Well I didn’t find specific stories and I haven't encountered any Korean Goose families, but I learned a bit more about the practice. There are apparently almost 40,000 of these families living abroad. The Dad’s stay home and earn money to send abroad to their families, who cannot work due to visa restrictions. They are called “Goose Daddies” because geese are a symbol of filial piety in Korean culture. “Goose Daddy’s” can afford to fly to their families a couple of times per year. Fathers who can’t afford to fly back are called “Penguins” while the wealthiest who can visit numerous times per year are called “Eagles.” Still many of the Dads suffer from depression and turn to alcohol. The wives suffer as well and because their English isn’t great, they also feel lonely and suffer from the isolation. Thankfully the Korean communities in Los Angeles for one are huge.
When I told my Asian Mom about this behavior she had very little sympathy for separated families. To her, this was such a common story since it’s just a reversal of the age old economic migration wherein Chinese/Asian Dads would migrate to the US to earn money and send home. She said separations of 20 years were common, and she just took this as a normal sacrifice and no big deal. Given these stories, those of us living through the current economic morass have nothing to complain about and should be thankful we all at least live together. I always remember Warren Buffett's comment that one of his great advantages and reasons for success is the simple fact that he was born in the United States.
Korean educational curriculums are based on rote memorization and endless studying while in the more successful systems, we strive for a more creative and problem solving approach in education. I always found Korean society very patriarchal and my brilliant strong willed daughter would be smothered in Korea. If it were my family, and knowing what I do about the two different educational systems, I would make the same sacrifices--Maybe this is a sign of a true Asian Mom.
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