Joo Cho and Sandra Cho

00:04 My name is Sandra Cho I am 49 years old. Today is Tuesday, August 29th. 2017. I am at the Atlanta History Center in Atlanta, Georgia. And I am with my father j h o.

00:23 And my name is j a h o.

00:28 The I am 82 years old. Today is Tuesday, August 29th, 2017.

00:38 I'm at the Atlanta History Center.

00:42 And I am with my daughter Sandra. Okay, so Dad thanks for being here today with me. It is our third time doing this and the first two times, you know, you basically told stories basically starting from age 14 and Ford and while I would like to continue with that perhaps we can come back another time and do that instead. There were some questions that we had we meaning Philip Sheridan bill and I about some things we just didn't know about you and this some of them are very basic things. We don't know about you. So this is more of a question answer session as opposed to you telling a story

01:35 So one of the the first things we want to ask you and I know it seems kind of ridiculous that we don't know this but you know, when and how did you and Mom meet?

01:49 I don't know the year exactly, but I think I was around 24.

01:58 Oh, I didn't realize you met her for several years before you came to the United States been dating for 6 years. I didn't realize that got married. Wow, and I was at the univ and the hotel and that is insulting. So only hotel that foreign dignitaries and Vino State and

02:30 Your mother

02:37 I don't know exact the relationship, but the mothers are side of the Mist early is older gentleman.

02:49 He

02:54 Used to live in the Concord, California

03:00 And that was a very unusual that the older Korean gentleman was in the United State quite a few years. Was he the one who forgot to pick you up the airport when you arrived? Okay, that's what you told us last time. So yes, so as as I told you before the Bando Hotel the the general public they don't have access to the hotel because they don't have any business and

03:41 But Mr. Lee since I think he was a US citizen.

03:49 So he was qualified to get in the dining room and have a breakfast lunch or dinner or whatever and

04:00 He used to come hotel. In fact every time he came to Hotel. I was brought Mom really. So how old was Mom?

04:13 She was a

04:16 As you know, very beautiful and does she I think she

04:22 Is a 44 years younger than I will you were 29 when you oh, so then she was about 20 years old when you met her then he met her around age 24. So so you saw her a few times before you talk to her run. I Used to Know say hello to mr. Lee. Mr. Lee seems like a like me.

04:54 And he approached me said several times and so we got acquainted and

05:03 Same thing happened to Mom.

05:08 And I miss Thalia.

05:11 01 back to United States

05:15 And

05:18 So that's how we met, you know, so we have been dating and I mean did you ask her out on a date through mr.lee or were you able to approach her directly yourself?

05:34 At the time is not like the way you do over here, you know, it's not like just would you like to go out? You just can't do that.

05:48 As soon as I

05:50 So hard frequently.

05:56 As long as mr. Lee was in Korea.

06:00 And I was a comfortable to talk to her. So

06:08 I guess we went to have lunch one day. Are you allowed to do that without a chaperone? But the

06:23 Yeah, that's way we had that lunch. So what's her personality the same then as it is now, you know being kind of feisty and energetic very kind and

06:41 Yes, she was very nice and

06:47 The two for 6 years. I mean not quite right because you came to United States when you were 29. So when you were 28 and Phillip was born, you know, Sheila was about 8 months old when you came to this country and to 63-64 know he was born in 64 and his birthday is January. So he was at about seven months old.

07:26 Okay, right, right. I see which time yeah. Okay. Well, so so after a few years that's when you propose to her obviously.

07:42 But the sins I didn't have a parents with me.

07:49 Well in Korea of cuz I didn't even know whether they were still living or passed away.

08:00 So everything you know, I had to do my own and there's another hotel right next door to Banda machos on hotel. That's almost as good as Bando. In fact President Ford stay there and try to accommodate him and they had to bake a whole hotel that that's where mr. McMahon has stayed. But because I

08:37 Was there

08:40 The

08:43 Hotel staff member

08:48 And

08:50 We got married and that hotel and that was a really privileged the most most people they just go to the wedding. I guess whole hall or something like that. It's a business some of the building. They just rent for the wedding and they do that one after the other about the when you when you get married at the hotel special like a chosen hotel that is a big deal, but I was not rich or anything to get married Ryan hotel, but still manages and all of that. They just a range that because you will when you were engaged and then married did mom did

09:50 You discuss Coming to America and having to leave Mom behind. I mean was she aware that when she was engaged to you if y'all discussed it back then or did that not come about until sometime after the marriage I all was a plan to come to the United States and she knew that.

