28 are fully responsible for their children behaviors, this perception is rooted in Korean.
While immigrant parents expect their children to behave much as their own parents expected of them, the children in US are faced with peer pressure and cultural pressures
to fit in an assimilate. This causes what many have termed the “generation gap” between the first and 1.5 generation.
CHAPTER III RESEARCH FINDING
A. Data Description
29 In chapter III, having read the novel, the writer finds some statements as the
corpus of the characters analysis. 1. The list of characters in Anna’s Wait for me
No Characters
Corpus Remark
1
2. Mina
Mrs. Kang I thought about all the lies in my
life struggled to get my voice back. “ My mother makes it
hard. I have do things that I don’t want to because of her”
When had what Uhmma wanted become more important than I
wanted? Did I even know what that was anymore?
Jonathon unlike me, had time to himself….I barely had enough
time to make a few after school meetings for chorus and clubs.
Uhmma and Apa relied on us, and mostly me, to help out at
every opportunity.
Before school, after school, during
vacations and summers. “Im going to chain you to your
bed
if you
don’t stop
sleepwalking” I joked even as I thought seriously
“Come on.” I stood up. “It’s late. Uhmma’s gonna pissed if we
don’t hurry up.” I braced my self for uhmma’s
anger Liar
Stable
Obedient Stable
Envious Stable
Diligent Stable
Humorist Stable
Angrier Stable
30 You are like an old grandfather.
An old, old grandfather.
Useless… Uhmma continued to brag, it is a
wonder she keeps up all her straight A’s while doing all the
extra work at school…
He cannot do that properly. He will not know the difference
between all the stains. Look at him. He can barely keep him self
clean. Allusioner
Stable
Liar Stable
Criticism Stable
B. Mina as 1.5 Generation of Korean American
Mina is 1.5 generation Korean American. She is a child of immigrant or foreign- born arriving United State when she was a child. She doesn’t have many experiences in
Korea because she grows up in America. She is much more assimilated into American life because she receives the socialization, schooling and many experiences in United
State. She has far from Korean values and culture and she became more familiar with values and culture from the host country such as she is more fluent in English language
than Korean language and she also mocks Korean food which served at her home. In her appearance Mina also gets influences from American culture. As a child of Korean
immigrant, Mina gets a high education in America. She also gets pressures to behave much expected of her mother.
As explained in chapter 2, many Korean children loose their mother tongue. Sometimes, parents will speak Korean and their children will respond in English. It also
happens with Mina. She is less familiar with Korean homeland. Her environment or
31 social setting in America makes her less fluent in Korean language. She often finds
difficulties to use Korean language.
I struggled to find the right Korean for it and I couldn’t. I switched to English. “She is not some kind of freak.” An Na 2006, 109
From the quotation above, it can be identified that Mina is more fluent in English language than Korean language. Her fluency is the result of her constant use of English
rather than Korean in her daily activities. Her community and social connection also makes her fluent in English because she lives in America since she was a child. The lack
of recognizition to former culture arises as Mina assimilates into a new culture and acquires English fluency than Korean language.
The process of adaptation for Mina as youth that live in America has given much influences to Mina specifically in addition to coping with cultural of the host country.
The cultural influence of America makes Mina lack interested in Korean food. Mina always mock Korean food that served at her home. She thinks that Korean food is
something ridiculous.
Yes, uhmma, I said and buried my head deeper into my bowl of je-geh. I held still. Probably something ridiculous, I thought and took another sip of my
stew, the red chili oil coating the back of my spoon, my lips. Something as ridiculous as making us eat this. An Na 2006, 41
From the quotation above, Mina describes that she doesn’t like to eat Korean
food. It shows that Mina leaves her former culture. However, she often pretends to like Korean food in front of her mother, because she is afraid of her mother which wants
32 Mina to still keep Korean culture. Mina gets cultural adjustment as Korean immigrant
youth that living in the United State. Sociocultural in America gives much influences of Mina in her appearance. In
American environment, there is no rule for people in wearing clothes. Peoples in America are free to wear anything that their want. It contradicts with Korean culture which always
measures appropriateness or inappropriateness in appearance or attitude. It looks when Mina refused demure clothes that her mother chosen for her. She prefers to use her sexy
dress.
She flipped through a few of the dresses, picked one out, checked the tag and held it up against me.
No uhmma, I protest, shoving the dress away. Uhmma shoved the dress back toward me. Stop it, Mina put it on. You look like a
prostitute in those shorts and tank top. An Na 2006, 24
In the text above, it can be interpreted that Mina is highly assimilated into American culture and ignored Korean culture that holds high moral standard. It because
in her environment in America she interacts with American. At school, she also has much American friends. As a Korean descendant that lives in new country, she wants to be
accepted, she doesn’t want to be different from others. For that, she has to adapt life style and culture of American. More over, Mina has American boyfriend that gives much
effects for her. She is deeply impacted by cultural values and norm that he holds. It is the result of western influence on culture that gives much effect for Mina.
