Issue 01: Introducing Komerican Pie, Part I
Meet Sarah! Living the unhyphenated life...
Welcome to Komerican Pie! Aram and I are so thrilled to launch this weekly zine celebrating Korean-American Komerican lifestyle and all the people, places and things that inspire us. This zine is for anyone as we seek to connect with everyone!
Starting January 16th, this zine will feature the following every Tuesday:
Flavor of the Week: The KP Q&A with a cool human inspiring us
H Mart Happiness: Favorite products from the best grocer across the U.S.
Crispy Crust: Original art and poetry
Korean School: Fun facts, idioms, translations and history
Sweet & Salty: A list of the tastiest treats satisfying all the senses
And once a month, we’ll run Immigrant Hustle, a mini-memoir written by brave spirits willing to share their stories with us. Until then, get to know KP with today’s early issue featuring my Q&A and Aram’s on Sunday, January 14th!
We’re excited to share our heART with you and build a community comfortable enough to live without hyphens. Love yourself. Love everybody.
Flavor of the Week: The KP Q&A with Sarah Choi
Sarah Choi recently canceled her debut book deal with an international publisher to share her heART through Komerican Pie instead. She has worked with The Food Network Magazine, RachaelRay.com, Red Tricycle (now Tinybeans) as a freelance writer, copywriter and recipe tester; and also as a communication and marketing consultant to national nonprofits and consumer clients. Sarah studied political science at Emory University and earned a master’s degree in decorative art, design history and material culture from The Bard Graduate Center. She has lived in Houston, Washington D.C., San Francisco, New York City, and calls Atlanta home with her family today.
Introduce yourself in 2-3 sentences.
Hi KP! I am many things including a writer, poet, nature lover, big eater, art appreciator, audiobook/podcast junkie, armchair historian, native Texan, child of immigrants, cosmos believer, countercultural questioner, unschooling enthusiast, wife and mother.
Where are you from?
Atlanta – the capital of the South.
No, where are you REALLY from? (Haha!)
Planet Earth. Greetings, human! Me human, too.
What’s your sign?
Sagittarius sun. Cancer moon. Libra rising.
How would you describe yourself in five words?
Truthful. Intuitive. Provocateur. Loyal. Evolving.
What do you love about being Komerican?
I love not having to pick! I love everything about my heritage from the food to television shows, to the cultural value of jeong and the fighting spirit developed by generations of people in the Korean diaspora that faced and continue to face complex cultural and sociopolitical histories. HWAITING!
I am also grateful for this mess of a country I was born to and live in because I’m learning I can be and do whatever I want. AMURICAH really is the land of the free and home of the brave when you consider how so many constructs of our country are being questioned - from education to the healthcare system. There is no better time than now to experiment in life! I mean, are we really trying to live up to some of the questionable standards of American health and happiness?
And of course, what are your favorite Korean foods?
Soondubu jigae, bindaetteok, kalbi tang, jajangmyun and dongchimi. The list goes on but I’ll stop here.
What was your childhood like and what has it taught you?
My childhood was confusing and lonely. It taught me to think for myself instead of rely on people or institutions to tell me what to do or define who I am. Also, there is a difference between loneliness and solitude, the latter being something I cherish today.
Can you share something exciting that you’re working on now?
This zine of course! I’m having so much fun with Aram creating words + art online and sharing cool people, places and things. Working outside of traditional formats and definitions of success feels great.
Also, I finally learned to knit a hat after two decades of making scarves and headbands. I am really excited to break into pattern knitting now and am surprised by the amount of confidence this small feat has sparked within me. It’s almost embarrassing that I feel I can do anything in life now that I’ve knit a hat!
What do people underestimate about you?
I’ll share a favorite quote. “Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I am kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me.” Al Capone.
Share your proudest moment in the past year.
Canceling my debut book deal with an esteemed international publisher. It was a tough decision to make after six years of pursuing this dream with a lot of hard work and perseverance. It became too difficult for me to sublimate my worthiness to an industry that requires my exploitation to do business. The gross inequity of power and financial distribution made me question so much. As a parent, I wondered how I could say yes to such circumstances then expect my kids not to compromise themselves in their own lives?
Ultimately, I am SO grateful for all that has transpired as it forced me to contemplate the myriad compromises required of artists and how creators rarely reap the rewards of their beautiful offerings. I’m much more conscious about living a life where I do not invite harm nor harm others – something very challenging to do in our capitalist society.
What was your hardest moment in the past year?
Saying goodbye to my brother Steve, who passed away from cancer right before my birthday. I am grateful for this timing because his journey this lifetime taught me a lot. I will always remember his gifts and lessons as I celebrate aging every year. The biggest takeaway for me? Live a life without “shoulds” and be true to yourself.
