My best memory of CESL

Last term was my first term in CESL. Everything is first to me. It was exiting and interesting. After I graduated high school, I had my classmates for the first time in CESL. They are very kind and nice. It was hard to make foreign friends in Korea. So, before I came here, I expected that I make my diverse friends. Our class’ atmosphere was also good. One friend suggested class party. We promised that we brought each country’s traditional food. I could experienced Japanese and Chinese food. After eating, we played the card game. Even though our nationalities were different, we could share our thought and emotion. It was my best memory of CESL. I always want that every time will be best memory. However, I have an unsatisfied feeling in this term. I was so busy in this term because I have a lot of homework in EAP2. So I could not make many times to be with my classmates. Our classmates are also kind and nice. If I have a chance, I want to have class party. Now I expect that next term will be best memory of CESL again.

Nervours

As I am getting older, I am getting dull my sense. So, it is hard to find my nervous time. I think that the most nervous time was the collage entrance exam day. It is very important exam in our life in Korea. Some people used to say that it evaluate our 12 years study. All students are tense during the collate entrance exam day. I was also extreme nervous at that time. I never find my nervous time exempt the collage entrance exam day. Whenever a bell rang at beginning and end of class, It was terrible. I couldn’t solve my questions well. Now, I seem to realize how to control my tense. It could be useful how to control tense. sometimes I expected the nervous feeling because I was getting dull my sense. When I feel nervous, I feel alive. And whenever I prepare surprise party for some, I am nervous. With preparing surprise party, I expect his or her happy face. It is good nervous. I never forgot my parent’s happy face when my sister, brother and me had surprise party. They were really happy and pleased. I think that good events happen after I overcome the nervous feeling.

What about my Valentine's day?

“Happy Valentine” is happy words to hear. There is something I know after I came to America. It is difference of Valentine between Korea and America. In Valentine Day, woman gives chocolate to man in Korea. However, most of men give chocolate to woman in America. And we have “White Day” every March 14. It it the day when men who receive chocolate from woman give candy to her. Also we have “Black Day” every February 14. It is the day when people who do not receive chocolate or candy from the other person eat black noodle together. They console each other. It is kind of funny things. When I was young, I used to give and take some chocolate with my friend. In the day before Valentine Day, my friends and me got together and gift-wrap chocolate. We were very happy to do that. It was just kind of friendship not love. As I am getting older, I sometimes think that I want to give some present for my love and I also receive some chocolate from my love. I have seen many case of propose in Valentine Day. Women who like someone usually propose to him with hand made chocolate in Korea. However, I did never do that. I hope I will be with someone next Valentine Day.

confusion

Whenever I watched an American movie, I often heard this words “I got it, I got it” which an actor used. So, I thought I would say that word some day. One day, I visited my roommate grandmother’s house. I used to talk with her grandmother after dinner. Before the day of thanksgiving, she suggested, “Why don’t you go to the church tomorrow? You can know catholic church. ” And I answered, “ I got it!” After that, she started laughing. I was embarrassed because I didn’t know why she laughed. After laughing, she told me that people usually do not use that words when they talk with older person. And she explained that “I got it” is slang. Some times, it is hard to know which is slang or not. Because I used to hang out with peer, I don’t know how I take care of talking with older person in English. Fortunately, she seemed to see me cute. And I realized that I had to study English more and more. International students who live in America can face some problems because of a misunderstanding. It could be serious situation unless we do not solve this problem. But if we try to know what difference is and talk our opinion frankly, it will not face serious situation. I think it is good chance to know American culture and people more. Therefore, I will make a constant effort to say the other words to not have misunderstanding. That’s why I came here. ^^

What is something about your home country that you wish all Americans knew?

When I visited my roommate grand mother’s house during the thanksgiving break, I was asked about Korean. Her grandmother asked me, “Koreans are always rude to Japanese?” I was surprised that. Even though sometimes Korea was compare to Japan in the most of aspects, it was first time to receive this question. After a few seconds, I answered “no, that is not true.” I understood why she asked me like that. She is a medial professor. She ever heard about Korean from Japanese because she have taught many international students, specially Japanese students. But it was just personal opinion not general. She never had have chance to Korean before I met. She had a stereotype about Korean. I really want to tell American. Don’t judge Korean based on personal opinion. Of course, Korean whom Japanese student tell about could be rude. But they must not to see him/her as Korean. They have to see just person. It is important that one person who has bad stereotype about the other person can make him/her annoy. When you meet Korean for the first time, don’t think them with stereotype which you heard from another person. If you think like that, it could be rude. In the case of me, I explained why her grandmother’s thought was wrong. Then she correct her thought and we could be much familiar with each other.

Who has had the most influence on my life?

When I was young, I really wanted to make much more money like Bill Gates. He is successor in a computer business. And he has earned money. But I realized that the most important this is not the money. Actually I never thought about this topic. So I had time to think about that. The person who has had the most influence on my like is my Mother. She is always with me. And she makes me powerful in the society. How to keep the relationship with my friends or teacher? Or why do I have to strength myself? What I want to do? And how do I can get my goal? I could answer these question trough my mother. When I was a child, I really hated whenever she scolded me. But now I know all of these acts is just for me. I faced many difficulties after I grew up. At that time, I came out my mother's words. Even though I separate from her, I can stand straight in the world. Everything she scold got words to make me.
I love you, mom.

