HAN'S THE SHOWTIME...

I am doing self-examination

About a half year ago, I arrived in the USA. During that time, many things have happened to me. I regretted to look back upon my memories. First, I am quite another man now. When I left from Seoul, my resolve was that I wanted to study English very hard but I did not keep it. I brought many English study books but I was not studying. Also, I had a really firm resolve. Among Korea's proverbs, there is "와신상담." Its meaning is that you have been living to struggle against difficulties for the sake of vengeance. I always wanted to print it in my mind, but my attention is already distracted. Then, I did not live an America's life worth living. My lazy streak always gets the better of me. Next, I am feeling sorry for my parents. I have to save money. My parents are working so hard for me, but I am doing nothing. I am a so thankless son. Also, I do not carry out my intention. Accomplishing my original intention is so difficult. I have not lived up to my original intention's resolution in the past. I have been gnawing my life by myself. But, I am never discouraged. Keep my heart up!!! Last morning, I bought a nice diary. I will write in there every day. And, I must learn about sincerity. The sincerity is the shortest way to my success.

My roommate

I arrived in the USA at last summer. At that time, here was really strange land because there were no friends and acquaintance. I was so lonely. I took lots of helping from my roommate and floor friends. They are really good friends. My roommate’s name is Robert. He has an older brother and a younger sister, is the second son. He is from Livonia, Michigan. His older brother has studied at University of Michigan, so I had ever met him at last MSU Vs UOM’s college football game. His sister is a High School student. Robert is majoring in Business. He has a girlfriend. Her name is Erica. She is also a good woman. In fact, we treated each other like strangers in my first period. I was the first to break the awkward silence. After that time, we have drunken many times. I had many experience about the USA and American by him. Thanks Rob.

A Feel of Spring

Today is so fine day. It is pretty warm and sunny. The cold of the winter lasted into last week. But, today’s really fine weather would put the winter to shame. I walked in campus after a long time. Snow is melting into the ground, and squirrels awaken from winter sleep already. I felt tiding of spring. If this spring will be finish, I have to come back to my country, Korea. From now on, I have got to try for crown of perfection. The spring is coming now, but my mind is still mid-winter!!!

FOR MY GIRL


A few years ago, I broke up with my girlfriend. She and I had kept company really long time. It maybe was over 2.500 days. I met her when I was senior in high school on May, 1995. I fell in love with her when I saw her for the first time. She was really beautiful. After that time, she became my Venus, the Goddess, and my all. I dangled after her about 1 month more. Our attending school time was different. I went to the school earlier than her, so I would be late for meeting her. I made my effort to captivate her. I was always late in school, and wrote love letters everyday for her. My all effort bore fruit. Eventually, she became to love me. Our love was really platonic love. After captivating her, I used to write love letters about 2 or 3 letters a week. Like this, I fell in love with her during about 7 years.

In that time, what was my passion’s character? After farewell with her, I sometimes have thought about my love. The love makes to change a person. Due to her love, I also changed. But, I had a big mistake. I had been just waiting for her changing. I just waited…I should not to change. I realized that it was really wrong way. All the more, changing me was easier than. And so, I know that an alcohol is similar with love because if I drink much, I lost my sense.

Why did I brake up with that girl? I can not say reason in my heart.

HAMLET

I studied from Kyunggi University till last year, with two majors English literature and Business. Both majors have something attractive to me. First, in my English literature class, I could read many masterworks. In fact, English literature was not particular too good because masterworks were so difficult to understand, and not fun. In the meantime, I met Shakespeare’s masterworks such as Hamlet, Macbeth, and so on. William Shakespeare inspired me with a love for learning. Works of Shakespeare are fantastic. Among his works, the first read book was Hamlet. Hamlet is a very indecisive me, his all tragedies were occurred such character. Owing to a defect in his character, he lost Ophelia who was his fiancé, did not avenge his father's murder, and he died. Just as one thought, lack of decision is only Hamlet’s. Definitely no, whatever is so hard to do best decision. Hamlet was a good lesson to me.

