Mama Gina and Appa Jay Kimbab Family Reveal Challenges of Being a Multicultural Family

Kapanlagi.com - Being a family with different cultural backgrounds will certainly face many challenges. Just like what Kimbab Family experienced. When they became one of the guests at the KapanLagi Korean Festival, Appa Jay and Mama Gina shared their experiences as an Indonesian-Korean family.

Mama Gina herself admitted to experiencing difficulties when she first lived in Korea. Especially since she had language limitations that prevented her from communicating with her in-laws.

"For me, it was not easy at all. The first time I went to Korea was when I got married, when I became a wife, a daughter-in-law, alone without anyone," Mama Gina said.

"So at that time, Appa Jay went out to work and hadn't come back yet, and I couldn't speak Korean and was left alone with my in-laws. And this difficulty gradually made us start to adapt and understand Korean culture. As for the children, they adapted very quickly," she added.

1. Appa Jay Surprised to See Arisan

Kimbab Family (credit: Kapanlagi.com)

Just like Mama Gina, Appa Jay also experienced difficulties when he first came to Indonesia. He was even surprised when he saw the arisan culture in the country.

"In Korea, people prefer to be alone. When I first came to Indonesia, it was the opposite, there were many arisan gatherings, and that surprised me. At first, I didn't have any personal time. But as time went on, I got used to it and found it enjoyable," he said.

2. Adapting to the Food

When it comes to food, Indonesia and Korea have their differences. Indonesian dishes always have a strong taste of spices, while it's the opposite in Korea. This also made Mama Gina have to adjust when she cooks.

"Here, when you cook Korean dishes, they are a bit bland. Indonesian dishes have more spices and savory flavors. So when cooking Korean dishes, I reduce the savory taste," said the mother of three.

(kpl/lou)