We’ve all been hurt in some form or fashion. What are you healing from?
See above. During my brother’s cancer journey, I was mourning the relationship my brother and I did not have when he was alive. We were very different in personality and never lived in the same city (or country!) as adults. We had different views of the world and different values. We both carried unresolved wounds from just living, plain and simple.
Now that Steve is gone, I’ve been asking myself, “Who cares?” Why does this matter so much? All the contradictions and conflicts in life can live with the love in life. I don’t have to change a thing and can still love. I have a new relationship with my brother now through this wider lens. I wish I had done this earlier.
How do you love yourself?
As a highly sensitive person, I allow myself to ride the emotional rollercoaster of life and feel every feeling, but I don’t act on them until the ride is over. I trust that the ride will end at the right time and all its twists and turns will lend new and clarifying views to either shift in spirit or take action. When I don’t do this, it’s obvious as I may scream from the upside-down loop and mistakenly believe it is permanent. The crazy loop eventually comes to an end.
Also, when I’m tired, I rest. I learned so much about the power of rest from Pleasure Activism by adrienne maree brown, The Nap Ministry and Aram, who is the best at taking breaks and reminding me it’ll all get done! I’m learning to trust the timing and good fortune of the cosmos more, and it’s really delivering. Erasing the word “productivity” from my vocabulary has also really helped.
How do you love others?
There are so many beautiful ways to love people, but one way I love others is saying no. Knowing my no’s and expressing them is a way I demonstrate commitment to the long view of a relationship and my values. Saying no helps others with their boundaries when they don’t know where they are, and helps me step back before compromising myself or resenting others. It is an immediate investment of human energy to be so conscious. It takes time, consideration, honesty and courage to say no compassionately and while holding space for a response. I consider sitting with uncertainty and patience, along with goodwill and trust in the future, major acts of love. It’s much easier to avoid discomfort altogether.
What five things can you not live without?
The healing power of nature, transformation that comes from solitude, laughter with friends and family, good coffee in the morning, and the vitality of human touch.
What’s your favorite dance song?
Lately it’s Yummy by Justin Bieber.
What’s your favorite kind of pie?
It’s a tie between pumpkin and key lime pie!
H Mart Happiness: What’s your favorite product and why?
“I love this black rice! I add one cup for every two cups of white rice to make a healthier and pretty purple rice at home. Black rice has more fiber, protein and antioxidants than white rice.” - Sarah C.
What’s your favorite H Mart product? Leave a comment and share the love!
Crispy Crust: A Hint of Han - Subversive poetry that soothes
SO cool
you’re SO cool
you’re awesome
it’s like you’re almost White
i don’t even think of you as Asian
not that it’s a big deal
i know lots of other Asians
but you’re SO different
i mean, usually Asians are SO…
***Love, Sarah
Korean School: HWAITING! 화이팅!
Fun facts, idioms, translations and history
Our sign-off greeting “화이팅!” means “Hwaiting!” in Konglish. It is a word of encouragement that people say when they’re rooting for someone, inspired by the English word “fighting.”
We used a typeface based on the Hangul and English handwriting of 70-year-old halmoni, Kwon Jung Ae. She learned to read and write in her sixties thanks to a special civic program by South Korean organizations that helped older populations learn to read and write. Because of war, economic difficulties, and severe gender inequity in education in years past, many women could not attend nor finish school. In 2017, South Korean company Kakao celebrated the 10th anniversary of this program by turning the handwriting of several halmonis into fonts for anyone to use.
Halmoni Kwon’s typeface “Together-KwonJungAe” is the one we use for “화이팅!” and “We’re rooting for you!” in our signature below:
Sweet & Salty: A list of the tastiest treats satisfying all the senses
I’m loving my Standard Baggu showcasing the cutest collab ever with Hello Kitty and Friends. It makes me (and others!) smile when I take it out on the town. For Gudetama fans, Baggu will release a special collection later this month!
I laughed, I cried, and connected to The Persian Version immigrant hustle story like it was my own…. except with totally different cultures, family of origin history, food tableau scenes and life challenges. This movie makes the world feel small and relatable, while wearing the challenges of intergenerational trauma so beautifully. JUST. WATCH. IT.
For you ATLiens or weekend visitors coming through Atlanta, try to get to Dirt Church Services’ Mug of the Month — a seasonal five-course dinner with bespoke ceramics made to match the meal. This was one of the best dining and community experiences I’ve ever encountered. Strangers turned into friends and the food and drinked flowed all night. Plus you get to take a handmade mug home! January is already sold out so keep your eyes peeled for February and on.
Beautifully written as always, Sarah! Can't wait to see more of what you and Aram have in store for us readers ❤️