MY BEST MOVIE ( 2 OF 2 )

Toto fell in love with Elena at the first moment. After this meeting, Elena became all of him, she was his the Sun, the Moon, and the Venus. Alfredo knew his love and some advised to him. I was deeply impressed with his advised. “A long time ago, there was a beautiful princess. She was all people’s goddess. One day, she came near being drowned while she was taking a walk. But fortunately, one soldier found and rescued her. She wanted to return present. His wish was that got a marriage with her. But, the princess did not have any idea that got a marriage with him. Naturally, she was the princess, but he was a soldier, a social position gap was really high. He saved her life, and she could not look away, so she allowed his wish. But, there was just one term. It was that waited and stood for him in front of her windows for 100 days. Since that day, he was waiting and standing for her. But, a day that was 99 days, he left.” Alfredo gave advice to him. It was right. Toto was the son of hunger family, but Elena’s father had own bank. Alfredo liked him so much. He did not want that Toto took a pain, and Toto was a young man. There are much works that young people must do, such as studying, and learning. Alfredo could expect the result of Toto’s love, in his thinking; it was plain that he would become that soldier. But, passion of his fiery love never stopped.

And eventually, Toto took Elena. But, their love was discovered to Elena’s father. Her father disagreed strongly, so she was going to study abroad to far away, and Toto went to the army. They promised that met in theater, but they did not keep. They missed each other. In fact, they could meet; Elena met to Alfredo while she was waiting for Toto. Alfredo dissuaded Elena from their love. She left a memo, and left in theater. Toto really missed her, but they did not meet again. And, Alfredo advised that Toto had to leave in here, in here, there were no hope and dream. Then, Toto left to Rome. Scene comes back to present again.

Toto went to Alfredo’s funeral. And, he met to Elena’s daughter by chance. Elena’s daughter was the perfect image of her mother. Then, Toto and Elena meet again after really long time. But, they are no longer young Toto and Elena, so their love never complete. Toto visit to Alfredo’s house. Alfredo left one film for him. Toto come back to Rome, and watch the film. The film has much kiss scene which was deleted by priest so long time ago. Toto smiles while he watching.

BOTH COUNTRIES COLLEGE STUDENTS.

There are some differences between Korean students and American students. First of all, let’s talk about school works. In Korea, it is so difficult to enter a university, but in the USA, it is hard to graduate. I was surprised to hear that MSU’s graduate average was about 70 percents a year. Also, Korean college students take more credits then Americans. I took 21 credits for one term when I was in Korea. However, Robert who is my roommate takes 12 credits in this semester. Curriculums of Korean universities includes cultural subjects. Next, after school is different. Almost all Korean universities have many community or activity clubs. I joined three communities. Especially, major community was really fun. Then, I envy MSU’s education and school facilities. MSU has many labs, good dormitories, leisure centers such as IM West, and good libraries. In campus, there is a big football stadium which capacity is 70,000. I think that MSU is like one city.

In spite of such differences, I found a couple similar things. It is that American college students like drinking as much as Koreans. When I was a freshman, I had ever drunken 4 or 5 times a week. It was really many times then I thought. Of course, I seldom drink an alcohol in these days. And also, this similar thing is so random. Both countries students study hard when is just exam season. ^.^

MY BEST MOVIE. ( 1 OF 2 )

I really like to watch movies in free time. I had ever wanted to be a movie director when I was a high school student. At that time, I watched one movie. That movie’s title is “Cinema Paradiso.” I had a girlfriend; she wanted to watch this movie, so I went to Movie Theater with her. I had not gone to the theater before that time. Therefore, not “Cinema Paradiso” is only my best but also my first date with her. After that day, I watched this movie more than 10 times. If you want to watch love movies, I recommend to this film for you. This movie’s episodes are autobiography of Giuseppe Tornatore who is the director.

The stage of this movie is Italy’s small island. Cinema Paradiso begins by the retrospect sequence. Also, almost contents of this movie are flashbacks. This movie’s hero is Savatore, a famous director. He has received that his old friend has died, so he goes to funeral. He is absorbed in memories of his childhood before departing to his hometown for attending funeral. In his remembrances, he returns to child, name is Toto.

