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What does the reference to “first mother” (line 1) and “second mother” (line 7) suggest about the situation in which the protagonist is in?
She is adopted. Her "first mother" is her birth mother. Her "second" mother is the lady who adopted her.
What is the significance of using words such as “vowels” and “consonants” as descriptors? What is the author trying to imply with her use of grammatical language?
She wants to learn Korean after previously knowing it, but then learning English and getting out of touch of her Korean heritage.
Why do you think it is important to read this poem?
Multiple answers (ex: To acknowledge the flaws within the world, and recognize how maybe our world isn't as inclusive as we think it to be.)
What does the protagonist struggle with and has “ this craving” (line 13) for?
The protagonist struggles with wanting to learn her native language even though she knows English.
The title of the poem is Origin/Adoption, and throughout the poem we see the author going between these two worlds. Where/how is this idea re-established and what EQ does the author answer?
Shows how othering can limit who we feel we can be.
Mentioned throughout the poem as the protagonist tries to find the balance between being the daughter of her adoptive parents vs. birth mom. Korean vs. English.
In an interview, the author said, "I was told over and over again that if I had not been adopted, I would have had a terrible life—a speculation fed to me by people who wanted to believe my life started when I arrived in America, and not before. My adoption paperwork was the only proof I had of certain pre-America facts." What do we see Cancio-Bello struggle with and how would you feel in her shoes?
Struggles with the consequences of "othering" and having others think she needed saving. Multiple answers
What does “thick tongue/curled tongue” refer to?
A thick/curled tongue refers to her accent.
What stylistic technique does “These days, I peel this craving” suggest? What is peeling referring to and how might this be a way the character overcomes unexpected challenges?
Synesthesia or implied metaphor.
She peels away her discomfort so she can learn Korean. She overcomes unexpected challenges by pushing away her discomfort.
We can see throughout the poem that the author struggled with the expectation that she was to only know English. What EQs does this relate to? How can we help?
Try not to "other" to limit expectation. Can revise our knowledge when someone says something about how they feel or that might be different from our initial perceptions.
What does "I would never speak to her" (line 5) imply about the author and when she left her mother?
It shows that she was adopted at such a young age that she never got to talk to her birth mother or really get to know her.
“Cham-eh” is a type of Korean melon, and the author uses this phrase on line 10. What significance does using this phrase bring to the poem?
Refers to the melon in both English and Korean showing that you don't have to chose this or that, but both. Also shows important to be proud of your roots and that communities should welcome glimpses of different cultures in grace.
In what ways do you think we can make a more inclusive community by facing the challenges author Cancio-Bello brought up?
Multiple answers (ex: try to welcome every side of who someone is, and don't try to confine people into one image they feel they need to fit)
Taking what we know about the author and transferring it to the poem, what does “this other hemisphere” (line 6) refer to and what does this suggest about her location?
The author is Korean-American. She had to move from South Korea (on one hemisphere) to the US (on "this other hemisphere"). This suggests that she is now in the US.
In lines 6-8, what stylistic technique is being used, and why might the poet use fruit as a way to display her message?
ST = Synthesia, imagery, implied metaphor
Food = important in culture, fruit = nurtured by environment just like how someone might change depending on who they are around
List some challenges you think the author had to go through as a Korean adoptee raised in the US by white parents. Why do you think the author chose to focus the most on language out of all of these struggles?
Not as much access to food, culture, traditions, etc.
Multiple answers