Thursday, December 4, 2008

A Sunflower (Journal 6)



When I was 20 years old, I met my first lover in my club. He was same age with me, and his major was architecture. The first time, we had friendly relations as a freshman who wants to keep good company with. Because I attended at high school of arts and there were many friends who studied arts around of me, I was interested in other students who studied a special subject. He had a pride in his work as well as he had a dream that becoming a famous architect. I liked him who was having a passion for his work. We spent time with talking about our interesting things. Finally, we fall in love each other.
Then one day, when we met for dating, he said to me giving a blueprint case, a drawing of architecture bag, “Oh, my God! I forgot something. I have to visit my professor. Please, wait for me, and hold it. But don’t open it. Because there is a sketch, I am ashamed of it.” Nevertheless he told me that don’t open, I was wondering, because he said that. So, when he disappeared, I opened the cover of a blueprint case. After that, I couldn’t say anything with deep impression. In blueprint case, there were a sunflower and letter. The size of a blueprint case was fit to enter a sunflower. The letter was written as below.

“My lover, Ji Hyun! Why did you open this?! HaHa~
Do you know the language of flowers for a sunflower?
The meaning is that it always looks at only one thing.
These days, I think that I have becoming a sunflower that is always looking at only the sun. So I am happy. I promise you that I will love only you forever, like sunflowers. I love you.”

I was impressed by this letter. Although I broke up with him, whenever I see a sunflower, I think of my first lover at whiles and I am thankful to for him.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Journal 5


I firmly believe that I’m an active person. I have frequently heard that I’m easy to get acquainted with me. As a result, there are many friends around of me. Because I’m a chatterbox, I love having a pleasant time in coffee shop with my friends. During that time, I share my daily story as well as my friends’ one. By doing this, I’m able to become intimate with each other. Nevertheless I like such time, I love having my alone time, too. Occasionally, I have heard that I am unique person because of my peculiar behaviors. I have alone time as much as have a playing time with my friends. Perhaps, I want to have my recharge time that I can sleep, think, and recover my composure. There was episode that for a time, I turned off my cell phone for 3 months. During the time, I cut connection with my friends, and I concentrated on my study. As a result, I could enter into graduate school and I could have satisfaction by my self. So, alone time is very important for me. Because, it is another opportunity time and it's only my time. For my human relationships and my self, what I have alone time is essential, and I love it. If there are people who don't like have alone time, I strongly suggest that having the time for them self.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Journal 4


Most people used to guess that my dream is becoming a pianist because of my major. However, it is not true, what is more, my dream is very simple. What I will be a wise housewife and great mother is my real dream. The reason is that the most important goal in my life is having a harmonious and sweet home. Some people told me, " You are talking rubbish". Others asked me doubtingly, " Then, why are you studying continually?". Whenever I got such questions, I answered, "Just" with smile. But, what is worse, there are some questions that I don't know for my self. In truth, sometimes, I also ask for my self. The question is as follows. "Ji Hyun, if you want to be a wise mother and good wife, why are you studying now?", " You don't need to study any more. If you meet one of a pair, you may marry. Then, why are you study now? What is you want?". The reason that I have these questions is that because I have some fear about my future. Although, I will get marriage, I don't want to stay at home without any jobs. I am afraid of my future that I will have no works. I am scared if I have depression. So, these days, I am in a state of confusion. I don't know what I should do. I don't want to lose anyone among them. But I think it is really difficult to have both. I don't want to pay no attention to my family by working outside. So, I think I should partly give up one thing. It' s a my problem to be solved.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Journal 3

In Korea, actually, we don't have a holiday concerned with the death. However, our ancestors regard dead person highly. Because we believe that a dead person can be reincarnated, in addition they can have influence on a live person. Sometimes, the Korean regards words of advice of the dead person as a significant meaning. That is, we think the tip of the dead person may be able to prevent a curse, or predict what will happen. For these reasons, we regard a death as important. Therefore, we don't have a special holiday but we have a ceremony each a national holiday such as the New Year's Day and Chu-suk, the Korean Thanksgiving Day. During these holiday, we observe the formalities of ancestor worship. By doing that, we wish to protect our selves from the danger, and progress favorably in our lives. The American wear a special costume, Whereas the Korean wear a traditional costume called Han-bok. By wearing a traditional suit, we think that we have a manner to dead person. We take as a matter of course. As for me who don't have a holiday concerned with the death, a Halloween day is very strange and impressive. A ceremony for an ancestor is correct in observance of formalities in my country. On the other hand, a ceremony for a Halloween is more casual in USA. In Korea, we come together with our family, and we eat lots of traditional foods instead having a good time with a practical joke. I think it is too different. However, what the people respect the dead person as an ancestor is same all over the world. In conclusion, this year, I didn't wear a costume and join a Halloween, however, next year I will. I expect next year.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Journal2

