called it “Korea’s Thanksgiving,” but we did little to celebrate it. I grew up in the United States with little to no extended family around me. My family never felt the need to make a big deal out of this holiday. Before leaving for South Korea on my study abroad trip, I knew this year would be the first time I would ever experience Chuseok. The opportunity to meet my extended family and spend quality time with them was very important to me. I looked forward to it the most.

Overall, I enjoyed Chuseok. I met family members that I had never seen before, engaged in many of the traditional proceedings, and ate delicious food. I especially liked paying my respects to my late ancestors by bowing in front of their graves. I never did anything like it in America, but I knew it was a big part of Korean culture. I made sure to live in the moment and take it all in. My uncle made sure I participated in all the cultural activities. He wanted to teach me all the things I’ve missed while living abroad. He took me to see all my extended family members in the area, including my grandaunt. I got to meet all of her children and grandchildren. Admittedly, it was a little awkward at first. I’ve never seen or heard of these people in my life, yet they knew all about me. They treated me kindly and warmly—a memory I will treasure for a long time.

Chuseok didn’t go exactly as planned, however. On my way to Haenam, I received word that my grandmother was rushed to a hospital in Seoul. She would not be there for the holiday, meaning many of my uncles, aunts, and cousins would not come down as well. I only saw a small portion of my very large family. I felt a little down at first, but my uncle made sure to keep me busy and entertained all weekend. I went biking around the countryside and explored new places around the area. Honestly, I don’t know what I would have done without his family. They hosted me all weekend and kept me company. Also, I spent a lot of time with my uncle’s two daughters. Growing up with one older brother, I never experienced living with two females. I got to know their personalities well, and I felt closer to them. I guess that’s what I wanted to do all along during this holiday.

Chuseok was definitely a success, and I cannot wait for my next one!