Chae Sung-Sook and Portia Choi are the same person. She was born in South Korea and given the name Chae Sung-Sook. Koreans put the family name, last name, first. When she was two years old, the Korean Conflict/War/Police Action broke out. She was uprooted, and lived the life of a refugee until she was five. As an eight year old, she arrived in Los Angeles and given the name of Portia. The family name, Chae, was changed and put at the end, Choi. She attributes her love of poetry to her English teacher at Los Angeles High School, Mr. Jellison.
She is currently pursuing a career; is a mother, a wife, a daughter, a friend; she loves playing the
piano for others, arranging flowers; and living a focused life of just doing and being.
Photos by Peter Rashkin