Chapter 9: When Life Gives You Persimmons
If we had to name this chapter of our Gamsa journey, it would be called The Great In-Between—because that’s exactly where we are right now. We’re not fully here, but we’re not there anymore either. Our team is in this strange and exciting time of transition, where we’re actively making choices—big, bold ones—to step into Gamsa full-time. But we’re still juggling school, jobs, side hustles, and life at large. We’re showing up in the kitchen on weekends, hand-packing oatmeal, managing logistics, and trying to keep up with every tiny (but very real) detail—usually running on five hours of sleep and way too much caffeine. And honestly? It’s hard. Like, really hard.
The kind of hard that looks like realizing mid-production that we’re out of rolled oats (shoutout to that unforgettable Saturday scramble). The kind of hard that means realizing—after hours of packing and sealing—that some oatmeal pouches were missing key spices like tamari powder.
But here’s the truth: even in the chaos, we’re so excited! Like butterflies-in-our-stomach, can’t-stop-thinking-about-it excited. Every pouch we pack, every stamp we press by hand, every note we write, it reminds us exactly why we’re doing this. We believe in this product. We believe in this brand and vision! And most of all, we believe in our why: to make something real, something that reflects who we are and what we want to put out into.
Right now, we’re wearing all the hats. One of us is finishing up business school, the other is gearing up to leave a full-time job. We’re each navigating this move to go all in, and it’s been…a lot. Emotionally, logistically, financially- we’ve been stretched thin. It’s meant making tough calls, being in five places at once, and yes, even sprinting to drop off orders at UPS right before class starts. But this phase? It’s also a privilege. A messy, thrilling, sometimes terrifying privilege—but a privilege nonetheless!
We’re not perfect—and honestly, we’re not trying to be. We’re figuring it out in real time. We’ve made mistakes, fixed them, and updated our SOPs on the fly (those first few production days in the commercial kitchen? Total trial by fire!). We care so much, which means we’re constantly checking every pouch, every step, every detail. And when things go sideways (because they do), we take a deep breath and remind ourselves: this is just part of the ride.
We’ve always lived in the in-between—growing up between cultures, balancing expectations, and figuring out how to build something that feels true to us. This moment feels like a continuation of that. We’re not full-time on Gamsa yet, but we’re right on the edge—and we can feel the momentum building!
It’s a lot. But it’s also kind of beautiful.
So thank you. For being here, for believing in us, and for cheering us on! We’re hustling behind the scenes, fueled by oat dust and iced coffee, dreaming of the day (very soon!) when Gamsa becomes our full-time reality. Until then, we’re embracing the chaos, learning as we go, and doing our best to keep moving—even if it’s a little sideways (and slightly caffeine-crazed) sometimes.
I’m a sucker for a good slice-of-life drama—and "When Life Gives You Tangerines" (on Netflix) has me in a chokehold. If you haven’t heard of it or seen it yet, highly recommend… just don’t start it on a weekday unless you’re cool with waking up with puffy eyes.
As many of you are watching—or have watched—the viral drama (or at least seen the clips on TikTok), I had to share how much it’s been hitting me lately.
There’s this one line that completely wrecked me. It’s a reference to the haenyeo—Jeju’s legendary women divers who work in dangerous waters, depending on one another to survive: “When you’re struggling to breathe in the dark waters, you need to stay close to others to survive… Go together with others. If you do, 100 miles will feel like ten.”
That’s exactly what this season of life feels like. Graduation’s around the corner, and I’m getting ready to take the leap and go all-in on Gamsa. It’s exciting—but also exhausting, overwhelming, and honestly, a little scary.
My biggest takeaway from the show? You can’t do life alone. It takes a whole freakin’ village. And that’s what Gamsa is all about—gratitude, community, support, and the people who lift you up when things get hard.
This chapter feels messy and tender and big—and I’m so grateful to be doing it together.
– Sarah