Our Grandparents' Lives
by Yu Jin&Solbi
My Grandfather's Life
My grandfather (father’s father), was born in Jung-up Korea. He worked in the I-ri train station. Then he met another worker who also worked at the train station. The worker introduced his daughter, which was my grandmother (father’s mother), and in 1967 they got married. They had 3 sons (including my father), and 1 daughter. My first uncle was born in 1969, my father was born in 1972, my second uncle was born in 1976, and my aunt was born in 1978.
I-ri explosion
In 1977, there was an explosion in the I-ri train station. The station was very near my grandparents’ house. The train flew into the sky making an extremely loud sound. Then one of the wheels of the train got stuck in my grandparents’ house, and the house collapsed. My grandparents, uncles, my father, and aunt escaped, but they had to move to another house. The Iksan government prepared apartments for those people who lost their homes in the explosion. So my grandparents lived in an apartment.
Tea
My grandfather was like tea. He could change whole family by himself. My father always get up so early, because of his father’s habit.
Passed away
In 1991, my grandfather was riding a motorcycle to home. Then the car bumped his motorcycle, and he passed away at the age of 50. My dad was 19 at that time.