- [Michael] “Oh you know. I thought I would just save some money.”
But then I knew then…
That’s when the financial status in Korea was getting very difficult.
And my dad had to give up so much…
So that he could have me and you know…
He could have the rest of the family living well in Australia.
So that’s when I was like…
Seeing that I was like,
“Wow what the hell is going on?”
- [Dave] Your dad had to make some cheddar to pay for that.
- [Michael] Oh man…
That’s— Going back to the subject we were talking about before…
What made you change and actually study.
So I haven't been to Korea...
Once I stepped into Australia for about a good 5 years.
They didn't want me to come back because they thought that’s going to destroy my pattern.
Or like the way of thinking.
Me adjusting to Australia.
So they stopped me coming to Korea.
But after five years, I went to Korea to see my dad.
And we used to live in a great house.
My dad used to drive a nice car and
I was always known as a little kid who had like great parents with money or whatnot.
But then I came back to Korea.
I was expecting the same car and the same house.
And my dad came to pick me and my family—
Like me and my little brother and my mom.
And my dad came in with this like little small car that wouldn’t fit our luggages.
I was like,
“What is this, dad? What happened?”
He's like, “Oh it’s nothing. I just decided to save some money.”
I was like, “Cool cool.”
And, “So we’re still going to the house we used to live in, right?”
And, “No.” “Oh you moved?”
Okay cool. So I was expecting a bigger house.
‘Cause I knew how well off my dad was back then with his business.
And I got there it was like a…
It was like a very small little townhouse or something like that.
I got there and there was somebody else in the living room…
I was like, “What is this?”
He’s like, “Oh I’m living upstairs in like a little attic.”
I was like, “Huh? What happened?”
He was just like,
“Oh you know. I thought I would just save some money.”
But then I knew then…
That’s when the financial status in Korea was getting very difficult.
And my dad had to give up so much…
So that he could have me and you know…
He could have the rest of the family living well in Australia.
So that’s when I was like…
Seeing that I was like,
“Wow what the hell is going on?”
But then being a little kid.
I was very angry. Not thinking I should do well.
I was the opposite.
I was like,
“What is going on? Is this what I deserve?
Why did you send me to Australia in the first place if you’re going to go through this ****.”
- [Saul] And when was this when he picked you up in the new car?
- [Saul] And you saw the new house? - [Michael] That was when I was in grade 8?
- [Sam] So it’s like… Second year of middle school?
- [Michael] Yeah. So I was like,
“Why did you even send me to Australia if you’re going to go through this ****?”
I want to go back.
So I would fight with my family a lot about that like...
“I want to go back. I want to go back.”
Not because I wanted to go back.
Just because I didn’t want to see my dad living like this.
At least save some money on me…
Spending money like…
At least go all-in with my little brother ‘cause he's a smart kid. Not me.
But they still thought I needed to be there at least graduate university and whatnot.
I was like, “Okay. Whatever.”
Blah blah blah. Fast forward.
I'm in my last year of my high school.
Okay. My dad went through that.
My mom...
I have to see my mom come to school…
Like almost every 6 months asking my principal,
“Can we just pay the fees later on?
Can we just push the dates a little bit?
Due dates a little bit?”
‘Cause it is difficult.
It was very difficult for our family.
And that's when I was like, “Okay. ****...
I've done all the stuff that I could in Australia.
What should I do now?”
That's when I thought,
“Okay. At least let's get into university.”
That's when I started last year of my high school
and that’s how I got into university.
I mean, like now it's all in history.
So yeah.