10:12 You didn't disclose that to her.

10:17 I guess she has the sense that because you know when you work at the bar in the hotel, it's not like a hotel here. That is a really good job over there at that time special like a hotel room like Bando said then why didn't you stay? Why didn't you just stay at the hotel and then try to promote it through the rain good for If I Stay there, of course, I could become a eventually or something. But still I was young.

10:56 And I wanted to come to the United States. Did you want to do that before you knew Mr. Lee mom's palliative English very hard ever since I escaped from my native. And that was it like, you know, 15 14 15 years old and I was still already studying the English dictionary and

11:37 So, okay. Well now I know how and when y'all met and you know, I I've got a list of questions here and I guess it's a little unfair that I did not produce this to you before so that you could prepare and and come up with some thoughtful responses. But at the same time I figured this is all about you for the most part so

12:01 You know, perhaps these these thoughts will just you know pop into your head but in terms of the best advice anyone has ever given you no matter who it was what do you think the best advice you've ever received has been no matter where it when it came into your life.

12:23 Pictures of course grandparents and parents

12:28 And

12:32 The way it was when I was growing up.

12:38 You know, it's all just all fashion.

12:41 And you just respect no matter what the parents and grandparents. In fact, I was afraid of my grandfather. My father was a whole lot.

12:58 Jay Honda generous and he was a really nice person and never raised his voice and so grandfather on the other hand.

13:18 If you do something wrong at that time, they will just spank you with the stick said he was Sterner right even to with the grandchildren. I can understand with his own children. But even with the grandchildren, he was still tough. They never compliment you no matter how you did. Well, even your grandmother grandmother is different because the reason is that if you compliment the boy and they get spoiled and my grandfather told me Chinese characters as which is the Leica out English alphabet thousand-word cast and characters characters and

14:16 At the age of 5, I've mastered finished thousand characters memorize all that.

14:26 And I don't think anybody ever did that at the age of 5.

14:35 So because my grandfather was sitting right by me I have to do it. Yeah, so he was a

14:47 I guess you are so proud, but he wouldn't say.

14:51 He wouldn't mention that.

14:54 But he

14:57 Decide to have a invite the neighbors of relatives. Everybody had a party Korean in a rice cake. Yes, because I said that was his way of saying good job 5 years old. So you must have felt really important and just so proud that your grandfather would Express that so much evil now.

15:23 Lotto, you know, as you know, I have a friend here medical field or in a legal field.

15:33 They don't know Chinese characters as much as I do. In fact, when they find out how much I know they are really surprised and admired and about the yeah, I think that helped me a whole lot.

15:58 In learning how to speak English or learning is learning another language English is different about the Chinese character Korean people date. They don't use it now, but the at the time you have to know Chinese character, if you don't know you are not the intelligent person and so or maybe not educate Maybe.

16:24 I was proud of you know, Dad very proud. I bet you were especially at such a young age 5 years old.

16:32 And so since I've been here so long. I don't read the Korean paper. I don't have we don't have the Korean paper printed in Chinese letters. I forgot lot of things that happened to the letter to my brother or relative and I'll have to

17:01 Think it over is that why I'm in that much because I didn't practice over here. If I if I if I'm still in Korea, of course, I would be a whole lot better. But now I almost forgot like a Japanese. I used to speak Japanese frequently, but I mean the the Japanese but I forgot the Japanese language that definitely happened swelled. Let me move on to the next question. I think Phillips me to this question. I thought it was a good question if Korea North and South Korea were to unify would we be able to get our land back?

17:49 Well, that is a

17:54 That is not just my personal problem, but the

18:02 Lot of people like me left.

18:08 The parents and who used to own lots of land over there and I'm sure they will get together with the Goblin and I'm sure we might be able to get that back but some of our relatives.

18:30 In order to continue the education in South Korea they sold.

18:38 South Korean government, they bought the land at the time. I don't think they do that anymore, but they sold the land so they could go to school, but my uncle

18:56 Insist upon that we cannot sell that land because a grandfather.

