Okay, here’s my take on the “Crying in H Mart” article, presented as a personal blog post:
So, I finally got around to reading that “Crying in H Mart” article everyone’s been talking about. You know, the one by Michelle Zauner? I’d heard it was a tearjerker, but man, I was not prepared.
Getting Started
First off, I had to actually find the thing. I Googled “Crying in H Mart article” and boom, there it was. I think it was originally published in The New Yorker, which, you know, fancy.
The Reading Experience
I started reading it on my phone during my lunch break. Big mistake. HUGE. I’m sitting there in the breakroom, trying to discreetly wipe away tears while people are microwaving their leftovers. Not a good look.
The way Zauner writes about her mom, the food, the memories…it just hit me so hard. I mean, I’m not Korean, and I haven’t experienced that specific kind of loss, but the raw emotion was just so universal. It’s about that connection we have with our parents, the way food ties us to our culture and our past. I even saved some parts.
The H Mart Connection
I’ve only been to H Mart a couple of times, It’s this big Korean grocery store, if you didn’t know. And after reading the article, I’m pretty sure my next trip is going to be an emotional experience. I’m going to be looking at all the banchan and the kimchi and thinking about my own family and probably tearing up in the produce aisle.
My Takeaway
It reminded me of all the times I’ve cooked with my own mom, all the little traditions we have. It made me want to call her, like, immediately. It also made me want to learn how to make some of those Korean dishes Zauner describes. I’m thinking kimchi jjigae is going to be my first project. Wish me luck!
Basically, if you haven’t read the article yet, do it. But maybe not in public. And have some tissues handy. You’ve been warned.
