Korean

Eli's flat by the river, a video call from Minneapolis on the laptop, Su-a beside him asking what his parents say: what does Mom say, she says they arrive next Saturday, both of them, Dad says he's already all set, for how long, Mom says two weeks and Dad says that's too short, and what about me, Mom says she wants to meet you most of all.

Mrs. Park's kitchen in Mangwon-dong, the parents' visit a week away: your parents sleep at our place they asked me to book a hotel, a hotel when we have room, Mom told me not to trouble you, it's no trouble so tell them, Dad told me not to argue, then Hongdae but dinner here, I'll tell them and thank you.

Eli on the phone to the Hongdae Hotel from the staff room: Hongdae Hotel and how may I help you, I'd like to book a room for my parents, from when and how many days, from next Saturday for two weeks, a double room with breakfast included, yes and could you tell me the price, a hundred and twenty thousand won and the name, Tom Brooks and thank you.

The Kims' kitchen on a Sunday, Grandma planning two weeks of menus with Eli at the table: what do your parents eat, Mom asked whether you make the kimchi, of course and does your father eat spicy food, he asked whether all Korean food is spicy, tell him the rice-cake soup isn't, Mom asked whether she may help, in my kitchen and we'll see, yes and I'll tell Mom.

Min-jun's room in the Kims' flat, a weekday evening, the parents' flight a few days away: Eli what did your parents ask, Dad asked what you like, me and coffee beans or a baseball cap, she asked what your mother likes, Mom a hand cream and Grandma a cardigan, he asked where to change dollars, at the airport or use the card, and I'll send them a message tonight.

Arrivals at Incheon airport on a Saturday afternoon, Ji-yeong beside Eli, Mr. Kim's taxi outside: there they are and which one is your father, the tall one in the cap, tell her she's welcome, she says you're prettier than in the photo, tell him the taxi's outside, Dad says he carries the bag himself, stubborn like my father, and tell them we're all glad they came.

Mrs. Park's table in Mangwon-dong on the parents' first evening, Grandma at the head, Eli in the middle translating: please sit down and eat plenty, I'll eat well and Mom says the table is beautiful, give your father the ribs, Dad says it's the best meat of his life, have some more and give your mother the glass noodles, Grandma please have your meal too, ask whether she'd like barley tea, she says yes and thank you for everything.

Mrs. Park's stall at Mangwon market on a weekday morning, the cart's wheel squeaking, Tom bent over it, Min-jun and Eli beside the stall: what did your dad say, he said it's older than the market, he's right and what else does he say, he says he'll fix the wheel tomorrow, tomorrow and tell him he's a guest, he says a guest who fixes things is a good guest, then tell him I'll make him dinner, and he said he'd bring his tools.

The courtyard of Gyeongbokgung on a bright weekday morning, Eli's parents and Su-a in front of the main gate, a passer-by with a camera bag: excuse me and could you take a photo of us, of course and where do I press, here and all four of us together, done and are they your parents, do you happen to know when the changing of the guard is, at twelve and you're just in time, you're very kind, not at all and have a good trip.

The staff room of the middle school in Mapo, a week into the parents' visit, Ji-yeong at the next desk and Vice-principal Oh listening: so what do your parents say, she says she's never seen a subway like this, and your father, he asked why everyone walks so fast, what did you answer, I said Seoul is busy, I'd like to meet them so ask when it works, she asks whether Friday's okay and says to bring a present.

A supermarket in Mangwon with Min-jun, the week before Chuseok: Mom suggested we buy today because tomorrow it'll be packed, what do people usually give, the Chuseok sets are this way, which one do people buy most, the pear box and the Spam set, Dad will laugh, Dad suggested the pears because Grandma likes them, and two pear boxes and one Spam please.

Mrs. Park's stall at Mangwon market the day before Chuseok, the neighbour from the next stall asking about the Americans: what is your father's name, Tom Brooks, and his age, sixty-one and Mom is fifty-nine, they've come for Chuseok for two weeks, where is their home in America, Minneapolis where it snows more than in Seoul, and both of you come any time.

The Kims' kitchen on Chuseok eve, Grandma, Su-a and Eli's mother at the rice cakes with Eli translating: tell your mother pine needles under the rice cakes, my mother asks why, because of the pine smell and a pretty cake means a pretty daughter, Grandma made these and aren't they pretty, Grandma has made them for sixty years, your mother's are fine too for a first time, she'll make them at home too, and with pine needles from the park, tell her that.

The Kims' living room on Chuseok morning, the rite table laid and Mr. Kim in charge, Eli between his father and the family: tell your father to stand next to me, my father asks how he does it, tell him to bow twice like Min-jun, Dad told me to show him, he's got it and does my mother bow too, tell her to watch and if she wants to bow tell her to do it, my mother will bow with us too, and good, now everyone quietly.

