My Korean-American Life

  A few days ago I got some sourdough bread starter—often called a "mother"— from my friend. My daughter has been waiting expectantly for my first sourdough all this week. Ever since I learned that sourdough, unlike standard bread which relies on store-bought packets of commercial yeast, rises through natural fermentation and harbors living bacteria good for health, I’ve always longed to learn how to make sourdough; finally I did it today. Sourdough is the oldest form of leavened bread in human history. Historians trace its origins back to Ancient Egypt around 1,500 BC. It was likely discovered by accident when a bowl of flour and water was left out, allowing wild yeast to settle in and ferment the dough. For thousands of years, this was the only way to make bread rise. It traveled with the Roman legions, sustained European peasants through the Middle Ages, and became iconic during the California Gold Rush of 1849. Miners carried their starters in pouches close to their bodie...

  One small but long-delayed item on my to-do list this year was to organize my craft room—not with shiny plastic bins or sleek store-bought containers, but by upcycling what I already had and incorporating hanji . Cardboard boxes had been quietly piling up in the corners of the room, their edges softening, tape peeling, waiting for a second life. I finally checked that box.   I started with a beer carton whose built-in dividers made it perfect for sorting fabric scraps. I cut down a larger box to wrap around the outside, imagining it as a skin to apply Jogakbo techniques with Hanji. As I measured and cut, the cardboard made that familiar dry, papery sound, a little resistance giving way under the blade. Hanji—traditional Korean paper made from mulberry bark—has long been known for its durability, beauty, and surprising strength. When resources were scarce, hanji was never limited to books or windows. It became part of everyday life: storage chests, boxes, trays, cabinets...

  Today I volunteered with Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA), helping prepare for the launch of ReFiber , a new textile recycling and reuse initiative beginning in early 2026. I arrived expecting an afternoon of cutting donated fabrics down to usable sale sizes, recovering notions like buttons, zippers, and elastic, or sorting clothing to determine what can be recycled, reused, or resold. ReFiber is LSSNCA’s newest pilot program—an ambitious textile recycling and reuse effort rooted in sustainability and community empowerment. The goal is simple but profound: transform donated textiles into materials for sales, reduce waste, and create a circular system and profits from any materials sold from this waste diversion pathway will go directly to supporting LSSNCA mission and services that supports refugees and immigrants rebuilding their lives in the U.S. The passionate lead volunteer, Elizabeth who’s been working with LSSNCA for a long time, greeted me w...

  Before I knew it, a third of the final month of the year had already slipped past. A restless flutter stirs in my chest. So much still remains to be done before the year draws to a close. First, I resolve to take stock of my finances as they stand now, preparing myself for the approaching tax season—already at the doorstep—and for shaping next year’s investments and portfolio with clearer intention. This month and in January, I’ll share a series of my reviews related to this. First, I checked key changes in the upcoming US individual income tax. The 2025 US individual income tax year (for taxes filed in early 2026) includes significant changes largely driven by new legislation (sometimes referred to as the "One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB)") and annual inflation adjustments. Here’s a summary of the most important 2025 US individual income tax changes: 🔑 Major Changes & New Deductions Category 2025 Tax Change Summary Key Amounts (Income Phaseouts Apply) New Deduction for ...