On this episode of SHLTMM, Chris Soucy, Storyteller, Playwright and Theatrical Director, shares stories of growing up and moving regularly throughout Europe and the United States while his father served in the military. It was while his father was stationed in Seoul, South Korea, that his mother and father fell in love. Chris calls this a story of 'adaptability' because of the constant moving about. "Home was the four family members, not a specific house," recalls Chris.
Chris's mom, Yun Cha, and dad met at the grocery shop that she and her sister owned nearby to the US military base. After years of moving base to base in the US and Europe, Yun Cha still in her twenties, moved back to the United States with her family where she was trying to immerse herself into the American culture.
After time, trying to hold onto both cultures simultaneously, speaking Korean at home and English outside the home, inevitably proved impossible. Yun Cha selflessly gave up speaking her native tongue to her children to help them assimilate back into their American culture.
Chris says "my mom was a great dreamer and she dreamed of such wonderful things. If you do what you want, you'll never work a day in your life." Chris says that was great until he wanted to work in the theatre industry. Suddenly mom was championing for her son to be a doctor or lawyer and not the theatre rat that Chris wanted to be.
While living overseas, Chris and his older sister were immersed in the local culture regardless of what country they were living. That was one of many benefits of the American schools on the base. All the children were introduced to the history, arts and entertainment of the surrounding area. They were exposed to so much more than their school books.
Eventually Chris's mother did go back to visit her remaining family in Korea. It was then that Yun Cha was able to get a recovered photograph of her mom, something that she longed for for many years. It brought her great comfort to finally see the photo of her mom again.
Chris's theatrical work, slightly on pause because of the pandemic:
"Odd Lot "Improv Company and "Savannah Shakers" Shakespeare Theatre Company
Podcast: "The Most Haunted City on Earth" -the telling of ghosts stories around Savannah. Found on Spotify and other platforms
Podcast: "My Favorite Ghost Story". Chris shares his favorite ghost stories