Crying in H Mart

Zauner recounts a visit to see Eunmi in Seoul after Halmoni died. During the visit, Eunmi brought up a game she played with a coworker. She presented Zauner with five animals and asked which order she would leave them behind on a journey. The animal you choose to keep is meant to say something about who you are: the lion represents pride, the horse signifies career, the cow suggests wealth, the lamb is love, and the monkey is a child. Zauner chose to keep the monkey; Eunmi kept the horse. Zauner asked if Eunmi played this game with Chongmi, and Eunmi said Chongmi chose the monkey as well.

A few years later, Eunmi was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. Eunmi was 48 years old, had lived a straightlaced life, and never knew love. Eunmi died on Valentine’s Day, and her last words were, “Where are we going?” (112).

Zauner and her parents flew to Seoul for the funeral, a three-day affair. After, Zauner and her mother sorted through Eunmi’s belongings, which were left to Zauner and Seong Young. Notably, they found a necklace that Chongmi bought for Eunmi; Chongmi said she would take it and get Zauner a matching one. While leaving Korea, Zauner felt as though her connection to Seoul had been severed.