[I’m an American] Koh So-hee (Florist)

“I’m an American.” Ten shades of ten Korean-Americans. A series tracing the journey of Korean-Americans - how they struggled, settled, and then succeeded in the United States. The eighth episode - the story of Koh So-hee, a florist
Koh So-hee trims and arranges flowers in beautiful arrangements that people buy and gift to express happiness or sorrow. Koh is a florist. But it was not her first job in the U.S. where she’s been living for the last forty years.
Koh So-hee, Florist
“I first worked at a company and was an amateur florist at church. People really liked floral arrangements I made and placed personal orders of the same designs. As orders poured in, I switched my regular job from a full-time position to a part-time and then quit it all together to work full-time as a florist.”
Koh came to the U.S. when she was young. But she had a hard time adapting to her new surroundings and went back and forth between the U.S. and South Korea several times. Then it suddenly struck her that she needs to try harder to adapt like other immigrants around her.
Koh So-hee, Florist
“I saw other eager immigrants well-adjusted in America. I realized I should quit going back and forth between the two countries. I worked as hard as I could although I couldn’t speak English well at first. People lauded me. I worked very diligently.”
The work of trimming flowers and arranging them in beautiful designs may seem easy. But contrary to the common perception, the work involves a lot of hard work.
Koh So-hee, Florist
“It’s a hard labor. The product of your work is beautiful, but it involves tough work like having to break apart stiff branches and having to climb up high to set flowers. It also requires multitasking in areas other than floral arrangements.”
Having worked a long time, retirement crosses her mind at times. But Koh’s passion toward creating beautiful bouquets or baskets full of flowers for her customers gets her going.
Koh So-hee, Florist
“My family tells me to limit orders I take to cut back on the workload. I’ve cut back a lot. But still, the phone continues to ring, and I can’t say no to the customers.”
Have you made a right decision to come to America?
Koh So-hee, Florist
“My views widened watching how this big country operates and knowing I can achieve what I desire as a part of this country. I say to myself, ‘I made the right decision to come to America.’”
To Koh, America is a country that provided opportunities for her to build experience and gain knowledge that made her become a self-starter on the work she enjoys.
Koh So-hee, Florist
“America is my country now. I’m very grateful to live here to pursue what I set my mind on to achieve, on the work I enjoy.”