Interviewee: Jordan Lee
Interviewer: Emma Davis
Interview Summary:
This interview is with Jordan Lee, a 20-year-old Korean American from San Mateo California. She is currently a junior at Colby College.
Cultures can often be viewed as islands – separate entities left divided. Jordan and I would like to challenge this notion and instead highlight how different cultures can be intertwined in the same way that islands can share waters. Jordan experienced this firsthand as her Korean and American cultures mixed in her upbringing. This interview discusses Jordan’s connections to Korea and what it was like growing up Korean in the United States. As both of Jordan’s parents were born in Korea and immigrated to California, Jordan has always had strong ties to her Korean heritage. In this interview, we discuss the Korean traditions her family brought with them into the United States, how her Korean background shaped her upbringing, and what she finds valuable in Korean culture and history. Jordan highlights the complexities of growing up in an immigrant family and how her family has continued to connect with Korea.
Jordan is a teammate and close friend of mine. The interview was conducted over Zoom to provide effective sound quality and communication.
The interview was conducted by myself, Emma Davis, a senior History and Education major with a concentration in human rights at Colby College. I was so pleased to learn more about my teammate and friend’s culture through this experience and hope that my interview will facilitate further research and exploration into this Korean cultural study.
Initial Interview:
Follow Up Interview:
Interview Transcript (link)
Biography:
Jordan Lee was born in 2004 in San Mateo, California. She is the eldest of her family with one younger sister, Devyn. Jordan is a daughter to her two parents, Jung and Jay Lee. Both of Jordan’s parents were born in Seoul, South Korea and immigrated to the United States. Her mother, Jung, immigrated with her family when she was six-years-old and father, Jay, immigrated with his grandparents when he was three-years-old. The Lee family has lived in California since they immigrated and raised both Jordan and Devyn in the Bay Area. Jordan continues to learn about her Korean heritage and culture with the help of her family. Jordan chose to move to the East Coast for college and attends Colby College but remains connected to her family in California.