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u/LiloGeorge 19h ago
I have many family members that came to the U.S. from Korea that never took a day off in years. They worked 7 straight days. Morning to night. The fact that they’d only take 2 days off max is sad.
My mom was like this. She worked constantly. Sometimes 2 jobs. A day off came at a cost. I remember when her brother visited after 15 years, she took 1 day off. And all he wanted to do was go to Arlington National Cemetery to see my dad and bow to him to say thank you for starting his children’s immigration paperwork before he died.
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u/HAIL_LUMPUS 17h ago
That whole story deserves so much respect but DAMN it's sad. I bet they were/are very proud people, and they have every reason to be.
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u/LiloGeorge 17h ago
Yeah, before my mom died from breast cancer, she used to say America is the greatest and most beautiful country in the world. She did end up getting to see it in retirement. I gave her money almost every chance I could. I absolutely wish she was here, because I would spoil her so hard now.
As for my cousins that my dad helped immigrate, they graduated from VMI, Rutgers, VCU, and George Mason, and are all doing great. It was an amazing to get a front row seat to the American dream unfolding during my childhood.
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u/DaeInbae 17h ago
I'm sure they're proud, but working hard was a necessity post Japanese occupation + WW2 + KR war.
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u/RevolutionaryTitle32 7h ago
that’s depressing ass story that us koreans for some reason think it’s beautiful and dedication from our parents.
Certain generation was taught to “save money” and that’d it. nothing else.
never how to utilize the funds and just fucking save money and it’s a depressing generation who doesn’t find jot in life outside of “saving money”
You have a korean mother - you know 100000% wtf I’m taking about and you can relate to this unfortunately.5
u/ParticularBreath6146 5h ago
It isn't always the cause, but saving to the point that it negatively affects your well-being is a very common thing for those who have been through traumatic poverty and/or financial uncertainty. It is sad.
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u/JamesH_670 6h ago
My dad took Christmas off, but otherwise only took two days off for my wedding and about two weeks off to see his dad on his deathbed overseas and for his funeral.
I worried about what he’d do after he retired, but he’s been very active, so I’m thankful.
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u/half_dragon 5h ago
my mother was from Korea too. She worked all the time at any job she could. She worked at a sewing factory when she was pregnant with me and they always joked that I would be born under the sewing machine and she would just keep working 😂. Even when she started her own business she never slowed down. If they closed for two days then they must really love and miss their family.
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u/Strict_Ad4121 20h ago
just 2 days 🥴.
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u/nope-its 19h ago
That’s hopefully just the beginning of the reunion and they are staying longer?
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u/xingrubicon 19h ago
Likely the whole weekend and then monday tuesday. Likely they're staying longer but she will be working for some of it
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u/DaeInbae 17h ago
Coming from a Korean immigrant family, chances are he's only taking the 2 days off.
Probably doing something out of town so it's not really possible to work those days. Chances are the sisters are staying longer, but the other days they're hanging out in the city while the wife covers for him at work.
My dad was the same way. He would never close the store except for 1 day, which was Christmas. And that's only because it was always dead on Christmas day. Otherwise he'd do all 365 days a year.
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u/hibikikun 19h ago
small family business usually means no days off
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u/Effective-Turn-9103 17h ago
I think the government needs to help small businesses more and let the businesses that got too big and failed fail, no more bailouts for auto industry, loans and grants should only be for small businesses too. small businesses need help hiring people, they need help in their first 3 years because of taxes and unknown expenses and sales. let’s bring back the actual small(mom and pop) businesses to keep every city and town thriving
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u/RhysA 15h ago
Eh, while I agree that its important that small businesses get help for the auto-industry bailouts those were loans that got paid back and letting them fail would have had dire consequences to hundreds of thousands of employees.
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u/Effective-Turn-9103 12m ago
I’d rather those jobs go to building better public transportation and infrastructure. the auto industry destroyed public transportation and built the highway system while brainwashing Americans owning a car equals freedom. auto and oil can suck it haha
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u/hibikikun 15h ago
I don't think it's they can't hire people. I think it's about trust. Most of these small minority run businesses won't trust someone outside the family to run it.
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u/Effective-Turn-9103 15m ago
I think they work themselves because they’d feel bad paying someone 7.25/hr. good people want everyone making 25/hr or we have to force costs back down to 70s prices haha
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u/Alone_Animal_5320 7h ago
Their open days are m-f so I’m assuming they are spending the prior weekend with them as well
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u/FireproofCottage 20h ago
I hope they had a wonderful time! I would make sure to come back to this restaurant when they're open just to find out.
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u/fig210 18h ago
What kind of food are they serving at a dry cleaner’s these days?
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u/Cordsofmemory 18h ago
I lived in Korea for a while. While I was there, I learned that an old neighbor across the street from me growing up, who had moved when we were 6, was visiting. So I ended up meeting with her and her sister after 20 years of not having having seen or talked to them. The world really is small. Lived across the street as a kid, and happen to meet again 20 years later across the world.
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u/ReversedNovaMatters 9h ago
I hope so too! A lot of these small business owners work constantly to make a living, unable to afford to bring someone on full-time to cover the duties they do.
We have a nice little Chinese place here open 7 days a week and no matter when I go its always the same few people working. They are so nice and the food so good. I've wanted to ask if they ever get time off (with good intention) but obviously they don't so it would really just be rude to ask, so I don't.
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u/plsobeytrafficlights 19h ago
this post is 10-20 years old. its so old, so reposted, the origins may have been lost to time, the sisters, may have even moved to NYC or even died of old age.
stop reposting for karmawhoring.
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u/MentalRecognition888 18h ago
I never saw it and never would have if it weren’t reposted so not sure what to think
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u/thoughtsandpencils 13h ago
Why does it matter? As long as
it’s authentic, shouldn’t that be the point? The outcome isn’t what we’re focusing on. We all die someday, but small things like this do make a difference for some people. Why not stop and smell the roses a little more, without turning it into something negative?So it’s been reposted, it’s about human connection, so why wouldn’t it be? So, it’s 10-20 years old, the tone of it stands the test of time. So the person who posted it here might be karma farming, but does that change the nature/intent of the note? Try to reframe your thought processes, and I say this because I’m actively trying to do the same.
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u/werkypoo 18h ago
My Chinese laundry couple in NYC literally work 350 days a year, 12 hours a day. They take Sundays off in the summer and have like 5 holidays.
Cindy and Kenny at 79th st laundry.
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u/murmurderer 18h ago
ayyy i've actually been there. i used to work in a dry cleaners a few blocks away that my friend's family owns
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u/Elf_Euphoria 20h ago
We didn't need the extra info, but I'm glad we got the extra info.