Directly after the World War II, a small village of Sicilia, Italy, there was a public square, and an old and a small theater was which name was “Cinema Paradiso” in there. Toto lived with a mother, and a younger sister. His father was died by the World War II. Toto had only one hobby. That was watching movies. He always went to theater after school. All films were inspected by priest, so lots of kiss scene were deleted. His mother sometimes gave him scolding, because of sorrow about death of husband and the grim reality of life. Alfredo, he was a projectionist. He fell a call to this work. He disliked to come and learned to skill him where was a projection room, because a projectionist was uninteresting job and in those day, a cinefilm had high combustibility. Toto did not have a father, and Alfredo did not have any son or daughter. They became friends. Eventually, Toto worked in theater. One day, the theater was on the fire. By this accident, Alfredo became blind. When a new cinema was erected on the same site, Toto was no longer child; an adolescent Toto became the projectionist. And, he met to Elena.

KOREANS' ETHNIC CUSTOMS

Korea is using both calendars Solar and Lunar. There are the 24 lunar terms. From ancient time, Korean divided one year to 4 parts which were Choon(spring), Ha(summer), Chu(fall), and Dong(winter) also they it re-divided 4 parts into 24 terms. Interval between one term and another term is about 15.2 days on the average. Consequently, one month has 2 terms mainly, but if there is one term in the middle of a month, that month has one term. In old days, such as Corea and Chosun dynasty, Agricultural industry was basis of ancient Korea, so according to 24 terms, people had done farming, also people used to a ceremonial occasion such as a coming-of-age ceremony, and weddings, funerals, and religious services.

I would explain some terms. The first term is Yipchoon. Its mean is “coming spring day.” It is about in Jan, 4 in solar calendar. Among 24 terms, Yipchoon is the first term, so this term represents the first month of the year or New Year’s Day. Chunboon(the vernal equinox,)is the fourth term. It is about March, 21. This term is the same length of daytime and night. In that time, it is much windy. This term is February by lunar calendar. For a moment, it is cold. Korean says the cold weather in the blooming season. This name was given from that flowers blooms aroused jealousy in the God of windy. Next, Haji(the summer solstice) is the 10th term. It is about in Jun, 21. Haji is the longest daytime length in the year. People finished rice transplantation until this time, and they waited for rain. If it was not rain until Haji, people held traditional Korean rite to pray for rain. Also, there are interesting terms, but it is not regular terms. They are Sambok(the hottest period of summer). There is between June and July in lunar calendar. After Haji(the summer solstice), the first 10 days later is Chobok(the beginning of the hottest period). Also, there is Chungbok(the middle of the hottest period) after 10 days later, and Malbok(the end of the hottest period)is after 10 days later of Chungbok. Do you know Dog soup? Koreans have dog soup at Sambok, but a few people enjoy this people. Instead of dog soup, people have chicken ginseng soup. Dog soup or chicken ginseng soup is highly protein food. This custom has meaning in preparing the winter. Next, Chuboon(the autumnal equinox) is the 16th term. At Chubbon, the length of daytime and night are the same. At this term, people harvest and begin to get everything readiness in winter. The 22nd term is Dongji(the winter solstice). At Dongji, length of the nighttime is the longest. It is about December 22. Among the 24 terms, Dongji is the famous term. At this term, people have red bean gruel. Red bean has meaning of anti-evil. The final term is Daehan(the coldest period). It is about January, 21.
Lastly, almost all big holidays in Korea hold by lunar calendar. Example, the New Year’s Day is in January, 1, and Chusok(the thanksgiving day in Korea, it is the biggest holiday) is in August, 15.

MY BEST FRIENDS.