In the case of the Korea, there are many ways to meet opposite sex. Then, what are those ways? Like other countries, in Korea, there are blind date, meeting by dating agency, a marriage by arrangement, group meeting, hunting, lightning meeting and so on. However, it is a little unfamiliar with some strange names which are hunting or lightning meeting, because those names are created recently as a coined word. 'Hunting' happens on the strret with stranger. If a man win a his favor a girl, he may give his information such as his name and phone unmber. On the other hand, 'lightning meeting' is the meeting by the internet. At first, it largely tooks place on the internet while people are talking. Later, they may meet each other if they felt to fit. But these meeting are not commonm, but sometimes young people do. From now on I will tell my situation about my present love. In the case of me, I met my boy friend by group meeting that is similar to the blind meeting, but the difference is the number of people. I went to a restaurant to meet some men with my friends. That meeting had three men and three women. One of the men expressed his feeling to me, and he was doing everything he could to win my love. Finally, we fall in love with each other. Like my case, these meeting are very common to young people in Korea.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Journal1



When I have a rest time, I usually administer my homepage. I put on my pictures or respond to visitor's greetings of friends. Sometimes, I can meet friends who haven't seen for a long time. It is a pleasure to talk to them. Although we haven't meet each other, I can have news about my friends. For management of my homepage, I take pictures my ordinary life, edit pictures, and put on my homepage. Also, I visit my friends' homepage and I see my friends' pictures how they live happily. To administer homepage is my hobby as well as my pleasure when I have a rest.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Summary of “What is a dream?”

According to the Sunday Times in “What is a dream?”, experts who make a special study of dreams state that people should not take their dreams as actuality. People adopt dreams as necessary to a person’s feeling and bodily peace. A long time ago, people regarded dreams as a revelation of God. In the twentieth century, considering that dreams represent people’s personalities, people started to study dreams. First of all, the Sunday Times mentioned Freud’s theory, wish-fulfillment. That said dreams allow a person to express illusions and fright, which would be unacceptable in actual life. Secondly, the Sunday Times mentioned Jung’s compensation theory. By his theory, dreams can give people what they need. So Jung claims that people have to learn from their dreams. The Sunday Times also introduced psychologist Domhoff, who argued that dreams related to a person’s waking hours, thoughts, and behavior. Domhoff said dreams especially related with age, gender, and culture. And it is different between men and women. The Sunday Times said that the dream is a mental skill which requires time to improve in humans. In conclusion, the Sunday Times insists that the dreams have a meaning but we don't always know it.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Summary of "Dreams: Making them work for us"

In "Dreams: Making them work for us", the author states that people should stop a bad dream and change it to a good dream for a beneficial life. Introducing Joseph's nightmare, the author mentioned Milton Kramer, who mentioned why people should try to change a bad dream. The reason is that dreams can have harmful or beneficial effects. He also says the way to remember our dreams is by keeping a journal or diary, review, remind ourselves, stay in the same position, and remember an important word or picture. Dr. Rosalind Cartwright suggested how people can change a dream. By using dream therapy, Joseph could change his nightmares. In conclusion, the author says that people should quit a negative dream, and transfer into a positive dream for their fresh mood in the morning.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Summary of "Lucid dreaming"

According to Pamela Hartmann (n.d.) in her article, "Lucid dreaming", lucid dreaming means consciously aware while a person is dreaming. At that time, they can participate in the events and emotions of the dream by character experiencing , observing and watching, directing and creating. Patricia Garfield, who wrote "Creative Dreaming", said that a lucid dreamer would have unbelievable freedom through the lucid dream. Also Stephen LaBerge, at the Standford University Sleep Lab, has developed a method called the MILD technique. MILD technique is waking up from a dream, imaging yourself, seeing yourself, and telling yourself. He claims that by using the MILD technique, he was able to have lucid dream on any night he wished. The way to gain access to your dream is to place a notebook or diary on your nightstand or under your pillow. Secondly, don't open your eyes immediately when you wake up. Third, lie and try to recall any imagery. Next, think about its ABCD order, ABCD means that D is any specific image, C is the event or activity that preceded it, B is what preceded that, and A is what preceded that. Lastly, describe the dream. Pamela Hartmann says that as we begin to experience this, our dream journal will achieve a special place in our life.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Change of the demand for wheat

In Korea, we have changed with regard to wheat flour. Wheat has been regarded as a cheap crop since the Korean war in 1950. At that time, we didn't have enough food to eat like rice. Therefore rice, which was not plentiful, was regarded as an expensive crop, while wheat, which was common, was regarded as a cheap one. Today, however, because Korea has become a richer country, rice is not an expensive crop anymore. In the case of wheat, its demand has became increasingly more and more. Because of the demand for wheat, wheat has been cultivated more and more.