19:06 And they all work so hard to in optane that land. I'm in the after all of the hotel named after Charles even the mountains.

19:23 What happened, you know about didn't show and so my uncle said no matter what I don't think we could sell that for the bandage, you know, so, so I'm sure we could we could I'm sure we could get their land back.

19:50 Okay. So Philip said, you know, he's submitted another question and he said there's a book about our family. It's only a white book that you keep in one of the drawers.

20:04 So who wrote that book?

20:08 Well

20:12 I think the

20:14 Our relatives got together.

20:18 Since we are away from home before they pass away.

20:25 And if they pass away nobody knows so I was here in this country. So I don't know exactly who did it. How old is the belt?

20:37 We're looking for this way. How long have you had it over 20 years? I Okay, so

20:51 Shows up and tells everything about her family background.

20:58 And I mean are you talking about the land we owned and you know who was married to whom and who was who knows who had which children and like a family tree. Is that what you're talking about? But the children I don't think they examples you and Phillip.

21:25 And build a set of Sharon. I don't think they the we're not in it you are not in there. I don't think you were even born LIC and so but they did mention will Phillip was born because if it say wrote the book when you were here, then Philip had already been born and and I mean I came along then in 68 so Through the Motions of children, I think I'm the one that does the last one about the

22:03 Yeah. Oh, yeah.

22:10 I'm glad the other people I'm glad the people decide to you know, I'll do that so we could at least know, you know, you know the root how many generations does it cover.

22:32 I don't know exactly I think.

22:36 I think it's a I mean if you go from you and then go back we does it go beyond your grandparents be on their parents. They just I think

22:51 Up to the grandparents up to the grandparents.

22:57 And beyond that.

23:00 I don't think they even know you know, because they were all young before doing the world themselves. So but yeah, I I noticed that they mention that I am in the United States. I like to see ya. Okay, so Bill had a question and he wanted to know how did you arrive at the middle names for Sam and Andrew Quan Chi and Bianchi. I was capable of doing that because I remember I finished Chinese character at the age of 5.

23:54 I named lot of children.

23:58 Normally, my grandfather named children grandchildren. Oh granddaughters and

24:11 My father grandfather is the one named but sins, of course he try to

24:21 Figure out the best let the letter.

24:24 Fit 2 because we have to each generation have to go by certain letter, you know, not just like over here a Charles or Michael David. We don't just pick the name.

24:38 That you have to keep my case is a hand. My brother is going to hang on to hand. You got to have a hand and how is that determined and determine the SS already in the I just broke its already. So what did you have to you had to go by he Forum salmon Andrew or you just decided to go that way they have to go by there and the I think one going he is a sad that Sam and young he is Andrew.

25:25 And you know that the letter Quan is a power.

25:31 Not that the power.

25:33 And what is he?

25:36 He he is a

25:42 That is the letter regardless you have to have that generation and he is like a pure, you know clear and that's a he

25:58 And so I decide to Susie's boy first and first grandson I decide to put the Quan was it which is power and in fact quite a few people and Korean people Korean people have that letter in their names. I didn't do it put the Quan because of that but I thought that was a you know, appropriate and then

26:36 Young-hee

26:38 Is because so many he's you know that generation so many relatives. I don't want to just duplicate somebody else's name soon as I'm here. I don't know what names did they name their children over there?

27:03 So the sand Andrews case.

27:11 Like American Way

27:15 I picked the my father's first letter.

27:22 Dim, my father's first letter. That's that's how I became piankhi. And so that's a

27:34 How I decided do what does BN stand for?

27:38 Feeling is a like a bright light.

27:44 And like sunshine

27:48 So that's a young but the you know, I got to tell you about the song Young.

27:56 Bill's name I mean

28:01 Sometimes it's Phillips song on Deezer Philip some young I got to tell you about something young. Someone is in my grandfather grandfather fortune teller.

28:16 I think Mom I must went to fortune teller and they decide to call him some hon, but the some yarn was born in this country. So I decide to I've been thinking several days, you know and selling is already decided this. It's a no problem by problem is what letter best letter you could choose to add to it.

28:54 And

28:57 Finally, I find the thought about that young.

