Name/Korean name:
Bethany Long Newman /Kim Sun Mee

First KAtCH event:
KAtCH event at the Goodman theater in 2019.

Where did you grow up/Where do you live now?
I grew up in eastern Kentucky in a small town. I grew up thinking of Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky as big cities! I live in downtown Chicago now.

Tell us about yourself:
I was born in Seoul, South Korea and was adopted at 6 months. I lived in eastern Kentucky until I went to the University of Kentucky where I studied architecture. I met my husband in architecture school (our desks were beside each other in our first studio) and after he moved to Chicago post grad school I moved here as well. We were married in 2016 and have a 4-year-old daughter and a cat named Coach. I currently work in an architecture firm downtown where I have been working on airports for the last few years.

You’ll likely KAtCH me doing the following
Besides work, I'm more than likely hanging out with my family and doing "mom" stuff haha. I know, I live a glamorous life! But when I'm not doing that, I love trying new food/restaurants, catching up on TV, and cooking/baking. I also love reading and doing crafty/artsy things, but I don't do either one of those as much as I would like. Lastly, I'm trying, very slowly, to learn Korean, so if anyone ever wants to practice, let me know!

Why do you enjoy being involved with the KAtCH community?
I love the freedom and the camaraderie that comes from being around others who have shared experiences and can relate to the myriad of emotions that transracial adoptees have everyday! While I don't know everyone that comes to the KAtCH events, it's nice to be able to get to know other people and make connections while being truly myself. At KAtCH event's I can be as Asian, as American, and as "adopted" as I want to be. I feel like I can be truly myself and I love getting to know other people and their "true selves" as well.

Favorite restaurant(s) in Chicagoland:
I love going to restaurants! Let me know if anyone ever wants to try a new place or go somewhere fun! I love Cafe Ba Ba Reeba and Bixi Beer (get the beef fat fries with gochujang ketchup, trust me). I also really like Sweet Bean in the south loop and Poke Poke for more casual options.

Find me/Social Media:
@bethanylong (Instagram)