The thing that reminds me of happy memory

“Crazy” sung by Britney Spears reminds me of my middle school friends. At that time, Britney was the most popular singer in the world. My friends and I are crazy about her songs and her performance. We used to sing her song together and watch her music video. I think I seemed to enjoy the time with my friends. My friends and I were very closer and friendly. We were teenagers and we had in common a lot. These made us cluster. I could do anything if they are with me. Whenever I listen to that music, it makes me remind of happy time with my middle school students. And I can get more power to support me. Specially “You drive me crazy, I just can’t sleep” this part is what I like the most. It is very exciting!! When I was middle school student I didn’t like English. But I had to study for understanding the lyrics. After that, I liked English. So, I enjoy listening this music still.

What do you think of alone time?

I am enjoying my alone time with doing this homework now. I am very active person and like hanging out with my friends. But I often need my alone time. The time when I am alone is very priceless in my life. I think people need to think over and prepare their daily. It is hard thing to do among people. After I hung out with my friends all day and if I went to bed directly, I felt hollow feeing when I woke up on the next morning. When I was young I considered people who enjoyed alone time to be strange. As growing up I realized the person who could enjoy alone time was a real person. If you sometimes have your time alone you might be a person who makes your life well. And I am trying to be a person like that. When I spent time alone I watched the movie, listened to the music, wrote a diary, planed my schedule, and just thought everything I want. For example I sometime met my boy friend or married nice guy. It was just my imaginative thought. But I like to think like that. It makes me to be energetic. Just have your time if you feel hollow feeling. 

What's your aspiration?

My goal is that I enjoy my life until die. For do this I have to try make my life well. When I was young my hope was to travel all over the world. And now my hope continues. When I was high school student I backpacked to Japan with my family. My father always wants me to be a global person who can communicate all people. One day, I told my father I wanted to go Japan. My father promised you would go there if you prepare your plan by yourself. So I could go Japan. After that, my father trusted me whatever I did. Because of that now I could study in America. It was all my plans to come America for studying English and my father permitted to come America. Also I enjoy meeting new places and want to learn the other culture in there. But there is one fear. I cannot stand to be alone. I am always with my family and friend. For overcoming, I have to practice be alone because I live my life by myself. And that’s the way I can enjoy my life. 

Halloween and The Memorial Day

There is no a holiday like Halloween in Korea. But we have the Memorial Day when we cherish the memory of a deceased person. This day is on the 6th of Jun every year. We fly the flag to the memory of a person who died for our country. Besides the president and notables, most people visit a national cemetery. And all people pay one minute’s silent tribute to victim when a siren is blow at 10 a.m. There are many differences between Halloween in America and The Memorial Day in Korea. Halloween is a festival. Most American decorates their house with black and orange color for being scary. And they dress up in costumes. Specially, children who dress in costumes like a hero or Dracula hunt house shouting “Trick or Treat” for getting candies. And also they share scary stories. But in the case of our country, we never have any parties in the Memorial Day. This day is just holy day and sad day. We have a mind which thanks for our victims all day. These differences are very interesting to me. I never have had a festival like Halloween before in Korea. It is very exciting to learn about American culture like this.

What about your love?

I never have had my boyfriend. But I loved someone before. I am a very shy person in my love. So it is hard to confess my love to him I love. I am just satisfied with a good relationship with him. But there are many people who are active in their love in Korea. In the case of my friend, when she meet her ideal type she never miss the chance. She derives another date from him. She is very skillful and positive in her love. I think there are various types of loves. Some people just like to love their love. That means he never wants his love to love him. He only wants to be nearby a person he loves. In contrast, another people try to make their sweetheart love them like my friend. They don’t give up their love. They want to be with their love and share their love.  These types of love have in common. They can get lots of happiness with their love sometimes even though they suffer from their love. A power of love is strong and wonderful. Originally people cannot help living with love. We can interact with our love without a word. Love is always with us. Love is not far from here. Love is here and there. I want everybody not to miss their love. 

What do you think of the U.S?

America is very familiar to me because I have had many interests in American entertain since I was middle school student. I used to listen to pop music and watch Hollywood movies. Korea school-age student want to be like Hollywood star in fashion or music. I was first time here. So I want to see and feel American cultures. I will have plane to travel US during winter break. I am finding my travel partner. It will be a good chance to me to know America more.

What did you do during break?

I used to enjoy using internet web surfing in my spare time. The internet is the easiest way to contact my friends and family. I can know how they live in the picture which they posted through the internet. And then I also post my picture in my blog for showing how I live in America. I can talk to my people using messenger. Sometimes I read the internet news because I didn’t apply a newspaper. In Korea I bought something I need in the internet. I am crazy about internet.

Hi~

I'm seul ki.

Nice to meet you :)