29:03 Which is a town is in back when it's like a Richmond County Fulton County. That first letter is young as well as is spreading.

29:24 Like a big tree root spread on the news round.

29:31 And

29:33 That means it is it all the strong.

29:40 And just stretched up everything so sung not only reminder hometown.

29:49 As well as good meaning some young and I was so happy to thought about that letter, but I I got to tell you one one thing my aunt but my end grandfather's youngest daughter.

30:10 Married, and she had a the boys should deliver the boy.

30:19 And of course grandfather was going to

30:24 And he just

30:27 Hi. I noticed he just tried and tried and tried and he couldn't come up with something. He's satisfied.

30:39 And then why one day I said that?

30:43 I suggested that his grandfather.

30:47 How about you know so-and-so Jung Myung they have to go by the mail. How about yum yum.

30:57 And he just hit it.

31:07 Couldn't believe that I came up at that age. So he was so proud and say yum. Yum is it going is like a dragon? You know you own?

31:25 See how powerful they are and they never die. So I thought about

31:33 You know, why don't we laymen Jung Myung? So grandfather was so happy. So he's name is Young. So what about San Tan? What does that mean some how did the songs of course? Everybody has to have

31:51 Hot is a soda bar.

32:04 Hot is a

32:09 Suppose somebody is a professor.

32:13 And

32:15 Dead color meaning

32:18 And

32:21 So that's that's why they adopted the song on someone who's educated. Is that what she mean intelligence knowledge?

32:33 How about your name? What does that stand for Jew hang? I think because of my name is Rohan.

32:42 Because of that, I think I'm over here in this country because a hang is of course, there's already there to mins.

32:52 Just a round.

32:55 As if you are traveling around, you know everywhere Global so

33:03 I think that's the reason I care. What about the mom's name in soon?

33:11 Well Daddy's is there a letter they have pad?

33:18 And

33:23 Most Korean the girls like over here the women their name is a different from anybody even though somebody some woman is like a body Andrew Andy or something like that, but the butt over there the same way so I don't know who named her. Maybe her father her grandfather. I don't know about the

33:50 In is

33:55 Batman's

33:57 It's

34:00 Kind of pure

34:05 It's as kind of pure as well as the

34:12 Innocent as well as kind and that kind of saw a lot of people use that letter and what about me Joan for sharing your case? I decide not to go by, you know, the girls they don't have to go buy like a song sung yon song. They don't have to go buy that and you okay shoe is life.

34:50 And Chung is as a girl.

34:56 It's a purity. You know, that's a Su Jang and it sounds real good girls named Andy zhangazha. I decide to put the same letter you and Sharon and me John is a me is beauty.

35:20 It's a beauty so soon as this girl. I decide put the me Jong and Su Jang and that's how it came up. But if ever my grandfather knew about that, she would be proud. I'm sure he would be well, you know, we're pretty much nearing the end of this his session and you know, I think we would be remiss if we didn't.

35:57 Talk about mystery man. It's only in the sense that you know, his birthday would have been yesterday and I'm sure he would have been well over a hundred by now. But of course, he was the one who helped you come to this country and who

36:12 You know, I was like our grandfather in this country. And so I wanted to certainly at least mention him in this session in light of his birthday yesterday and I want to tell you it has been my sincere pleasure to speak to you. We've take three sessions now and I've learned some things about you. I didn't know that perhaps I should have known like how you and Mom met. But I think that's been kind of the neat thing about all of this is learning these things about you and there's so much more to explore in to remember and to learn about you and Mom, but we only have so much time. So I just wanted to thank you so much. You know, I am so proud that the you all even though you never met.

37:10 Grandparents parents

37:17 You both were born here and grew up here still.

37:22 You are like some of the way we grew up. You know, how close you are American the way you do everything is an American, but still we could see some value.

37:38 That the I can't really take the Korean out of us. So, you know, I mean y'all are Americans but still your immigrants and so all those things were going to pick up on one way or another. But anyway. Thank you so much. Thank you for everything the way you turned out to be.

38:06 And

38:09 That made me

38:13 Not only just happy but the like a people said American Dream.

38:21 Came true. I would I would agree with that statement. I would agree. We're going to ruin code through.

38:31 Thank you, Dad.