I have good friends. Their names are KIM, Nam Kun, KIM, Jong Gun, and PARK, Kyung Keun. We are the same age, 26years old. And, we are childhood friends. Among them, I met KIM, Nam Kun when I was a second-year elementary school student, 8years old. When we were young, we were really mischievous boys. All troubles of village were ours such as pressed bell and went away, hit to another’s dog, scribbled on the wall, and bantered to girls and made to cry them. We had been called four musketeers. We lived in the same apartment and went to the same middle school. We were sometimes at odds about little things and sometimes competed in good faith. At one time, we had fallen in love with just on girl. Of course, the winner of that competition was me. We are spending ours time how are like brothers and leaning on each other for long time. There is this speech to Korea proverb “If you have three friends, among them, just one friend is your teacher.” This proverb is right. During I live life, I had met the difficulty. Although some difficulty could solve by me, the others really needed to help. On all such occasions, my old friend helped me as was own works. Also, I helped to them devotedly. In the early morning, I was sleeping, my phone rang. I could hear dear voice. He was KIM, Nam Kun. They were drinking together. They are going through hard seasons these days. They have a job. Only I am still a student. They are worrying about job, marriage, and the future. I am really sorry to my friend because I am with them. Suddenly, I miss my friends.

RETURN FROM LONG TRAVEL (4 OF 4)

I arrived in Vancouver, WA again. I tried to up-grade my ticket to a sleeping car, but I could not. The fares of the sleeping was so expensive, its fares was 450 dollars because of high-demand season. Also, the sleeping car remained just one. So, I made up my mind to have a hard time and rode a train. It was hard time from beginning. There were a few passengers in the train when I left from Chicago. While, it was just the opposite conditions. There were so many passengers enough to be hard to look for vacancy. From Vancouver, WA to Chicago, IL, during about 2 days more, I sleep curled up and could not have meals. I just had some food such as chocolates, biscuits, and water. In original, I planed to travel in Chicago, but I should cancel. Because that, I was really tired, and I did not have enough money. I arrived at Chicago again. And, I got a ticket for East Lansing. At last, I came back in East Lansing. The day was in December, 30. 2003.

I ASK KOREAN TO RECONSIDER ABOUT RACIAL DISCRIMINATION


I watched two short films about racial discrimination. The day after Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered. In those days, every racial was treated discriminatingly to white people in the USA. Especially, black people’s circumstances were more violent. All democracy nations’ constitution is based on a God-given right. The Declaration of Independence of the USA is also same. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.’ If all people are not equal, the United State of America might not be able to build up nation.

In today’s film were recorded during two days. “How do you think about different skin color people?” The teacher asked to students. Their answer was negative. The first day, blue-eyed students played black people role. Blue-eyed students wore a collar. They never could talk with brown-eyed student and have their own way. The second day, the teacher changed a situation. Brown- eyed students wore a collar and played black people role. The results of both days were the same. Students began to complain when passed no more than about 10 minutes.

I think that education of this method is good to students. There are some reasons. First, they have not learned about racial discrimination. Therefore, they did not know black people’s tragic life yet. Then, why was students hate black people? In those days, the idea was universally accepted what all white people held more superior position than black people, so students had a fixed idea. Lastly, this method is necessary to adults. I have ever joined in the Famine24 when I was freshman. The Famine24 was starvation experience event which nothing ate except water during one day. There was concert of singers who my girl friend liked at the end day, so she and I joined in that event. I thought so easily, but I realized that my thought was miscalculation as soon. I was really hard to endure. Everybody who joined in the event as well as me was similar. Whenever, whatever, and wherever I could have. I did not know happiness to eat. Of course, I have ever learned several times. But, it was really difficult to put myself in another’s place shoes. It is still so hard to me.

Then, do Americans have ideas about racial discrimination only? Its answer is NO, also do Koreans, too. I have read an article about a light yellow color some years ago. Most Koreans had learned that a light yellow color was a skin color. The skin color of Korean is yellow, so a light color was a skin color for convenience. This word had many problems because all cosmopolitans are not a light yellow color. Of course, Koreans do not use this word anymore now. At now, there are many illegal entrants in Korea. They are mainly working at 3D types of industry. Not only are these industries charging low wages but they also are not supplying social protection such as the three major labor legislations and medical insurance (this is the public service in Korea). Due to these conditions, some illegal laborers even live life such as slaves. It is so shameful. Korean is a small number human species. If was former days, Korean has much possibility to treat racial discrimination. Also, in colonial period, Koreans have ever treated nation distinction by Japanese. This event was about 50 years ago only but Korean forgets that tragedy already. I ask Korean to reconsider, and also I examine myself.