The long table at the Kims' on Chuseok day, the second offer coming round, Eli between Grandma and his mother: Linda more pancakes and Eli translate, she says she's full, full just one more piece with sweet rice drink, yes just one more and I'll bring you some too Grandma, to Grandma there's no no, the pancake secret is cold batter, my mother asks for the recipe, and yes I'll write it for her.

The family table at the Kims' after the Chuseok meal, one glass each and Eli's father with something to say: pour your father a glass with two hands, yes and I'll pour you one too Mr. Kim, a little to the side and good you've learned well, my father's words and I'll translate, right go on, to this house and the people in it, well said and to the two families, and to Eli's year with us, cheers.

The Kims' living room after the Chuseok meal, Su-a and Eli's mother getting acquainted through Eli: Su-a a question from Linda, yes Eli what does she say, I hear you translate books and which books, children's books and one was a Minnesota book, Mom says I hear you're a good cook too, who did she hear that from and from you, from me and I told her about the kimchi stew, and I hear your mother's a nurse and mine is too.

The jewellers' street in Jongno on a Saturday, Ji-yeong along as the one who knows Su-a's size: promise you won't tell Su-a, I promise and not a word, welcome and what are you looking for, a ring and a proposal ring, congratulations and what size, my size and she said she doesn't like yellow gold, then this white one and shall I show you, and it's perfect and I'll take this one.

The ticket counter at the foot of Namsan on a Sunday afternoon, Eli with the ring in his pocket: hello could I buy two round-trip tickets, adults and twenty-eight thousand won, yes and what time is the last car, eleven at night and the tower is until ten, could I come down later, of course and don't throw the ticket away, will it be very crowded at sunset, and a little but if you go up now the view is good.

The terrace under the tower on Namsan at sunset, the love locks on the railing, Su-a and Eli with the whole city below: you can see all of Seoul and why so quiet, Su-a there's something I want to ask, then ask, will you marry me, yes of course yes silly, congratulations and shall I take a photo, yes please and thank you, Mom will cry and yours, and she already knows and she told me to ask here.

The staff room the morning after Namsan, Ji-yeong and Vice-principal Oh hearing the news: well, tell us everything, I asked whether she'd marry me, and Su-a, when I asked she answered of course, that's Su-a and your parents, when I called Mom cried, Dad says he knew from the first photo, congratulations Mr. Brooks, and thank you, I'll do my best.

Departures at Incheon, Mr. Kim's taxi outside and a parcel from Mrs. Park's bag: citron tea to drink on the plane, Mom says thank you, go carefully and come again for the wedding, he says he'll come and bring his tools, tell him the cart still runs, please give Grandma her regards, see you again in spring, stay well, and thank you so much, both of you.

A coffee shop in Hongdae, Su-a across the table: I told my parents, what did they say, Mom said good and only that, and your dad, he asked whether Mr. Kim knows, he doesn't know yet and why, the elders hear first and you should have told him, and then I'll tell him properly.

The Kims' flat after Mr. Kim's evening shift, Eli at the kitchen door: there's something I'd like to tell you, sit down and what is it, I have something to ask you, properly, I thought so, when would suit you, Sunday after lunch when Min-jun is out, thank you and I'll come at three, and come, and stop worrying so much.

A fruit shop at Mangwon market with Min-jun: a gift for Dad, a box of pears or red ginseng, does he like pears, he likes anything given with two hands, a box of pears to give to an elder please, the big ones twelve to a box, could you wrap it as a gift, of course and is it a Chuseok gift, and no, for something bigger.

The Kims' living room on Sunday at three, a box of pears on the table: Mr. Kim, please take these, pears and sit, I want to marry Su-a, you should have told me first but you've come, I know and I'm sorry, where will you live, in Seoul with the visa and the school, good and go on, and please allow the marriage.

The same living room, the tea gone cold: have you met Su-a's parents, once in spring, what did you call them, Su-a's mother and Su-a's father, from now on Mother and Father, after the wedding, father-in-law and mother-in-law and you're the son-in-law, you're my father in Seoul, and at the two families' meeting I'll sit next to your father.

The Kims' kitchen in the morning, tea on the table and the ring beside it: Grandma, did you sleep well, well enough and where's the ring, here Grandma, pretty and come here, live well together until your black hair turns to spring-onion roots, I'll keep it in my heart, she says that to anyone, and I say it to nobody, be happy, you two.

The staff room, Vice-principal Oh and Ji-yeong asking about the wedding: so, when is the wedding, he said he'd like it in spring, after the two families' meeting, and Su-a's mother, she said she'd like a wedding hall, I'd like to come too, she said she'd like you to give the speech, a speech, then I'd better practise, and I'd like to be the one who cries.

Dinner at the Kims', the phone on the table and Eli's father on the line from Minneapolis: Eli, call your father, Dad says hello, tell him the two fathers will sit together, he says thank you and he'll practise his bow, tell him the kimchi will be ready, he asks whether he may give Grandma a present, Grandma says just come, and settled, two families, one table, everyone eat.