Each month the Naperville Sun publishes a question-and-answer profile of a member of the Naperville Newcomers and Neighbors Club. The April member of the month is SongCha Meyer.
Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Seoul, Korea. When the Korean conflict broke out, I was in first grade. We had a two-story home, which was rare at the time; and when North Korea invaded, they took over our second floor for their headquarters. There was nothing we could do about it.
The North Koreans wanted to find my father because he’d been successful, and if they’d done so, he’d have been killed. My father and uncles hid in a hole under the root cellar, which they dug when the war broke out. They were forced to hide all day long, emerging only in the middle of the night to stretch. The occupation lasted about a year, and during this period, I was housebound for my own safety. Food was scarce, and my mother went to the market every day to find grain and vegetables. All meat factories were seized by the North Korean army, so no one had meat.
Reading became my escape, and I had plenty of books — Hans Christian Andersen’s stories, children’s versions of Shakespeare, and those about President Lincoln and his log cabin. I still love the written word. I learned English in a private high school that was founded by an American missionary. The school introduced me to Christianity as well.
I moved to the USA in 1967 with my first husband. We settled in West Hartford, Conn., where we enjoyed outstanding public schools for our two sons. Seeking higher educational opportunities for my children, I went to work at a bank and studied economics and finance. This enabled me to provide for my sons and to create an independent life for myself.
I met my current husband, John, in Connecticut, out on a golf course. We married in 1985 and moved to Chicago, where he accepted a new job. We moved to Naperville from Glenview in 2003 upon our retirement.
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Why did you decide on Naperville?
I read about the demographics of Naperville and loved what I saw. It was affordable and had a diverse community and beautiful downtown area. We have great neighbors, and there’s a good mixture of people, so we felt at home right away. It’s wonderful to see old and young enjoying a vibrant downtown and all it has to offer.
How did you hear Naperville Newcomers and Neighbors Club?
While I enjoy being a grandmother and travel often to see them, I wanted to meet more people in Naperville. I researched women’s groups on the internet and found NNNC in September 2015. It’s a wonderful network, and I’ve met lovely people at canasta, potlucks and TGIF gatherings. I’m looking forward to participating in other NNNC events in the future.
The Naperville Newcomers and Neighbors Club will host a Welcome Coffee from 11 a.m. to noon Monday at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. For more information, go to www.napervillenewcomersandneighborsclub.com or call Sue at 630-904-5629.