[ my story ]

When people ask me where I'm from I give some offhanded answer like LA. Some hear the hesitation in my voice, and if prompted, I’ll give a more complete answer. I’m not exactly sure where I come from - I was born in Paris, to a Korean mom and a Greek dad. As a baby we moved to Amsterdam and I went to a French lycée for 6 years. French was my first language as a child, and not until I switched to the British school did I learn how to spell. At the ripe age of 12, we returned “home” to Manhattan Beach, a gorgeous beach city on the Los Angeles coast. 

My story is more of a mad libs reading. That’s the thing though, I’ve never had a singular sense of home. Is home a place? Found in people? A feeling? I count myself lucky that I can easily find that familiarity and comfort and warmth around me. In the unspoken love of a homemade dinner, the selfless questions and unnecessary favors. All in all, I find home in connection with others. Through this humility and intimacy do I feel whole and fulfilled. And my favorite way of connecting with others is through travel and art. 

Although my childhood is rooted in internationality, none of it was exactly my choice. My parents have a love for travel and I was lucky enough to have a seat at their table. As an adult, it’s an intentional choice that I seek - the feeling of awe and wonder at the tropical oasis I’ve found, the sunlight on my toes, fresh blueberries on my tongue. It has become a big part of my identity, exploring the world and finding a home in each place.

This page is here for a few reasons. One is, I love to document my own experiences. Memory is notoriously unreliable, and I find that through film and writing, I can preserve more. This is a creative outlet through which I can record my story. Finally, I hope to encourage others to do the same, to explore, document and intentionally seek awe and art in our world, both in novelty and the horribly mundane.