Have 48 hours in a day

How much time do you have in a day? By using computer, it possible for people to have more time. That means computers help people to save time. We know what happened between old times and these days. There are lots of change. We can go shopping and make reservations on the internet. If I want to buy something, I can buy it without visiting a store. Older people who didn't use computer had to visit a store to buy something. However, these days people who use computer don't have to visit. Make reservations is the same. We can work easily for a short time. Moreover we can see any place where we can't go but we want to go. That is, by using computer, it possible for people to have more time.

Open a restaurant in Carbondale

Do you want to open a restaurant in Carbondale? There are many restaurants in Carbondale. However, if you want to be successful, your restaurant must be special enough to attract people. There are three tips you should do. The cost should be inexpensive. Moreover it should have variety choice. Also keep to clean and fresh.

First, the cost should be inexpensive. The school, SIU is located in Carbondale. Therefore, Carbondale has lots of students. Among them, there are many international students. They came to study from other countries. They live in dependence on their parents. For this reason, many students can’t live comfortable life. Students who depend on their parents want to low-price.

Second, it should have variety choice. It must be variety, because of that there are many international students. It need to right of choice they want. For example, student who is Asian and don’t like other country’s food has hard time about eating. They want their own county’s food. In this case, they need to variety choice.

Lastly, it must be clean and fresh. Fresh stuff helps taste to be more delicious. Moreover, clean shop give customer good image. Let us suppose that you are visiting at the restaurant. But if the restaurant is dirty, you would not go there.

In conclusion, you should keep in mind when opening restaurant in Carbondale. There are three things. The cost has to be suitable for students. Variety right of choice will be offered many students.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The Colors of the Korean people

Have you ever seen Taegeukgi, the national flag of Korea? If so, you should see four colors which are white, black, red, and blue. Taegeukgi is based on white color. There is a large circle in the center of it. The circle is divided into two parts. One part is red, another is blue. Taegeukgi also has the black gwae of four. In this essay, I will talk about three colors. Those are white, blue and red. Each one of them has their meaning. The meaning of colors represents the Korean people. Then, how does it represent them?

First, white color is very important, just as Taegeukgi was based on white. Generally, the Korean people were called “The white-clad folk,” from a long time ago. The word, the white-clad folk, refers to innocence. Moreover, on the national flag of Korea, white represents both land and peace. That is, Korean people respect peace of the world, and white stands for Korea’s territory. According to that meaning, most Koreans like white. They often wear Hanbok, which is traditional Korea clothes, or wear white clothes on the first day of the new years. By wearing white clothes, they want to get a pure, innocent attitude.

Secondly, blue color symbolizes integrity. In the Chosun dynasty period, the scholar, a man of virtue, was represented as a person of integrity. Their goal was living such that they kept their hands clean all their life. In such meaning, they were frequently represented with a blue color. As regards Taegeukgi, blue means shade, water and ground. One of the two parts, blue color, is contrasted with another one, red. The reason is that red means brightness, fire and sky. Taken together, they stand for harmony. Like this, Koreans regard blue as clean and as having integrity.

Thirdly, one of the most important colors is red. Especially, the Korea of today has been represented with a red color because of “The Red Devil.” Red devil is the name of the supporters of the Korean soccer team. The beginning of this title goes back to the FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico in 1983. Our team advanced to the semifinals. So foreign speeches called them ‘red furies’ with big surprise. Coming in to Korea, it turned to ‘Red Devil’. So now, the day we have a soccer game is a festival in Korea. Many Korean people wear red clothes and they crowd around the city hall or other places for rooting.

In conclusion, many colors are representative of Korea. By using them on the Taegeukgi or wearing clothes on the special day, Koreans want to express their racial characteristics. White is innocence of the white-clad folk. Blue is integrity, and Red symbolizes the passion of the red devil. Everything of them consists in Taegeukgi. The color of Korea has being represented by their behavior and their national flag. In other words, the colors that represent Korea are white, blue, and red.

Thursday, August 28, 2008