She accommodates new customs and ways of life that different from traditional culture. Mina adopts aspects of the characteristics of a dominant culture in wearing clothes. She
33 begins to adopt Western standards and may denigrate her own background as Korean.
She must to straddle her own set of cultural values of the larger society. As explained in the chapter 2, the 1.5 generation faced the cultural influence
much more from larger society. Mina hopes to get freedom in her life, she adapted with
American environment where the freedom are emphasized. She wants to be free without
any disturb from others. It is shown in the text below.
My music is playing and Iam dancing. Singing so loud, my neighbors start pounding on the wall. I liked thinking about that. The freedom of it all. An Na
2006, 37
Felt the wild freedom of that beat traveling up my arm and into my own heart. Imagining the world of my own making. To be free of my lies and Uhmma. To
start over. An Na 2006, 144
From the text above, it can be interpreted that Mina wants to be free. The freedom perspective is dominant in America, it is because in Mina’s life she is always gets over
protective services from her mother .
Mina is expected to be obedient and is not allowed to argue with her mother. Mina must follow all regulation from her mother while Mina is
a youth person that has much emotion and desire in her mind. At home, Mina has to maintain her stiff relationship with her mother. There is
distance between them. It makes Mina can’t say anything that she wants to her. Mina often pretends her self in front of her mother. In Mina’s life, she gets different
expectation at home and in the larger society. At home she has to be obedience child, she has to express all the traditional attitudes and prejudices and assure face with the
34 nationalistic of her fellows. But outside home independence are stressed. Mina always
imagines her self that she can get free from all regulation Mina is going into her senior year of her high school in California. As explained
in chapter 2, the desire to pursue higher education is so pronounced as a cultural value among Korean Americans that they are represented at many colleges and universities.
Mina’s mother also enthusiastic of education because the lack of materialistic of her family. She tends to provide the best quality of education. She believes that education is
the key to prosperity. Therefore, they are also expected to perform well on their standardized test, such
as the Scholastic Assessment Tests SAT. There are claim that the workshop or programs of instructions will lead to higher test scores the way to get prestigious college.
It also happens with Mina.
Remember Mina, Uhmma started lecturing, you don’t have another chance. Your senior year is very important. Mrs. Kim says that Jonathon only got into Stanford
after he got a perfect score on his SAT…An Na 2006, 11
Uhmma, I said quickly. I signed up for my SAT preparation class. An Na 2006, 39
The free SAT sessions at the library started at 7: 00 p.m but uhmma made sure we were out the door of the apartment by 6.30 even though we lived five minutes
from the library. An Na 2006, 56
From the text above, it indicates that Mina get high education. She joins preparation class in library for SAT Scholastic Assessment Test which is examination
preparation school to get a good college. Mina has a pressure from her mother to be serious in her study. Even her mother pays attention of SAT preparation class schedule.
35 Her mother also compares Mina with Jonathon, which is Mina’s Korean friend that gets
Stanford education. For that, Mina spends her time for study. She is afraid to make her mother disappointed.
As explained in chapter 2, children of immigrant faced the pressure to behave
much expected of their parents. Mina is unable to conform to the unrealistic expectations of her mother. Mina’s mother has chosen Korean American boyfriend to Mina, his name
is Jonathon. Jonathon is Mina’s friend since she was a child. Jonathon is has come from respectable Korean family which is one reason her mother likes him. On the other hand,
Mina never likes Jonathon.
I quietly nodded, but grabbed the counter, forcing all my hatred into the wood instead of my face. Mrs. Kim could go to hell and take a long her pimply son,
Jonathon. I had grown to hate him as much as uhmma idolized him. An Na 2006, 11
Uhmma continued, we must find him a nice gift for helping you so much. He has been such a good older brother to you. Mrs. Kim said that when he found out that
you were coming here, he canceled his trip to the beach. An Na 2006, 39
Uhmma had making plans for me. And it all hinged on the best college. Which led to the best job and husband. The best family. The best life. As much as I hated
Uhmma for all the pressure she put on me An Na 2006, 53
From the text above, it can be interpreted that Mina gets pressures from her mother. Mrs. Kang not only chooses Mina’s boy friend but Mrs. Kang plans mina’s life.
The situation makes Mina feels under pressure. The standard of good life that Mrs. Kang sets are to get good education, good husband, and good job. It has put Mina in pressure.
She has a different set of standard for life. For Mina a good life is when she can choose her husband that she like, she can lead her hobby in music, she can get a state college
36 wherever it places, not only in Harvard like her mother wants, Mina can do anything that
she wants in speaking, in wearing clothes, in choosing food that she like. Mina is really hoped that she can get freedom from all of her mother’s demands. Mina affected by her
experiences in growing up in the new country. She is easier to be assimilated into the culture and society of America, because she came to America since a child.
C. Mrs. Kang as the First Generation of Korean American
